Gary Lineker

[AlargeClaret]

I’d imagine Chappers gets the job and they’ll see how it goes ? Surely the BBC won’t risk ruining another iconic show like QOS , Football Focus or Top Gear would they?

Despite Linekar’s inability to keep his personal politics to himself ,he’s always been an extremely good presenter and show anchor .

[hoosier-daddy]

I like him as a presenter and hope it's not Alex Scott. She will make it go the same way that McGuiness has ruined QoS and Top Gear (and pretty much every programme he's worked on in recent times). However, I tend to only watch the first X games which has goals in it anyway before turning it off so can fast forward through her.

[GetIntoEm]

Alex Scott would be a good replacement in my opinion, knows the sport, good presenter, and some decent eye candy. win win win

[helmclaret]

Not read this thread but my money is on a coloured person or a female. There is not a chance a white middle age man will get this job.

‘Coloured person or female.’

What a pathetic comment.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Sadly the programme has lost its way and just focuses on the top sides. The pundits vary from the good (Murphy) to the inane (various). Little chance a good journalist/presenter will get the job - they were all overlooked last time in favour of Lineker. Most likely it will be a big ‘personality’ with little football knowledge which will hasten the demise of what should be football’s TV showcase.

[hoosier-daddy]

Some names doing the rounds: Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, Jason Mohammad, Gabby Logan, Micah Richards (seriously!?), Dion Dublin, Kelly Somers, Kate Abdo, Kelly Cates. A lot of terrible options there.

[TheFamilyCat]

Sadly the programme has lost its way and just focuses on the top sides. The pundits vary from the good (Murphy) to the inane (various). Little chance a good journalist/presenter will get the job - they were all overlooked last time in favour of Lineker. Most likely it will be a big ‘personality’ with little football knowledge which will hasten the demise of what should be football’s TV showcase.

I can't see it being anyone from outside the current pool of football presenters or pundits.

I wonder if they could tempt Jeff Stelling.

[Stalbansclaret]

Sadly the programme has lost its way and just focuses on the top sides.

Honestly don’t know how you reach that conclusion. Watched this week’s just yesterday and the pundits were full of praise for Brentford and Ipswich for instance and have similarly been of late for Bournemouth and Fulham.

[Enola Gay]

Good presenter and a big loss to the show.

Be interesting to see who comes in.

[Rileybobs]

Surprised to see so many have strong negative feelings about MOTD. In what way is it past it's sell by date?

Like many others it's part of my Saturday night routine and is the best comprehensive Premier League highlights show on TV. The pundits can be a bit pally and back-slappy, but that chemistry is part of the reason why the show is successful (see Top Gear and Soccer Saturday as two other recent examples). Lineker is a great presenter and the show will no doubt be worse for his absence.

[Jakubclaret]

Good presenter and a big loss to the show.

Be interesting to see who comes in.

It'll only be a "big loss" with a inadequate substandard replacement & it's possible depending who replaces him it might be viewed as anything but a loss to some.

[LincsWoldsClaret]

Honestly don’t know how you reach that conclusion. Watched this week’s just yesterday and the pundits were full of praise for Brentford and Ipswich for instance and have similarly been of late for Bournemouth and Fulham.

If you watched you’ll notice that once again the first 2 games were the usual focus on the of the table - in this case City and Liverpool. That’s where they spent the majority of time.
Even the cracking Bournemouth - Brentford 5 goal thriller, the obvious match of the day, couldn’t shift their obsession with the top.

[pompeyclaret]

I think they should try the same as Have I Got News For You and have guest presenters.

Makes it a free hit and they can express their opinions. Different views from different supporting presenters. Brings a bit more colour and difference when there are soo many alternative highlight shows.

[MT03ALG]

Mark Chapman is a white male person

[Stalbansclaret]

If you watched you’ll notice that once again the first 2 games were the usual focus on the of the table - in this case City and Liverpool. That’s where they spent the majority of time.
Even the cracking Bournemouth - Brentford 5 goal thriller, the obvious match of the day, couldn’t shift their obsession with the top.

It’s kind of obvious that the top of the table will receive the initial high focus…I mean the objective ultimately is to win the league…. but you have to be really be looking for stuff to reinforce your existing mindset to say that the programme doesn’t give decent coverage to teams lower down also. It’s about as good as a summary highlights programme could be I think. It seems to be fashionable to constantly knock the BBC nowadays but MotD is still a great watch.

[HagridsHut]

‘Coloured person or female.’

What a pathetic comment.

They’re probably right though.

[Vino blanco]

I'd give it to Paul Merson.

[quoonbeatz]

If you watched you’ll notice that once again the first 2 games were the usual focus on the of the table - in this case City and Liverpool. That’s where they spent the majority of time.
Even the cracking Bournemouth - Brentford 5 goal thriller, the obvious match of the day, couldn’t shift their obsession with the top.

It’s fairly obvious to anyone that one of the fodder teams beating city and a match between two of the big guns are going to get priority coverage over two of the fodder teams duking it out no matter how many goals they score against each other. Makes you wonder why both main games were moved for telly, it’s as though they have a wider audience appeal.

[karatekid]

Some names doing the rounds: Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, Jason Mohammad, Gabby Logan, Micah Richards (seriously!?), Dion Dublin, Kelly Somers, Kate Abdo, Kelly Cates. A lot of terrible options there.

They are going to need a bigger sofa to fit that lot on.

[kentonclaret]

They are going to need a bigger sofa to fit that lot on.

If Micah Richards keeps bulking up in the gym he’ll need a sofa to himself

[hoosier-daddy]

If Micah Richards keeps bulking up in the gym he’ll need a sofa to himself

Just imagine him hosting Match of the Day.

No neither can I.

[Hipper]

I think they should try the same as Have I Got News For You and have guest presenters.

Makes it a free hit and they can express their opinions. Different views from different supporting presenters. Brings a bit more colour and difference when there are soo many alternative highlight shows.

I saw HIGNFY recently and it was awful. I used to like it, particularly when Angus Deayton was host. Since then it was a bit hit or miss, mostly relying on Hislop and Merson but those two seem to have got old and tired and no longer seem funny.

Best ever show was with Bruce Forsyth hosting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD4ZHfJMP44

[LincsWoldsClaret]

It’s kind of obvious that the top of the table will receive the initial high focus…I mean the objective ultimately is to win the league…. but you have to be really be looking for stuff to reinforce your existing mindset to say that the programme doesn’t give decent coverage to teams lower down also. It’s about as good as a summary highlights programme could be I think. It seems to be fashionable to constantly knock the BBC nowadays but MotD is still a great watch.

You know nothing of my mindset and I haven’t said that lower teams haven’t been given decent coverage. I’ve said that that their focus is on the top teams - which it obviously is often at the expense of more entertaining games.

[CaptainKirk]

The search for WMDs -“I t would be nice to see them, to see them….nice!”

[boatshed bill]

For me the programme has run it's course. Obsolete, outdated, rubbish.

[Rileybobs]

For me the programme has run it's course. Obsolete, outdated, rubbish.

In what way do you think it’s obsolete and outdated out of interest? Genuinely curious.

[kentonclaret]

Just imagine him hosting Match of the Day.

No neither can I.

He’ll go far
he’ll be a superstar
talking all things VAR
then flogging you a car

[jos]

MOTD was on the telly pre Gary and I reckon will go on for years post Gary. I thought he did well in the role.

Like Coronation Street, it will probably outlive us all.

[boatshed bill]

In what way do you think it’s obsolete and outdated out of interest? Genuinely curious.

Do you know anyone who watches it?

[fatboy47]

Those afraid of women, LBGTQ folks and ethnic minorities might struggle to accept the new appointee.

The rest of us will be fine.

[Rileybobs]

Do you know anyone who watches it?

Yeah, I do most Saturdays and know others who do. On Sunday my 7 year old asked if I’d recorded it and also watched it.

[Rileybobs]

In fact it averages around 2m viewers so I imagine most people know someone who watches it.

[boatshed bill]

In fact it averages around 2m viewers so I imagine most people know someone who watches it.

Fair enough. For me (and I'm old enough to remember the original format) there's too much opinion and not enough action. Why do people need to be told what they have seen?

[Rileybobs]

Fair enough. For me (and I'm old enough to remember the original format) there's too much opinion and not enough action. Why do people need to be told what they have seen?

I think a lot of people enjoy watching post match interviews and analysis of the games, I certainly do. What are we all doing on this forum if not discussing things that we’ve all seen on a Saturday (or Sunday, or Thursday)? As mentioned before, there is a limit to how much action can be shown per game which inevitably leads to some padding out. I’d say they get the balance just about right for my taste.

[dougcollins]

Not read this thread but my money is on a coloured person or a female. There is not a chance a white middle age man will get this job.

Perhaps the best candidate for the job will get it- whoever it is?

[boatshed bill]

I think a lot of people enjoy watching post match interviews and analysis of the games, I certainly do. What are we all doing on this forum if not discussing things that we’ve all seen on a Saturday (or Sunday, or Thursday)? As mentioned before, there is a limit to how much action can be shown per game which inevitably leads to some padding out. I’d say they get the balance just about right for my taste.

Again, fair enough. I guess it's just my opinion, but I genuinely find it tedious. On the few occasions that I've watched it, Burnley playing in the PL on a Saturday, I fall asleep. I wake up when the music comes on at the end

[ClaretPete001]

Those afraid of women, LBGTQ folks and ethnic minorities might struggle to accept the new appointee.

The rest of us will be fine.

So you agree with the Far Right that the BBC will appoint based upon women, LBGTQ folks and ethnic minorities?

[ClaretPete001]

I stopped watching MOTD with the development of YouTube....

You Tube delivers the highlights 15 minutes after a game without the inane analysis and without paying the presenter a million quid.

[Enola Gay]

Those afraid of women, LBGTQ folks and ethnic minorities might struggle to accept the new appointee.

The rest of us will be fine.

Let's just hope they delay the announcement a few days to let the snowflakes get over the new Boots Christmas ad...

[fatboy47]

So you agree with the Far Right that the BBC will appoint based upon women, LBGTQ folks and ethnic minorities?

No.

I included the little word "might"....perhaps you missed it.

[Devils_Advocate]

BBC have apparently already offered the job to their #1 choice and are waiting a resonse

https://x.com/vivekagnihotri/status/1400414410204598274

[ClaretPete001]

No.

I included the little word "might"....perhaps you missed it.

Oh I thought the 'might' was referring to the struggle of those disinclined to women, LBGTQ+ and Ethnic minorities etc. to accept the new presenter.

I think that is somewhat ungenerous. Given a choice between 20 odd years of Gary Linker even Enoch Powell would probably be ready to embrace change.

[martin_p]

Fair enough. For me (and I'm old enough to remember the original format) there's too much opinion and not enough action. Why do people need to be told what they have seen?

If it hadn’t changed since Jimmy Hill’s day it’d have bitten the dust years ago. Any programme that has lasted over the decades has done so by moving with the times.