...to focus on coaching. Not for the first time Roy Keane has caused a degree of turmoil on the eve of a World Cup, after deciding not to travel to Brazil as a pundit for ITV in order to focus on his coaching ambitions. But in contrast to the situation in 2002, when as a player he had a furious bust up with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and was sent home, his parting with the broadcaster was understood to be amicable. Keane appeared at the ITV World Cup launch just a fortnight ago alongside fellow pundits who include Lee Dixon, Gus Poyet, Fabio Cannavaro and his Republic of Ireland managerial colleague Martin OâNeill. The former Manchester United midfielder has been well received as a pundit for ITV, with his forthright opinions and acerbic wit becoming a key feature of its Champions League and England coverage. But appearing alongside OâNeill at a breakfast event in London, he revealed he had decided not to travel to Brazil in order to concentrate on his coaching career. The former Sunderland and Ipswich Town manager has been strongly linked with an assistantâs role at Aston Villa, which it is believed he would be able to undertake in addition to his Ireland job. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/03/roy-keane-pulls-out-world-cup-brazil-2014-itv-pundit
It's the same set of pundits as normal, bar Poyet and Townsend. When ITV are showing football I try to avoid the punditry at all costs. Will be no different for this.
Steve Clarke the hot tip now for easy street. Sorry the Celtic managers job. Do Celtic need a manager to win the SPL ? Give it to the tea lady or boot boy and save wonga. As for Roy Keane he wants to stay with the ROI so by joining Aston Villa as a No.2 to Paul Lambert,, it would allow him to do both jobs.
Andy Townsend- who does he 'support'? Faux bog trotter but also card-carrying cockney hot air merchant so beloved of the tv companies who think the nation enjoys hearing cockneys mangle our language. A terrible combination.
Full list of pundits... ITV Adrian Chiles Patrick Vieira Ian Wright Lee Dixon Gus Poyet Gordon Strachan Andros Townsend Roy Keane replacement? BBC Gary Lineker Thierry Henry Clarence Seedorf Rio Ferdinand Alan Hansen Juninho Martin Keown Robbie Savage
Keown is becoming a top pundit. Doesn't spout bollox like Savage & doesn't lie like Ferdinand. A serious analyst. I can only assume Ian Wright is there for comedic purposes. After all, they already have 2 ex Arsenal pundits on ITV's panel. Don't they ever think that they need some ex Everton, Newcastle voices on there? Same old biased viewpoints.
Shame he is inarticulate and appears to have learned nothing of tactics in his time as a pro. Might as well get random bloke from pub on.
My favourite pundit who has worked for ITV is Roberto Martinez. He is spot on with almost everything he says and his knowledge is impressive when he starts talking formations and football.
I know England aren't very good, you know England aren't very good, in short we all know England aren't very good. What I don't need is a smug Irish areswipe giving it large about England not been very good whilst I'm watching my country play. Imagine if ROI had qualified and Shearer was a pundit on their TV and all he did was slag their national side off? It just wouldn't happen so why the f**k do we allow it to happen? Rant over.
The only pundits that actually do anything interesting are the ones like Neville that analyse defensive organisation or the different passing formations. He is in a league of his own when compared to the rest of the major ones, any football fan could do what they do but Neville takes it to a much more complex level.
I agree, Neville is in a class of his own. I liked him as a player, not as an individual, but I've been amazed at how good he is at commentating/punditry/analysis.
