The Beautiful Game Thread

[Zac]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Is it odd as an American, that I can't stand listening to Americans commentate games? I don't know why, but they all suck. And none of them sound like they know what they are remotely talking about. Almost as if reading a script. And it really bothers me. I have to mute all games I watch that has even one American commentator.

[Bruins]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Is it odd as an American, that I can't stand listening to Americans commentate games? I don't know why, but they all suck. And none of them sound like they know what they are remotely talking about. Almost as if reading a script. And it really bothers me. I have to mute all games I watch that has even one American commentator.

Any network you're referring to specifically?

Fox has a really solid stable of commentators/analysts (John Strong, JP Dellacamera, Alexi Lalas, Brad Friedel, Stu Holden) and I'm a fan of ESPN's Adrian Healey (English, but began his career in the US) and Taylor Twellman. Glenn Davis does mostly Houston local games, but does some for ESPN as well and he's a solid American voice. I think Kyle Martino's doing a great job covering the EPL for NBC, as well.

The English-language team for UniMás is pretty terrible, admittedly (#MLSSAP), and there are definitely some poor commentators at a lot of the local networks, but I think nationally, we have some solid voices.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

I don't mind Lalas in the studio (also an entertaining Twitter follow), but please keep him away from commentating games.

[dubcity]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Phil Shoen is another good one, on BeinSports. Only thing I dislike from American broadcasters/commentators is when they use the same exact cliches/metaphors that we hear from the Brits. I feel like Kyle Martino is guilty of that a bit. Personally I enjoy Wynalda and Lalas the most among studio commentators, and JP and Twellman are my favorite booth guys.

[Zac]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Any network you're referring to specifically?

Fox has a really solid stable of commentators/analysts (John Strong, JP Dellacamera, Alexi Lalas, Brad Friedel, Stu Holden) and I'm a fan of ESPN's Adrian Healey (English, but began his career in the US) and Taylor Twellman. Glenn Davis does mostly Houston local games, but does some for ESPN as well and he's a solid American voice. I think Kyle Martino's doing a great job covering the EPL for NBC, as well.

The English-language team for UniMás is pretty terrible, admittedly (#MLSSAP), and there are definitely some poor commentators at a lot of the local networks, but I think nationally, we have some solid voices.

Mostly in reference to Fox (Soccer Plus/2 Go). I think most of people they employ are terrible. And Alexi Lala is the worst. I can't stand that guy. ESPN does have some good people, from the MLS games I've seen on ESPN. But if I watch any kind of game on Fox (which is mostly online, so not the same people as on TV) and they are not Canadian or English, I mute it.

Also, fun fact. Fox for the streaming service, only has one person per game. Its rare for there to be two people during a match, unless its a direct TV feed they overlay from England. So when you have one dry personality its stands out much, much more than when there are two people. Which is probably why I think so many of them are so terrible.

[Brahvocado]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Just came across this on Reddit. Apparently Thomas Müller enjoys doing impersonations of Ronaldo during training.

The best part about this gif is that nobody is even a little bit phased by Muller doing this

[Brahvocado]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Speaking of Ronaldo:




Probably the only player that's ever played for a team I don't like that I've been legitimately jealous of them having. The man is an absolute apex predator, will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Rofl those stats for outside the box, left foot and head. That's completely unreasonable.

[Leon]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Speaking of Ronaldo:




Probably the only player that's ever played for a team I don't like that I've been legitimately jealous of them having. The man is an absolute apex predator, will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Rofl those stats for outside the box, left foot and head. That's completely unreasonable.

£80m bargain; Should've sold him for more.

His game was more entertaining/exciting with United, but his last two years with us was basically the precursor to the absolutely efficient goal-scoring monster he has become with Madrid.

[redsox4evur]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

I really, really hope he comes to the MLS, even if he's 40 and can't play for ****. He would still be the best player in the league.

[KG]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Speaking of Ronaldo:




Probably the only player that's ever played for a team I don't like that I've been legitimately jealous of them having. The man is an absolute apex predator, will go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Rofl those stats for outside the box, left foot and head. That's completely unreasonable.

Agreed. I'm so happy that he's not on United any more.

£80m bargain; Should've sold him for more.

His game was more entertaining/exciting with United, but his last two years with us was basically the precursor to the absolutely efficient goal-scoring monster he has become with Madrid.

Agreed on the bargain part but his game is far more entertaining now because he pretty much has free reign to do whatever he wants with absolutely NO defensive responsibility outside of set-piece defending.

[Leon]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Agreed on the bargain part but his game is far more entertaining now because he pretty much has free reign to do whatever he wants with absolutely NO defensive responsibility outside of set-piece defending.

I meant entertaining in the sense that he did a lot of tricks while at United. He has mostly cut that way down in Madrid.

Also, Ronaldo got a lot of freedom from SAF during his stay. Gary Neville mentions it a lot when he talks about Ronaldo that they would have to cover for Ronaldo defensively so that his talent would blossom.

[KG]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Just saw this on my twitter.

Next Sunday's top fixtures:

Everton - Liverpool
Arsenal - Man United
Bayern - Dortmund
Atletico - Real Madrid
Milan - Napoli
PSG - Marseille

DVR will be FULL

[redsox4evur]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Just saw this on my twitter.

Next Sunday's top fixtures:

Everton - Liverpool
Arsenal - Man United
Bayern - Dortmund
Atletico - Real Madrid
Milan - Napoli
PSG - Marseille

DVR will be FULL

Can I get times for Bayern-Dortmund and Arsenal/Man U please? Only 2 I care enough to watch of the 3 I can actually watch. Not really that interested in Everton/Pool.

[KG]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Can I get times for Bayern-Dortmund and Arsenal/Man U please? Only 2 I care enough to watch of the 3 I can actually watch. Not really that interested in Everton/Pool.

LOL...do I look like the TV guide button?


Just messing with you .. IDK yet

[Leon]

Re: The Beautiful Game Thread

Can I get times for Bayern-Dortmund and Arsenal/Man U please? Only 2 I care enough to watch of the 3 I can actually watch. Not really that interested in Everton/Pool.

Googling any of those teams will give you that team's schedule and local kick-off times.