Soccer pundits on telly

[TBM]

and people moan about Tim Dellor.......at least he does his research before a game

[Zammo]

Paul "I can't pronounce any foreigner outside the top 4's name" Merson.

Isn't that part of the charm of Soccer Saturday though ? It's just like blokes discussing football down the boozer. I bet half the punters in a local on a Saturday afternoon can't pronouce foreign players names.

[southbank1871]

Merson really shouldn't be paid money to comment on football though when he can barely speak

[1871 Royal]

Possibly, but it just gets on my tits. Commentators pronouncing names incorrectly as a whole gets on my nerves to be honest. Motson with his Drog-BA

Merson really shouldn't be paid money to comment on football though when he can barely speak

[cmonurz]

Possibly, but it just gets on my tits. Commentators pronouncing names incorrectly as a whole gets on my nerves to be honest. Motson with his Drog-BA

Vee-ASH Bo-ASH.

[Bandini]

Merson really shouldn't be paid money to comment on football though when he can barely speak

I'm always surprised that more people don't pick him for the Deadpool. He looks like a heart attack waiting to happen.

[southbank1871]

Danny Mills is reasonable on the radio actually, as he's not afraid to actually give an opinion and is fairly eloquent.

[Bandini]

^ 'greed. Added to the right-backs as summarisers hall of fame. (Don't even think about it, Murty.)

[Whore Jackie]

+1 to the Dixon platitudes. He's superb, MOTD 2 really does piss all over MOTD. Hansen's ok, can't stand Shearer or Lawro.

Also got a bit of a soft spot for Roy Keane. There's always room for a bit of brutally honest, lack of humanity.

[1871 Royal]

What about the Sky Sports News girls, Ideal?

[Thomas L'Heureux]

Merson really shouldn't be paid money to comment on football though when he can barely speak

I think he's good value. It was pretty funny when his teeth fell out that time.

[PlasticRoyale]

Why do they always have to be so dour and miserable.

Gary Birtles is forever using 'he should have done this' or 'i'd have done that' - you were fooking dogshit at Utd Gary

[soggy biscuit]

Possibly, but it just gets on my tits. Commentators pronouncing names incorrectly as a whole gets on my nerves to be honest. Motson with his Drog-BA

Vee-ASH Bo-ASH.

Must 7 or 8 pronunciations going around, you would have thought that one of them would have just asked him how to say it

[Silver Fox]

My word, these comments about me seem harsh. Although in a way I'm sure they're quite justified Martin

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I'm in total agreement.

I think the main barrier is the pervading idea that only ex-players/ managers can have an opinion worth hearing (or perhaps that the casual fan that the TV shows are aimed at need to see someone who they recognise).

I remember reading a piece by the Match of the Day producer before Alan Shearer's first appearence. He was saying how he'd wanted Shearer on the show because it was great to have an England "legend" there giving his views. There was nothing at all about him actually having anything to say. It does seems they believe viewers just want to watch stars talking about the game.

My favourite story of BBC football ineptitude was prior to Euro 2000, when Lawrenson made two pre-tournament predictions: Raul and Morientes would be dangerous for Spain, and the four semi-finalists would be Italy, Spain, France and Holland. There were just two problems: Morientes hadn't been included in the Spanish squad, and the draw would ensure that two of those four teams would have to meet in the quarters. Is it too much to ask that when someone gets paid a fair whack for their opinion on football that they take the time to have a look at who's playing and how the tournament is structured?

Sadly, yes.

They seem to labour under the impression that anything they don't know isn't worth knowing, and nobody is interesting in anything they aren't.

I remember an early game in Germany '06, something like Mexico v Iran, and the pundits could barely contain their amusement that they had to cover the game. They pretty much stated that nobody would be interested in watching the game and previewed it in as little detail as possible. Yes, I'm sure the majority of the general public couldn't really care too much about the game, but they couldn't grasp that the few million who turned on to watch it might have actually been interested in watching it.

Then there's the England obsession, with them seemingly convinced that every single match preview has to feature a reporter at the England base asking "what is the mood like in the camp?" every single day. That does partly cover for them having nothing to say, but if we really aren't able to provide pundits with who can muster a worthwhile word between them, then why not just scrap them? Why not just go to games five minutes before kick-off and finish the programme a minute of two after the final whistle?

[Handsome Man]

My word, these comments about me seem harsh. Although in a way I'm sure they're quite justified Martin

[southbank1871]

My word, these comments about me seem harsh. Although in a way I'm sure they're quite justified Martin

Very good

[Ian Royal]

I was amazed the other day to hear Claridge say something vaguely sensible on the FLS.

The problem is they're all just there on their name alone and turn up expecting to be able to do the job off the top of their head. Combined with a fairly decent level of stupidity and lack of ability to be articulate and that isn't a great combination for even blagging it.

I also like Dixon, Hansen, Townsend.. Rosenior is alright. Was amused to see Keane is just as much of a cnut when doing punditry as playing.

[1871 Royal]

My word, these comments about me seem harsh. Although in a way I'm sure they're quite justified Martin

Very good

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I like Robbie Savage. He seems to add a bit of swagger to the proceedings. He's very good on 606. Don't really like Lee Dixon.