Garth Crooks

[allen]

Not sure if anyone has dared say it yet but I'll dive in and do so - he's the token black pundit for the BBC, hired for his skin colour to fill quotas rather than any semblance of ability to do his job well.

It's not "racist" to point that out as it's glaringly obvious.

He's not 'the token black pundit', though. Mark Bright, Ian Wright and Jason Roberts are all better.

 

[neil999]

not sure about quota thing..i mean barnes,wright, bright(who is pretty good...not sure why he doesnt get a role as high as crooks) would be a better choice if that was the case, i think bbc are just terrible at picking pundits

shearer and hansen are TERRIBLE analysts for example

 

[Tubey]

He's not 'the token black pundit', though. Mark Bright, Ian Wright and Jason Roberts are all better.

Think Crooks came before they did though. Not saying that he's now the sole token black pundit as that'd be ridiculous - as said, Carlisle is on often and those three you mention are decent to varying degrees - but he was the original and it speaks volumes that he hasn't been replaced when it's clear he's utterly useless.

It seems to me that the only reason he's there is because the BBC have a quota they have to fill in terms of demographics, which I can actually understand but I think that quota should still be fulfilled by people competent at their jobs!

 

[bluemangroup]

Agree, but I can understand why the BBC thought he was value to the licence payer due to his reputation in the game. I think he should be binned too once it became apparent how bad he was, but at least there was an acceptable reason for him being there in the first place aside from solely his skin colour, which appears to be the case with Crooks. Same with Michael Owen - I can understand the credentials for him on ESPN, but he's seriously, seriously dreadful at the actual job.

As an aside, still light years away from having a black main presenter for Match of the Day, simply because the BBC prefer people like Crooks - incompetent pieces of the office furniture who'll never rock boats as he's utterly incapable of doing anything beyond what he currently does, which he already does badly.

There are a fair few who offer little pundit-wise. But I don't understand why Crooks is picked over somebody like Mark Bright or Dion Dublin if it is positive discrimination, why pick one of the worst ambassadors for black ex-footballers?

 

[allen]

shearer and hansen are TERRIBLE analysts for example

Exactly. It's cheap to blame affirmative action.

Don't forget Lawrenson. I'd rather three Crooks than one Lawro.

 

[Tubey]

There are a fair few who offer little pundit-wise. But I don't understand why Crooks is picked over somebody like Mark Bright or Dion Dublin it is positive discrimination, why pick one of the worst ambassadors for black ex-footballers?

As said, to not rock the boat. Pick a few no matter who they are or what they do so you can point at them as examples of "equal opportunity".

Happens in a few walks of life - see the politicians with female MPs in nothing roles just so they don't look like the old Etonians they are on television every Wednesday.

I may be looking at it too deeply with Crooks, but here's my thought process - you have a guy who has been bad at his job forever, yet he's never dismissed from it. You then have to wonder why that is. I could be wrong in what I'm saying but I think there's still a logic behind suggesting it.

 

[Dithering Dougie]

Exactly. It's cheap to blame affirmative action.

Don't forget Lawrenson. I'd rather three Crooks than one Lawro.

You need a Lawro to many Crooks spoil the broth...

 

[bluemangroup]

As said, to not rock the boat. Pick a few no matter who they are or what they do so you can point at them as examples of "equal opportunity".

Happens in a few walks of life - see the politicians with female MPs in nothing roles just so they don't look like the old Etonians they are on television every Wednesday.

I may be looking at it too deeply with Crooks, but here's my thought process - you have a guy who has been bad at his job forever, yet he's never dismissed from it. You then have to wonder why that is. I could be wrong in what I'm saying but I think there's still a logic behind suggesting it.

But again, there are some fairly incumbent white guys who are hopeless and should be shown the door. I think possibly initially he was picked to meet quotas, but him being crap and not being dismissed isn't because of his colour, because the BBC have been slow to clear out deadwood of any colour.

 

[Tubey]

But again, there are some fairly incumbent white guys who are hopeless and should be shown the door. I think possibly initially he was picked to meet quotas, but him being crap and not being dismissed isn't because of his colour, because the BBC have been slow to clear out deadwood of any colour.

Possibly. With Hansen and Lawrenson though I think there's a different reason - "jobs for the boys". Just can't see Crooks being in that bracket though.

 

[Blues Harp]

You need a Lawro to many Crooks spoil the broth...

I'll see your 3 Crooks and raise you a Carralaaa.......

 

[hafnia]

People mistake intelligence and thoughtfulness with taking too long to get your words out.

Garth Crooks, Clark Carlisle, Brian Moore - Just stop tring to look clever!!! Take a note out of the likes of Collymore, Jason Roberts, Carraghers book - talk with pace and passion.

 

[Minimeister]

Is anyone sure he played football for a living?

I'm sure he scored the winner at the pit so he's not all bad....

 

[Dithering Dougie]

People mistake intelligence and thoughtfulness with taking too long to get your words out.

Garth Crooks, Clark Carlisle, Brian Moore - Just stop tring to look clever!!! Take a note out of the likes of Collymore, Jason Roberts, Carraghers book - talk with pace and passion.

He's an awful pundit, and that's got nothing to do with his career history. His train of thought disappears 4-5 words into sentence and that's when the first in take of breath through his teeth can be heard, quickly followed by his first Erm...then a blank space, them 5 more words and add and repeat until the host interjects and moves onto the other pundit.

 

[Minimeister]

I don't think you could fall any lower than if your missus told you she was having an affair with Garth Crookes.

 

[GwladysStreetHero]

People mistake intelligence and thoughtfulness with taking too long to get your words out.

Garth Crooks, Clark Carlisle, Brian Moore - Just stop tring to look clever!!! Take a note out of the likes of Collymore, Jason Roberts, Carraghers book - talk with pace and passion.

Carragher are you messin he's an embarrassment to bootle sky and himself!