Jay Daly part of online punditry revolution
PUNDITRY with football has changed dramatically over the last number of years.
For decades, the only views we would see, hear or read would be pundits such as John Giles, Eamon Dunphy, Liam Brady on RTÉ, Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson on BBC, the duo of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville on Sky. But in the age of social media, supporters crave more nuanced knowledge about the club they support and now fan channels online make that possible.
Independent from the clubs themselves, these fan channels have a huge following and Jay Daly, a native of Limerick and now living in Castlebar, is a regular contributor to The United Stand (TUS), a fan channel for Manchester United which has 1.45 million subscribers on their YouTube channel alone.
"I think fans are more savvy than what they were five to ten years ago," explained Jay, who is also manager of the Beech Club at Westport Woods Hotel. "There is so much football content out there and fans are finally able to see the wood from the trees. What you hear on Sky or BT, that's one narrative, one spin and it's very PC.
"I don't think the games are analysed to the depth the more knowledgeable fan wants. Pundits are trying to get clipped up and become box-office to keep themselves in a job and relevant.
"Real fans want real opinion. They want it dissected and what better way than a fan channel.
"If a player has a poor performance, we have a right to criticise. We've been watching football as long as these well-paid pundits. I'm not saying we know more or know less but we have as much right to analyse as they have.
"As a net result, fan channels have boomed in popularity. When I'm on any channel, I'll call a spade a spade. I'll give criticism when it's needed, and I'll give praise when it's needed. I'll call what I see on the pitch and I won't deviate."
Fan channels were initially ignored and dismissed by the likes of BT, Sky and TalkSport radio, but their success has seen them bring on people from the likes of TUS, Redmen TV (Liverpool) and AFTV (Arsenal) as guests onto their shows, while former TUS presenter Flex is now a regular on Sky Sports.
"At the end of the day, it's business and they will go where the eyes are drawn. A phone never chooses a like or a tweet and Sky are savvy to that as are BT. It's come full circle. We can get eyes on their channels.
INFLUENCES
Jay says there is ‘no doubt’ his punditry style is influenced by the trio of Giles, Brady, Dunphy and the late, great Bill O’Herlihy.
He is, by his own admission, ‘Marmite’ for calling it as he sees it but there is also influence from his father in not being afraid to go against the popular opinion, citing the infamous spat between Dunphy and then Ireland manager Jack Charlton during the 0-0 draw with Egypt at Italia ’90 where Dunphy was critical of Charlton’s style of play.
"My Dad would have been a keen watcher of the game and he didn't go along with the narrative spun by the Irish media.
"I remember being at a bar during Italia '90 with my Dad, and he got into a heated argument defending Eamon Dunphy. We all have an opinion, whether it's right or wrong, but it's your right to have an opinion. That stood out to me.
"Football, like life, is all about opinions. Dunphy called out what he saw and was vilified in the media.
“Without knowing it, as a young teenager, that was my tipping point on how I viewed the game. Don't go a be a sheep like everyone else and go with the popular opinion, because it mightn't always be correct.
"Some of his opinions, like calling Ronaldo a cod (Dunphy), were proven wrong and he held his hands up. I base my punditry on the honesty and rawness of watching those three Irishmen. Now the coin is flipped. I don't watch pundits after a game."
Jay came to the attention of TUS in November 2020 after he went on his Instagram page and vented about former United player Paul Pogba’s desire to move, which broke the day before the club's UEFA Champions League match against RB Leipzig. The channel contacted him directly and asked him to appear that night to give his views and was critical of Pogba, Harry Maguire and then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Jay got slated for views and was called 'toxic', he 'didn't know ball,' and he 'wasn't a real United fan' but Jay 'couldn't care less' about the negative reaction.
"The vast majority of people I see on Twitter who slate me in my DMs are hiding behind an avatar and don't show their face. I show my face and all The United Stand pundits show their faces.
"I had a chat to the United Stand lads and they said 'you have to rise above it. They're faceless people and they goading you to react'. As soon as you bite, you've lost.
"Thankfully, because some people like what I say, my following has grown and I don't have to do anything."
People are liking what he is saying as Jay has been a regular on the channel ever since. His passion and love for the club is evident, whether he is praising it or criticising it, and has been in his family for decades.
"My grandfather went to Manchester after World War 2 and played semi-professional football. Then my Dad was a fan. The club has been ingrained in my family since way back when.
"One memory that sticks out for me as a fan is the 1985 FA Cup Final between Everton and Man Utd which saw Norman Whiteside score the winner in extra time and saw Irish legends Kevin Moran and Paul McGrath start on the day."
Looking at the new season, United are now under the management of Erik Ten Haag. They stunned Liverpool on Monday night last and Jay feels if can produce that level of performance consistently and avoid injuries to key players, a top four finish is possible.
"If the spine of the team of De Gea, Varane and Martinez in defence, Casemiro in front of them, Bruno Fernandes/Christian Eriksen and Ronaldo avoid injuries and buy into new manager's philosophy, top four. Otherwise, anywhere from fifth to eighth."