MOTD - replacing Gary Linaker

[Ightenhill_Claret]

A very good trio of presenters. Probably the right time for Lineker to go.

[helmclaret]

I think Lineker has been good and three decent appointments there.

[TheFamilyCat]

What's going on with the BBC publicity photo? Looks like they let an apprentice loose with the filters.

Screenshot_20250115_174747_Samsung Internet.jpg (286.25 KiB) Viewed 2054 times

[AlargeClaret]

Brave , noble and inspiring by the BBC to choose 3 straight white middle aged presenters….That’s a highly experienced line up , presume they’ll be revolving ? Was hoping they’d simply bin off the pundits though . While Linekar’s incessant virtue signaling was a bore , he was a real 1st class host and football anchor .

[helmclaret]

What a pathetic comment.

[basil6345789]

These women - most of all Gabby Logan - have nothing to do with men's football!

Women's football, when I have stumbled across it, is dominated by women, who know their game.

Men's football is sacrificed and relegated to lowest common denominator, to meet some stat.

Anyone know any midget commentators? In with a great chance.

Little Albert - Terry Cochran's old boozing partner

[Big Vinny K]

These women - most of all Gabby Logan - have nothing to do with men's football!

Women's football, when I have stumbled across it, is dominated by women, who know their game.

Men's football is sacrificed and relegated to lowest common denominator, to meet some stat.

Anyone know any midget commentators? In with a great chance.

You’re beyond embarrassing
And to think that you actually sit on a council (or used to).
Is it Royston Vasey council ?

[taio]

Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are excellent presenters, and Cates is particularly good presenting football.

[TheFamilyCat]

Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are excellent presenters, and Cates is particularly good presenting football.

But neither of them have done it on a February night at Stoke.

[kentonclaret]

Brave , noble and inspiring by the BBC to choose 3 straight white middle aged presenters….That’s a highly experienced line up , presume they’ll be revolving ? Was hoping they’d simply bin off the pundits though . While Linekar’s incessant virtue signaling was a bore , he was a real 1st class host and football anchor .

The announcement of these 3 presenters as sharing responsibility for hosting MOTD on a rotation basis appeared in the national media in mid December and I posted same on this thread on 15th December.
Definitely old news given the BBC have waited until today to confirm those appointments.

[Hibsclaret]

It’s good to know you can still get 3 for the price of 1 deal whilst improving on the flavour.

[CaptJohn]

I still won't bother watching it. It's past its sell by date and should be quietly put to bed, like "Question of sport."

[Pearcey]

I still won't bother watching it. It's past its sell by date and should be quietly put to bed, like "Question of sport."

Where should the EPL highlights go then? The fact it’s still watched by millions tells a story doesn’t it? Or should it get potted just because you don’t like it?

[Jakubclaret]

It doesn't matter to me who presents it. A garden gnome or some sort of a robot could be sat in the chair as long as the football highlights are shown all's good.

[CaptJohn]

Where should the EPL highlights go then? The fact it’s still watched by millions tells a story doesn’t it? Or should it get potted just because you don’t like it?

Well, I watch the highlights via other forms of media but I am aware that not everybody has that option. I am also of the opinion that the Beeb is just kicking this tatty, old can down the road and should have the guts to put it to sleep quietly. If they still have the need to show a football highlights show why not have a completely different approach as to how they show them. They don't need highly paid presenters just some youthful, motivated, enthusiastic up and coming presenters who will show some humour during the presentation. I just feel that the whole show has become stale and needs a complete refresh and not just some new presenters.

[TheFamilyCat]

Well, I watch the highlights via other forms of media but I am aware that not everybody has that option. I am also of the opinion that the Beeb is just kicking this tatty, old can down the road and should have the guts to put it to sleep quietly. If they still have the need to show a football highlights show why not have a completely different approach as to how they show them. They don't need highly paid presenters just some youthful, motivated, enthusiastic up and coming presenters who will show some humour during the presentation. I just feel that the whole show has become stale and needs a complete refresh and not just some new presenters.

I agree. Let's get Stormzy and the winner on Love Island presenting it.

[AlargeClaret]

I think there’s still a market for MOTD , though QOS had long passed its sell by date and Football Focus became unwatchable , is it even still on? Or just waiting for Paddy Mcguiness to finally kill it off ?

[ClaretPete001]

Brave , noble and inspiring by the BBC to choose 3 straight white middle aged presenters….That’s a highly experienced line up , presume they’ll be revolving ? Was hoping they’d simply bin off the pundits though . While Linekar’s incessant virtue signaling was a bore , he was a real 1st class host and football anchor .

Is Stewart Lee a Burnley fan. The heavy handed irony of criticising Lineker’s virtue signalling while presenting two female presenters as brave straight white appointments is classic Lee.

My own view on this is given none of them look like they have ever eaten a chip butty the BBC is clearly fat shaming the chunky butt community. And as a member of that community I am deeply offended.

[Clovius Boofus]

Does anyone really care who the presenters are? I've recorded MotD ever since recording a TV programme became a thing, or watched it on the iPlayer, and I usually fast-forwarded most of the punditry in order to get to the next match. Likewise, I bet many people do the same, apart from when the highlights are showing their own team.

[Rileybobs]

Does anyone really care who the presenters are? I've recorded MotD ever since recording a TV programme became a thing, or watched it on the iPlayer, and I usually fast-forwarded most of the punditry in order to get to the next match. Likewise, I bet many people do the same, apart from when the highlights are showing their own team.

I'm guessing most people watch the programme for the overall package, which includes the presentation and punditry. Otherwise there are much easier ways to watch the highlights.

[Swizzlestick]

I liked Lineker as a presenter and generally enjoy the pundits on Match of the Day. It remains a great programme, for me. The three new presenters are all excellent choices too.

[Falcon]

Has Joey Barton had an aneurysm yet?

[Jakubclaret]

I'm guessing most people watch the programme for the overall package, which includes the presentation and punditry. Otherwise there are much easier ways to watch the highlights.

Such as? I can't think of any rolled into 1 I guess you could individually watch short YouTube clips.

[Rileybobs]

Such as? I can't think of any rolled into 1 I guess you could individually watch short YouTube clips.

Well yes, flicking between clips of individual matches is easier than fast forwarding past the interviews and punditry.

[Big Vinny K]

Sky show half an hour highlights of every single Premier League on a pretty much rolling basis every week. There’s no host, punditry or analysis….and you can watch them all back to back or pick out any game you want. Always decent if you just want to see extended highlights of Burnley or a particularly good game.

Go on the sky sports app - and you have 3 minute highlights of every game too.

And and hour after final whistle they will be pretty easy to find on you tube for any game.

Still prefer MoTD but it’s nowhere near the must watch it used to be because of all the other ways of getting highlights or just the goals and it goes on way too long with too much punditry and analysis which sometimes you do not have the time or appetite for….

[Jakubclaret]

Well yes, flicking between clips of individual matches is easier than fast forwarding past the interviews and punditry.

It's not if you don't have the internet believe me it becomes very difficult. As mentioned previously it's accessible via sky again difficult if you don't subscribe. Horses for courses whatever method is individually preferable.

[It Is What It Is]

Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
What are your thoughts at the risk of being sexist, anti woke, and diversive!
I am an avid advocate of women's football and I apologise if my own thoughts upset anyone.
My thoughts tbh is Mark Chapman should front it at all times simply because on merit, he's the better football presenter. Cates and Logan who both possess a great deal of football knowledge have been brought in to promote women's football and give them a better voice which I totally agree with. I would have liked to have seen Micah Richards on the panel instead of Cathy Logan.
I cannot though, being brutally honest, stand a woman's voice commentating on a football match.
I'm not sexist...it's just that a woman's voice on footy commentary that I can't get my head around.

I'm sadly far too old school really.

[Awayfromburnley]

All 3 are excellent. Happy with it.

[Roosterbooster]

All 3 are excellent. Happy with it.

Agree

[bumba]

It should be a male presenter doing male football and a female doing female football......isn't that what Eni Aluko said?

[ClaretTony]

Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
What are your thoughts at the risk of being sexist, anti woke, and diversive!
I am an avid advocate of women's football and I apologise if my own thoughts upset anyone.
My thoughts tbh is Mark Chapman should front it at all times simply because on merit, he's the better football presenter. Cates and Logan who both possess a great deal of football knowledge have been brought in to promote women's football and give them a better voice which I totally agree with. I would have liked to have seen Micah Richards on the panel instead of Cathy Logan.
I cannot though, being brutally honest, stand a woman's voice commentating on a football match.
I'm not sexist...it's just that a woman's voice on footy commentary that I can't get my head around.

I'm sadly far too old school really.

Lots of comments on the original thread so I've merged the two.

Three very good presenters though is my view.

[beddie]

Kelly Cates & Gabby Logan are excellent presenters, Gabby Logan being the outstanding one imo. Mark Chapman is okay but only that.

[Transpennine]

It should be a male presenter doing male football and a female doing female football......isn't that what Eni Aluko said?

Out of interest, why should it?

[IanMcL]

Men better at the men's game they played and women excellent at the game they played.

The words are similar but the insights much better and far more interesting, when they do their own thing.

[martin_p]

Men better at the men's game they played and women excellent at the game they played.

The words are similar but the insights much better and far more interesting, when they do their own thing.

When did Mark Chapman play professional football?

It’s a presenter’s job, the required skill set is being good at presenting. All three tick the box.

[Lip]

Max Headroom would be good.

[Pickles]

Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
What are your thoughts at the risk of being sexist, anti woke, and diversive!
I am an avid advocate of women's football and I apologise if my own thoughts upset anyone.
My thoughts tbh is Mark Chapman should front it at all times simply because on merit, he's the better football presenter. Cates and Logan who both possess a great deal of football knowledge have been brought in to promote women's football and give them a better voice which I totally agree with. I would have liked to have seen Micah Richards on the panel instead of Cathy Logan.
I cannot though, being brutally honest, stand a woman's voice commentating on a football match.
I'm not sexist...it's just that a woman's voice on footy commentary that I can't get my head around.

I'm sadly far too old school really.

Well where to start with that.

It's Gabby Logan. Not Cathy.

Micah Richards is a pundit, not a presenter.

Cates and Logan introducing a clip of Morgan Gibbs-White crossing to Chris Wood at the back post isn't "promoting women's football."

All three are excellent presenters. Three of the best. Possibly only bettered by the man they're replacing.

[ŽižkovClaret]

It was time for a change, all 3 replacements are more than competent. Best of all, we're on it next season

[wilks_bfc]

When did Mark Chapman play professional football?

It’s a presenter’s job, the required skill set is being good at presenting. All three tick the box.

Exactly this

Des Lynam never played and nobody seemed to be bothered about him presenting MOTD

Presenters are there to generate the conversation and keep the programme flowing
The analysts/summarisers are there to provide the insight, and those are the ones that need to be the ones that have played the game

[Big Vinny K]

All 3 excellent and experienced presenters and all deserving of the opportunity.

I think when you go straight from playing into presenting - male or female - it must be very difficult to compete with presenters like these 3 who have been doing it for so long. If someone would have got the MoTD gig just because of their sporting background then I think that’s wrong.

Good presenters just keep things flowing and harness a good relationship with all their pundit guests or people they are interviewing etc. Chappers is brilliant at that on the radio and on TV and the other 2 are very good too.
Most people who tune in surely do it for the football highlights so if you don’t like the presenters just fast forward it. The programme has become too long anyway IMHO.

[ecc]

"Micah Richards is a pundit, not a presenter."

He's an embarrassment.

[kentonclaret]

Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
What are your thoughts at the risk of being sexist, anti woke, and diversive!
I am an avid advocate of women's football and I apologise if my own thoughts upset anyone.
My thoughts tbh is Mark Chapman should front it at all times simply because on merit, he's the better football presenter. Cates and Logan who both possess a great deal of football knowledge have been brought in to promote women's football and give them a better voice which I totally agree with. I would have liked to have seen Micah Richards on the panel instead of Cathy Logan.
I cannot though, being brutally honest, stand a woman's voice commentating on a football match.
I'm not sexist...it's just that a woman's voice on footy commentary that I can't get my head around.

I'm sadly far too old school really.

I have seen Kelly Cates many times on Sky presenting the live coverage and never once have I ever thought that she was there to promote women’s football. Kelly Cates is far more professional than that and sticks to the job of previewing and coverage of the game being shown. I am sure that will be her role on the newly formatted MOTD unless they are now going to incorporate Men’s and Women’s PL matches into the one programme.
I must admit that I rarely ever watch MOTD with an ever increasing number of live games being shown and covered by Sky. Kelly Cates may well be seen as promoting the role of female presenters and journalists in sport rather than women’s football.

[Pickles]

Also, for what it's worth, presenting is far more difficult than I think a lot of people assume. Especially live. Speaking and listening naturally without dropping a beat, whilst having directors speaking in your ear.

Personally I would usually prefer an out-and-out presenter/journalist over an ex-pro. But then I'd prefer that for the pundits too. Lineker is a rare example who's been able to be arguably equally adept at both.

A downside of being in the Premier League is it's more difficult to avoid the likes of Savage and Ferdinand who in my opinion are unqualified and unsuitable to talk about the game. Yes, they've played it. But that doesn't mean they can talk about it in engaging, eloquent ways.

[wilks_bfc]

Also, for what it's worth, presenting is far more difficult than I think a lot of people assume. Especially live. Speaking and listening naturally without dropping a beat, whilst having directors speaking in your ear.

Personally I would usually prefer an out-and-out presenter/journalist over an ex-pro. But then I'd prefer that for the pundits too. Lineker is a rare example who's been able to be arguably equally adept at both.

A downside of being in the Premier League is it's more difficult to avoid the likes of Savage and Ferdinand who in my opinion are unqualified and unsuitable to talk about the game. Yes, they've played it. But that doesn't mean they can talk about it in engaging, eloquent ways.

You’ll be spared from Ferdinand. He’s leaving TNT Sport

[ŽižkovClaret]

You’ll be spared from Ferdinand. He’s leaving TNT Sport

I just hope its not to take up a MOTD pundit role

[Pickles]

You’ll be spared from Ferdinand. He’s leaving TNT Sport

He'll crop up somewhere. These fellas just have the best lives imaginable. Not only have they lived dreams and been pro footballers, they then walk into broadcasting jobs the like of which they just aren't very good at. I might sound a bit bitter but give me a balanced, knowledgeable journalist who can actually string a sentence together every time!

[Rileybobs]

Kelly Cates was Sky Sports News’ first ever presenter back in 1998. She is going to present MOTD on Saturday night which is the highlights show for the men’s Premier League. What does this have to do with women’s football?

[ollieclarets8]

You’ll be spared from Ferdinand. He’s leaving TNT Sport

Would be happier if TNT Sport left TV and Sky got their games.

[bumba]

Out of interest, why should it?

Ask Aluko, her opinion not mine

[elwaclaret]

I think Kelly Cates might do a decent job… years at Sky and a maiden name of Dalglish (yes that one) suggests she has some background and understanding of the men’s game.