Player Journalists

[galwayman]

McGee's makey-uppey "Larry McGann from Knocknavilla" columns he writes from time to time are cringe worthy in the extreme!

[blanketattack]

I always read Darragh O Sé, Clerkin and Mike Quirke's articles. I can take or leave others like Eoin Liston.

[AZOffaly]

It's always good to hear an ex-county player's perspective on things but it's increasingly clear that many cannot preview or review a game any better than an excellent hack who has never played the game at any real level.

The thing that an ex player has, that a journalist just cannot have, is an appreciation of the intangibles. The psychology, the nerves and what they can do to you, the tension in a dressing room before a big game, the adrenaline rush, the smell of deep heat and the feeling of heading into battle, and what that can do to lads in terms of their discipline etc.

It give context and helps them to understand why someone would do something on a field in a big game, that logically a journalist cannot understand or empathise with.

[mrhardyannual]

The question needs to be asked as to how many articles written by ex-players are actually ghost written by journalists?

[longballin]

Many are ghost written but not them all. Phillip Jordan is good and not ghostwritten, same Kevin Cassidy.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Eugene McGee has a dislike for players taking on the role of reporters, analysts and commentators in his article today.
I'm not a fan of McGee, in fact he grates with me but there is something annoying about players turned opinion writers in particular.

When I listen to Parkinson on Newstalk talking about sledging and gamesmanship I cringe - there was no better ledger around. And now his fellow 'county' man Billy Sheehan has his column. And it's nauseating to read his piece this week about referees and discipline. Another master of the dark arts if ever there was one. He gets involved in more incidents and causes more rows on the pitch than the 29 other players combined!

Love to know what qualities the media look for in pundits!

True but his columns so far have been pretty good in fairness.

Parkinson gave his piece on news talk this evening after bragging about his six day holiday in Barcelona and having watched the game in a bar .................. Amateur hour, called players by their wrong names and totally biased, a moron of the highest order

Who's this Parkinson you speak of... Do you mean Wooly??

Emu destroyed Parkinson.

Wasn't listening last night, tend to turn over to Game On when Parkinson is on, who's Emu?

[AZOffaly]

Ha ha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kek1vs6bM2k

[longballin]

Many are ghost written but not them all. Phillip Jordan is good and not ghostwritten, same Kevin Cassidy. Wooly is good craic. Doesn't make a lot of sense but is a daft show anyway...

[brokencrossbar1]

Wooly is a clown and is stealing a living.  I have to say that the quality on Newstalk Game On has dropped significantly.  The level of journalist varies dramatically.  O'Se,  Tony Mc and Dick Clerkin are excellent.  Some of the others are,  well, cliched ridden and templates that are regurgitated year on year.

[longballin]

Bit harsh on Wooly, has done some very good interviews which were straight talking...

[Conallach]

There is some great analysis out there this year in comparison with the previous few (along with the usual shite), but the best of it's coming from recent managers - Horan on Newstalk & McGuinness in the Times. Both are fantastic.

The quality on Off The Ball varies wildly - McConville's pretty good, but I really can't get behind the Clerkin love in at all.

The self-promoters who've aimed for the media work from midway through their career generally aren't necessarily the most cerebral of lads, unfortunately.

[laceer]

Clerkin has interesting things to say but his voice is pretty monotone - doesn't lend itself well to radio. McConville was like that when he started on BBC too though - he's now as good a pundit as there is - even if he can't hide his dislike for Tyrone 

Horan is easy to listen to and very informative and the Kerry lads are great for telling stories.

[ONeill]

It's always good to hear an ex-county player's perspective on things but it's increasingly clear that many cannot preview or review a game any better than an excellent hack who has never played the game at any real level.

The thing that an ex player has, that a journalist just cannot have, is an appreciation of the intangibles. The psychology, the nerves and what they can do to you, the tension in a dressing room before a big game, the adrenaline rush, the smell of deep heat and the feeling of heading into battle, and what that can do to lads in terms of their discipline etc.

It give context and helps them to understand why someone would do something on a field in a big game, that logically a journalist cannot understand or empathise with.

In an ideal world, yes.

[Conallach]

I previously forget to mention that Dara Ó Cinnéide's a great presenter and analyst too. Doesn't hurt that his Irish is as near perfection as you'd get

Much like Off The Ball, Seó Spóirt can vary in quality depending on the guests, but it's generally more insightful and thoughtful, although it does have the benefit of a slower pace and the use of video clips. Sometimes I wonder if the lads don't get away with saying more on TG4 too!

[Syferus]

I previously forget to mention that Dara Ó Cinnéide's a great presenter and analyst too. Doesn't hurt that his Irish is as near perfection as you'd get

Much like Off The Ball, Seó Spóirt can vary in quality depending on the guests, but it's generally more insightful and thoughtful, although it does have the benefit of a slower pace and the use of video clips. Sometimes I wonder if the lads don't get away with saying more on TG4 too!

Sean Ban is as massive a tit as the worst RTE guys though.