Football Commentators TV & Radio

Whom do you like or dislike and why? Please. In any country.

For me, I like Minimalist commentators on TV, they let the game tell the story and the background crowd noise too. I dislike too many analytic comments, complete dossiers on every player & or coach, etc. I can understand on a radio broadcast you need a description of what is going on but that too can be limited to what is going on, on the pitch. Not a constant bombardment if stats, opinions or querky tid bits. I just don't care.  It's easy to say to mute the TV, But I like hearing the crowd background noise/singing, chanting.

Since BIG LEAGUE Soccer in 1975 (Prior to that Was Sunderland v Leeds FA Cup Final, Liverpool v Newcastle FA Cup Final, West Ham v Fulham FA Cup final, all shown here in New Zealand), I grew up on Brian Moore, Keith Brackley, Gerald Sindstat, Clive Tyldesley and others. They were the best of their generation and throw in Kenneth Wolstenholm previously - Whom I caught during a full replay of the 1966/67 League Cup Final. Then more recently came Motson, McCoist etc

I guess I and other fans of the times were spoiled. But they let the pictures tell the story and listening to the crowds in the background.

Now days you have a panel of 5 each out statting the other, offering inane facts or opinions and killing it. Fans might like it. I don't, but only an opinion.

In other sports I used to get pissed off at Keith Quinn and Grant Nesbit whom only ever saw games through All Black eyes and came out with entire family histories and said what they thought "The folks back home wanted to hear".

Anyway, here's a thread for you all to give your own opinions. 

Andrew Dewhurst was always my favourite.

Growing up in Argentina, and watching mainly Argentinean football until I was older we have some legendary commentators.. the legendary Victor Hugo Morales.. When Maradona scored his legendary second goal in 1986 vs England, he yelled passionately " The pass to Maradona, he’s got the ball, two defenders on him, he moves the ball, the genius of world soccer drives right, and he gets past the third defender, he could pass to Burruchaga… It’s still Maradona… Genius… genius… genius! Ta… ta… ta… ta… ta… ta… ta…! Goaaalll! Goaaalll!

“I want to cry! Holy God, long live soccer! Oh, what a goal! Diegoal! Maradona! I can’t help crying, forgive me. Maradona, in a memorable drive, in the greatest play of all time… Intergalactic kite, what planet did you come from, to leave so many Englishmen in the dust? To make the whole country into one great, clenched fist, shaking, shouting for Argentina? . . . Diegoal! Diegoal! Diego Armando Maradona! Sweet Lord, thank you for the game of football, for Maradona, for these tears, and for this Argentina 2, England 0.”   In little more than a hundred words, and even in those moments when he lost track of the specifics of the play, Víctor Hugo Morales managed to transmit the stupendous nature of what was unfolding before him, to convey his own astonishment, shared by millions of people. In those words, along with all the non-verbals that can’t be ignored (tone and volume, hoarseness, crying, tempo), he gave voice to what the fans were feeling, to an entire country, and more... 

Another one is Andres Cantor, who invented the legendary "GOOOOOOOLL" you hear South American commentators do.. 

Another one is Rodrigo De Paoli, I used to listen to him on "Futbol para Todos" with my old man.. He is known for going "5,4,3,2,1.. gooooooolllllll" in a instance of a penalty or an open/easy goal.. makes him one of the best for me, along with Closs.

Closs also did the Copa Libertadores final in 2018 between River Plate & Boca which River plate won 3-1 in the final to end all finals.. in the third goal in the 119th minute of extra time he goes "With “Pity” Martínez in the middle of the counterattack, the reporter pronounced the words that to this day remain emblematic of that moment: “He goes, he goes, Martínez comes for the goal, and the third goes, and the third goes, and the third goes, and River's goal, Riveeeeeer's goal…”

Its hard to describe & explain what football means to Argentineans, unless you grew up there, and these commentators help us live our passion 

Quite rate that brit bro that's been doing tbe All Whites' recent international windows. 

Although speaking of Brits. I have to mute it when Robbie "tidbit" Thomson is doing our away games. Real Buzz Killington vibes. Can't help himself but to inject redundant tidbits in at every opportunity. "And on the ball now for the Phoenix in the 12th minute of the match is Carlo Armiento who famously scored in twelfth minute five seasons ago for Perth Glory against Adelaide united. Of course that's Perth here in Australia not to be confused with Perth in Scotland where St Johnstone FC are based out of. St Johnstone FC currently looking set for promotion back into the Scottish Premier League. Of course, St Johnstone not to be confused with Jonestown where the infamous massacre took place, that's in Guyuna. Guyana of course never have reached the world cup. Even with the recent expansion to a 48 team tournament. Not to be confused with rugby world cup which has also recently expanded to 24 teams. Of course 24 was a hit prime time series for the televsion network Fox in the early 2000's..." 

Then someone else gets on the ball and it's rinse and repeat off on another mindless tangent. 

Piney is best suited on the Radio where he has to tell the story of what is going on on the pitch. He is very good at that and his All Whites v Bahrain commentary is absolutely legendary. I've got it somewhere at home. I like Piney but.. As for Spoonley the unashamed AFC Official Spokesman. Worst commentator out there. Then there was one guy that used to do All Whites games and he knew how to say the All White players names but he never said the opposition player's names because he never did his homework on how to pronounce them. Always referred to them as "the Player"

Buffon II

Andrew Dewhurst was always my favourite.

Oxford Dictionary word of the year for 2025: rage bait 

Fudge me, Yesterdays commentary. Spoonley dribbling on a dn not appearing embarrassed about his one sided Auckland bias. Jason Pine doing almost the same but threw in heaps of unnecessary stats. First time Auckland have conceded a goal, first Penalty Auckland have gotten. First penalty Auckland have missed. Whoopie fudge.

Yes use the mute, But I like hearing the crowd noise, especially when an attack build up or a close shot etc. There's just no way to enjoy the match whilst these two do their best to wreck the games with their insistent and constant jibber jabba. 

Don't take it personal, take mine and others criticism on board and learn from it. Speaking less is better for the viewer. Let the football tell the story. We're not train or plane spotters, we don't need the stats, relevant or irrelevant ones. Slow down, take a breath. Let the crowd noise dominate.

Buffon II

Andrew Dewhurst was always my favourite.

Please put me out of my misery and confirm this was sarcasm...

Piney did an excellent interview with Rod Dixon, former Olympian Runner the other weekend. He asked good questions and allowed Dixon to give full answers. Especially interesting was his experiences from the 1972 German Olympic games and the PLO hostage event. It was fascinating listening to him. Piney scores a 10/10 for that one.