Source: SNAPPA
Who's a better pundit: Noel Gallagher, Thierry Henry or Jose Mourinho?
It’s a hard life being a pundit – gone are the days where you could sit back and offer up bland platitudes in every situation. People actually expect you to say something interesting.
And unless you’re Gary Neville, the chances are that whatever you say, the seething masses of internet critics will not be impressed by your insights.
This weekend, Noel Gallagher had the rare honour of being a non-footballing guest on Match Of The Day 2, Thierry Henry continued his punditry career on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday and Jose Mourinho made a lively appearance on Goals On Sunday.
Noel Gallagher
(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Gallagher was clearly a hit with Manchester City fans – and indeed Liverpool fans, or anyone else who hates Manchester United.
I love @NoelGallagher just because he hates Man United as much as all #LFC fans do
— shahan chowdhuryâ„¢  (@shahanchowdhury) February 22, 2015
Noel Gallagher is a legend & a real rock star who also hates Man U, what's not to love? #MOTD
— â¤ï¸ Me Myself & Em â¤ï¸ (@RealCazMathers) February 22, 2015
He certainly rose above the usual football cliches, eschewing phrases like “for me, Clive” and “all the attributes” in favour of more original language.
Noel Gallagher on #motd2 calling a referee psychedelic. He's known for his colourful language.
— Rebecca L. Needes (@RhetoricAlley) February 22, 2015
But what was more surprising was that people seemed genuinely impressed by what he had to say.
Can we have Noel Gallagher on MOTD every week?
— Coreyã² (@CoreyClifton5) February 22, 2015
Noel Gallagher should be on MOTD every week. #legend
— Dan ☮ (@_DanSheed) February 22, 2015
Superb insight from Noel Gallagher tonight on #MOTD2 he's really done his homework & brought a lot to the show….
— Jay (@RFFH) February 22, 2015
Rather than waste time with Jenas and Lawrenson's awful 'analysis' of the LFC game, should've left it to Noel Gallagher only.
— Taintless Red (@TaintlessRed) February 22, 2015
Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone was impressed…
Noel Gallagher making Mark Lawrenson look witty, erudite and urbane on MOTD.
— Sam Metcalf (@Sam_Metcalf) February 22, 2015
Noel Gallagher was relevant 20+ years ago, his opinion means nothing anymore
— Patrick Hogan (@Robin_Di_Blind) February 22, 2015
And some people wondered what this augured for the future…
Sparkling display from Noel Gallagher on #MOTD2. Not long before they pair him with @RobbieSavage8… pic.twitter.com/VnB7h4Dv1R
— Jonny Gould (@jonnygould) February 22, 2015
Noel Gallagher telling us his opinions on the days Football. Looking forward to Tony Yeboah reviewing his next album in NME.
— Luke Royle (@1Royle) February 22, 2015
Noel Gallagher on Match Of The Day. Good craic. Can we have Mark E. Smith on next week please?
— Liverpool Sound City (@SoundCity) February 22, 2015
Good to see the new line up for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds being revealed this evening. pic.twitter.com/Ky0H9heIbp
— Gary Shufflebottom (@shuffchenko) February 22, 2015
But the overwhelming response was along these lines.
Noel Gallagher is the man.
— Knoxy (@dylanknox67) February 22, 2015
Thierry Henry
(Adam Davy/PA)
Henry’s honeymoon period as a pundit seems to be over. He got settled in the pundit’s chair for Everton v Leicester and Liverpool’s trip to Southampton.
The former Arsenal man was widely seen as a breath of fresh air when he started with Sky earlier this year, but already that sheen seems to have gone.
What's Thierry's pre-match brief been? Nod along to Carragher and don't be controversial?
— Shamoon Hafez (@ShamoonHafez) February 22, 2015
Thierry Henry makes Robbie Savage look like a good pundit.
— Connor Anderson (@C_Anderson1998) February 22, 2015
Thierry Henry is Alan Shearer with a French accent.
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) February 22, 2015
Things went into overdrive when he was asked to judge a handball incident.
Expert comment on alleged Mignolet handball from Thierry Henry #skysports, a man who knows all about handball
— martin kelner (@martinkelner) February 22, 2015
Decent analysis from Thierry Henry at HT about the handball. He would know.
— Coral (@Coral) February 22, 2015
#SFCvLFC Thierry Henry talking about what is & isn't handball? Isn't that like Lance Armstrong recommending you some vitamins? @SkySports
— Alex Perry (@ThatAlexPerry) February 22, 2015
To be fair you can't be asking Thierry Henry about handball… #cheat #saintsfc #lfc
— Chris Rann (@crstig) February 22, 2015
Something ironically comical about Thierry Henry analysing what is and what isn't an intentional handball. #SOULIV
— Mike White (@mikewhitesport) February 22, 2015
There’s a reminder of his own handball shame here.
Of course, Henry does have his supporters…
I could listen to Thierry Henry speak forever
— Daniel Kram (@danieljkram) February 22, 2015
Thierry Henry. I just love him
— Steph (@stephpgold) February 22, 2015
…but he has surprisingly few of them.
Hold on. @SkySports are paying Thierry Henry TWENTY FOUR MILLION POUNDS to be this average for the next 6 years?! 😳😂
— Paul Bates (@Bateseyboy) February 22, 2015
Expected Thierry Henry to be a lot better on Sky. Honestly prefer Jamie Carragher. Perhaps he'll get better.
— Annie Eaves (@AnnieEaves) February 22, 2015
Jose Mourinho
(Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)
Given the Chelsea boss has spent much of the last couple of weeks refusing to speak to the media, it was slightly surprising to see him on the Goals On Sunday sofa.
Anyone who thought the cosy surroundings might soften him, though, was in for a shock – particularly host Ben Shepherd.
It was kind of like watching some kind of blood sport.
Ben Shepherd and Chris Kamara interviewing Jose Mourinho on #GoS is like Dick and Dom quizzing The Pope on Question Time.
— Adam Clarke (@AdamClarke501) February 22, 2015
Having Ben Shepherd and Chris Kamara interview Jose Mourinho is akin to asking the Chuckle brothers to grill Barack Obama on Newsnight
— mikenumber5 (@MikeNumber5) February 22, 2015
Jose Mourinho v Ben Shepherd, the biggest mis match I've ever watched on TV. It is brilliant to watch though! #GoalsonSunday
— Andrew Harding (@AndrewHarding9) February 22, 2015
Jose is absolutely owning Ben Shepherd on Sky. Must see.
— London Is Blue (@_GuvNor) February 22, 2015
As a pundit, though, he made a good interviewee.
Absolutely loved Jose Mourinho's interview this morning! His persona, arrogance and the way he tricks the media with his words is genius! 🔥
— Iwan Williamsâ„¢ (@iwanwilliams9) February 22, 2015
José Mourinho's interview on Sky this morning is absolute gold. The man is beyond brilliant. Both interviewers absolutely speechless.
— Benjamin (@screwlabour) February 22, 2015
Jose Mourinho's interview on Sky is why he's a one of a kind character. No other manager would request air time to give a rant.
— Chelsea FC (@Chelseafc_life) February 22, 2015