Jermaine Jenas

[belton rover]

I’ve always liked him as a football pundit - articulate and intelligent.
Sometimes I happen upon ‘The One Show’ (only ever accidentally). Tonight is one of those happenings, and he is presenting! He’s actually very good.
Which made me think, who are the best and worst sports stars turned TV presenters?

I was watching a documentary with my 18 year old daughter the other day about the 80s & 90s and it showed Gary Lineker at Italia ‘90. She couldn’t believe that Lineker the TV presenter used to be a footballer!

[Janso]

Jimmy Hill is the obvious one.

[belton rover]

Jimmy Hill is the obvious one.

Best or worst?

[keyser_soze]

Phil Neville was hilariously bad on commentary i seem to remember.

[Bentley Bullet]

The old ones were the best! Or is it just a case that the game was better then?

Saint & Greavsie = Brilliant
Brian Clough = Brilliant
Malcolm Allison = Brilliant
Joe Mercer = Brilliant

[BillyStubbsTears]

Danny Murphy is the worst expert summariser I have every heard on live commentary. Just a string of stating the bleeding obvious.

"He'll be really disappointed he didn't get that on target" when someone blazes a shot over the bar.
"They'll be wanting a goal soon" when a side is losing with time running out.

[Janso]

Jimmy Hill is the obvious one.

Best or worst?

Best, people say he changed football broadcasting forever so can't have done badly. Well before my time though so I can only go on hearsay. Scawsby Steve was entering his 60s at the time so maybe he can enlighten us?

[tyke1962]

The best trio of pundits I've seen with the presenter format is on Ireland's RTE .

I've only cottoned on to this on YouTube and I believe they no longer work for RTE so I've only sampled their contributions from some years ago .

Presenter Bill O'Herlihy and pundits Johnny Giles , Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy were way ahead of their time .


https://youtu.be/KHTM-abNEyk

[scawsby steve]

Jimmy Hill is the obvious one.

Best or worst?

Best, people say he changed football broadcasting forever so can't have done badly. Well before my time though so I can only go on hearsay. Scawsby Steve was entering his 60s at the time so maybe he can enlighten us?

Your insolence is rapidly becoming on par with that of BB.

Actually, I did see Jimmy Hill score a bag full of goals against Rovers when Fulham dicked us 6-1 at Belle Vue. I can't remember if he scored 4 or 5 that day.

It corresponds with Belton's daughter not knowing that Lineker had been a footballer, because a lot of people didn't know that Jimmy Hill had, and yet he was one of the best strikers I've ever seen.

[turnbull for england]

Garth Crooks drives me to distraction

[Janso]

Jimmy Hill is the obvious one.

Best or worst?

Best, people say he changed football broadcasting forever so can't have done badly. Well before my time though so I can only go on hearsay. Scawsby Steve was entering his 60s at the time so maybe he can enlighten us?

Your insolence is rapidly becoming on par with that of BB.

Actually, I did see Jimmy Hill score a bag full of goals against Rovers when Fulham dicked us 6-1 at Belle Vue. I can't remember if he scored 4 or 5 that day.

It corresponds with Belton's daughter not knowing that Lineker had been a footballer, because a lot of people didn't know that Jimmy Hill had, and yet he was one of the best strikers I've ever seen.

5, a club record according to Wikipedia.

I knew he was a player but I didn't know a great deal about his playing career. 

[drfchound]

Garth Crooks drives me to distraction

Ditto.

[belton rover]

Garth Crooks drives me to distraction

Ditto.

And he’s had that gig for so long! How?

[normal rules]

Big Ron must win some sort of prize for being a colossal whopper of a pundit.

[Highland Rover]

I know it's not football , but as a team effort you can't beat the Test Match Special production of old ...Jonners , Blowers , Tuffers , Aggers . Rodders (? ) et al

[DonnyNoel]

I know it's not football , but as a team effort you can't beat the Test Match Special production of old ...Jonners , Blowers , Tuffers , Aggers . Rodders (? ) et al

Yeah I think TMS is a real challenge as on radio you have to be talking all the time yet there's always a pause between balls/overs in crciket that needs to be filled.

I used to love Radio 5 football coverage but they seem to have recruited a few pundits of late who just want to say something a bit controversial just to get trending on social media.

I do think Sky Sports have a good selection of presenters and pundits - many are both engaging and knowledgeable. Obvious choice but Neville and Carragher in particular.

[Janso]

I really like Micah Richards, and I love his relationship with Roy Keane. Words I never thought I'd be typing.

[Prez]

I cancelled my BT sports because of Micheal Owen.

[River Don]

In the olden days they used to get managers on as pundits and I think you used to get a lot more of an opinionated view from them than you get from ex-players who haven't had the managerial experience.

Not always, Alan Hanson for instance was very good but I always thought he had a coaches eye. It's a shame he didn't try management.

[Draytonian III]

I cancelled my BT sports because of Micheal Owen.

Michael Owen is shocking as a pundit

[River Don]

I know it's not football , but as a team effort you can't beat the Test Match Special production of old ...Jonners , Blowers , Tuffers , Aggers . Rodders (? ) et al

Yeah I think TMS is a real challenge as on radio you have to be talking all the time yet there's always a pause between balls/overs in crciket that needs to be filled.

I used to love Radio 5 football coverage but they seem to have recruited a few pundits of late who just want to say something a bit controversial just to get trending on social media.

I do think Sky Sports have a good selection of presenters and pundits - many are both engaging and knowledgeable. Obvious choice but Neville and Carragher in particular.

There isn't the space in football to talk about the delicious angel cakes someone has sent in for them. Oh, look, there goes the 49 bus.

[MachoMadness]

I cancelled my BT sports because of Micheal Owen.

Michael Owen is shocking as a pundit

Hell of a tour guide, though.
https://youtu.be/CFnymJDZAS8

[EasyforDennis]

Garth Crooks drives me to distraction

Ditto.

Horrible condescending t**t.

[keyser_soze]

I cancelled my BT sports because of Micheal Owen.

Michael Owen is shocking as a pundit

Hell of a tour guide, though.
https://youtu.be/CFnymJDZAS8

I was going to share that, so i'll share this instead of him not impressing an ex-Rovers keeper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOxNspUPyE

[MachoMadness]

Love that clip. "Well done, he's 13" is iconic, but IIRC that was filmed either just before or just after Owen won the Ballon d'Or. He had a legitimate claim to be the best striker, and best player, in the world at the time. Maybe there's something about that elite mindset that means you're always competitive, but that just makes it funnier to me.