Graham bemoans the quality of some of today's commentators.













COMMENTATORS

 

I was talking to someone at work recently and they were discussing the great radio commentator David Francey and asking if he was still alive. Some of the younger members of our readership may not recognise the name but he was the doyen of radio commentators back in the 1970's and 1980's.    He was up there with Arthur Montford on Scotsport and, believe it or not, Archie McPherson on BBC.

 

While the other two retired gracefully Archie is still persisting with his brand of commentary which bears no relation to the modern game.   The other two realised they were out of touch with the modern game and decided to leave it to the next generation but not Archie.   Those of you that heard him commentate during the second leg of Rangers' tie with Sporting Lisbon will have heard Fraser Wishart correct him on many occasions.

Time to hang up the mike Archie…..

 

While on this subject,  I was forced to stop listening to Clive Tildsley during the Champions League game between Arsenal and Liverpool.   I can't think of any specifics that drove me up the wall but it was more the general jingoistic tone of his commentary that put me off.   I only wish we could have a decent Scottish commentator for any game that was shown on STV,  but maybe that is beyond reach!!

 

Another who got on my nerves recently was Alan Green on Five Live as he commentated on the Cardiff v Barnsley FA Cup Semi-Final as I travelled home from Middlesbrough.   It was as if it was beneath him to have to watch two Championship sides rather than the elite of the Premier League he watches every week.

 

We were treated to his opinion of the game (poor quality) and the two teams (yes, you've guessed it, poor quality) rather than describe the action.

 

Sadly the malaise rubbed off on his co-commentator, the odious Mark Lawrenson, who was only too quick to jump on the bandwagon with Green.

 

Maybe if I was to listen to Francey or Montford nowadays I would find them pretty hopeless as well but nostalgia is a great thing…..

 

Graham Barnstaple

 


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