Croft has to go
Discussion
paulguitar said:
jimPH said:
2 secs...
OK, just asked 5 people, they think he's alright.
It's hard to know how to respond to this without sounding condescending, so I am not going to say anything.OK, just asked 5 people, they think he's alright.
Now let's move on.
jimPH said:
paulguitar said:
jimPH said:
2 secs...
OK, just asked 5 people, they think he's alright.
It's hard to know how to respond to this without sounding condescending, so I am not going to say anything.OK, just asked 5 people, they think he's alright.
Now let's move on.
Therefore I don't think my anecdote is 'meaningless', or that 'it's probably better I 'don't post to begin with'. You don't get to decide that, just because someone doesn't agree with you.
'Let's move on', you decide, as thread captain...Okay, where were we? Oh yes, 'Croft has to go'. I agree. Croft is unbearably shouty, demonstrably lacking in knowledge, and cringe-worthy in the extreme.
Adrian W said:
https://twitter.com/CroftyF1/status/1505558279371599877?t=oYnJ-o_SpDJ5fVJg-zXmEQ&s=19cgt2 said:
At most TV companies (apart from the truly independent) 90% of staff are absolutely clueless and have a completely unrealistic perception of what their audience wants. I'm sure most of the upper echelons of Sky Sports management think he is absolutely fantastic as they have no knowledge of what the audience actually wants to see. Murray was shouty, Croft is shouty, job done, no more effort required without realising Murray knew the sport inside out.
Having said that I am also sure the football/beer crowd who just want to be tribal and swear at foreign drivers (and sometimes throw racial insults at the British champ) love the dumbed down approach.
This was also the case with the BBC for many years hence why they persisted with tired old formats. Due to vast audiences by default even if something is complete rubbish they couldn't accurately gauge whether the product was actually any good. A trend over the past ten years has been more independent production companies stepping in to raise the quality of product, especially in the documentary field. The BBC now tends to go into funding/distribution partnerships with these companies rather than produce product themselves hence why the quality has risen dramatically and even won international awards.
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'. Having said that I am also sure the football/beer crowd who just want to be tribal and swear at foreign drivers (and sometimes throw racial insults at the British champ) love the dumbed down approach.
This was also the case with the BBC for many years hence why they persisted with tired old formats. Due to vast audiences by default even if something is complete rubbish they couldn't accurately gauge whether the product was actually any good. A trend over the past ten years has been more independent production companies stepping in to raise the quality of product, especially in the documentary field. The BBC now tends to go into funding/distribution partnerships with these companies rather than produce product themselves hence why the quality has risen dramatically and even won international awards.
Edited by cgt2 on Monday 21st March 10:42
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
There's a YouTuber uploading old F1 races from the 1980s, from the original BBC highlights shows:Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
https://www.youtube.com/user/bigzeddie76
It's been fascinating to see them again. It's notable how much calmer Murray is than many will remember, certainly a big step down from the hysteria we have now with Croft's incessant, meaningless yelling.
Murray's 'Grand Prix' introductions were also excellently entertaining and informative. Clear, concise information delivered with old-school broadcasting skills. In commentary, Murray made mistakes, no doubt, but he was a genuinely gifted broadcaster and widely admired within the F1 paddock.
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
I watched Murray since I was a youngster and was fortunate to meet him a few times. Lovely lovely man, hugely passionate and had encyclopaedic knowledge. He didn't always manage to express it as his passion took over in the heat of races but trust me he knew everything about F1 and plenty of stories and anecdotes behind the headlines as well as knowing every person in the paddock.Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. <clip> My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice.
I do not have that impression and to my ears his voice was certainly not shrill, it was clear and well enunciated. It may just be the memory you have of moments like when a car was on fire but 90% of Murray's commentary was calm unlike Croft where 90% of the commentary is over the top and excitable.The simple fact is that the vast majority of fans of any age would probably prefer listening to Murray over most, it is a common thread with modern commentary, very few comms guys do not do it, and they tend to be the best, Martin Haven doesn't shout Hindy doesn't shout, Jack Burnicle didn't shout, Huewen did at times but I did not mind it.
I do recall listening to C4 a few years back and hearing Edwards shouting a bit, something he never used to do at all and presuming he was almost ordered to do it.
As I am sure Croft is, but he comes from a sport where shouting was made common by Sid Waddell, aswell as pointless quips and jokes, I never found him that great at all but he is held in very high regard by most.
But then again I was one of those who always preferred Barry Davies to Motson, so maybe it is a style thing
I do recall listening to C4 a few years back and hearing Edwards shouting a bit, something he never used to do at all and presuming he was almost ordered to do it.
As I am sure Croft is, but he comes from a sport where shouting was made common by Sid Waddell, aswell as pointless quips and jokes, I never found him that great at all but he is held in very high regard by most.
But then again I was one of those who always preferred Barry Davies to Motson, so maybe it is a style thing
cgt2 said:
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
I watched Murray since I was a youngster and was fortunate to meet him a few times. Lovely lovely man, hugely passionate and had encyclopaedic knowledge. He didn't always manage to express it as his passion took over in the heat of races but trust me he knew everything about F1 and plenty of stories and anecdotes behind the headlines as well as knowing every person in the paddock.Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
They say people lose their hi frequency hearing over a certain age so thats why he may sound bearable now.
Fundoreen said:
cgt2 said:
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
I watched Murray since I was a youngster and was fortunate to meet him a few times. Lovely lovely man, hugely passionate and had encyclopaedic knowledge. He didn't always manage to express it as his passion took over in the heat of races but trust me he knew everything about F1 and plenty of stories and anecdotes behind the headlines as well as knowing every person in the paddock.Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
They say people lose their hi frequency hearing over a certain age so thats why he may sound bearable now.
MarkwG said:
Fundoreen said:
cgt2 said:
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
I watched Murray since I was a youngster and was fortunate to meet him a few times. Lovely lovely man, hugely passionate and had encyclopaedic knowledge. He didn't always manage to express it as his passion took over in the heat of races but trust me he knew everything about F1 and plenty of stories and anecdotes behind the headlines as well as knowing every person in the paddock.Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
They say people lose their hi frequency hearing over a certain age so thats why he may sound bearable now.
PH User said:
MarkwG said:
Fundoreen said:
cgt2 said:
Fundoreen said:
You should check out some old murray commentary. He only really mentions the person leading and a few others with bland facts. My favourite is 'barry sheene can speak several languages fluently and can fly a helicopter'.
Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
I watched Murray since I was a youngster and was fortunate to meet him a few times. Lovely lovely man, hugely passionate and had encyclopaedic knowledge. He didn't always manage to express it as his passion took over in the heat of races but trust me he knew everything about F1 and plenty of stories and anecdotes behind the headlines as well as knowing every person in the paddock.Helpfull in the sad old 70s world without instagram and the like.
My only gripe is a lot of them copy his shrill commentary voice. Thats the crime.
They say people lose their hi frequency hearing over a certain age so thats why he may sound bearable now.
MarkwG said:
How was it "easier"? I can accept different, but Murray had far less access to multiple TV feeds, & much less data about lap times, sectors, etc. He kept copious notes, was on first name terms with all of the pitlane & could call on them to help him out, but he was part of a much smaller team with much less support than Croft has. Conversely, that data takes a good level of understanding to interpret what is going on, these days - I suspect Murray would have been right on top of that, whereas Croft wouldn't recognise his own 4rse with a label on it...
Well I dont know what use copious notes are during a live race.I presume when Grosjean crashed in a fireball he could have told us about his new pet labrador called smokey.
But its not about Murray here so I will stop now.
PH User said:
Can't say that he bothers me. Di Resta is the one that needs to go.
Have to say I didn't realise quite how much hate there is for Croft. Personally I don't mind him. Maybe they could find someone better, but I'm sure you'd struggle to find a sports commentator these days who is universally liked anyway.The weird "impression" he did of the Ferrari mechanic over the radio was odd and uncalled for, hopefully someone will have a quiet word in his ear to pack that sort of thing in.
Fonzey said:
LukeBrown66 said:
He sounds a like a part time weddings DJ, he is simply awful, but the people who run SKY F1 obviously think he is some sort of modern Murray or they would have sacked him off years ago, so sadly he is here to stay.
I wonder if the Sky researches poke about in F1 forums/communities etc? He's almost universally disliked, I find it hard to believe they don't even discuss alternatives. Unless the barometer for his popularity are the engagement levels he gets on twitter or whatever during a race weekend. I assume the muppets using that are to blame for his longevity. I suspect that most people are fine with him, except perhaps, a tiny minority of people, on a little backwater forum, about cars.
Otherwise he'd be gone.
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