The Mail Bag

Bloody BBC

Comments (24)

Well it's happened again, even when there's only two games on the day, WE are the last game on the telly again. Not only did our game have more goals and more action in it, yet Man U get top billing again.

Just to wind me up even more, when they talked about the game, Everton's play was just a side note. They wanted to talk more about Arsenal's play than ours and Captain Scarlet wanted to talk more about a dodgy left back more than Pienaar's wonder goal.

If that was Shreck, Torres or anyone else for that matter they would be talking about it for God knows how long. Right, rant over now back to the Prozac.
Dave McCarten, Liverpool     Posted 10/01/2010 at 11:17:01

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Gavin Ramejkis
1   Posted 10/01/2010 at 16:34:45

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If you hadn’t seen or listened to the game for yourself and only watched MoTD you’d have thought they battered us, it didn’t show anything positive for us,even Wenger admitted we played them off the park. If I want to know how a match went these days and I’m not actually there I’ll find a web broadcast and watch it or listen to the radio, the BBC’s coverage is shite. Be interesting to see if Denilson really does have an injury today...
Tim Smith
2   Posted 10/01/2010 at 17:24:57

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I watched it in bed this morning and had a good rant to the wife about exactly the same issue - we were the earlier match in the day, it had more goals, an exciting finale, etc., yet we are still on at the end.....even after a filler piece by leightweight Jackie Oakley about community work by Hull City! In addition Jonathan Pearce was happy to make the comment that Arsenal’s goal tally against us is the highest by any team in the Premier League against any other team! I’m sure he’s a secret gooner, does anyone know?

Plus on the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary yesterday, whatshisname Murray announced that Arsenal and Everton have been in the top division the longest — Arsenal since 1930 something and us since 1954. No actual mention of the fact that we’ve actually been in the top division longer than anyone else. Sloppy journalism and typical of the 'Big 4'-loving media.

Nathan Ward
3   Posted 10/01/2010 at 17:55:12

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Ignoring the fact that we were shunted last (haa) there is surely a question of why MOTD puts a game on first that has already been shown live that day?

As for Jonathan Pearse - what a tool. He was sooo in love with Arshavin it was embaressing.

Still at least he wasn’t commentating on us losing.....
Chris Matheson
4   Posted 10/01/2010 at 18:24:55

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Check out the listings for MOTD in any paper (supplied by the BBC). Not just last night’s, but any occasion.

The prorgamme is always ’featuring’ the games involving whichever the Sky/CL 4 are playing that day. Week in week out. The only time this is not the case is when they’re all playing Sunday or Monday.
Phil Hamer
5   Posted 10/01/2010 at 18:24:38

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Dave, I share your frustration. Over Christmas I discovered that the BBC’s obsession with their ’darling’ clubs is nothing new. I asked for ’Match of the Day 60s, 70s, 80s DVD for Christmas, and I couldn’t wait to get the 60s DVD on to watch match highlights of our famous sides containing Alex Young, the Holy Trinity, Joe Royle etc. I am too young to have seen them myself so was really looking forward to this.

The DVD works on a season by season basis, starting with 64-65 through to 69-70. I settled back, poured a glass and pressed play. The first season was all about Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal, nothing at all of Everton. Fair enough, the two reds did win the trophies that year I suppose. Following season... Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal, nothing of Everton apart from a two nil defeat. We won the cup that year!! Following season...Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal, oh and some Leeds. Nothing of us apart from a defeat at Leeds. The following season..? Liverpool Man Utd, Arsenal and West Ham’s World Cup heroes.

By now you would have thought Everton played no part in 1960s English football apart from to lose to the ’big clubs’ occasionally. With mouth agape and blood pressure rising, I watched the seasons go by with barely a mention of Everton.

As we reached 69-70 I relaxed... they’ll HAVE to show some proper highlights of this team, we were League Champions!! Did they show ONE SECOND of Everton 69-70? Did they bollox!! It was Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Leeds and now Motty’s DVD commentary was eulogising over Chelsea’s Kings Road heroes!!

It was as if the makers of the DVD had air brushed Everton out of existence. I was left with that utterly impotent fury that us Evertonians have to put up with most Saturday nights.

The worst thing is, the DVD was made in about 1990, which proves that Everton have never been given the credit we deserve by the BBC, it's not just a post-Sky development.

I await the third disc, where I will discover how Liverpool, Man Utd, Tottenham and Arsenal dominated the 1980s with their customary style and flair...

Alex Kociuba
6   Posted 10/01/2010 at 21:27:56

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Although its annoying being on last most weeks, how much more annoying would it be if we were one of the ’loved’ clubs. I’m actually glad we are outcasts to some degree, it makes the experience of supporting a team more real to some extent.

It would be nice if MotD gave 15 mins to each game and the games played in alphabetical order.
Alex Kociuba
7   Posted 10/01/2010 at 21:44:12

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I just realised major flaw for alphabetical order suggestion :P
Keith Glazzard
8   Posted 10/01/2010 at 22:15:32

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Phil - I remember that Harry Catterick banned cameras from GP on the grounds that they gave other coaches an unfair advantage in working out what our players were doing so well. Exactly what period this covered I don’t know. But coverage in those days was crap anyway, recordings that were made were often destroyed (recycled for the silver in the emulsion) or simply lost. And such coverage as there was went to .....

Dave McC - Pienaar’s goal will be shown again and again. But you are quite right - had it been scored by a media darling they would have eulogised late into the night. And the game on second? No chance.

Tim Cahill scored a ’goal of the season’ to earn us a draw away at Chelsea. The BBC hack interviewed a Chelsea manager - which one I fail to remember in the way I don’t do telephone directories - opening with the words "You must have been gutted ....".

I’m gutted to pay their wages from my licence fee. Ross is going. Anyone know how to get rid of Alan Green?
Dennis Stevens
9   Posted 10/01/2010 at 23:23:15

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I just don’t bother with football on tv now unless Everton are on live, which pretty much means I barely bother with tv at all.
Gareth Hughes
10   Posted 10/01/2010 at 23:58:15

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Knock those chips off your shoulders; both Lawrenson and Hansen said that we were terrific. This self-pity from some fans is embarrassing.
Keith Glazzard
11   Posted 10/01/2010 at 23:54:09

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Dennis - you’re on line doing this. Have you never gone to a streaming site to watch the game? For example, Zulu, out of Russia, showed the whole game on Saturday. My stream broke up for a few seconds every minute, but I could see most of it and at least I knew what was going on. The speed of your connection could limit what you can get, but well worth a try.
Keith Glazzard
12   Posted 11/01/2010 at 00:06:26

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Gareth - for myself, I’ve said on this site many times how often Hansen, in particular, has picked out EFC qualities where other media folk would have stuck to their top of the pops briefs. Lawrence has found his stage, or sofa, as the grumpy old man of football, but he’s usually astute in his analysis.

They are the least of our enemies.
Matthew Mackey
13   Posted 11/01/2010 at 09:39:43

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A great performance by the lads, but did anyone notice? We were still last on MOTD even though our game had more goals in it than the only other game played and even though it was played earlier than the other game which of course was full of the Manure.

Just what do we have to do to get first on MOTD? Lineker had to pull out all the stops this week to get his "put-down" on us out.

Alan Kirwin
14   Posted 11/01/2010 at 10:26:19

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Well done Gareth Hughes. Finally some sanity amiidst infantile whinging.

What a pathetic article and equally pathetic "poor old us" follow ups. Who gives a toss? If you actually watched properly both of Liverpool’s ex central defenders were effusive in praise of Everton. Even Lineker, master of supine fence sitting, spoke positively.

What utter nonsense. Get out more.
Chris Briddon
15   Posted 11/01/2010 at 10:39:19

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I really stuggle to understand people some times — do you have to moan about something all the time!

The reason Alan Hansen was talking about Arsenal was to explain what a good job Everton did of nullifying them and stopping Arshavin getting the ball.

All three comented on what a superb tactical job Moyes did. (Oh... maybe that’s why you all stopped listening!)

We are never on first at present because we have been rubbish for the last few months and as such are languishing in lower mid-table. Birmingham - Man Utd was one of the form teams in the prem against the reigning champions.

Both games invovled top4 teams failing to win, so the bigger game takes priority; however blinkered you may be, Birmingham v Man Utd was a bigger game given the clubs' respective positions and form.

Sean McCarthy
16   Posted 11/01/2010 at 11:20:54

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This is precisely why the RS laugh at us with our self pitying moans and groans. Give it a rest please!!!

Some are obsessed with nonsense conspiracy theories of anti-Everton bias of BBC, Sky, etc etc....

I note that a lot of subscribers said during Saturday's game that their links kept crashing at vital times and some missed the goals. I guess the Internet is against us too!!! Get out more and find something real to moan at!!!!!
Dennis Stevens
17   Posted 11/01/2010 at 11:45:33

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Yes, Keith - I’ve sometimes found a decent link, but had the rare pleasure of attending the match on Saturday. You can’t beat actually being there, can you?

Gareth, I just don’t think tv coverage of football is very good. I’ll suffer the inaccuracies & trite clichés if Everton are on, but otherwise it just grates too much for me.
Phil Bellis
18   Posted 11/01/2010 at 13:08:41

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Sad how England’s most successful side in domestic competition in the 60s has been forgotten by all but us Blues. Ask most neutrals, even knowledgeable ones, and they’ll give you Tottenham, Man U, L’pool, Leeds before the correct answer.
Barry McHale
19   Posted 11/01/2010 at 13:08:50

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Phil,

I too have that MotD DVD. Unlike you, I went straight for the 80s disc; however, at the very beginning it shows Liverpool’s 3rd goal from the 89 Cup Final from about 765 angles and then cuts to the first game 1980 with this from Motty "But some things never change, Liverpool kept on winning"... cue them webbing Norwich City.

And, as anyone who watches "The Premiership Years" on Sky Sports, it shows two matches with us before it gets to 1985, and quite predictably, it is Aston Villa tonking us and then the Glenn Keeley derby.

One final point, in the 84-85 & 86-87 sections, they show us downing poor Sunderland "Reid’s cross, GRAAAY!! and us beating Man United 3-1 in 86. That’s it. We are otherwise treated to shots of Paisley, Dagliesh and Hansen receiving various trophies and much fawning on how super duper they are!!

In short, stick to the Everton History DVD!
Kevin Sparke
20   Posted 11/01/2010 at 12:42:33

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Phil - I’ve got that DVD set and agree with your assessment. The 1980s segment isn’t much better, we get a few passing references but the majority focuses upon — guess who?

Yep;' Liverpool, Manchester United and the mighty, mighty Spurs believe it or not!?!

It’s a well known fact amongst media professionals that the BBC Sport section is a merely a front organisation for ’Spirit of Shankly’... as is The Guardian and The News of the World — in fact, MI5 (Manchester United section) have double agents working at all three organisations planting spurious information to derail the Kopite propaganda machine... okay, just joking!

Seriously though, The BBC and the national press do have a bias towards the big four, as does ITV, Channel 5, Sky TV etc — they’re bound to — it’s called target audience reach and involves programme making to appeal to your target audience and upset the least amount of people... which is why ’Big’ clubs feature more than ’small’ ones... more supporters, bigger audience, more advertising dollars.

For example, a global audience of 600 million Manchester United and Liverpool supporters would much rather watch Manchester v Liverpool than Everton v Hull... therefore Manchester United and Liverpool are much more likely to be the live game and have more in depth analysis of their team — nice things said about them... the press also follow this trend.

Since January 1st, The Guardian online sports section (Football) has run 14 major articles/blogs on Liverpool FC; 9 on Manchester United; 6 on Chelsea; 4 on Arsenal; 6 on Portsmouth (Financial woes)... 1 on Everton (Landon Donovan move).

Please don’t tell me to get a life — this is my life... at least, it’s part of my job... and I would get out more but there are only 7 days in a week...

By the way — the only way to buck the trend of inherent and perfectly natural media bias is to become successful for a prolonged period of time (attract more supporters) — sad but true.
Chris Briddon
21   Posted 11/01/2010 at 13:44:50

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Ok, a reminder to all those brought up in post 1992 SKY Football heaven.

For most of that time, TV coverage of football consisted of 1 or 2 games on a Saturday from all divisions, with a round up (no action) from the rest.

By 1980s this had become more focused on the top division, but at some point around 1986 (not sure when exactly) ITV bought the rights, thus we had an occasional live football match. However, the key element to all you MotD buffs, is ITV bought the rights, so BBC can’t show it.

You are coming up with bias and ignorance, when actually the solution is more down to TV rights and availability. Channels don’t get the pictures if they don’t pay for them so BBC will always gloss over the 1987-1991 period; SKY will ignore anything pre 1992, and so on. That’s just life I’m afraid and nothing to do with favouritism, conspiracies or anything else you might like to blame.

Sean Patton
22   Posted 11/01/2010 at 21:49:55

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Dave

You should get yourself Sky Sports as they have a Football First programme which starts the same time as MOTD but has extended highlights of every game apart from the one on ESPN.

On Saturday they had the full 90 minutes of our game.
Matthew Mackey
23   Posted 12/01/2010 at 12:46:41

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This particular issue has been doing my head in for years. My wife thinks I’m obsessed with the issue of Everton not getting the respect they deserve by the media, but I, like a lot of contributors to this article, thoroughly believe this to be the case.

The BBC are actually more biased towards the so-called established top four than Sky are. At least with Sky they do actually talk about us as though we exist when we are on live. OK, they still are biased towards their own Sky Four but not half as much as the BBC.

The annoying part about it is that the presenter of MotD, one Garry Lineker, actually used to play for us! Yet now he’s an irritating, self-loving gobshite who doesn’t pay his past employer enough respect. Hanson and Lawrenson from the the dark side give us more credit. And when the gobshite says he has no influence on the fact that we are nearly always last on MotD .....bollox, total bollox. I’m sure that, with his past connections to Everton and his influence within the BBC, he could make them change a little. It really does my friggin' head in!

Typical things to note about the BBC love of the so-called Big Four and the general media salivating at their every move.

1) Before the news on Saturday night, the BBC woman announced that MotD highlighted Manchester Utd versus Birmingham City! No dear, it was Birmingham City versus Manchester Utd! But of course Birmingham were just there to make up the numbers. (Where the fuk did Clattenburg get 6 minutes injury time from?)

2) The Sunday People newspaper sports section — a typical red-top in more ways than one — had more column inches about the ex RS Alonso and how he felt about the fat waiter going after Gareth Barry than it did about Arsenal v Everton!!! WTF!!!!! WTF do we have to do to get some respect around here?

3) Our kids collect football cards (match attax) and football stickers. Has anyone noticed that the players shown on the front are always from the Sky Four plus Spurs, Man Shitty and Villa! Sorry to be a Victor Meldrew here, but who the fuck came 5th last season... and the season before? Yet they air-brush this inconvenient truth out and project Spurs, Man Shitty and Villa players before us.

Fuck em,.... fuck em all.
Michael Upton
24   Posted 12/01/2010 at 22:37:51

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Matthew Mackey, you’ve eloquently summed it up with your last line.

Frankly, if the papers and TV coverage is going to be patronising: "struggling Everton" when we’re on a bad run, "battling Everton" when we get a point at Arsenal and a laughing stock when we get tonked (like on opening day), then I can take it all with a pinch of salt.
I admit my hackles rose slightly on Saturday night when the half-time bulletin during the Brum-Manure game referred to Arsenal being "held" at home by Everton (which I think we all know wasn’t the case at all), but it was a slight soon brushed aside.

I get all the EFC insight I need on here (and a few other fansites, of course) — gossip, news from the OS and more sensible comment than in any paper or on any TV show. I don’t need Hansen or Lawro to tell me Everton played well — I saw for myself during the game and enjoyed seeing the good bits of our performance again on MotD.

I agree that the Sky4 get preferential treatment and of course Peanuts’ goal would be all over the show if the Ladybody had scored it but that’s been the case for years and until/unless we permanently break into that cherished elite, we can give up on being more highly rated.

And at least Hansen and Lawrenson save us from Shearer. Now there is a crap pundit.

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