Is this man the Premier League’s WORST pundit?

Every Saturday afternoon, I switch on my television, find BBC1 (the Champs when it comes to football results) and listen to the latest scores from the Premier League coming in.

It’s exciting to watch the ups and downs of Saturday afternoon’s games happening live before one’s eyes: the goals going in, their effect on the table and the reactions of the football guests in the studio as things unfold before them.

But all that’s positive about the BBC’s results show ends with the introduction of one man: Garth Crooks. You can search high and low but you won’t find a fan of the man. It’s a shame given that he was never like this as a player; he was a pleasure to watch on the field, always smiling and bringing a certain ‘swagger’ to the game. But time seems to have altered the ex-Tottenham and Stoke City man.

So when and where did he change? I Grant that he’s now 53 and is in the process of turning into a grumpy old man but I’d argue he’s developing much too quickly in this regard.

I think I might have pin-pointed when the change started to happen for Garth: it was the last few months before he finished playing for Charlton Athletic in 1990.

Rumours coming out of the Valley at that time suggest that on many an afternoon Garth could be heard shouting and moaning at the club’s dinner lady for not putting enough mash potatoes on his plate.

I’m sure he has the best of intentions, but you can’t help but feel frustrated by the ex-Charlton man. You can tell that Garth is trying to get the best of his fellow panel members but it’s the way he tries to take control of every situation that grinds my gears. There was a semi-famous incident when Gary Pallister informed Gaby Logan that a great goal had been scored in a match and tick-tock three seconds later and right on cue, Mr butt-in said “What shocking defending!” to which Gary replied “how do you know you were not watching the game?” Garth’s only response was to grunt.

For a split second I thought that Gary was about to spring out of his chair, walk across to Garth and ‘let lose’. Unfortunately, no such act was becoming: Ms Logan unleashed some charm and the rift was healed.

There is one panel member that even the mighty Garth Crooks would not mess with and in my opinion he’s one of the best football critics on the BBC: Steve Claridge. The man has a certain something about him, an aura, or a presence that demands respect. Thus when Garth tries to pluck up the courage to interrupt him, Steve just casts a certain look in his direction and Garth stops in his tracks.

Diversity of opinion is a fantastic thing, but why is it that more often than not your opinions are so thoroughly disagreeable? There’s a danger that Crooks will turn the Ann Robinson of Saturday afternoon TV – a somewhat terrifying thought.

Unless a gagging order can be obtained, I may just have to get my football results from elsewhere.

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