Maybe you have to build a straw man to make a point, but most don't. And, there are plenty of crappy British announcers. Just listen to some of the second-string Champions League games on DirecTV for ready examples. Not really. Three of those four have no applicable use in soccer, and one does. "Fast break" would not be out of place when describing a quick counterattack, for example.
I know, right. Check out those idiot Yank noobs over at the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448733 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21317369
No one is arguing he is the best. Fox just wants to groom him to be the Voice of American Soccer. Which by 2018 he can be. Who knows?
This getting ridiculous. Basically what Johnson said was "interception by bayern". So when has that been said. I could see "the ball was intercepted by Ribery" but "interception by Bayern is not ok". I know someone is going to accuse me of splitting hairs here but all the feedback made me do it. Also someone on here wrote, an announcer wont make a difference in growing the sport in a defence of Johnson but i think its a counter productive argument. So if its not growing the sport in this country which i dont think it does either then what is the point?!?! So youd rather fly a newb to places like London and Madrid so he can do a worse job than the guy who is a flip of a switch away and on a feed that you already paid for. Its not cost effective, its not better, its not growing the sport so then can someone answer why is fox doing this? I cant see any good reason other than some dumb youtube teenagers might find Johnsons gimmick humorous tuning in for a laugh. Well Im not laughing!
But, DUDE! It's GuJo! Doesn't matter that he sucks at calling soccer matches. Redbullsnation2012 assures us GuJo's the second coming of Vin Scully, Pat Summerall, Martin Tyler AND sliced bread all in one unavoidable package! Just put up with GuJo's on the job training, and he'll be AWESOME (barely serviceable) in 5 years.....
Watched the Barca vs AC Milan game yesterday. I wasn't missing Gus. With the Euro guys, we basically end up getting two analysts calling the game... because they are both knowledgeable on the game. You get more perspective from two guys who are smart on the sport. It just works so much better.
To each their own. I personally dont like the Brits much. To drab and not really unique. Plus they try to spin everything in a Premiere League light. Talking about how Milan lost to EPL clubs the last few years and how both of the goal scorers were at Pompey previously. Who cares really.
No matter what happens, I don't think anyone will ever be satisfied. So I think Fox should just get Elmo and Cookie Monster to call the games. ---- In all seriousness, I think Gus didn't suck with Arsenal-Bayern. I do really appreciate the way he kept his mouth shut and let the game flow. If he's still a beginner with respect to soccer, and he's got that part down already, I feel like the guy's got a chance. He should learn the rules and the terminology, though.
Read the thread, for God's sake. Then get back to us. My post was directed to the online "GuJo" fan boys who live in cloud fairy land and will accept no criticism of the guy's work. If you'd actually READ my posts, you'd see that I think Fox is doing Johnson no favors by throwing him into the deep end before he is ready to swim. I have no problem with the guy otherwise. But don't let the facts get in the way of you being a tw#t.
Fox announcers for the Europa Cup games were terrible. Especially after Hazard scored. Wish they would just get the British ones who are at the games.
The question I have that none of the gujo fanboys are answering is WHAT IS THE BENEFIT? You're not saving $, youre not bringing in new fans, you're aggravating a large portion of your already loyal viewers. So anyone out there playing the role of Captain America want to let us eurosnobs what the benefit is?
ESPN UK did have commentators on site for their match but FOX won't be getting audio from them. ITV also does have commentators on site for their match, but FOX hasn't used them ever. And the World Feed are doing matches off-tube since they commentate on the early match and then do the late match.
Isn't the "deep end" World Cup 2018? ---------------- In 2010, the audience growth at ESPN should demolish any concerns Fox might have about driving away "amerisnobs" as a result of some retrograde concept of "foreigners, yuck". Speculating on Fox's motivation, they need a lead announcer, the World Cup is a different beast than Serie A. It's more like the Olympics. In the Olympics most of the audience are people who only watch gymnastics or pole vault once every four years, a massive audience, few being Big Soccer member. Here it makes sense to prefer our Serie A matches narrated by a guy who talks a little funny, lives in Italy, knows the game inside out. This does not make sense for the World Cup. For "big events" they are other factors, ranging from the need to explain some basics occasionally (where day in day out fans might feel talked down to) to the "up close and personal" aspects, which I loathe, but have proven to build an audience. So I believe what they look for is an announcer with powerful chops in areas that apply to all announcers regardless of the event: vocal tone, projection, clarity and ease... ...and less obvious tasks of weaving in story lines, promoting "American Idol coming up after the final whistle" and making it sound like they care. Obviously knowing tactics and history of the sport at hand is mandatory, that's why Johnson is being groomed for five years. But a football genius who doesn't come across on TV is not what they want. If you follow gridiron football, recall what happened when Bill Walsh was hired to be 'the next big thing'. Despite being a genius of the game, he was a disaster as a broadcaster. Even if we aren't getting Martin Tyler in WC2018, Gus Johnson is already far ahead of Dave O'brien or Bill Walsh or any number of other people. =========== When trying to answer my own question as to "Who else", I did think of JP, Glenn Davis and Phil Schoen [without Ray or Ty], none of them or any other US accented voice strike me as far and away superior to the Johnson idea. Possible exception: What if Derek Rae moved back here and re-adapted his "American" accent of a decade ago, would that work for anybody?
How painful is the weather forecast on 'Fox Soccer News'. Tonight Stella showed as the forecast for the QPR - Man Utd game. Then discussed the forecast for the Arsenal - Villa match. Amazingly the forecasts were identical! Of course, that might have had something to do with the matches kicking-off at the same time and being played in the same city. Then she went on to show us the forecast for the Daytona 500. I'm watching Fox Soccer News, right?
Possessing an English accent doesn't make anyone more capable at broadcasting European soccer. Having said that, people don't like Gus Johnson because he is a soccer novice assigned by his bosses to market to a non-soccer audience. That isn't really his fault though. He doesn't condescend to his audience. He isn't getting ahead of himself. He doesn't bring a whole lot to the table in terms of history of the sport, but he seems willing to learn. What I'm trying to say is it could be far, far worse.