Lazy journalism is something we are used to from the Red Tops and other "popular" newspapers. Maybe it's my age, but I expect better from the quality papers and the BBC. Yet here we go again. Garth Crooks' team of the week includes a young left back. Fair enough, in a battling performance at the weekend, Luke Shaw looked as comfortable as anyone. Yet his inclusion in the this dubious hall of fame makes virtually no reference to his performance or why he should be so honoured in front of similar players (admittedly in a week with a limited choice). Instead we are treated to speculation about his future. Every football fan in the country is aware of the wagon-loads of dosh being prepared to tempt Luke away. His going this summer is speculation, yet is now being given the status of fact. This is simply because if their prophecies are fulfilled, these lazy journalists can claim that "you read it here first". Incidentally, rarer than objective journalism is the fact that very few make GC's if their team is beaten. Yet Luke Shaw's performance against Liverpool was pretty darned good, but of course a 3-0 defeat means he was rubbish. A number of my Red friends put a strong case for Lallana as MOM, but the same logic applies. You would have thought an ex-pro who prides himself on being an intelligent pundit could do better than that.
My main annoyance when first reading the Crooks article was the failure to include Emerson Boyce in the Cup/Prem team of the week. He had the game of his life against City yesterday.
Agree with all that has been said, especially about Boyce as he was unbelievable yesterday, except for the thread title. The BBC are not surely better than this. Their pundits are so awful, I actually think they make a point of picking thick morons who honestly believe they know what they are talking about. The BBC have the flagship PL show on a Saturday and Sunday night, despite the finances of Sky and BT, but yet Match of the Day continues to be the most dullest, uninformative, and frankly frustrating football programme on the TV. Garth Crooks is a twat, may I add.
Whilst on the subject of BBC, I was watching England v Wales rugby yesterday....who did they interview pitch-side at half-time Robbie Savage and Joey Barton! Sure they can do better than that!
Garth Crook's column is one guy's opinion, just like Lawrenson's predictions, I wouldn't let it get to you.
Whatever channel you watch, rugby commentators and pundits appear well-educated and erudite. Actually, the former isn't necessary as long they can talk well and informatively about their sport. By contrast, on all channels, football tends to favour the laddish culture hence Merton, Savage, Barton etc. And even those who you wouldn't put in that category never seem particularly articulate. I think a lot of it is down to the coaching culture that exists in rugby when even from the very youngest age kids are exposed to structured training so they tend to get a better understanding of the game.
Yes, but all that will change in 25 years when JWP hangs up his boots. Long wait though; hope I live long enough to see it.
He is a qualified lawyer, quotes Shakespeare during his commentaries, and recommends wine bargains on twitter. In what sense is he 'laddish'? You really think he'll still be playing at 43?!
BBC is not "better than this" by the very fact they continue to employ Garth Crooks. Plus, Robbie Fowler, Lawrenson, Hansen, Alan Green, Shearer, Motson... the list goes on and on and on. The best football blogger the BBC had was Robbo Robson and they sacked him because he was too "edgy" (in other words, he didn't suck up to the Prem League & FA party line)
......and his nickname was bulldog, known for his hard drinking, hard partying ways and.....well......have you heard him commentate? In what sense is he *not* laddish? Being laddish doesn't preclude intelligence, it's a way of behaving (and speaking).
In the senses I've already described. Perhaps you could precisely define 'laddish' for me as we seem to have different understandings of the word.
I remember when Brian Moore was playing for England and apart from being a very good hooker his speciality was winding up the opposing front row during scrums to the point where one of them would lash out and either start a fight or get sent off, or both. The French were particularly susceptible to his wiles. Not sure about "laddish", but if you can think of a word which encapsulates "cultured", "cunning", and "a complete thuggish bastard", you have Brian Moore.
I wouldn't necessarily infer one's personality traits from their role in a sporting context. If you met him in tesco, both reaching for the last bottle of pinot grigio, he probably wouldn't try to wind you up to the point of lashing out at him.
I don't know if you have done so but if not I would recommend reading Brian Moore's autobiography. It contains many things you could not possibly have guessed about him. Regardless of anything though he is a brilliant summariser, never afraid to say what he thinks.
