Gary Lineker exit, Alan Shearer blow, show cancelled - Match of the Day worst-case scenario

Despite the rise in access to Premier League highlights - most notably through Sky Sports' condensed three-ish minute packages on Youtube within moments of full-time - Match of the Day remains immensely popular. It is a driver of narratives and provides entertainment.

For many, the weekly Saturday night football show is their primary source of consuming the game. It is a way for those who travel to games themselves to catch up with the action. It is, especially via the Sunday morning repeat, a way into the sport for children as well.

It has become synonymous with high-profile characters. Few get bigger in the English football TV scene than Gary Lineker. When it comes to providing wide-ranging and digestible coverage of the most popular league in the world, he has it nailed.

That is why the announcement that he would be leaving the show has caused such a reaction. At the heart, change to Match of the Day is change to routines of those who follow in anticipation.

As consumption needs change, though, what is the future of Match of the Day? Has it already moved too far from what it was, now presented by louder, more clippable figures rather than the tones of Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson? Is there still a place for Match of the Day? What happens if more of the recognisable names depart along with Lineker? And who is going to replace him?

Here, football.london writers offer their views.

Tom Coley

Perhaps it is just a getting older thing, or maybe a writing about football thing, but Match of the Day is much less important to me than it was growing up. The availability of ways to watch goals as they fly in during an afternoon of games - whether in attendance at a stadium elsewhere or at home - means that the purpose isn't really needed.

Match of the Day provides basic analysis when compared to Monday Night Football or even most pre/post-match Premier League discussion on other channels and it does so without the loud and frankly distracting backing track provided by some guests.

Although the punditry line-ups can overlap, Match of the Day just doesn't offer much that other outlets don't already cover more readily on demand. Is this the end of the show? That's still unlikely.

There is a charm to Match of the Day, something Lineker was so expert at capturing, that cannot be lost. The fact that he, and other regular Match of the Day analysts, appear to be making themselves available for the Sidemen Charity Match is a demonstration of how times are changing, though, and that cannot be ignored.

Jack Flintham

Like Tom mentions above, it is hard to ignore the waning influence Match of the Day now has on the football coverage than it did as recently as 20 years ago. However, I still think there is a place for it in the TV schedules especially considering the growing influence of subscription broadcasters monopolising the coverage.

From the BBC's perspective, there will be a temptation to mess with the format with Lineker stepping down. However, this is a dangerous game considering how quick A Question of Sport's death was after they changed formats.

In my opinion, there are two standout replacements for Lineker - Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan. Kelly Cates would also be a good option and I feel a knowledgeable and experienced broadcaster will help steady the ship.

An ex-professional, whether they be male or female, is not what the show needs right now considering how tough it is to host such a flagship programme live. Lineker was not brilliant when he first started out but had time to grow into the role; whoever replaces him though won't have that same luxury and could kill Match of the Day off completely.

Sadly, I fear that Match of the Day will become yet another battleground for the culture wars which seek to divide the nation. At the end of the day, if Alex Scott is appointed, then I think she has the potential to do well but the worry is that outside noise from trolls and minute analysis of every word she uttered as host from certain outlets could derail the show altogether.

That would truly be a travesty.

Bruna Reis

Whether it could be argued that the show is no longer fit for purpose due to the accessibility we now have when it comes to watching all the goals - it's still important that the BBC get their replacement right.

Granted that whoever comes in to replace Gary Lineker, will have big shoes to fill and it certainly will not be easy. However, there are many talented female and male presenters in the industry.

With that said, I believe they will need to choose an ex-player for it to have the desired impact it has had all these years. As much as I'd like to see a female presenter like Alex Scott or Gabby Logan as the new host, this could have a negative impact on the show for the wrong reasons.

We often see trolls across social media pick up on female presenters, criticising their analysis of the game just because it may be a different perspective from what they are used to from male pundits. I believe that would just bring unnecessary noise which certainly wouldn't help in their efforts to continue moving the show forward.

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer or Micah Richards would be good options to take over as presenter. The ex-footballers are very popular on the show and are liked by many.

Will Evans

Match of the Day needs to appeal to a younger audience if it's to stand the test of time post-Gary Lineker. When a presenter as well-liked as him steps down from a flagship football show, who comes next is usually make or break.

If the BBC don't get it right then it could be the beginning of the end. With match highlights and goals available straight after the full-time whistle these days, the programme's viewership is limited to the older generation who don't really use social media and die-hard football fans who just love the tradition.

They need to continue with the theme of having an ex-player as a presenter because it offers something unique. It already trails behind shows such as Monday Night Football in terms of analysis, but it has the ability to be a lot more entertaining as the trio of Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have proven.

It's a bold shout and one I can't see the BBC going for, but for me Peter Crouch would be the perfect candidate. He's an ex-footballer loved by many and already has presenting experience with his famed podcast on BBC Sounds.

Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan are the outstanding traditional 'presenter' alternatives, but I don't think the safe option is necessarily the best in this case.

Amie Wilson

It may be my age and that it’s always been there, but Match of the Day is still a huge part of my Saturday nights (If your team wins). I hope it remains the same for many more years to come.

I think the worse thing that the BBC can do is try to make too many changes regarding the format following the exit of Lineker. The Beauty of it for me is it’s simplicity, and if changes are made to try and modernise it, then I think that would cause more damage than good.

Despite being able to watch a lot of games on TV, or even if they are not shown, find the goals within minutes of the full-time whistle online, I still get an excitement about watching the highlights again on Match of the Day after getting home from a match .

Maybe it’s the nostalgia of doing so growing up. The change of presenter will obviously bring some changes, but the core of the programme should remain the same, it’s the constant on a Saturday night that I think will always cause football fans to choose to tune in.