Are pundits necessary?

bluetonium said:
Honestly, no they're not. But I'd love for some insight, non-pantomime characters to be allowed the chance. Commentary yes I can live with, although the various styles and competencies are noticable. Some commentators are all about getting every researched fact in and go overboard, forgetting to tell us what is happening, and others seem there for the jolly rather than to inform.

But punditry has largely become a clowns game. Stick a red nose and size 18 shoes on Carragher, Richards or Neville and it'd only suit their style further. It's more about them than the game, and I'm just not interested nor prepared to pay a dime to hear it.

I get more insight into the team we're playing, their tactics and best players, from the 5 minutes guest slot on the blue moon podcast than I do from most pundits. That's what I, as a consumer, actually want. Tell me how they're going to play, the mindset, the risk and reward of how they've set up, anything to watch for. But it's not what the big paying subscribers want, seemingly, as they're happy to pay the money to hear their sponsored bozo cheering for them and against anyone else.

That shows worry about losing the type of Neville/Carragher partnership they have in place speaks volumes about the kind of product they want to put out. It's not too many steps away from the professionally offended like goldbridge, and the relevance these kinds of players have towards the modern game is just too distant for me.

There's room for punditry and commentary evidently as appealing to the masses is the name of the game. But for those of us interested in the tactics, the former manager insight, the ex player who doesn't also have a marvel alter ego as captain cruddypants and his awesome giggle, then we're largely out of luck.

Big exceptions though are Izzy Christensen, Nedum, Joe Hart for a city point of view, albeit I think they're largely fair also, but beyond that there genuinely isn't one name I'd activity pay ot tune in to hear. There probably are a few non City ones too, but I fear they get so little opportunity to return if they don't make a favourable impression with key subscriber groups, that they're replaced by anybody with more than fifty games for a 'top' side who might enhance subscriber longevity of those same key groups.
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Yeah it’s WWE levels of insight at present. There would be a market for something different and more tactical but the TV deal does not offer competition in the sense of multiple firms having rights to same games
 
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Bluewonder said:
Stopped watching the pre-match nonsense and started switching off at HT years ago.

Football is much more enjoyable now.

I just think pundits are mostly thick so I don't want to listen to their views.
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This all day now, so much more relaxing not letting yourself get wound up by the shite they chat.

Switch on at kick-off , then at Half time I pop it on mute so I don’t miss the restart but don’t need to listen to Micah, Spit, Ratboy etc ‘insight’ into the game.

Will admit to watching the interviews and reaction for a bit when we win a big game. The flip side is that the hurt / saltiness they express is wonderful to behold!
 
Bluewonder said:
Stopped watching the pre-match nonsense and started switching off at HT years ago.

Football is much more enjoyable now.

I just think pundits are mostly thick so I don't want to listen to their views.
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Absolutely. I never, ever listen to pre match or anybody their post match. I sometimes look at some stuff on YouTube but only for shits and giggles when the Rags lose.
 
Co Commentators didn't exist until the mid 80's, and that was just Jimmy Hill sticking his big chin in, on cup final day.

As for punditry, the huge majority are fick (sic) lame brains with a personal agenda to their club.

When it's on, I chose the "best" commentary team available....which will NEVER be Sky

Last night, I (just about) bared Jon (bitter) Champion and the Irish dullard Beglin
 
Have a gander at TNT Sport 1 now.

Fletch and McCoist are doing a live watch a long of the snooker.

They’re currently talking about getting wrong trains and having to buy extra train tickets.

This has got to be the worst thing to happen in sport on tv ever.
 
When I'm watching a live game, I'll tune in 2-3 minutes before kick off. Turn over at HT, or else mute the telly and go and make a cup of coffee and a sarnie. Tune back in 15 minutes later, then turn off at FT. As for highlights, I watch the Sky Sports highlights packages on YouTube. 2-3 minute packages, on within an hour of the final whistle. And no punditry. Haven't watched Match of the Day in a long long time.
 
I've been watching the Arse v palace game on mute

Palace have just scored, so i turned the sound on, and the INCREDIBLY dull Alan Smith said "out of the blue, that one"

A quick look at MATCH STATS said
Attempts
Arse 3
Palace 5

Why is it out of the blue, and why is the dullard getting paid?
 
Of course they are. What do you want, for the show to start on kick off? It doesn’t work like that. I enjoy the build up to games, mainly MNF when they go through the weekends games.

Just don’t take it too seriously.
 
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