Premier League punditry is in crisis. Week in, week out, the same ex-players appear on our screens with tired clichés, predictable takes, and blatant bias towards teams. A pundit’s job is to add insight; they are now contributing to the misinformation and toxic narratives that already exist out there in social media.

There are too many of these pundits who rely on pure vibes when it comes to analysis. Instead of breaking down the tactics or systems, they default to lines such as, “he didn’t want it enough” or “Where’s the passion?” What does that even mean? It is not an analysis; it is simply lazy analysis dressed up as expertise. After Manchester United’s loss to Spurs under Ten Hag last season, Roy Keane stated United “lacked fight and leadership,” without even giving any tactical breakdown of either team.

Bias is another issue. Some pundits find it impossible to hide their allegiances, defending former teammates or slaying clubs they once had a rivalry with. English players are often praised for having “grit,” while foreign players get hit with words like “reckless” or “hot-headed.” The double standards are glaring. When Harry Maguire went through a rough patch, pundits mentioned his “character” and “mentality.” However, when it’s time to talk about a foreign player, such as Kalidou Koulibaly, while he was playing for Chelsea, he was described as being “rash” and a “liability” after only being at the club for less than a year.

These pundits tend to help shape unfair narratives about players. One mistake and a young player is written off on live television. A manager drops points and is instantly “out of his depth.”

Meanwhile, certain favorites get endless excuses even when they go on a run of 10 games without a win. The worst thing is that these sound bites then spread out to the football media, and fans start to get influenced without the true context behind why certain things happen. Mikel Arteta, after joining Arsenal and having a rough beginning, was labeled as being “naive” after having finished 8th twice in a row, yet Steven Gerrard, once he joined Aston Villa, was struggling big time, but was also backed by the pundits, saying, “he just needs more time.”

Football has evolved more over the years. It’s more tactical and data-driven than ever before. But a lot of fans may not know that due to the mainstream broadcasters not shedding light on it. Punditry is designed to keep the pace, not drag the conversation backward.

There are brighter voices elsewhere, whether they be journalists, YouTubers, or analysts, giving balanced views. But they never seem to get the spotlight. Why? Because controversy sells. It’s time to demand better. If pundits want to be taken seriously, they need to do more than just show up with their names and suits. The game is evolving, so the way we speak about the sport should evolve too. Fans deserve insight, not empty catchphrases.