on the subject of commentators

rom Guardian's usual "five things we learned about the premier league" thingie

Dan O'Hagan may be Britain's oddest commentator

"Watching Match of the Day remains an enthralling experience but thanks to Messrs Lineker, Hansen, Shearer and Motson, listening to it has become a pretty banal pursuit. However, if Saturday's edition of the show is anything to go by there may just be a fresh reason to take that finger off the mute button. Those who tuned in for the highlights of Norwich's 3-3 draw with Blackburn could not fail to have been engrossed by a match that contained two goal-of-the-month contenders, a dramatic comeback and referring controversy, but they may well also have been distracted by the ever-so-odd commentary of Dan O'Hagan.

The BBC's man at Carrow Road started well but then came Blackburn's second goal, scored by Yakubu Ayegbeni after 62 minutes. O'Hagan expressed a textbook grunt as the striker lashed a long-range shot at goal ("Yakubuuuu!!"), but then, as the ball hit the back of the net, nothing. No emotion, no wonder, no recognition that the visitors had just retaken the lead. A one-off, perhaps? Not so. A couple of minutes later Christopher Samba made it 3-1 to Blackburn and this time O'Hagan did not even grunt. His voice remained flat from the build-up to the goal through to the moment the men in blue and white were celebrating.

It was as if he was commentating on another incident entirely. In fairness to the man with the microphone, he reacted to Blackburn's opening goal, scored by Junior Hoilett, as well as Norwich's three, in an appropriate fashion but it was hard to escape the feeling that in O'Hagan ? who is described as "one of the world's leading freelance television football commentators" on his official website ? we may just have a maverick on our hands."

User Posted Link

Can't say I noticed myself.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes on October 31st 2011 at 09:54:23

Message Thread

The CP commentator is shit... (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Oct 31, 09:32:50
- on the subject of commentators (NCFC) - Tricky Hawes, Oct 31, 09:54:23
  - The reaction in the ground was really odd too (NCFC) - Charles21, Oct 31, 11:07:34
    - I went to toilet at 2-1 (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 31, 11:08:43
      - shit (NCFC) - TransitVanBeethoven, Oct 31, 11:36:04
        
        surely no-one does that at football (NCFC) - Tricky Hawes, Oct 31, 11:51:49
        
        No, it was a wee (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 31, 11:54:16
        
        why didn't you go at half time? (n/m) (NCFC) - Mecagoenti, Oct 31, 11:56:38
        
        Didn't fancy it (n/m) (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 31, 12:04:26
        
        Bloke infront of me went for a wee and missed the Horsepengol. Oh dear (n/m) (NCFC) - Huge Small, Oct 31, 11:59:19
  - I don't think he's very good (n/m) (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 31, 10:49:46
  - i noticed the yakubu goal reaction (NCFC) - 1 5CC, Oct 31, 09:57:53
    - He's a Wolves fan, but was at Anglia (recruited from MU TV). Heard off of (NCFC) - woody, Oct 31, 10:04:14
      - He used to do all the Norwich City videos before Piper (n/m) (NCFC) - jAC, Oct 31, 10:18:07
        
        She's up the duff again (n/m) (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Oct 31, 10:22:37
- when watching swansea it seemed delayed (NCFC) - 1 5CC, Oct 31, 09:41:56
  - Who's the co-commentator who keeps going on about tempo in the Swansea game? (n/m) (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Oct 31, 09:49:13
    - dunno (n/m) (NCFC) - 1 5CC, Oct 31, 09:51:56
      - You are shit (n/m) (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Oct 31, 09:53:35
        
        it might have been liverpool (NCFC) - 1 5CC, Oct 31, 09:55:25
        
        Greg Downs (n/m) (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Oct 31, 09:59:23

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.