Would it be BT Sport, BBC, ITV or Sky Sports?
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Arsenal legend Thierry Henry finally hung up his boots after 20 years amongst the elite of professional football and promptly announced that he will be joining Sky Sports in a mega £24 million, six year contract as a pundit.
With the recent addition to Sky’s analysis panel in Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville a few seasons before that, CaughtOffside wondered just which TV channel out of BT Sports, BBC, ITV and Sky Sports would have the best five-a-side team from their pundits? No doubt it would be as fierce as the current competition between the TV stations themselves.
Sky Sports:
Team: Thierry Henry, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness, Jamie Redknapp
Sky’s ensemble definitely have youth on their side after Sky changed their game following the dismissals of Richard Keys and Andy Gray.
Neville and since Carragher have proved to be smart and successful additions and would no doubt still have the legs for a game or two should they be required.
Souness; well he is slightly more mature but you’d be a brave person to count him out with the sort of the tackles he got away with back in the day. But Redknapp might pull a hamstring getting up from his leather padded studio seat so maybe wouldn’t be the best at marshalling the midfield.
However, with Henry in their ranks, fresh from retirement and mud still caked on his shins, they’d give any team a game despite the complete lack of goalkeeper.
Henry would just have to outscore the opposition…
BBC
Team: Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, Mark Lawrenson, Danny Murphy, Martin Keown
Just look at that frown. If only Alan Hansen were still a pundit then the BBC could have the ultimate; stoney faced, sarcastic, furrowed brow back line.
The BBC team might not be as youthful but they certainly have the kind of the experience you need to realistically win titles with many seasoned pros on the squad list from years of duty in front of the camera.
Keown is no doubt a hidden goalkeeper as his gigantic leaps over Ruud van Nistelrooy just went to show and Murphy would provide the steel from midfield but provide the goals for the deadly attacking duo of Lineker and Shearer.
ITV
Team: Lee Dixon, Gordon Strachan, Ian Wright, Glen Hoddle, Paul Scholes
They have the second highest goal-scorer in Arsenal’s history in Ian Wright as well as 11 time league medal winner Paul Scholes so you can be sure ITV wouldn’t be short of goals going forward. Never mind the abilities of Glenn Hoddle.
However, as we move back things get a bit more difficult and Strachan and Dixon might have to compromise or switch between stints in defence and goal.
Though you’d expect Strachan would win that argument hands down and Dixon would be the friend you shove in goal because you haven’t the heart to tell him he’s not actually good enough.
Yes, that was me.
BT Sport
Team: Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen, David Ginola, David James, Rio Ferdinand
The new money to the footballing scene. The Manchester City if you will. And BT Sport have certainly gone about it like City in their first few seasons with Sheikh Mansour’s chequebook, signing Pundits here there and everywhere.
The BT boys can boast the only recognised goalkeeper so there’s some advantage there but with Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand before him, James might not need to even bother. Although given the injury records of both the former Manchester United men; Robbie Savage might end up being subbed on and then all bets are off.
However, BT’s pacy attack is sure to cause problems with Ginola and Owen but if anything it’s just a relief to see Michael Owen out of the commentary box.