Well, you say that, but last season Chelsea were in a right state over Christmas and on a massive losing streak, and they thrashed Ipswich in the third round at home. And if it's a low priority it's even less interesting as it'll be a Chelsea team full of reserves playing at a half-empty Stamford Bridge. Portsmouth are hardly pulling up any trees either.

I don't know what this station's obsession is with dull Chelsea FA Cup games. Let's hope next season either they or Fulham get drawn away so Chelsea can play at Saturday 3pm (with their traditional easy draw) and we can be spared this ridiculous decision for a fourth season. These matches aren't chosen for telly for a reason!

Wednesday 4th January 2012

BBC Manchester
Everton v Bolton: Jack Dearden & Alan Gowling (Commentary)
Newcastle v Manchester United: Steve Wyeth (Updates)

BBC Merseyside
Everton v Bolton: Mike Hughes & Ronnie Goodlass (Commentary)

Radio City
Everton v Bolton: Alan Irwin & Graeme Sharp (Commentary)

Tower FM
Everton v Bolton: Mark Wilson & Gary Henshaw (Commentary)

BBC Radio Five Live
Everton v Bolton Ian Dennis and Kevin Ratcliffe
Newcastle v Man Utd John Murray and Danny Mills (I think - it may have been Danny Murphy)

BBC Radio Leeds, and official websites of Huddersfield Town and Bradford City
host: Gareth Jones at Meadow Lane
Rotherham United verses Bradford City (103.9 FM, AM and DAB, and official Bradford City website)
commentator: Derm Tanner
summariser: Wayne Jacobs

(FM)
Notts County verses Huddersfield Town
commentator: Paul Ogden
summariser: Kieran O'Regan
Leeds United verses Burnley
reporter: Dave Callahan


Yorkshire Radio (DAB), Minster FM and official Leeds United website
Leeds United verses Burnley
host Michael Weadock
commentator: Tom Kirwin
summariser: Eddy Gray


The Pulse
Rotherham United verses Bradford City
host and commentator: Tim Thornton
summariser: Ian Ormondroyd

From Charles Sale's Sports Agenda column in today's Daily Mail:


This is a sad and surprising development of Radio 5 Live's move from their traditional three person commentary set-up to a TV style one, presuming a) it's true and b) if it'll be followed through by the time we get to the summer. On hearing their plan to switch to two person teams last year, I had assumed it needn't necessarily mean any redundancies among 5 Live's 15/16 person football commentary line-up given how there are still plenty of reporting opportunities available and how majority of their commentators also cover other sports, but if this report is to be believed that's not going to be the case.

Looking at 5 Live's football commentary roster, I think it's safe to say that, barring any shock resignations/retirements or transfers to other broadcasters; Alan Green, Mike Ingham, John Murray, Conor McNamara and Darren Fletcher should be secure in their positions at the station. Ian Dennis is probably pretty safe in his role as their football correspondent, although these changes might mean he is limited to reporting work with him getting the opportunity to commentate very rarely.

As BBC TV's fourth choice live football commentator, Simon Brotherton is safe enough at the Beeb although with these changes in the offing perhaps now is the time for him to concentrate on his TV football commentary work with him only appearing on 5 Live to cover other sports like cycling and baseball. Similarly, we might see the end of John Motson's run as a Radio 5 Live commentator with his role limited to punditry spots on the Monday Night Club. According to Steve's stats in the Football Commentators thread in the Broadcasting section, Motty does exactly 30 games for Match of the Day each season and he'd only be losing out on five annual commentary berths on 5 Live going by Shaun's stats in last year's thread. Were 5 Live to lose the Monday/Tuesday Premier League commentary package (which is surely the most vulnerable of the four they hold) to talkSPORT or Absolute in 2013, this would probably be a moot point anyway.

David Oates and Dave Woods both regularly commentate on rugby league during the summer months so you would expect the pair, or at least the latter, to find themselves prioritising their commentary work on that sport, with its off-season tying in nicely with the winter months when some of 5 Live's top ranking football guys tend to take holidays. Roddy Forsyth rarely commentates on 5 Live these days but should be safe in his role as Scottish Football Correspondent, in fact it might save the BBC a fair bit by using him as a 90 minute commentator on the rare occasions they take commentaries from north of the border rather than sending up an additional English-based voice.

I guess it'd be the five others they have on their books who'd have the most to lose, although rather than be made redundant they might just be moved to other sports or roles. Jacqui Oatley does bits for Football Focus, the BBC News Channel and even Norwegian TV so it might be that they encourage her to focus on those commitments. Alistair Bruce-Ball has commentated golf and recently cricket for BBC Radio, while Mike Sewell covered motorsport prior to joining 5 Live and could be a decent shout to be given a role on BBC TV or radio's Formula 1 coverage team given it's need for a reshuffle (although Sale's article goes onto say that James Allen is to succeed Sky-bound David Croft as 5 Live's F1 commentator, with Jonathan Legard set to be his deputy). Nigel Adderley has a correspondent role I believe while Ian Brown has been away for prolonged periods over the past couple of seasons, so might be the most at risk.

That being said, it isn't necessarily the end of the world to leave 5 Live when your departure is not viewed as an obvious step up. Ron Jones has proved that there is life after 5 Live in his work as Irish station Today FM's lead commentator, where he gets a more relaxed schedule to the typical 5 Live one yet still gets a regular stream of Saturday 3pm Premier League commentaries, the majority of blockbuster games in the Saturday 12.45pm slot with this being flexible around his occasional golf commentary work, which I imagine is an ideal job for a commentator in the twilight of their career. Looking at a similar scenario to this in 5 Live's presenting ranks, Mark Saggers has had considerable post-5 Live success as talkSPORT's lead anchorman at both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Hopefully there won't be job losses at 5 Live, but if there is I hope whoever the unlucky commentators are will find their feet in a similar fashion.

Good analysis sir. I have a feeling that you are more or less correct with your predictions.

There are only two BBC radio stations to my knowledge currently using two commentators (as opposed to one commentator and one analyst). They are BBC Radio Stoke (two commentators and one analyst) and BBC WM (two commentators).

Looking at The Difference's list it is notable how few of those names you hear working outside the BBC. Dave Woods commentates for HBS and Channel 5 (although the latter will end at the end of this season). Conor McNamara has done rugby for an Irish broadcaster, and Jacqui Oatley's moonlighting has been mentioned, but that's about it as far as I know (although I am sure I will have missed bits and pieces here and there).
.
I don't know if that's because they can't contractually, choose not to or aren't in demand.

Conversely, other notable BBC Sport names do work elsewhere: Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Guy Mowbray, Mark Pougatch, John Inverdale, Clare Balding, Andrew Cotter, Colin Murray, Mark Chapman etc.

The Difference - every employee (i.e. staff or those contracted, but not freelancers or casual employees) at the BBC has received or will be receiving a letter about voluntary redundancy. This not exclusive to BBC Radio 5 Live or their commentators. This is a all related to DQF, which, under current proposals, will hit local radio a lot harder than network radio. However, given that cuts do need to be made, even at the likes of 5 Live, I'd imagine they'll need to lose some of their posts, which could include some of their commentary team.

Thanks for the information 4-4-2. Going by the wording of Sale's article, I had been under the impression that this set of redundancies were specific to this area of 5 Live, what with it mentioning how they are supposedly looking to "cut five commentators". I have my doubts as to how accurate that particular aspect of the story is, given that most of the sports roles have a degree of flexibility and we've already seen some departures from contracted positions including David Croft, Bob Ballard and Philip Studd. On second reading, while the changes to their football commentary set-up are referred to, there's nothing to say that this will not also apply to those who cover other sports as well.

Friday 6th January - talkSPORT

Sam Matterface presenting Kick-Off alongside Jason Burt from the Daily Telegraph

FA Cup Third Round
Liverpool v Oldham Athletic - Graham Beecroft


BBC Radio 5 Live

Colin Murray presenting 5 Live Sport with Pat Nevin (from Anfield) and Perry Groves

FA Cup Third Round
Liverpool v Oldham Athletic - Conor McNamara, Alistair Bruce-Ball and Pat Nevin (commentary)

Rugby Union: Premiership
Northampton Saints v Harlequins - James Burridge

Great analysis fromThe Diff. I can't see Green and Ingham being around for too much longer, though both could continue as reporters for many more years. John Murray seems to be getting the lion's share of the games these days, it would seem harsh for him to miss out on some of the cup finals this year

Re James Allen, I wonder if he'll cover any other sports for them

It may be FA Cup 3rd round this weekend, but there doesn't seem to be as many links available via this page as there has been in previous years, an example being the ability to listen to BBC (Radio) Kent for Gillingham V Stoke City.

They are missing all the Welsh clubs involved on that page.

Absolute Radio have given Russ Williams, Jim Proudfoot and Ian Wright new contracts to retain them on Rock 'N' Roll Football Live "into the 2012/13 season" (the final year of their current Premier League commentary deal). Wright's phone-in will now run until 7pm and he will also present a "music driven football preview show" on Absolute Radio 70s each Saturday between 9-11am. Read more: http://www.radioworks.co.uk/news/new...php?story=1445.

Thanks for the kind words about my post on the 5 Live commentary situation, Ian and Shrewn.

..and have just had a report from Gary Flintoff (BBC Merseyside) on an incident involving Adeyemi.

Edit from the Yahoo live matchcast:-



Last edited by Ian Cleverly : 06-01-2012 at 21:49

BBC Radio Leeds and official Huddersfield Town website
host: Gareth Jones
commentator: Paul Ogden
summariser: Kieran O'Regan

Dave Woods is going to commentate for Premier Sports on their newly acquired lower division matches this season.

Not news as such, but Charles Sales reports today: 'BBC end cup rights. The BBC, who somehow prefer being junior Formula One partners to Sky than bidding for FA Cup TV rights, are set to lose their exclusive live radio coverage of the competition when their deal expires after the final in May.

The FA want to carve up the rights in packages in the same way as the Premier League, who share the live match coverage between Radio 5 Live, talkSport and Absolute Radio.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1ilGvrdM6

Brum vs Wolves - 5Live
Darren Fletcher, Alan Green and Dion Dublin

Saturday 7th January - talkSPORT

Adrian Durham presenting Matchday Live with Ray Parlour (from Craven Cottage) and Ray Houghton, followed by Call Cundy

FA Cup Third Round
Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Ian Danter
Barnsley v Swansea City - Simon Humphreys
Brighton & Hove Albion v Wrexham - Elliot Cook
Coventry City v Southampton - Dave Rowe
Everton v Tamworth - Graham Beecroft
Fulham v Charlton Athletic - Andrew McKenna and Ray Parlour
Gillingham v Stoke City - Ian Abrahams
Milton Keynes Dons v Queens Park Rangers - Tony Incenzo
Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers - Graham Courtney
Norwich City v Burnley - Grahame Lloyd
Tottenham Hotspur v Cheltenham Town - Mike Bovill
West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City - Nigel Pearson
Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa - Geoff Peters

Rugby Union: Premiership
Worcester Warriors v Gloucester - Russell Hargreaves

Robyn Schonhofer, talkSPORT's weekday afternoon newsreader, is joining fellow Brighton fan Elliot Cook in the Amex press box today so we might hear from her too.

BBC Radio Scotland - Saturday 7th January 2011

Sportsound presented by Richard Gordon live from Pacific Quay.

Commentary
12:30 Dundee v. Kilmarnock John Barnes and Murdo MacLeod with Chris McLaughlin pitchside

Open All Mics
Airdrie United v. Dundee United - Sandy Clark
Cowdenbeath v. Hibernian - Charlie Mann
Falkirk v. East Fife - Martin Dowden
Forfar v. Aberdeen - Scott Davie
Hearts v. Auchinleck Talbot - Allan Preston
Inverness CT v. Dunfermline - Chris Hogg
Livingston v. Ayr - Stevie Cowan
Motherwell v. Queen's Park - Jane Lewis
Partick Thistle v. Queen of the South - Sandra Brown
Raith Rovers v. Morton - Derek Ferguson
Ross County v. Stenhousemuir - Charles Bannerman
St Johnstone v. Brechin City - Dave Donaldson
St Mirren v. Hamilton - Chick Young

Saturday 7th January - BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Mike Sewell presenting Sports Extra Football from Goodison Park (to be joined by Barry Horne at half-time)

FA Cup Third Round
Everton v Tamworth - Mike Sewell and Kevin Gallacher (3pm commentary)


BRMB, Beacon Radio (Black Country and Shropshire) and Mercia

Tom Ross presenting The Goalzone from St Andrew's

FA Cup Third Round
Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Tom Ross, Darren Carter and Matt Murray (12.30pm BRMB and Beacon commentary), with Steve Hermon talking to the fans outside St Andrew's
Coventry City v Southampton - Joe Holt and Dave Bennett (3pm Mercia commentary)
West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City - Adam Bridge and Tony Brown (3pm BRMB and Beacon commentary)
Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa - Jack Woodward and Pat Heard (5.30pm BRMB commentary)

A return to BRMB for AVTV's Jack Woodward. He's been heard as a commentator on BBC WM and a reporter on talkSPORT since leaving BRMB to become Aston Villa's in-house commentator in the early 2000s. I guess we'll hear a few different voices on afternoons like this when 4/5 of Orion's teams are playing now that Mikey Burrows has left Beacon for Sky Sports News Radio. Mercia are doing their own thing today with their coverage starting at 2.30pm rather than the usual 2pm.

Odd that TS have no one at Macc vs Bolton, upset possible

BBC Radio 5Live
Mark Pougatch is at Highbury for Fleetwood vs Blackpool

FA Cup 3rd Round

Dag & Red vs Milwall - Nick Godwin
Macc vs Bolton - John Murray & Mark Lawrenson
Fleetwood vs Blackpool - Ian Dennis
Sheff Utd vs Salisbury - Connor McNamara with Mark Clemmitt reporting
'Boro vs Shrewsbury - Juliette Ferrington
Everton vs Tamoworth - Stuart Hall
Brighton vs Wrexham - Andy Gilles
Gillingham vs Stoke - David Oates with Dave Beasent
Swindon vs Wigan - Alistair Bruce Ball
Spurs vs Cheltenham - Johnathon Overend
MK Dons vs QPR - Jacqui Oatley
Fulham vs Charlton - Simon Mann
Barnsley vs Swansea - Dave Woods
West Brom vs Cardiff - Pat Murphy
Norwich vs Burnley - Chris Dennis
Newcastle vs Blackburn - Peter Slater
Crawley vs Bristol City - Rob Nothman

Scottish FA Cup
Hearts vs Auchinleck Talbot - Roddy Forsyth

BBC Radio Wales

Barnsley V Jackland (FA 3rd round) - Ian Hunt and Mickey Thomas (SW FM / Online)
Myles Offside V Cardiff City (FA Cup 3rd round) - Mark Poyser and Kevin Ratcliffe (SE FM / Online)
Brighton & Hove Albion V Wrexham (FA Cup 3rd round) - Steffan Garerro (hosting) Rob Phillips and Ian Walsh (North FM / Online)
Luton Town V Newport County - James Pontin
Prestatyn Town V Neath - Marc Lloyd Williams
Llandovery V Aberavon Athletic (Principality Premiership RU) - Phil Steele
Horse racing from Sandown Park - Aly Rowell

AM and Digital TV/Radio servcies taking part commentary from Barnsley V Jackland, also Rob Phillip's Twitter account is no more.

BBC Radio Cymru

Eleri Siôn studio host

Barnsey V Jackland (FA Cup 3rd round) - Dylan Griffiths
West Bromwich Albion V Cardiff City - John Hardy and Iwan Roberts (commentary *if* Wrexham get's too one sided)
Brighton & Hove Albion V Wrexham - Gareth Blainey and Waynne Phillips (main commentary)
Prestatyn Town V Neath - Marc Lloyd Williams
Llandovery V Aberavon Athletic (Principality Premiership RU) - Alun Jenkins
Cardiff V Swansea (Principality Premiership RU) - Ion Thomas

BBC Bristol / Somerset

Geoff Twentymann studio host *may* be at the Memorial stadium to host later on

Crawley Town V Bristol City (FA Cup 3rd round) - Ed Hadwin and Adam Baker (94.9FM / 95.5FM / 1548MW / Online
Bristol Rovers V Aston Villa (1730GMT KO) - Richard Hoskin and Keith Brookman (All frequencies)
Bath City V Braintree Town - Pete Simon and Quentin Edwards (104.6FM / 1566MW / Online)
Frome Town V Banbury United - Mike Kay

Pete tweeted yesterday, that, should Bath City lose at home today (they have yet to do so whilst he's commentated on them) he'll make anyone a Scone.

Swansea Sound

Barnsley V Jackland (FA Cup 3rd round) - Mark Scott (commentary)
Carmarthen Quins V Neath (Principality Premiership RU) - Gaelon Downes (part commentary)

Saturday 7th January - BBC WM

WM Sport with Paul Franks from St Andrew's, Mark Regan from Goodison Park and Richard Wilford from the Memorial Ground

FA Cup Third Round
Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Dan Wheeler and Paul Franks (12.30pm commentary), with Richie Anderson talking to the fans outside St Andrew's
Everton v Tamworth - Rob Gurney and Mark Regan (3pm commentary)
West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City - Phil Cartwright
Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa - Mike Taylor and Richard Wilford (5.30pm commentary)

League One
Walsall v AFC Bournemouth - Andrew Dawkins

As has been the case in previous seasons, none of BBC WM's commentaries are being broadcast on the BBC Sport website.


You could apply that comment to Fleetwood v Blackpool and Swindon v Wigan as well. I guess it comes down to a combination of different factors: a) the amount of ISDN lines they are able to call upon at any one time, b) the amount of time they have to cram everything in and c) the amount of space there is available is in the press boxes at those smaller grounds.

talkSPORT don't tend to carry reports on many more than 12 sporting events at 3pm most Saturdays what with them taking regular, comprehensive updates from the games they are present at. Naturally something has got to give on a day like today and I don't think it's a coincidence that the better games they aren't represented at are those taking place at League Two and Conference grounds where space in the press boxes will probably be in short supply. Similar fixtures to the three mentioned above have not been covered by talkSPORT on third round Saturday in previous years.

Ray Houghton is keeping tabs on Macclesfield v Bolton and Swindon v Wigan via the studio monitors though, so they are staying across those games even though they don't have anyone at them.

BBC Radio Leicester

Charles Dagnall presenting BBC Radio Leicester Sport from the City Ground.

FA Cup: Third Round
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City – Ian Stringer and Alan Young (15:00 commentary)

Conference North
Hinckley United v Eastwood – Andy Gibbs

Premiership Rugby
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps – Bleddyn Jones and Steve Johnson (17:00 commentary)

Live first-half commentary of the Leicester Tigers v London Wasps is on DAB and online only, with second-half commentary also on 104.9 FM.