It's taken some going for the BBC to have proved themselves more inept than ITV at this World Cup; to be No. 2 in a field of two behind a broadcaster that missed England's opening goal at the tournament, has lost one of their pundits to a ticket scandal, and employs James Corden in the pursuit of happiness. But, nonetheless, that's what they've managed. Well done, my BBC!It's difficult to say this without sounding like a Daily Mail leader writer, but the folk running the corporation's football department should be frog-marched, one by one, into the round in front of Television Centre, and ceremonially shot in front of a baying crowd of rabid licence-fee payers. Because the coverage their charges have provided so far has been both risible and insulting.
Last Sunday afternoon, Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer all admitted to knowing nothing about either Algeria or Slovenia - then fessed up to having done no research whatsoever to address this sorry state of affairs. Christ. Even a token nod to effort would have been enough. But no. Not even a single click on Google. Hansen even had the temerity to complain at being tasked with watching the match on his birthday. (Note to Alan: like millions of other folk, I too have had, on occasion, to graft for beans on my birthday. It wasn't on a different continent on expenses, though, with my only remit to chunter mince about football for less than ten minutes.)
Presumably pulled up by the suits for this miserable display, Hansen announced ahead of the game between New Zealand and Slovakia that he was looking forward to the match. Honestly. Delivered with an arched eyebrow, the announcement carried all the weight of Diego Maradona's apology to Michel Platini and Pele.
And then, on Thursday, Hansen was only just beaten by Gonzalo Higuain to the 2010 World Cup's first hat-trick by a couple of hours, when he made it three in the hole by riffing on the low quality of the first two minutes of Greece against Nigeria. The first two minutes. Hansen quipped at half time that, at that stage in the game, he would have been more than happy with a total loss of pictures; the fact that the majority of the country was thinking the very same thing while suffering his analysis segment is unlikely to have crossed his mind.
This complacent display was brought into sharp focus on Thursday night, with the arrival in the BBC studio of Danny Baker, half an hour after the end of the France-Mexico game. Shearer had admittedly already shown a little animation: immediately after the final whistle, he loudly (and correctly) denounced the French display as pathetic and nowhere near good enough. But even that call was more heat than light; there was no actual analysis of France's display, just a rant at Raymond Domenech's faux-casual pitchside demeanour. God knows there are enough sticks to beat Domenech with; playing the man not the ball was totally unnceccesary.
When Baker finally arrived on the scene, he immediately energised the show. He forwarded two main arguments. The first, that France would still reach the quarter-finals, as a result of Mexico and Uruguay going for a win in their last game so as to bodyswerve Argentina in the second round, was quietly pooh-poohed by Shearer and Lineker. The second was immediately laughed out of court. "Have you been drinking?" laughed Shearer, in response to Baker's assertion that "England are not good enough yet to go out."
On the face of it - which was as far as Shearer got - a bit daft. But it was a brilliant piece of logic, one that only a fan, and not a cosy former professional footballer, could conjure up. England won't get knocked out yet, Baker explained to the former England striker, because they always improve during tournaments after a shaky start, eventually losing the one match they play really well in. This was set out slowly, and carefully, in simple, bite-sized chunks. "I'll have a pint of whatever he's been having," bellowed Shearer once Baker had finished, going on the attack, presumably out of blustery embarrassment. A grim display. Lineker at least had the decency to look confused and slightly uneasy.
Baker should be asked back onto every single panel from here on in. And given the middle seat to boot. That he won't be, while Shearer keeps on keepin' on, says a lot about how the BBC suits view - and treat - their football audience. It's a clearer message than any of their pundits have managed to deliver all tournament. Anyone fancy meeting at Television Centre on Monday morning?
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
When told of the disallowed American goal, Hansen commented sarcastically," I'm a broken man." Later, he opined that "England are easily the class of this segment of the competition." That was before their draw with Algeria. Do they have TVs in his hotel loo? Maybe he could spare them a look. You'd have to describe him as an Olympian winner, just on his point of view!
So The English FA are to sack Capello if the great English tean doesn't win their next game. What a farce. If I was him I would resign now and leave the useless prima donnas to it. If Capello is such a bad manager who employed him. Perhaps they should be sacked also as they wer incompetant in employing him if he is a bad manager.
actually, the guy who gave him the jobs already gone hasnt he?
another thing,
after all the other "GOOD" sides who were meant to walk their groups, isnt it a bit lame to still moan about England. we havent lost a game yet, and look at the teams who have.
and on the booing front, did the spannish boo?, did the Portugese boo?, and did the eyeties boo today?
now the fans of the Euro and WC champs had probably more reason to boo their teams, but did they............................?
Of course Scott your the top man in your field!! and yes that was said in a sarcastic manner.
Good article. People don't really question the aptitude of pundits. Lineker is little more than a punster and Shearer should retire. I like Hansen, but he's not had a good tournament so far. Adebayor has, like most foreign ex-player pundits, been the most interesting and insightful on the panels he's been in. Mark Lawrenson is a great second commentator with his dry wit and laid-back demeanour.
i think all of them especially Gary Linekar are boring, gary is not a good figurehead,get someone with a bit of life in them. True to say Danny was good though
I totally agree with the criticism of the BBC pundits, in fact I stopped listening to them during the last World Cup when they were slagging off Owen Gargreaves. I couldn't believe that we were watching the same game as they gave their opinions about his lack of skill and effort. Amusingly they then went to Alan Ball (he of the winner's medal)at the ground who promptly praised Hargreaves as being the only player to make any effort. I don't mind that they are gibbering idiots who can't string a grammatically correct sentence together but I do mind that I am paying for it. And I'm sick of Shearer saying "for me ......." The only TV expert worth listening to is Gareth Southgate
I am convinced that the three pundits "Linekar, Hansen& Shearer" wouldn't learn much, or benefit from reading any column written by Scott Murray. He is such a 'Twat' It was much better to admit that you weren't fully genned up on a foreign team than to waffle on based on your press readings. I wonder how much he (Scott Murray) actually knows about Algeria and/or Slovenia without Googling them first. Typical sports journalist, wasn't good enough to get into the game himself so he 'grafts' by poking fun at those who did. GRAFT? he doesn't know what GRAFT is. Try doing what many on the terraces have to do to earn their dosh, like 8 to 10 hrs on the factory floor everyday, and then you can talk about GRAFT, Mr Murray.
So many 'pundits' don't actually understand the game anymore and are living on the memories of 32oz stitched balls which bent when you wanted them to. Sure, the modern multi layer lightweight ball has done little to improve the game but the 'soggy mass' of wet leather used to cause concussion most Saturdays and hardly get off the ground when you wanted it too. My generation got many a black eye when the laced section came at you in a heading duel.
If you are truly British get behind all those in our game instead of mocking them - be constructive at least, Mr Murray.
Tony, you seem to be annoyed that Scott Murray doesn't 'graft' but that's his gripe with the morons analysing this world cup; they are paid thousands to analyse events and they can't even be bothered to look up a few facts.
I too get extremely frustrated watching the pundits as they seem to have the scripts written before the match. e.g. praising Brazils skills and creativity against ivory Coast; they made about 4 chances?!
Shearer and Dixon say nothing about the game that a six year old couldn't tell you!
I don't like a lot of Danny Bakers comments but at least he doesn't mind saying what others think. Linaker and friends just tow the establishment line-no stepping out of line and definitely no informed opinions!
Gary and team are factual and informative, unlike the twittering idiot that is Adrian Chiles!
The problem with all footballers and ex-footballers (Martin Keon and Gareth Southgate exempted) is that there is not very much between the ears in the way of intelligence. Equally, FIFA by their inaction, have almost condoned the worst display of diving and play-acting ever seen.
Hence the football matches we see are spoiled by poor refereeing and clear diving - the number of free kicks and cards awarded bears witness to this, even though the really nast cases have been totally missed or ignored.
Bring on some pundits who can speak English, are prepared to pour acidic scorn on cheats and who at least know when to keep their big mouth shut when there is clearly nothing to say.
Mind you, I have just been watching the first day of Wimbledon and comments like 'she is going to have to win some points if she wants to win this match' are on a par with Linneker and co. It would appear that their weekly appearance on MotD has dried up their verbal attributes to a series of well worn but dijointed and, often innappropriate, cliches
Who cares?
I must admit, I was surprised (as a non-kiwi) to find myself really p*ssed off at Lineker for his sarcastic and dismissive attitude towards the kiwis during his Match of the Day comments throughout this tournament. Rapping England's underperforming clowns is one thing, but bagging the kiwis who have shown all the ticker in the world is another. I hope the draw with Italy wiped the smug grim off his tan-tastic face - clown...