Honest critique of J.P./'Celo

[Defenestration]

I'm posting this on here because it has become apparent that J.P. and/or Marcelo probably peruse this site from time to time. And I realized that this is probably the ABC/ESPN team for US games in Germany next summer, so I would like for the tandem to continue to improve in preparation for the WC.

J.P. -- nothing to say. he's probably the best football announcer our country's ever produced. top notch professional.

Marcelo -- in the beginning he was a little dodgy, making fairly obvious observations even someone with no soccer knowledge could make. but now he is slowly getting more in depth, using his on-field knowledge and experience

I will say this: It has become apparent to me that Marcelo really doesn't do that much research on the opposing teams CONCACAF. And I realize this area wasn't really necessary for the GUAT broadcast, but it's a pattern i've noticed through all of WCQ. NOTE TO 'CELO: you have to do research to be a good color-commentator. a lot of research. you can't just fly to the venue site unseen and expect to use your playing experience to get you by. JP does his best to add nuggets here and there ("Villatoro, he's scored 5 goals in qualifying, many were surprised he didn't start tonight"). but none of this ever gets elaborated on by 'Celo, because he doesn't know anything about any of the other players.

a lot of you ripped on the old broadcast teams, but Bob Ley/Seamus Malin knew this confederation like the back of their hands. i was always amazed at the detailed notes Malin had on any player he needed in CONCACAF. "Stay on his left, Zague's right foot is strictly ornamental" -- I realize that is an obvious line (everyone knew it), but 'Celo can't even come up with something simple like that. Even Ty Keough: obviously a huge dolt, and quite annoying at times, but even with Ty you got the feeling that he was a soccer addict, that he had seen video of every team, and knew all of the key players' tendencies. with Balboa I just don't get the impression that he knows ANYTHING about any of the teams the US plays. and if he does, he never makes those comments out loud.

i'm writing this b/c i really hope this gets remedied by the WC next summer. it's a very special time for us fans, and i don't want it to be lessened by bad commentating. at times it seems 'Celo prepares like 3 or 4 stock phrases, and just repeats them throughout the 90 minutes. tonight's was: "world cup qualifiers are high pressure games, and Bruce Arena just needs to find out who can handle the .... pressure." i swear, he repeated that exact line at least 4 times.

'Celo i think you're improving, but you've still got to raise your game to be worthy of broadcasting at such an event as the World Cup.

[Asprilla9]

the whole premise of this thread is off. the premise being, there's actually a guy out there who's expecting analysis from Marcelo Balboa. :eek: hey, dude, most of us gave up hope on that months ago.

hey i like 'Celo allright, but all he does is basically comment on the guys he knew from MLS. anything beyond that he is clueless.

[Sanguine]

and Celo, please stop using the phrases "by far," and "no doubt" every third sentence.

Seriously.

[Asprilla9]

"world cup qualifiers are high pressure games, and Bruce Arena just needs to find out who can handle the .... pressure." i swear, he repeated that exact line at least 4 times.i just read that. :D that's pretty funny.

although i think he said it more than 4 times ... :eek: ;) :p

[Cweedchop]

I like JP as a an announcer, but he really is starting to lose his sight on occasion. He doesn't pay attention to details on the monitor (such as not knowing how many minutes of stoppage time - just like in last years MLS Cup final when an unGodly 6 minutes of second half stoppage time was put up on the screen, yet he had no idea how much time was added on).

I guess Tommy Smyth has gotten to him after all these years.

[ayers]

I had a hard time reading the numbers on the jersey because of the poor picture quality and kept hoping that they'd stop chatting about the importance of the qualifiers (or whatever that they were talking about) and just freaking tell me who had made a good pass while Balboa was going on and on about....whatever.

(Wow! That was a long sentence.)

Other than that, thought JP was all right. He did his homework on Guatemala and, in general, kept track of things as much as possible (while Balboa went on and on about something). I like the knowledge of the game that Balboa brings, especially in regard of defending. But he did not have to tell me a hundred times that...something...was important because after he repeated the same thing for the 5th time, I started to block it out. At the end, I had no idea what was supposed to be so important.

[colins1993]

I'm posting this on here because it has become apparent that J.P. and/or Marcelo probably peruse this site from time to time. And I realized that this is probably the ABC/ESPN team for US games in Germany next summer, so I would like for the tandem to continue to improve in preparation for the WC.

J.P. -- nothing to say. he's probably the best football announcer our country's ever produced. top notch professional.

Marcelo -- in the beginning he was a little dodgy, making fairly obvious observations even someone with no soccer knowledge could make. but now he is slowly getting more in depth, using his on-field knowledge and experience

I will say this: It has become apparent to me that Marcelo really doesn't do that much research on the opposing teams CONCACAF. And I realize this area wasn't really necessary for the GUAT broadcast, but it's a pattern i've noticed through all of WCQ. NOTE TO 'CELO: you have to do research to be a good color-commentator. a lot of research. you can't just fly to the venue site unseen and expect to use your playing experience to get you by. JP does his best to add nuggets here and there ("Villatoro, he's scored 5 goals in qualifying, many were surprised he didn't start tonight"). but none of this ever gets elaborated on by 'Celo, because he doesn't know anything about any of the other players.

a lot of you ripped on the old broadcast teams, but Bob Ley/Seamus Malin knew this confederation like the back of their hands. i was always amazed at the detailed notes Malin had on any player he needed in CONCACAF. "Stay on his left, Zague's right foot is strictly ornamental" -- I realize that is an obvious line (everyone knew it), but 'Celo can't even come up with something simple like that. Even Ty Keough: obviously a huge dolt, and quite annoying at times, but even with Ty you got the feeling that he was a soccer addict, that he had seen video of every team, and knew all of the key players' tendencies. with Balboa I just don't get the impression that he knows ANYTHING about any of the teams the US plays. and if he does, he never makes those comments out loud.

i'm writing this b/c i really hope this gets remedied by the WC next summer. it's a very special time for us fans, and i don't want it to be lessened by bad commentating. at times it seems 'Celo prepares like 3 or 4 stock phrases, and just repeats them throughout the 90 minutes. tonight's was: "world cup qualifiers are high pressure games, and Bruce Arena just needs to find out who can handle the .... pressure." i swear, he repeated that exact line at least 4 times.

'Celo i think you're improving, but you've still got to raise your game to be worthy of broadcasting at such an event as the World Cup.


JPD: Absolutely no "feel" for the sport - even after 15+ years.

MB: Way too elementary input for a man who has played the game at the highest level.

Both as a team: Commentary void of anything remotely critical of a player's performance, the coach's tactics and the game itself. I suspect this is the result of an unwritten but understood edict issued from the marketing dept. in Chicago.

Have they ever listened to other seasoned, professional commentators from overseas?

I prefer to watch the hispanic broadcasts due to the above listed annoyances.

[Bill Archer]

and Celo, please stop using the phrases "by far," and "no doubt" every third sentence.

Seriously.

Hey, it's an improvement.

He started out doing HDNet broadcasts that made you want to throw heavy objects at your absurdly overpriced and largely useless High Def equipment. He was so frighteningly inept that you wondered if he was really THAT Marcelo Balboa and not some guy they accidentally hired because he had the same name.

This perception was not altered when - in the middle of the first season - he showed up on camera sans facial hair. He looked like Michael Jackson with a suntan.

He has unquestionably gotten much better. For the entire first season, the second word out of his mouth was always "really":

"So Marcelo, the Metros stink tonight"

They really do.

"I understand Alexi Lalas is a child molester"

He really is.

"The crowd seems comatose here in Columbus"

They really do

"You're a complete doo-doo head"

I really am.

Unfortunately, the improvement curve seems to have plateaued. He needs to stop worrying about "acting like a serious professional broadcaster" so much: look in a mirror, Celo - Keith Jackson you ain't.

He needs to loosen up and develop an on-air persona of his own, instead of doing a wooden imitation of some second-rate guy in a blazer doing Souix Falls games. This is soccer, not Triple A baseball.

As for J.P., well, he just sucks. A problem which is not at all alleviated by the fact that he's also, apparently, an idiot.

[Keep parents away]

In the second half, Marcelo was explaining how GAM should have headed the pass from Landon into the goal. As he was talking, I kept thinking to myself "GAM has more talent in his hurt toe than you ever had and by the way, the header he made was a rocket that he barely missed."

I can't listen to Marcelo.

[NBlue]

I like JP and think he does a solid though not necessarily outstanding job. As for Celo, I think he does a better job than many I have listened to over the years but he seems to suffer from our American Soccer Broadcasting Disease of attempting to explain the game rather than commenting on what is going on. I wonder, perhaps, if this is emphasized by ESPN corporate and emphasized as what he needs to do or whether it is his personal choice. I assume the purpose of this is to help newbies learn the sport but I think providing more analysis and less education would be more interesting to fans that are new and old. The other criticism I would give is that he has a tendancy to refrain from criticism of the players -- almost like a hometown sports color guy. His appraisal of Taylor at the end of the match was that he had done a pretty good job where I think its tough to make this conclusion based on his play unless you are viewing it through rose colored glasses. i

Personally, I like Harkes the best as a color guy as he blends professionalism with a willingness to call it like he sees it which has been somewhat lacking in the past. That said, I can live with Celo and hope he continues to develop.

[TOTC]

Wynalda. Now.

[Daren Spencer]

i just read that. :D that's pretty funny.

although i think he said it more than 4 times ... :eek: ;) :p

I was rolling around on my couch in pain as he kept repeating "handle the pressure".......

If these guys are the best we have we're in trouble.......they do not describe the game well and miss things because they are too busy over-explaining somthing else......seem to always be behind the action. IMO

[Daren Spencer]

I As for Celo, I think he does a better job than many I have listened to over the years but he seems to suffer from our American Soccer Broadcasting Disease of attempting to explain the game rather than commenting on what is going on.


That was my point as well.......but I think he needs replacing......just dont like his presentation or comments.

[subbuteo]

Wynalda. Now.
I originally could not stand Wynalda because, well, he's arrogant (but you have to be if you want to be a striker, right?) but if you actually listen to the man he knows his sh!t, he is telling the viewer what to look out for, and many times the action on the pitch proves the man right, and he's not afraid to call it like he sees it, and by that I mean in a way that is just his natural reaction--not in a way that sounds like he is saying it because it's what he thinks the viewer or his producers want to hear.

JPD - we could do far far worse. He's a fine fine place-holder until a new batch of commentators come up the ranks.

[owendylan]

In the second half, Marcelo was explaining how GAM should have headed the pass from Landon into the goal. As he was talking, I kept thinking to myself "GAM has more talent in his hurt toe than you ever had and by the way, the header he made was a rocket that he barely missed."

I can't listen to Marcelo.

Except he was right. . . I think if he made more comments like explaining why GAm screwed the pooch on that header he would be better. Or breaking down tactical stuff and throwing some of his opinion in wold be great. He's the color guy, he needs to show some personality and spine. Two word answers to JP's question or commentary will not cut it. I think they have the makings of a decent crew, but right now Wynalda's got to be the number 1 color guy. Maybe Wynalda and JP would work. Stone is just too much in love with Wynalda for my liking.

[MikeLastort2]

JP and Celo do a fine job calling the games.

[sidefootsitter]

Now that the NHL is off to the Outdoor Living, I want Gary Thorne doing the PBP.

Assuming that they can't get Doc Emrick.

[Claymore]

I spit Coke through my nose when JP asked if Twellman had to score to secure a place on the team. You could tell Balboa had to swallow his tongue on that one.

[dcc134]

I used to think JP was pretty good, but I have soured on him recently.

The biggest problem every every announcer, with the expection of perhaps Wanalda, is they apparently think those watching the game are complete idiots. They need to understand that those who are watching are watching because are soccer fans and have are knowledgable about the sport.

That said, if we start a JP must go campagin, I fear we are going to be stuck with Stoner, which is by far a worse option.

[Daren Spencer]

I spit Coke through my nose when JP asked if Twellman had to score to secure a place on the team. You could tell Balboa had to swallow his tongue on that one.

Yeah, I spilled my pale ale and coughed up pizza on this one......

Lets start a poll......."what is the minimum # of goals a forward has to score to be on the team".......WHAT THE F&$&( is that. :eek: