So what do we get for our Sky cash now?

WHEN discussing the crisis surrounding FIFA, Monday Night Football host Ed Chamberlain asked Jamie Carragher who should be the new president. After brief consideration, Carragher smiled and pointed across the desk at Gary Neville, smiling: ‘Him, he does everything else!’ Carragher’s not far wrong now, but his sidekick’s departure is a serious loss to Sky. Neville and Carragher are not just enjoyable to watch because of the jokes — their successful partnership is based on clear and illuminating analysis. The game may kick off at 8pm but I am sure I’m not alone in watching from 7pm to see the duo get stuck into the weekend’s action. Still reeling from our teams’ loss at the weekend, we tune in to have the pair explain exactly what went wrong — decisions and tactics are both praised and condemned. Neville is never afraid of being highly critical of players and managers. Rather than being turned against him, the viewer appreciates his honesty. He is opinionated but his analysis is easily accessible. Who could forget his critique of Phil Jones’s diving-header tackle against Arsenal: ‘He’s doing breaststroke, front crawl — the lot! He’s headbutted the floor!’ He is also the master of the MNF touch screen. Few work it like he does, which is not surprising given he had one installed at home to practise ahead of his Sky debut in 2011. Back then, few would have imagined him becoming such an important part of how we watch the game. Sky face a huge challenge in replacing him.

Tom Clarke is a night editor on Sportsmail and a Sky customer.