Carrying on from which pundits are worth checking out for your Arsenal content, let’s now look at who is worth checking out or avoiding in the world of YouTube.
5 Of The Worse
Lee Gunner
One of many content creators who had a ready-made fan base from being an occasional talking head on AFTV. Yet his ego has grown to the point where he cannot admit his interaction with Robbie Lyle might have helped. He even has the audacity to criticise it.
If you compare his AFTV interviews with his current body of work, it is night and day. He went from a fan who you could relate to, with decent product knowledge, who saw a gap in the market.
The more negative he was, the more traction he got. Instead of fighting against it, he saw a chance to make money. You cannot fault that.
The only issue is that if you are negative in every upload, your opinion is no longer subjective, it is an act. I am not doubting how genuine his support for the Gunners is, but he has simply seen a way to make a living talking about football.
Throw in the nervous use of “yeah”, and the look-at-me drinking and smoking, and it is cringe.
Harmless, but cringe.
Dan Potts – 12th Man
So this is a fascinating human experiment, as Dan is where so many of his peers have been, and it is fascinating to see what direction he goes in.
He had some Fan Cams on AFTV and TNT Sport interviewed him a couple of times outside the Emirates.
So, logically, he made his own channel and saw a cash cow. As in… that is it. He copied and pasted the formula and just hopes it works.
He separates channels into their own criteria (London, in Europe, Top 6, etc) and then invites fans onto the show to shout at each other while adding nothing himself.
He has even tried the fake “I am angry with the manager” rant, but it was false.
He is now trying to interview others away from sport.
Slow down!
It is like he is trying to make as much content as possible before people notice he is milking it.
Pitch Side
Very loud!
It has got to the point where I am not sure the channel knows what it wants to be.
On one hand their content is creative, asking each other and viewers to compile lists which are thought-provoking and test your knowledge.
Tom Garrett, for example, has great product knowledge, but it is undermined by the panel’s “banter”.
This is where the channel lets itself down, because four grown men do not talk to each other this way unless it is prearranged for an audience below the age of 15.
Stick To Football
Kind of like Match Of The Day with the volume turned up. Which is not a compliment, considering I have long viewed that show as stale, yet thanks to his own company Gary Lineker gives himself, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards more time and licence to showcase their personalities.
Their chemistry is undeniable, and obviously on YouTube they can work with far fewer restrictions than on TV.
I say “work”, but the three simply go through the motions, press record and just speak.
Their top 10 lists can be fun, but you sense this podcast is just a tiny cherry on the cake for three men who make a lot of money elsewhere.
Mr Lineker could afford better production if he wanted, and the trio could tell us something we have not heard before.
Kick Off
This is hard to know where to rank, as in many ways I am judging the channel from a previous time, levels it might not return to again, which is something their host seems aware of.
I do not write this lightly because he has been open about his battle with mental health, but Brian has let certain setbacks impact on his performance. He no longer has that charisma, and even when simply talking about Newcastle, he sounds bitter.
He still makes a lot of money talking about football, but as he kept telling his viewers (maybe too many times) he was branching off into other ventures.
After some ill-advised comments on a live stream he lost a lot of sponsorship and advertisers.
Having listened to his two apology videos, I do not think he is sorry for his words but feels sorry for himself and what he has lost.
While he maintains it is not cost-cutting, a lot of his content is now filmed on live chat, not in the studio where his production values separated him from his peers. He has also lost the original panel that you associated with the channel.
At his height of popularity, I thought his best work was actually when he would branch away from sport and give feedback on relevant documentaries or Netflix series.
I think that could be his way to go so he can take a break from football in the short term.
The innocence has gone.
5 Of The Best
AFTV
Anyone who has a vision and works hard to make a success of themselves deserves respect.
Robbie Lyle saw a gap in the market, giving fans a platform for their voices to be heard.
The only issue is his concept became so big that it created a conflict of interest.
Those who got the most views tended to be those who had over-the-top characters. Logically, the more clicks these individuals got, the more they exaggerated their act, yet got more screen time, with separate shows even created for them.
It soon became difficult for the channel’s host to claim his content was represented by supporters viewers could relate to.
Now with sponsors, AFTV has become too big to be small, but too small to be big.
Several of those who helped the company grow had to be asked to leave, because where once Robbie as a friend could excuse their behaviour, now as their boss advertisers put on pressure.
There is the conflict. To return to its glory days AFTV relies on its content being controversial. They cannot be controversial because there are too many standards to follow.
They cannot tell those standards to go away because they are the business partners who offer the most income.
With the venture making him more money than he ever could have believed, and now so many on YouTube with their own version of fan channels, the 52-year-old knows things may have become stagnant and it is time to adapt.
DT
Of all the original members of AFTV, DT was the talking head most viewers could relate to.
While some of his peers were like cartoon characters with the volume turned up, DT was relatable, not ever overly positive but not critical about everything.
Robbie saw the numbers his friend was making, so eventually gave the two their own podcast.
Just as he was branching off into other projects he was sentenced for assault, kidnapping and stalking.
While carrying on his YouTube channel since jail, he has lost most of his sponsorship and advertisers, and it is unlikely many will want to work with him again.
A shame, as there is a talent there.
Ruined it for himself.
The Club
The Club’s birth was controversial. Three YouTubers who were on the Kick Off’s panel offered to front an identical format with similar production values. They accepted, but only after True Geordie started to lose sponsors due to controversial comments during a live stream.
Some think the trio jumping ship was disloyal.
Others (like myself) feel that you have to separate friendships from business.
In any workplace, if your boss makes a racial comment which impacts on your income, it does not matter if he is your friend, you make the professional choice.
Put it this way, if one of them had said the same thing and an advertiser asked for their removal, True Geordie would not have thought twice.
Doing what was right for their own careers and families, the three took a ready-made audience with them, extending content away from only live watch-alongs to lists and greatest elevens, etc.
While it is clear who they support, it is not character-driven. Neither are scared to point out flaws in their favourite club or praise a rival.
When you listen to them talk, that generally is the tone of conversation that happens with mates down a pub. Is that not the point?
Simon Jordan – Up Front
A rare programme on Talk Sport where the host and pundits do not try to make it about themselves.
Obviously, agreed with the guest ahead of time, the former football owner is allowed to ask candid questions and challenge the answers.
The 57-year-old has an ego, but enough money that he does not need to put himself ahead of those he is interviewing.
It means you get a fair career retrospective and even learn some new information.
Overlap
Gary Neville obviously had an advantage over other YouTubers as his company has the wealth to create the best production while having a ready-made audience from his and his guests’ work as pundits, mostly on Sky Sports.
Some episodes will be the panel debating current talking points in sport or interviewing a legend from football.
Where fan channels have to create characters such as being too positive or negative and post short clips of rants for the sake of views, those on the Overlap do not need to do that.
Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott have had careers where they do not have to act, have credibility with the viewer, yet are self-deprecating enough not to take themselves too seriously.
Dan
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Very good article Dan, informative and a good read. Talking of good reads, do you think a similar article regarding other blogs could be done or would the powers that be at JA not be too happy with giving rivals an ad for their platforms?
I avoid some of these as they can be sickening, some have
a very chliché vocabulary and calling each other bro time
and time again (sic) but I like some, for instance turkish,
curtis and even dt on occasion.. but there is something
seriously wrong with lee gunner.. charles watts is level
headed… At the moment I miss the views of Graham and I like the restraint Julien is expressing.. on aftv.
Good read Dan. Amongest my personal favourite fan podcasts on Arsenal; Handbrake Off by The Athletic, Arsecast, Wrighty’s House and lastly The Arsenal Vision Podcast. Not so sure the hosts fall into the “pundit” category.
Lee gunner is a wrongun let’s leave it at that. And then there’s his minions the serial ranter Northside probably one of the worst on YouTube. Aftv are rubbish! Curtis shaw is funny but does talk sense probably my favourite.
He’s cringe
When ever it gets a little confrontational needs a drink and cigarette
Very telling
I thought I could be critical of Arteta. But Lee Gunner makes me look like his biggest fan. 😂
Derek his dislike of Arsenal and Arteta is down to drawing in rival fans for clicks and subscriptions, he knows Arsenal aren’t very well liked so slagging them off publicly will draw in the masses the fella was sitting with a Real Madrid shirt on last season during streams claiming he’s a Real Madrid fan too 😆. Just a very unlikeable person.
Kev,
I agree with you, and he seems to have an over inflated ego as well.
Well Derek his ego will have taken a battering in recent days! Hopefully we see less of him 🤣
Actually Kev,
I did see on YouTube not long ago a gentleman whose name escapes me, felt the need to come out and defend himself against allegations that Lee Gunner had made against him.
He’d have to get in queue Derek, that fella has made accusations about everyone 🤣 I think it was frank your talking about.
There is really little difference between you and Mr Gunner regarding your narratives about Arteta except that you don’t have the platform he has.
Not taking any prisoners with that post. You’ve taken plenty of stick so fair play
And there speaks David,
Arteta’s biggest lovey of them all.
What I have written is simply the truth. And if you refer to me again in such derisive terms do not be surprised if you get a response in kind.
Respond to me how you like David,
It’s water off a ducks back. Oh look I’m crying 😢. 😂
Oh David just an add-on to my previous post. You say not to respond to you in such derisive terms. That’s rich coming from you, look back at some of your previous posts and take a look at what you’ve called other poster’s on here.
Talk about pot calling the kettle black. Priceless!. 😂
You have my back against this bot Derek.
@thebot
Anyone is free to say anything against Arteta. It is not directed at you so why do you always get offended by it and feel the need to butt in? Is Arteta your father?
HH,
Don’t you mean you have my back (meaning Derek) against this bot.
Apologies if I’ve misunderstood your post. 👍
😂😂😂
I didn’t notice I wrote it that way until you pointed it out. Yes I have your back.
HH,
Thank you that’s good to know. 😂👍
You have also unnecessarily chimed in on this discussion with your dimwitted insult.
I can also recall you being a crybaby claiming people were ganging up on you because they challenged your views. Now, however, you yourself are behaving like a classic online bully.
If you go back to the original part of the thread many of LG’s talking points are the same that Derek has been saying on this platform. I was simply pointing out a fact.
The fact that Derek gave a derogatory response and you impudently join him does not change this. Or are you trying to shut down discourse when it is factual?
@thebot
You are the most disrespectful person on this platform and please clear away from my posts.
The fact that you call anyone who criticize the substandard empty handed Arteta “so called Arsenal fans” make me not to want to hear anything you have to say even more.
Who are you to question ones allegiance to the club? Don’t overestimate your own importance (if it exists).
On the other side of the coin HH, those who happen to believe MA has done some good things, are called “Arteta fan boys” which is just as insulting, wouldn’t you agree?
You are a Mikel supporter Ken, as well as Jax and more than half of JA regulars I would say. But we dont call all of you fanboys do we? Why? Because you criticize when you feel its warranted and you dont go around disrespecting anyone who do not agree with your views.
Only the handful very known few like David who to date hasn’t managed to criticise a single loss under Arteta. What is he if not a fanboy?
And if blind support of manager is what true fans do, what was their support of Wenger and Emery? They were also Arsenal managers?
According to David one is not Arsenal supporter if they have nothing but only positive things to say about Arteta regardless of win or loss, trophies or no trophies. Which ironically if we did that it would make us Arteta supporters instead of Arsenal ones 😂.
You have others like Chronicle and Arsenal1886 who do not post often, do not post at all when we lose but as soon as we get a good run of wins they will come back and the first posts they make will have a go at Arteta critics.
HH, why do you call Mikel “empty handed” ?
Because he has assembled a squad worth over 1 billion that has won zilch!
HH, then would you call our previous manager the same after he spent 100’s of millions and didn’t win anything for 9 years ?
I already gave you data of that Herr Drier on this topic. Do you want me to write an article on it so we can have something to reference to when you make baseless claims that are not based on real facts in the future?
I
HH, yes please do write an article on it 👍. I shall look forward to reading it.
Are you really saying the previous manager never spent 100’s of millions in those 9 barren years ?
You don’t deserve any respect for most of your contributions to the site. Here you have butted into a particular conversation where I was simply stating a fact. Neither you nor Derek have denied this but are seeking to gain some kind of traction by a return to your silly narratives and insults.
You should know that I am not interested in any engagements with you as your criticisms often do not make sense and your analyses are poor. You seem to think that repeated reference to Arteta as “substandard” makes you look clever without realising how moronic such comments are.
I will continue calling him substandard until he wins the EPL or CL.
I have no interest in anyone thinking I am clever of dumb or whatever. I don’t care about such things.
My self worth is more than enough for me to seek online validation 🙄🙄🙄
David,
There not facts just because you say so. HH is right regarding you. While being positive is a good thing, your constant defense of Arteta is laughable at times.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being critical when you see things that you don’t agree with.
Other poster’s on here the likes of Ken1945, Herr Drier and the like have been positive in the past regards Arteta, but they to call Arteta out when needed.
Now I’ll admit I can go over the top sometimes, but who doesn’t. Positivity has its place, but being positive for the sake of it isn’t. If the negative feedback is constructive, there’s nothing wrong with it.
Again I’ll admit my thoughts are not always constructive, but I’ll admit that. Something I think you’d never do.
And as for having a go regards HH getting involved, this is a public forum. So anyone is entitled to comment and talk to fellow poster’s if they wish. What a boring forum it would be without being able to communicate with each other.
And David you call out poster’s who supposedly insult you. Well maybe there’s a message in there for you. Your not averse to the odd insult yourself.
So three sayings for you to bare in mind regarding your insults.
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Those without Sin cast the first stone.
Pot calling the kettle black.
All these three sayings spring to mind when I read you questioning other poster’s who are a bit sharp with you. 🤷♂️
I stated that you and LG have been focusing on largely the same negative talking points. However, he has a bigger platform than you do. Do you deny any of this?
I don’t seek your validation as your criticisms, similar to that individual who you’ve become all loved up with, lack coherence and are not constructive. I stand by that. There are a number of fans such as the LGs of this world who are making hay out of this excessive negativity. It is this kind of mindset that leads to some people actually creating a petition against an Arsenal new player. How does this help the club that you claim to support?
You both need to be more considered in your comments. When your comments become more sensible you will get respect. Otherwise, from time to time your lack of reasonableness will get called out.
David,
I’m not all loved up with Lee Gunner, far from it. I don’t know where you get that idea from.
For me he strikes me as very arrogant. And from what I’ve seen of him, he makes some wild and unnecessary accusations to people along the way.
The fact that because I can be negative, doesn’t put me anywhere in the League that Lee Gunner’s in. So you suggesting that is quite laughable really.
You say you don’t need my validation, you’ve got no worry’s on that score. And as for getting your respect, I don’t want or need it.
😂😂
Arsenal Therapy is my favorite.
Never read or listened to any of the above – for me it’s JA and Untold Arsenal, although I haven’t visited the latter in quite a while.
I do watch Goldbridge (I think that’s his name) for his manure rants and he’s also quite rational when talking about other teams.
Brent Aka Mark Goldbridge is a forest fan posing as a united fan and talks positively about other clubs for clicks but fair play he’s made a career for himself.
Kev,
I’ve heard someone else say that Goldberg is a Forest fan to.
I know United are bigger than Forest, but surely he can still provide the content he does by being a Forest fan. Anyone would think he’s ashamed of them. 🤷♂️
Derek he would never get the traction doing forest related content. The Alan Partridge wannabe is clever I’ll give him that but stopped taking him seriously when he said Luke Shaw is the world’s best left back 🤣
Currently or ever?😬
@Sue P he said it only last season when fit he’s the best left back in the world, that was his words 🤣
I’d have Winterburn in a heart beat
SueP,
Sansom, Winterburn, Cole 😣.
I think you’ll guess the angry face regarding Cole. But I can’t argue with how good a left back he was to be fare.
JA mainly for me too ken1945, but equally as much I like reading Pedro on Le Grove and our old friend Jon Fox also contributes on there. They do a good podcast regularly too but it’s subscription only. I haven’t seen this Lee Gunner fella but he sounds like a right di*khead!
I’m surprised that Le Grove would put up with Jon telling them all about his high intellect and waving his English degree around at every opportunity. Pedro must be mellowing now that he’s a father.
Come to think of it, I’ve not seen JF comment for some time so perhaps he’s been binned again 😆
Hope he turns up somewhere. He was always “entertaining”. I think Ken stays in touch by email, so he would know better.
Jon is still banned from the site and, from his last email has no further interest in coming back.
Well he’s banned
That would be like saying ‘ I don’t fancy her anyway’ after she has dumped you lol
Oh he’s around
Mark Goldbridge is excellent! Lovely rants on Man utd 🤣 Another is Expressions Oozing.. good rants on Tottenham.
Quantic Dream,
I’m with you regards Expressions. He has some massive melt downs.😂👍
😂😂 Every time Spurs lose I rush there. That man can talk, bruh!
Yeah but fake
Put him on Sky Sports and magically he talks different
I don’t know how AFTV operates these days, but I used to love seeing Robbie and his camera guy’s post-match reports until they were hijacked by the wannabe muppets. I’m pleased for him; he deserves his success, but I do miss those good old days. I’ve given some of the YouTube shows a try, but find they’re mostly a bunch of shouty blokes.
Charles Watts: Inside Arsenal is worth a visit though.
I completly forgot to mention the best channel at the moment Adrian Clark, level headed analysis..
Anither site that Phil (PAL to those of us who have been JA members for a while) follows “She wore a Yellow Ribbon” and copies me on some of the articles… that’s another good one as well.
Ken, SWAYR is pretty good, although I can’t stand that Keenos fella.
I’ve known Gav the owner of SWAYR for many a year, and he’s been through the wringer the last couple of years. Thankfully he’s now back on track.