Hansen, Lawrensen and Shearer bring shame on the BBC

[laserblue]

From Sports world http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/...lotelli-shows-bar-stool-mentality-of-bbc-s-pu

Many would feel it absurd to admit to themselves how utterly fascinated they are with Balotelli, so they lash out and blame him. Step forward Alan Hansen, he'd probably tell you he has little interest in the player or man but he can't stop talking about him. His coverage and criticism of the young Italian borders on obsession and his reaction to him after yesterday's game was as odd as anything Balotelli has done recently.
Hansen wasn't far away from standing up, ripping his mic off, and pointing angrily at the player. And what had he done? Well, Balotelli had left the pitch distraught after the defeat, he may have been one of a few Italy players to do this but we won't know because the cameras didn't focus in on them.
Balotelli probably wanted to rush to the dressing and cry his eyes out but didn't want that reaction to be on the pitch. Or perhaps he went to the dressing room for some other reason. Frankly, does anyone really care?
Are we not stepping over the line into boy-band infatuation when we're bothered by such a scenario after such a game? As it happens Balotelli returned to the pitch quickly and collected his runners-up medal and, like several team mates, couldn't hold the tears back.
He's on the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport and they paint him as a young footballer devastated by his and his teams failure to do better in the final. Yet in England many are mocking him. There's a palpable jealousy and that's understandable but the way that manifests itself is certainly ugly and petulant.
The lashing out at him and assuming the worst of a situation is as childlike as much he is accused of himself, and he's 21 - Alan Hansen is 57. The 'other Alan', as Gary Lineker dubbed Shearer, has been equally as critical. Before yesterday's game there was an effort led by a seemingly embarrassed Lineker to gloss over the dastardly duo's recent criticism of the Italian by listing his achievements and respecting his talent.
They'd been giving him grief prior to the match against Germany and those insults had been made to look silly given his performance in the game.
Yet by half-time in the final the Beavis and Butthead pairing were back on their soap boxes and at the end of the game the opportunity to slam Balotelli seemed to get Hansen quite aroused. There was little reason for his excited outburst but Balotelli going to the dressing room to sort himself out was used to justify everything he'd said about the player previously.
It almost felt like payback after the striker had the audacity to put in a good performance in the semi-final and make their pre-match pontification seem less prepared than usual. The clown had made them look like clowns and that just couldn't be left unanswered.
Subsequently Spain and their brilliant victory wasn't the most exciting post-match issue for Alan Hansen, he saved his verve to criticise Balotelli. Hansen said Balotelli had been petulant throughout the match which seemed detached from reality but reality isn't a necessary component when it comes to his criticism of the young Italian.
Commentators and pundits have received much criticism throughout this tournament, a lot of it unfair, but if anything tells you that the BBC's Two Alans set-up isn't worth the fortune thrown at it, it's their bar-stool reactions to twenty one year old Mario Balotelli.

excellent. sums up the unjustified insults of shearer, snide comments of lawrenson and bizarre obsession of hansen to a t. the bbc should retire the three of them asap. bunch of cunts.

 

[adrianr]

From Sports world http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/...lotelli-shows-bar-stool-mentality-of-bbc-s-pu

Many would feel it absurd to admit to themselves how utterly fascinated they are with Balotelli, so they lash out and blame him. Step forward Alan Hansen, he'd probably tell you he has little interest in the player or man but he can't stop talking about him. His coverage and criticism of the young Italian borders on obsession and his reaction to him after yesterday's game was as odd as anything Balotelli has done recently.
Hansen wasn't far away from standing up, ripping his mic off, and pointing angrily at the player. And what had he done? Well, Balotelli had left the pitch distraught after the defeat, he may have been one of a few Italy players to do this but we won't know because the cameras didn't focus in on them.
Balotelli probably wanted to rush to the dressing and cry his eyes out but didn't want that reaction to be on the pitch. Or perhaps he went to the dressing room for some other reason. Frankly, does anyone really care?
Are we not stepping over the line into boy-band infatuation when we're bothered by such a scenario after such a game? As it happens Balotelli returned to the pitch quickly and collected his runners-up medal and, like several team mates, couldn't hold the tears back.
He's on the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport and they paint him as a young footballer devastated by his and his teams failure to do better in the final. Yet in England many are mocking him. There's a palpable jealousy and that's understandable but the way that manifests itself is certainly ugly and petulant.
The lashing out at him and assuming the worst of a situation is as childlike as much he is accused of himself, and he's 21 - Alan Hansen is 57. The 'other Alan', as Gary Lineker dubbed Shearer, has been equally as critical. Before yesterday's game there was an effort led by a seemingly embarrassed Lineker to gloss over the dastardly duo's recent criticism of the Italian by listing his achievements and respecting his talent.
They'd been giving him grief prior to the match against Germany and those insults had been made to look silly given his performance in the game.
Yet by half-time in the final the Beavis and Butthead pairing were back on their soap boxes and at the end of the game the opportunity to slam Balotelli seemed to get Hansen quite aroused. There was little reason for his excited outburst but Balotelli going to the dressing room to sort himself out was used to justify everything he'd said about the player previously.
It almost felt like payback after the striker had the audacity to put in a good performance in the semi-final and make their pre-match pontification seem less prepared than usual. The clown had made them look like clowns and that just couldn't be left unanswered.
Subsequently Spain and their brilliant victory wasn't the most exciting post-match issue for Alan Hansen, he saved his verve to criticise Balotelli. Hansen said Balotelli had been petulant throughout the match which seemed detached from reality but reality isn't a necessary component when it comes to his criticism of the young Italian.
Commentators and pundits have received much criticism throughout this tournament, a lot of it unfair, but if anything tells you that the BBC's Two Alans set-up isn't worth the fortune thrown at it, it's their bar-stool reactions to twenty one year old Mario Balotelli.

If anything ever needed the gif of the man fiercely clapping it's this.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

Has complaining to the BBC made a difference? It is too early to tell, but I very much suspect that something has been said to the pundits (even if Hansen’s and Lawrenson’s behaviour has not improved as yet). It was very noticeable how Gary Lineker distanced himself from the opinions of Hansen on two occasions: the England v Italy game and the Final itself. He clearly isn’t comfortable around him on the subject of Balotelli, and has made it clear that he does not feel the same way. I urge people to complain to the BBC if they haven’t already done so, because it is important to demonstrate that the punditry of Hansen and Lawrenson in particular is not acceptable. The BBC cannot be seen to sweep this under the carpet, especially if prejudice is involved.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/</a>

 

[johnny crossan]

From Sports world http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/...lotelli-shows-bar-stool-mentality-of-bbc-s-pu

Many would feel it absurd to admit to themselves how utterly fascinated they are with Balotelli, so they lash out and blame him. Step forward Alan Hansen, he'd probably tell you he has little interest in the player or man but he can't stop talking about him. His coverage and criticism of the young Italian borders on obsession and his reaction to him after yesterday's game was as odd as anything Balotelli has done recently.
Hansen wasn't far away from standing up, ripping his mic off, and pointing angrily at the player. And what had he done? Well, Balotelli had left the pitch distraught after the defeat, he may have been one of a few Italy players to do this but we won't know because the cameras didn't focus in on them.
Balotelli probably wanted to rush to the dressing and cry his eyes out but didn't want that reaction to be on the pitch. Or perhaps he went to the dressing room for some other reason. Frankly, does anyone really care?
Are we not stepping over the line into boy-band infatuation when we're bothered by such a scenario after such a game? As it happens Balotelli returned to the pitch quickly and collected his runners-up medal and, like several team mates, couldn't hold the tears back.
He's on the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport and they paint him as a young footballer devastated by his and his teams failure to do better in the final. Yet in England many are mocking him. There's a palpable jealousy and that's understandable but the way that manifests itself is certainly ugly and petulant.
The lashing out at him and assuming the worst of a situation is as childlike as much he is accused of himself, and he's 21 - Alan Hansen is 57. The 'other Alan', as Gary Lineker dubbed Shearer, has been equally as critical. Before yesterday's game there was an effort led by a seemingly embarrassed Lineker to gloss over the dastardly duo's recent criticism of the Italian by listing his achievements and respecting his talent.
They'd been giving him grief prior to the match against Germany and those insults had been made to look silly given his performance in the game.
Yet by half-time in the final the Beavis and Butthead pairing were back on their soap boxes and at the end of the game the opportunity to slam Balotelli seemed to get Hansen quite aroused. There was little reason for his excited outburst but Balotelli going to the dressing room to sort himself out was used to justify everything he'd said about the player previously.
It almost felt like payback after the striker had the audacity to put in a good performance in the semi-final and make their pre-match pontification seem less prepared than usual. The clown had made them look like clowns and that just couldn't be left unanswered.
Subsequently Spain and their brilliant victory wasn't the most exciting post-match issue for Alan Hansen, he saved his verve to criticise Balotelli. Hansen said Balotelli had been petulant throughout the match which seemed detached from reality but reality isn't a necessary component when it comes to his criticism of the young Italian.
Commentators and pundits have received much criticism throughout this tournament, a lot of it unfair, but if anything tells you that the BBC's Two Alans set-up isn't worth the fortune thrown at it, it's their bar-stool reactions to twenty one year old Mario Balotelli.

If anything ever needed the gif of the man fiercely clapping it's this.

 

[pfazz]

Has complaining to the BBC made a difference? It is too early to tell, but I very much suspect that something has been said to the pundits (even if Hansen’s and Lawrenson’s behaviour has not improved as yet). It was very noticeable how Gary Lineker distanced himself from the opinions of Hansen on two occasions: the England v Italy game and the Final itself. He clearly isn’t comfortable around him on the subject of Balotelli, and has made it clear that he does not feel the same way. I urge people to complain to the BBC if they haven’t already done so, because it is important to demonstrate that the punditry of Hansen and Lawrenson in particular is not acceptable. The BBC cannot be seen to sweep this under the carpet, especially if prejudice is involved.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/</a>

Do it now, it's easy to do, only takes a couple of minutes and if enough people complain it WILL make a difference.

 

[oakiecokie]

Has complaining to the BBC made a difference? It is too early to tell, but I very much suspect that something has been said to the pundits (even if Hansen’s and Lawrenson’s behaviour has not improved as yet). It was very noticeable how Gary Lineker distanced himself from the opinions of Hansen on two occasions: the England v Italy game and the Final itself. He clearly isn’t comfortable around him on the subject of Balotelli, and has made it clear that he does not feel the same way. I urge people to complain to the BBC if they haven’t already done so, because it is important to demonstrate that the punditry of Hansen and Lawrenson in particular is not acceptable. The BBC cannot be seen to sweep this under the carpet, especially if prejudice is involved.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/</a>

In all fairness to Lineker he has stated on at least two occasions that he actually likes Balotelli.This was during the innane drivel from Dumb & Dumbers assessment on a game, where the usual onslaught started.

 

[richardtheref]

Has complaining to the BBC made a difference? It is too early to tell, but I very much suspect that something has been said to the pundits (even if Hansen’s and Lawrenson’s behaviour has not improved as yet). It was very noticeable how Gary Lineker distanced himself from the opinions of Hansen on two occasions: the England v Italy game and the Final itself. He clearly isn’t comfortable around him on the subject of Balotelli, and has made it clear that he does not feel the same way. I urge people to complain to the BBC if they haven’t already done so, because it is important to demonstrate that the punditry of Hansen and Lawrenson in particular is not acceptable. The BBC cannot be seen to sweep this under the carpet, especially if prejudice is involved.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/</a>

Lineker was on Talksport earlier on and said that Mario was his favourite player in the Premiership and that he did not understand the others attitude. Did Hanson also state that Mario had flicked out at a couple of players and elbowed another one or did i imagine this, just like Hanson seems to have.

 

[sergiokun]

I watched itv because i am sick of what they say about Mario. What did Gary say to them? Glad someone shut them up. I want buzzer on with both of them

 

[hertsblue]

I just find it amazing that they pay hansen 40k a week.
They could get better with paying someone 40k a year. There would be no shortage of ex players, ones who have played more recent than hansen for a 40k a year salary.
Just shows the incredible waste of licence money that goes on there

 

[aage's banana]

I've complained to the BBC about the standard of punditry before and during last night's game and next time I will vote with my feet and watch ITV instead.
Lawrenson's commentary is an absolute embarrassment - apart from his frankly awful puns throughout every game (when does he actually say anything which could be considered insightful?), his apparent desire to be a puppet for Hansen's views last night was the final straw. On at least a couple of occasions last night he seemed to be watching a completely different Balotelli to the one I was watching, spotting apparent elbows, flicks scowls which I just didn't see. If the ref had applied the same rules to Sergio Ramos, the guy would have been sent off way before the first half was out.
Hansen is simply obsessed, bitter, vitriolic and biased. He questions Balotelli's attitude (do you think Mario's tears at the end were down to him not caring or were they the tears of someone who really felt that defeat?), his ability (did he actually watch the semi?) and his teamwork (I watched Balotelli making endless runs into space as well as defending from the front throughout the semi and the final). I've never liked/agreed with Hansen but he made himself look like an absolute idiot last night.
Shearer is a Hansen apologist and couldn't bring himself to apologise for making previous factually incorrect comments about Mario's past achievements (well-documented in this thread) before the semi and Lineker should have pushed him on it. If you can't get facts right, you should be given the elbow.
I, and every City fan, know that Balotelli often doesn't do himslef any favours, goes missing in matches and has a poor disciplinary record. However, he is only 21, appears to be learning under the wing of two decent managers and will mature and improve as a player every season but he gets no slack from these childish, bitter outdated fools that the BBC pays a hefty chunk of our licence fee to employ.
Complain and then vote with your feet.

Rant over!