Mark Chapman column: Football should stop taking fans for granted

Once you accept that most days you are going to be called a bellend and maybe every other day you are going to be accused of ‘lazy journalism’, you can get on with enjoying social media and the debate and discussion found within it.

Hence just a few nights ago in a Twitter conversation with Joey Barton he sent me this…

https://twitter.com/Joey7Barton/status/634476402432208896

We had been watching Sky’s coverage of the Super League game between Saint Helens and Huddersfield. Not together, you understand. We weren’t the 21st century of equivalent of Bert and Ernie, tucked up watching a bit of rugby.

Not long after the final whistle, Danny Brough, who had masterminded the Huddersfield victory, stood by a touchscreen, still in full kit and talked myself, Joey and the other viewers through his performance and the team’s methods and successful plays.

It was a joy to watch. And it is not the only example of rugby league trying to bring the game closer to the fans.

For the BBC’s Challenge Cup coverage the clubs have allowed one player to wear a microphone during the game so that (highly edited) clips can be played out to allow the viewer an added experience. The thud of two Super League players tackling each other still sends a chill down my spine.

This isn't an ‘isn’t rugby league great?’ column. Other sports are also raising the game and allowing broadcasters to get closer.

If you love your cricket then you will know we are spoilt for choice when it comes to coverage of the game.

TMS is a joy to listen to with humour and insight aplenty, with recently retired professionals like Graeme Swann and Michael Vaughan not afraid to criticise close friends in the team because they know it's their job - and also because they know we are all adults and criticism is part of the industry we work in.

Meanwhile, over on Sky, they have a man who has quietly become the best sports interviewer on television in Ian Ward. At the end of a day’s play he stands with a player and goes through their performance again on a touchscreen.

It takes away all the crap questions ‘how do you feel, you must be disappointed, etc etc’ and instead gives both interviewer and interviewee something to get their teeth into. Not only that, during the day he is also talking to ex-players about technique and their career experiences.

It means that over the past couple of years we have had masterclasses on legspin from Shane Warne, bowling from Glen McGrath and batting from Kevin Pietersen. Invaluable for children lucky enough to have Sky.

Elsewhere, over on BT Sport they have taken rugby union coverage to a new level. Again the questions they are looking to ask the people involved are how and why? Current players in the studio giving masterclasses, coaches and players happy to do in-depth interviews after a game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMKhzOQmW-s

Which brings us back to football.

Joey describes it as a ‘superiority complex’ within the game. There is definitely some truth in that. There is also an argument that with the other sports mentioned there are greater techniques involved and that if football is more free-flowing and off the cuff there are fewer set-piece plays to get our teeth into and analyse.

I think what it essentially boils down to is trust. Everybody wants to keep things secret in football. If you reveal anything it will weaken your own position while at the same time strengthening an opponent.

I would love to stand with say, Brendan Rodgers, in front of a touchscreen (everybody has to have a touchscreen nowadays) and talk through how he likes his team to defend at corners, for example.

But would he see that as giving an advantage to his next opponent? Danny Brough evidently didn’t, and Stuart Broad clearly doesn’t when talking about bowling plans to dismiss Steve Smith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMssSddr14

Football fans are not daft. Well, some are. But from my correspondence they do want proper insight and analysis and it is the responsibility of all in the game - on all sides, media and clubs - to try to provide that.

A bit of trust would go a long way. I might suggest putting a mic on Joey when he starts playing again. For education purposes obviously!