watch the football, and shut out the excrement.

[Wile E Coyote]

far too many dreadful pundits, richards, neville, keane, murphy, shearer, scott, and anyone asociated with talksport. they even push that jordan ex chairman and souness on us.
the tournament is like a festival of the thick due to these bacteria.
the football is looking half decent fortunately, but the pigswill we all have to endure via this pipeline of **** is too much.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Agreed.

The World Cup has been excellent.

[Lancasterclaret]

With the timings of the games, its hard to watch more than the evening ones if you work

So I've got Radio Five on and they are doing their usual excellent job

And the games that I manage to watch, the punditry doesn't seem to bother me, though I think the BBC have the edge on ITV with the commentators and summarisers

All about opinions though!

[Guller Bull]

I've got to be honest, I've enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Purely from a football and accessibility point of view and filtering out all the background noise.

We work a lot from home so I realise that we are fortunate in being able to dip in and out of games this last week. Probably wont be saying that when the later play off games are on at the weekend and I am out at events.

[beddie]

far too many dreadful pundits, richards, neville, keane, murphy, shearer, scott, and anyone asociated with talksport. they even push that jordan ex chairman and souness on us.
the tournament is like a festival of the thick due to these bacteria.
the football is looking half decent fortunately, but the pigswill we all have to endure via this pipeline of **** is too much.

Presumably you’re including Kompany in that? Just to add, I don’t agree, I find many of them knowledgable and interesting to listen to.

[claret2018]

People have an unhealthy obsession with commentators and studio guests. Chill out and stop getting so wound up.

[AfloatinClaret]

Presumably you’re including Kompany in that...

Every rule needs an exception to prove it

With any match I rarely turn it on until the anthems are half over, half time is for coffee, food and maybe a glance at whatever I ought to be doing instead of watching football and unless there's a replay I would like to see, the TV goes off within moments of the final whistle.

[claretonthecoast1882]

None of the Qatar Ecuador, Senegal Holland, Denmark Tunisia, Mexico Poland, Morocco Croatia and Belgium Canada games were anything but s**t. That is probably somewhere near half the number of games that have taken place so far. Too say it has been anything but average is nonsense.

[ClaretLoup]

There was an excellent discussion about the differences between club and International football hosted by Gary Lineker with Rio Ferdinand, Alex Scott and Big Vince. All four provided interesting insights, were articulate and speak from vast experience of working with the likes of Alex Ferguson, Guardiola in Vinnys case and Lineker worked with Cruyff.

That said they were all speaking from their perspective as players and only Vincent has any management experience. It would be interesting to hear what some successful international managers would have to say.

[Newcastleclaret93]

None of the Qatar Ecuador, Senegal Holland, Denmark Tunisia, Mexico Poland, Morocco Croatia and Belgium Canada games were anything but s**t. That is probably somewhere near half the number of games that have taken place so far. Too say it has been anything but average is nonsense.

I enjoyed the Morocco, Belgium and Senegal game. They were entertaining games to watch IMO. Especially that Belgium game thought that was a great watch.

[claretonthecoast1882]

I enjoyed the Morocco, Belgium and Senegal game. They were entertaining games to watch IMO. Especially that Belgium game thought that was a great watch.

They were dull. Canada were good for 20 minutes, Belgium were never good.

[NottsClaret]

People have an unhealthy obsession with commentators and studio guests. Chill out and stop getting so wound up.

Same. Can't say it ever bothers me, it's just background noise to the game. Unless Ally McCoist is on, I might turn it up for him, he's great.

[Tricky Trevor]

I only watch the football all the time. When professionals are arguing about incidents they are no better than the guy in the pub.
Still only watching England & Wales matches, recording Morocco and I’ll view if Anass gets on.

[Leisure]

With any match I rarely turn it on until the anthems are half over, half time is for coffee, food and maybe a glance at whatever I ought to be doing instead of watching football and unless there's a replay I would like to see, the TV goes off within moments of the final whistle.

Snap.

[AlargeClaret]

Anyone who watches the pundits has far too much time on their hands , I only ever turn on mins before KO and immediately after any celebrations. The commentary has been ok , though 5 live had a female joint commentator on an early WC ( London twang /black ) who was so awful it almost defied belief . Female voices and actual live football commentary just don’t commute properly . Fine in many sports but not football .

[Newcastleclaret93]

They were dull. Canada were good for 20 minutes, Belgium were never good.

I think I like the under dog element. Enjoyed the fact Canada pushed Belgium

[Hipper]

I enjoyed the Morocco, Belgium and Senegal game. They were entertaining games to watch IMO. Especially that Belgium game thought that was a great watch.

I've seen snippets of some games - Wales I got bored after twenty minutes so moved on - but I watched the whole of the Belgium - Canada match. Like many I was very impressed with Canada. The way their players were able to adjust themselves to play the ball accurately from all sorts of awkward situations and put together a string of passes I didn't think were possible was excellent. Unfortunately they failed to do what is the most necessary in football - defend well and put away your chances. They were terrible in front of goal except for a couple of second half headers.

[Bosscat]

I think I like the under dog element. Enjoyed the fact Canada pushed Belgium

I think I enjoyed the Japanese victory more ...

Whats the German for Schadenfreude

[RVclaret]

Love the pundits, hilarious watching Keane and Souness going at each other at 11am the other day. Great watching our manager the past few days too. Alex Scott is also excellent with her analysis and better than most of the men. Do they have a specific show for the pundits?

[fidelcastro]

Love the pundits, hilarious watching Keane and Souness going at each other at 11am the other day. Great watching our manager the past few days too. Alex Scott is also excellent with her analysis and better than most of the men. Do they have a specific show for the pundits?

The MOTD top ten discussions can be interesting, if you can put up with Richards laughing at just about anything.

As for the OP, it just sounds like another one of his drunken rants.

[tiger76]

I have only watched a few games, but generally I take the opportunity at HT to make a brew or nip to the loo.

So I rarely see what the pundits are discussing, I was lucky enough to catch that Keane/Souness spat the other day thought that was a bit spicy,

[Swizzlestick]

I actually think the punditry has been, on the whole, really good. You may not agree with Gary Neville, for example, on some things, but it's nonsense to say he isn't a knowledgeable pundit.

[RVclaret]

I actually think the punditry has been, on the whole, really good. You may not agree with Gary Neville, for example, on some things, but it's nonsense to say he isn't a knowledgeable pundit.

Yep Neville is very good. Him and Carragher (in the PL) provide great insights.

[Lancasterclaret]

I actually think the punditry has been, on the whole, really good. You may not agree with Gary Neville, for example, on some things, but it's nonsense to say he isn't a knowledgeable pundit.

We live in the age of where experts don't know as much as your average bloke with a facebook account

[CaptainKirk]

I think we can agree the OP is just doing what he/she normally does to attract attention. Look at me! Look at me!!
If you work for a living I am not sure how you have managed to catch much of the live stuff anyway. Must be a lot of WFH wasters on here.
I make do with the highlights at night and skip the punditry usually. It seems to be coming on later and later though.
When I do catch the pundits, they seem like a well qualified bunch with some good points. Richards is obviously just there for comedy value.
It's coming home!!!!

[Guller Bull]

Enjoyed this section - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/63738524

[Loyal Supporter]

Anyone who watches the pundits has far too much time on their hands , I only ever turn on mins before KO and immediately after any celebrations. The commentary has been ok , though 5 live had a female joint commentator on an early WC ( London twang /black ) who was so awful it almost defied belief . Female voices and actual live football commentary just don’t commute properly . Fine in many sports but not football .

Up the Clarets bingo has a winner but not quite a full house. Some of the female commentary and punditry has been excellent. Shame for you that some of them are also black. What are your thoughts on the female assistant referees and 4th officials? End of the world?

[evensteadiereddie]

[AlargeClaret]

Up the Clarets bingo has a winner but not quite a full house. Some of the female commentary and punditry has been excellent. Shame for you that some of them are also black. What are your thoughts on the female assistant referees and 4th officials? End of the world?

What on earth have female officials got do with female commentary/punditry? There really is no correlation whatsoever.

As for the R5live commentator who I thought was beyond awful, the stating of “ London twang /black “ was referring to the accent, or perhaps you think “female London black British enunciation” is perfect for football ? Yet you didn’t have the respect to discuss the point .

If you’re unable to tolerate a general viewpoint around male /female sports commentary without trotting our tired agenda driven cliches , then perhaps you should spend more time on Twitter, where you can repeatedly pleasure yourself with your views .

[Rileybobs]

What on earth have female officials got do with female commentary/punditry? There really is no correlation whatsoever.

As for the R5live commentator who I thought was beyond awful, the stating of “ London twang /black “ was referring to the accent, or perhaps you think “female London black British enunciation” is perfect for football ? Yet you didn’t have the respect to discuss the point .

If you’re unable to tolerate a general viewpoint around male /female sports commentary without trotting our tired agenda driven cliches , then perhaps you should spend more time on Twitter, where you can repeatedly pleasure yourself with your views .

What on earth has gender got do with female commentary/punditry? There really is no correlation whatsoever.

[Loyal Supporter]

What on earth have female officials got do with female commentary/punditry? There really is no correlation whatsoever.

As for the R5live commentator who I thought was beyond awful, the stating of “ London twang /black “ was referring to the accent, or perhaps you think “female London black British enunciation” is perfect for football ? Yet you didn’t have the respect to discuss the point .

If you’re unable to tolerate a general viewpoint around male /female sports commentary without trotting our tired agenda driven cliches , then perhaps you should spend more time on Twitter, where you can repeatedly pleasure yourself with your views .

Been on the lash?

[KRBFC]

Love the pundits, hilarious watching Keane and Souness going at each other at 11am the other day. Great watching our manager the past few days too. Alex Scott is also excellent with her analysis and better than most of the men. Do they have a specific show for the pundits?

I agree, I like some of the pundits, I don't quite understand the issue posters on here have with the likes of Lineker, Neville, Keane etc.

Seems like an alcohol/drug fuelled rage of jealousy. I like listening to different pundits for different reasons, I think Kompany/Neville/Murphy offer great insight, Keane/Souness for a bit of a whinge/humour. I don't think Wright/Richards are the smartest in the room but do very good broadcasting jobs alongside the level headed Lineker.

[evensteadiereddie]

I've just watched the Senegal /Iran game and Ferdinand, Drogba and Scott were excellent.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I enjoyed the Souness - Keane Punch and Judy bitching competition but most of it is pump water.