James Allen: makes it unwatchable.

James Allen: makes it unwatchable.

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Discussion

Eric Mc

122,085 posts

266 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Murray had his moments - which he will readilly admit.

However, he always came across as authentic and not bogus - which is Allen's main shortcoming.

uktrailmonster

4,827 posts

201 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Murray had his moments - which he will readilly admit.

However, he always came across as authentic and not bogus - which is Allen's main shortcoming.
Allen's main shortcoming is that he's a complete arse licker. Not something you could say about old Murray!

fathomfive

9,929 posts

191 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Ok, so on the off chance you are in the same room as James Allen and Murray Walker which one do you go over and talk to?

Has to be Murray Walker. He's the only one you wouldn't want to kill after the first 30 seconds of conversation.

patmahe

5,758 posts

205 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
The best motorsport coverage I have ever seen was when Eurosport had the F1 coverage and John Watson and Ben Edwards were doing the commentary, they were truely passionate about it and made it great to watch.

Allen makes it seem too much like a job, he's very professional and knows his stuff, he even communicates quite well but you just get the feeling that is all artificial, that its not completely genuine. As someone else already said who care how many Ferrari's were sold in Valencia last year, we sit down to watch a race not discuss sales figures.

MM2200

264 posts

197 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
I could not care less who was doing it, if only the idea of commentry as a means of informing the audience of relevant information that they do not have access to had not been replaced by the need to fill every moment of dead air with inanity in order to keep the punters attention.

Personally, it would be more pleasant to watch without any commentry. Much prefer being able to hear only the sounds of the cars.

jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Is this thread actually going anywhere - No Thought not!

The guy that does the BTCC track side stuff is good Ted Kravitz of something - not smug, does not say he knows everything, just a good guy.

Need a red button so we can have the option of no commentating i.e. the Cock and (Brundle - the Cockx2).

MM2200

264 posts

197 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
jellison said:
(Brundle - the Cockx2).
When brundle says something, theres a chance that it can actually complement your understanding of what you are watching.

As opposed to merely being told what you ought be getting excited about.

jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
MM2200 said:
jellison said:
(Brundle - the Cockx2).
When brundle says something, theres a chance that it can actually complement your understanding of what you are watching.

As opposed to merely being told what you ought be getting excited about.
I do not care whjat Brundle says - I can work it out myself thanks;)

flemke

22,865 posts

238 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
jellison said:
MM2200 said:
jellison said:
(Brundle - the Cockx2).
When brundle says something, theres a chance that it can actually complement your understanding of what you are watching.

As opposed to merely being told what you ought be getting excited about.
I do not care whjat Brundle says - I can work it out myself thanks;)
That would be from the personal experience of your 158 Formula One starts, Jon?

stephen300o

15,464 posts

229 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Martin Brundle must have incredible self control not to at least titter at some of the stuff that Allen comes out with.

Get Karter

1,934 posts

202 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Allen's voice is wrong for the job.
No matter what he says, it sounds insincere. Like he is acting the part (badly) of a commentator.
He comes across as someone who has no confidence in what he is doing...but is trying desparately to hide his own lack of self belief.

In terms of the content of his ramblings, they are no worse than Murray's were at times. However, you always felt on Murray's side; his enthusiasm was credible; he was so absorbed in commentating that (unlike Allen) he didn't need to act the part.

If Murray said something daft, you laughed with him. If Allen says something daft, you despise him for it.

Murray = Top Gear
Allen = 5th Gear


jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
flemke said:
jellison said:
MM2200 said:
jellison said:
(Brundle - the Cockx2).
When brundle says something, theres a chance that it can actually complement your understanding of what you are watching.

As opposed to merely being told what you ought be getting excited about.
I do not care whjat Brundle says - I can work it out myself thanks;)
That would be from the personal experience of your 158 Formula One starts, Jon?
It is all to do with being in the right pace at the right time this stuff. I just don't like the smugness of the guy. The fastest naturally talented racer in the world has most likley never had his arse in car having been a horse namd from the Mongolian steppes or a Head Hunter from Madagasca!

The best commentators on TV are Cox and Parish (the stuff they say is FUNNY and Informative).

J16GY

130 posts

198 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
BBC should have a 'press the red button' option for commentators - a bit like Fanzone on sky sports for the football but with special guests, for example, get the Top Gear presenters in for one, we can then choose who we have commentating! I bet there would be a lot of celebs or others they could get in to do it for free just because they love the sport!?

Can I please copyright this idea!?

jbudgie

8,937 posts

213 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
jellison said:
jbudgie said:
Murray might have been passionate ---but imho he was a crap commentator.
CRETIN - let me gues you are under 30 and drive a FWD Hatch of some sort, if you are old enough to Drive!
Older than you I bet.

Murray was still crap whatever you think.

jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
I am VERY OLD;)

jbudgie

8,937 posts

213 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
I remember Raymond Baxter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

jbudgie

8,937 posts

213 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Murray had his moments - which he will readilly admit.

However, he always came across as authentic and not bogus - which is Allen's main shortcoming.
Yes Murray knew his stuff--it's just that he was the 'Boris Johnson' of commentating.

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Murray retired at the right time for him, sadly age caught up with him which meant he wasn't able to do the job to the standard he wanted to, so it's pointless asking for him back, he's got past that stage in his life. We cant have the cock doing it on BBC though, there are far better people out there who have the genuine enthusiasm Murray had to choose from.