Emma Hayes

[gandhisflipflop]

She’s awful. Just keep quiet for a minute!

[boatshed bill]

She is getting rave reviews across Social Media this evening. Prevailing view is she's the best there's been so far

It doesn't pay to take too much notice of Twitter etc.
And let's put this in perspective, the population of London and Essex probably like her voice

[Zlatan]

It was OK for me until I read this thread, now it’s just a massive distraction and irritation for me. The level of descriptive speaking is necessary for snooker on a black and white TV, but we can all see clearly with our 4K TVs now - we don’t need telling what we can see for ourselves

[Tall Paul]

Shut you’re eyes & you would think it was Glen Hoddle.

Why do you need to shut your eyes? Are you watching a live feed of the commentary box?

[boatshed bill]

Why do you need to shut your eyes? Are you watching a live feed of the commentary box?

[box_of_frogs]

Most of the time she is just stating the bleeding obvious

The key to many modern ‘commentators’ success.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Was about to start this post. Glad someone else did.

Clearly knows her stuff. But also never knows when not to speak. Never shut up!

Also. Sounds like a female Stuart Pearce.

[Billy Balfour]

I only listen to commentators when they're on the radio. I tend to subconsciously zone them out while watching live footie on TV.

[Steve1956]

Why do you need to shut your eyes? Are you watching a live feed of the commentary box?

Had to log in to like that...

[Redbeard]

It's high time we were allowed the option of live crowd noise but without the intolerably banal and patronising commentary.
Let those who want it have it, but allow us who don't a sound option other than turning it completely off. Watching silent football is nearly as bad as suffering Hayes, McCoist and the others.

[ŽižkovClaret]

She's good, and the "main" commentator has the good grace to know he knows far less, so just fills in between her insight.

Maybe its time for 2 commentary options. One for the more broad brushstrokes fans, and another for the ones who appreciate tactical analysis

[Redbeard]

Revolutionary maybe, but I repeat that we should have the option of NO COMMENTARY AT ALL.
I've always managed without it at TM...

[Rileybobs]

Revolutionary maybe, but I repeat that we should have the option of NO COMMENTARY AT ALL.
I've always managed without it at TM...

I thought the BBC had an option on the red button where you could turn commentary off?

[claretonthecoast1882]

She was the perfect example of commentating with a technical bingo card on her knee.

Last night we had Croatia were too deep, then she was glad they moved up the pitch 2nd half and closed them down quicker, then she didn't understand why they didn't stay deep like the 1st half when they had gone 3-1 down.

The one bit I struggle with her is how she knows what every team is doing wrong and what they should do to put this right, yet it is only a few weeks since she stood on the touchline watching on as her side got murdered in a final and she did nothing to stop it.

[Rileybobs]

She was the perfect example of commentating with a technical bingo card on her knee.

Last night we had Croatia were too deep, then she was glad they moved up the pitch 2nd half and closed them down quicker, then she didn't understand why they didn't stay deep like the 1st half when they had gone 3-1 down.

The one bit I struggle with her is how she knows what every team is doing wrong and what they should do to put this right, yet it is only a few weeks since she stood on the touchline watching on as her side got murdered in a final and she did nothing to stop it.

She correctly guessed with a couple of minutes to go that if Croatia continued to be positive and direct they’d get another fantastic opportunity, which they duly did. And whilst her praise for Morata got a little tedious she picked him out in extra time as the man who has what it takes to win the game, which he did.

She may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but she offers far more insight than the admittedly easier on the ear Ally ‘he’s fast, he really is’ McCoist.

[claretonthecoast1882]

She correctly guessed with a couple of minutes to go that if Croatia continued to be positive and direct they’d get another fantastic opportunity, which they duly did. And whilst her praise for Morata got a little tedious she picked him out in extra time as the man who has what it takes to win the game, which he did.

She may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but she offers far more insight than the admittedly easier on the ear Ally ‘he’s fast, he really is’ McCoist.

Picking Morata as Spain's likely scorer isn't really a shock.

[Rileybobs]

Picking Morata as Spain's likely scorer isn't really a shock.

Well no, it wasn’t a shock as such, but it was a correct assessment of the player and the situation. He’d only scored 1 of Spain’s 9 goals prior to that. Like I say, I can understand why some don’t like her style, but she without a doubt offers more insight and knowledge of the players and tactics than a number of other co-comms such as McCoist, Dixon and Murphy.

[Redbeard]

I thought the BBC had an option on the red button where you could turn commentary off?

I've tried that but without success, RB.

[Stalbansclaret]

I’m surprised stalbansclaret has “liked” this blatantly sexist comment. I can only assume he clicked the button by mistake.
Otherwise shame on you stalbansclaret.

Blimey......It was the reference to the "geezer voice" that I found amusing as I genuinely find her estuary-English drawl hard to bear. I'll live with my shame for that. Agree that some of the comment I "liked" (for this reason alone) was sexist on reflection but I'm not woke enough to remover my "like" at this late stage.

[Ric_C]

Blimey......It was the reference to the "geezer voice" that I found amusing as I genuinely find her estuary-English drawl hard to bear. I'll live with my shame for that. Agree that some of the comment I "liked" (for this reason alone) was sexist on reflection but I'm not woke enough to remover my "like" at this late stage.

Don't be bullied into apologising. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

This thread has made me listen a bit more intently to some of the co-comms recently. And Dion Dublin on MOTD last night was the king of just stating the bleeding obvious. Awful

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Emma Hayes is able to pass on her knowledge of tactics really well. A breath of fresh air!

[dsr]

Revolutionary maybe, but I repeat that we should have the option of NO COMMENTARY AT ALL.
I've always managed without it at TM...

I absolutely agree. When Sky Sports started, they had that option, but it only lasted a year or two. I suspect that too many people used it.#

If they won't give us that option, they should at least get rid of one of the commentators. When there are two of them, they just chat away all through the action and are just as irritating as the two blokes sat behind you in the stand who witter on about all sorts, relevant or not, throughout the game.

It's the same in other sports - McEnroe and AN Other yesterday spent the third and fourth sets of Murray's match talking to each other about how unlikely it was that Murray would lose the set from 0-5 followed by how unlikely it was that he had lost the set from 0-5. One man on his own wouldn't have kept drivelling on like that.

[Hipper]

Watching silent football is nearly as bad as suffering Hayes, McCoist and the others.

When I watch football I watch it silently. It allows me to make my own mind up. I use playback to check on something I'm not sure of. With big screens today we can get a pretty good impression of what's going on over the whole pitch.

Nor do I listen to the half-time twaddle. I usually turn the TV off for that period.

[Thehistoryteacher]

I think I’ve reached the point where almost everything about modern media coverage just drives me mad .. the contradiction and one very bright 21st century spark was provided by Amazon (I think ? ) who allowed for crowd noise only as an option

[dermotdermot]

I’d agree with that. But I’m watching the game on now and she just doesn’t shut up. Almost as bad as Lee Hendrie.

As Richie Benaud used to say on cricket that the art of good commentary is knowing when to say nothing.

Totally agree. She just doesn’t shut up.
Spoils the game.

[Redbeard]

I suspect that too many people used it.#

Exactly.

[alf_resco]

Football commentary in general is worse than it's ever been.
Not one (BBC Motson), not two (Sky Tyler & Gray, not 3 (BT Fletcher, McManaman & Hoddle chipping in) or even four "Let's bring in Peter Walton on this".
Verbal diahorrea, non-stop.
Shaddap will you and let's watch the game !

[ClaretTony]

Football commentary in general is worse than it's ever been.
Not one (BBC Motson), not two (Sky Tyler & Gray, not 3 (BT Fletcher, McManaman & Hoddle chipping in) or even four "Let's bring in Peter Walton on this".
Verbal diahorrea, non-stop.
Shaddap will you and let's watch the game !

"Let's bring in Peter Walton" - and what on earth does he really offer?

[AlargeClaret]

It’s rare to hear a proper old school London accent these days as most talk in a bizarre “ norf Lundon yoo know bro” type patios.

She’s a successful manager ( albeit in the niche sport of women’s football ) she knows her stuff ,but female voices in any kind of “ flowing sport” are generally horrendous due to the high pitch . Though this geezer bird could out fog horn a ship, she doesn’t shut up .As the the OP’s dreams of action , I’d have thought things were erm rather unlikely …

[Thehistoryteacher]

I don’t mind what gender they are or what part of the country they come from but I do wish they would just tell you who had possession etc instead of feeling the need to impart a babble of technical analysis … it’s meant to be an entertainment if I wanted the professional view I’d have done a coaching course years ago.

For those who enjoy the technical side then that’s fine too but it spoils the game for me

[Falcon]

Fantastic co-commentator. Puts the others to shame with her technical knowledge. Getting an actual manager in to do the in-play analysis was a stroke of genius by ITV.

[Silkyskills1]

Fantastic co-commentator. Puts the others to shame with her technical knowledge. Getting an actual manager in to do the in-play analysis was a stroke of genius by ITV.

So you genuinely understand and enjoy what she is going on about? As mentioned numerous times she doesn't know when to shut up .............. or for how long.

[Falcon]

I do and I think it offers a different insight to what you normally get.

I do perhaps think that people notice her more because they're used to hearing a male voice, and this is bringing more attention to the content of what is being said. Not saying that everyone slating her is sexist but she is more 'visible' if you know what I mean.

[claretonthecoast1882]

She had a good word to say about "Apaquettah" for Spain last night

[ClaretTony]

I do and I think it offers a different insight to what you normally get.

I do perhaps think that people notice her more because they're used to hearing a male voice, and this is bringing more attention to the content of what is being said. Not saying that everyone slating her is sexist but she is more 'visible' if you know what I mean.

No we notice her more because she never shuts up. About time someone told her that people actually want to watch the match.

[Redbeard]

Interestingly, the only lucid seven-letter anagram of 'Emma Hayes' is 'mayhems'; the meaning of which is 'needless disturbances'.

[dsr]

No we notice her more because she never shuts up. About time someone told her that people actually want to watch the match.

To be fair, do any of the commentators ever shut up? None of them seem to understand the concept that if they have nothing to say, then they should say it.

[NottsClaret]

Always surprised by the strength of feeling commentators stir up on here. For me it's just background noise, I'll be watching the game, chatting to family or friends and not really pay any attention to what they say. The half time break is time to get a brew or a pint depending on location.

I presume it was Hayes on yesterday, can't say I noticed anything out of the ordinary, good or bad.

[boatshed bill]

She turns what should be entertainment, even fun possibly, into a lecture.
Not what I want to hear.
FWIW, if we have to have co-commentators I like McCoist, or anyone who appears to have rapport with the commentator

[ClaretTony]

She turns what should be entertainment, even fun possibly, into a lecture.

That sums it up - it's like a non-stop coaching manual.

[Silkyskills1]

Interestingly, the only lucid seven-letter anagram of 'Emma Hayes' is 'mayhems'; the meaning of which is 'needless disturbances'.

That's very good, Redbeard. Are you a man of words or did it take you longer than anticipated to come up with that one.

[Redbeard]

Well, since in my opinion the woman IS one long needless disturbance, naturally I was struck by the coincidence, that's all.

[dsr]

Did you hear the commentary on England's second goal tonight? Kane was clearly somewhere close to offside, but you couldn't tell on one viewing. So what did the commentators tell us about VAR, about whether the ref was waiting for a signal, whether VAR had cleared the goal, anything helpful like that? Not a dicky bird. The commentators could see for themselves what was going on, so they had no interest in letting anyone else know. They didn't even tell us when the game had kicked off which means the goal is cast iron confirmed.

They have literally no concept that they are supposed to be filling the details of what we can't see for ourselves. They think we are tuning in partly to hear them speak and partly to watch the football; they believe that they themselves are a major part of the the show - they need to be told that they are background.

[tim_noone]

Alex Scott = off Button........instantly!

[fidelcastro]

Alex Scott = off Button........instantly!

The opposite for me. I find her very much a turn on!

[yTib]

To be fair, do any of the commentators ever shut up? None of them seem to understand the concept that if they have nothing to say, then they should say it.

this and not just in football.

jonathan pearce tonight seemed to be almost struggling for breath he talked so incessantly.

[bfcmik]

People from Burnley can’t moan about anyone else’s accent

Way better than the Brummies I have to listen too down here!

[timshorts]

Alex Scott = off Button........instantly!

I don't find that her voice grates on the back of your neck. The words come out quicker and sort of skip along.

Emma Hayes voice is a Danny dyer noise at John Wayne speed, like somebody slowly pulling a cheese grater across the inside of your skull.