Quote Originally Posted by He's here! View Post
This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I did and I respect your views. I should have stated that my response wasn't directed at you personally. It was more of a general point about Scotland fans and English commentators and the way I think many tend to hide behind the 'it's not the players, it's the commentators' thing, when it fact they should just admit they want to see England stuffed.

Re your more specific point though, I personally don't think my experience of watching, say, Ukraine v Sweden, would have been especially enhanced by a Scottish commentary team. I don't see the big deal about what nationality the commentators are to be honest and as I've said before I often turn the commentary off during football games. Not because I have an issue with English commentators but because by and large I don't see the need for commentary full stop. The majority of the time they are simply telling me which player is on the ball and what they're doing with it - something I can see plainly for myself.
You're missing my point. I don't think you're doing it on purpose, but you are missing it.

I'm not demanding a Scottish commentary team or Scottish production in general, I'm trying to illustrate that the ABE 'movement' or whatever you want to call it is at the very least stoked, and possibly even caused by the England-centric TV coverage.

Continuing with last night as an example, we were treated to Jonathan Pearce regaling us with a story about Jimmy Greaves not being picked in 1966, Martin Keown seemingly having a lovely time when players were getting injured/sent off because England are up next, and I would guess at least half of the half time 'analysis' concentrating on England rather the game that I tuned in to watch. Freddie must have been loving it. So I'd say my enjoyment was impacted, yes.

I'm not English, I don't live in England. I'd go so far as to say I usually start competitions off pretty indifferent to England as a footballing nation, but by the time the hype reaches fever pitch and they eventually go out (or maybe even win the thing one day) I've absolutely had enough and want them out.

Did you read my Denmark comparison above? Doesn't that sound ridiculous when there's two different countries involved..... oh, wait a minute!

To say 'switch off the commentary if you don't like it' isn't really the answer for me as the rise and fall of the commentator's voice is part of the experience of watching on telly - it all gets a bit boring for me without it.

I'm far from a rabid ABE type, and I consider myself quite a reasonable person in general, but this really gets my goat.