I've been watching matches at the World Bank. The incessant, frothy banter of the US broadcast teams has elicited outright laughter. I'm embarassed as an American of Dave O'Brien.
Dave Obrian has no idea of how to commentate a soccer match, and his lack of enthusiasm for the sport is conveyed clearly and infectuously to the viewers. His commentary kills the world cup excitement.
Could not agree more. I do not mind what nationality the announcer is from provided they understand the game. Dave O'Brien clearly does not. Please show some professionalism.
I have watched many world cups and have always viewed in excitement. Unfortunately Mr. O'Brien's complete lack of knowledge of the game literally kills the fun and excitement of watching. At least have someone who knows and will say something when a good play was made, or if someone is about to go into a good poisition to score or pass the ball into a danger zone. Is that too much to ask for??
After watching England's opening match and now the USA's, it should be obvious to everyone at ABC Dave o'Brien has noe place announcing a Soccer match.
Mr. Sheehan echoes the thoughts of myself and all who I have sat with while watching these matches. A knowledgeable, experienced, culturally conscious in-game commentator makes a game more enjoyable. In this case, it would definitely make it more bearable.
The last game isn't until July 9. Plenty of time to make some broadcasters lineup changes.
O'Brien is by far the worst soccer commentator I've ever heard!! Wish i could mute his dull, scripted, imbecilic, uncultivated! Good day!! I said good day!! ESPN doesn't know Soccer! Suck it!!
No build up (we spend an hour in the UK. No coverage of team's national anthems. No pre & after match interviews (apart from USA). As for the commentary, talking about who's married to whom, who was best man at the wedding, etc what does that have to do with football (English)! Please get some talent in & pay some money for experts. Alternatively, just show BBC, ITV or SkySport & that should do the trick.
Iran Mexico coverage was horrible by Dave Obrien..send him back to baseball. His comments about Iranian women taking off the scarves after beating the US is very low. Talking about the president of Iran during the game who cares. He is not working for FOX. Get real broadcasters. Regards
The only proper duo is Tommy Smyth and that Julian bloke. No one wants to hear players compared to basketball players. Please talk about the game, and please speak in an acceptable accent (i.e. English, Scottish or Irish.)
Try adding some build up as well, instead of straight to kick off, if you can have a days worth of build up to the Superbowl atleast give 30mins to tell us about the teams and maybe the countries too.
because no fan should be treated like this. If it happened in England where im from heads would roll. Hope it doesnt ruin your viewing pleasure to much
Yeah right on. Also these announcers have no concept of the fact that the US is about 20th in the world and they expect way too much. Give the lads a break.
In addition to knowing nothing about socccer (and obviously feeling like he has to fill every quiet moment with baseball-style color jabber), he brought incredibly inappropriate political commentary to the Iran-Mexico game, and his negative announcing so far for the US game is more depressing than the US' play so far.
Also, please do not put a list of "applicable US sports references" in front of the Irish and British announcers. The comment, "they are the Denver Broncos of soccer" was a painful stretch and completely out of place.
That is why I watch Univision even though I don't speak Spanish. They show the teams coming out of the tunnel. They show the National anthems. Thye also show more of the atmosphere of the match. They have more crowd noise during the match so you can here the passion inside the stadium.
In otherwords, they get it. ABC/ESPN doesn't.
The Nielsen numbers for the World Cup coverage will make very interesting reading; I would imagine they will disappoint your august Bristol selves, because so many supporters will have switched to the Univision coverage where the announcers clearly understand that the game is the thing.
Not only are the announcers awful, the commentators are worse with terms from baseball being used rather than using soccer/football terminology - even the ex players are getting it all wrong. Please do something about this and I can turn the mute button back off.
Oh, and if you can make the screen less busy during games that would be magic, Id like to watch the match rather than adverts for upcoming games, half time 'shows' (which are 12 minutes of commercials and 1 minute of 'analysis').
Thank you, please if there is a god!
he actually asked "what the iranian players thought as they passed the nazi internment camps, and if they felt the same as they (he) did". what an ass.
These announcers are aweful!! I'd rather watch in HDTV on mute. They bring no insight into the players and the game. The abbreviations are ridiculous...like..."PK" and "1-V-1". Stop with the NBA analogies. Watching the Angola vs. Portugal match was the best, since ESPN2 had English Announcers...what a difference. Get all the ex-US and MLS players off the air, they suck. They're all biased and give the public the impression that the US is the best team around. Everyone talks about Landon Donovan and Claudia Reyna, but what about the only striker on the team who has proved himself at the top level...Brian McBride? Have you all forgotten about him? They're all a bunch of airheads who watch more MLS than top shelf football. How can you not be into La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and of course the EPL?? Watching MLS is like going down the street to watch a local High School match. And stop over annunciating the word SOCCER (SAAAAH - KER). I just want to cut my ears off listening to these idiots!
