With so few games In January I was considering reviewing those who provide us with content.
That came to my mind again when I heard Jamie Carragher’s punditry at the final whistle on Sunday. To clarify the ex-defender wasn’t even on commentary, he was in the studio, yet Sky felt we needed to hear the views of a Liverpool legend straight away. They couldn’t wait for after the break.
Broadcasters have long chosen for their pundits to be characters in their own right putting that ahead of analysis. YouTube numbers suggest there is an audience for this, look at the Overlap channel. So, Sky Sports don’t hide that they employ people with a bias towards one club, they embrace it, and I don’t mind that. As long as it doesn’t become a priority over the actual football.
Seconds after we beat Liverpool 3-1, to close the gap at the top to two points, to avoid being 8 points behind in the title race, having outplayed our opponents …. this was Mr Carragher’s contribution (one his employers couldn’t wait to hear) ……
‘Just get down the tunnel.
“You’ve won a game, three points.
“They’ve been brilliant, back in the title race… get down the tunnel.
“I’m serious, honestly…”
This was in response to Odegaard choosing to take a photo instead of our usual photographer.
Of course, Carragher’s response has nothing to do with our captain. He was frustrated by the worst performance of Klopp’s season, and this was his mask slipping.
In that moment he wasn’t acting like a man being paid thousands of pounds to do a job, he was acting like a supporter who lacked the class to take a loss with grace.
Yet I’m paying Sky a lot of money for a service and in that moment, I expect a potential crucial moment in the campaign to be documented better than a 46-year-old sulking because he didn’t get his way.
On one hand the channel sold Super Sunday on the hook of this being a vital moment in the Championships yet once we win it’s not important.
Why do I sense if we had lost it would have been the end of the world, yet we are not allowed to enjoy the win?
Why do I think if Klopp and his players celebrated in the same ways – that’s allowed?
That’s what I expect on YouTube!
At the very least I would expect one of his peers to challenge him on his hypocrisy. When Jürgen Klopp ran on the pitch once when beating Everton Carragher’s commentary had the opposite point of view.
The Reds boss is famous for his post-match celebrations after wins and yet Carragher is fine with that.
Compare our celebrations to when Liverpool beat us in the Cup.
Didn’t Klopp once order his squad to celebrate a 2-2 draw with West Brom at Anfield?
If I know all of this then so would have Mr Carragher’s work mates. Yet no doubt they were ordered not to point out the irony because it would make him look silly?
The difference between a Gary Neville and Roy Keane is you sense they believe what they say?
They can separate who they played for and given an objective view on the Gunners.
Namely we have a young squad who might lack the mentality to get over the line.
I agree with that assessment.
Yet if we had beaten Man United 3-1 having outplayed them. I think Mr Neville and Mr Keane have the class to say Man United were shameful in their performance.
That’s all I’m asking for Sky …. a bit of class
Dan
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A nasty piece of work, I remember when he got sent off after throwing a coin back into the Arsenal crowd, spitting on kids, should have been sacked, it’s the same with Neville both despise Arsenal as Arsenal have won the league at both of their sh.thole grounds, I love it when it winds them up, long may it continue.
Nothing wrong with JOY, it’s an authentic positive beneficial emotion. Envy…like Carraher’s and Rio Ferdinand’s, and also their Arsenal hate are the worst emotions. If they are what our game has become then we are in a bad era. Well done Martin Odegaard for being a positive human being. Positive celebration is good.
I know i had issues with some of your past opinions but you hit the nail the nail on the head. Literally took the words out of my month word for word. I usually like carragher as a pundit but this was clearly a frustrated fan throwing a tantrum on air than pundit opinion.
It has become norm for people to criticize our players and Arteta celebrations while others get away with it. I think its mostly envy and jealousy. We are no longer the banter club with the dead stadium atmosphere, lazy uninterested players or soft with no fight and a divided in-fighting fanbase. Rival fans cant swallow those truths.
when we finally win the league again i don’t know how they are gonna cope. Social media will be a kill zone where arsenal fans will hunt down everybody who laughed at us. Bunch of people will go missing or silent.
DAN and everyone.
What does is matter and why does it matter to you DAN, what CARRAGHER says or thinks? Most Gooners consider him a biased, unthinking chancer who is lucky to have got thee job he has at Sky, considering how low his intellect is!
So who cares what he says or thinks!! I dont and never have. I recommend that attitude to you too.
You say I shouldn’t care what Carragher thinks but you care what I think about what Carragher thinks ?
I don’t care what he thinks mate
I care more when there is a double standard
The difference between us DAN, that I ought not to need point out to someone of your undoubted intellect, is that YOU chose to make CARRAGHERS OUTBURST into an article, I merely responded in your piece.
As I genuinely couldn’t care less what limited intellects like Carra “think”,then I am not hurt by what he says.
But YOU SEEM to be. Or do you deny that and, IF SO, what is the reason for your article at all, given that there are very many far more important, far more relevent things about our club to discuss?
That was of course merely a rhetorical question, as it is widely known among those of us who perceive REALITY, that the REAL reason is to fill the hourly JA quota and not other tangible reasons at ALL!
Finally DAN, if you have not yet realised at your age that ALL HUMANS are capable of and at times show double standards , then albeit surprisingly, you are yet to learn the life lessons about how humans ARE, that I AS A FAR OLDER PERSON HAVE LONG KNOWN.
I give my opinion on relevant talking points that exists
This is being covered by Sky Sports, BBC , Talk Sport , Five Live , on YouTube , In papers , etc
no Arsenal fan I know cares what Carragher says in his high squeaky scouse voice
A different take on the whole ‘ how to celebrate’ articles
I could describe Carragher in less than pleasant terms; it would be easy. I get Dan’s point that pundits are knowingly employed to show where their hearts lie. I know that Wrighty will show his emotions when reviewing an Arsenal game
What I found distasteful about Carragher was the tone. I hadn’t considered Sky’s role in getting his opinion out there immediately but I’ll be more aware in future. Bad loser syndrome
I’ve never understood how he got his reprieve after the spitting incident. Ghastly man and every time he is on telly I’m reminded of it
Very true, SueP. Carragher is ghastly and should never have been so easily forgive by Sky. But I guess this is typical of a media giant. No boundaries and no moral compass!
Sad but true GunneRay
Obviously he went over the top with his celebration Else we wouldn’t be having this debate ,and it wasn’t just Carragher who mentioned it .
It was pure cringe and I knew as soon as I saw it it would be a hot topic for the week .
Come on Dan, MA has the right to express emotion, especially in such big games that define your ability to be a good manager. Carragher , keys and company must get used to it because that Germany fellow won’t be punching the air anytime soon. If somebody eg De Zerbi celebrates as if he is the one who has scored noone says anything
Let’s see more & more of those winning celebrations. Love them all, especially the ones by Arteta.
It’s good to see how our wins wind up those two turds Carragher & Neville.
Hehehehehe..
I just love the fact that as professionals they are so easily wound up. It shows their true character. Especially Carragher! You can even see him grinding his teeth sometimes. I just find it petty but ultimately entertaining. Let’s do it more please!!! COYG
Yeah, it’s an absolute joy!
Use Cara’s and all those against Arsenal outbasts to galvanize players and fanbase. I know Arteta is brilliant enough toknow what to do.Some of his celebrations could be on purpose.
Outburst*
Here is just a bore