Mark Pougatch

@henrywinter 👀👀👀👀

Lot of anger about only two FA Cup third-round ties being televised live Free To Air (Macclesfield-Palace, Spurs-Villa, both on BBC on Saturday) and others scattered over four days on subscription (TNT). Some thoughts… 🏆So much anger/frustration about access because the FA Cup was so good this weekend. Upsets, drama, great goals, emotional individual stories, and reminder of the power and passion of the pyramid. Everyone wanted to see it. The Cup still matters. 🏆Own goal by FA not demanding in TNT contract that BBC had a game on the Sunday. 🏆Worth noting that, growing up, none of the ties were on live terrestrial. The FA Cup final always protected on the ‘crown jewels’ FTA list. Radio was king. Under current deal, BBC TV shows two live matches each round through to the quarters, one semi and, as always, the final. 🏆You’ve got to fight for your rights. It would be nice if BBC could remember it is the national broadcaster, football is the national sport and compete more for rights, perhaps in partnership with ITV (Scotland has own deal). BBC has some brilliant football presenters and commentators. Be nice to hear and see them more. Barring the occasional live game, BBC TV is becoming more a highlights and digital clips operation (see also Champions League). nb: BBC Radio – 5Live and local – covered all 32 ties and invariably do it well. 🏆Licence fee important if BBC is to compete. 🏆Problem for terrestrial broadcasters is FA chasing paywall money rather than thinking of next generation of FA Cup fans. Naïve to think younger generation only want clips, not live. Family viewing, too. 🏆Situation will encourage more use of firesticks. 🏆Draws – especially third round - need proper separate shows, not tacked on before a live game. Tonight's draw before Liverpool-Barnsley on TNT. BBC says, “Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app”. Not ideal. But that's the route that the FA has chosen. 🏆It's all about the money. Sad, especially as the essence of the FA Cup is about joy and glory.

You’ve got to be brave to win the League, you’ve got to run towards danger and relish the pressure. That was a tentative, sluggish performance from Arsenal. How will they react for 4/5/6 games to go ? & Gyokeres is now a huge issue: no movement, so static, so easy to play against

Absolutely freezing 🥶 Hoping for a great game between @BCFC & @Coventry_City live @ITV 1 from 11.30am with @morrisonclinton & Matt Upson ! @EFL @itvfootball

“We’ve had enough. For the last 20 years we have been attacked by the political classes telling us how to farm in the countryside. We’re now being paid to stop growing food and grow wildflowers. It’s insanity.”

👀DON’T MISS what promises to be a remarkable feature involving John & Amy Hunt, Theresa May & the Queen on @BBCr4today tomorrow (NYE) after the 8am news To donate to the #HuntFamilyFund (supporting & inspiring young women) 👇🏼 huntfamilyfund.com

Good news, racing fans 🤩⬇️ itv.com/racing/article…

Lots of media chat about how poor on so many levels The Battle of the Sexes tennis was. Listen to the story of the original one- so important for women & social equality. Billie Jean King was a trailblazer in so many different ways podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how…

@stuartpykesport 💪💪💪👊

And now it’s me + him!!😎🎯

Hands up who wants Justin Langer to be our coach 🤲

@talkdants @philmcnulty Fabulous Jim White on my foggy drive home ! 👏

@philmcnulty And it’s one of those refereed by Mr Courtney it really really is !

@talkdants Well it’s a “goalmouth barney” it really is.

@maxrushden @NickStoll Oh Nick that is awful, many condolences x

@NickStoll ah mate, i'm so sorry x

Dan was on my 6-a-side team. We were meant to play tonight. It was an honour to know and play with him. Like so many he came to Australia and made it a better place with his presence. All love to his family and friends.

THIS >>

NEW 🐎🐎🐎 corneliusracing.blog • British point-to-pointing: balance traditional & the more modern • Towcester signs are still out: more #horseracing next? • A 4th Irish winner this century in the Hunt Family’s race at @CheltenhamRaces

@EdBevanCricket Ach, I can imagine the swearing. Rest up well ! Don’t turn the cricket on….

Interesting few days-tripped on Friday- admitted with broken hip- op yesterday-no nets then for a while. That's life...

I am not very good at “he/she is definitely the best” because comparing generations is impossible and sport moves so fast. But very happy for someone to buy me a pint and try and convince me Joe Root is not England’s greatest ever batter… #Ashes #JoeRoot

Billy Bonds tackling, bristling and then dancing, with Peter Withe in the centre circle on The Big Match is one of the enduring images of my childhood. #RIP

@MichaelC_RTE Thank you Michael all the best

Check this out, i’m sure there will be big interest in this 👇

Fancy England v Ireland in the 6 Nations at Twickenham on Feb 21 & lunch in Tom Kerridge’s The Lock? One of many items in the Silent Auction raising money for the Hunt Family Fund - set up in memory of Racing Commentator John Hunt’s wife & daughters bidaid.com/auction/hff

@philmcnulty @_PaulHayward That’s 3/0 then with us two Sussex boys! 💪

@_PaulHayward Enjoying the podcasts with @markpougatch - put me down as 100% an Ovett man.

Only just come to this piece but well worth a read, as always.

@cctidturley Yes he was

@markpougatch Was Mark Kendall in goal for Spurs that day?

No one even really remembers Alan Sunderland scored a hat trick in 1978 at White Hart Lane because it the day of Liam Brady’s geometrically impossible, bendy wonder goal……