I would say it defiantly had something to do with it, he basically did very little if any football for any other channel, he was commentating for ESPN virtually every weekend including Sundays.
Oh yeah, I forgot he went to ESPN. So of course it would have meant he was doing little football for other channels, he was living in the USA wasn't he?
Oh yeah, I forgot he went to ESPN. So of course it would have meant he was doing little football for other channels, he was living in the USA wasn't he?
No he was still living in the UK, when ESPN had live games then Darkie travelled around the country to commentate live from the grounds.
ESPN however had their base back in the States where their broadcasters were live from.
Jeff is with Glenn Hoddle and Jamie Redknapp in the studio.
Ronald Koeman has now joined them. Hawthorne and Quinn were definitely there, Quinn was in vision in the build-up.
I note from the EPG that there isn't separate presentation for the match on SS1 with the coverage starting at 7.40. Presumably this is because they're showing two all-foreign games so they didn't think it was worth it for the fourth choice match. Not a problem, though, as I always say ten years ago they wouldn't even have studio presentation for the other British game.
Yeah, but isn't that odd? I mean isn't Darke better than at least one of them? Surely.
Well, regardless of whether Darke is better than Champion or Drury, he may not be available as much. Drury doesn't have any regular gigs on British TV at the moment so he's more likely to want to do it, Champion is on the radio on Saturdays but is generally free the rest of the week. Darke does a bit more during the week for BT and because he's older than the other two maybe he just wants to do his BT work and that's it.
APOEL v PSG - Gary Taphouse and Andy Hinchcliffe Schalke v Sporting - Ian Crocker and Neil McCann BATE v S. Donetsk - Tony Jones and Garry Birtles Porto v Bilbao - Kevin Keatings and Andy Walker Chelsea v Maribor (WF) - Dan Mann and Tony Gale Roma v Bayern - Gary Weaver and Don Goodman Barca v Ajax - Rob Palmer and Gerry Armstrong
Roma v Bayern - Gary Weaver and Don Goodman Barca v Ajax - Rob Palmer and Gerry Armstrong
And Weaver and Goodman also presenting out of vison as well, as I anticipated. Steve Clarke and Lee Dixon are with Chiles on ITV. I don't think you need to know the commentators.
Seems a strange time to bring in another main pundit considering the football they may be losing along with the Champion League, unless they are thinking of a slight overhaul and changes to their line up.
Maybe it's more a case of ensuring that BT does not get him. [Thierry Henry]
Quinn made me laugh during the City game by describing the iffy CSKA penalty as "a home decision".
Yes Niall, because the massed ranks of empty seats were getting right on the referee's case...
Quinn was pretty poor today tbh. There was a clear bias towards City. The City second goal was clearly offside, however Quinn's analysis was, "You could say that's onside." Neither commentator acknowledged that it was offside. Quinn just generally came out with some strange analysis throughout the game.
ESPN CSKA Moskva vs Manchester City - Dan Thomas and Steve Nichole Chelsea vs Maribor - Adrian Healey and Criag Burley Barcelona vs Ajax - Mark Donaldson and Shaka Hislop
FC Porto vs Athletic Club Bilbao - presented by Flavio Pereira AS Roma vs Bayern München - presented by Janusz Michallik
I note from the EPG that there isn't separate presentation for the match on SS1 with the coverage starting at 7.40. Presumably this is because they're showing two all-foreign games so they didn't think it was worth it for the fourth choice match. Not a problem, though, as I always say ten years ago they wouldn't even have studio presentation for the other British game.
No studio again on MD4 when the SS1 game is the overall 3rd pick.
So in theory the equivalent situation to MD1 and MD2 - however a bit different as Real Madrid play Liverpool so the all foreign 3rd pick doesn't feature Barcelona or Real Madrid which would be the norm.
We'll have to wait to see if the studio returns for the SS1 game on MD5!
How the hell does David Stowell of MUTV (his first job) get the opportunity to have his voice transmitted into millions of homes across the globe? Were PLP particularly stuck for a commentator on Saturday?
David Stowell has done commentaries for ITV as well as MUTV and PLP. And some radio I believe.
He's better than a lot of commentators you hear on PLP.
And Weaver and Goodman also presenting out of vison as well, as I anticipated. Steve Clarke and Lee Dixon are with Chiles on ITV. I don't think you need to know the commentators.
Sam Matterface did CSKA v Man City, Joe Speight Roma v Bayern, and Jon Champion Barca v Ajax. Sue Thearle and Tom Skippings were the reporters.
Matt Smith presented alongside Gordon Strachan, Jermaine Jenas and Philippe Auclair
CSKA Moscow v Manchester City - Sam Matterface AS Roma v Bayern Munchen - Joe Speight Chelsea v NK Maribor - Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend, with Gabriel Clarke conducting post-match interviews FC Barcelona v AFC Ajax - Jon Champion
Glad ITV are nowhere near tonights match at Anfield.
"special European nights, that night in Istanbul, yadda yadda yadda..."
Well, you say that, but on Sky you'll still get "that night against Olympiakos" and, indeed, "that night in Istanbul". During QPR vs Liverpool at the weekend you even had Martin Tyler shoehorning in a reference to Aguero's goal against QPR.
All channels do it. There was an interview with Alvaro Arbeloa in The Guardian yesterday in which special reference was made to, yes, "special European nights" at Anfield. If there's no reference to "special European nights" on Sky tonight I will eat my television. The big one in the front room too.
Comments
Oh yeah, I forgot he went to ESPN. So of course it would have meant he was doing little football for other channels, he was living in the USA wasn't he?
No he was still living in the UK, when ESPN had live games then Darkie travelled around the country to commentate live from the grounds.
ESPN however had their base back in the States where their broadcasters were live from.
But I read that Darke did MLS games.
He only did a few which I think included 2 finals and for those yes he was on site and live from those massive stadiums.
Also when he has been covering the United States friendlies recently he has flown over to be on site.
I Went back to posts from Friday, by going back 5 or 6 pages. Usually the PL comms are posted on a Friday or Saturday here every week.
Jeff is with Glenn Hoddle and Jamie Redknapp in the studio.
Ronald Koeman has now joined them. Hawthorne and Quinn were definitely there, Quinn was in vision in the build-up.
I note from the EPG that there isn't separate presentation for the match on SS1 with the coverage starting at 7.40. Presumably this is because they're showing two all-foreign games so they didn't think it was worth it for the fourth choice match. Not a problem, though, as I always say ten years ago they wouldn't even have studio presentation for the other British game.
Well, regardless of whether Darke is better than Champion or Drury, he may not be available as much. Drury doesn't have any regular gigs on British TV at the moment so he's more likely to want to do it, Champion is on the radio on Saturdays but is generally free the rest of the week. Darke does a bit more during the week for BT and because he's older than the other two maybe he just wants to do his BT work and that's it.
Schalke v Sporting - Ian Crocker and Neil McCann
BATE v S. Donetsk - Tony Jones and Garry Birtles
Porto v Bilbao - Kevin Keatings and Andy Walker
Chelsea v Maribor (WF) - Dan Mann and Tony Gale
Roma v Bayern - Gary Weaver and Don Goodman
Barca v Ajax - Rob Palmer and Gerry Armstrong
And Weaver and Goodman also presenting out of vison as well, as I anticipated. Steve Clarke and Lee Dixon are with Chiles on ITV. I don't think you need to know the commentators.
Maybe it's more a case of ensuring that BT does not get him. [Thierry Henry]
Yes Niall, because the massed ranks of empty seats were getting right on the referee's case...
Quinn was pretty poor today tbh. There was a clear bias towards City. The City second goal was clearly offside, however Quinn's analysis was, "You could say that's onside." Neither commentator acknowledged that it was offside. Quinn just generally came out with some strange analysis throughout the game.
CSKA Moskva vs Manchester City - Dan Thomas and Steve Nichole
Chelsea vs Maribor - Adrian Healey and Criag Burley
Barcelona vs Ajax - Mark Donaldson and Shaka Hislop
FC Porto vs Athletic Club Bilbao - presented by Flavio Pereira
AS Roma vs Bayern München - presented by Janusz Michallik
Barcelona U19 v Ajax Amsterdam U19 (UEFA Youth League Group F)
Wayne Boyce and Stewart Robson for British Eurosport (HD)
No studio again on MD4 when the SS1 game is the overall 3rd pick.
So in theory the equivalent situation to MD1 and MD2 - however a bit different as Real Madrid play Liverpool so the all foreign 3rd pick doesn't feature Barcelona or Real Madrid which would be the norm.
We'll have to wait to see if the studio returns for the SS1 game on MD5!
David Stowell has done commentaries for ITV as well as MUTV and PLP. And some radio I believe.
He's better than a lot of commentators you hear on PLP.
...and MUTV wasn't his first job
Sam Matterface did CSKA v Man City, Joe Speight Roma v Bayern, and Jon Champion Barca v Ajax. Sue Thearle and Tom Skippings were the reporters.
UEFA Champions League Extra Time
Matt Smith presented alongside Gordon Strachan, Jermaine Jenas and Philippe Auclair
CSKA Moscow v Manchester City - Sam Matterface
AS Roma v Bayern Munchen - Joe Speight
Chelsea v NK Maribor - Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend, with Gabriel Clarke conducting post-match interviews
FC Barcelona v AFC Ajax - Jon Champion
Tuesday round-ups - Tom Skippings and Sue Thearle
What a shame.
"special European nights, that night in Istanbul, yadda yadda yadda..."
Which would be good Parry is still pretty decent, Leslie for Tyler would be a better swap.
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?p=75303309#post75303309
Well, you say that, but on Sky you'll still get "that night against Olympiakos" and, indeed, "that night in Istanbul". During QPR vs Liverpool at the weekend you even had Martin Tyler shoehorning in a reference to Aguero's goal against QPR.
All channels do it. There was an interview with Alvaro Arbeloa in The Guardian yesterday in which special reference was made to, yes, "special European nights" at Anfield. If there's no reference to "special European nights" on Sky tonight I will eat my television. The big one in the front room too.
BeIN 11 HD Sports: Presented by Richard Keys with Trevor Francis and Ray Wilkins
Commentators: Martin Tyler and Jim Beglin (as World Feed)