The mancityfans.net football forum

So, the next two games are both televised live (in the UK at least) on ESPN. Will have to start looking for a pub that shows it. For those of you who've seen other games on ESPN, what's the coverage like? And who are their 'expert pundits'?

here in the USA and for Champions league games they've always used Andy Gray and Martin Tyler I think?


also tommy smyth sometimes make an appearance but he is just about the most annoying person I have ever heard speak

Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth are considered their top pairing, sadly they are so fucking stupid it detracts from the football. Smyth has been in the US for nearly 40 years and fakes his accent for the television, and his expressions like 'banging it down broadway' and 'the auld onion bag' are bullet to the brain worthy.

Add to this they get a good dozen calls wrong a game and you can understand the need for the mute button.

Slim wrote:Add to this they get a good dozen calls wrong a game and you can understand the need for the mute button.

When streaming games once or twice, I've actually come across English-language commentary so bad that I've turned over to a non-English stream, because I hate watching football muted. Think one time it was Australian (definately Setanta or ESPN or Fox).

BlueinBosnia wrote:

Slim wrote:Add to this they get a good dozen calls wrong a game and you can understand the need for the mute button.

When streaming games once or twice, I've actually come across English-language commentary so bad that I've turned over to a non-English stream, because I hate watching football muted. Think one time it was Australian (definately Setanta or ESPN or Fox).

Fox gets english commentary, espn gets american. But I don't have setanta so it could be that. The only one that I am positive comes with australian commentary is SBS and they aren't bad..not great but not bad.

Slim wrote:

BlueinBosnia wrote:

Slim wrote:Add to this they get a good dozen calls wrong a game and you can understand the need for the mute button.

When streaming games once or twice, I've actually come across English-language commentary so bad that I've turned over to a non-English stream, because I hate watching football muted. Think one time it was Australian (definately Setanta or ESPN or Fox).

Fox gets english commentary, espn gets american. But I don't have setanta so it could be that. The only one that I am positive comes with australian commentary is SBS and they aren't bad..not great but not bad.

I CANT LISTEN TO AMERICAN COMMENTARY...THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO FUCK UP A GREAT SONG.(NO OFFENSE TO OUR AMERICAN FANS)
ON ESPN AND FOXSPORTS WE HAVE SPANISH COMMENTATORS...NOT BIASED IN ANY WAY IVE FOUND......I ENJOY THEIR COMMENTARY.

The coverage is easily more professional than Setanta although it's the same commentator ie. ex-beeb and ITV man Jon Champion. So in truth it's got a bit of BBC feel to it what with their main anchor being Ray Stubbs as well. Our all boss Kevin Keegan appears to have been signed up for the season as a pundit so it's nice to see he's not dead (probably waiting for his bumper pay-out from fat Ashley). Overall I've found it a good watch - just hate paying an extra tenner a month for it! :-)

I think its better than Setanta as you don't have to listen to Craig "Fucking Miserable" Burley every game. Guus Hiddink has been on as a pundit alongside KK and, as you would expect been very knowledgable.

Anyone getting together in london?

I hate the way American sports commentators are obsessed with the weight of players - plus they give the weight in pounds - which I can never work out!!! Who gives a crap how much Gary Neville weighs.

A lot of people seem to be sidetracking from the original question. The channel has no 'American' feeling to it whatsoever, probably because the EPSN broadcast here is especially for the British public.

Craig Bardsley wrote:The coverage is easily more professional than Setanta although it's the same commentator ie. ex-beeb and ITV man Jon Champion. So in truth it's got a bit of BBC feel to it what with their main anchor being Ray Stubbs as well. Our all boss Kevin Keegan appears to have been signed up for the season as a pundit so it's nice to see he's not dead (probably waiting for his bumper pay-out from fat Ashley). Overall I've found it a good watch - just hate paying an extra tenner a month for it! :-)

This is a perfect summary. Big Joe Royle is sometimes in the second seat too. Listening to him when Everton were demolished by Arsenal was a painful experience.

On the subject of satellite broadcasters - didn't want to start another thread - I noticed that SSN were showing the RoI squad earlier (game coming up?) and they still have Dunne down as a City player. Muppets.

Futbol wrote:I hate the way American sports commentators are obsessed with the weight of players - plus they give the weight in pounds - which I can never work out!!! Who gives a crap how much Gary Neville weighs.

you don't get pounds? How do you manage to wrap your head around stone then?

1 kg = 2.2 lbs by the way, not too difficult.

As for being obsessed with weight of athletes, it's probably because we believe that sports science is a big part of being successful, and weight is certainly a factor.

Futbol wrote:I hate the way American sports commentators are obsessed with the weight of players - plus they give the weight in pounds - which I can never work out!!! Who gives a crap how much Gary Neville weighs.

Can we get any more myopic? You know like "I hate how Americans drive on the right side of the road on the way to the match" or "I hate how Americans play 45 minute halves starting at zero each half"

Why do they mention the weight? Maybe to give American fans an idea how big a 1 inch image is on TV since we are used to sports here where athletes are consistantly over 6' and 200 lbs (approx 12.25 stone)

Now, back to the original question, they are not the best, but they are clearly better than what ESPN has used in the past.

Florida Blue wrote:Why do they mention the weight? Maybe to give American fans an idea how big a 1 inch image is on TV since we are used to sports here where athletes are consistantly over 6' and 200 lbs (approx 12.25 stone)

Erm, isn't 200 lbs more like 14.3 stone? Unless one of ours is different to yours!

Somerset Blue wrote:

Florida Blue wrote:Why do they mention the weight? Maybe to give American fans an idea how big a 1 inch image is on TV since we are used to sports here where athletes are consistantly over 6' and 200 lbs (approx 12.25 stone)

Erm, isn't 200 lbs more like 14.3 stone? Unless one of ours is different to yours!

14st4lb

Somerset Blue wrote:

Florida Blue wrote:Why do they mention the weight? Maybe to give American fans an idea how big a 1 inch image is on TV since we are used to sports here where athletes are consistantly over 6' and 200 lbs (approx 12.25 stone)

Erm, isn't 200 lbs more like 14.3 stone? Unless one of ours is different to yours!

Ummm.. bad math ;)

Slim wrote:

BlueinBosnia wrote:

Slim wrote:Add to this they get a good dozen calls wrong a game and you can understand the need for the mute button.

When streaming games once or twice, I've actually come across English-language commentary so bad that I've turned over to a non-English stream, because I hate watching football muted. Think one time it was Australian (definately Setanta or ESPN or Fox).

Fox gets english commentary, espn gets american. But I don't have setanta so it could be that. The only one that I am positive comes with australian commentary is SBS and they aren't bad..not great but not bad.

Setanta in the US has English commentary and is loads better than Fox Sports. I haven't watched the ESPN commentary too much, but it's usually a few fuckwits no one can stand...and the halftime reporting is challenging as well, but they do manage to do more of an American Football-like review of other matches in progress which is nice.

kinkylola wrote:you don't get pounds? How do you manage to wrap your head around stone then?

1 kg = 2.2 lbs by the way, not too difficult.

Generally, people around my age (24) in Britain were brought up with the metric change affecting our education. Thus, we know people's weight in stone, but for other weights we use kg. I know there's either 14 or 16 pounds in a stone, and the opposite for ounces in pounds. A pound weighs 454 grams, I think.

BlueinBosnia wrote:

kinkylola wrote:you don't get pounds? How do you manage to wrap your head around stone then?

1 kg = 2.2 lbs by the way, not too difficult.

Generally, people around my age (24) in Britain were brought up with the metric change affecting our education. Thus, we know people's weight in stone, but for other weights we use kg. I know there's either 14 or 16 pounds in a stone, and the opposite for ounces in pounds. A pound weighs 454 grams, I think.

14, sheesh.