The Pundits

[ClausThomsen]

I'd quite like to see the odd football journalist given a go. Somebody who's actually watched thousands of games and countless more players through a critical and impartial lens.

For all the grief he gets about being the epitome of being a pseudo-hipster football nerd someone like Jonathan Wilson knows more about the game than a lot of elite level ex-pros and can actually talk about what's happening from observations rather than trying to funnel events into pre-determined opinions.

 

[miami]

I'd quite like to see the odd football journalist given a go. Somebody who's actually watched thousands of games and countless more players through a critical and impartial lens.

For all the grief he gets about being the epitome of being a pseudo-hipster football nerd someone like Jonathan Wilson knows more about the game than a lot of elite level ex-pros and can actually talk about what's happening from observations rather than trying to funnel events into pre-determined opinions.

It’s the predetermined narratives that the current lot of pundits carry about with them that boils my p;ss. The amount of sweeping, inaccurate observations they make are mind blowing. Anyone without ex-playing bias gets my vote every time.

 

[YoboCopter]

Terrible co commentry from shearer then

 

[ClausThomsen]

It’s the predetermined narratives that the current lot of pundits carry about with them that boils my p;ss. The amount of sweeping, inaccurate observations they make are mind blowing. Anyone without ex-playing bias gets my vote every time.

Absolutely.

They base their opinions on highlight packages combined with what a player is supposed to be like. It's not even bias so much as laziness and an unwillingness to do the homework. It's the "You know what you're going to get with X or Y" school of thought rather than paying attention. They only notice or make comment on things that act as confirmation bias.

I was very impressed by a couple of the female pundits when they first started getting work as they seemed well aware they were putting a few bigoted noses out of joint and as such doubled down and did the work required. They embarrassed a few of their colleagues by making calls based on actual observations. Now there's a couple with their feet under the table and they've become just as prone to cliche and shortcuts as the rest.

 

[twoblue]

Been really impressed with eni alouku. She cuts through a lot of the cr@p, isn’t flashy, and is far more competent than most of the male pundits.

I agree. It goes for half the wonen

I'd quite like to see the odd football journalist given a go. Somebody who's actually watched thousands of games and countless more players through a critical and impartial lens.

For all the grief he gets about being the epitome of being a pseudo-hipster football nerd someone like Jonathan Wilson knows more about the game than a lot of elite level ex-pros and can actually talk about what's happening from observations rather than trying to funnel events into pre-determined opinions.

just because most journalist talk confidently and argue their point succinctly doesn’t mean they know more. You only have to watch that sky sports programme to see that. Journalists changing opinion week in week out

 

[Drico]

I see John Barnes is making a fool of himself again. Amazing how a man who was so rightly impassioned over racism can simply shrug off human rights violations in Qatar and, effectively, shill for that country.

Apparently, Qatar cannot really be criticised because Boris Johnson once called Muslim women "letterboxes". And he had a go at the Germans, too: “You have a lot of virtue-signalling going on. I don’t know whether the Germans before the World Cup were speaking out for the LGBT community...”

Um, yes, John, they were. You might remember the armband that Manuel Neuer wore at Euro 2020 and the lighting up of the Allianz Arena in Munich as a rainbow for the match against Hungary in the same tournament...

John is entitled to his opinions, but it's always eye-opening to see a man who bravely fought the righteous battle against racism expose his ignorance on other issues that, perhaps, don't resonate quite so personally with him.

What could possibly cause this blind spot in a good man? Oh, I see John is an official ambassador for the Qatari World Cup. Oh there you go. As Ted DiBiase rightly said, "every man has his price."

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Most of these "experts" are frauds:

Player lofts a cross towards the back post - pundit "he made the wrong decision there, he should have crossed it low along the ground".

Player crosses low along the ground - pundit "he made the wrong decision there, he should have lofted a cross to the back post". The benefit of hindsight never occurs to them. In their own tiny minds they are the experts and are never wrong about anything.

Pundit/commentator gives a rambling account of a game 4 World Cups ago between two completely different countries to the ones we're watching, and is oblivious to the fact he is boring his audience to tears.

Rant over - for now ?

Haha this is the thing that gets me. Every commentator watching the game has the benefit of hindsight, so of course their observations/analysis is gonna make sense most of the time. 'He actually should've done something else there..' yeah no s**t lol gotta be one of the easiest gigs in the world.

 

[Gilbert..]

Never ever been bothered watching a game at the start by who is co commentator. I usually just block it out. But martin keown is without doubt the worse ever. I have to mute him. Jesus h christ he spouts utter bollox.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Haha this is the thing that gets me. Every commentator watching the game has the benefit of hindsight, so of course their observations/analysis is gonna make sense most of the time. 'He actually should've done something else there..' yeah no s**t lol gotta be one of the easiest gigs in the world.

Always remember Niall Quinn saying "He'll have wanted to put that a bit lower" after a free kick went narrowly over. Stunning insight that only an ex-pro could offer.

 

[ForestBlue]

Never ever been bothered watching a game at the start by who is co commentator. I usually just block it out. But martin keown is without doubt the worse ever. I have to mute him. Jesus h christ he spouts utter bollox.

Wait! What! .. Worse than Lawrenson ?

Surely not!

TBH I dont see the point in any of them. Just stick to a single match commentator like in the olden days and let them just commentate on what they are seeing

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Always remember Niall Quinn saying "He'll have wanted to put that a bit lower" after a free kick went narrowly over. Stunning insight that only an ex-pro could offer.

 

[blue to the bone]

Martin Keown is the worst. Everything was better back in his day. And about as insightful as a parsnip

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Martin Keown is the worst. Everything was better back in his day. And about as insightful as a parsnip

To be fair parsnips were more insightful back in his day.

 

[ClausThomsen]

I agree. It goes for half the wonen

just because most journalist talk confidently and argue their point succinctly doesn’t mean they know more. You only have to watch that sky sports programme to see that. Journalists changing opinion week in week out

Some are better at it than others obviously. That's why I don't say they're all great and should be on TV. I'd like good ones who obviously have watched in depth the sides, players and managers they talk about.

I don't mind someone who is willing to change an opinion based on things that happen. An opinion should not be firmly adhered to if information comes to light that shows a need for re-evaluation. And if that person can confidently and succinctly put a fair point across then all the better. What I don't need are pundits who have a lazy narrative driven opinion based on highlights packages of more games than they can possibly keep on top of but keep getting game after game because of a playing reputation or bantz-ability.

And certainly not pundits who refuse to change an opinion because it might make them seem like they got something wrong in the past and view that self-pride as more important than actually being correct or fair - I've got No.1 Ebepton fansite GOT for that

 

[The Binman]

The beeb ones are so smug it’s not even funny, and the woman who does footy focus, can’t even speak properly…. And she’s just bloody terrible.

ITV are woeful… always have been… a load of tripe… you may as well turn off the sound and commentate yourself…. At least you’ll make some sense, and you might sometimes even agree with yourself!!?

In short; utter rubbish