Lineker to leave MotD

[forestfan]

Been confirmed, effective at the end of the season. With the political pronouncements, salary controversy and, well, age (‘on camera’ sports broadcasters generally call it a day long before more rarely viewed commentators), it had seemed on the cards for a while.

So, who replaces him? With the demise of Jermaine Jenas’s career, seems like Chappers and Gabby Logan are the frontrunners, unless they go for a ‘wildcard’ former player newbie/promotion from the punditry rota. Or could they poach someone from another channel (probably unlikely, given they’ll have to publicly declare what they earn!)

And will Lineker himself move to Sky, TNT or whoever, or just decide his time is up as a football anchor and focus on his social media activity (or even stand for political office)? All to be revealed…

[jimmy ching]

He'll probably end up internetting, easier cash and publicity.

[murf]

Back to selling crisps

[Dr. Giggles]

No loss.

[morganb]

The BBC should replace him at Easter with former Arsenal striker Alan Smith

[forestfan]

Suggestions are they might use a rotation system. Presumably between a few main names, though the HIGNFY system would be fun… as long as they didn’t put too many Tory politicians in the chair

[forestfan]

And they’re going to keep him on for the 2026 World Cup, which is strange given the year of (probably paid) virtual inactivity that would imply…

[plasticninja]

And they’re going to keep him on for the 2026 World Cup, which is strange given the year of (probably paid) virtual inactivity that would imply…

You are forgetting his role as the BBC’s chief political commentator.

[forestfan]

And they’re going to keep him on for the 2026 World Cup, which is strange given the year of (probably paid) virtual inactivity that would imply…

You are forgetting his role as the BBC’s chief political commentator.

They don’t pay him for that… though they might do once the Goverment gets around to firing Tory Tim

[forestfan]

Still going to do FA Cup next season too, so seems more like a phased retirement…

By the way, was thinking about how Jeff Stelling said he wasn’t ‘retiring’ when he left Sky around 18 months ago, but only evidence of him since is voiceovers to gambling ads! (Not suggesting BBC would be likely to make a move, he’s older than Lineker for a start…)

[Dr. Giggles]

I liked Stelling. He had wit and personality.

Lineker, on the other hand, is an odious, bumptious, self-important little tw*t.

[forestfan]

According to reports, Chapman isn’t interested in a proposed rotation system, prompting a rethink…

Whoever gets the job, I just hope they don’t “gimmick it up” too much. ITV tried that 25 years or so ago, remember? And in this day and age, people who just want to see the goals can do so elsewhere. I think they could cut down the length a bit on Saturdays where there are a large number of matches, but overall it’s a traditional format that has been part of people’s routines for decades, and once they mess with that they kill it, I suspect.

[hancockjr]

They could lose the manager interviews (unless they actually say something interesting, which is rare, I think - I fast forward at that point) and stop focusing on refereeing so much (and certainly not as the first item, unless it's genuinely the biggest talking point). Or if they want to focus on this, have a ref there.

There are also some much better tacticians than the ex players they get, e.g. those on podcasts nowadays, but that's probably a step too far.

I would also cover the games in the order they were played, rather than by how exciting they are (with a pre determined order for those that kicked off at the same time).

[forestfan]

They could lose the manager interviews (unless they actually say something interesting, which is rare, I think - I fast forward at that point) and stop focusing on refereeing so much (and certainly not as the first item, unless it's genuinely the biggest talking point). Or if they want to focus on this, have a ref there.

There are also some much better tacticians than the ex players they get, e.g. those on podcasts nowadays, but that's probably a step too far.

I would also cover the games in the order they were played, rather than by how exciting they are (with a pre determined order for those that kicked off at the same time).

I don’t really like that idea, I mean I’ve usually seen the lunchtime game live if it was anything particularly interesting… but yeah, cut some of the cliched interviews and ref debates, fair enough. A ref on the panel on occasions makes sense too… there’s one already on the BBC payroll (clue: Gladiators… ready!)

All for slimming down coverage of the less exciting/meaningful games as well and just showing the goals, like in the old days. An hour’s enough really.

[murf]

They are limited by how much they can show from each game so already show the maximum from most games and so reduce the waffle in between. Shame - I'd have virtually zero waffle!

I rarely watch it and, if I do, I tend to fast forward the waffle anyway.

MotD is a shadow of what it was - a bit like the charts on the radio!

[plasticninja]

It started to go downhill after Hansen retired.

[Frank Zito]

Lineker is a rude word that begins with c. Really happy to see him go.

Maybe they can dispense with the talking heads and just show the games. That would be an improvement.

[Spinynorman]

I've always liked Gary Lineker.

[RomynPG]

I've always liked Gary Lineker.

Me too, although I suspect the "he's alright" / "he should just stick to football" dividing line is in the same place as it is for seemingly everything today. Bloody lefties to blame for that as well.

I'd like Alex Scott to be his replacement just to see jimmies getting really rustled

[forestfan]

And his full departure after next weekend is confirmed after a spectacular social media own goal.

Seemingly set to take a break from TV, but I’d still bet on him turning up for the World Cup in ITV colours…

[Dr. Giggles]

No loss.

[murf]

And his full departure after next weekend is confirmed after a spectacular social media own goal.

Sounded like a genuine mistake to me in this instance but a certain lobby / section of the media etc will kill anyone for alleged 'anti semitism' even when it is a perfectly valid POV, as it was here (rare for Lineker!)

[forestfan]

And his full departure after next weekend is confirmed after a spectacular social media own goal.

Sounded like a genuine mistake to me in this instance but a certain lobby / section of the media etc will kill anyone for alleged 'anti semitism' even when it is a perfectly valid POV, as it was here (rare for Lineker!)

It was a mistake but he should have taken more care in terms of what he retwat and where it originated from - a mistake those more rightward-leaning also make frequently.

His refusal to condemn Hamas also doesn’t sit well alongside all this, even if he’s not inherently antisemitic.

[Smurphy Paw]

I believe that he’s differentiated between Hamas and Palestine.
I do think the Beeb is falling into the false equivalence trap again. Because of 7 October, it cannot fully critique subsequent Israeli actions. Even then it was only going to take one transgression for them to all agree a separation of ways was best.
But I’ve seen Lineker very clearly differentiate between his understanding of Israel, and of Zionism; contained within is the antisemitism dividing line.

Saddest thing is, it’s not about Lineker. There are millions of tonnes of UN food on the border. People are being starved. Israel is letting in a tiny proportion of it. Making the headline about one of the more socially minded ex-footballers comes across as, ‘look over there, not over here’.

[RomynPG]

He could not keep quiet. In the end, it brought him down.

loltastic from the BBC there