FOR IRISH VIEWERS, this summer will see the European Championships split across four different broadcasters giving us a whole host of choices when it comes to deciding which former player’s hot take we want to tweet sarcastically about.
As it happens, the line-up of current and ex-internationals is particularly strong for Euro 2016 but, before a ball has even been kicked, we’ve decided to rank them.
We’ll update the rankings a few times over the course of the tournament to reflect any pen-throwing, on-camera-swearing that goes on in the next four weeks.
10. Harry Redknapp – TV3
‘Arry has been a familiar face for Champions League viewers on TV3 this season and he’s back for the Euros.
Given that he was very close to the England job himself, it’ll be interesting to see his take when they inevitably crash out on penalties at the quarter-final stage.
9. Jens Lehmann – BBC
To be frank, we have no idea what Lehmann is like as a pundit at all but if he’s half as unpredictable as he was between the sticks for Arsenal, then that’ll do just fine.
Interestingly, both the Beeb and ITV (Lothar Matthäus) have German pundits this year. We can only assume that means they expect the world champions to win the thing.
8. Peter Crouch – ITV
Not only is Crouch there to provide analysis of England’s performances during the tournament but his amateur comedy stylings have tickled us in the past and he’s definitely our top tip to provide the funniest line of the tournament.
Just as long as he doesn’t start dancing or he’ll drop off the list.
7. Eamon Dunphy – RTÉ
There are those of you who’ll think Uncle Eamo should be higher and there’ll be those of you who think he shouldn’t be on the list at all.
However, there’s always the chance of this:
6. Damian Duff – RTÉ
We know a little about Duff from his handful of appearances on RTÉ during the Champions League but we won’t get his thoughts on the current Ireland side as he’s asked not to cover these games.
You get a hint that Duff could become Ireland’s Paul Scholes, quiet as a player but vocal as a pundit. Here’s hoping.
5. Joey Barton – TV3
Yet another relatively unknown quantity, Barton is as likely to be heard quoting Nietzsche over the next few weeks as he is discussing the merits of zonal marking at set-pieces.
One thing’s for sure, he won’t be short of something to say.
4. John Giles – RTÉ
RTÉ might be fazing him out but Gilesy will always be the senior analyst in our hearts.
Sure, he might not know the names of all the players but he’s played with and against some of best footballers to ever don a pair of boots and that experience has to count for something.
3. Graeme Souness – TV3
Souness is a cracking pundit which probably comes as a huge surprise to anyone who supports a club he has managed.
What makes the former Scotland international so compelling is that he is completely unafraid to disagree with his fellow pundits and call them out when he thinks they’re waffling.
2. Kevin Kilbane – TV3
Killer is as good with a mic on his lapel as he was with a ball at his feet and we’re really looking forward to seeing more of his analysis over the coming weeks.
Kilbane’s strength is that he’s not afraid to delve into the finer detail and, as a result, his punditry feels fresh in comparison to some others.
1. Richie Sadlier – RTE
A career on the pitch cruelly cut short by injuries is the glass-half-empty way of looking at Sadlier’s ascent into the pundit’s chair but he is our pick as the best of the current crop of analysts on display this summer.
Is he the man to take over Giles’ role as senior analyst? You betcha.
Disagree, of course you do, let us know who you’d have number one and why in the comments below.
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