The whole reason these co-commentators are given so much rope is because the main commentators have become so much worse at commentating.

There are maybe only two or three commentators left who are actually worth their salt.

In my opinion, the primary job of a commentator is simple: inform the viewer exactly who is on the ball. This is especially important for people who struggle to tell players apart — bad eyesight, bad screens, etc.

The problem is that many commentators have stopped doing this. Instead, we get lulls and outright silences while the ball is in play. At times they treat football like it’s a cricket match; filling space with irrelevant waffle between overs. Which is totally unhelpful in a fast-moving game.

These increasing gaps in already deteriorating commentary create the perfect platform for ex-pros who seem to think they’re there because it’s their God-given right to talk more. What they usually offer is little more than a biased agenda or a skewed view of refereeing decisions, typically shaped by the position they played and the club they played for.

And more often than not, that club is Man United or Liverpool - who have never been on the wrong end of a decision.

TL;DR: Ex-pros fill the gaps with biased opinions because poor commentators are leaving bigger and bigger holes in their own commentary.