Sir, - Now that Bertie sees fit to give us his expert view on English soccer, perhaps we can have his thoughts on why local professional soccer has been in decline for 40 years, and on the difference between it and the Belgian league (population twice ours, taxable income from local soccer several multiples of ours), the Scottish league (population similar to Ireland's, one European Cup win, many other successes), the Danish league, etc.
Could it be the fact that opinion formers (like himself) accord the National League no value, thus giving it an "uncool" status, while vocally supporting English clubs?
Can he confirm he is more expert in the field of Irish politics than English politics, because I would hate to think he applied the same thinking to his profession as he does to his football. I don't want Ireland to be invading the Malvinas, just because Bertie gets confused. - Yours, etc.,
David Fagan, Talbot Street, Dublin 1.