Saturday Night Fervour

Saturday Night Fervour

For longer than one can remember, it’s been a Saturday-night staple.

Characterised by the instantly-recognisable theme-tune (courtesy of Barry Stoller), Match of the Day continues to captivate audiences.

The tried & tested format encourages debate – as experienced pundits analyse the respective weekend’s football action.

Present-day MOTD host Gary Lineker, orchestrates proceedings with aplomb, aided (more-often-than-not), by heavyweight strike-partners Alan Shearer & Ian Wright. In the adjacent green-room, a conveyor-belt of media-astute former-pros vie for air-time (acutely aware that ‘its difficult to win anything with kids’).

During a recent broadcast; attention was drawn to an appraisal of current champions Manchester City. In recognition of their progressive style of play, it was suggested that a world-class striker could expect to bag 40 goals per-season (for the Sky Blues). This calculation was further supplanted with the notion that any ‘run-of-the-mill’ No.9 would also routinely net 20 times. Examples of which were not forthcoming.

Adopting this notion –  I ask myself;  Where exactly does that leave former City Striker Sergio Aguero.

During the Argentinian’s ten-year tenure, City enjoyed unparalleled success. Indeed, seasons 2010/11 – 2020/21  produced no-less-than 5 League Titles, 1 FA Cup, 6 EFL Trophies, plus 3 Community Shields.

The accumulation of said silverware, qualifies Sergio as the most-decorated player in the clubs history. Added to which, his tally of 260 Goals from 390 Appearances (66.7%), registers as an all-time City record.

In-spite of such profligacy, his optimum return over a single-season amounted to 33 Goals from 45 appearances – placing him (in the calculations of our MOTD analyst), somewhere in the chasm between run-of-the-mill, and World Class.

Statements such as these, are symptomatic of a League that unashamedly markets itself as the best in the world. Where pigeonholing is commonplace, and ‘special-ones’ come-and-go with impunity.

As for 40 goal-a-season operatives; – they traditionally operate overseas (albeit Mo Salah & Harry Kane simultaneously bucked the trend in Season 2017/18).

MOTD will undoubtedly continue to educate and inform, albeit the moniker World Class (I suggest), shall remain a preserve of the few.

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Saturday Night Fervour.’ Who is your favourite pundit on Match of the Day? Let us know!

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