Croft has to go
Discussion
I honestly think he is the worst F1 commenator we have ever had, simply shouts too much, but Edwards does the same, both clearly under direction, the Eurosport bike guys do it apart from jack and James aho are probably told to but ignore it thank go.
It is awful and simply makes me switch to something else.
Tyler doesn't do it, Riche Benuad didn't do it, loads of other sports people dont, the only bloke that did was that woeful darts guys who used to sound like he was on speed.
Kirby is the worst commentator I have ever heard and I have no idea whatsoever how he keeps his job. I think there is something beyond simply speaking languages going on there.
But Croft is not far behind, he does for me simply ruin f1 on tv at times. And I think Brunders loathes him quite honestly
It is awful and simply makes me switch to something else.
Tyler doesn't do it, Riche Benuad didn't do it, loads of other sports people dont, the only bloke that did was that woeful darts guys who used to sound like he was on speed.
Kirby is the worst commentator I have ever heard and I have no idea whatsoever how he keeps his job. I think there is something beyond simply speaking languages going on there.
But Croft is not far behind, he does for me simply ruin f1 on tv at times. And I think Brunders loathes him quite honestly
For me its not just the shouting. Its the fact there is no dynamics to it, Someone else made a good reference like a compressed audio track, It had no peaks and dips. Its just a continuous stream of noise which is particularly grating on the ear. Even if you turn the volume down, Its the actual tone that is the painful part.
Last weekend when he was shouting so loud it was echoing in the commentary booth was just ridiculous. Its like the BBC front page, When everything is now breaking news with flashing red alert bars every single day. It desensitises you from what actually is exciting and what crofty would just be shouting about regardless.
Last weekend when he was shouting so loud it was echoing in the commentary booth was just ridiculous. Its like the BBC front page, When everything is now breaking news with flashing red alert bars every single day. It desensitises you from what actually is exciting and what crofty would just be shouting about regardless.
LukeBrown66 said:
It is awful and simply makes me switch to something else.
I would suggest then, that F1 isn't for you.Be under no illusion, Crofty is an exceptionally skilled broadcaster and commentator.
Whether you like his style or not is another matter entirely.
Try it yourself on Sunday. Kill the sound and commentate on the race. Your brief is to expand on what can be seen, articulate possible scenarios with clarity, sound like you're enjoying the process, articulate each and every word with crystal clear clarity, make the dull bits sound at least interesting (exciting if you can), no swearing and zero 'eerms' or 'aahs'. Oh, and wear headphones and listen to an audio book at the same time. See you how you get on
Try Jack Nichols on Radio 5 - it's like listening to a 14 year old keyboard warrior being given a microphone. Dunno how anyone can claim they enjoy listening to the BBC's Chequered Flag podcast.
I liked Crofty when he was on 5Live and had that on instead of Legard. There's the last laps of the 2008 Brazillian GP in BBC Sounds and noticed he's definitely turned it up to 11 for SkyF1.
Simon Lazenby has significantly improved. No longer tries to emulate Jake Humphries/matey-matey presenting style.
Heathrow said:
Croft tries extra hard to "hype up" the first lap entertainment by shouting at the mic, as the race starts with its usual predictably dull procession of Mercedes 1-2..... 
It's not his fault. It's part of his employer's strategy to do all they can to make the racing seem more exciting than it is, so that us mugs keep shelling out each month.
A good contrast is Alex Jacques' commentary in F2 or F3. He should be promoted IMHO. He won't be because the SkySports team seems to operate like a little club. Alex Brundle co-commentating on the support races - a case in point. Nothing against him as a commentator, but it proves the point.
Similar in SkySports' football commentary. Don Goodman has been the outstanding co-commentator in the EFL games for a number of years. Vastly more inciteful than the insufferably dour Gary Neville for example, but never gets a look in for the big (or small) Premier League games...
Nothing against Croft as a person. I spent an evening on a table with him at a benefit dinner a few years ago. He's naturally energetic and a genuine F1 fan. Maybe when you've been commentating for so many years you get overly used to the sound of your own voice....
That's the problem with Sky coverage - they try too hard (don't have a problem with G. Neville in the comm box - there's no one better in the analysis and delivery).It's not his fault. It's part of his employer's strategy to do all they can to make the racing seem more exciting than it is, so that us mugs keep shelling out each month.
A good contrast is Alex Jacques' commentary in F2 or F3. He should be promoted IMHO. He won't be because the SkySports team seems to operate like a little club. Alex Brundle co-commentating on the support races - a case in point. Nothing against him as a commentator, but it proves the point.
Similar in SkySports' football commentary. Don Goodman has been the outstanding co-commentator in the EFL games for a number of years. Vastly more inciteful than the insufferably dour Gary Neville for example, but never gets a look in for the big (or small) Premier League games...
Nothing against Croft as a person. I spent an evening on a table with him at a benefit dinner a few years ago. He's naturally energetic and a genuine F1 fan. Maybe when you've been commentating for so many years you get overly used to the sound of your own voice....
I liked Crofty when he was on 5Live and had that on instead of Legard. There's the last laps of the 2008 Brazillian GP in BBC Sounds and noticed he's definitely turned it up to 11 for SkyF1.
Simon Lazenby has significantly improved. No longer tries to emulate Jake Humphries/matey-matey presenting style.
As mentioned, I like Crofty and the shouting thing is not his fault
They’re all told or encouraged to do it and I agree, it’s irritating.
The worst thing is when something minor happens - small spin or a sticky wheel gun and their volume goes up to 11 like the championship is being decided at that moment.
They’re all told or encouraged to do it and I agree, it’s irritating.
The worst thing is when something minor happens - small spin or a sticky wheel gun and their volume goes up to 11 like the championship is being decided at that moment.
Muzzer79 said:
As mentioned, I like Crofty and the shouting thing is not his fault
They’re all told or encouraged to do it and I agree, it’s irritating.
The worst thing is when something minor happens - small spin or a sticky wheel gun and their volume goes up to 11 like the championship is being decided at that moment.
you can have excitable commentary without shouting.They’re all told or encouraged to do it and I agree, it’s irritating.
The worst thing is when something minor happens - small spin or a sticky wheel gun and their volume goes up to 11 like the championship is being decided at that moment.
Davide (iti guy who did the gp2) used to go bananas but was never ever annoying or fatiguing like crofty, mind his knew his s
t and he could use his voice properly to convey excitement NOT JUST SHOUT EVERYTHING.Teddy Lop said:
you can have excitable commentary without shouting.
Davide (iti guy who did the gp2) used to go bananas but was never ever annoying or fatiguing like crofty, mind his knew his st and he could use his voice properly to convey excitement NOT JUST SHOUT EVERYTHING.
Agree; Davide Valsecchi was hilarious as well as being entertaining. And in his second language. Davide (iti guy who did the gp2) used to go bananas but was never ever annoying or fatiguing like crofty, mind his knew his s
t and he could use his voice properly to convey excitement NOT JUST SHOUT EVERYTHING.
If you think Croft is an exceptionally skilled commentator chap you are in serious need of watching a LOT of other sports. Barry Davies, Richie Benaud, Martin Tyler,
He is the worst commentator I have ever heard besides Carlton Kirby, he shouts, makes endless mistakes brings up pointless stats all the time and also flouts his status by doing anything and everything to earn an extra few quid instead of doing what he should be doing and getting better at his job. And his relationship with Brundle is clearly utterly false, they clearly are not fans of one another in my opinion. So there is no relationship there as there needs to be with a talker and a pundit.
I have watched F1 for many years and this man singlehandedly ruins F1 coverage for me.
Why did I enjoy watching the F1 on C4 recently? Because simply put the commentary was better, the pundits were better. First few corners are simply excruciating with Croft, I dont care if he is told to do it, listen to it back mate it is heart wrenchingly bad.
He is the worst commentator I have ever heard besides Carlton Kirby, he shouts, makes endless mistakes brings up pointless stats all the time and also flouts his status by doing anything and everything to earn an extra few quid instead of doing what he should be doing and getting better at his job. And his relationship with Brundle is clearly utterly false, they clearly are not fans of one another in my opinion. So there is no relationship there as there needs to be with a talker and a pundit.
I have watched F1 for many years and this man singlehandedly ruins F1 coverage for me.
Why did I enjoy watching the F1 on C4 recently? Because simply put the commentary was better, the pundits were better. First few corners are simply excruciating with Croft, I dont care if he is told to do it, listen to it back mate it is heart wrenchingly bad.
LukeBrown66 said:
If you think Croft is an exceptionally skilled commentator chap you are in serious need of watching a LOT of other sports. Barry Davies, Richie Benaud, Martin Tyler,
He is the worst commentator I have ever heard besides Carlton Kirby, he shouts, makes endless mistakes brings up pointless stats all the time and also flouts his status by doing anything and everything to earn an extra few quid instead of doing what he should be doing and getting better at his job. And his relationship with Brundle is clearly utterly false, they clearly are not fans of one another in my opinion. So there is no relationship there as there needs to be with a talker and a pundit.
I have watched F1 for many years and this man singlehandedly ruins F1 coverage for me.
Why did I enjoy watching the F1 on C4 recently? Because simply put the commentary was better, the pundits were better. First few corners are simply excruciating with Croft, I dont care if he is told to do it, listen to it back mate it is heart wrenchingly bad.
Again, it's your opinion, Luke. He is the worst commentator I have ever heard besides Carlton Kirby, he shouts, makes endless mistakes brings up pointless stats all the time and also flouts his status by doing anything and everything to earn an extra few quid instead of doing what he should be doing and getting better at his job. And his relationship with Brundle is clearly utterly false, they clearly are not fans of one another in my opinion. So there is no relationship there as there needs to be with a talker and a pundit.
I have watched F1 for many years and this man singlehandedly ruins F1 coverage for me.
Why did I enjoy watching the F1 on C4 recently? Because simply put the commentary was better, the pundits were better. First few corners are simply excruciating with Croft, I dont care if he is told to do it, listen to it back mate it is heart wrenchingly bad.
If he was inept, Sky would drop him. It really is as simple as that. I have modicum of insight into the broadcast industry and I can tell you that he is a highly, technically proficient commentator and broadcaster. All the major broadcasters also research viewer opinion which informs their line ups on everything from news programmes to sports. Again, if this showed a majority dislike for him, he'd be dropped.
You don't like him. Nor do others. But many do. Most couldn't care less.
I dont think broadcasters give the slightest about how punters rate commentators, watch some cycling and the hatred of Carlton Kirby is almost 100%, he is the most inept, unknowledgeable, unfunny person I have ever experienced in a comms box,and yet we are all supposed to laugh along, get the joke, you can ever hear the people in the euro-sport box at Le Mans sort of laughing with him instead of pointing out to the moron how much he is ruining my enjoyment. even the most basic of skills, his diction is appalling!
Croft is not as bad as him, and is a long serving Sky commentatior, THAT is the only reason he stays in my opinion, I would imagine if you did a straw poll of top 5s including Edwards, Murray, Allen, Croft, legard, Croft would be bottom with Legard, Did Legard get the sack when he was not much kop? no he stays working at the Beeb, as Croft would if he was dumped, maybe he would better suited to darts or boxing where he belongs.
he most certainly is not suited to f1
Croft is not as bad as him, and is a long serving Sky commentatior, THAT is the only reason he stays in my opinion, I would imagine if you did a straw poll of top 5s including Edwards, Murray, Allen, Croft, legard, Croft would be bottom with Legard, Did Legard get the sack when he was not much kop? no he stays working at the Beeb, as Croft would if he was dumped, maybe he would better suited to darts or boxing where he belongs.
he most certainly is not suited to f1
LukeBrown66 said:
I dont think broadcasters give the slightest about how punters rate commentators, watch some cycling and the hatred of Carlton Kirby is almost 100%, he is the most inept, unknowledgeable, unfunny person I have ever experienced in a comms box,and yet we are all supposed to laugh along, get the joke, you can ever hear the people in the euro-sport box at Le Mans sort of laughing with him instead of pointing out to the moron how much he is ruining my enjoyment. even the most basic of skills, his diction is appalling!
Croft is not as bad as him, and is a long serving Sky commentatior, THAT is the only reason he stays in my opinion, I would imagine if you did a straw poll of top 5s including Edwards, Murray, Allen, Croft, legard, Croft would be bottom with Legard, Did Legard get the sack when he was not much kop? no he stays working at the Beeb, as Croft would if he was dumped, maybe he would better suited to darts or boxing where he belongs.
he most certainly is not suited to f1
Jesus christ if he ever got in to boxing I'd have no sport left to love.Croft is not as bad as him, and is a long serving Sky commentatior, THAT is the only reason he stays in my opinion, I would imagine if you did a straw poll of top 5s including Edwards, Murray, Allen, Croft, legard, Croft would be bottom with Legard, Did Legard get the sack when he was not much kop? no he stays working at the Beeb, as Croft would if he was dumped, maybe he would better suited to darts or boxing where he belongs.
he most certainly is not suited to f1
sgtBerbatov said:
Jesus christ if he ever got in to boxing I'd have no sport left to love.
Eamon Andrews was the best boxing commentator I ever heard. He called it spot on every time. Whether on radio or TV, he increased the enjoyment of the sport. Absolutely brilliant. He (was?) then moved to an after the early evening news slot, and he showed that away from boxing, he struggled a bit. I still liked him, from the memory of his boxing I think.Then he reported on an incident I was involved with. This was about 18 hrs after it had occurred, so still fresh in my mind. Just about everything he said was wrong. It was appalling.
Put me right off him, and there, I think, is the problem. If you feel you don't like a person, or can't trust them, then everything they do is wrong. I liked Legard on Le Tour, but his response to the allegations of rampant drug taking, which many felt he must have known about - everyone else did it seems - was just wrong. Put me right off him when Armstrong was revealed as I'd gone along with Legard (rather foolishly I agree). When he went to F1, I started on Radio 5 Live.
I'm still on it, yet I know nothing about Croft, apart from his excitement sounds faux.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff