Soccer

» EJF_TBFFaH - A few words about commentary

Great article, thanks for letting me know what it's like. It's hard to believe that things have got so bad. I limit myself to literally just the match, carefully biding my time on a less offensive channel (Abbatoir Live, for instance) before making the switch just prior to studio hand-over.

The problem is, it's not too groovy having to listen to people like Peter Drury and David Pleat talking for ninety minutes. When David Pleat mentions that "this is a transitory Argentina side....no place for Batistuta" one wonders - just what WOULD he have to do to get the boot? I guess the only way out would be for him to 'pull an Atkinson' since he doesn't actually need to deliver anything accurate let alone entertaining.

Contrast that with Radio Five Live's commentary for the Holland/Serbia game - mercifully available to digital viewers on the Beeb - and we had an appropriate co-commentator in Martin Jol. He actually KNEW about Dutch football! Perhaps the only unprofessional thing he did was grunt "YES!" when Robben scored. Forgivable.

ITV offers the most paltry of digital services involving 'winning things' and does not offer an escape from the hellish commentary of Drury. There should be a red button that allows you to douse the whole lot of them in burning pitch but that's a few years off.

-- posted by EJF_TBFFaH

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