BBC confirms Match of the Day change up to pundits for upcoming series
The BBC have confirmed some huge changes to their Match of the Day plans ahead of the Premier League's return this weekend.
There will be four new names on the roster this season Ashley Young, Robbie Keane, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Frank have all been lined up as new names, with several analysts and former players joining the presenters on the panel each week.
It represents a shift into more recent Premier League stars as well as managers Keane and Frank as the programme looks to compete with the ready-made highlights that can often be found online just minutes after full-time whistles are blown across the country.
However, for many it is still a Saturday night or Sunday morning tradition to enjoy the popular show with all the analysis and in-depth commentary that it offers.
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Perhaps after the popularity of the World Cup highlights in the summer which offered the option of not knowing the score, we might find more people enjoying the programme without the prior knowledge of how the games actually went, unless our favourite teams are involved.
The trio of hosts, which includes Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan, will all retain their place after they stepped into fill the shoes of Gary Lineker.
Fellow Premier League legends Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer will also keep their place on the roster alongside Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Ellen White, Steph Houghton, Danny Murphy and Ashley Williams, all of whom were big parts of the BBC's World Cup coverage during the summer.
Although the likes of Martin Keown, Dion Dublin, Theo Walcott and Nedum Onuoha weren't named on the BBC's initial list of retained names, they will continue to work across MOTD and the BBC's other football content this year.
There were some reports that Richards and Shearer in particular could be off, especially after they were regular features on Lineker's Netflix show The Rest is Football during the World Cup, but it seems as if they will continue to divide their time between the two.
The Sun had also claimed that there was a rift between some unnamed pundits and the BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, but the broadcast company has repeatedly rubbished these claims.
A spokesperson said: "We have repeatedly told The Sun these anonymous claims are untrue and we look forward to bringing audiences the return of Match of the Day this weekend with its established line-up of presenters and pundits – alongside a host of new guest voices bringing fresh insight from inside the game."
The Premier League returns this Friday night, with champions Arsenal taking on newly-promoted Coventry City to kick off the top flight season.
In case you prefer the opinion of fans rather than experts, then the BBC is also launching a new show on its YouTube channel as they look to put genuine supporters from every Premier League club 'at the heart of the football conversation'.
Kay-Jelski commented: "Football means something different to every fan, and this season BBC Sport is putting those fans even more firmly at the heart of the game.
"We're bringing together the unrivalled expertise of former players and managers with the passion, personality and perspectives of supporters themselves to create a richer football experience wherever and however audiences follow the game.
"There are new shows, new voices and new ways to get closer to the action – alongside the trusted coverage millions of fans already turn to, from Match of the Day to BBC Radio 5 Live. Whether you want the big debate, the inside story, the fan perspective or simply every goal, BBC Sport will be there all season."
Topics: Premier League
James Moorhouse