Ian Wright

[Claretmutt]

I see Ian Wright is to leave m o d at end of
season. Wish he’d take Smarmy Lineker
with him.

[claptrappers_union]

If someone approached me and said - “Pop quiz, Hotshot, how long has Ian Wright been on Match of the Day?”

I’d say seven years.

He's been on it for 25 years!

[MrTopTier]

If someone approached me and said - “Pop quiz, Hotshot, how long has Ian Wright been on Match of the Day?”

I’d say seven years.

He's been on it for 25 years!

Ah yes, but if someone approached you and said - “Pop quiz, Hotshot, how long was the gap between Ian Wrights two stints on MOTD?”

and you had said seven years, you would be lauded as a genius, tis a fine line.

[Wokingclaret]

Ah well, won't need to watch next season.....

[Tricky Trevor]

I see Ian Wright is to leave m o d at end of
season. Wish he’d take Smarmy Lineker
with him.

And is Lineker smarmy because you don’t agree with his politics?
As a presenter there is nothing wrong with him.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Ah well, won't need to watch next season.....

On the contrary, I will feel i can watch it next season

[AlargeClaret]

Lineker’s an excellent sports host, Wright is incredibly poor and bizarrely always makes me think of someone doing an over the top impression of a black man .

[claptrappers_union]

Lineker's an excellent sports host; Wright is incredibly poor and bizarrely always makes me think of someone doing an over-the-top impression of a black man.

They play characters. They are not pundits. I don't think a pundit needs to be particularly knowledgeable about the game anymore, as long as they have a personality that mirrors the other pundit and plays up to it. Remember also that BBC coverage is for a broader audience, so the level of analysis is more basic. In contrast, it's more detailed for subscription-based coverage like Sky and TNT.

Roy Keane used to be the 'call a spade and spade' type, and it was pretty refreshing to see, but now they team him up with Micha Richards, who plays a panto-Grinch-type version of Roy Keane.

As for your 'someone doing an over-the-top impression of a black man' remark... I kinda know what you mean, as DEI has allowed people to express their cultures more openly now. Pundits no longer need to wear suits, speak carefully, and be on their best behaviour on television as its much more relaxed these days and they can just be themselves

[KRBFC]

I think Lineker is excellent.

But I don’t care about his political view or how much he earns. I just care how capable he is of presenting MOTD

[Swizzlestick]

They play characters. They are not pundits. I don't think a pundit needs to be particularly knowledgeable about the game anymore, as long as they have a personality that mirrors the other pundit and plays up to it. Remember also that BBC coverage is for a broader audience, so the level of analysis is more basic. In contrast, it's more detailed for subscription-based coverage like Sky and TNT.

Roy Keane used to be the 'call a spade and spade' type, and it was pretty refreshing to see, but now they team him up with Micha Richards, who plays a panto-Grinch-type version of Roy Keane.

As for your 'someone doing an over-the-top impression of a black man' remark... I kinda know what you mean, as DEI has allowed people to express their cultures more openly now. Pundits no longer need to wear suits, speak carefully, and be on their best behaviour on television as its much more relaxed these days and they can just be themselves

Surely the BBC analysis is more basic because they have less time? Pundits on MOTD have, what five minutes max after the game highlights? Less than that further down the running order. Sky and TNT have an hour of pre match then same again post match.

I don’t understand the ‘someone doing an over-the-top impression of a black man' remark. What does that mean? You may not like Wright as a pundit, but he comes across as pretty authentic and sincere to me.

[claptrappers_union]

Yes, time is an aspect as well. But the analysis is a bit more at surface level on MOTD.

I suspect he means someone using terms like 'blud', 'bruv', 'props' or whatever; basically, language used by the ethnic community wouldn't have been used on one of the BBC flagship shows as little as ten years ago. Not that it's a bad thing, in my opinion, but I've noticed a shift in how people express themselves more freely on television these days.

[StayingDown4Ever]

I suspect he means someone using terms like 'blud', 'bruv', 'props' or whatever; basically, language used by the ethnic community wouldn't have been used on one of the BBC flagship shows as little as ten years ago. Not that it's a bad thing, in my opinion, but I've noticed a shift in how people express themselves more freely on television these days.

I don’t recall Ian Wright saying anything like that.

[claptrappers_union]

I'm not being specific to Ian Wright, just making a point that punditry on television is changing, that's all and why I used the word 'someone'

[Rileybobs]

And is Lineker smarmy because you don’t agree with his politics?
As a presenter there is nothing wrong with him.

Last night’s MOTD was a good case in point. I can’t think of many sports presenters who would have opened the show as sincerely in light of Lockyer’s incident. I also imagine he would have had significant input into how the incident was handled and presented within the format of the show.