LOVE THEM OR loathe them, TV stations continue to turn to ex-players to provide punditry when, if we’re honest, their only qualification seems to be being an ex-player.
Inevitably, we end up shouting at the television, cursing their lack of knowledge and wondering if Jamie Redknapp parachutes into his suit trousers.
However, there are some pundits who operate at a different level and whose opinions we actually take on board.
Here, TheScore.ie sorts out the best of them.
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7. Liam Brady Image: INPHO/James Crombie
We know he defends Giovanni Trapattoni way too much for our liking, but he’s not afraid to call Dunphy out when the man to his left is spoofing or back-peddling and, for that reason, ‘Chippy’ makes the list.
6. Chris Kamara Image: Sean Dempsey/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Sure he doesn’t know what’s happening around him most of the time, but he makes us laugh when watching football in an age when so many pundits just get us annoyed.
5. Pat Nevin Image: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport
There might only be a dozen of us who watch the Europa League, but look how well prepared Nevin is. You wouldn’t see Mark Lawrenson with that many sheets of yellow paper and neatly drawn boxes.
4. Graeme Souness Image: INPHO/Getty Images
Souness, to borrow a footballing cliché, is a pundit of two halves. On RTE he’s funny and incisive while on Sky he can be dull and predictable. However, his blatant dislike of Jamie Redknapp is definitely a redeeming feature.
3. Brian Kerr Image: INPHO/Presseye/Jonathan Porter
As likely to tell you about how the Rovers’ forward’s mother used to make the nicest ham sandwiches as he is about the game in front of you, Kerr adds a personal touch to football punditry that few others can match.
2. Richard Sadlier Image: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Sadlier has been a breath of fresh air on RTE over the last few years. While the likes of Houghton, Whelan and company bluff their way through a broadcast, the former Millwall player provides consistently quality analysis.
1. Gary Neville Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Neville has turned out to be a far better pundit than anyone could have expected. He has a natural ease on air and takes the time to break down key moments in a game that others only gloss over.
I enjoy listening to Richie Sadlier (RIP Frank!), also Tony Cascarino is always interesting and humorous. Johnny Giles ‘ slot on off the ball is always worth a listen too. Worst pundit by a mile is Jamie ‘on the fence’ Rednapp
Serious ABU and despised him when played. The lad could start a row in an empty room but love Neville as a pundit. He is witty, incisive and a welcome addition. As for Kerr, his nasal drone is so irritating I need to use a cream after listening to him.
Gary Neville is the best pundit going now, he is very neutral and really tells
It how it is.
I can not stand Brian Kerr, really annoys me and I often mute him.
I also like Didi Hamann, Sadlier and Kenny ‘eyebrows’ Cunningham.
Listening to Brian Kerr is like listening to a child read and Ann and Barry book. Slow and painfully. He would be good at a soccer quiz as he knows the length of the grass at every stadium but not a pundit. Think Keano is the best personally. He has no tact and says whatever he feels
Missing out the magic Didi Hamann. The man made the RTE coverage of the world cup an absolute joy to watch. Hoping they continue to pull him out of the bag for future international tournaments. Witty, insightful and doesn’t take rubbish from the rest of the panel.
Dare I say, I might even migrate from MOTD to premier soccer saturday with him on the bench. Nicer start time, and the less of Dunphy’s nonsensical ramblings you have to put up with, the better. When he’s right, he’s grand, but when he’s wrong he’s as stubborn as a 3 year old.
How Giles doesn’t make it into top seven is beyond me.Sadlier to be fair is a class act and I think RTE should use him more.Roy Keane and Niall Quinn are rubbish.
New one to add to the list for the future is David Connolly. Have heard him on Newstalk a few times now and he is very good at dissecting the game intelligently and without falling back on clichés. The boy done well, really…
Sadlier’s an overrated spoofer. Keane doesn’t get on these lists because he doesn’t do enough and he is still a divisive character all these years later.
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Listening to Brian Kerr trying to pronounce any surname that is slightly “foreign” is hilarious enough to promote him to no. 1.
Gary Neville is a fantastic pundit , he doesn’t mince his words and he talks a lot of sense for a through and through united boy, big respect chugger
I enjoy listening to Richie Sadlier (RIP Frank!), also Tony Cascarino is always interesting and humorous. Johnny Giles ‘ slot on off the ball is always worth a listen too. Worst pundit by a mile is Jamie ‘on the fence’ Rednapp
Serious ABU and despised him when played. The lad could start a row in an empty room but love Neville as a pundit. He is witty, incisive and a welcome addition. As for Kerr, his nasal drone is so irritating I need to use a cream after listening to him.
Liam Brady deserves a running kick to the balls! Jesus he’s painful!
Kenny Cunningham is the best of the rte lot by a mile – and knows his league of Ireland into the bargain
Never forget when he Invented a new player while analysing a stoke game. Jermaine Depennant.
Great to see Dunphy and Giles not on this list. Their so called ‘forensic analysis’ is an absolute joke. Neville, Sadlier and Nevin are superb.
Kerr seems like a very nice lad and his views and comments are interesting to say the least.
Gary Neville is the best pundit going now, he is very neutral and really tells
It how it is.
I can not stand Brian Kerr, really annoys me and I often mute him.
I also like Didi Hamann, Sadlier and Kenny ‘eyebrows’ Cunningham.
Listening to Brian Kerr is like listening to a child read and Ann and Barry book. Slow and painfully. He would be good at a soccer quiz as he knows the length of the grass at every stadium but not a pundit. Think Keano is the best personally. He has no tact and says whatever he feels
Missing out the magic Didi Hamann. The man made the RTE coverage of the world cup an absolute joy to watch. Hoping they continue to pull him out of the bag for future international tournaments. Witty, insightful and doesn’t take rubbish from the rest of the panel.
Dare I say, I might even migrate from MOTD to premier soccer saturday with him on the bench. Nicer start time, and the less of Dunphy’s nonsensical ramblings you have to put up with, the better. When he’s right, he’s grand, but when he’s wrong he’s as stubborn as a 3 year old.
How Giles doesn’t make it into top seven is beyond me.Sadlier to be fair is a class act and I think RTE should use him more.Roy Keane and Niall Quinn are rubbish.
Giles didn’t rate CR7 because he didn’t track back….. The guy is stuck in 1965!!
Giles begins each analysis with the line ‘Well I don’t know too much about them to be honest…’ – That’s yer feckin JOB, John!!!
New one to add to the list for the future is David Connolly. Have heard him on Newstalk a few times now and he is very good at dissecting the game intelligently and without falling back on clichés. The boy done well, really…
Power ranking? Somebody has been reading Grantland!
Sadlier’s an overrated spoofer. Keane doesn’t get on these lists because he doesn’t do enough and he is still a divisive character all these years later.