It's typical of a World Cup, where people you work with who scoff at all talk of football, suddenly gain an interest when it comes to sweepstakes and the fact that their favourite TV programme has been shifted in favour of Iran v Nigeria. These are also (probably) the people who ITV aim their coverage at - they aren't the people who know about formations, or the politics, or the backstory of CONCACAF qualification. They want some vaguely familiar faces to explain what happened in the game.
Worth going Dutch for
Having to explain to Mrs ETS why people prefer BBC's coverage of a jointly-broadcasted game (clue: it's not the adverts) was a challenge, and I wonder if you'll indulge my answer. As above, ITV seem to aim their coverage at bloke in the street, with INGERLUND flags from the bedroom windows, and the sort who'll happily order Carling when other lagers are available. The BBC have a slightly more diverse brief it seems, aiming at the viewer who may have some working knowledge of football, and the ability to identify the Swiss flag is a big plus.
Podcasts are a slightly different beast. There are hundreds of football podcasts available. Some specialise in clubs, some in games from other countries, and those which try to cover several bases. I have had to whittle down my podcast subscriptions recently, because I realised that by the time I got round to some, I'd already heard the same opinions from the same people on another pod. Luckily perhaps the ESPN FC podcast, which was a bit hit and miss and was almost exclusively aimed at the Premier League, was cancelled at the end of the season, which spared a decision on that.
Anyway, rather than write rationales for my preference of people involved, I've my ideal line-up for each media platform, the current ones on form at least. Some creative license will be used, but I welcome debate. Do your worst.
TV
Host: G Lineker
Studio pundits: T Henry, G Souness, J Carragher
Commentator: B Davies, G Neville
Speaks for itself really. No ITV representation, although Lee Dixon and Gordon Strachan aren't bad, as long as the latter doesn't try to be too funny. Shearer has improved in recent years, and early Hansen was very good but became a parody of himself. Souness qualifies for being rather menacing when talking about his many baubles. Chiles can fuck off. Thierry Henry really should launch his own clothing line. Rio Ferdinand has impressed, his current professional insight helps, unfortunately he talks like some sort of street urchin. I grew up with Barry Davies, and hopefully it's not just nostalgic reminiscing, but Martin Tyler seems a little bit too much like he's announcing everything as though it'll go down in history alongside Agueroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Podcast
Host: J Richardson
Panel: T Vickery, P Auclair, B Lyttleton, A Lawrence
On the phone: R Honigstein
A bit Guardian heavy I'll admit, and there were some close calls. I'm a late arrival to the Vickery party, although I was always a big fan of his BBC articles, but only got into the World Football Phone-In recently, despite the somewhat irritating host... Lyttleton makes an appearance for strong showings in the European Football Show and the now-defunct ESPN effort. AC Jimbo anchors, more for the retro Football Italia days. Honigstein provides more than just Bundesliga on the dog and bone. I'd love it if Amy Lawrence read me a bedtime story. I used to like Barry Glendenning, but the sour act has worn a little thin.
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I appreciate that some of this will sound a little bitter... I'd love to have my own podcast, or even be invited onto one as some sort of 'expert'. Unfortunately I've gone far too niche with Finland, who are unlikely to qualify for any major tournament in my lifetime. I'm available as a podcast guest for a packet of pink wafers and a hot chocolate.
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