General sports broadcasting

Slightly inspired by the Eddie Butler thread, thought someone else out there might also appreciate somewhere to put their thoughts on whoever they happen to be listening to and/or watching.

Who do you like, who annoys you, what do you want to see more or less of?

To start off; was able to follow the Test coverage last week, and I don't get what they see in Ramprakash. Seems like a nice chap, but doesn't offer any real insight, and not really an interesting narrator.

Regarding Test cricket on TMS, get rid of Tufnel. Utterly useless and just plays the "joker" card when he runs out of anything meaningful to say which is immediately. Alex Hayles? Hmm, knows what she's on about but her voice is dreadful I find I cannot listen when she's on. Not a sexist thing, I really rate Alison Mitchell and Isa Guha is fine but Hayles is awful.
Ramps is OK but too close to Eng team so only offers up bland platitudes. I always liked Vaughan, spoke his mind. Whether he'll be back seems unlikely which is a shame.

Rugby - Flatman best pundit, Andrew Cotter best commentator. Nolly Waterman not very good. I always liked Bulter although many didn't and I don't mind Jiffy but again lots seem not to. Austin Healy total end of a bell. Sara Elgin a barbie doll teetering around on 6" heels made up like a Love Island contestant, words fail...

Cycling - Ned Boulting and David Millar superb, best by miles. Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly truly dreadful.

Football - only watch Eng Internationals so not bothered who's on, either mens or womens.

Charles Dagnall is a terrible 'pundit'. Average cricketer but decidedly less than average pundit. Makes up for a complete lack of insight or humour by dressing like Price Andrew at an 80's disco. Just creepy.

Don't get the hatred of Mark Butcher. He is no Athers or Nass who are both superb, but he is not dreadful either. And I was in the crowd when he hit 170 odd against the Aussies so gets a extra point for that.

Agree with mountain man on Cotter and Flatman. Cotter is brilliant and knows exactly when the call the game and when to let the viewer decide. Commentates like a knowledgeable fan, rather than someone doing it for a job. Flatman makes me chuckle consistently. Doesn't take himself too seriously and, despite being a half decent prop, regularly admits to not having a clue what is going on with the scrum. He should ask the 606v2 crowd as loads of them have the scrum technicalities nailed down....

Ally McCoist is a monumental bell end as well. I don't really watch that much football but he is appalling. Such ridiculously high standards of players. A striker could hit an overhead kick from 50 yards with his weaker foot and clip the crossbar. Cue McCoist's standard line - "he's goat tae score that". Listen McCoist, I know you scored a load of Sunday league goals up in Scotland, but not every single chance in a football game should result in a goal. People are allowed to make mistakes. Goalies are allowed to make saves. Kind of what they are paid for. Complete knobber.

Tufnell is actually very good on the radio, more like jovial than most but does know what he's talking about for the most part. TMS isn't meant to be straight laced so he fits in well which is where Ramps doesn't, he's too serious for the role. Also always really disliked both Atherton and Hussain i'm afraid Tino, both seem to think they're reinventing the wheel with often dull and pointless analysis.

David Millar is quite brilliant however, most of the cycling guys are; Boardman and Brotherton (replacing the superb Hugh Porter) during the Olympics were very good.

Maggie Alfonsi adds a lot to the rugby coverage too, knows her stuff and puts to shame the likes of Dallaglio and Woodward.

Soul Requiem wrote:Tufnell is actually very good on the radio, more like jovial than most but does know what he's talking about for the most part. TMS isn't meant to be straight laced so he fits in well which is where Ramps doesn't, he's too serious for the role. Also always really disliked both Atherton and Hussain i'm afraid Tino, both seem to think they're reinventing the wheel with often dull and pointless analysis.

David Millar is quite brilliant however, most of the cycling guys are; Boardman and Brotherton (replacing the superb Hugh Porter) during the Olympics were very good.

Maggie Alfonsi adds a lot to the rugby coverage too, knows her stuff and puts to shame the likes of Dallaglio and Woodward.

Yeah, Alfonsi is excellent. Very good pundit.

Not as high on Millar myself. Really good voice, and obviously plenty of experience. But I feel like I've too often heard him calmly and authoritatively explain what's happening, only for it to promptly play out exactly the other way round.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:Agree with mountain man on Cotter and Flatman. Cotter is brilliant and knows exactly when the call the game and when to let the viewer decide. Commentates like a knowledgeable fan, rather than someone doing it for a job. Flatman makes me chuckle consistently. Doesn't take himself too seriously and, despite being a half decent prop, regularly admits to not having a clue what is going on with the scrum.

In the UK with a chance to watch the ITV highlight show. Flatman is just such a comfortable, natural on-screen prescence. Ojo's not on the same level, but better than I remember from the start of the year.
Why they keep using the shot filming the tablet they're watching footage on baffles me.

Also saw the C4 F1 coverage, and while I like Billy Monger, he really needs to find a way to move on from the junior/assistant role he's still in. Gets a bit awkward when he's getting asked to provide insight while standing next to Coulthard or Webber for me.

Gabby Agbonlahor.

Living proof that no matter how thick you are, there is a job out there for you somewhere.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:Gabby Agbonlahor.

Living proof that no matter how thick you are, there is a job out there for you somewhere.

The man is a total crayon, a cleft of the highest order.

rIck_dAgless wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:Gabby Agbonlahor.

Living proof that no matter how thick you are, there is a job out there for you somewhere.

The man is a total crayon, a cleft of the highest order.

I've no doubt he uses crayon to 'sign' his autographs.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it slightly odd that the BBC are using Alex Scott as a pundit, instead of as a presenter?
Opening titles are rubbish too, ITV any better?

Lowlandbrit wrote:Is it just me, or does anyone else find it slightly odd that the BBC are using Alex Scott as a pundit, instead of as a presenter?
Opening titles are rubbish too, ITV any better?

Well, she was a decent player. Also using Jenas as a pundit, and he's doing nearly as much presenting elsewhere as AS.

Jumping back t earlier in the thread, I always found Jiffy a better summariser / pundit on rugby league than on union. I get the impression he actually prefers league and finds it easier to get enthused by the actual play rather than his slightly one-eyed approach to Wales games in the 6Ns.

As fr TMS, I'm almost always pleasantly surprised by how good the opposition sumarisers are - Waqar came across really well in the recent series and in the past both McGrath and Mitchell Johnson have slearly understood their roles - a bit of technical expert input interspersed with a few anecdotes and humour.