Pundits and Commentators

I don't think nationality has anything to do with it.

What I find frustrating is the inability of ex-professionals to draw upon their own experiences in providing insight into the game. Some of them speak as though they are just a spectator like anyone else with nothing of particular value to add.

Don't tell us things we already know or can find in any boozer up and down the country. Tell us what from your experiences the considerations being made might be,  tell us what tactics could be advantageous under the circumstances based on similar situations you've faced, give a sense of what it is actually like to be part of a team trying get out of a situation. So many of them just repeat platitudes and either lack the imagination or the effort to integrate their own experiences into their analysis of the game.

I suppose that's why they end up as pundits.

What I find frustrating is the inability of ex-professionals to draw upon their own experiences in providing insight into the game. Some of them speak as though they are just a spectator like anyone else with nothing of particular value to add.

This is a good point. They don't give you any more insight than what a fellow fan would come out with.

They are supposed to be professionals and listening to them should be a learning experience, not just fan chat.

I don't think nationality has anything to do with it.

What I find frustrating is the inability of ex-professionals to draw upon their own experiences in providing insight into the game. Some of them speak as though they are just a spectator like anyone else with nothing of particular value to add.

Don't tell us things we already know or can find in any boozer up and down the country. Tell us what from your experiences the considerations being made might be,  tell us what tactics could be advantageous under the circumstances based on similar situations you've faced, give a sense of what it is actually like to be part of a team trying get out of a situation. So many of them just repeat platitudes and either lack the imagination or the effort to integrate their own experiences into their analysis of the game.

I suppose that's why they end up as pundits.

It's striking when you see the quality of analysis in other sports including a lot of ex players. Football seems to think if you have won a few trophies or are a 'big name's, that is enough

It's striking when you see the quality of analysis in other sports including a lot of ex players. Football seems to think if you have won a few trophies or are a 'big name's, that is enough

A great example is the NFL show on the BBC.

Great chemistry with Mark Chapman, who had left now, and Osi and Jason. But as well as having fun they give great insight into the game.

I don't think nationality has anything to do with it.

What I find frustrating is the inability of ex-professionals to draw upon their own experiences in providing insight into the game. Some of them speak as though they are just a spectator like anyone else with nothing of particular value to add.

Don't tell us things we already know or can find in any boozer up and down the country. Tell us what from your experiences the considerations being made might be,  tell us what tactics could be advantageous under the circumstances based on similar situations you've faced, give a sense of what it is actually like to be part of a team trying get out of a situation. So many of them just repeat platitudes and either lack the imagination or the effort to integrate their own experiences into their analysis of the game.

I suppose that's why they end up as pundits.

I think most of the top ex pros are a bit dense to be honest.
It seems the more intelligent intellectual ex players have other fish to fry .

I think most of the top ex pros are a bit dense to be honest.
It seems the more intelligent intellectual ex players have other fish to fry .

On the continent I feel they employ people who really take it seriously. Jürgen did punditry work during World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008 for German TV. He was a revelation and he took it really seriously, prepping and watching vids for interactive 'smart screen' analysis. We don't have anyone like that to fall back on.

The worse thing is, as license fee players we're paying the likes of Jenas, Savage and co to spew out these abject clichés and banal insights on the BBC. They clearly don't do prwpr work. We expect them to tell us something we don't know. But they don't. They're earning money for next to none prep work.

Jenas and Mowbray is possibly my most hated commentary duo.

Painful.

The late great Richie benaud said that two words you never use in commentary are us and we. F**k me, the standard of commentary  apart from Clive, ally and probably Steve Wilson has been abject.

The late great Richie benaud said that two words you never use in commentary are us and we. F**k me, the standard of commentary  apart from Clive, ally and probably Steve Wilson has been abject.

Fantastic comentator was Richie

Fantastic comentator was Richie

Yep, he was probably the best of all the cricket comms, as was good old Bill McClaren of Rugby Union, Alan Green was pretty good too but not on the same level as Richie or Bill.

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/1413487182761926657?s=19

https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/1413487182761926657?s=19

Can't be doing with the dour, cynicism of Dixon so it'll have to be the BBC.

It really should've been Ali McCoist but imagine the uproar if they dared to put a Scotsman in, even though he's undoubtedly been the best throughout the tournament.

Can't be doing with the dour, cynicism of Dixon so it'll have to be the BBC.

It really should've been Ali McCoist but imagine the uproar if they dared to put a Scotsman in, even though he's undoubtedly been the best throughout the tournament.

If there's any English person out there who would prefer Dixon or Jenas over McCoist on account the latter is Scottish then they should be shot.

But for England's biggest match in over 50 years, that's a putrid commentary lineup.

Sad thing is, I quite liked Lee Dixon when he's in the studio. But in the commentary box he's doing a Lawro impression with all that dourness and cynicism. As for Jenas...the less said about him the better.

Mowbray - when he's commentating on a goal it sounds like he's trying to be heard over a force 9 gale at sea. Matterface - just a Patridgean fool really.

I suppose that's why they end up as pundits.

If they’re that good, they’d end up as managers themselves. And remain there. It’s easy to name a few pundits who were previously sacked as managers.

Being a Scot I will watch the game in mute, there is no doubt in my mind that any comments will undoubtedly be biased and that can't be helped for obvious reasons, 

Its just how it is, I wish England well, and  hope it's a very good game, however, I do favour the Italians because if it's victory for England just like in '66' we'll never hear the end of it.

Arrividerci!

Being a Scot I will watch the game in mute, there is no doubt in my mind that any comments will undoubtedly be biased and that can't be helped for obvious reasons, 

Its just how it is, I wish England well, and  hope it's a very good game, however, I do favour the Italians because if it's victory for England just like in '66' we'll never hear the end of it.

Arrividerci!

... It's one on one!

No but seriously I echo your sentiments Billy. Would love to see Italy claim another major and this side has entertained us so much. Its been a real pleasure watching them and they start as solid favourites for me.

However I wouldn't begrudge England a victory in front of their fans on home turf. I suppose from a socio-political context the team and Southgate stand apart from the political nature of England and dare I say it represent an England that is the sort of progressive and modern society that it really is. It's lovely when sport and culture, like the London Olympics did in 2012 (with some extra help from Danny Boyle) can hold up a mirror to the better side of the country. It's amazing because they stand contrary to a large core of the England support who represent backwardness of some with their attitudes. I can sense a France 98 moment for them.

It should be a great final.

Keane was sucking Lemons after the game