[Paul Chuckle]

Guy Mowbray has poor knowledge, is biased, and is just simply awful. Give Steve Wilson the Euro 2012 Final.

[mikw]

I like Guy a lot myself. But i agree, I think Steve should do the final, the England games should be shared.

I think Steve does "excitement" very well and has a great turn of phrase. Just keep Mark Bright away from him!

[DragonQ]

Mowbray is a lot better than Pearce but I like Wilson too.

[mikey1980]

It was an intriguing decision by the BBC to make Mowbray sole number one, given that neither Motson nor Barry Davies ever had the same luxury. Even when Motson was getting all the FA Cup finals, Davies got a good share of England games and European finals. Each kept the other on their toes.

[jodash]

are both BBC and ITV showing the final?

[DragonQ]

Yes but who will watch on ITV?

[casinoman13]

Steve Wilson was excellent on last night's Italy game.
Your right his knowledge is excellent and does seem better than Guy Mowbery, who i feel is let down at times by the very one tonned Mark Lawrenson.
Mikey, i agree about Motson and Davies and its a shame the same didnt apply with Mowbery and Wilson but equally Wilson not being number 1 may clear his way if another channel approached him with a number one post, could be a blessing for him in the long run.

[jda135]

Originally Posted by DragonQ

Yes but who will watch on ITV?

I will. BBC is just too slow when it comes to live football.

[The Difference]

Have to disagree with the opening poster. If Steve Wilson was commentating on the Euro 2012 Final, I'd be watching it on ITV1 without any shadow of a doubt.

I tend to turn the volume down and listen to a radio commentary when he's commentating on games where BBC TV is only TV option. I find his screechy style difficult on the ear and contrary to what others have been saying I find his knowledge of teams outside the big clubs/nations to be fairly questionable.

While I think Guy Mowbray had stood still a bit since becoming the BBC's number one commentator and is certainly handicapped by being paired with a frankly awful co-commentator in Mark Lawrenson (he's sounded much better working on Women's World Cup games with Lucy Ward), he's streets ahead of Wilson and Jonathan Pearce in my opinion. Of the commentators the BBC use for live games, Simon Brotherton is probably my favourite at the moment (despite his supposed nightmare - which I didn't hear myself - on Croatia v Spain last night). Match of the Day's pool of freelance commentators, possessing the likes of Steve Bower, John Roder, Martin Fisher and Dan O'Hagan who are all covering Euro 2012 for other broadcasters, also contains a lot of strong commentators who I much prefer to Wilson.

[Li4m]

Originally Posted by Paul Chuckle

Guy Mowbray ... is biased

Towards/against which team(s) and/or player(s)?

[Alex2606]

Originally Posted by Paul Chuckle

Guy Mowbray has poor knowledge, is biased, and is just simply awful. Give Steve Wilson the Euro 2012 Final.

Because Steve Wilson was in no way biased towards the Republic of Ireland last night............

[smurfs5]

Originally Posted by Alex2606

Because Steve Wilson was in no way biased towards the Republic of Ireland last night............

I didn't think he was particularly biased. You could say that about every commentator for an England game. Do you not expect a slight degree of bias towards England and Ireland when they're in such a big tournament? Any bias evident last night was solely from Mc Carthy in my opinion.

I would also love Steve Wilson to be the BBC' s lead commentator or at least, share the big games. He is excellent and superior to Mowbray although I don't think the latter is "biased or not knowledgeable". It is a shame that the BBC have given the No.1 role to Mowbray though because their coverage would probably benefit from both of them sharing that role and having the big matches evenly distributed between them.

[mikw]

I agree that sharing the big games would be good.

I think Steve deserves to do some of the England games at least.

As it stands, he may not even get a semi-final, he didn't get one in the last World cup.

[kimbobill]

Originally Posted by jda135

I will. BBC is just too slow when it comes to live football.

At least they know who is on the pitch

[SouthCity]

Originally Posted by kimbobill

At least they know who is on the pitch

...apart from Simon Brotherton repeatedly referring to David Silva as David Villa, and claiming that Borussia Dortmund were Italian league champions.

[Alex2606]

Originally Posted by smurfs5

I didn't think he was particularly biased. You could say that about every commentator for an England game. Do you not expect a slight degree of bias towards England and Ireland when they're in such a big tournament? Any bias evident last night was solely from McCarthy in my opinion.

Which essentially was my point, it's unfair for those to criticise Guy Mowbray for being biased when he is no different or no worse to any of the others commentators (across both channels)

[mikw]

Originally Posted by Alex2606

Which essentially was my point, it's unfair for those to criticise Guy Mowbray for being biased when he is no different or no worse to any of the others commentators (across both channels)

Anyway, what's wrong with a bit of bias anyway? Many of the greatest moments of commentary history have shown bias.

[Alex2606]

Originally Posted by mikw

Anyway, what's wrong with a bit of bias anyway? Many of the greatest moments of commentary history have shown bias.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm making the point that you can't use it as a negative against one commentator (as the OP did) and then ignore it in relation to others

[footygirl]

Originally Posted by DragonQ

Yes but who will watch on ITV?

I will - to dodge Logan's interviews

[Gordie10]

Originally Posted by footygirl

I will - to dodge Logan's interviews

So you think England'll make the final then?

[Ads]

It seems very strange that Guy Mowbray has suddenly come out of nowhere to be the lead BBC commentator, it wasn't that long ago he was 3rd of 4th at ITV. He certainly isn't a patch on the likes of Barry Davies or Brian Moore, or even modern pros like Tyler.

[DragonQ]

Originally Posted by footygirl

I will - to dodge Logan's interviews

A 2 minute interview from Logan must be preferable to 30+ minutes of adverts?

[The Wanderer]

Originally Posted by DragonQ

A 2 minute interview from Logan must be preferable to 30+ minutes of adverts?

I'll be watching on ITV as 30+ minutes of adverts is more bareable than 90+ minutes of Mark Lawrenson

[RadioKnower]

Originally Posted by Ads

It seems very strange that Guy Mowbray has suddenly come out of nowhere to be the lead BBC commentator, it wasn't that long ago he was 3rd of 4th at ITV. He certainly isn't a patch on the likes of Barry Davies or Brian Moore, or even modern pros like Tyler.

Guy Mowbray is very bland in terms of voice compared to those others. I believe the BBC are mistaken not to give Jonathan Pierce the lead role.

[fordj]

Steve Wilson is the best commentator at the beeb IMO but Mowbray is decent, like others have said they should share the top games instead of giving them all to Mowbray. Jonathan Pearce shouldn't be anywhere near any live quarter or semi-finals.