Garth Crooks

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Pabbers said:
I really have had enough of these pundits.

I just can't take them seriously.

Mark Lawrenson calling Wengers tactics and Transfer Market dealings......Thats the same Lawro that got sacked by Oxford.

Merson was awfull at Walsall, Shearer was embarrasing at Newcastle.....And Souness.....Torben Picnic FFS !
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I know this is an old post but I feel obliged to agree, majority of pundits are just staggeringly bad. My mind just boggles at the thought of the current crop being the best equipped ex-pros for broadcasting - how bad must the rest be? - but the more likely scenario is that it's a first come, first serve old boys network with merit being a distant consideration (if any) when hiring a pundit. Reading an autocue is something to be applauded - Kamara, Merson (I know they're funny, but only by being so incompetent) - decent knowledge of players and teams is a b bonus, and giving an opinion with even a glimmer of insight is just unheard of.

The dire predicament is highlighted perfectly by Gary Neville. I'm probably not alone in now barely remembering his playing career. Diehard kopites who swore they wouldn't p*** on him if he was on fire have forgotten all about the 'overzealous celebrations' in front of the away fans at Old Trafford a few years back. He was a Neville brother. But he's pretty much wiped all those conceptions from our minds - and fair play to him - by practically revolutionising football punditry. I always liked Andy Gray but even he was betrayed by age, whereas Neville is a thoroughly modern footballer with an intimate understanding of how the game works, analysed by a sharp mind, offering measured opinions and genuine insight explained via an articulate voice. He's even dragging Carragher up towards him, but really he is operating on a plane all of his own. It should actually make us all angrily demand more. The rubbish accepted as standard is an insult to viewer's intelligences and more importantly, an insult to our wallets. Given the hefty prices Sky charge for their sports packages, we should be getting no less than Neville.

And the BBC paying Linekar and Hansen north of £1.5m each per season is just insane. All that fluster about needing to pay 'competitive prices' to keep the best staff, who would pay those two £1.5m for their entirely ordinary work? Replace them with football journalists comfortable in front of a camera. Use ex-pros sparingly and only where it is proven they will bring some insight or analysis unique to their career as a player. I saw the Sunday Supplement the other week, I don't know what the rest of the regulars are like (knowing Martin Samuel is a regular makes me doubt their quality) but I really enjoyed listening to those three - Martin Lipton, Sam Wallace and Matt Law. Something of that ilk would be far more entertaining and engaging.

Or find some more Nevilles.
 
Pundits should:

(A) have recent experience of management or playing in PL
(B) Won major honours (... Scott minto is out)
(C) speak their mind not the media course handbook.
(D) not be scared to attack players bad performance

That's why Keane is top to watch and even most recently scholes, spoke his mind.

Think Garth has none of above ,
 
Garth Crooks was bonkers conkerz 20 years ago when I was a kid, talked unbelievable guff. Amazed he isn't sectioned by now let alone still employed as a pundit.
 
mglennon said:
Pundits should:

(A) have recent experience of management or playing in PL
(B) Won major honours (... Scott minto is out)
(C) speak their mind not the media course handbook.
(D) not be scared to attack players bad performance

That's why Keane is top to watch and even most recently scholes, spoke his mind.

Think Garth has none of above ,
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To be fair, find the American coverage (re pundits) much more palatable. Though I might have caught them on their very best days.

Edit: And Moley from the wind in the willows is most definitely one of the worst examples of someone waffling on about nothing with the pretense and commitment to try to pass himself off as in the know, ahead of the curve and of godlike insight.
 

L4Everton said:
To be fair, find the American coverage (re pundits) much more palatable. Though I might have caught them on their very best days.

Edit: And Moley from the wind in the willows is most definitely one of the worst examples of someone waffling on about nothing with the pretense and commitment to try to pass himself off as in the know, ahead of the curve and of godlike insight.
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American coverage is just much more professional and better done. I wouldn't be surprised if it was miles better than ours
 
Royal Blue Jersey said:
American coverage is just much more professional and better done. I wouldn't be surprised if it was miles better than ours
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American coverage on NBC has been pretty good this year for Americans - by that I mean they do a good job breaking down the tactics of what's happening on the pitch. I'm not sure if that would go over as well in the UK.

The bias is a bit less over here I think. It still exists for Liverpool, United, Mourinho, and Arsenal to an extent, but they don't seem to have a particular dislike for us (possible Tim Howard helps us there). I do remember Fox coverage being absolutely terrible the last few years, but NBC has done a great job I think.
 
RaleighBlue said:
American coverage on NBC has been pretty good this year for Americans - by that I mean they do a good job breaking down the tactics of what's happening on the pitch. I'm not sure if that would go over as well in the UK.

The bias is a bit less over here I think. It still exists for Liverpool, United, Mourinho, and Arsenal to an extent, but they don't seem to have a particular dislike for us (possible Tim Howard helps us there). I do remember Fox coverage being absolutely terrible the last few years, but NBC has done a great job I think.
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Yeah I think the American connections must help - McBride, Howard, Donovan. Our sports scientist is American too, and we also sent Tim Cahill to the MLS.
 
mglennon said:
Pundits should:

(A) have recent experience of management or playing in PL
(B) Won major honours (... Scott minto is out)
(C) speak their mind not the media course handbook.
(D) not be scared to attack players bad performance

That's why Keane is top to watch and even most recently scholes, spoke his mind.

Think Garth has none of above ,
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I think you're missing the most important factor, which is to offer insight. Keane might offer some entertainment value, but I just look at his managerial record and think 'you don't know what you're talking about.'

When I was a kid and hadn't seen enough football to be able to analyse what I was watching, I used to find the half-time and full-time analysis fascinating, pretty much regardless of who was offering it.

Now I have a much broader understanding of the game, I demand more. I won't bore on about Gary Neville, but he is the template for what a pundit should be. Here's hoping the BBC, BT and ITV recognise that and try to elevate the intelligence level on their panels, too.
 
I know this may not go down well but I think carragher has been good. Not the usual biassed Liverpool tosh from him, seems very knowledgable and dare I say it quite a likable guy!

*runs and hides*
 

Christiffa25 said:
I know this may not go down well but I think carragher has been good. Not the usual biassed Liverpool tosh from him, seems very knowledgable and dare I say it quite a likable guy!

*runs and hides*
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i agree to a point, him and nevilles analysis on monday night football is streets ahead of anything on MOTD..although thats not difficult!
 
Carragher wrote in one of last weekends papers Ross Barkley would have to move to play Champions League football and further his career, Monday night he said Everton are now favourites for fourth and playing their best football in years.
 
This may not go down well with the residents of L4, but while I have no problems with the Liverpool accent ,ever, because its what I have (with a slight hint of public school), I find Carraghers speaking voice embarrasingly bad, and it grates so much that I cannot take him seriously. I don't think he'll last on Sky, because his media presentation lessons have obviously failed.
 

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