I think Schmeichel was superb tonight and offered real insight and knowledge. Wasn't afraid to disagree with Redknapp and Souness either. Was good on the De Gea debate also. I think Readingfan was wrong saying
"Not convinced about Schmeichel either. When you consider some of the pundits Sky have at their disposal, using Schmeichel and Redknapp isn't exactly inspiring."
I'm a little disappointed Sky didn't show at least the goals from Shakhtar v Dortmund. Anyway I caught them on the Events Centre even though it's on it's arse, Commentators were Gary Weaver and Garry Birtles
I think Schmeichel was superb tonight and offered real insight and knowledge. Wasn't afraid to disagree with Redknapp and Souness either. Was good on the De Gea debate also. I think Readingfan was wrong saying
Schmeichel was good but talked too much at the expense of Souness who doesn't seem to mind taking a back seat.
It was not that bad a debut to be honest. Neither goal was "headed up" but the trademark scream was subdued and I was surprised. In the 2nd half he really made a point of not over-talking.
Can't say Barton is any good nor has he ever been, but it wasn't full-on disaster at least.
Was impressed with Gus' player identification and the fact that he sounded semi-knowledgeable. He said in an article he still had "a lot to learn" and hopefully he continues to improve.
Right now he's about a 4/10 grade level commentator. We have maybe one good American commentator (John Strong) so this would be a huge plus for us.
His first PL game is Man City/Chelsea with Lee Dixon as co-comm. Does Dixon do co-comm duties for the BBC on radio or TV?
As of this season Lee's joined ITV but I don't think he ever did do any co-commentary for the Beeb on TV. Not sure about radio.
He used to co-commentate on Radio 5 Live about half a dozen times a season throughout his run as a regular on Match of the Day and MOTD2, right up until the end of last season. By the end of his spell at the BBC, he was one of the more prominent co-commentators on their Champions League coverage, he would typically cover UCL games rather than those played at weekends (although he did have a stint as studio pundit on Sunday's 5 Live Sport).
Al Jazeera Sports always take the Sky feed for all their Champions League games.
They use the World Feed on all their other games apart from the big games they show where sometime they use their own comms on +3, like Tony Jones, Joe Speight, Peter Drury & Tim Caple.
All in all its a very good package and i for one glad i have it, although its a shame out 15 Sports channels they have, only 3 are HD.
And Sky can eff right off for not showing the goals at the end of the Real v Man U match. When they'd had the best part of 2 hours build-up, I don't think stopping on air for another 10 minutes at the end would have been that great a hardship.
Yeah I thought that was a really poor touch from Sky. I was watching in a pub and had no idea at all of what the Dortmund score was. I stayed after expecting that Sky would have their usual highlights programme (in one form or another) but for some reason they clearly coujldn't be bothered! It didn't help that on twitter Gary Neville had made a point of saying that the Dortmund game would be a great one too and worth catching!
John Hardy had tweeted to say there'll be no Welsh language commentary for the next World Cup matches for Wales against Scotland and Croatia next month through Sky Sports' red button facility.
AC Milan v Barcelona- Darragh Maloney is joined by Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton to present. Commentary by George Hamilton and Trevor Steven.
Richard Keys with Ray Houghton, Alan Curbishley & Andy Gray.
Sparta Prague v Chelsea - Mark Scott Spurs v Lyon - Phil Blacker
World Feeds
17:00 Anzhi v Hannover - Tim White Zenit St Petersberg v Liverpool - Rob Daly
18:00 Ajax V Steaua Bucharest - Adam Summerton BATE Borisov v Fenerbahce - Adam Bates Bayer Leverkusen v Benfica - Phil Blacker Dynamo Kiev v Bordeaux - Jonathan Beck Levante v Olympiakos - Simon Watts Napoli v Plzen - Andrew Raeburn
20:05 Atletico Madrid v Rubin Kazan - Rob Daly Borussia Monchengladbach v Lazio - - Simon Watts FC Basel v Dnipro - Adam Summerton Inter Milan v CFR Cluj-Napoca - Adam Bates VfB Stuttgart v Genk - Andrew Raeburn Newcastle v Met'st Kharkiv - Jonathan Beck Spurs v Lyon - Phil Blacker
Yes, Drury was alongside Beglin and Matt is at White Hart Lane with Gareth Southgate (like Steven Gerrard, a rare run-out in the Europa League) and Gordon Strachan. Meanwhile on ESPN it's Ray with Didi Hamman and Steve McManaman. Champion and Burley on the Chelsea game, Rae and Waddle at Newcastle.
Intriguingly next week ITV start at 7.45 again despite the fact the early game is a 6pm kick-off so ITV4 are going on until eight o'clock. Be intriguing to see how ITV cope with being on two channels at once.
Yes, Drury was alongside Beglin and Matt is at White Hart Lane with Gareth Southgate (like Steven Gerrard, a rare run-out in the Europa League) and Gordon Strachan. Meanwhile on ESPN it's Ray with Didi Hamman and Steve McManaman. Champion and Burley on the Chelsea game, Rae and Waddle at Newcastle.
Intriguingly next week ITV start at 7.45 again despite the fact the early game is a 6pm kick-off so ITV4 are going on until eight o'clock. Be intriguing to see how ITV cope with being on two channels at once.
ITV hasn't picked its games for next week yet. It could be both 8.05pm kick-offs
ITV hasn't picked its games for next week yet. It could be both 8.05pm kick-offs
I don't think they'll do that as they'll be splitting their audience. I think they'll go with Liverpool v Zenit as the 8.05pm kick off then see who looks the better bet between Newcastle and Tottenham for the early kick off.
ITV hasn't picked its games for next week yet. It could be both 8.05pm kick-offs
Well, the point still remains, doesn't it? I don't know in what circunstances ITV would choose a Chelsea home match when they're leading from the away leg at the same time as a Liverpool game, when the other two look set to be far more competive even at this stage. If both Spurs and Newcastle win or lose 10-0, maybe.
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"Not convinced about Schmeichel either. When you consider some of the pundits Sky have at their disposal, using Schmeichel and Redknapp isn't exactly inspiring."
Presenter: Bill O'Herlihy
With: John Giles, Liam Brady & Eamon Dunphy
Commentators: George Hamilton & Ray Houghton
Reporter: Peter Collins
Highlights:
Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund - Ger Canning
Celtic v Juventus - Ger Canning
Valencia v PSG - Tony O'Donohue
http://epltalk.com/2013/02/13/pros-and-cons-of-gus-johnsons-debut-as-fox-soccers-commentator-for-real-madrid-man-united/
Schmeichel was good but talked too much at the expense of Souness who doesn't seem to mind taking a back seat.
His squid remark was amusing
It was not that bad a debut to be honest. Neither goal was "headed up" but the trademark scream was subdued and I was surprised. In the 2nd half he really made a point of not over-talking.
Can't say Barton is any good nor has he ever been, but it wasn't full-on disaster at least.
Was impressed with Gus' player identification and the fact that he sounded semi-knowledgeable. He said in an article he still had "a lot to learn" and hopefully he continues to improve.
Right now he's about a 4/10 grade level commentator. We have maybe one good American commentator (John Strong) so this would be a huge plus for us.
His first PL game is Man City/Chelsea with Lee Dixon as co-comm. Does Dixon do co-comm duties for the BBC on radio or TV?
Tim Caple for ESPN UK
As of this season Lee's joined ITV but I don't think he ever did do any co-commentary for the Beeb on TV. Not sure about radio.
He used to co-commentate on Radio 5 Live about half a dozen times a season throughout his run as a regular on Match of the Day and MOTD2, right up until the end of last season. By the end of his spell at the BBC, he was one of the more prominent co-commentators on their Champions League coverage, he would typically cover UCL games rather than those played at weekends (although he did have a stint as studio pundit on Sunday's 5 Live Sport).
They use the World Feed on all their other games apart from the big games they show where sometime they use their own comms on +3, like Tony Jones, Joe Speight, Peter Drury & Tim Caple.
All in all its a very good package and i for one glad i have it, although its a shame out 15 Sports channels they have, only 3 are HD.
Approximately 17 people watched.
And Sky can eff right off for not showing the goals at the end of the Real v Man U match. When they'd had the best part of 2 hours build-up, I don't think stopping on air for another 10 minutes at the end would have been that great a hardship.
Shame.
AC Milan v Barcelona- Darragh Maloney is joined by Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton to present. Commentary by George Hamilton and Trevor Steven.
Richard Keys with Ray Houghton, Alan Curbishley & Andy Gray.
Sparta Prague v Chelsea - Mark Scott
Spurs v Lyon - Phil Blacker
World Feeds
17:00
Anzhi v Hannover - Tim White
Zenit St Petersberg v Liverpool - Rob Daly
18:00
Ajax V Steaua Bucharest - Adam Summerton
BATE Borisov v Fenerbahce - Adam Bates
Bayer Leverkusen v Benfica - Phil Blacker
Dynamo Kiev v Bordeaux - Jonathan Beck
Levante v Olympiakos - Simon Watts
Napoli v Plzen - Andrew Raeburn
20:05
Atletico Madrid v Rubin Kazan - Rob Daly
Borussia Monchengladbach v Lazio - - Simon Watts
FC Basel v Dnipro - Adam Summerton
Inter Milan v CFR Cluj-Napoca - Adam Bates
VfB Stuttgart v Genk - Andrew Raeburn
Newcastle v Met'st Kharkiv - Jonathan Beck
Spurs v Lyon - Phil Blacker
Usually its an excellent PQ..
Still, liking Peter Drury on comms.
Intriguingly next week ITV start at 7.45 again despite the fact the early game is a 6pm kick-off so ITV4 are going on until eight o'clock. Be intriguing to see how ITV cope with being on two channels at once.
ITV hasn't picked its games for next week yet. It could be both 8.05pm kick-offs
I don't think they'll do that as they'll be splitting their audience. I think they'll go with Liverpool v Zenit as the 8.05pm kick off then see who looks the better bet between Newcastle and Tottenham for the early kick off.
Well, the point still remains, doesn't it? I don't know in what circunstances ITV would choose a Chelsea home match when they're leading from the away leg at the same time as a Liverpool game, when the other two look set to be far more competive even at this stage. If both Spurs and Newcastle win or lose 10-0, maybe.