Carragher joins Sky

[keniget]

I think that's taking a bit of an extreme and curmudgeonly attitude to be honest.

Sky are obviously modeled on American TV where everything is sensationalized, but that doesn't mean that you have to sit there, watch it and then get angry about it. I watch the games, switch over at HT and then at FT again. I'm not interested in what any of them have to say - I come on here instead.

As for the technology, well, as you say people in the game are using the exact same thing so I doubt that it's dumbing down those commenting any more than they already are.

Sky, like almost everything else on TV, is appealing to the lowest common denominator.

 

[gkmacca]

I don't accept the 'exact same thing' point - purpose is relevant here. Academic economists and city traders are often using the 'exact same thing' in terms of basic methodology but for very different purposes. And as for turning off and ignoring it, fine, but personally I want it to improve so that isn't much of an option. (Anyway, I see I've allowed myself to venture into a media topic so I'll now withdraw!)

 

[keniget]

I don't accept the 'exact same thing' point - purpose is relevant here. Academic economists and city traders are often using the 'exact same thing' in terms of basic methodology but for very different purposes. And as for turning off and ignoring it, fine, but personally I want it to improve so that isn't much of an option.

I hear what you're saying and I'd love for it to be better as well. I'd also love for Hollywood to stop churning out dumb movie after dumb movie etc. etc.

I don't really see how it's going to happen though. It would appear that the powers that be have done their sums and come to the conclusion that it's easier and more lucrative to produce dumbed down content.

 

[peterhague]

I refuse to believe that sky was taking so much of his time that he couldn't organise someone to write an apology on his behalf.

Well exactly. Murdoch is up to his neck in it as far as I'm concerned. He employed MacKenzie. He created the lurid tabloid culture that led to that kind of journalism. At all times it was in his power to sack MacKenzie or print a really effective retraction and apology. He didn't because it was against his commercial interests. Whether people pay for Sky I'd say is a grey enough area to be left to personal choice: it's a very big sacrifice for some people, and I don't expect people to be angels. But IMO someone like Carragher, already wealthy beyond most people's wildest dreams, working for him for financial gain is pretty dodgy territory. I think it'd probably only be acceptable if he donates all his earnings to the HFSG or similar. Whether he will or not I don't know.

 

[gkmacca]

There are far too many ex-pros covering sport these days, and too few ex-journalists. Des Lynam was an ex-journalist and it made him able to think what the viewers wanted to know and ask the right questions. The ex-pros need a Lynam type to make them think instead of just babble. Sky used to rely on Keys, but he's always been little more than a talk radio wind-up merchant, and now rely on nice but dim types like Ed Chamberlain. Take the Souness comment about Hilllsborough after the Suarez incident - a sharp-witted ex-hack would have said, 'Hang on...' and pulled him up on that. Instead he was allowed to waffle on regardless.

 

[Athens]

There are far too many ex-pros covering sport these days, and too few ex-journalists. Des Lynam was an ex-journalist and it made him able to think what the viewers wanted to know and ask the right questions. The ex-pros need a Lynam type to make them think instead of just babble. Sky used to rely on Keys, but he's always been little more than a talk radio wind-up merchant, and now rely on nice but dim types like Ed Chamberlain. Take the Souness comment about Hilllsborough after the Suarez incident - a sharp-witted ex-hack would have said, 'Hang on...' and pulled him up on that. Instead he was allowed to waffle on regardless.

Correct. There's too many ex-pros with the personality of a cabbage covering the sport.

Take this list: Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Andy Townsend and Jamie Redknapp.

Boring bastards the lot of them.

 

[nealmac]

It's disappointing, yes, but it's still Carra. I support him, whatever choice he makes.

 

[Red Astaire]

I'm a little like Keni in that I rarely (if ever) watch the punditry before, at HT or after the game. Same reason I never ever listen to the phone in thing the BBC do after the game - It's just too cringe worthy. I might watch a bit from next season with Carra on. I agree to a point with Macca in that there really is too much Sky flag waving going on with the coverage. Souness is pretty much an embarrassment where that is concerned. I hope Carra doesn't get caught up with that. We'll see I guess.

 

[Spionkop69]

They should all have an issue over taking money from Rupert Murdoch ?

Lets be fair, that didn't bother Souness back in 92!

 

[Spionkop69]

He still looks like John Bishop with short hair.

 

[LarryHagman]

I find they ignore what happens during a game and look for an easy talking point and it's usually a reffing incident, dive or whatever.

It doesn't make anyone wiser

I agree. The reason they don't talk about the game much is because the actual 90 minutes on the pitch is Football's most boring aspect these days. It's fairly incidental to the rest of the circus. If only they could get rid of it.

 

[Fallon]

How is it trolling?

I'm with Ross on this. You people see a truthful argument you don't want to hear and call it trolling.

Well, tough.

Well with your recent record in some of the GC threads, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.

 

[#roadred]

They should all have an issue over taking money from Rupert Murdoch ?

Correct! But hasn't every single Premier League club and player had some money off Sky and Murdoch in the past 21 years, Liverpool would have to leave the league in order to be squeaky clean.

 

[peterhague]

Well with your recent record in some of the GC threads, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.

Ouch.

 

[Silver Sean]

Maybe that's the wrong word. In fact it is! It makes them 'think' they're better informed. With all the camera angles, super slo-mo etc they can study exactly where the ball was struck, how a tackle was made, etc etc, and that makes them think they know what happened and why, but it progressively undermines their understanding of, for example, the sheer speed of the game. Most of their views these days about fouls, 'dives,' misses, etc, are based on their bewitchment by endless slow-motion replays. It misses the key factor of speed of action and thought. Craig Burley is the worst culprit of all among the pundits - he's constantly changing his mind about intention after gazing for ages at repays. It's actually backing away from reality.

You're on fire today Macca

 

[Silver Sean]

There are far too many ex-pros covering sport these days, and too few ex-journalists. Des Lynam was an ex-journalist and it made him able to think what the viewers wanted to know and ask the right questions. The ex-pros need a Lynam type to make them think instead of just babble. Sky used to rely on Keys, but he's always been little more than a talk radio wind-up merchant, and now rely on nice but dim types like Ed Chamberlain. Take the Souness comment about Hilllsborough after the Suarez incident - a sharp-witted ex-hack would have said, 'Hang on...' and pulled him up on that. Instead he was allowed to waffle on regardless.

And BOOM! Another one. I keep going to write things but you got there first, and eloquently enough for me to resheath my weapon, as it were.

 

[gkmacca]

Cheers mate!

 

[localny]

wish he was playing one more year

 

[Fallon]

Ouch.

If I meant to insult you, you'd know.

 

[peterhague]

LOL

 

[RedStar]

I find they ignore what happens during a game and look for an easy talking point and it's usually a reffing incident, dive or whatever.

It doesn't make anyone wiser

Sky have dumbed the game down if anything, every incident is reduced to the lowest common denominator and the ref is usual to blame for not being able to watch 22 people with 360 degree vision at all times. Its all part of the Sky strategy though, football is a product and they need to keep selling it over and over, so its against their interest to criticise players or games, its easier to demonise the ref, cos most fans hate them anyway. Stir up as much controversy as possible and keep people watching regardless of the fact they are making it harder and harder for referees.

I honestly think there will come a point where we will have a chronic shortage of referees in the game becuase of the way they are being treated, who would want to open themselves up to Andy Gray or whoever replaying every decision in slow motion from 5 different angles for about 10 minutes to come to the conclusion that you are a moron because you got the call wrong. And then live with the shit storm that they whip up with their 24 hour rolling coverage and mandatory low IQ phone in shows.

 

[Ryan]

I wonder what three of them have in common?

They're all wearing ill-fitting suits.

 

[Ryan]

In that picture he looks more out of condition than the others. He's supposed to be the super-fit one!

It's the horrendous suit.

 

[Spionkop69]

It's the horrendous suit.

I love your metro sexuality.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Three ex reds, and I expect Neville will still make more sense sadly. I hope Carra is half as good as him.

 

[nealmac]

TBF, I always thought Carra talked a lot of sense any time I saw him doing punditry. I hope he gets one over on that cunt Souness on many occasions.

 

[Spionkop69]

TBF, I always thought Carra talked a lot of sense any time I saw him doing punditry. I hope he gets one over on that cunt Souness on many occasions.

"that cunt Souness"

Say it to his face 😛

 

[nealmac]

"that cunt Souness"

Say it to his face 😛

I would and all.

 

[gkmacca]

 

[Spionkop69]

I would and all.

He would break you!