Martin Samuel replies: which other pundits would you like to see separated from cameras and microphones?

After Ian Wright resigned from Match of the Day, Martin Samuel declared that his departure from football coverage on the BBC is no great loss. The seven times winner of Sports Writer of the Year then asked which other pundits would you like to see separated from cameras and microphones, a question you responded to in your droves. Below, Samuel replies to a selection of your comments.

Match of the Day needs a complete overhaul. Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer are so dull. Earlier in the season we were subjected to long chats about whether Shearer was going to Newcastle United. Who cared? Less talk and more football. Neal.

MS: Actually, I thought the opposite was the problem. At the time when Shearer’s link to the Newcastle manager’s job was dominating the news agenda, his television employers gave him a very easy ride on the subject and he finally announced his decision in The Sun. The BBC must have been delighted.

The template should be the 1970 World Cup panel that included Brian Clough, but television is star struck by young ex-footballers. Dream panel: Jose Mourinho, Johann Cruyff, Danny Baker. Nightmare panel: Mark Lawrenson, Shearer, Gary Lineker. Jane.

MS: Yes, but Clough wasn’t always scintillating viewing, either. I remember during the 1981 League Cup Final replay when he said West Ham United would be looking for a goal now which, considering they were trailing Liverpool with ten minutes to play was hardly the most breathtaking insight. Love the make-up of your dream panel, though. Get Jose on, I’m definitely up for that.

I think the vast majority of football pundits are poor. Why do broadcasters think that just because someone has played football at a high level they can automatically convey insight into proceedings? Geoff St Louis.

MS: Er, because they have played football at a high level, Geoff. It is what sets them apart from the likes of us.

The BBC team needs a complete makeover. Lineker has class and lovely timing but the rest of the team are characterless and predictable. Hansen will list superlatives, while Lee Dixon will um and ah over a penalty before concluding ‘there wasn't much in it, but I've seen them given’ which is little more than crap pub chat. Lawrenson’s jokes are hideous and John Motson always seems to be at least 10 seconds behind what the viewer has seen. It has turned into an old boys club; they need to introduce someone who's going to inject intelligent humour and the odd controversial opinion. Rory.

MS: I am inclined to agree that too much time is taken up putting the microscope on referees’ decisions, rather than trying to analyse how a game was won and lost. I know it stokes controversy, but much of it is pretty fruitless.

I can live with the pundits because I can switch them off. The bane of my life is the summarizing co-commentator – there is no getting away from him. Craig Burley has to be the worst – where did he come from? Bill Best.

MS: I like Craig as a bloke but I must admit if I was trawling through a list of ex-professionals whose name might entice people to take up a Setanta conscription, his would not be near the top. It is as if they have tried to replicate the sound of Sky, with an Andy Gray sound-alike. Strange.

Lee Dixon used to really annoy me, but if you listen he's actually a really good analyst and is knowledgeable about European as well as English football. Josh Dickson.

MS: Lee has always had a bit about him, yes.

How about the smug Garth Crooks or the wooden John Barnes? Jamie Redknapp would be better looking after the kid and sending his wife along. Andy Townsend offers no insight and Gavin Peacock never mentions that Chelsea were rubbish when he played for them. The only one worth listening to is Hansen. Macca.

MS: Redknapp and Townsend are good, I think. You’ve got to remember it takes time to feel comfortable in a job like that.

It's about time David Pleat disappeared. For someone formerly in a position of some authority at a Premier League club, I can't believe some of the insipid drivel and irrelevances he spouts. Rich.

MS: Got to disagree here, Rich. I’m not saying an East Midlands accent is the most inspiring, but Pleat is one of those guys that tells you something about the way the match is unfolding when it is not immediately obvious. And he loves football, absolutely loves it. His knowledge of all levels of the game is far deeper than many contemporaries.

Stuart Hall's Five Live tone and command of the language deserve more public attention. Jonathan Pearce, who used to be no more than a loud-mouthed fan with a mike, has matured into one of the best analysts in the game with interesting insider nuggets that all good pundits should have. David Hall.

MS: Stuart’s stuff on radio is wonderful, but it works because it is very stylized and therefore comes across well in small doses; 90 minutes of it might drive you up the wall. I agree about JP, though. Top professional, top bloke.

How about Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Ballague as pundits for the Premiership? I don’t always agree with them but they offer a different view, inside knowledge and are not afraid to tell is like it is. Chris Kennedy.

MS: How about Gabriele and Guillem do what they are best at and people who have played the game analyse it for television? I am not saying journalists cannot call a match, but everybody is interested in a professional opinion.

It's easy to say get a sports journalist to provide the post match analysis, but don't forget that these guys have hours and sometimes days to construct their insights as opposed to 45 minutes, and even then only a handful provide original insight. The art of punditry is hit and miss, and just as there are only a handful of good journalists around, so there are only a handful of value-adding pundits. With football spread across so many channels, the quality is inevitably going to vary. Gareth Pearce.

MS: Wait one cotton picking second, Gareth. Hours to construct an opinion? How about minutes? How about less than a minute? This is how it works, for those that are interested. At a night match, the first edition report, which goes across most of the north of England and the extremes in the south and Midlands, will be what is known as a runner: roughly 600 words filed an hour into the game, the rest on the final whistle. You write as they play and there is barely time to draw breath, let alone think too deeply. Get it down, get it done and get it in on time. The considered piece, the rewrite, which takes in much of the south and Midlands (and soon the north, when the new printing presses are operational), then has to be in an hour later. The only guys that get days to ruminate are the Sunday newspapers after mid-week matches, or the daily newspapers after a Saturday match. I’m not complaining, I’m paid to watch football for a living, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want anyone thinking journalists have time to sit around pondering as deadlines slip by. The whole thing is done on the hoof, and when John Arne Riise helpfully sticks one through his own net against the run of play four minutes into injury time, completely reversing the complexion of the game, believe me, it is carnage in the press box. I think I can put individual grey hairs down to the Manchester United comeback at the Nou Camp in 1999 which I seem to recall went from a thousand words of ‘plonker Fergie gets his team selection wrapped round his neck and is stuffed out of sight by a superior Bayern Munich team’, to ‘arise Sir Alex for this is surely the greatest achievement in the history of football, and you are indeed a genius’. In two minutes. On first edition deadline. Agree with the rest of your sentiments, though. Sorry, this is the morning after a 94th minute equaliser. It is not only Liverpool fans that are grumpy.

Football is a game full of emotions and it is a good idea to have a pundit who reflects some of the passion, frustration and excitement of a fan. I thought Ian Wright brought something different to the rest of the line up, there are some very snobbish views posted here. Hilary.

MS: But don’t you want to be informed, Hilary? As you say, if we want passion and excitement we only have to listen to our own voices.

Here in Ireland, on RTE Television, we have Premiership highlights and Champions League live. The pundits are John Giles, Eamon Dunphy, Liam Brady, Ray Houghton, Trevor Stevens, Ronnie Whelan and Graeme Souness. They are world class compared to ITV and BBC. They never sit on the fence and often aggressively argue points amongst themselves. I'd never watch BBC or ITV if a game is also on RTE. Noel Preston.

MS: I know a lot of people who feel the same way, Noel.
 
More Jeff Stelling, I say. And when talking of the worst, how has anyone not mentioned the entire Five team? Ian Humphries.

MS: Spot on, Ian. Twice

Martin O'Neill is very good. He has great passion and energy. Hollis Brown.

MS: With you on that one, too, Hollis.

Please, someone send us a journalist and no more sinecures for dressing room loiterers who won't be honest for fear of not being thought of as one of the lads. JVS.

MS: I thought Jamie Redknapp left those days behind with his comments on Javier Mascherano’s sending off at Old Trafford. Alan Smith got stuck into Arsenal after a match against Manchester United a few years back, too. It is hard to go against your mates and a club where you are popular and I admire them both for it; I know Smith was given a particularly hard time by his old friends after that happened.

The half-time and post-match analysis consists of replaying the goals, while a seasoned professional patronises us with supposedly informative snippets such as ‘that was definitely offside’ or ‘that was a great strike’. They seem to forget that although the viewers might not have played at a particularly high level they are generally knowledgeable enough to spot the obvious without several slow-motion replays. I'm hoping Gordon Strachan gets the sack from Celtic in the summer because the insight he offered during his stint on the BBC surpassed anything from Hansen, Shearer, Gray or Redknapp. He focused on the less obvious, but no less important, aspects of where the game was won and lost. Tomred.

MS: That is certainly what I am waiting to hear, Tom. Something I couldn’t have worked out myself.

The most underrated commentator on is Andy Townsend. Bright, enthusiastic and very knowledegable. Martin Hardcastle.

MS: I agree. Broadcasting from big Champions League matches regularly has really brought the best out of Andy.

Stop using footballers as show hosts. Yes, Lineker was a good player but you need someone with a broader view of the game, who is able to ask probing questions. Mark.

MS: I don’t think there is anything wrong with Gary as a host, but there is no doubt that most sports shows dip when ex-professionals are conducting the interviews. A few posts on here have called for journalists to analyse the matches: wrong. Journalists to ask the questions? Right.

Alan Shearer adds absolutely no value to discussions. What he said about Cristiano Ronaldo after the incident with Wayne Rooney in the World Cup 2006 was a disgrace. Karl.

MS: I don’t mind Shearer’s analysis, but I agree advocating retaliation against a team-mate when Rooney and Ronaldo next crossed paths after the 2006 quarter-final did not show much management brain. Sir Alex Ferguson must be glad he followed his instincts on that one.

Comments

[Keith Lynch]

Just read this article and comments; very interesting. I've got to agree that football coverage from RTE (Irish TV station) is far superior to British' punditry. You've got to work a bit with the likes of Dunphy - criticism can be hyped and biases can creep in - but the analysis from the pundits is far superior and much more probing; very often unpredictable and sometimes hugely entertaining.
Check out the RTE website for video clips.

[Rog.]

I cant believe that someone said that "Steve McMahon is the best pundit I've seen" - he was booted out of Oz for incompetance and he is so boringly negative. Him and the Onion Bag, "Tommy Smyth with a Y" should be covering basketball.
And why do they have Scotsman on the FA Cup commentary panel - it doesnt happen with the Scottish Cup Final, not that I ever watch "kick and rush".

[Jezza B]

Graham Taylor and Stan Collymore on 5 Live are two of the best at the moment.....but they also have Steve Claridge who is one of the worst.

[Jonathan M]

I agree that Wright was no loss.

Hansen I've never forgotten for the last World Cup when he spent half time going on about how rubbish Hargreaves was, pandering to received opinion when in fact he was the best thing on the pitch and that game forged his current reputation.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Graham Taylor actually. His Radio 5 Live half-time reports are always intelligent and insightful.

I think the problem is that no effort has been made to bring on pundits that aren't former footballers (with their vested interests) so all the established pundits are getting long in the tooth with nobody obvious to replace them.

I'd like to see some print journalists stepping up to TV and radio. It would be a nice change.

[J Heron]

Who was the female commentator on MoTD? I trust she has gone. Having fingernails pulled across a blackboard is as near as you can get to her screetching. Garth Crooks is a buffoon, he tries too hard to sound intelligent and at times looks at his fellow pundits like Marty Feldman used to look at Gene Wilder in Frankenstein.

[Pat]

As some have said the panel on RTE TV in Ireland is good to very good at times and are far better than Sky and BBC which are full of banalities or hype. - however I think part of the problem on Sky and BBC is that the hosts are poor. There is a skill to hosting a show - they have to ask questions the ordinary punter might ask and push the panelists at times and the show must encourage opinions - you can see the difference between Souness on Sky and RTE and foregt about the hosts telling lame jokes ala Gary L

[Roger]

Alan Green, absolutely awful. The match he is watching either gets slagged off as the "worst he has ever seen" or is praised well beyond credibility. I can't believe he has been employed as a commentator for apparently at least 10 years.

[Rob Cieka]

If you're looking for a bad panel of analysts, look no further than MUTV. Lou Macari being the worst. The fact he can't say one thing bad against United, even after a bad performance or defeat, is so frustrating. That, coupled with his never ending list of excuses for Ryan Giggs makes him the worst pundit of the lot in my opinion.

[Simon Moore]

Barry Davies - the right voice, the right words and great timing. Bring him back. What were the BBC doing when they squeezed him out?

[Nick]

John Motson is the most annoying, uninteresting and over-excitable (schoolboy style) Commentator ever. How he is still the BBCs number 1 Football commentator, I'll never know. I don't know anyone who likes his commentary. The volume always goes off my TV when he's on. And while the Beeb are at it, sack Lineker, Mark(I think I'm funny)Lawrenson et al for their overpaid, rubbish insights, that any football fan could work out for themselves. Bring back Barry Davis.

[Killian]

Sorry for labelling the point people but this whole debate should simply bow to RTE's (Ireland) footie punditry team of Dunphy, Gilesy and Chippie Brady et al as the yardstick to which any football show producer in the UK should refer to. It's as simple as this - an ex-footballer who wants to remain friends with current players in the game CANNOT be a proper pundit. On RTE, the lads take their role in analysing games in an honest and non-conformist manner very seriously. The result? well just please take a look at the post ManU-Barca game analysis the other night on youtube as a classic example (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8veXAo7zaU&feature=related).

[Gavin Burke]

Isn't it time to bring back Ron Atkinson? He made a silly mistake, but quickly apologised and genuinely seemed to learn from his own stupidity(and I do think it was stupidity rather than racial hatred). Ron was a great co-commentator - incisive, humourous and with a truly unique turn of phrase. Regarding RTE, let's not forget Bill O Herlihy - good-humoured but never shirks from asking tough, direct questions.

[spike Worsley]

My dream team: Jeff Stelling, Glenn Hoddle and Ray Wilkins, with Kris Kamara as stand-in. Commentators: Barry Davies and Martin Tyler.

[David]

Steve McMahon is the best pundit I've seen - on ESPN and Star in Asia but I'm sure if he moved back to the UK (although why would anyone want to do that?) he'd be a major star

[frank mccallister]

One thing about Motson makes him unlistenable for me -- an annoying habit of excitable shrieking for no good reason. "And he just passed the ball, Mark!" screamed in a frenzied paroxysm as Rio Ferdinand trundles the ball upfield.

[Tommy]

How can anyone rate Alan Green? He's a disgrace

even as someone who doesnt support Man U his anti-Man U bias seems to know no bounds!

His 'fued' with Alex Ferguson which only seems to exist in his own mind is laughable!

[Harold]

Jeff Stelling and Mike Ingham are the best in the business. Alan Green is so reactionary, Motson just dull and I just don't believe he really gets football. Kris Kamara is good in small doses and for summarisers Lawrenson (on 5 live anywy) and Graham Taylor are the best and least irritating. Adrian Chiles deserves a mention too.

[Cian]

RTe has the most legendary analysis ever. They speak the truth and are not biased towards Utd. When Messi flicked the ball over evra, gray said 'ya good skill' if it was cristiano 'the great man' ronaldo I shudder to think about what he'd have said. As one of the posts before said, look up dunphy and ronaldo on youtube...epic

[Tony]

John Motsen. My God he should hang up his sheepskin, im not interested in the type of grass the pitch is, the blood group of the man in row D seat 4 or what his Granny did in 1942. He offers no insight into each of the phases of play and gets excited as soon as the ball is within 30 metres of the goal.

[Tom]

Don't worry Martin et al, your prayers have been answered for the summer, rumours has it the Beeb have secured the services of an ex-England manager as a pundit for Euro 2008..., yes, arise Sir Steve of Mclarenshire

[QJay]

How come this forum has left Sky unscathed? (If this doesn't appear, I'll know that it's because it's a Newscorp company, like The Times.) If there is a a single pundit who should be pensioned off, it is Andy Gray, once a breath of fresh air, now a stale waft from the door of a doctor's waiting room. Andy ran out of constructive things to say some years ago; now he is entirely destructive, and much of his time is devoting to savaging those who can't hit back, the ref and linesmen. Cheap shots, most of them, and often unsupported by the evidence of the camera. A friend of mine was once on the receiving end of Gray's bitter tongue. If they had ever met, I would have liked to have been a casual observer. There are capable interpreters already working for Sky, for example Souness, Ray Wilkins, Alan Smith, Jamie Redknapp, and the critically excellent, if dour, David Provan, so why do they persist with Andy in pole position? More than that, why don't Sky take a look at their expensive act and freshen it up. Is it because they know that they still have the majority of a captive market there to pillage, and thus do not care?

[Peter, London]

Barry Davies is the best commentator I've ever listened to bar none.
Mentions in dispatches: Pleat for insight, Townsend for knowledge of the game and ability to use the technology. Pearce for his excitement.
Brian Moore for hosting Clough Greavsie & Co
Must Go: Lawro, Motty and Alan Green all too partial to Man Utd & liverpool. Motty is sooo boring! the Trivial Pursuit commentator.

[Rory]

Strange that you would approve of Mourinho on a dream panel of pundits, Martin. Considering that he has never played football at the top level.

[Joseph]

Does Hanson have time to watch all the games that he does post matched analysis on? No, because there is about 6 or 7 games and about 5 hours after the matches to watch them. Therefore, he either makes his judgments based on highlights like us, or someone tells him what to say. They should have unbiased knowledgeable commentators that do post match analysis for the games that they commentated on. They should be able to analyse how the game was played tactically, and highlight the shortcomings of each team through backing their opinions up with facts and statistics.

[Tom Gibbons]

The debate that you have raised regarding Ian Wright raises a touchstone issue in relation to the standard of BBC football coverage which has been an ongoing sore over many years for many supporters. Coverage has been as a matter of course toothless, bland, lacking controversy by design and populated by individuals who give the impression that they are scared to say anything out of place for fear of rocking the boat or offending others in the football community. They still operate almost as a matter of policy with the Garth Crooks school of servile interviewing which is frankly cringeworthy. The incompetence of the Beeb regarding football coverage and the contempt in which they are held at the top of the game is framed by the continued toleration of the non appearance by Alex Ferguson for post match interviews despite the Beeb paying many millions for televised highlights. UEFA do not tolerate such self indulgence in European competition so why should the BBC, after all they in a significant part pay the piper. I agree with a number of the other posts who mention the RTE coverage with Dunphy, Giles, Brady and others. It is unpredictable, operates at a higher discussion level and occasionally produces some fabulous rows like the recent one between Brady and Dunphy over Arsene Wenger having a demented appeareance on the touchline of recent games. Eamon Dunphy has been slagged off by previous posts and it is true that he is a horrible little man but he is also entertainment coupled with considered if slightly off the wall football analysis with an edge. Result, box office. A good comparison between say the UK networks in general and RTE is Graeme Souness who appears uncomfortable when appearing in the UK but seems to be much more liberated and interesting when appearing on RTE. Perhaps a different general approach is needed to revive interest, the first TV channel to bite the bullet , be brave and provide something different will be sure to have a ratings winner.

[russell b. alexandria, va. USA]

Here is the USA its the guys on Sky, or Live Five and the World Service. Greenie is just super on rhe radio. There are only a small handfull of radio guys over here that can bring a game to life like he does. I also love to listen to 606, never miss an episode. Spoonie has a wonderful way w/ the callers.

[Kevin]

You really should have a look at RTE for post match analysis...absolutely hilarious! Sometimes they can be a bit biased but nearly every week there is a bust up between Billo,Souness,Brady,Dunphy or Giles!! Its so good even my Girlfriend watches it!

[I swan]

Thanks for telling us how the lot of the sports writer works and how difficult it is to get your report in as the games goes on. This explains why so many reports mention little of the game and more of the previous weeks events. Simple they prepared the report before the game started

[Gordon Todd]

I think that Radio 5 live have a good set of commentators. Greeny, Ingham and Taylor or Butcher do a great job for the big games and the likes of Simon Brotherton, Darren Fletcher, John Murray and Steve Wilson could do a good job on the tele. Think Waddle is class with his pelanties!!

[paul gillan]

the real reason that Ian Wright packed his bags was that BBC will not be showing England Internationals next season , so Ian Wright will not be able to exercise his calm sober analysis any way .
John " that's the 4th time that this match has been played at 11am on a sunday in a leap year when the goalkeeper's brother was the assistant coach at Burnley " Motson has always been a bore and age has made him slow and behind the game .
ex players are always too cosy and matey and although MOTD is a part of the British way of life it is time to have a pundit who cuts through the hype . I know that Alan Green is too fond of his own voice and has a face for radio but at least he has an opinion that goes beyond telling viewers that Michael Owen is a " class act "
if only Roy Keane could be a pundit !

[johnhadley]

more more jeff stelling & matt le tissier jamie redknapp please

[Andrew]

Jonathan Pearce may very well be a top bloke, but I have to disagree that he's full of interesting insights. He often makes completely pointless comments at inappropriate moments, and, most importantly, his intonation is terrible. It goes up and down at all the wrong moments, totally ruining any insight he may be imparting.

Definitely agree about David Pleat though, he sees the game on a much deeper level than most co-commentators, really provides genuine insights into where the game is being won and lost. Good stuff.

[Glenn]

The best analysis and dissection of a game I have ever witnessed by a pundit was by Ruud Gullit. Knew his subject inside out, and was capable of expressing himself coherently - almost makes him unique.

[Simpson]

The worst thing to happen to football commentary was when the bbc dropped Barry Davies. The guy was brilliant. He kept it simple and informative but when called for raised the bar to another level at crucial moments. Most importantly he was a fair commentator, not giving away any bias to both teams and country.
His calling of Bergkamp's strike against Argentina in World Cup '98 is an all time favourite of mine.

[Staffsmag]

Mark Lawrenson should go - waste of space and boring to boot. Biased beyond belief towards Liverpool and hates anything to do with Newcastle United! Would love it if we saw the back of him - love it !!!!

[Stewart]

The MotD2 team is excellent I think. Lee Dixon and Gavin Peacock make a real effort I think to bring genuine insight into the game, explaining why something has happened - not that it just has! And whilst I think Andy Gray's summarising is obvious at times, his 'The Final Word' is excellent for trying to illuminate the finer points of the game.

[Brian O'Sullivan]

Match of the Day is an entertaining programme. However Ian Wright is no loss at all. He couldnt analyze anything! He just says 'you know wha I mean' all the time. Alan Hansen is good. You should listen to RTE tv in Ireland. People like like Ronaldo (a media creation in England) get slated for being selfish, divers and wastefull on the pitch. Ronaldo is not even the best player in Man Utd let alone the world. Lots of goals against poor opposition. He was useless against Barca. At laest the BBC are not as OTT as the Sky Brigade of Prof. Jaime Redknapp and co.

[Lester May]

I think that the BBC MoTD teams are fine as they are, both on Saturday and Sunday. Radio 5 Live is fine too. Leave them alone. I an no BBC sycophant and phone the BBC on 08700 100 222 often enough with criticism, but it's not about their coverage of football.

[Grover]

The key question is not which pundit should go but rather why are we subjected to so much coverage of the managers?

This is particularly galling in a highlights show such as MOTD (despite appearances to the contrary, the 'M' doesn't stand for 'Manager').

We see them walking to the dug out before the game, we see them drinking/ chewing/ shouting/ gesticulating / looking bored (my favourite) and then they have to tell us about the match which we didn't get to see because we were watching them.

SHOW US THE BLOODY GAME!!!!!!!!!

[Joseph]

I'd like to see more impartial commentators. Can we really expect Alan Shearer to give a critical analysis Of Michael Owens performance when he is probably playing golf with him the next day?

Also, it seems to me that the analysis that Match of the day provide is more about particular incidents in a match, rather than generally how the game was played. For example they spend a lot of time analysing replays of a foul or sending off, instead of linking facts and statistics to real footage. For example, they could show footage of Manchester United losing possession and then talk about how they had 60% pass success rate when they drew with Blackburn, but it was 80% when they beat Aston Villa. This would give their opinions more credibility.

[Darryl Matheson]

"Andy Gray on Sky stands head and shoulders above the former players trotted out by BBC and ITV. His knowledge of the game and measured input either as co-commentator or on a studio panel is unrivaled."

I take it your joking!

[michael]

I feel a need to say something here. Andy Gray is an awful pundit. He's a good commentator because he's excited and shouts whenever someone hits the ball, so you get the impression you're watching a classic, but as a pundit he's awful. Listening to him, you realise he only has two things to say: firstly, that zonal marking should be a crime punishable by relegation, and secondly that players should be allowed to openly brawl and kick each other "like in the old days". He's go a decent knowledge of football, but none of the insight provided by Martin O'Neill or the like.

Andy Gray comes off as knowledgeable simply becuase he shouts down Redknapp any time the latter contradicts him, which is often, and is annoying simply becuase of how correct Jamie Redknapp often is these days.

[Eamon Gavin]

I have to agree with Noel Preston, with the exception of the obnoxious Dunphy. The problem for BBC, ITV,etc., is that if they were to give an honest opinion there would be nobody left to interview. They'd have joined Ferguson and co who won't make themselves available if they don't like the criticism.

[Jason]

I would just comment that it would be worth the BBC for instance exploring the coverage in other countries.

My German mate talks about some of the football shows on their television, evidently full of debate and commentary.

Far too many canned explanations regarding "incidents", rather more insightful and intelligent discussions on managers and their preferred team shapes, for instance.

I hear that in parts (despite the dancing girls) the coverage in Italy can be in depth and interesting also, with in depth interviews and discussions with managers, discussing their philosophy of football.

Now that's what would be interesting to see. Surely it would improve the general footballing intelligence of supporters, young players etc also.

[baz]

I'd really like to hear Johnny Giles commentate: if he's anything like the player and manager he was, it should be compelling.

My faves currently are: Alan Green, Graham Taylor (who may have been a turnip as a manager, but who is witty and insightful as a pundit), amazingly enough Stan Collymore has proved to be very listenable, and Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara on Sky Sports News. In fact, give me the SSN team on a Saturday afternoon over the BBC Score team - the difference is day versus night, colour versus black and white...

[Hilary]

Yes Martin I do want to be informed, but thats what the other pundits are there for, plus we don't always want to be hearing the sound of our own voice do we? Hearing another "Fan" who was a professional footballer adds a little variety too.

[roger from putney]

Motson - HAS to go!

Hanson - massively overrated (as he was as a player), repetitive ("pace, pace, pace") and his Liverpool bias is a disgrace.

Clive T and JP are the only decent commentators. Andy Townsend and Lee Dixon - excellent. Pleat - insightful. Lawro - good as well, self-effacing.

[j oddens]

Motson drives me crazy and has done so for as long as i can remember. he always commentates - it seems to me - on the basis of two wildly incorrect assumptions:
1.he is a football expert with a masterful tactical knowledge and
2.the viewer is your granny or an alien who has never watched or played football
barry davies was my favoutie ("and Brown is going through the middle like a train") but he was always undervalued because he did'nt adopt the Motson assumptions.
i think Ian Wright is right - football coverage does need to be updated - if splitting image was still on it is easy ti imagine how they would portray the wooden hansen ans shearer. i quite like lawrensons match commemtary anaysis as he seems to realize motson is hopeless and treats him accordingly

[james]

Martin,

cannot believe you stuck up for Pleat! Then again he is hilarious sometimes, 'Chimbomba' springs to mind.

[Andy]

Personally, I have to say that Motson has the most annoying prose and whining tone of any commentator by far. Coupled with Lawro it makes for a dismal, uninspired act - pretty appropriate when it is an England match (also dismal, uninspired)

The quality of punditry is generally poor across the board but the team on sky seem to at least understand the notion that the viewer wants to be entertained...

[Jon]

I have to agree with the comments regarding using journalists over ex-players. They are considerably more suited to the job. You don't have actors and directors judging films, you have neutral film critics and academics who study and understand the ins and out of the media.

The likes of Samuel, Marcotti and Simon Barnes are far more insightful than ex-players because they have spent their lives thinking and studying the sport.

Also, great point from Samuel regarding the way in which match reports are compiled. I had no idea match reports were written DURING a game!

Oh and whilst we're at it can we start a bring back Brian Davies campaign. Best commentator EVER.

[James]

I confused as to how some poeple have got a job!

Graeme Souness has to be the worst. His point of view is constructed in his spleen rather than his mind and is generally ridiculous. He somehow (mainly shouting) manages to batter the conversation toward him being a legend. It's particularly difficult to tolerate when he's egged on by probably the most sycophantic man in the world, Richard "whose England team is this" Keys and shouting over Gordon Strachan (easily the best pundit out there).
Garth Crooks is unbelievably irritating, nowhere near as intelligent as he thinks he is and clearly, "let me finish", thinks he still on Newsnight (how did this ever happen?!).

For me Soccer Saturday and Match of the Day 2 have got the balance about right when Jeff Stelling and Adrian Chiles are in charge. Top pundits: Strachan, Redknapp, Dixon, Hansen, Peacock. Worst pundits: Ian Wright, Schmeical (HA!), Souness, Pat Nevin, Trevor Francis, Gazza.

As for commentary, Alan Smith should be in with Martin Tyler for the big games. Motty and Andy Gray should give in.
I have 2 questions and 2 questions only:
Why in the name of Zebede is Gary Lineker hosting golf on the BBC?

And why, whilst commentating do certain orators having called something wrongly in real-time continue when they are clearly wrong after they have seen the replays???

[Harry]

Sometimes I am under the impression that some of these ex-pro's simply watch the game as paid viewers, rather than actually analyzing the game as they should do, and giving some in-sight to those who have paid them to do so.

Pleat is boring but offers genuine in-sight into what is going on as does Andy Townsend. Hansen is good at depicting defensive errors but no one seems to be able to tell us the tactical direction that any manager has gone in in order to win the game. I've watched a lot of football and take great interest in tactical direction during matches. I sometimes think that I have a more open ended and insightful view of a game than some of these bland names....

[Rory ffoulkes]

Not to mention James Richardson, of course! A Blackadderish wit

[Rory ffoulkes]

I recall, as a 12 year-old, gleefully celebrating with my step-dad at the news - woefully inaccurate as it turned out - that Motson would be hanging up the mic and sheepskin immediately after the '94 World Cup

He's still here...

Peter Brackley was superb as the lead commenatator for C4's Football Italia. That Bloom fellow, too: '(That tackle from Taribo West) makes you want to clean you soul with Dettol'

The very sound of Andy Gray's voice causes me immediate and, afterwards, long-lasting mental anguish: can any members of the bar out there advise as to whether I'd be better off bringing a suit against Gray, or his employers?

[Mark Dewar]

I'm surprised there is any dispute over who is the best in the business. Andy Gray on Sky stands head and shoulders above the former players trotted out by BBC and ITV. His knowledge of the game and measured input either as co-commentator or on a studio panel is unrivaled.

[turkish]

The thing is the pundits are so inconsistent and hypocritical and spend all their time moaning about the referee's inconsistencies.

Lawro and Hansen have to go.. haven't the viewers had enough of this constant liverpool loving punditry.

Jose Mourinho would be a must.. Vinny Jones perhaps? or given Adrian Chiles the hotseat atleast he supports someone outside the big four.

[Andrew]

I think that it is about time that John Motson was told to go out to pasture- he is usually behind the action and says some pretty inane things. I am afraid that he was never up to the standard of his rival, Barry Davies.

[J Darke]

Even though I'm English, I'd like to echo Noel Preston's comments. Just key "Eamon [only one 'n'] Dunphy" "Liam Brady" and "John Giles" into YouTube and have a look at some of the results. They're on a different planet.