Steve Claridge -

[Hiney]

Come on, he is doing battle with Lee Dixon for the title of worst pundit on TV. He was a very watered down knowledge of the football league, a few clubs excepted. He talks about all 72 football league clubs like he knows what is going on at each of them, but he doesn't. Why on earth would he? No-one can be expected to know what is currently happening at every club, just don't talk with a pompous and arrogant assumption that you do. When Leroy Rosenior is the guest on the FLS, he sticks out like a sore thumb for me, because he talks with dignity and honesty, Claridge talks like he considers himself an expert when in fact, he's just talking on a very basic level about nothing of any particular interest. I've nothing against him personally, I'm sure he's a lovely bloke etc etc etc, but when it comes to football analysis, he is dreary, watered down and uninteresting. I speak only for myself, I just don't like him as a pundit.

Dixon and Claridge are two of the better pundits IMO.

 

[Lord Bamber]

Come on, he is doing battle with Lee Dixon for the title of worst pundit on TV. He was a very watered down knowledge of the football league, a few clubs excepted. He talks about all 72 football league clubs like he knows what is going on at each of them, but he doesn't. Why on earth would he? No-one can be expected to know what is currently happening at every club, just don't talk with a pompous and arrogant assumption that you do. When Leroy Rosenior is the guest on the FLS, he sticks out like a sore thumb for me, because he talks with dignity and honesty, Claridge talks like he considers himself an expert when in fact, he's just talking on a very basic level about nothing of any particular interest. I've nothing against him personally, I'm sure he's a lovely bloke etc etc etc, but when it comes to football analysis, he is dreary, watered down and uninteresting. I speak only for myself, I just don't like him as a pundit.

I agree with this, could not have typed it better.

He's alright, usually quite complimentary about us. As someone else said a lot of the sheep on NSC just agree with the opinion of a couple of the mafia instead of forming their own view. Much the same with all the Naylor bashing and the idea that Pardew hates our guts.

This I do not agree with - I try and avoid agreeing with the mafia where possible.

Football punditry is about having opinions, talking with knowledge. Claridge lacks the second one here and is rather dull to boot.

 

[Beach Hut]

Dixon and Claridge are two of the better pundits IMO.

Dixon yes the best I think is Marcel Desailly

 

[Lord Bamber]

Dixon yes the best I think is Marcel Desailly

Desailly is a good shout but he needs to sharpen up with his dress sense though.

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

Hate the way he always looks down, never eye level. Find him a miserable scroat, and too monotone. On FLS he doesn't seem to know his stuff. Other than that, I love him like a brother...........never had and never wanted

 

[GT49er]

Claridge is the marmite man. I like him myself, but recognise that the chances of persuading anyone who doesn't to try again are zero.

 

[Beach Hut]

Leonardo is another good pundit but sadly these are only seem during major international competitions.

 

[Whitterz]

I thought he was alright until I found out that he had told my mate's son at an Eastbourne Borough match to "f*** off" when asking for his autograph.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Dixon yes the best I think is Marcel Desailly

Top bombing Beachy.

I don't mind Claridge really, but he can get rather moany & - dare I say - 'there's absolutely no doubt about that...'

 

[8ace]

Don't think it's that easy to be knowledgeable about all 72 FL teams.

 

[Lord Bamber]

Don't think it's that easy to be knowledgeable about all 72 FL teams.

Fair point but when it's your job Surely then you should be?

 

[Beach Hut]

Worst ever was Keegan on ITV in the USA '94 World Cup who failed to see what I think (Leonardo) did when he punched someone in the face

 

[8ace]

Fair point but when it's your job Surely then you should be?

Indeed, but I'm not aware of anyone else who is either.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I wish his 'Kicking Off' section on the BBC website was in a text version as opposed to just a video. I have commented on that each week, but now the BBC have banned me for 'spamming'.

 

[sir danny cullip]

I wish his 'Kicking Off' section on the BBC website was in a text version as opposed to just a video. I have commented on that each week, but now the BBC have banned me for 'spamming'.

Just had the misfortune of stumbling across this whilst looking on the bbc sport section, absolute crap. Sums up exactly why I can't stand Claridge as a pundit, he looks SO awkward in front of a camera and generally blubbers his way through sentences whilst looking down at the table or his 'script' about three or four times in between. If what he said was interesting or made sense then I could deal with it but unfortunately he comes up short on that as well.

 

[Gerbil]

Adebayor was the GREATEST pundit EVER when he did the world cup.
I understood ever word he said

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Just had the misfortune of stumbling across this whilst looking on the bbc sport section, absolute crap. Sums up exactly why I can't stand Claridge as a pundit, he looks SO awkward in front of a camera and generally blubbers his way through sentences whilst looking down at the table or his 'script' about three or four times in between. If what he said was interesting or made sense then I could deal with it but unfortunately he comes up short on that as well.

Thanks for that. At least I now know I am not missing anything.

It does surprise me that someone like Claridge has been cherry picked by the BBC. He is not a natural in front of the camera and he has always been quite dull. When you think that there are 100s of footballers that are jobless at the end of each season, you think there would be at least a few that could carry off a convincing imitation of a pundit.

 

[beorhthelm]

Come on, he is doing battle with Lee Dixon for the title of worst pundit on TV.

Dixon worst? really, how is that? i've always have him down for picking up on slightly different points to others, good work with the fancy player tracking toys. Claridge is far from worse around (ITV punditry in general beats everyone on BBC for that accolade) but Rosiner is much better.

 

[8ace]

Thanks for that. At least I now know I am not missing anything.

It does surprise me that someone like Claridge has been cherry picked by the BBC. He is not a natural in front of the camera and he has always been quite dull. When you think that there are 100s of footballers that are jobless at the end of each season, you think there would be at least a few that could carry off a convincing imitation of a pundit.

Have any of them played for more of the teams in the FL than Claridge? I doubt there is anyone more "qualified" than him in this respect.

 

[Falmer]

Ian Wright- Worst pundit of all time, thread closed