mikeyp102 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 I agree that MOTD needs some work but it's not uncommon for a commercial station to have a go at the Beeb. No it's not, but motd is still stuck in the past the pundits are too "nice" to do a good analysis.. Look at how Gary Neville is, bbc needs someone like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djamfisher Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 (edited) I'm really starting to loathe Martin Tyler, he really comes across as a creep now. Over Christmas he started going on about how fans should remember the sacrifices made by players during that period. He comes out with more and more comments like this every week. He also needs to take his head out of certain people's arses, especially Fergie's, Giggs' and Aguero's. Edited January 28, 2013 by djamfisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leviramsey Posted February 6, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted February 6, 2013 Longtime gridiron/basketball/MMA commentator Gus Johnson to become the voice of soccer in America? The radical idea was hatched in October 2011, shortly after FIFA awarded the U.S. broadcast rights to Fox Sports for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Fox Sports president Eric Shanks wanted to do something bold with his soccer coverage. Most importantly, he wanted to brand it with something unique to Fox. So he called up broadcaster Gus Johnson, who had joined Fox only five months earlier, and asked him a question: Would you be willing to work for the next six years to become the American voice of soccer? Johnson was stunned. But he was also interested. Fourteen months later, after an immersion in the sport that has included calling a dozen games on the radio for the San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS and a series of practice soccer broadcasts from Fox studios across the country, Johnson begins the long road to becoming the voice of the 2018 World Cup for Fox. The 45-year-old broadcaster will call his first match for Fox Soccer on Feb. 13 (2 p.m. ET) from Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabéu when Real Madrid faces Manchester United in a mouthwatering Champions League Round of 16 match. The assignment is the first in a series of high-profile soccer matches for Johnson, including a second Champions League match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich in London on Feb. 19 and a Premier League game between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on Feb. 24. Johnson will call additional Premier League and Champions League matches and is scheduled to call the FA Cup final on Fox on May 11 and the Champions League final on Fox on May 25. Johnson will be on site for each of the games. "This is not something that is temporary," Shanks said. "This is something we are going to work at. It isn't an Olympic assignment where he does the luge for two weeks and then we don't hear from that announcer for the next four years. This is something we are serious about and something we will continue to work at. Based on the radio games and the practice games Gus has done, I think this is going to work." Both Shanks and Johnson emphasized repeatedly in interviews this week with SI.com that Johnson as a soccer announcer is a long-term work in progress. If all goes well, Johnson will be Fox's lead announcer for the 2015 Women's World Cup as well as its lead voice for the 2018 World Cup. Asked where he was in his soccer education, Johnson used the word "novice." Why novice? "Because it's a lot of information," Johnson said Monday at a patisserie near his home in New York City. "For example, calling the Champions League, there are teams from all over Europe, whether La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 in France, the Turkish Leagues. So I'm learning everything on Galatasaray, on Bayern Munich, [borussia] Dortmund, PSG and Ajax etc. ... There are so many different leagues and players from all over the world. The key for me is to try to take it -- and I don't mean to sound cliché -- but literally one match at a time. Learn everything I can about that one match and the two sides that are playing and go with it from there and allow my knowledge to grow." Asked directly whether he was interested in being Fox's lead voice for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Johnson said, "I don't know. That's too big right now for me, too big to think about and digest. I am interested in getting a little better every day. I want to learn this game. I am humbled by this game and their fans, and I am a little intimidated by the travel. I'll be in multiple countries and I don't speak a second language so I am going to have to become comfortable being an international traveler. But I am excited about it." The preparation began last fall. After introductions were made through a friend who did business with the Earthquakes ownership, Johnson called 12 MLS games on the radio. "It was tough but educational," Johnson said. Last March he and friend Nick Bernstein (who played soccer at Dartmouth and serves as Johnson's spotter) went to Europe for a three-week soccer excursion, visiting the San Siro to see Barcelona play AC Milan as well as taking in a number of Premier League clubs including Chelsea and West Ham. During that trip, Johnson met with the famed soccer announcer Martin Tyler at Sky Sports offices in London. "Martin gave me some great things to look for because it's a different scenario calling soccer games there [in Europe] than football here," Johnson said. "I'm in a booth at every stadium in America. In Europe, I am out on a gantry [a mount for a crane]. So you are out in the elements, it's cold, and if you have to fight for your position to get a good bird's eye view on what's going on the pitch. You have to do your best to ID players." Before his discussions with Shanks about the possibility of calling world soccer, Johnson admits he had little exposure to the sport. He played baseball, basketball and football in high school in Detroit and his broadcasting career has involved those sports along with MMA. Johnson says he has been playing pickup soccer since last summer on the West Side of Manhattan to "feel and learn the game." He said he's been playing right-center back "because I'm not in shape to be a midfielder." Given Johnson's broadcasting inexperience for a sport with a rabid, intelligent fan base that demands expertise in the booth, Fox Sports knows it will get skepticism (if not serious criticism) for the move. "Look, of course, we are concerned," Shanks said. "But we would not be doing this if we did not think that Gus was putting the time, effort and energy into doing a broadcast that appeals to the people listening to Martin Tyler and Ian Darke. We will work to be as good as those guys but by no means does Gus think he is Martin Tyler or Ian Darke at this point. He will continue to get better and he will make sure he's telling the true story of a match as it happens, and telling it with Gus's voice, which a lot of people love. By no means is this meant to be a sideshow." "I live in New York City, so I have been criticized by the best" Johnson said, laughing. "It doesn't bother me at all. Hopefully over time, I'll do a good job and they will see it another way. It is something that is going to be challenging, something that is going to stretch me." Shanks said he and Fox Sports executives will search globally to staff up the 2015 Women's World Cup and 2018 World Cup, so expect some veteran soccer announcers to join Johnson at some point. Johnson will have different analysts for each of his initial matches this month, including Fox Soccer analyst Warren Barton (Real Madrid-Manchester United), former England goalkeeper coach Ray Clemence (Arsenal-Bayern Munich) and former Arsenal right back Lee Dixon (ManchesterCity-Chelsea). Johnson will not have a permanent analyst for some time. "The only thing I am worried about is Feb. 13," Johnson said. "It's nice of Eric to say that about the World Cup. He is my boss. But I am not thinking about anything more than Feb. 13. I want to make sure that when Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Pepe step in the pitch against Sir Alex Ferguson and Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Nani and Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, I am prepared, confident and comfortable. I think the rest will take care of itself." Asked what message he wanted to pass along for soccer fans prior to his initial broadcast, Johnson thought about his answer for a good 30 seconds. Finally, he said, "What would I say to them? I would probably say just give me a minute and I'm going to become a convert, and once I do, I am going to give you the passion and the commitment to your sport that I do for every other sport that I'm part of. I see this as a great opportunity for my life, and I'm down with it and I want to get in there." (a prophetic mashup of one of his more famous basketball calls with USA-Algeria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voinjama Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 For the first time ever, I think I prefer the ITV pundits to the BBC. BBC need to freshen things up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 ITV is much better than BBC but still doesnt impress me. Who has given Andy Townsend a punditry job they should be ashamed, the hasnt a clue. Dixon speaks a lot more sense but Keane is a let-down for me, I expected more from him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voinjama Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I loved Townsend as a player, but he always states the obvious even more then Shearer does...if that is possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 He is absolute awful. I think he did the Juventus-Chelsea game and was the exact same commentary as tonight. horrible to watch. Hasnt been the same without his tactics truck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Townsend is absolute dog shit. However ITV have amassed some decent pundits (somehow). BBC is just shite right the way through, from Lineker to Shearer to Lawro and Mark Bright! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 What MOTD need is Eamon Dunphy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newry_Villan Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Eamon Dunphy! He would fit in well on MOTD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBDlJEabiI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 "He's the guy who ran away and left his wife for a young one" LOL Top class punditry there, the guy is a legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 his opinion on Niall Quinn is absolute spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 13, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted February 13, 2013 The problem with ITV is their highlights shows are awful. They were when they used to have "The Premiership" and judging by their FA Cup coverage they're still awful. The Premiership used to be about 1 hour 15 minutes of actual highlights for 2 or 3 of the games featureing United, Chelsea and Arsenal or a combination of the "Big 4" Then the last 15 minutes would be the rest of the games crammed into a tiny space, usually showing the goals and nothing else. That's exactly what it was with the FA Cup highlights this year. OK there's more games so you can understand it to an extent, but the extended highlights were form th egame they'd shown live in it's entirety about 2 hours earlier. Pundits are decent, but I wouldn't want them to get the PL rights for that reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milfner Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) Anyone watch MOTD2 tonight? Alan Shearer's "analysis" was **** woeful. At one point he said "this pass is different but it's exactly the same" then decided to babble on about crisp passes and then showed 5 passages of play, 4 of which featured 50 yard hoofs. To top it all off, he couldn't explain why Papiss Cisse's goal was offside and claimed "no one knows the rule anymore, there's too many different phases". No, Alan, for the goal their was one phase and it was offside. **** clown. Edited February 24, 2013 by Milfner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Yeah, it was shit even by Alan Shearer standards and that is saying something. His Ben Arfa comments remain unbeaten though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 All pundits are shit except Neville and Nevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 You need to spend more time in the Football Weekly thread. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) ITV are truly dreadful. Mostly shit pundits, shit coverage and adverts every 5 minutes. Edited February 25, 2013 by Mantis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 25, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted February 25, 2013 I was getting increasingly angered by Alam Smith's comments in the Cup Final yesterday saying that the ref should have used "common sense" and not sent Matt Duke off. He shouldn't be sent off because the game's already won and it would be a "shame". Said the ref should be given discretion in this situation by his superiors. I hate that stuff. It's the rules! You can't just dismiss the rules because it's a shame. It was a totally blatant red card. What if they'd kept him on, he saved th epenalty and Bradford went down the other end and Tremmel did exactly the same thing? Would he then have to let Tremmel off because he'd done the same for Duke? Annoys me. This was also followed by the other clichés of "Nobody wants to see a red card" and "No neutral wants to see a thrashing". Bollocks. I want both of those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 worse punditry this season was BBC early in season for Fulham vs West Ham game. they were trying to say West Ham dont hoof the ball and showed a couple of 2 yard passes which then directly followed was a hoof what was aimed at Carroll. classic quote from wordremoved Quinn yesterday. "Its not in United DNA to concede a big points advantage in the title race even though they did last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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