EPL Match Commentary

I caught the first portion of the game between Aston Villa and Manchester United on FSC. Anyone else see this game? The commentators where ridiculous, but not necessarily bad.... They where obviously a couple of Aston Villa commentators, but it was more like listen to a radio show while watching the game than any type of match play-by-play or "unbiased/intelligent" performance criticism. Basically, it was like watching the game over a couple of drinks with your buddies.

Overall, I enjoyed it.

Anyone else have some favorite commentators?

 

No but I hate listening to Warren Barton on FSC with that phoney accent he puts on, he tries to sound educated and speak nicely but to me it sounds awful, I have to mute him and wait for the game to start otherwise it drives me crazy...

 

Agreed. FSC staff commented games are almost un-watchable. I was watching the Seattle @ Toronto last night. Max and the other guy are not getting better.

Too much, too often. It is hard to describe, but lets use Martin Tyler as an example:

Martin is probably the best out there IMO. When you listen to Martin you know that he is relaxed, you know that he is confident, you know that he is knowledgeable, and you know that he loves football.

He doesnt have to talk fast or loud or sound like he is puckering up his bung hole every time something 'almost' happens.

Also - unlike the 'other' guy with Max B on FSC, Martin doesnt talk at us... Telling us what 'his' keys to the match are. Telling us what 'he' would do...

Max is just too loud, too fast, too excitable. The other guy thinks that he needs to explain everything and he gives the impression that what he has to say is more important than what is happening on the field. Just shut up already!

 

One problem, IMO, is that the MLS doesn't have enough background noise. The EPL games feel so natural because when nothing is being said its still got some type of audio to keep your attention. When I watch MLS games, its either too much or too little from the commentators. Too much blah blah blah about what some guy did in previous games or what the commentator would do in this game and too little exposes the lack of fan noise and kind of has this awkward silence between words. I would prefer a little more "play-by-play" commentary to fill the void but less random statistics and opinions. The Aston Villa Commentators (mentioned in first post above) had a whole boat load of personal comments, but it was entertaining.... I just get the feeling that some of the ESPN MLS commentators don't even know what they are watching

 

American announcers never shut up when covering any sport, unless their names are Dick Enberg or Pat Summerall. Thank you Fox for bringing the attitude that now prevails our airwaves.

 

... or Vin Scully, or Ernie Harwell, who was just on the cusp of being before my time.

 

I don't think Mark Rogandino, who does the WPS games and a few of the Concacaf and other games, is too bad (not great, but not too bad). It's Max Bretos, Christian Miles, and Keith Costigan who drive me nuts.

 

Seems like he wants to be the soccer version of Madden.

 

It is going to be interesting to see who they have do the ECL matches.