Thomson , Hansen, Lawrenson

[northbank123]

I think Neville has stepped up and surprised just about everybody with his work on Sky. Good analysis, doesn't pull punches, doesn't talk exclusively in cliches and if he hadn't been such a prick for the previous decade and a half probably a likeable character.

Don't think he'd have got the same platform on MOTD though. Sky have punditry, analysis etc for an hour before and an hour after live games as well as 5 minutes at half-time - if you're top dog there you can be on every day Saturday til Wednesday.

MOTD is about trying not to upset anybody in 90 minutes in between showing sometimes completely misrepresentative highlights packages and arbitrarily choosing a theme and then finding 3 isolated incidents from 90 minutes of footage to supposedly prove this. Their current pundits are generally particularly shite but the length of the show just doesn't lend itself to helpful analysis.

[g88ner]

I think you are wrong about Johnathan Ross, g88ner. I think he does write his own review material as films are his passion and I know he has been a big film buff from an early age.

Yeah, you might be right. I used to think the same, but there was an interview he gave (or it may have been a film quiz ) and he did surprisingly badly when it came to film knowledge. It was like finding out santa used a sat nav... I was disappointed

Not that it matters like. But yes, I do think he's a genuine film fan (his Bruce Lee outfit is testament to that) - just not sure his knowledge is quite as extensive as it appears (bit like my football knowledge really )

I should add, I don't mean he doesn't write his script... I just think there's a degree of reworking and research to tighten it up before it's delivered to camera, as you'd expect from a pre-recorded programme. That's all I meant, as Rosie seemed to be suggesting the football pundits (Lawro, Shearer, etc) could learn from people like Jonathan Ross' ability to analyse films. I was just saying I'm not sure the 2 environments are that comparable.

[DB10GOONER]

Neville has been surprisingly good. But for every Neville that Sky employ, there is a Redkrapp or a Kamara.

[Herd]

I have some time for hansen the rest including lineker I'd happily be done with .

Did u know that lawrenson is a chi chi boy ??

[DB10GOONER]

I have some time for hansen the rest including lineker I'd happily be done with .

Did u know that lawrenson is a chi chi boy ??

Allegedly, Herd, allegedly...

If he is, it's pretty closeted. He's had 3 wives and a couple of kids.

[officepest]

Shearer, Hansen, Lawrenson etc:

A bunch of golf buddies for whom talking about football is a massive inconvenience and is to be undertaken only upon 6 figure sums being waved in front of their faces.

A massive waste of taxpayers money that these people get paid to insult our intelligence with such pearls of wisdom as: "terrible defending", "he'll be disappointed with that" or, "the keeper should save that".

Hansen hasn't had anything of note to say for 15 years, Shearer is just an utter charisma vacuum and Lawrenson looks like somebody managed to turn depression into a person and nail it to a sofa.

[highburyJD]

it is nothing short of a national scandal that lot selling a living
BT almost annoys me more.
Why copy the existing blandness when making a new sports channel?
Football could easily be reported on so much better

[officepest]

it is nothing short of a national scandal that lot selling a living
BT almost annoys me more.
Why copy the existing blandness when making a new sports channel?
Football could easily be reported on so much better

A) copy Sky's formula and appeal to casual fans.

[highburyJD]

to be fair to Sky GNev is decent
better than the no hopers on auntieBeeb

[Bradywasking]

There are (A) too many ex footballers with little worthwhile to say earning a living from the game and (B) too may of them are ex Liverpool players. I was sceptical of Neville at the start but he has proved to be a decent pundit compered to the awful blandness that we are subjected to.
Lou ( " ah this Fabregas isn't a great player" * ) Macari has to have been the worst ever. (* Away to Birmingham 2006 on Setanta TV)
There must be thousands of ex footballers, standing outside empty stadiums or sitting beside large lamps in their homes, on Monday mornings hoping Sky seek them out for words of wisdom.

[highburyJD]

I agree 100%. There is a place for ex players ALONGSIDE others
I'd have liked to see James Richardon alongside people like Jonathan Wilson, the zonal marking guy, with some journalists, fans maybe ex refs.
Anything but bored old Liverpool players talking about who 'wants it more'.

[Rosie_titters]

fucking ex Liverpool players dominate the TV Channels

MOTD Hansen & Lawrenson
Sky Carragher, redknapp & Souness
BT Owen, Mcmanaman & David James