@malcolm the commentary team oh dear me.
Yes, Paul and Malcolm. I used to think like you. I had thought for a long-time that Maddo was a hopeless commentator. However, I do think he’s improving. Yesterday, his analysis of the game and the changes in formation were quite astute. I’ve noticed that in recent games, too. He also seems to be making a conscious effort to be more impartial. And ok, he still murders the English language and uses his catch-phrases (‘ to be fair to Stoke / Bettinelli/ Akpom/ Uncle Tom Cobbley’) far too often. But because the Tees team can’t travel to away games currently, we’ve also had the dubious benefit of hearing radio teams from elsewhere. I thought the guys at Wycombe did a good job, but the Nottingham Forest lads were poor and those at Derby were absolutely dire, not to say 100% biased. So, I’d rather stick with Radio Tees, thanks very much. Besides, I enjoy Mark Drury’s commentary- I think he’s really good most of the time.
On the game itself, this was a good win, masterminded by NW’s brilliant change of shape after the battering of the opening minutes. I have increasing confidence in his ability to get us promoted - I think we’re a good bet for next season if he gets in the players he wants. As you’ve all pointed out, this was far from the perfect display, but we got the job done, scored three goals and conceded none - what’s not to like?
Now, please can we put a consistent run of form together, to keep us all hoping and to finish the season on a high? I’ve supported you through thick and thin (especially thin) for 55 years, Boro, so I think you owe me that. It’s the least you could do!
I hate one-eyed commentating and so I find D and M pretty good because they recognise good play by the opposition (and bad play by us) and Maddison has enough tactical nous to add some value. He instantly spotted that Warnock had pushed McNair forward to snuff out JOM and I appreciated that because it told me something useful about the game. Any time that I have heard Slaven commentating i have wanted to turn off because it always seemed to be about him.
My personal hate is the way that the TV picture can concentrate on a player or a manager for about 20 seconds when the play has started elsewhere or decide to show a replay when live play is going on. It's as if they are cutting the programme in their head to some imaginary commentary track. Why can't they just show the game and get out of the way.
UTB
Spot on Clive. I also like the Tees commentary. The recent away matches have been dare. Especially at Derby. Up the Boro!
Drury and Maddo may not be world class but having listened to other local commentary on games this season I have to say I think they are a class above most of them. Some have been downright appalling and in many if indeed not most cases the opposition commentators have no idea who the Boro players are and it is very clear that they done zero research and had no interest in finding out anything about their opponents. At least D&M usually know who the opposition players are whereas there was one recent one (Reading perhaps?) where it sounded like two blokes in a Pub who had just finished a night shift five pints in.
"Boro Keeper collects it, plays it upfield where it finds a red shirt and the ball comes off Ejaria for a throw in to Boro which is taken near the half way line. Into the middle of the centre circle it goes where it breaks for a Boro player out wide to send a cross in just too high evading the Striker and Rafael collects"
Apologies if it wasn't Reading, but there were so many that they have morphed into one another but the one thing that resonates with me is how noticeably bad and amateurish they are compared to D&M. I do agree though that when Bettinelli hoofs the ball upfield and Morsy is tussling with say John Obe Mikel I don't want to hear that Arthur from Acklam is celebrating his 85th birthday and used to be Wilf Mannion's paperboy and how he often pops into the same Barber shop as one of the intrepid duo.
I guess, for me, it’s been such a bonus being able to watch every game that I’m a bit more forgiving of the occasional commentary faux pas. I too get annoyed when play is continuing and we’re left to watch NW or his opposite number standing in the technical area.
I’d love it if the broadcasting of matches could continue after normality returns, but I understand that the key thing is to get supporters back in their seats. If there was a digital only season ticket available in the UK, I’d sign up straightaway.
@jarkko: Your post from March 12th at 9.41am: It is acceptable to support or wish well towards Hartlepool, and to hope they return to the Football League, and prosper. You can even hope the same for Darlington.
I go no further from Teesside than that.
RED IS THE COLOUR
I’ve been a Boro fan you know since 1899.
If you don’t want to believe me then that’s positively fine,
Cos although I didn’t actually see them play
For it’s their history that I wish to write today.
The one thing that surprises me and it doesn’t feel quite right
Is the fact that Boro’s football shirts were really only white.
It might have been suggested that in fact t’was really cream,
But I certainly wouldn’t like it for my favourite football team.
The ‘Nops’, their rivals played in red
So Boro pinched their shirts instead———
Except for shorts and socks in black
To counter the fans flack.
You see, the ‘Nops’ and Boro were intentions then to merge
And in retribution their sins they wished to purge,
For pulling out of their amalgamation
As Ironopolis were forced into steady liquidation.
Now as I continue to write this verse
I’m reminded that it was a qypsy’s curse
Or perhaps it was an Ironopolis fan
But really that Kaiser Willhelm man
That stopped the Boro winning owt
When winning League they had a shout.
But Red’s the colour all the same
For any team that’s worth its name.
Would England’s 66 team have won
If they’d played in white in the summer sun?
And just consider if Boro did still play in white
Our Redcar White don’t sound quite right.
Would Redcar have been Whitesaltscar too?
Just a few thoughts for folk to browse through!
Of course my thoughts may well be satirical,
Even though thet
RED IS THE COLOUR
I’ve been a Boro fan you know since 1899.
If you don’t believe me then that’s perfectly quite fine,
Cos I didn’t actually see them play,
It’s the history that I write today.
But there’s one thing that just don’t seem right,
But the fact is that they played in white.
Perhaps it might have been described as cream,
But I wouldn’t like it for MY football team.
The ‘Nops’, their rivals played in red,
So Boro pinched their shirts instead
But not wearing shorts and socks in black
To counter all the people’s flack.
You see the ‘Nops’ and Boro were set to merge,
And for their sins the Boro wished to purge
For pulling out of amalgamation
As Ironopolis were forced into liquidation.
Now as I continue with this verse
It’s suggested that a gypsy’s curse,
Or could she have been an Ironopolis fan?
Or even that Kaiser Willhelm man
That stopped the Boro winning owt
When winning League they had a shout.
But Red’s the colour all the same
For any club that’s worth its name.
Would England’s 66 team have won
If they’d played in white in the summer sun?
Now just consider if Boro played in white
Our REDCAR WHITE wouldn’t sound quite right.
Would Redcar have been Whitesaltscar too?
Just a few thoughts to mull over through.
Of course my thoughts might be classed satirical,
Even though to some they may be lyrical.
But I’m glad that it has to be said
That Boro changed their shirts to RED.
I thought that the first post hadn’t been posted, so I amended it slightly.
I’ve never been to Barnsley but I do like three of their fans Dickie Bird, the late Charlie Williams and Stan Richards who added humour to Emmerdale some 20 years ago, even though Arthur Scargill and the supercilious Michael Parkinson were born there too. Of course their football club won the FA Cup in 1912, the year of the Titanic disaster, and spent two seasons in the Premier League in 1997 and 1998 when their fans said that watching them was like watching Brazil. I do hope that they gain promotion, as their 10 match unbeaten run surely merits that. I don’t wish any Schadenfreude on any club that plays in red except for Arsenal, and I also hope that Rotherham escape relegation too as they also have the sense to play in red and have suffered more from Covid 19 than any other Championship club. In all honesty I don’t believe that Boro deserve promotion this season as except for their 10 match early season unbeaten run which included only 4 wins they have been unable to win more than 3 wins in succession since. However next season might be a different matter.
I’ve never been to Barnsley but I do like three of their fans Dickie Bird, the late Charlie Williams and Stan Richards who added humour to Emmerdale some 20 years ago, even though Arthur Scargill and the supercilious Michael Parkinson were born there too. Of course their football club won the FA Cup in 1912, the year of the Titanic disaster, and spent two seasons in the Premier League in 1997 and 1998 when their fans said that watching them was like watching Brazil. I do hope that they gain promotion, as their 10 match unbeaten run surely merits that. I don’t wish any Schadenfreude on any club that plays in red except for Arsenal, and I also hope that Rotherham escape relegation too as they also have the sense to play in red and have suffered more from Covid 19 than any other Championship club. In all honesty I don’t believe that Boro deserve promotion this season as except for their 10 match early season unbeaten run which included only 4 wins they have been unable to win more than 3 wins in succession since. However next season might be a different matter.
My father’s family originally came from Worsborough, near Barnsley apparently. I guess they moved to Middlesbrough when the town was rapidly expanding on the back of Iron & Steel. I keep intending to go to see where my ancestors came from, but haven’t got round to it yet.
As it turned out, Arthur Scargill was entirely right in what he said Thatcher was intending. I’ll avoid politics, but as you mentioned him in a disparaging way, I thought I add some balance. I know who’d I’d trust and go for a drink with and it wouldn’t be the grocer’s daughter.
RED IS THE COLOUR ...
Nice one Ken. Well read and well red.
Could you imagine what the chant would have to be....Come on Polis, Come on Polis
I’m really warming to Sam Morsy. His support from midfield has been great.
There’s a tribute to him still in Wigan.
Sounds horrible doesn’t it? However at the time feelings ran high about the present club pulling out at the eleventh hour and for many years certainly up to the First World War they were known as the ‘scabs’ as Ironopolis played just one season in the Second Division finishing 11th before going into liquidation. Both clubs had been members of the Northern League, though Middlesbrough FC never once were able to beat Ironopolis. But the present Boro club objected to having the name Ironopolis included in the merger and eventually returned to amateur status, whilst the ‘Nops’ were gone for ever. Of course a town the size of Middlesbrough couldn’t accommodate two clubs, but if they had followed the example of Newcastle where Newcastle East End merged with Newcastle West End to form Newcastle United, whose to say that if it hadn’t been for petty squabbles a club called Middlesbrough United might not have won the League or FA Cup as they were both in existence a decade before Newcastle United were founded. At least we might have got used to ‘come on United’ rather than ‘come on Nops’ or ‘come on Polis’, though ‘come on Boro’ sounds best.