The voice of Brazilian football

Bueno's lines at least seem more interesting than Andy (smashed it) Gray... The football pundit/commentator game is almost an industry in itself over here now.. The only saving grace being Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports.. There are even a few disasters on that too but the light hearted tone keeps their flaws at bay..

Is the Galvao Buenos the fella we have to thank for the 'GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!' during Spanish and Latin American football commentaries? If so that is one hell of a legacy to leave the football world! https://www.loserscomesecond.com/

If you could put a face to represent the Biased unprofessional nature of Globo TV then it would most definately be Galvao Bueno. He is like Globo tv, not only unbelievably untouchable in that he can say and act in any way he likes, but also unpopular amongst a large part of the Brazilian population. He lacks any respect for his viewers and he unlike you Tim, I as most people who know him would probably agree, think he talks absolute nonsense about most sports that he commentates on. During the Brazilian F1 race that decided the championship, he spent most of the race actually trying to jinx or "dry" (as they say in Brazil) Jenson Button's race by showing a hair dryer over him during the race. Pathetic, arrogant and dishonest, i am extremely grateful we are not subjected to this kind of rubbish when commentating on sport in the UK.

I think I would rather listen to Bueno's lines in Portugese than Andy 'I told ya' Gray's ramblings. I think the main commentators in this country are quite good but we have a serious lack of good co-commentators. Surely we can dig out something better than Andy Gray and David Pleat. Hopefully the BBC and ITV can dig out some good guys for the world Cup this year.
Even when you can't fully understand the language, South American commentary is an absolute joy to listen to. I watched a couple of England games whilst in South America last year and remember that the commentator had nicknames for the England players. Such things as 'Spice boy Beckham', 'Baby Rooney' and 'Calamity James' were heard. They try to make the football more fun to watch which certainly helps more people get involved.

At 09:44am on 11 Jan, Ian Blasdale wrote "Galvao Bueno is...not only unbelievably untouchable in that he can say & act in any way he likes... pathetic, arrogant and dishonest, I am extremely grateful we are not subjected to this kind of rubbish when commentating on sport in the UK"

Can he really be any worse than Alan "Man of the people/what I do and which team I support in my spare time is my business/this is the worst game I've seen this season since the last one/I'm not working with that muppet" Green? The most biased, uninformed, arrogant, pompous sports commentator of all time and, sadly, seemingly untouchable.

Good stuff Tim

Q1: Is that Arsenal's Denilson I can see in the top left of that photo?

Q2: Is Bueno the same commentator who shouts,"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLL!" until he runs out of breath?

When everything Brasil scored or came close to scoring, there was a strange sound and I heard "Brasil". The person who I believe most of you are getting confused about is Andrés Cantor who does game for Mexico and the Mexican league but is from Argentina. Correct me if I am wrong/

The GOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLL commentator is Andres Cantor, who works for Telemundo. Good blog, Tim--you certainly open up an interesting topic here. In the US we have (a) a generation of truly awful commentators on their way out, and (b) a new generation of ex-players from our 80s/90s national teams who are quite smug and arrogant when they do the games. They don't seem to do any research on the games or players and posture as experts, though they rely on a repetitious string of painful cliches. They're completely convinced that all they have to do is is show up and smile to add something useful to the proceedings. I'll take Andy Gray and Martin Tyler any time...

The best commentary on English television is the coverage of Spanish football on Sky Sports. The commentators comments on the players as well as the color commentator (unlike in England where the commentator will only call what he sees and have little opinion) - Kevin Keatings being the best to describe the La Liga game on a Saturday or Sunday evening.

Massively underated commentator in England is Ian Darke - can make any Premiership game interesting and events around the penalty area seem to be hyped even further by his voice.

Nice change of article here Tim - it's something we take for granted in football but I love hearing the commentators when watching a game of footy.

https://www.worldfootballcolumns.com

I can't believe anyone likes the Goooooooooooooooollllllllllll by Andres Cantor. It's now done in almost all Spanish speaking countries and it's so annoying. Fair enough if it's a screamer on the turn volley from well outside the box, but sometimes it's a dodgy backpass that the keeper can't get to and it really just sounds stupid.

English Commentary isn't all that bad, relative to the rest of the world, I think the likes of John Motson and Jonathan Pearce at the BBC do a decent job (although ITV commentary always seems so badly researched). It's altogether better than American commentary which spends so much time trying to make mundane events seem ridiculously exciting, or French commentary which just seems like a never-ending list of facts and figures.

A BRITISH journo portraying a FOREIGN commentator as 1.biased and 2.arrogant.

Now I've seen it all.

Have you really nibs? Well done old chap.

Anyway, I get the impression that the journo loves the commentator's work in spite of his arrogance and bias. Almost all the UK commentator's show obvious bias, I dare say Liverpool fans love Green and Man U fans love Tyldsley - but to the rest of us they are awful, biased and irritating. Those two especially seem to find a way to relate any topic back to their respective clubs.

I must admit I've not heard a lot of Brazilian commentators, but will keep an eye/ear open for this man's work. I watch a lot of Italian and Spanish football, the Italian's have a way of romanticizing even the most drab of games - waxing lyrical about the war of attrition and tactical games being played out by the respective managers. Mr Jones is right too about Ian Darke, very good. As is the Spanish football coverage on Sky, although they tend to show the same clubs week in, week out. Would love to see more of Mallorca and Getafe who have both been playing great football this season. Does any of the Brazilian or Argentinian football still get shown on Channel 5 by the way?

@7 I think you'll find that Bueno does the same thing, although not quite as long as Cantor. I do love that little samba jingle they play when Brazil scores though plus the little vocal echo that peeps *Braaasil* at the end and start of it, just to remind you it was indeed Brazil that scored.

I would love that little tune as my meruchaku. :-)

PS: Random question Tim but I went to a Brazilian restaurant in Tokyo last weekend. Was wondering what, if anything, do Brazilians eat when watching football at the stadiums.

I must say, excellent blog again!

Andy gray is a shambles. Talks nonsense and is so baised to englands big clubs it hurts. I can remember a match several years ago athletico played liverpool off the pitch only to be pegged back by a gerrard dive. Gray just could admit his pre-match prediction of liverpool dominating against "a weaker team from a weaker league" was woefully off the mark.

Having said that, and im the first to moan about english bias from commentators on international games, scotlands commentators are just as bad, if not worse.

@11

Well, I'm brazilian and I can say that Bueno is 1.biased and 2.arrogant. And a lot of brazilians share that opinion. In fact, my friends and I only watch the games on Tv Globo to laugh at his over the top nationalism (that, and the fact that Globo holds exclusive rights to Brazil friendlies and national championship).

I remember a couple of years ago I was in Mexico and happened to catch a game, I think it was Corinthians and Carlos Tevez was playing.

Tevez scored and I was greeted with both the commentators bursting into song

'La la, la la la la la la, hey hey hey Charlie Tevez'

I have never laughed so much

The derth of decent commentators in Britain is both embarassing and annoying in equal measure. It baffles me that the finest commentator of recent times, Peter Brackley of Football Italia fame cant get a gig on BBC, ITV or Sky, when we're subjected to the likes of Tyldsley, Gray, Pearce, Drury etc....

Despite disagreeing with some of Tim's opinions, disliking the topic and loathing Galvao Bueno, I thought the article has given room for some good argument among the readers.
Firstly, the majority of Latin/South American commentators shout long "Goooll". It's just tradition.
Secondly, there's a difference between commentator and match analyst. At least in Brazil. The likes of Galvao Bueno aren't paid to give their insights on the match (at least shouldn't really), they are there to narrate the game, like Martin Tyler. There's a specific "Andy Gray" figure, like Falcao for Globo ('82 midfielder)


More importatly, as @3 Ian Blasdale points out, Galvao Bueno is generally disliked amongst Brazilian crowd. Despite having a very rich voice and some successfull punch lines, he's extremely annoying, utterly arrogant and embarrasingly blunder-prone on his arrogant triumphalist tone. He downplays every opposition Brazil faces and not only cheers for Brazilian race drivers as he openly jinx opposing drivers. I can't call that nationalistic or the trait of a nation "proud to be number 1 at something". I don't wanna be part of that nation and can't accept that.
Hence, I thoroughly disapprove Tim's supposedly positive tone for Galvao, must be of a british journalist enthralled with the emotion Galvao conveys as opposite to more boring tone of British commentators.
I believe the British ones can still instil some wit, whereas Galvao can't understand the word to begin with. He tries this "know-it-all" personna that actually knows nothing and usually gets exposed.

tv commentators in the uk are a bit dull and daft for my liking, the radio is generally a better bet, mute the tv and pop on 5 live, hopefully the next generation might be a bit more enthusiastic or tactically astute

"Can he really be any worse than Alan...Green? The most biased, uninformed, arrogant, pompous sports commentator of all time and, sadly, seemingly untouchable."

I have to disagree with you here Richard.

I too once thought Alan Green was a biased commentator, but the more you listen to him commentate on different teams and ignoring minor remarks, i think he's fairly balanced. I actually would regard him as the most passionate commentator on either radio or TV - he says the truth that we all scream for every week from most other commentators who are too scared to say what they see. Sitting on the fence is to maintain political correctness is not a characteristic we as football fans want to see or hear. After all, we don't so why should the people talking about it do? I personally think a huge effort should be made to get either Martin Tyler or Alan Green commentating for the TV coverage of England in World Cup. Green will provide the passion, although not English, that we all want to hear. Any evidence needed was duly given in the wake of England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 on 5 Live's radio coverage immediately after the game.

Saying that, Peter Drury of ITV has had some great commentating moments, he should be put forward for it too.

Galvão is an arrogant idiot who knows little about his subject (be it football or F1) and yet talks down to his audience ("let me explain to you..."). Knowledgable sports fans here in Brazil cannot stand him. Only the more ignorant fail to see through his waffle. Sadly they are in the majority in this poor country.

This is an interview between Bueno and Pele, after you can see the lack of respect Bueno shows to Pele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30lZ9hAjTnM

No no no no noone actually invented GOOOOOL shouting celebration. This is something that has eveloved in S.America alongside football.

This is one of my favourite ones. Higuita, what a legend. Even a Millonarios fan like me gets excited at this Nacional goal againts River Plate. ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QzY1GgQgiM

The UK needs to find a fun commentator. I remember Mark Lawrenson saying that the Spanish / Portguese way of shouting GOOOOL was demented and he would certainly be not doing it. What a boring boring man.

foolrulez (no.15) - Band also shows the National championship in Brazil. And usually a different ganme to Globo. Happily Galvão seems to think himself above the Brasilerião nowadays and the commentating job is given to less histrionic/arrogant souls such as Cleber Machado. Luciano Valli on Band is also better although he speaks too much for my taste. But at least he is humourous!

Speaking of commentators, is there any chance that next time you're in Old Blighty you could put us out of our misery and take David Pleat back to Brazil with you?

It's impossible for any Latino commentator to be good, I like to be left to watch the game and be given some useless information every once in a while not screamed at for 95 minutes.

The thing about Galvão is that he has his own armed bodyguard who accompanies him everywhere (including Globo’s studios!)

The “gollllllllllllll” thing is used by all the commentators in Brazil. For some goals, such as Palmeiras’ Diego Souza’s volley from the halfway line against Atlético Mineiro, the “golllllll” scream is perfect. But I’ve always felt using it for everything can severely limit the significance of the goal. An own-goal, a penalty, Maradona’s ‘hand of god’ goal, Thierry Henry’s goal against Ireland …………. here the “gollllllllll” shout fails miserably to convey the real meaning of what has happened on the pitch

BazOfTheBoleyn (25)

Galvão stopped narrating Serie A because he's focusing on F1 transmissions.
Globo still has the exclusive rights over Brasileirao, but they allow some games to air on Bandeirantes, but, as far as I remember, it's always the same game that's on Globo (at least in Sao Paulo).

And I don't think Luciano do Valle is better than Galvao. In fact, one thing I always say about Galvao it's that he's a good football narrator, it's his commentaries that are horrible.

Well, I grew up listening to "gooool", so it's natural. But I do understand the point made by Tim and others that it can take away the importance or singleness of a particular goal. My fav goal commentator is Martin Tyer, never forget the "heskey...and it's fiive!"
But regarding the point Tim makes on Galvao's and Barry Davies' reactions to Argentinian goals, and the whole "terribly nationalistic" debate we've set up on Galvão's style, I present a question here:

At international tournaments, do you prefer a nationalistic biased broadcaster or a pure neutral one?
You should listen to the way the Brazilian commentators shout goal against Brazil. It has got a single "o" and it lasts less than a second. While I criticize Galvao, I must say I prefer a little bit of emotion and cheer from the commentator as he wants the nation to progress as much as we do.
It's just that Galvao goes over the top

foolrulez (28), bad luck for you if Band and Globo show the same match. I am lucky here in SC to pick up two Globo channels (SP and local) plus Band. At times I can choose between three matches!

Actually all Brazilian commentators speak too much for my taste. They seem to think one is listening to them on the radio. We have pictures!!

Tim (32), you live in Brazil and don't watch F1? Talk about alienating oneself from the general public!

Tim, is there any chance of you doing an interview with Tostão and discuss all things football in South America and printing it on here as a blog post?

#17 - are you even close to being serious? peter brackley has got to be one of the most boring commentators around. at least David pleat makes you giggle when he calls the same player a different wrong name each time.

mark bright sounds insuffrably like an 18 year old boy still waitng for his balls to drop!

I'm glad we don't have the long gooaall tradition in England, it's tedious and comes across as lazy personally anyway.

love for JP, drury, champion, motson, tyldsley, tyler and green

A good, if unusual, topic Tim. Living in Sao Paulo, I've listened to Galvao Bueno a lot and I must admit I like him as a commentator. He seems to have a good on-air chemistry with Falcao (summariser), too.Maybe others would disagree. Off air, my girlfriend, who was living in Japan at the time of the 2002 World Cup, met Galvao personally and she tells me that he's extremely friendly and personable, always having time to have his photo taken with all and sundry-inlike the majority of the Brazilian squad, according to my girlfriend.

Tim, I am enjoying your numerous repostes to all the morons. It would be nice if people actually read your articles properly before commenting on them.

With regards to the article, I find this a very strange topic to do a feature on. Surely it is the mark of most commentators that by and large they show bias to the home team? Admittedly, in comparison with the usually-understated British commentators, Galvao would probably be considered a bit of a buffoon over here, especially with the British tendancy to not overly display emotions. But in international matches I would expect a fair amount of home bias from the commentators (bias, not rampant nationalism); it's just that British commentators tend not to be so obvious with shouting and screaming.

In my experience continental European commentators can be just as bad as Galvao: I remember a couple of years ago when I was on holiday in Greece I was in a pub watching Panathinaikos play in the Champions League. According to the subtitles the commentator was shouting 'take his legs!' No way a national commentator would get away with that in the UK.

Good blog. Here in paraguay we have to put up with the fools on foxsports. I think they're all argentineans, and they do things like make up silly songs for each player when they score. One of the commentators was quite famous for that, he even launched a cd with the songs apparently! I can't stand it. then there' the other one who always pronounces the "o" at the en of someone's name as an "a" (eg, romario-romaria).
They babble on about nothing much during the games, no stats or interesting facts.
Most of the time, they're completely clueless about the players. They constantly call Gary Cahill from Bolton "the australian", people with a gh in their names have to put up with being called "hiugs" (hughes), "vogan" (vaughan) etc... and Reading FC are literally called "reading" instead of "reding"
I wouldn't mind all their mindless nonsense if it weren't for their inaccuracies. During the Arsenal-Everton game this weekend they were criticizing the premier leagues pitches, saying that it was unbelieveable that they couldn't be played on because of the snow.
Plus, they don't even seem to know the rules of the game most of the time!
I for one am a fan of andy gray, if only because as an ex footballer, he knows what he's talking about most of the time, which i think is necessary for the experience to be enjoyable. I wish fox would hire one ex player to commentate alongside one of these people, maybe that way they'll learn.

Can anyone remember the scandanavian commentator who quipped "Your boys have taken a beating" after his national team secured a shock victory over england. I think it was norway??? In the 80's i believe??

Surely that was one of the most unprofessional commentary ever on international football. The commentator's tone was viciously ultra nationalistic. He was speaking in english

I find all commentators to be biased towards their own national teams in different countries. But Galvao is downright blunt and doesnt try to hide his bias whereas English commentary at the world cup is always pretending not to be but clearly is

Firstly, let's not forget that working for Globo means that you have to be part of the gang, which of course is the Globo mafia. Matches in Brazil are often dicated by Globo's soap operas, hence one of the reasons you have quarter full stadiums with matches kicking off at 22:00. So yes Tim, i agree that as Globo's superstar, he is without doubt much more important than the players.

Secondly let's be clear here, based on what he says and not the way he says it, Galvao Bueno is not a commentator at all, he's merely a supporter or fan if you like. Like football supporters everywhere his partiality and heart rules his head.

Referring to 37 Yes he is in fact a star whose ego is very much up there with the Ronaldinhos and Robinhos of this world, so of course he loves signing autographs. Regarding being a nice person, let's not also forget that for the reported 1 million real PER MONTH salary he makes, there's a pretty good chance that i'd also enjoy smiling and having my picture taken for that kind of money.

"some people are on the pitch. they think it's all over. goallllllllllllllllllllllllll" say it all really

Unusual topic Tim, but I love the topic of commentators.

First, may I ask if Peter Drury is the one who called the Champions League final last year between Barcelona and Man Utd?

This nationalistic thing during commentatory is not a new thing; here in Tanzania our commentators, all horrible with honorable exception of those at the Beeb Swahili World Service, always favour the national team. I was evening listening to the coverage of the World Athletic Championships last year by Cfi; they had a Kenyan (can't believe I forgot his name!) as commentator together with a Brit, but you had to listen to his disappointment when a French guy prevented a clean sweep of the podium in the men's steeplechase.

Someone else has said radio commentatory in the UK is exciting; I fully agree, I remember Stoke's match vs Fulham where the commentator went mad at the Figueroa goal, or his line, "Tuncay with a bit of space...AND HE MAKES THE MOST OF IT!!!" or last season Ooijer's goal vs Tottenham, "Corner in, AND IT BOUNCES TWICE and Ooijer turns it it!! Pathetic defending Spurs, Pathetic defending..." and so on.

But my favourite UK commentators are Ian Darke and Ian Crocker.

I do wish south American commentators would give up the long GOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL shouts. If for no other reason than it deprives them of the potential for a 'They think it's all over...it is now!' moment. Which one of them would not wish to be immortalised in a saying such as that? Ken Wolstenholme's place in football history is assured as a result. What other commentator can say the same?

John Virgo is my least favourite commentator cos its annoying when he says: "I can't believe he missed that". A good commentator is Sir Peter O'Sullievan who I have met at Cheltenham Racecourse in November and he kindly gave me his autograph as did Channel 4's Nick Luck. 90 and still going to race meetings.

Murray Walker was the Voice Of Formula One and will always be. Unlike Legard who commentates on F1 as if it's horse racing.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTING COMMENTATORS PEOPLE?

Legendry Commentators In Sport
Football: John Motson
F1: Murray Walker, James Hunt/Brundle
Horse Racing: Sir Peter O'Sullivean
Golf: Peter Aliss
Snooker: Clive Everton, Dennis Taylor
Darts: Tony Green.

andycfcfantastic wrote: "I too once thought Alan Green was a biased commentator, but I think he's fairly balanced"
Yep, chip on both shoulders....

"I would regard him as the most passionate commentator on either radio or TV - he says the truth that we all scream for every week from most other commentators who are too scared to say what they see"
Passion does not = the truth. He is passionately biased & passionately contemptuous of most players, officials and indeed fellow commentators.

I personally think a huge effort should be made to get Alan Green commentating for the TV coverage of England in World Cup"
I personally will glue my finger to the mute button if that happens.

I have always found that English commentators try to be too PC. Listen to an Irish broadcast of an irish World Cup qualifier and the commentators will always say "we" and "us". English commentators talking about England only ever say "they". Clearly they wish not to upset watching Scots and Welshmen but what of watching Englishmen in Scotland and Wales? Actually I liked to hear the Irish say "we" just as the commentators say "nós" here in Brazil. But Patriotism and overboard Jingoism are quite different things.

Tim (39) - no one watching F1 after Senna died?!?! Are you crazy? Barrichello was on his way up. The entire country was rooting for him to be the next Ayrton. Get a grip, man. I suggest you listen to Galvão's F1 commentary just to understand him better. In fact you should never have written about him in the first place with no knowledge of 50% of his work. That's like having the effrontery to discuss Mozart without knowing his operas!

@49

Or having the effrontery to insult a well-respected commentator on South American football without basis.

-Tim & Others - Sorry to disagree but there is deffinately more than one way commentators shout GOL. Especially on the significance of the goal. To say that it all sounds the same is being narrow minded. And anyway when a goal is scored, the word GOL is not the only word that is shouted.......there is usually a whole load more of excited celebration related to the goal, who scored it, how it was scored etc.

Galvao Bueno is very annoying, specially because he shamessly tries to push opinions of his and the corporation he works for (such as return the Brazilian league to a play-off system) as facts and how he tries to promote his buddies at the expense of others, specially Ronaldo, who wouldn't even be considered for a Brazil call up again without Bueno promoting him, and would have been much more criticized in 2006 if it wasn't for their friendship, with Bueno pretending there was nothing wrong with him.

Plus, he simply doesn't understand football that well, F1 and racing is more his game.

Being from the Netherlands I've heard Dutch, British, German, French, Belgian and South African commentators in a number of languages and by far the best for my money are the Flemish commentators of the Belgian Dutch RTV channel. Unbiased, always well-informed and not trying to steal the spotlight from the athletes. It's a pity they comment in Dutch, which is a language not many people outside the Low Countries understand.

So far Richard all you're only contributions have been to erroneously discedit what other's have put foward without providing anything constructive of your own, whilst also sounding bitter about something pretty much unrelated to this blog (maybe the team you support doesn't get a fair report from the media in general?). Care to venture ideas of a good commentator?

Guys ye should try the Irish commentary and pundits. Due to the fact that we are ever so slightly isolated from Britain our pundits really let rip when describing football matches in the Premier League and Champions League.
Love them or loathe them at least they give their opinion just as they would if sitting in the pub and this makes for great heated debate. The panel is made up of Johnny Giles, Eamonn Dunphy, Graeme Souness/Liam Brady and it makes for great tv.
Give me that over the utter banality of Jamie Redknapp, Andy Gray, Mark Lawrenson, Alan Hansen, Lee Dixon and the likes.
Check them out on youtube. Fabulous stuff

#25

You're wrong: Bandeirantes always shows the same game as Globo, as they're forced to by contract.

And Luciano do Valle, their main narrator, is as bad as Galvao Bueno, with the difference of having a bias towards clubs from Sao Paulo (like the entire station).

13. At 12:11pm on 11 Jan 2010, Aarfy_Aardvark wrote:
----------------------------------------------------------------
It is interesting because I find that ´BRASILLL ´ jingle the most annoying part of watching any national team sport in Brasil.Every point won in volleyball ..or any game is greeted with this...it has the same effect for me as fingernails dragged down a blackboard.

What is even more annoying is when Brasil are being beaten in a game ( though I have not seen this in football) the TV company decide that seeing Brasil beaten is not good and switch to something else!! As for the Olympics.. thank goodness for the internet or you would think that only Brasil ever won a medal. No events are shown unless a Brasillian is involved and has a reasonable chance of winning.
But these are small complaints....I love the nationalistic fever here, it is not about ´how you play the game ´it is about WINNING !!

I have to admit I enjoy Bueno´s commentary ..but I cant help wondering if he really needs to spend so long under the sun lamp! I know it is summer here and it is hot , but he turning decidedly orange in colour...or is it my tv?

I for one want them to continue to shout GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL it is so useful if you are out of the room ..it gives you a great warning to come back in and watch the replay.

Reminds me of a comment I read from Steven Fry which I can't remember, but went something along the lines of the internet being a fantastic thing and if you are to enjoy it, you must learn to put up with the pathetic, critical, negative and downright vicious nature of some contributors. I found this to be one of Tim's most enjoyable articles, and there's very few football writers out there that show such intelligence and an awareness of the wider social and cultural implications and interaction (for want of a better word) with sport. Small people will always find fault, pick holes and put negative spin on everything. The thing is, why the need to share it?

Tim, F1 isn't like tennis. We have been properly following it since the 70s because we've built a history in the sport. But, you're right, this is football, enough of that.

To @38 mpk87 and the others appalled at the nationalistic "anti-professionalism" from non British commentators, I think, once again, it's down to tradition. British football commentary is very strict, where you find places for gems like "they think it's all over", but at the same time there isn't much room for odd pieces.
Over here in Brazil, anything can happen and we are not amazed by it. There's a Brazilian ESPN channel that features a chef-turned-journalist who happens to be an Italian football expert. And every Sunday he talks about the secrets of Italian cuisine and how to make pasta dishes during a Milan match! It would be absurd, but anyone gets away with it here. I suppose it's a more relaxed atmosphere. Or we just can't stand the notion of silence during broadcasting.

55. At 3:47pm on 11 Jan 2010, andycfcfantastic wrote: "So far Richard all you're only contributions have been to erroneously discedit what other's have put foward without providing anything constructive of your own, whilst also sounding bitter about something pretty much unrelated to this blog (maybe the team you support doesn't get a fair report from the media in general?). Care to venture ideas of a good commentator?"

One a time, then:

1. "To erroneously discredit":

[a] What errors? Please specify.
[b] Don't split infinitives. Who do you think you are, Captain Kirk?

2. "Sounding bitter about something pretty much unrelated to this blog"?
Well, pardon me all over the place for feeling bitter about a BBC employee [whose wages I pay] doing a rubbish job....

3. "Maybe the team you support doesn't get a fair report from the media in general?"
Seeing as the team I support isn't in the Premiership, that goes without saying. Bitter enough for you?

4. "Care to venture ideas of a good commentator?"
John Arlott. I can't think of a good football commentator in work now, though I'd love to hear the Irish lads [Giles, Dunphy, Brady; after all, they've got 10 braincells between them, unlike the English 'experts'. Only decent English football commentator I've ever heard is the late, great Alan Partridge.

One thing that has occured to me through reading the replies to this blog ..or at least something that those not living in Brasil do not seem to understand.
Brasil is big ...VERY BIG ..it has a wide range of viewers to its main tv channel GLOBO and this channel is very powerful. Globo expects that if you are well educated and affluent you probably have a SKY dish and a big choice of channels, so it does not cater for those people. Moreover it aims itself at those who watch these free to air channels who are probably in the main, not greatly educated, or well off.It provides friendly,cheap entertainment for the masses and yes, it does ´dumb down´.You only have to watch Fastaou ( I can never spell his name) on Sunday afternoon and evening to understand this. But, they love him.
It is the same with the sports coverage..enjoy the spectacle , but do not expect wonderful informed opinion.

Tim (53), sorry if I upset you, sir. My tone was supposed to be facetious. My point is that you are discussing a commentator and yet know not half of what he does. Therefore you miss half of his personality. Would you discuss Barry Davies without also taking into account his other varied work?

peist2007 (56) - have to second you on Giles, Brady and Dunphy. Their crucifixion of Carrick and Ronaldo minutes before they and the rest of the United team put 7 past Roma in the Champions' League and the subsequent humble pie eating is stuff of legend.

Living in France, the commentators go nuts whenever the national team plays. They are very biased towards their own team, you can hear them screaming allez! when France need a goal. Though its quite annoying, I quite like the emotion they put into it. Its hard to imagine Motson screaming c'mon rooney! if England were down...

@ 64 what did they say during the france-irealnd game after "that" handball by henry?

Someone has already mentioned it, but he's so bad it's worth mentioning again...

David Pleat.

No one comes close to this clown, h I honestly know more than him based on his commentary, how ITV and the BBC haven't woken up to it yet is beyond me. Nothing Brazil has can even come close to the worlds worst pundit.

#55 No one likes a smart ar*e lecturing on Grammer. You may be right but just come across as arrogant pointing it out.

Sorry, above was relating to post 61.

Agree with those who said that Ian Darke is an underrated commentator, his voice can portray real drama, both on the football pitch and in the boxing ring.

For those that have mentioned that there aren't any British commentators who display passion, emotion or outright bias - Jonathan Pearce has calmed down a lot these days but his work on Capital Radio was phenomenal. I'm sure it would have irritated plenty of people, but they way he screamed into the microphone in whenever England scored during Euro '96 was unforgettable, particularly the frenzied "A-L Super Al!" and "Ready Steady Teddy!" in the Holland game.

If you think Andy Gray is bad, you should hear some of the commentators us Yanks are stuck with. Good God, they stick us with some awful guys. This one guy JP Dellacamera sounds like a parent watching his 12 year old son play football on the touchline. His voice crescendoes at unimportant moments, and you can almost hear the color commentators getting annoyed with him; frankly, his lack of knowledge of the game is shocking.

As for the Spanish commentators, I appreciate their style. Everything might be a gol-AZ-o, even if it's a simple tap-in, but I like the enthusiasm that they bring; they try their best to make ordinary games seem exciting.

Galvao is popular because he works for Globo. Any incompetent, nationalist or not, in that position would be popular. His merit is having maintained his job for so long in spite of his unprofessionalism, ignorance and small-mindedness. At every match I turn off the volume and pray that his tenure will not last much longer.

Talking of commentary, has anyone been watching the darts?

Some of the stuff they come out with is just hilarious and nonsensical to the extreme!

#67 - 'Grammer'???

Classic stuff.

Tim - going off topic and coming up with one of those annoying "What do you think of ......" questions that occasionally interfere with the discussion ...... how is Aislan of Sao Paulo progressing?? He was being linked to a number of Premier League clubs a season ago. Thanks.

34 (Baz) I also live in Brazil and have no interest in F1. This part of the national consciousness isn't for me though I can see how much it pervades the national psyche here every day when coping with the drivers, the majority of whom seem to me to think they should be at Interlagos!

Tim, nationalism comes easier to Brasil who have won the Cup 5 times and are perennial competitors than to England who won a Cup 44 years ago (with a dodgy goal to boot) and have not done much on the international stage since.

For football commentators, rightly or wrongly, hubris is a privilege, not a right. And Galvão wears his stars just like a player would.

Briefly, I can see where you're getting at, Tim, and certainly Galvao is very successful at what he does, even if he is a nationalist, irritating prick. However, I can't really agree with one critical issue: Galvao is notorious, very notorious, for making poor technical judgments with regards to football. The amount of times I've seen his fellow commentators disagreeing with him is staggering and, overwhelmingly, I'd say Galvao is wrong.

When I see the Brazilian commentators on ESPN, for example, I don't see half as many mistakes (on the contrary, some of the very best like PVC are there), even in Bandeirantes, where an aging Luciano do Valle should really be retired by now, you don't see as many disagreements and so many mistakes and poor judgment in general.

Again, Galvao is very successful, but that doesn't make him a good or technically correct commentator.

Re all the comments about Globo: yes, it's true that it's very powerful organ here and, in that sense, embodies what I think is a real weakness in this country (which, in most other respects, I love): TV here is of such poor quality, with very little variety, that I sometimes despair for the people here. They're being fed vacuous rubbish most of the time. Maybe that's why when a football match comes on, even if it is GB, I tend to think it's an improvement on what's gone before and what's coming after.

Can´t believe people are criticising Fox Sport´s commentator in South America. Bambino Pons is my favourite thing about Saturday mornings in Argentina - amazing knowlege about the game and the best goal celebration songs possible. Some of his greatest hits:

El gran Ruud (to the tune of Hey Jude for Van Nistelrooy scoring for Man U against Arsenal).

Estevie gerrard (Que sera, sera)

El gol lo hizo Ryan (Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing)
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He also knows his stuff about English football and has read Graham Poll´s autobiographay.

Can he really be any worse than Alan "Man of the people/what I do and which team I support in my spare time is my business/this is the worst game I've seen this season since the last one/I'm not working with that muppet" Green? The most biased, uninformed, arrogant, pompous sports commentator of all time and, sadly, seemingly untouchable.
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Spot on mate, spot on! Could not have put it any better in a million years.
English commentators, well what can I say? Apart from taking on mission impossible like selling the idea that Heskey is an 'amazing' player, and does things that we mortals 'can not see', these commentators binge on talking up some English player every major championship. Who will forget Beckham's foot injury in 2002, or Rooney's metatarsal last world cup. Anyone else who does cringes when watching these grown men pour out thier admiration for a football player like teenage girls?

Tim - that's blantantly you sneaking into the far right of the Sao Paulo team photo!! Anyway another great blog

Another great blog Phil. With the exception of the South American footballers we see in Europe and competitions such as the World Cup, I have a fairly limited knowledge of the South American game but always find your blog a fascinating and interesting read every week. Easily the best blog on this site and it never ceases to engage me.
I think you bring up an excellent point about the arrogance of English commentators and why they are so disliked north of their border.
It wouldnt be so bad if they had a trophy case to be envious of or a footballing style which is a joy to watch but they do not have, nor have they had either of the two yet the rest of Britain still has to endure their "England Expects" cocky attitude.
Sure Galvão is arrogant and cocky about his nation but if anyone has earned the right to display these traits - its Brazil.

#73, I'd like to claim it was a deliberate mistake, but I'd be lying.

@81 BlueSince 83
Ahaha, that's quite funny. The player in question is Danilo. A very slow, yet free scoring attacking midfielder. Left São Paulo to make his money in Japan. After 3 years there, he's back with arch-rivals Corinthians for the 2010 season.
Indeed, he does look like Legendinho!

And as another bloke remarked here, the young one far left is Arsenal's Denilson, who was probably 17 at the time!
At the center, we see Grafite, who's quite famous with Wolfsburg these days. Behind him there's Josue, who is terrible, but somehow he's Wolfsburg captain and even more astonishingly he is going to South Africa.

74 - Aislan was on the bench a lot towards the end of the season but didn't get a run out as far as i'm aware. think his contract with São Paulo is up in March. the club have just bought two centrebacks recently so Aislan's immediate prospects at the Morumbi don't look that promising

@79 you have got to be having a laugh mate! i can't believe anyone likes the way he comentates! horses for courses i suppose....

seriously though, most of the commentators on fox make far too many mistakes about stuff that they could easily check in a matter of seconds. I think pretty much every game i get irritated by some mistake either with identifying the wrong player, saying a certain player played for a club he never did, getting their nationality wrong etc....

They just seem so unprofessional. Even my wife knows more than them, and she's never been to england and doesnt like football!

And those songs.... kill me now....

I'm from Ecuador. We had a guy that couldn't sustain the "Gooool" for more than 2 seconds and so he broke into a hysterical laughter at the end of the shout. Sort of like Goool HAHAHAHAHA Goool HAHAHAHA Goool.
Also we have a "poet of football" and other sublimely ridiculous things.

Annoying? Sure, sometimes. But I honestly still prefer that a million times over dispassionate analysis, or boring commentary. I still prefer to hate the commentator with a vengeance than to hear cerebral analysis.

Somebody said that people shout GOOOL regardless of the importance of it. Its true, but you can definitely tell when its an excited "Gool" or a pity "Gool", so the information about the importance of the score is definitely conveyed.

Anyway, just my 2c

Again great blog tim

I lived in Brazil for a long time and I've been living in England for 4 years..
The English commentators are completely different from the Brazilian ones..
I used to think the British commentators were boring but now I finally understand their way of commentating the game

Hi Tim , i recently spoke to you about Humberto Suazo and his great goal record though you weren't so sure he could make the step up in Europe. Having just made his move to Zaragoza was a strange one for me considering there position and previous clubs Suazo had been linked with. How do you think he will get on in la liga ? looking forward to seeing him play and then at the world cup

Thanks Charley

Hi Tim , i recently spoke to you about Humberto Suazo and his great goal record though you weren't so sure he could make the step up in Europe. Having just made his move to Zaragoza was a strange one for me considering there position and previous clubs Suazo had been linked with. How do you think he will get on in la liga ? looking forward to seeing him play and then at the world cup

Thanks Charley.

Tim

I heartily concur with with Phil #35 - it would be great to see an interview with Tostao! Any chance?

@ 4 - Personally, I would find it irritating to have players refered to by cutsy nicknames (Spice Boy Beckam etc.)I think it shows a lack of respect for the players and would wear thin with viewers. I don't know how this sort of broadcaster could interview the player afterwards face -to face.

It seems to me that most bloggers want a mix of Galvaos passion with the relative neutrality of of commentators. (For the record, Motty & Gerry Harrison my favourites but as an analyst you can't beat the late Johnny Warren).

@ 29 - nationalism: Tim watch this reach a cresendo in World Cup Year! I remember the coverage the Uruguayan Team recieveed in the Australian press in 2005 before the South American - Oceania playoff. A whole manner of xenophobic terms were aired.

The build up saw the Uruguayans smeared as ‘win at all costs’ and ‘unsporting’. In contrast, the Socceroos were celebrated as ‘brave’, ‘courageous’ and ‘sporting’. i.e the sneaky South Americans verses the Heroic underdog.(mercifully few of these came from SBS's excellent coverage).

17- Absolutely on the money. Peter Brackley is peerless for me. He has sheer enthusiasm about any game he commentates on backed up by proper accurate research, a lack of ego and a clear love for the beauty of the game; be it a scissors kick or a well drilled defence (often the latter thanks to Serie A!).
Far preferable than the nonsensical, over dramatic stylings of a Drury ('Oh!')or a Tyldesley (Manchesser United, 1999 etc).
This Bueno fella sounds like he falls at the far end of this latter (lesser!) category...

I normally restrict myself to Tim's subjet but can't resist a pop at Alan Green I'm afraid..
The way Green shouts down and is generally overbearing towards a nice old bloke like Jimmy Armfield who has captained his country is quite offensive at times.. he seems to prefer Armfield who is so polite as to appear deferential than someone like Graham Taylor who will fight his corner to ge this point across.
He should listen to the sparingly-used Ian Darke calling the action.. he describes events and will then venture his opinion as a means of sparking debate with his co-comnmentator, an ex-player who can in theory provide additional insight to whats going on.
I am actually a huge fan of opinionated pundits but I do like a commentator who will call the events without too many entrenched views and prejudices blurring their view of events.

Aside from always belittling the English team and players (which I've kind of got used to as it is a Brazilian trait) the most annoying aspect of Bueno's football commentary for me is that he treats it like a radio commentary - he describes everything that you can plainly see for yourself. This verbal diarrhoea comes about either as a crude attempt to build extra excitement or simply because the man is devoid of anything interesting to say. The man is a vacuous baffoon.

Hi Tim

What ever happened to Gabriel Batistuta's strike partner at Boca Jrs a Diego Latorre and the early 90's Corinthian star Neto? I recall both during the early 90's linked to European clubs, nothing ever materialised.
Reading one of your previous articles about modern day brasilian midfielders, was Neto one of the last of a dying breed of 10's?

Many thanks and keep up the good work.

Suki, Coventry

#95- Neto stopped playing football in the late 90's, and nowdays he's the single most annoying pundit in Brazilian sport. Can't read the game and is shamessly biased towards clubs from Sao Paulo, specially Corinthians, where he reached the peak of his carreer.

#10 - Nick SD, re: the "gooooool" celebration, wrote ... "It's now done in almost all Spanish speaking countries ...".

Nick, surely you're not implying that it is just recently that that type of celebration has started? The "Goooool" shout has been around for years and years! Probably since the 1950's when TV was first being used for football. Most likely, the "gol" call was started in Argentina as that is the country that has most absorbed English-sounding names and terminology through the years, on the count of the British presence there since the early 1900s.

I feel I must defend Alan Green. Whenever I watch a match on one of the commercial channels I normally turn the sound down on the telly and tune in to Radio 5's commentary instead. There are some very good commentators on BBC Radio Cymru, especially Nick Parry and John Hardy.

The worst commentator has to be Jacqui Oatley. Whenever anything exciting happens in a match her voice turns into a high-pitched squeal.

#85 - thanks for the feedback.

#98 - Jacquie Oatley may be squeaky, but as a football analyst (without the commentary) she is actually pretty darn good.

There is absolutely no defence for Alan Green. Absolutely obnoxious bloke. The lack of respect he shows to some of his callers on 606 is disgusting. And have you noticed how many of his little rants start with "People think me and Big Sam don't get on" or "You might think I don't get on with Fergie"?? No Alan, your relationship with *any* football manager is *not* of interest to *any* of us - we tune in to find out about the football.

I am very surprised that Tim Vickery hasn't mentioned any of the Mexican TV commentators.