There are fears that the long-running Football Focus is set to be axed by the BBC following a dramatic plunge in viewing figures. (Mirror/Sun/Mail)

Apparently, according to the Mirror, 849,000 viewers were tuning in back in August 2019. That figure was down to 564,000 in August this year. Pundit Mark Lawrenson says in the Mirror "Maybe it's had its day. Its coming up to 50 years now which is an unbelievable run, but there's so many other options now."

Must admit, i don't watch it anywhere near as much as i did, i will if theres nothing else on.

Would you miss it?

Nah its shite

it is awful.

interviews with footballers who are not exactly famed for their personalities or intelligence doesn't make good telly.

still better than bargain hunt though.

Gone downhill rapidly since Alex Scott took over

Go woke go broke

Just not on at a time when im likely to be in the house, and if i am, i'm more likely to be watching the lunchtime KO

I dont think it's anything to do with it being "woke" i just think its had its day, in that time slot at least

I wonder if it could survive a little longer in a Friday evening slot as a weekend preview show?

I don’t want to sound like an old gammon but it has been utterly awful since Alex Scott took over. The presenters seem to find everything hilarious, giggling like school kids rather than actually discussing football in any meaningful way.

Just like Soccer AM, not watched it for years and has probably run its course now with not really appealing to the “next generation”

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 11:31 am

I don’t want to sound like an old gammon but it has been utterly awful since Alex Scott took over. The presenters seem to find everything hilarious, giggling like school kids rather than actually discussing football in any meaningful way.

I posted the same further up the thread, she's awful.

Rarely watch it now. Alex Scott comes across as rather monotone, not sure that’s the right word, hard to describe apart from you can tell she’s reading it word for word, she did MOTD 2 the other week, she was so un natural. Interestingly Jenas was like that in his early days of The One Show and occasionally still is but has become a lot better. Some criticise Lineaker but there’s no comparison between Scott and him. FF really needs someone with a personality to bring it back into the limelight, someone like Jeff Stelling.

The clash with a live game doesn’t help it but I don’t bother with it as it spends a lot of time covering stuff I have zero internet in like the WSL and communit shines at clubs etc.

It’s usually watchable on FA Cup weeks when they profile smaller clubs.

arise_sir_charge wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:10 pm

The clash with a live game doesn’t help it but I don’t bother with it as it spends a lot of time covering stuff I have zero internet in like the WSL and communit shines at clubs etc.

It’s usually watchable on FA Cup weeks when they profile smaller clubs.

That should say ‘interest in’ and ‘community schemes’.

It’s a totally unnecessary and outdated type of show now, everyone gets their football news from other sources.

We need Saint and Greavsie back.
A fine pairing on a Saturday pre match.

We need Saint and Greavsie back.
A fine pairing on a Saturday pre match.

Havent watched MOTD for years either

Only one worth watching was jeff stelling. A man who actually knows his shiz

I don't even know if it's any good as I haven't watched for years, same as Soccer AM. 'Normal' telly itself is on its way out. I don't think we ever sit down to watch something at a certain time now, just stream stuff when you want it.

Granny WeatherWax wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 11:12 am

Go woke go broke

It's run it's course, it's relevance has gone.
"Woke" - what a lazy, stupid thing to say.

mikeS wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:25 pm

We need Saint and Greavsie back.
A fine pairing on a Saturday pre match.

Still an improvement on Scott.

mikeS wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:25 pm

We need Saint and Greavsie back.
A fine pairing on a Saturday pre match.

I've been watching the reruns - still funny in some ways but very dated now

nowhere near as big a loss as Soccer AM.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:21 pm

I've been watching the reruns - still funny in some ways but very dated now

Yes they are.

Unfortunately, im old enough to remember Sam Leitch presenting the football preview section of Grandstand which evolved into FF. A no nonsense approach to previewing the games, as i recall. Though i don't think Leitch was a big fan of ours, but it was a real football show in those days.

Had the odd run-in with Bob Lord.

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:49 pm

It's run it's course, it's relevance has gone.
"Woke" - what a lazy, stupid thing to say.

"The most dramatic fall in viewing figures coincides with Alex Scott replacing Dan Walker as Focus’ main presenter in 2021. In Walker’s last season before he was moved on the average weekly August audience was 827,000, before dropping to 809,000 in 2021, 599,000 12 months later and 564,000 this year."

It's relevance hadn't gone until Alex Scott took over.

Ashley Williams is another dead weight on that show.

If I hear Alex Scott say the word " phenomenal " one more time ....

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:41 pm

Yes they are.

Unfortunately, im old enough to remember Sam Leitch presenting the football preview section of Grandstand which evolved into FF. A no nonsense approach to previewing the games, as i recall. Though i don't think Leitch was a big fan of ours, but it was a real football show in those days.

Had the odd run-in with Bob Lord.

Leitch had no time for Burnley at all

It was " Football Preview " before Bob Wilson took over in 1974 ... I remember Sam Leitch, hadn't realised he died of a heart attack in 1980, aged just 53 ..

BBC really are out of touch tbh. They are trying to copy the popularity of some of the "with it" YouTubers, podcasts and panel shows where in my opinion they would have been better sticking to the tried and trusted format.

I can't remember the last time I watched Football Focus, and Question of Sport has been shite for years now. Not everything has to be banter to have a decent programme.

Clarets4me wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 2:17 pm

It was " Football Preview " before Bob Wilson took over in 1974 ... I remember Sam Leitch, hadn't realised he died of a heart attack in 1980, aged just 53 ..

He was a big old unit though was Sam. Giant bloke.

It's just bland... Television is bland.

so is that 'Soccer Social' show on SkySports. I watched an episode this week that had this really dull bit where they had players choosing the best parts of three players into one super player... then they went to the studio where they played like a 'Snog, Marry or Avoid' type of bit, with pictures of three new signing on you they should sign, drop or sell.... or something. Then they talked about that for a bit too long. Then they went on about some tactics of Chelsea...

No one is doing anything interesting, it seems these shows can't do 'fun' because fun isn't inclusive probably.

I actually don't mind Alex Scott. I don't think she is the right fit for FF but she has a bubbly personality,easy on the eye and knows her footy. A good pundit but as a presenter? No. She did do a decent job on that quiz show The Tournament. More suited to that kind of thing perhaps?

I think they've attempted to try to connect to the younger generation when appointing her..besides her obviously and conveniently ticking a few boxes. I don't think it has worked.

There's room for it to be an online offering, but I'm not in the house to watch it on the big magic lantern anymore

Sproggy wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:43 pm

"The most dramatic fall in viewing figures coincides with Alex Scott replacing Dan Walker as Focus’ main presenter in 2021. In Walker’s last season before he was moved on the average weekly August audience was 827,000, before dropping to 809,000 in 2021, 599,000 12 months later and 564,000 this year."

It's relevance hadn't gone until Alex Scott took over.

I think it had but seeing as I never watch football shows on any channel, I couldn't care less either way.

I didnt expect anyone on this messageboard to harbour hostile, sexist or misogynistic attitudes towards a women in sport.

pushpinpussy wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 4:12 pm

I didnt expect anyone on this messageboard to harbour hostile, sexist or misogynistic attitudes towards a women in sport.

Ashley Wiliams has also been criticised - I think that gives you enough ammunition to label anyone that disagrees with you as racist too.

pushpinpussy wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 4:12 pm

I didnt expect anyone on this messageboard to harbour hostile, sexist or misogynistic attitudes towards a women in sport.

It is not her fault; she's a good presenter. She reads the words of the teleprompter; she can ask the right questions and manage a segue from an answer to the next link... Its the shows she's presenting are just not interesting.

Look at that new Soccer Saturday lineup.... no charisma between any of them. You might as well go back to the days of Teletext or bring Matt LeTissier in to discuss the myths of Long Covid; at least it'll be interesting.

Good riddance to it. It's dated and poorly presented. Waste of licence payers money and the same can be said of MOTD.

Sproggy wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 4:25 pm

Ashley Wiliams has also been criticised - I think that gives you enough ammunition to label anyone that disagrees with you as racist too.

nobody as mentioned the R word

the programmes utter rubbish. bring back walker and lawro..

The BBC and Sky have long gone down the route of box ticking, and as such, viewing figures have and will continue to drop.

gandhisflipflop wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:01 pm

The BBC and Sky have long gone down the route of box ticking, and as such, viewing figures have and will continue to drop.

It's taken a bit longer than expected but we got there in the end.
Woke, BBC wasting licence payers' money, MOTD, ticking boxes.... damn near a full house, I'd say.

The BBC have been pretty good at restyling programmes with new presenters and spoiling them in recent years. They seem to be aiming for young viewers. But young viewers like my son rarely if ever watch the BBC. Its Netflix and the like now.

It’s a mix really of about 50% just don’t bother /are dead /realise if offers nowt you don’t know . About 25% is the presenter , AS is a decent pundit and always seems well prepped but as a presenter just flat in all fairness . The other 25% is the trying too hard to be “ yoof” and “ with it “ and faux banter that feels miles away from the people who likely still occasionally tuned in .

Used to get up for this as a kid on Grandstand as was must watch . Everything has a sell by date .

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:08 pm

It's taken a bit longer than expected but we got there in the end.
Woke, BBC wasting licence payers' money, MOTD, ticking boxes.... damn near a full house, I'd say.

I'd also say the numbers don't lie either.

MOTD, Football Focus are now on life support. Why wait and sit through all the shite when you can watch all the goals on youtube from about 8pm onwards at your leisure?

A classic UpTheClarets thread.

There's too much choice now. Once it gets saturated the product seems to get diluted. At one time all we has was Football focus, Sain and Greavsie and MOTD, which only showed a couple of games. Its the same with music. Football focus will just be a nostalgic memory, like Top of the Pops.

Ric_C wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 6:12 pm

Why wait and sit through all the shite when you can watch all the goals on youtube from about 8pm onwards at your leisure?

What if you don't kick off until 8pm?

Robert Primrose Wilson is still available.

The programme timing is ideal for people who don’t travel or drink
A “fan “ would be out of the house when this is on

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:49 pm

It's run it's course, it's relevance has gone.
"Woke" - what a lazy, stupid thing to say.

Hey up PC Eddie is here.