WC2010 - as seen on TV

[Silver Fox]

Face it, you're not getting a world cup forum, so how about this thread for things spotted on the telly in this wonderufl carnival of football.

hopefully it won't just be full of beef directed at the third class coverage from ITV but sadly I fear for me that will be the story of the tournament as I've already got the red mist stirred up on my first sighting of Andy Townsend's pcunty face. Having said that there's either a God or my TV aerial man has just disconnected the aerial as I lost picture as soon as he started talking. Happy days.

[Stooper]

Was watching ITV til they cut to an ad break a few minutes into the opening ceremony.

BBC Red Button > ITV.

[Magnus]

Always a simple choice, but given that ITV is worse than it's ever been (and that really is seeing something) it's hard to imagine anyone going for them.

[ScottishRoyal]

Following the avalanche of complaints about the new 'lightest ever World Cup match ball' (Cesar of Brazil refered to it as a ball you'd buy in the supermarket ) I laughed at the irony of the oversize ball in the opening ceremony representing a piece of sh1t being pushed by a dung beetle!

And despite Jim Rozenthal (why is he still working and the highly intelligent and informed James Richardson not?) telling us about the great crowd at the opening ceremony, why were there so many empty seats? I hope FIFA haven't screwed up their ticketing policy.

[Row Z Royal]

BBC without Motson > BBC with Motson > ITV.

[Ark Royal]

Obviously, no Beeb or ITV Stateside, but the Fox Soccer Channel does not seem to trust the local footy media and has imported Sky en bloc from across the pond. The worryingly hirsute Richard Keys anchors with Andy Gray shuffling images on his 60" plasma; Martin Tyler and the annoyingly verbose Peter Drury will be the main commentators. Efan Ekoku and Steve Mcmanamanmanaman will also be appearing - in nice suits, no doubt.

Unfortunately, the execrable Warren Barton is still present - he is barely lucid and his command of the English language makes me cringe: "...they was brilliant first half." His knowledge of the world games starts and ends with the Premiership only. Paint-by-numbers football punditry for those with learning disabilities. Meanwhile, FSC's normal and extremely knowledgeable sweaty-sock pundit Bobby McMahon is stuck in some L.A. studio hell-hole for a month. What this guy does not know about the world game you could write on an ant's dick.

At least it better than ESPN as they still have not sussed out that they have the worst commentator ever: the truly appalling Tommy Smyth.

[Silver Fox]

I thought ESPN had roped Martin Tyler in?

[General B]

Watching the build up on ITV is like watching Comic Relief but without the funny bits.

Still, it was nice to see Matthew from Desmonds opening the ceremony.

[Magnus]

Watching the build up on ITV is like watching Comic Relief but without the funny bits.

Or playing scrabble without the dice.

[General B]

I've spotted something with my ears: drinking cancer > that fucking noise.

[EPR]

And they're off.

No scoreboard permanently on-screen - hope that's just an early glitch!

[PlasticRoyale]

I've spotted something with my ears: drinking cancer > that fucking noise.

At least it'll drown out the England Supporters Band

[PlasticRoyale]

Commentators - you're job is to entertain me the viewer, not tell me what 'he should have done'

[Magnus]

Yeh they should be telling more jokes.

[PlasticRoyale]

Yeh they should be telling more jokes.

LOLawro would be....

Negative dour voices = no thanks

[cmonurz]

PlasticRoyale is so far the perfect antidote to the spirit of the World Cup. Well played.

[Silver Fox]

Now disappointed Tyledsley's not commentating, it would have taken him ages to realise that offside call was correct!

[General B]

I've spotted something with my ears: drinking cancer > that fucking noise.

At least it'll drown out the England Supporters Band

Talking of spastics following England, have you seen some of the mongs that appear to have travelled out there this time? Not one of them looks like he could throw a good haymaker if it came on top against some angry locals.

We've somehow gone from this:



to this



This country.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Always a simple choice, but given that ITV is worse than it's ever been (and that really is seeing something) it's hard to imagine anyone going for them.

+1,000,000,000

How ITV can think Adrian Chiles god awful brummie accent is a positive boon to their coverage is beyond me.

Mind you ITV's commentry for South Africa v Mexico is brilliant because its drowned out by the noise from that large demented wasp that's trapped somewhere in the stadium (least I hope it's the stadium, don't think the missus would be too cheerful about the thought of it being round the back of the telly).

[LUX]

of course ITV is shit, but it has not always been so.

Brian Moore and Hugh Johns were my youth. They were charismatic, brilliant.