ESPN new sports channel due to launch

As an avid arm chair football fan I have been waiting for news on how and where ESPN will be showing the 46 live Premiership games it won the rights to after Setanta's collapse.

ESPN have announced their new sports channel will go to air on 3rd August and is currently available to Sky Sports subscribers for £9 a month, 3 quid cheaper than it was for Setanta. I was a Setanta subscriber and although it is pretty expensive I would spend that and more down the pub watching football and on a cold Monday night I'd rather be at home.

There was more than just the live English Premiership games on Setanta, there was the Scottish Premiership, also available on the new ESPN sports channel, as well as a couple of football panel shows. As a dedicated arm chair pundit i enjoy these programmes and Football Matters on a Monday night was pretty entertaining especially with Graham Poll, seen on the left letting people know how much the decision was wrong by, as a panelist.

Live football on the TV is showbiz these days, and your choice of ex players to comment and commentate on the games is crucial to the success of these shows. Sky have got their regulars with the legendary Andy Gray upfront, with the young Rednkapp supporting and rotating line up of Gullit, Hoddle and Sourness, sorry Souness. The BBC have the steady line up of Hansan and Lawrenson who is turning more and more into a bitter old man as each season goes on, with granny's favourite Lineker as the anchor, but what to expect from ESPN?

Well so far ESPN have swooped to sign BBC stalwart Ray Stubbs with a lucrative new contract and promises of the captain of the commentary team, whether Ray will be allowed to bring in his own right hand man is yet to be seen. ESPN already have an established team who present to 100's of millions of people each week across football mad Asia. Steve McMahon is one of the ex player panelists for their Asia programme but will the name Steve and the scouse link make them wary of people confusing him with Steve McMannaman?

Who would you like to see on the ESPN sports team?

Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne

What a legend! Surely he will keep the people interested and the producers on their toes although an ill fated appearance on ITV during the World Cup in 2002 could put EPSN big wigs off

Stan Collymore

Moral citizen Stan is already in the game on BBC Radio 5 Live and has an on screen presence, allegations of woman beating and dogging have not put off the BBC making Collymore a front runner

Alan Shearer

With the Toon still in turmoil and no contract on the table for Big Al' he might well think he should have stayed on the telly. An undoubted great player, and Premier League legend with goals galore could there be an opening for an ESPN Andy Gray. Step up big Al?

Sven Goran Erikson

The charismatic Sven could be the ideal panelist the new Des Lynam maybe? He could say he is using the time to scout potential players for Notts County while get paid for being on the panel the ideal job and he can even pay his assistant Tord Grip to do all the work.


Big Ron Atkinson

Big Ron was a much loved commentator on ITV Champions League games bring words like lollipop and other pearls of wisdom until he was fired in disgrace from ITV after off air racist comments. He would definitely bring personality to the live football but can ESPN take a risk with Ron?

Leave a comment, who would you like to see on the ESPN team? Which so called pundit annoys you the most?