WITH the return of the Premier League, so too the BBC’s long-running football highlights juggernaut, Match of the Day.
There were some major changes to boot, with Gary Lineker having been given the boot after 26 YEARS as host, and fans have been delivering their verdict.
BBCMatch Of The Day had a new look as it kicked off the new season[/caption]
BBCFans gave their verdict on Mark Chapman as presenter[/caption]
BBCWhile Wayne Rooney was also under the microscope for his debut[/caption]
The first episode of the new-look series aired last night, following Friday and Saturday’s Premier League action.
Mark Chapman – one of three presenters who will be taking over from Lineker alongside Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates – was in the hot seat for the first episode of the post-Lineker era.
He was joined in the studio by usual suspect, Alan Shearer, and Wayne Rooney, who has signed an £800,000 deal to appear on the show regularly for the upcoming season.
With new teams and players in the top flight as well, there was naturally a new intro compilation backed by the iconic Match of the Day theme tune.
Burnley and Sunderland were welcomed back to the Premier League, with the latter being top of the programme for their 3-0 hammering of West Ham, doubtless to the dismay of Newcastle icon Shearer.
Chapman kicked off the proceedings with a joke about the changes, quipping that Rooney was the only real change before adding that Shearer was delighted to see Sunderland back.
As it turned out, Shearer had a moment of choler on the show as he launched a huge rant about Toon rebel Alexander Isak as the Swede continues to try to force an exit.
Shearer and Rooney discussed the 25-year-old’s situation, drawing on Rooney’s own experience when he tried to quit Manchester United.
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Fuming Shearer said: “Alex is not going about it the right way at all, and you have to feel sorry for the players and the manager.
“The players today are busting a gut for the football club, for the thousands of fans that travelled all that way to Villa Park today.
“Yet they’re looking at another player, wherever he is, refusing to play despite having a three-year contract and on over £100,000 a week…
“You can imagine the anger that they’re (the fans) feeling that someone is taking the liberty of saying I’m refusing to play.
“You just can’t do that on a three-year contract.”
Taking to social media, fans gave a mixed verdict on the show.
One fan said: “Cringeing for Wayne Rooney on Match of the Day. Just not a natural presenter, unfortunately.”
A second said: “Mark Chapman is a fantastic host.”
A third added: “But my goodness what an upgrade in presenter, Mark Chapman the best in the business.”
Another said: “Mark Chapman, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney boring boring boring the premiership the best league in the world and you can’t think of having some young people on doing something different? No bring Wayne in who’s not a very good chatter really is he? To be honest.”
A fifth said: “Feels like I’m watching MOTD2 with Mark Chapman hosting.”
A sixth said: “Alan Shearer not saying a SINGLE word about Sunderland. Embarrassing. Like a child.”
A seventh said: “Really excited to watch the new Match of the Day but Shearer and Rooney as co-pundits at the same time…. No.”
An eighth wrote: “No secret that Rooney supports Everton; but openly and professionally talks and analyses Liverpool‘s play.”
A ninth said: “The worst match of the day without Gary Lineker.”
A tenth added: “Added bonus: Lineker isn’t host!!”
Lineker said goodbye to the show at the end of last season, having presented it since 1999.
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