Wright's departure no loss for BBC

Ian Wright’s departure from football coverage on the BBC is no great loss. Whatever his talents as a presenter in other fields, the role of the football men in the studio during matches is to tell the people at home something they could not have worked out for themselves, not to reflect the erratic mood swings of the fan. The best guys will identify a nuance in the play that is significant, and bring this information to a wider audience. Sitting there with a cob on because your team have lost is really not the same.

Which other pundits would you like to see separated from cameras and microphones?

Comments

[Akash Dhanoya]

Sunday Supplement is the best and most interesting sports show. Now let's take MOTD now, MOST of the presenters are poor. Linekar is okay but Hansen and Lawrence just love Liverpool who have not won a league in ages. Just imagine what they would be like if they commented on the Champions League with Liverpool. John Motson is the most BORING commentator out now. All he talks about is England. If Rooney fell down in a FA cup tie with Motty commentating, the first thing you would hear is 'oh England and Capello would be worried'. It is ridiculously poor.

Now for Sky Sports, they are amazing. Andy Gray giving his knowledge before the game is great. He is tactically gifted to know a teams line up. Then on his back up commentary he is simply amazing and lights a game up. With Martin Tyler they are the best commentating duo. Martin Tyler and Grays' voices are amazing to hear on a match. Just imagine this saturday with United and Chelsea. As for Sky Sport's pundits before the show, Richard Keys and Andy Gray are great. However, Jamie Redknapp does not know anything! He states the obvious and basically wastes the 15 minute break between halves going on about something we know. WE NEED THE SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT GUYS WHO KNOW THEIR BUSINESS ON SKY SPORTS MATCHES!

If the BBC want to gain credit they need a overhaul. Andy Townsend is not credited enough. He talks with substance. That is what BBC need. MOTD is boring, I used to watch the whole show but I know only tune in for the United game and tune out. They need to re-do their commentators with bright enthusiastic ones like Andy Townsend.

I go to the USA all the time and as someone said earlier, on fox sports all the commentators go on about is Beckham and when they watch a match they can only relate back to the MLS when its irrelevant. Also John Motson and many pundits need to get out of Beckhams bottom!

WE NEED THE SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT GUYS ON SKY SPORTS AS PUNDITS!

Martin Samuel is by far the best one!

[Mark Gardner]

I'd like to see ITV separated from Football altogether. Cheap, nasty television with poor commentators and pundits. How the FA gave them any football after their destruction of the Football League is beyond me.

[robert bryan]

Can we have sub titles for Andy Gray,better still ban him off TV.
Instead of old 'brain dead' footballers can we have the sunday sopplement team As for garath crooks words fail me

[Lee - Brighton]

I think it's scandalous that Big Ron is still seen as the pariah that he clearly isn't. As for Ian Wright, he's just an over-excited child but less eloquent and out of his depth with technical discussion. Having David Beckham or Gazza in the studio poring over the game would be equally bad. Great players don't always make great managers.....even less so great pundits.

[Duncan]

One pundit I really do like and forgot to mention despite his blocked nasal passage is Trevor Francis - he really provides one of the best insights into the play. And I agree with whoever mentioned it before - get rid of Pleat. Its a shame noone has mentioned Kamara - a star of Sky's excellent line-up. And sorry I have no time for Dunphy since he called Ronaldo a one trick pony!

[Duncan]

Wright offers something a little different but gets a bit carried away at times and to be honest most times he doesn't offer a great deal of insight. I think Childs has tapped into a bit of what Wright offers in MOTD2 which makes it more interesting - a common fan's touch even though Wright should offer more as an ex footballer. In general I find BBC's MOTD coverage as a whole a bit dull but I find Hansen to be the best pundit and is insightful but I don't see the other stalwarts offering anything more than the dull rework of the tabloid headlines. To summarise Lineker is boring and patronising, Shearer just boring and Lawrenson looks and sounds like he's on prozac although (very) occasionally his one liners can be funny. And John Motson is absolutely hopeless as a commentator - he totally misreads the game at times. I don't mind the Football Focus presenter though.

To be honest Sky is 10 times better. Give me Tyler, Gray and Kammy any day of the week. Lively informative and insightful. Everything the Beeb is not.

[Neal]

MOTD needs a complete overhaul,Hansen and Shearer are so dull.Earlier in the season we were subjected to long chats between them about whether Shearer was going to Newcastle Utd.Who cares ? Lets have less chat and more football.Less Liverpool are wonderful even though they haven't won the Premiership ever, more balanced insight!

[Alastair Scott]

Good that Ian Wright has gone - never the most impartial or interesting. Who is that shrill girl that tries too hard on MOTD commentaries? Her voice goes right through me.
I also can't abide Burley and Gray - my Dad speaks like that and I really have heard enough of it!

[Jane]

When will the boring bland corporation realise lineker and shearer are dull? Name one interesting thing the ubiquitous lawrenson has ever said? The template should be the world cup 70 panel of clough et al, but tv seems to be star struck by young ex footballers (why only footballers allowed btw?) dream panel: mourinho, cruyff, danny baker. nightmare panel: lawro shearer lineker zzzzzz.

[delboy]

The American commentators on ESPN are refreshing they keep you on your toes guessing what the 'mid field stripe' is. Motson at least pauses for breath now and again unlike most on Sky. MOTD needs atotal clear with Jeff Stelling as anchor, Andy Townsend oh and Tommy Smyth, he'll have the comments coming thick and fast.

[Jim Hall]

Thank goodness for the red button! As someone said, you can turn off the half time pundits but until the red button appeared there were few options. I turn to Radio 5 Live coverage if John (tells you what happened 5 seconds ago and a boring stat about it) Motson is on, and then I turn to crowd noise if Alan (is there a more partial commentator anywhere?) Green is on 5 live. I really like Jimmy Armfield as a commentator - best there is for me.

[Ron Naylor]

Here in Australia we see little of the BBC transmissions. Instead we have to put up with comments from the footballers who back up the regular
commentators. Of these, Effing Okoku is the worst, with a monotonous delivery which drives me to distraction. And he won't shut up - going on and on in a dreary manner which ensures that the mute switch is the best thing on the TV set.

But he,s only just the worst. Why do we have to have people who weren't very good players teklling us what they think?

[Matty B]

The obvious one - Ron Atkinson, Anyone who pronounces the 'J' in Juventus and Ajax (they're not a household cleaner Ron) and has a reputation for getting in the wrong dugout and making rascist comments while live on arabic telly has got quality issues!

[A Corbett]

Frankly the BBC commentators are very weak. I watch the Premier League games here in Spain and the quality of the commentators has to be admired. Players performance and coaching tactics are discussed and analysed and often it´s managers, rather than players, that have the word. Not intelectual but neverthe less, interesting.

[Geoff St Louis]

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

Let’s be honest, who would you rather listen to: Martin Samuel’s best mate Gabriele Marcotti, a real student of the game, or Alan Hansen, once the doyen of pundits, but judging by his half-arsed performance on MOTD2 the other week seems to be more interested in the closing stages of a major golf tournament than football.

More proof needed? Watch Hansen (and his fellow pundits) this summer at Euro 2008. He can talk all day about Premier League players, but is largely clueless about players who ply their trade in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, etc.

Why is this? In this day and age with internet and satellite TV it is very easy to keep an eye on what is happening abroad. Or maybe Hansen and his like feel that this is beyond the call of duty and might interfere with yet another round of golf…

One of the best pundits around is Tim Vickery on the excellent Up All Night football phone-in on Friday night/Saturday morning (the only BBC radio football phone-in worth listening to). After listening to him for an hour or so, you’d learn more about the game than a lifetime in the presence of his TV brethren.

[Elliott]

Adrian Chiles is hilarious when compared to cringworthy comedy stylings of Gary Linekar. So he may not be the most knowledgable but at least he lightens up the show and brings a smile to the face. And by the way if you actually watch Gabby Logan conduct an interview you'd notice how much she interupts.

[Rory]

The BBC team needs a complete makeover. Lineker has class and lovely timing but the rest of the team are characterless and unbelievably predictable. Hansen will list you superlatives, Lee Dixon will um and ah over "Was it a penalty?" (usually concluded with: "there wasn't much in it but I've seen them given." - little more than crap pub chat), Lawro's jokes are hideous and he usually looks like he's slipping off the sofa, and I've not even started on Garth Crooks (although in small doses he does at least offer something different). Motson, who always seems to be at least 10 seconds behind what the viewer can already see, and Robot Wars on the commentary barely improve the situation. It's turned into an old boy's club - they need to introduce someone who's going to inject intelligent humour (opposed to Ian Wright's) and the odd controversial opinion. Fail that they could always bring in Laura Esposto.

[bill best]

I can live with the pundits, they’re on before and after the game and at half time, so I can switch them off. The bane of my life is the 'expert' summariser acting as co-commentator – they’re on during the game and there’s no getting away from them. Craig Burley has to be the worst – where did he come from and what are his credentials to tell us all about the Premiership? Close behind in terms of teeth grinding annoyance comes Gary Birtles, Ian Marwood and Tony Gale. They tell us the blindingly obvious every week and they role out the same old clichés over and over again
Can we have a red button to shut-off the ‘expert’ summarisers – please!

[Josh Dickson]

Sunday supplement's a regular watch, especially when there's a few decent journalists on like yourself and Oliver Holt. I hope I can't see anyone criticising Adrian Chilles - the man is sheer class. I must admit, Lee Dixon used to really annoy me, but if you listen to him he's actually a really good pundit and is knowledgeable about the european aswell as english game. Although if anyone's seen RTE with the delightful Eamon Dunphy on, they'll surely agree we could do with him over here. If anyone hasn't, search him on youtube.

[Macca]

How come no-one has mentioned the perennially smug Garth Crooks or the wooden John Barnes yet? Jamie Redknapp would be better looking after the kid and sending his wife along instead. Andy Townsend never seems to offer any insight, and Gavin Peacock never mentions that Chelsea were rubbish when he played for them.
The only one who is really worth listening to is Alan Hansen, shame none of the Scotland managers seemen to rate him as a player.

[Rich]

It's about time David Pleat was "disappeared". If anyone has ever actually listened to his inane ramblings and thought they add anything to proceedings I'd be amazed. For someone formerly in a position of some authority at a Premiership club, I can't believe some of the inspid drivel and irrelevances he spouts.

God help us if he ever works with Motty.

[Jamie]

I never thought I'd be doing this but here i am defending Ian Wright's punditry. You only need a glimpse on sky1 on a saturday to see how much better they run it. Andy Gray as a commentator is world class, he makes a game more exciting. The charisma and passion in his voice brightens up any wigan/fulham/boro game i've seen. Whereas 'Motty' will be telling you how many times these teams have had goaless draws and whatever other useless stats the anorak comes up with.

The pundits on the BBC team embody blandness. Alan and Alan give you the same thing every time, Lawrenson will sit on the couch and give the least insightful observation then Lineker will finish it off with a joke cheesier than the crisps he sells.

I know Wright is pretty bad as a pundit, but surely Lawrenson serves as much purpose (sorry for jumping on that wagon), possible replacements? Garth Crooks for comedy value?

Ian Wright is a hero on the BBC, he makes the half/full time punditry bearable - when you compare him to the very uncharasmatic pundits that bbc already hav - Shearer, hansen, Lowro, redknapp etc then he by far and out the most enjoyable to watch, he has a mass of football knowledge and tells things how they are - if more pundits were as honest with their beliefs and emotions then there would be more ppl who dont just simply turn off the tv when the rest of the boaring mob come on!!!!

[David Hall]

Mark Lawrenson should be removed from all punditry/commentary duties with immediate effect. His commetary is woeful with stupid immature puns and boring emotive comment. Stuart Hall's (5 Live) tone and command of the english language deserve more public attention. When Lawrenson appears on our screens on MOTD it often seems that he can't even be bothered to be there and again he trots out generic statements sprinkled with his opinion which I dont much care for. Jonathan Pearce (who used to be no more than a loud-mouthed fan with a mike) has matured into (in my opinion) one of the best analyst in the game with intersting insider nuggets that is what a good pundit should have. GET LAWRO OUT

[chris kennedy]

how about Marcotti and Ballague as pundits for the Premiership. I dont always agree with them but they offer a different view, insight knowledge and are not afraid to tell is like it is

[NH]

Obviously no one feels the same as me but....Jim Beglin irritates me so much, I change the channel. Talk about saying the obvious...jesh.

[Gareth Pearce]

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 of journos provide any really original insight ... The reality is, the art of 'punditry' is hit and miss, and just as there are only a handful of good, original thinking 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. That's life! My suggestion, turn it off and go to the pub where you can't hear anything anyway and at least then we won't have four closing each day!

[james]

adrain chiles hilarious? do me a favour... he asks a question then interupts before he gets an answer. he was useless on the money show, and he's useless on motd2. bbc paid money for gabby, and i hoped we would see her and the end of chiles useless presenting style, but not to be.

[Elliott]

Although Ian Wright provided plenty of entertainment (sometimes unintentional!) he wont be missed for his less than insightful punditry. As has been mentioned a lot of todays pundits seem to state the obvious and really dont add anything useful to the half time break where the average footy fan likes to be enlightened with the games tactical nuances rather than showered with quotes akin to "what a goal that is!". It makes you wonder how much they actaully know about the game. In my opinion the best commentator is Peter Drury from ITV. He's articulate and knowledgeable and most importantly doesnt make you want to throw anything at your TV! In my opinion the best punditry team can be found on MOTD, Adrian Chiles is hilarious and amiable while Gavin Peacock and Lee Dixon offer incisive and insightful analysis. By far the worst pundit/commentator has to be Mark Bright, my god he comes out with some rubbish!

[Hilary]

Football is a game full of emotions, from fan and footballer alike. It stikes me that 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 and that variety made the half time "Chat" more viewable. There are some very snobbish views posted here, I think I would prefer to take the views of an actual footballer, who has been out there and done it, rather than the, sit at home in front of my telly pundit.

[JPB]

Ian Wright is thick as two short planks and unable to string a sensible sentence together, whether it be about football or anything else, and should never have been a TV pundit in the first place...great striker for Arsenal but get him OFF the TV now that he is too old to play football!

[Noel Preston]

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 Graham Souness. They are world class compared to ITV and BBC. They never sit on the fence and often aggressivly argue points amongst themselves. I'd never watch BBC or ITV if a game is also on RTE.

[Adam Michie]

I like to hear the opinions of former players but like in many fields, being good at something, doesnt give you the skills to teach it to someone else. Hansen is incisive and explains things well but Shearer is hardly a shining beacon of articulate insights. Wright was a hyper active sideshow who did seem to provide almost a fan's perspective, but between his hoots and shouts I couldnt decipher anything of much worth. I think we need more journalists taking the hot seat. They are fans but have the wit and foresight to criticise or praise when it is needed. Martin, any chance of making a MOTD or Sky Sports pre match and half time debut?

[Alastair Simpson]

As Boris trundles towards victory in London, the BBC should take note and let Mark Lawrenson take the wheel for all its coverage. Clearly the public warm to the sort of character that talks first and thinks later. Classics such as "These managers all know their onions and cut their cloth accordingly," and "Michael Owen isn't the tallest of lads, but his height more than makes up for that," would surely boost viewer interest in a tired show like Match of the Day!

[Ian Humphries]

whilst watching the Hull Barnsley game last week, Ian Darke and Peter Beagregave the best match commentry ive ever heard! Souness is alright and Ray wilkins on Champions league night but the rest on sky need a shake up!! More Jeff Steling i say!! When talking of the worst how has anyone not mentioned the entire channel 5 team!! Colin Murphy John Barnes and Pat Nevin, no wonder Bolton wanted out of the UEFA Cup!

[Hollis Brown]

Familiarity breeds contempt. I used to enjoy listening to Alan Hansen but now find it utterly tiresome when he trots out his analysis: "it's all about power, pace, touch and technique".

Martin O'Neil is very good. He has great passion and energy. Shame he took the Villa job.

Nowadays, I very rarely watch half time analysis and usually change channels when the pundits are speaking on Match of the Day.

Once upon a time, there was a jewel in the crown of football punditry. A beacon of hope, like the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. They called it Townsend's Tactics Truck. Naysayers call it an urban legend, but I believe. One day it will return.

[Bob Hammond]

Comparing Ian Wright's punditry to to the analytical, articulate Alan Hansen is like comparing Accrington Stanley to Man Utd. The BBC are well rid of him - what were they thinking putting him on the pundit's couch in the first place though?

[JVS]

I fully agree with those who have said enough is enough in respect of Wright, an intellectual vacuum; Linekar, a sorry copy of his hero Des Lynham and Jamie Redknapp, a dullard who verbalises every ill formed thought and persists with the platitudes and quips even Andy Gray is ashamed to continue repeating. PLease, someone, send us a journalist and no more sinecures for dressing room loitherers who won't be honest for fear of not being thought of as one of the lads.

[Rumwold Leigh]

I have long advocated a radical football commentary and analysis duo - Harry Carpenter and Frank Bruno. Intelligent andreasonable analysis from one and gut instinct superficiality from the other. Trouble is, too many vested interests think football commentary and punditry are special skills. Really?

[George Mason]

I do not know why the BBC stick with Garth Crooks, his insufferable manner makes me turn the TV sound down.

[Richard, Nottingham]

After a very short period of time most of the football armchair pundits become VERY annoying. To me the only format that satisfies is MOTD2. Childs, Peacock, Dixon, + guest usually make an informed, interesting, and funny combination.

You can keep the regular MOTD crew. They're only fit for the football knackers yard. Wright is correct in that things need to be freshened up. Periodically.

[Tomred]

The vast majority of pundits on both BBC and Sky Sports appear to be in the comfort zone.

The half-time and post-match analysis consists of replaying the goals, whilst a seasoned professional patronises us with supposedly informative snippets.

"That was a clear red-card", "That was definitely offside" , "That was a great strike". They seem to forget that, whilst the viewers might not have played at a particularly high level of football, we are generally knowledgable enough to spot the obvious without having it rammed down our throats by virtue of several slow-motion replays with accompanying narrative.

I'm hoping Gordon Strachan gets the sack in the summer merely because the insight he offered during his stint on the BBC surpasses anything offered by the likes of Hansen, Shearer, Gray or Redknapp. He focused on the less obvious, but no less important, aspects of where the game was won and lost.

P.S. The manner in which Gray and Redknapp sought to defend the diving antics of Gerrard last week against Blackburn was an utter disgrace. Had the diver been Drogba or Ronaldo - or anyone foreign for that matter - I suspect that rather than labelling it "clever play" they would have called it "cheating", which is, after all, what it was.

[Martin Hardcastle]

No loss losing this clown Wright. I feel the most underated commentator on British TV is Andy Townsend. Bright, enthusiastic and very knowledgable. Come on BBC, give him a call if only to replace Alan (state the obvious) Shearer.

[Mark]

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

The problem with Match of the Day is that it has become a lad's night out which offers little insight. Use a good sports journalist as the anchorman and it will get much better.

Good riddance to Ian Wright - it was difficult to understand his slovenly accent. As for Jamie Redknapp, he offers no insight at all beyond his own boyish enthusiasm.

[Mark]

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

The problem with Match of the Day is that it has become a lad's night out which offers little insight. Use a good sports journalist as the anchorman and it will get much better.

Good riddance to Ian Wright - it was difficult to understand his slovenly accent. As for Jamie Redknapp, he offers no insight at all beyond his own boyish enthusiasm.

[jon]

the loss of wrighty is huge he added a bit of fun and honesty to even the most boring game, a useful quality when watching england

[Mark F]

There are three types of pundit:
1: The ones who tell you what you can see with your own eyes (the blindingly obvious.) These are Alan Shearer, Jamie Redknapp, Mark Bright, Martin Keown.
2: The ones who tell you something that you might not readily spot from the highlights, or focus on the individual strengths and weaknesses of a player (Alan Hansen, Lee Dixon.)
3: Ian Wright, in a category of his own as a clueless, inarticulate, emotionally immature buffoon.

[Matt Clarke]

Graeme Murty has to have been the worst pundit i've seen for a while, so boring, I just pray that the BBC wont ask him to come back again - i seriously considered turning off the tv when he was a pundit on MOTD2 a few weeks back!

[MB]

Where do you start!? I'd say MOST of the BBC pundits and commentators should be sacked. Motson, however much of an institution is well past his sell by date; and Alan Green from 5Live, although he speaks his mind and doesn't shy from being controversial, is the single most annoying man on radio.

[Zod]

Ian Wright is an embarssment - and im a gooner. What Martin says is totally correct, Wright just doesnt bring anything to the table. Personally, i cant stand Gavin wotshisname - every time he's on the box he just cant wait to tell us that he used to play for Chelsea and Newcastle. Me and my misses have bets on how long it will take hin ti do it. Dixon's not too bad though, but you get the idea that he's only there because he plays golf with Lineker and Hanson. Redknapp? I quite fancy his bird...

[peter marshall]

Alan Shearer is simply awful. Low iq, inarticulate, poor command of the english language and not a great footballer either. Who hires these dummies at the BBC?

[Ben]

Martin, Ever thought about becoming a pundit. I know there is the god awful sunday show with jimmy hill where you all go to justify your views but a how about during and immediately after a game?

[Robinho]

Wrightys agent must be he best on the planet, how on earth he's ever managed to get on tv with his total lack of talent i'll never know, and even worse i have to endure his ugly mug poking out at me when i have my cornflakes every morning too.

[Karl]

Alan Shearer sits on the fence to an extent that is embarrassing. He adds absolutely no value to discussions and comments like what he said about Ronaldo after the incident with Rooney in the World Cup 2006 are a disgrace.

Jamie Redknapp is another who brings nothing to a debate. I question whether he is just on TV to attract female fans because I have never heard a single insight from the man and he is incapable of being unbiased.

[Tim]

Alan Shearer has to be the most boring pundit around and very rarely satisfies any of the criterior martin samuel lists.

Mark Lawrenson is incredibly unfunny and seems to be trying to act cool a lot of the time. It really doesn't work.

Andy Townsend is also seriously hard work.

[Mikhail Raymore]

The majority of the American commentators who ply their trade on Fox Soccer Channel. Max Bretos' constant "Yeeeeessssssss" is getting really annoying. Apart from that, their Americ,an bias is clearly evident at least others try to be fair.I cannot stand wathching a UEFA Cup game with constant MLS references.