Match of the Day vs The Premiership

Thing with Day is that Chiles has worked with him on the radio, and it's worked there, but maybe it's more what Day's being given to work with, which would not be funny in the hands of anyone at all - the "have a look through the footage for hilarious moments of a non-contentious nature" thing is flat-out shit. Then again, he doesn't really do anything to inspire any great confidence at all. Roving reports like the one from Norwich last week are the domain of Football Focus, and from Day's real nervousness as regards how to handle it, they'd do very well to stay that way.

I have faith in Chiles, though - the key is that he is a listener who is approaching this from the angle 'What would I like to watch if I was at home?' He's genuinely really very interested in what the panel had to say, he gives them a lot of room, doesn't try to force the discussion. The problem with this is he doesn't really bring much control with it, and he's possibly a touch too respectful - he's sitting across from three immensely experienced and decorated ex-pros and managers/coaches, and he is well aware that his personal opinion is not going to really count for anything - too aware, perhaps.

However, it is very nice to see someone so willing to just take a back seat and let it flow, and who has such genuine enthusiasm for their programme and its format, who isn't just reading off the effing autocue all the time. I really am quite sure this will grow into something very worthwhile now.

Crooksy is magnificent and should be on MotD every week. I feel a bore for saying this.

Well if you believe mourinho, none of these ppl know ANYTHING about 'futbol'.

They think they know but really...they don't!

What is also interesting about MOTD2 is that it is drawing up very clear lines about who among the BBC's pundit pool would work on it. MOTD2 has already had people that were effective (Anderson, Strachan) and weren't (Houllier). A show that relies on discussion between its pundits requires pundits that are willing to instigate and get involved in that discussion themselves, and it's a very tricky thing to get the tone of it right, to be naturally witty and interesting and not forced or excessively cliquey. I'd be interested to see if "Party On" Garth could do that - if there's one thing he always is, it's himself. I'm fairly sure Schmeichel would be terrible, and Dixon and Bright... do not even go there. Wrighty could do quite well - you'd imagine him, Strachan and Anderson could come up with the odd thing or two to say to each other. Lawro wouldn't work because he's too reliant on being asked questions by the main presenter, and I'm pretty certain that that's a reason why it probably wouldn't suit The Peacock either, he's not the type to go for debates, but rather an analyst who likes making his own statements - that said, he was quite definitely the most effective pundit at the African Nations, and one of the few who was capable of starting a discussion with whoever he was sharing the sofa with (christ knows Crooks couldn't). I'd imagine we can safely rule Hansen out of the equation - he'd probably do alright, but he'd definitely never deign to grace it with his presence + fear of Strachan going at him Martin O'Neill-style.

Thinking about this, though - Strachan and O'Neill (w/Anderson as referee). You'd pay to see that, no?

I think he is terrible.

This week we have extra MOTD on Wednesday! I think Gary L is in charge.

A cringy 'walking across the pitch interview' and cut and paste terrace introduction set the scene. Then 20 minutes of the Plymouth game (including adverts). Still Beautiful Day, which was incorrect because it was cloudy.

Tuesday night, late highlights, after the Rooneyfest, he signed off:

So guess who made the headlines tonight - something old: Trafford - something new - you know who - something borrowed - hardly, at £27m - and, of course, he used to be a Blue. Two words: Wayne Rooney. Third word: Night.

It was so surreally fine that I must write it down, on the spot. But I don't see it being revived and adapted as regularly as 'Remember The Name!'.

During the good bit of yesterday afternoon (before Redknapp* tried to maim Cahill and things went wrong at Goodison) there was a compendium of Garth Crooks light entertainment moments - including the great man introducing Altered Images on TOTP in 1982 alongside Peter Powell! I nearly choked on my cashews.

(* - in the Goodison h/t tunnel scuffle Redknapp was initially cited as the peacemaker. Steve McMahon said, "You're jokin'. He was in the piano with the lid down." Fantastic.)

Alan Hansen never tried it quite so obviously with Des.

I hope Chiles continues to speak his mind, right or wrong. I mean, I don't think he's very good at this, but no one would want to watch Hansen going round a fish finger factory either.

To paraphrase John Cooper Clarke. "They can’t find a good word for you Hansen, but I can... TWAT." I've never forgiven the cunt for losing that goal against Russia in the 1982 World Cup, they should show that more often, that might shut him up.

As you can see, I've been thinking about this all day.

I am not sure whether AH meant any of it. He did say 'I'm kiddin', by the way - I'm only kiddin''.

I very much agree with Mr Miller, though, that they must get along, as colleagues, and that bullying is wrong.

I think it was seen as an Event that they had managed to get Hansen on at all. He stands somewhat aloof from these 'secondary programmes'. If he goes on Focus, he's always late.

Mike -- this Crooks montage -- are you sure you're not just making it up to get me excited and regretful that I didn't see it?

Carlton Palmer was the loose cannon on the show - ready to give his opinion on an apparently fictional training ground bust-up between Bent and Gravesen ("I'm not surprised those two went at it, cos..." Stubbs: "But it didn't happen, Carlton.") and also carelessly wading in on dubious refereeing decisions. Maybe they won't invite him back.