Brentford FC in the Premier League?

[Tal]

I think that Merson is the best of the soccer saturday guys for entertainment value which is largely their remit imo

This.

They are there to entertain, not give cutting edge analysis.

I like Merson and Kammy.

Jeff Stelling is the guvnor obviously.

It's a damning indictment that I consider Merson to be the one who makes most sense when discussing football. He actually argues a point that differs from the standard opinions sometimes (like United haven't turned a corner at all; they're massively overachieving). Agree with it or not, at least it's a reasoned opinion. Would help if he could pronounce names, yes.

Charlie Nicholas meanwhile must have info on the boss. The James Brown toy would be more insightful.

Kammy...listen carefully...a footballer heading a ball into a goal on a football pitch in a football match is not unbelievable. If it is actually unbelievable, your job as the person to convince the audience of what just happened is redundant.

[DungBeetle]

I think that Merson is the best of the soccer saturday guys for entertainment value which is largely their remit imo

Merson still has the one of the best lines in the programme's history:

Merson:  "Good work on the wing by Autovic".
Stelling:  "It's "ANautovic"
Merson:  "What?  Is there more than one of him?"

[TightEnd]

Stelling is brilliant, a real craftsman of a presenter

can't stand any of the "pundits" on soccer saturday, many of whom can barely speak English. i appreciate its not meant to be detailed analysis but its simply too basic

but you could put four goats in tuxedos next to stelling and it would be better than 3 hours of final score on the bbc with garth crooks (particularly), claridge and hartson plus whichever hapless presenter has to throw to them for comments

simply unwatchable, with so little imagination in production, presentation and punditry that it hurts

[The Camel]

Stelling is brilliant, a real craftsman of a presenter

can't stand any of the "pundits" on soccer saturday, many of whom can barely speak English. i appreciate its not meant to be detailed analysis but its simply too basic

but you could put four goats in tuxedos next to stelling and it would be better than 3 hours of final score on the bbc with garth crooks (particularly), claridge and hartson plus whichever hapless presenter has to throw to them for comments

simply unwatchable, with so little imagination in production, presentation and punditry that it hurts

Honestly think the whole thing would crash and burn without Stelling.

I can't bear to watch the midweek version without him.

[rinswun]

This is a really good article about Benham, Brentford and FC Midtjylland. Well worth a read.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/22/brentford-mathematical-modelling-denmark

[tikay]

Stelling is brilliant, a real craftsman of a presenter

can't stand any of the "pundits" on soccer saturday, many of whom can barely speak English. i appreciate its not meant to be detailed analysis but its simply too basic

but you could put four goats in tuxedos next to stelling and it would be better than 3 hours of final score on the bbc with garth crooks (particularly), claridge and hartson plus whichever hapless presenter has to throw to them for comments

simply unwatchable, with so little imagination in production, presentation and punditry that it hurts

Honestly think the whole thing would crash and burn without Stelling.

I can't bear to watch the midweek version without him.

I've no idea if it is true, but it is repeatedly rumoured in the back corridors of Sky that Stelling is their highest paid Presenter, & by some way.

Been doing it a good while, too, & from what we see generally, he does not appear to be the sort to fritter money away, so he must be worth as much as Piggott. Almost.

[booder]

Looking forward to you retiring from next door Tony so that you can finally give us all the gossip from behind the scenes.

[The Camel]

Stelling is brilliant, a real craftsman of a presenter

can't stand any of the "pundits" on soccer saturday, many of whom can barely speak English. i appreciate its not meant to be detailed analysis but its simply too basic

but you could put four goats in tuxedos next to stelling and it would be better than 3 hours of final score on the bbc with garth crooks (particularly), claridge and hartson plus whichever hapless presenter has to throw to them for comments

simply unwatchable, with so little imagination in production, presentation and punditry that it hurts

Honestly think the whole thing would crash and burn without Stelling.

I can't bear to watch the midweek version without him.

I've no idea if it is true, but it is repeatedly rumoured in the back corridors of Sky that Stelling is their highest paid Presenter, & by some way.

Been doing it a good while, too, & from what we see generally, he does not appear to be the sort to fritter money away, so he must be worth as much as Piggott. Almost.

I'm not at all surprised he's top paid presenter.

But how would his wages compare to Henry, Neville and the boys?

[tikay]

Stelling is brilliant, a real craftsman of a presenter

can't stand any of the "pundits" on soccer saturday, many of whom can barely speak English. i appreciate its not meant to be detailed analysis but its simply too basic

but you could put four goats in tuxedos next to stelling and it would be better than 3 hours of final score on the bbc with garth crooks (particularly), claridge and hartson plus whichever hapless presenter has to throw to them for comments

simply unwatchable, with so little imagination in production, presentation and punditry that it hurts

Honestly think the whole thing would crash and burn without Stelling.

I can't bear to watch the midweek version without him.

I've no idea if it is true, but it is repeatedly rumoured in the back corridors of Sky that Stelling is their highest paid Presenter, & by some way.

Been doing it a good while, too, & from what we see generally, he does not appear to be the sort to fritter money away, so he must be worth as much as Piggott. Almost.

I'm not at all surprised he's top paid presenter.

But how would his wages compare to Henry, Neville and the boys?

No idea.

I must stress it is only rumour, but the number I repeatedly hear for Stelling tops the rumoured Henry numbers. I have no ideas what Neville gets, but he must be getting plenty, he is top notch.

Football is a monsta part of the Sky Business plan, & extremely lucrative business. Just as the players have reaped huge rewards, so have all the peripheral players, Agents, TV sorts etc. 

[Marky147]

Hope it's true, because Stelling is abs comedy!

He also has his own drinking game

[The Camel]

Just once I'd like him to say

"The ball is in the back of the net at Anfield/Highbury/Old Trafford"

and the goal actually counts.

[Marky147]

This is a really good article about Benham, Brentford and FC Midtjylland. Well worth a read.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/22/brentford-mathematical-modelling-denmark

Very interesting read.

Thanks for posting.

[Kmac84]

Excellent article,  I believe Celtic coach Ronny Delia is big on analysis and super fitness and would like to see him developm more of these ideas but Celtic fans might be a bit fickle for it.

[rinswun]

@OptaJoe: 42 - Brentford had 42 shots vs Blackpool tonight, 10 more than any team has managed in a Championship game this season. Relentless.

[TightEnd]

@OptaJoe: 42 - Brentford had 42 shots vs Blackpool tonight, 10 more than any team has managed in a Championship game this season. Relentless.