Only an Excuse?

[Carheenlea]

While the show was put out of its own misery a few years ago, and that of the viewers too, Jonathan Watson and Phil Differ, the two original writers have joined forces with Chic Young for a new podcast called Forget the Ball get on with the game.

Basically just a chat about Scottish Football with some brief impressions thrown in along the way. After listening to the first one along with trailer, impressions so far have been Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish. Alan “Rambo” McInally, Chick Young, Graeme Souness and Jim White, so not the most promising of starts.

In some ways though you can admire them for having no interest in tackling some new characters, and it’s basically three old guys sitting chatting about football which for anyone over the age of 50 is a perfectly pleasant enough half an hour to listen to to fill some time in your day.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forget-the-ball/id1805806772

[tamig]

I think one of Jonathan Watson’s blindspots was continuing to use characters that had long since gone from the game. Younger viewers wouldn’t have had a clue who some of these guys were. With the list of names you’ve mentioned, it sounds like this is a bit more of the same. But, as you say, maybe not too bad for a more mature audience.

I used to like Only an Excuse but it was probably about ten years past its sell-by date. Some real cringe moments towards the end.

[green day]

I think one of Jonathan Watson’s blindspots was continuing to use characters that had long since gone from the game. Younger viewers wouldn’t have had a clue who some of these guys were. With the list of names you’ve mentioned, it sounds like this is a bit more of the same. But, as you say, maybe not too bad for a more mature audience.

I used to like Only an Excuse but it was probably about ten years past its sell-by date. Some real cringe moments towards the end.

Agreed - and the "ho, ho, ho isnt all this sectarianism funny lads" attitude was brutal.

[Pretty Boy]

I think one of Jonathan Watson’s blindspots was continuing to use characters that had long since gone from the game. Younger viewers wouldn’t have had a clue who some of these guys were. With the list of names you’ve mentioned, it sounds like this is a bit more of the same. But, as you say, maybe not too bad for a more mature audience.

I used to like Only an Excuse but it was probably about ten years past its sell-by date. Some real cringe moments towards the end.

Only An Excuse was a Hogmanay must watch when I was a bairn. If it was missed on the night then it was taped and watched over the next couple of days.

The decline in quality was massive and seemed to happen really quickly. As you said the fact there was an obsession with people who were long gone from the game wasn't great, some of the impressions were bordering on the ludicrous towards the end and it was close to impossible to work out who they were supposed to be and the attempts at political satire were just painful. I think the world just changed as well and what OAE was trying to churn out once a year could be done in half a day on social media. It becomes very hard to be relevant when that happens.

I like Jonathan Watson though and will give the podcast a try and see what it's all about.

[BILLYHIBS]

Remember they had a Radio offshoot back in the day that I had in my car on cassette cannae mind what it was called but anyway:

‘ Hearts : The Wilderness Years ‘ cue tumbleweed rolling across the desert music

[Kato]

We met Jonathan Watson and Tony Roper in the Shakespeare after the HoH rally at the Usher Hall.

They didn't like Hearts very much.

Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk

[JimBHibees]

Only An Excuse was a Hogmanay must watch when I was a bairn. If it was missed on the night then it was taped and watched over the next couple of days.

The decline in quality was massive and seemed to happen really quickly. As you said the fact there was an obsession with people who were long gone from the game wasn't great, some of the impressions were bordering on the ludicrous towards the end and it was close to impossible to work out who they were supposed to be and the attempts at political satire were just painful. I think the world just changed as well and what OAE was trying to churn out once a year could be done in half a day on social media. It becomes very hard to be relevant when that happens.

I like Jonathan Watson though and will give the podcast a try and see what it's all about.

Was Tony Roper not the main guy? Can remember the radio shows they used to do which were genuinely brilliant

[Carheenlea]

After thinking the first episode was OK to listen to for fans 50 and over, after listening to the second one I suspect this venture won’t last too long.

If they get to the end of this season they’ll be doing well!

[Hibspur]

While the show was put out of its own misery a few years ago, and that of the viewers too, Jonathan Watson and Phil Differ, the two original writers have joined forces with Chic Young for a new podcast called Forget the Ball get on with the game.

Basically just a chat about Scottish Football with some brief impressions thrown in along the way. After listening to the first one along with trailer, impressions so far have been Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish. Alan “Rambo” McInally, Chick Young, Graeme Souness and Jim White, so not the most promising of starts.

In some ways though you can admire them for having no interest in tackling some new characters, and it’s basically three old guys sitting chatting about football which for anyone over the age of 50 is a perfectly pleasant enough half an hour to listen to to fill some time in your day.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forget-the-ball/id1805806772

That sounds dismal. They should throw in the Frank McAvennie and Denis Law impressions in just for good measure.

[Carheenlea]

That sounds dismal. They should throw in the Frank McAvennie and Denis Law impressions in just for good measure.

This weeks impressions were Jim White, Charlie Nicholas and Alan McInally. I don’t think it’s going to be an expansive cast.

[Since452]

That sounds dismal. They should throw in the Frank McAvennie and Denis Law impressions in just for good measure.

Horrendous. Reminds me of oversaturated Scottish "comedy" forced apon me at Hogmanay as a bairn. Still can't watch BBC Scotland at new year 😂

[marinello59]

It was dead on its feet years before the plug was finally pulled. Go back to 2001 (or thereabouts) and they had a young lad on who had been working for Dundee United in hospitality taking part. He really freshened things up. He was never seen on it again , the regulars must have felt threatened.

[Billy Whizz]

It was dead on its feet years before the plug was finally pulled. Go back to 2001 (or thereabouts) and they had a young lad on who had been working for Dundee United in hospitality taking part. He really freshened things up. He was never seen on it again , the regulars must have felt threatened.

Paul Reid. He was on things like soccer am, and his impressions were top notch He also does the smokers circuit
He’s currently Commercial Director at Arbroath

https://youtu.be/0lHgnTyidrY

[Alfred E Newman]

Johnathan Watson's biggest problem is that he is just a poor impressionist.

[He's here!]

Horrendous. Reminds me of oversaturated Scottish "comedy" forced apon me at Hogmanay as a bairn. Still can't watch BBC Scotland at new year 😂

Me neither. An utterly depressing way to see in the new year. It has the air of those days when Scotsport came to an end on Sunday and all you had left to look forward to was Monday morning school.

[JoeT_WasTheBest]

Remember they had a Radio offshoot back in the day that I had in my car on cassette cannae mind what it was called but anyway:

‘ Hearts : The Wilderness Years ‘ cue tumbleweed rolling across the desert music

I have/used to have a few of the audio tapes - Only an Excuse, Only a World Cup Excuse. They were really funny but that was in the times of Tony Roper being involved.

[One Day]

I have/used to have a few of the audio tapes - Only an Excuse, Only a World Cup Excuse. They were really funny but that was in the times of Tony Roper being involved.

I heard an old cassette tape years ago and I always remember the line " Brechin City, 1906 to 1990?, also known as the wilderness years". made me laugh.

[BILLYHIBS]

I heard an old cassette tape years ago and I always remember the line " Brechin City, 1906 to 1990?, also known as the wilderness years". made me laugh.

That might have been it 👀

My one was funnier 😀

[marinello59]

Paul Reid. He was on things like soccer am, and his impressions were top notch He also does the smokers circuit
He’s currently Commercial Director at Arbroath

https://youtu.be/0lHgnTyidrY

That’s him. :thumbsup:

[Hibs07p]

I suppose they can only *iss with the cox that they have. By the sounds of it they are not very well endowed.

GGTTH
Scottish Cup Winners
2016

[Gloucester Hibs]

Neil Critchley looks like Jonathan Watson doing an OAE impression of Neil Critchley

[overdrive]

That’s him. :thumbsup:

He did the Darts with Daz event a few months ago. He was really good

[Baader]

This weeks impressions were Jim White, Charlie Nicholas and Alan McInally. I don’t think it’s going to be an expansive cast.

Good to see it's keeping up with the times. 😔 Is he still doing Jim Leishman?

[JoeT_WasTheBest]

Neil Critchley looks like Jonathan Watson doing an OAE impression of Neil Critchley

Yip I agree with that [emoji23]

[hibstag]

I have/used to have a few of the audio tapes - Only an Excuse, Only a World Cup Excuse. They were really funny but that was in the times of Tony Roper being involved.

I had those and remember stuff like 'He was an enigma he had a good game once and we waited years for him to do it again' and ' those great Scottish commentators and the Great players law law goal great goal... and dalgleish dalgleish goal great goal.... Best best - you get it.

[He's here!]

Another programme I came upon for the first time in years was Have I Got News For You. It's like it's been in deep freeze since the 1990s. A million miles past its sell-by date. The phrase 'answers on a postcard' is still being rolled out...

[007]

I have/used to have a few of the audio tapes - Only an Excuse, Only a World Cup Excuse. They were really funny but that was in the times of Tony Roper being involved.

I used to have the cassette of this one. I remember it being very funny.

https://youtu.be/Zj2Trh49asc?si=bYjm9wo0AI6APeaS

https://youtu.be/oh-4Hwj0MpQ?si=hcf0jNkymfZhbkP_

[Carheenlea]

This weeks “impressions” were just Graeme Souness, but they did throw in an extra bonus content of some news round ups by Jim White. Thankfully it was only a minute or so long.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forget-the-ball/id1805806772?i=1000705537317

Be warned, this short clip has to be up there as one of the worst attempts of comedy in the history of Only an Excuse. It’s criminally bad, which ultimately, will make me continue to look forward to the show every week to see how much deeper into the mire they can sink.

The main episode was just talking about the Old Firm and what a great guy Jock Wallace was because he hit people.

[Pretty Boy]

This weeks “impressions” were just Graeme Souness, but they did throw in an extra bonus content of some news round ups by Jim White. Thankfully it was only a minute or so long.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/forget-the-ball/id1805806772?i=1000705537317

Be warned, this short clip has to be up there as one of the worst attempts of comedy in the history of Only an Excuse. It’s criminally bad, which ultimately, will make me continue to look forward to the show every week to see how much deeper into the mire they can sink.

The main episode was just talking about the Old Firm and what a great guy Jock Wallace was because he hit people.

I like that he didn't waste time with trivialities like doing a different voice for Jim White and Brendan Rodgers.

[Baader]

I like that he didn't waste time with trivialities likes doing a different voice for Jim White and Brendan Rodgers.

His Brendan Rodgers sounds more like Martin O'Neill. Really bad.

[worcesterhibby]

Paul Reid. He was on things like soccer am, and his impressions were top notch He also does the smokers circuit
He’s currently Commercial Director at Arbroath

https://youtu.be/0lHgnTyidrY

he’s great !

[Carheenlea]

I like that he didn't waste time with trivialities like doing a different voice for Jim White and Brendan Rodgers.

There was certainly a moment where I wondered if it was Jim or Brendan I was meant to be hearing :hilarious

[Irish_Steve]

I like that he didn't waste time with trivialities like doing a different voice for Jim White and Brendan Rodgers.

That comment was funnier than the whole podcast

[JimBHibees]

There were a lot of times in the Hogmanay show you had no idea who he was trying to do other than they had a club training top with initials on it. Absolutely incredible it lasted so long

[WestCoastHibby]

Was guff for years and ……still is