Live football on the BBC is always something to get excited about – except when it’s a truly dreadful game.
Southampton beat Ipswich 1-0 in their FA Cup third-round replay to book a clash with Crystal Palace. It wasn’t pretty. Here’s what we learnt…
1. People still love Terry Butcher
England’s legendarily committed defender was in the Match of the Day studio. People didn’t really care what he said, they were just happy he was there.
Terry Butcher on BBC1.
The man is NAILS.
— Jason (@NickMotown) January 14, 2015
Big Terry Butcher is on BBC One doing the Ipswich/Southampton match. What a man.
— Alistair Hunter (@AliHunter1) January 14, 2015
Great to see Terry Butcher looking so well what a top top bloke he really was!!
— Glenn Poole (@pooley11) January 14, 2015
2. But they aren’t so impressed with Jermaine Jenas
The former Newcastle man – also a studio pundit – suggested Southampton might struggle in the cold.
Jermaine Jenas spectacular insight. It's cold out there the #Southampton players won't like that.
— Mark Alefounder (@iPoPirate) January 14, 2015
Jermaine Jenas might as well just go and get the teas.
— Chance Ingham-Grant (@chanceig) January 14, 2015
3. The BBC picked the wrong match
Tottenham 1-2 Burnley after 10 minutes! Cheers BBC
— Joe Richards (@joerichards95) January 14, 2015
Cheers bbc for not playing the Spurs game, 3 goals in ten minutes probably a boring watch
— Dinny (@Dan_carling96) January 14, 2015
4. The BBC picked the wrong co-commentator
Mark Lawrenson acts like my great aunt who moans about any topic of conversation. Acts as if life is a chore.
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) January 14, 2015
Mark Lawrenson sounds genuinely annoyed that he is spending his Wednesday evening watching football.
— Ryan Keaney (@RyanKeaney) January 14, 2015
"Mark Lawrenson is so boring" commented this man… pic.twitter.com/rAzR99Al9V
— Fr Dougal McGuire (@DougalMacGuire) January 14, 2015
5. Goals can be baffling things
Southampton celebrate Shane Long hitting the side netting (Chris Radburn/PA)
Commentary casually dismisses the shot as "side netting" as Long sweeps it in for #SaintsFC
— Jack Gann (@jackrgann) January 14, 2015
Side netting, Long…… 1 nil Saints âš½ï¸
— Rob (@rbarraclough23) January 14, 2015
'Oh Shane Long…. side netting' no mate, that's a goal. #saintsfc #itfc
— Ryan Salt (@Rhino_03) January 14, 2015
Don’t worry – there was one other person who thought the same.
I thought Long had hit side netting as well. Good finish
— Lee Franklin (@LeeHappyNow) January 14, 2015
6. Southampton’s squad depth is about to get tested
Victor Wanyama picked up what appeared to be a hamstring injury just before half-time.
Wanyama hamstring injury, Alderweireled hamstring strain & Schneiderlin adductor strain. Worrying trend for #SaintsFC.
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) January 14, 2015
Schneiderlin out for 2/3 weeks and now Wanyama has gone in the fetlock. Both Southampton's big human screens injured.
— Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) January 14, 2015
7. The BBC definitely picked the wrong game
Tottenham 4-2 Burnley
B—Sordell (3’)
B—Wallace (8’)
T—Paulinho (10’)
T—Capoue (45’)
T—Chiriches (49’)
T—Rose (52’) pic.twitter.com/ldoVyj9wrn
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) January 14, 2015
Meanwhile on BBC One, Southampton have just taken a throw in.
— Craig (@mrcraigo10) January 14, 2015
Mark Lawrenson making us all wish we were watching the Tottenham match but with commentary by a duck in a tight shirt
— bob mortimer (@RealBobMortimer) January 14, 2015
8. But maybe they didn’t pick the wrong co-commentator after all
The type of game where Mark Lawrenson's dreary style of commentary is entirely appropriate.
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) January 14, 2015
9. Not all Southampton games are entertaining
Never a sign of a good game when Shane Long running hopelessly after a loose ball is getting the commentators excited #bbcfootball #FACup
— FitbaThatba (@fitbathatba) January 14, 2015
10. Tyrone Mings is the future
The much-hyped Ipswich defender – released by Southampton as a youngster because he was too small (he’s now 6ft5) – came on 10 minutes into the second half and impressed everyone watching.
That Tyrone Mings looks mint. Reckon he could end up being a powerful box to box midfielder. Strong, pacey, composed on the ball
— Esco (@Escooo95) January 14, 2015
Tyrone Mings is a baller, gotta get snapped up by a prem club ðŸ“
— james (@frudd28) January 14, 2015
I would be very happy with signing Mings. Looks like he'll be a really top quality defender before long.
— Adam (@adpgibson) January 14, 2015
11. Tyrone Mings isn’t the future
The much-hyped Ipswich defender – released by Southampton as a youngster because he was too small (he’s now 6ft5) – came on 10 minutes into the second half, but was something of a disappointment.
Come on Tyrone Mings isn't all that, the amount of hype he gets, if he was that good he wouldn't be in the championship aged 21
— C (@CharHolmes10) January 14, 2015
#mings lot of fuss about very little indeed
— Barry Peters (@barryjohnpeters) January 14, 2015
Mings is laughably overrated.
— Robin Sainty (@RobinNCST) January 14, 2015
12. That’s it. It really was a bad game
Dreadful game, this should cheer you up. http://t.co/zmtEEuoGZG"
— Sunday League (@SundayShoutsFC) January 14, 2015
Source: SNAPPA