THE LOST ART OF COMMENTATING ON FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION.

[Steve the Tea]

Once upon a time you could settle down to watch a football match on tv safe in knowledge that you'd scarcely notice the commentator. They would add to the occasion with perceptive insights and not irritate you. The best of these, by a country mile, was Barry Davies whose performance was peerless.

Today more is far worse. Now two, a commentator and a summariser, gobble up virtually all the time with wall to wall noise, so much so that very little of it rises above the obvious, thereby adding nothing to the broadcast. In fact it detracts from the game.

Today's duo at the Serbia v Switzerland match (Simon Brotherton and Kevin Kilbane) are testing my patience to the full.

If Sky, BT, BBC and ITV felt for we viewers they'd also save an awful lot of money by getting rid of half of the two on duty during the 90 minutes of each game.

The greatest rule of commentating, that Barry Davies knew, is that silence is golden.

StT.
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[Pearcey3]

Glad you mentioned Barry Davies. He was the best and way better than the irritating John Motson.

[jamieccfc]

Keown makes me want to throw my remote at the telly

[Des Parrot]

Spot on. Nothing to add.

[BLUETIT]

Hugh Johns was a nice man, but a bloody awful commentator

[MacAdder]

Hugh Johns was a nice man, but a bloody awful commentator

"One nothing"

BTW Good OP

[Steve the Tea]

Glad you mentioned Barry Davies. He was the best and way better than the irritating John Motson.

John Motson tried to give the impression of being perceptive but came over as argumentative for its own sake. Moreover his commentary was festooned with Americanisms eg overtime, set plays etc. He grated on me from first til last.

Barry Davies was a Rolls Royce among Ford Populars.

StT.
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[Taunton Blue Genie]

John Motson tried to give the impression of being perceptive but came over as argumentative for its own sake. Moreover his commentary was festooned with Americanisms eg overtime, set plays etc. He grated on me from first til last.

Barry Davies was a Rolls Royce among Ford Populars.

StT.
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Motson was very childish indeed - and most commentators are very jingoistic. I sometimes watch games on German TV where the commentary is far more even-minded and mature.

[Cleve van Leef]

Once upon a time you could settle down to watch a football match on tv safe in knowledge that you'd scarcely notice the commentator. They would add to the occasion with perceptive insights and not irritate you. The best of these, by a country mile, was Barry Davies whose performance was peerless.

Today more is far worse. Now two, a commentator and a summariser, gobble up virtually all the time with wall to wall noise, so much so that very little of it rises above the obvious, thereby adding nothing to the broadcast. In fact it detracts from the game.

Today's duo at the Serbia v Switzerland match (Simon Brotherton and Kevin Kilbane) are testing my patience to the full.

If Sky, BT, BBC and ITV felt for we viewers they'd also save an awful lot of money by getting rid of half of the two on duty during the 90 minutes of each game.

The greatest rule of commentating, that Barry Davies knew, is that silence is golden.

StT.
<><

Very true in every sense.
Now bring on a female commentator I say.

[jamieccfc]

John Motson tried to give the impression of being perceptive but came over as argumentative for its own sake. Moreover his commentary was festooned with Americanisms eg overtime, set plays etc. He grated on me from first til last.

Barry Davies was a Rolls Royce among Ford Populars.

StT.
<><

I watched an interview with motson and Brian clough the other day and clough absolutely smashed him

[Steve the Tea]

Very true in every sense.
Now bring on a female commentator I say.

Now was that last comment, "Tongue in cheek?"

My point in all this is why do they have to tell us something has happened when we've already seen it on the tv? Commentating on tv is different than on radio. Very few grasp that simple fact.

StT.
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[The Bob Banker Spanker]

Kilbane doesn't shut up.
Danny Murphy I don't mind though.

[Steve the Tea]

Kilbane doesn't shut up.
Danny Murphy I don't mind though.

The Brotherton/Kilbane duo tonight are just having a discussion against the backdrop of a game. If it were on the radio I'd even turn that off because there's very little substance in what they are saying.

StT.
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[Cleve van Leef]

Now was that last comment, "Tongue in cheek?"

My point in all this is why do they have to tell us something has happened when we've already seen it on the tv? Commentating on tv is different than on radio. Very few grasp that simple fact.

StT.
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It was, it would be great if you could press the red button and just have the noise of the crowd, sky did this a few years ago.

[Steve the Tea]

It was, it would be great if you could press the red button and just have the noise of the crowd, sky did this a few years ago.

Cleve, that would be the answer to my prayers.

StT.
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[jamieccfc]

I thought someone said on here you can listen to the 5 live commentary on the red button

[Eric the Half a Bee]

The greatest rule of commentating, that Barry Davies knew, is that silence is golden.

Bloody useless advice for radio commentators, though.

[Steve the Tea]

Bloody useless advice for radio commentators, though.

Eric, far be it for me to correct such an esteemed contributor as your good self, the, "silence is golden," comment was regarding tv and not radio commentary.

StT.
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[Eric the Half a Bee]

Eric, far be it for me to correct such an esteemed contributor as your good self, the, "silence is golden," comment was regarding tv and not radio commentary.

StT.
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I know! Perhaps I should have put a or or after it!

[Steve the Tea]

I know! Perhaps I should have put a or or after it!

https://youtu.be/VOuM7RdxhMU

StT.
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[bargoednorth]

I’m in Germany at the moment and watching their coverage is so much better.Just one commentater during the matches and no incessant waffle.Just one ex pro in the studio (Oliver Khan) who doesn’t go overboard on analysing every move made,they even cut to the news and weather at half time instead of the painful ramblings of people analysing an exciting 0-0 draw.

[Gnojek]

I thought someone said on here you can listen to the 5 live commentary on the red button

You can, although it means (on Freesat at least) you don't get the picture in HD.

[thehumblegringo]

The sky La Liga commentators and pundits are superb.

I think Sky are good across the board to be fair and that's why we notice how woeful the BBC and itv commentary team are

[Seabird]

Not sure I understand the love for Barry Davies.

All I want from a commentator is player identification, and with the more regular coverage sometimes even that is unnecessary.

Different support by for me Richie Benaud understood what the viewer wanted in way of commentary.

[thehumblegringo]

I've listened to test cricket commentary on radio now and then and how these guys manage to keep it interesting never ceases to amaze me. Incredible.