LMA TV Trainers Attendee Briefing Document

LMA Training Day

Briefing Document — Thursday 19th March 2026

Team: Gavin Scovell · Mark Pougatch · Patrick Owen-Browne

Venue: Scale Space · 58 Wood Lane, London W12 7RZ SCHEDULE

09:30 Arrival at reception — sign in at Scale Space TV Studio

09:45 – 11:00 Introduction, tips & Manager Interviews — The Collaboration Room

11:00 – 12:30 Premier League show — live in the Studio — Mixed Zone interview practice

12:30 – 13:15 LUNCH

13:15 – 14:30 Commentary training and practice

14:30 – 15:30 The Football Show — live show in the Studio — Down the Line interview practice

15:30 – 17:00 Review all footage and wrap

17:00 Depart

1. INTRODUCTION, TRAINING & MANAGER INTERVIEWS

Gavin and Mark will give some Top Tips about presenting on TV, and answering Interview Questions. Each manager will then be given a ‘soft’ interview by Mark Pougatch

There will be a mixture of generic questions and ones relevant to each manager's career. Sample questions will include:

 What do you love most about the game of football?

 What's been the highlight of your managerial career so far?

 What would be your top tips to someone starting out in management?

 What do you see as the biggest challenges you face as a manager?

 How much TV work and punditry have you done so far — how did it go?

 What knowledge and insight do you think you can bring to viewers at home?

2. PREMIER LEAGUE SHOW — LIVE

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW AND CHAT

Four English Clubs will have completed their Round of 16 matches. There will be excitement and drama to discuss.

We will also know the Quarter Final draw and can discuss the opportunity for any English Teams left.

It may be that three English Clubs have been eliminated including the shock of Manchester City and disappointment for Chelsea. We can discuss the tough schedule of fixtures in this country and lack of a winter break.

ARSENAL AND MANCHESTER CITY

Arsenal and Man City are both in the running for the Treble / Quadruple — We will show a graphic of each team's status in the four competitions

 The 1st trophy will be awarded on Sunday with the League Cup Final from Wembley — We will discuss the psychological significance of this 1st of maybe 3-4 head to head battles

 Analyse strengths and weaknesses of each team

 Set pieces — have been a prevalent part of Arsenal’s success this season. Discuss

We then show the league table that leads into a broader Premier League discussion including the battle for top spot and Champions League places. Mark will ask questions on recent form, talking points and team news.

 VAR — what changes would you make to the Laws of Football and VAR?

A look ahead to the Weekend Fixtures

Friday

 Bournemouth v Man United -20:00

Saturday

 Brighton vs Liverpool — 12:30

 Fulham vs Burnley — 15:00

 Everton vs Chelsea — 17:30

 Leeds vs Brentford — 20:00

Sunday

 Newcastle vs Sunderland — 12:00

 Aston Villa vs West Ham — 14:15

 Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest — 14:15

 Arsenal v Manchester City -16.30

There may be a reason there aren’t any EFL Games on Sunday..Super Sunday has 6 and a half hours of intriguing match ups.

 Early Lunch -A North East Derby with Newcastle on the fringe of European places and Sunderland could go ahead of their rivals with a win

 2.15 -A Choice of a properly important relegation six pointer between Spurs and Forest and a battle of Claret and Blue that is important for both teams. Villa wanting to stop the rot (3 losses in a row) and Hammers to keep their improved form going

 4.30 The League Cup Final

3. MIXED ZONE INTERVIEWS

Four managers will be in the studio -two taking part in the show and two observing. The other two will be doing mixed zone interviews to camera.

You will be interviewed by a reporter about post-match scenarios — both good results and bad. You will be asked 10–12 questions that you would face as a football manager.

 Each interview will be reviewed afterwards.

 We will teach you how to stay calm and be respectful — not to criticise players, officials or the board.

 We will cover how to re-direct the conversation in your favour and bridge when asked difficult questions.

4. COMMENTARY TRAINING & PRACTICE

After lunch we will gather in the studio where everyone will get a chance to commentate on short highlights from the weekend's games. The TVT team will give detailed feedback on each commentary.

There are a couple of games and Goal of the Month you will each be colour (2nd commentator) with Mark as lead. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the players involved.

Arsenal v Everton

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cd70wq4q0pjo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002s62c/matchof-the-day-202526-01032026 EFL game TBA

5. THE FOOTBALL SHOW — LIVE IN THE STUDIO

The most lucrative opportunity in football is the chance to play in the Premier League, and this year's Championship battle is very interesting

CHAMPIONSHIP

Key talking points:

 Quick review of Watford v Wrexham and Southampton v Norwich midweek games

 Coventry ended their run of six consecutive wins with a home loss to Southampton

 Southampton are now within a win of the playoff places — 12–13 games unbeaten, plus an FA Cup Quarter-Final at home

 Middlesbrough conceded a last-minute equaliser to Bristol City; Ipswich and Millwall are now just 2 points off automatic promotion

 Millwall were chasing five wins in a row but after the controversial sending off of Sturge, conceded twice in the last ten minutes to lose 2–1 at home to Blackburn

 Ipswich are 7 games unbeaten — and an extraordinary 13 games unbeaten at Portman Road

 Wrexham could make history going from Non-League to the Premier League in consecutive seasons

 The Championship playoffs are expanding from four to six teams next season — discuss

EFL CHAMPIONSHIP — RELEGATION BATTLE

pink line = relegation zone · * Sheff Wed pts include 18pt deduction

Key talking points:

 Leicester remain in deep trouble — their 6-point PSR deduction could be decisive. Could the 2016 Premier League champions be demoted to League One, 10 years after their title?

 Oxford's great run of form has dragged them out of a very deep mire

 Sheffield Wednesday could become the only English team ever to end a season on a negative points total – due to off-pitch reasons - discuss

 Note: Watford, Wrexham, Southampton and Norwich play Tuesday/Wednesday — tables will change slightly

Championship — Saturday Fixtures (Selected)

12:30

 Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough

 Ipswich Town vs Millwall

15:00

 Sheffield United vs Wrexham

 Southampton vs Oxford United

 Watford vs Leicester City

17:15

 Swansea City vs Coventry City

Discussion around the big Saturday games in the Championship, particularly the battle of the Two ‘Boro Hunters’ level on 68 points Ipswich v Millwall

Two on form teams, Southampton 12 or 13 games unbeaten v Oxford unbeaten in 4 with 3 wins.

Final Topic -The World Cup this summer — what do you think of the new format and England's chances?

5B. INTERVIEW TRAINING

 Four managers will be in the studio -two taking part in the show and two observing. The other two will be doing Interview Training to camera.

 In the corridor outside the main studio with a Sky Sports cameraman, 3-4 mins each, a personalized standing interview about various topics in the game with our reporter Yaz. You will also be asked specific questions about your own career and aspirations. We will review your body language and delivery.