Moaning about press conferences and player interviews

I hate press-conferences and post-match interviews. Everything about them.

One of two things is allowed to happen within them; either the questioning is so banal as to render the exercise completely pointless, or the interviewee gives an honest, non-cliched opinion and gets fined by the FA.

In an age where everything about television’s treatment of sport is geared towards giving the viewer the optimum insight into the event, it’s strange that direct interaction between audience and participant lags behind so dramatically.

(Steven Gerrard voice) “We’ve done well to score the first goal and we’ve worked really hard and the, ermmmmm, crowd have been fantastic…”

Yeah, that’s great, only I’ve just watched the game and I already know all this. Wouldn’t it be great if players were actively encouraged to be honest and unguarded in front of a microphone.

“Wayne, talk us through your red card”

“Well, he’s been talking all game, slagging the wife off, you know. So, I’ve given myself a good proper run-up – you know, got some momentum – and planted both my studs on his knee. Have that you prick.”

Actually, that would be refreshing…