The BBC’s veteran radio commentator Alan Green has been at it again, this time insisting on Graham Taylor’s removal as co-commentator for the recent England vs Croatia match. Mark Murphy wonders aloud whether it is time to put Green out to pasture.
BBC Radio Five Live’s Alan Green has been at it again, having a spat with a fellow co-commentator and demanding his removal. While the BBC has been at it again, acceding to Green’s every wish. Why? This piece is unlikely to win any awards for originality. Articles about Alan Green’s favourite football commentator appear tend to turn up with the regularity of London buses. His supporters praise his ‘special’ talents, one of which is his ability to start an argument in an otherwise empty room, another of which is is to have more words written about him than he says himself, some achievement for a man who makes a living talking for chunks of twenty two & a half minutes plus stoppage time in one go, but amongst all the verbiage he inspires, only rarely does the telling phrase appear: “Alan Green is not a very good radio football commentator” .
His latest spat came during the otherwise non-event of a Slovenia friendly. He said something along the lines of participants in the Mexican wave “should be shot” – a bit extreme and, for a national radio commentator, a bit of a stupid thing to say. Colleague Graham Taylor said, in a jocular fashion (and possibly inadvertently echoing the thoughts of a good proportion of his listeners), “You do say some stupid things sometimes, Alan”. It was reported that Green warned Taylor, off-air (something along the lines of “Don’t call me, stupid.”) and, for the altogether more important match against Croatia, listeners ended up with Chris Waddle as the co-commentator.
But why demote Taylor? Why, every time Alan Green says “jump” does the BBC ask “how high”? This is far from the first time Green has been indulged by his nominal bosses. In 2004, Green was censured by the media watchdog Ofcom for a crude racial stereotyping of Manchester United’s Eric Djemba-Djemba which the BBC labelled “irreverent banter” while highlighting Green as a “campaigning anti-racist”. This comment may have surprised those who heard Green utter the immortal words: “Number 17 – that’ll be the Chicken Chow Mein, then” in reference to Chinese defender Sun Jihai” only a few months previously.
It was crude regional stereotyping next up, when he pondered aloud if film star Sylvester Stallone would have bricks instead of wheels on the limousine he had parked outside Goodison Park while he watched Everton play Reading a couple of seasons ago. At a stretch – and we’re possibly being kinder to Green than he deserves here – we could put criticism of these comments down to over-sensitivity or a manifestation of some anti-Green agenda. After all, the bricks instead of wheels gag appeared on “Have I Got News For You” soon afterwards without attracting anything like such opprobrium.
The match between Everton and Reading contained a prime example of Green’s downright unprofessionalism. After a lifeless first quarter to the game, Green took the microphone and said: “Got any paint?” before taking nearly two minutes to set up the obvious “I’d rather watch it dry” gag. In itself, little more than irritating, except that Reading went one-up in the meantime, and we had to rely on the summariser to describe Joleon Lescott’s inadvertent contribution to Reading’s cause. Similar scenarios seem to play out quite a lot when Green is at the microphone. “What happened there?” could easily be his catchphrase – and not in a rhetorical, Fred Trueman “I don’t understand what’s going off out there” sense, which relatively endeared him to cricket followers.
So bad, is Green, the joke goes, that he has to ask Graham Taylor what’s going on, although it is a line that relies on the misleading “Do I not like that” and “can we not knock it?” image of Taylor from his unhappy days as England manager – Taylor is an accomplished pundit who knows exactly what is going on. The same is also said to apply to Jimmy Armfield, who is frequently called upon to explain to the listener what has just passed Green by. Even Mark Lawrenson, otherwise apparently employed solely to laugh at Green’s jokes, has to fill in the blanks from time-to-time.
Green was in full “what happened there?” mode when Manchester United tried a trick corner move against Chelsea at Old Trafford last season. At first, he was joined by most everyone else; not least Chelsea’s back four. But even as he returned to commentary for his second-half stint, he continued to profess ignorance, despite his co-commentator’s patient explanation of this new ‘trick.’ It almost felt as if he’d been so wrapped up in himself that he didn’t care to listen to anyone else.
More serious misdemeanours have also gone unsanctioned. While other journalists covering England’s Wembley encounter with Kazakhstan last year were there to cover Friday’s pre-match preparations, Green was allowed to travel to the game on the Saturday, not feeling the need for such trivialities as research. As a result of being exempt from what was a requirement for other BBC personnel, Green missed the first half, because his plane had been held up in fog, but went unpunished for this apparent unprofessionalism. It is, ultimately, not acceptable for someone that is at the top of their profession (and handsomely rewarded for being so) to be forty-five minutes late for work.
Why, then, does he continue to be indulged? Apparently, it is because he is so controversial and outspoken. A refreshing, unpredictable voice among the bland leading the bland. He is “not afraid to tell it like it is”, and he provokes debate. Much of that was once true, but little of it remains so. Accusing referees of trying to be the centre of attention is less controversial than ironic given much of Green’s schtick, and the same old “isn’t this dreadful?” comments ceased to be “refreshing” and “unpredictable” some years ago. While he may provoke the debate, he ultimately provokes as many people to turn the BBC off as tune in especially, and the “bland” who lead the “bland”, one suspects, wouldn’t be given the leeway that Green frequently seems to be given.
As I said at the start of this piece, there’s nothing original about criticising Green, but that’s no reason to shy away from the task. Alan Green is very well paid to do his job, and in a highly competitive media environment, an environment which is currently subject to stultifying budgetary limitations, the continued employment of someone as self-centred and incompetent as he feels less and less tenable. This needs reiterating in as many different fora as possible, and as often as possible.
So 5Live’s Alan Green has been at it again, having a spat with a fellow co-commentator and demanding his removal. While the BBC has been at it again, acceding to Green’s every wish. Why?
I know I’m not up for any originality awards. Articles about Alan Green’s favourite football commentator appear every now and again…and again and again.
One of his ‘special’ talents is his ability to start an argument in an otherwise empty room when even he’s not in it (the radio has to be on and tuned into 5Live – for the hard of lateral thinking).
And another is to have more words written about him than he says himself, some achievement for a man who makes a living talking for chunks of twenty two & a half minutes plus stoppage time at one hit.
Yet amongst all the verbiage he inspires, only rarely does the telling phrase appear: “Alan Green is not a very good radio football commentator.”
His latest spat came during the otherwise non-event of a Slovenia friendly. He said something along the lines of participants in the Mexican wave “should be shot” – a bit extreme and, for a national radio commentator, a bit of a stupid thing to say.
Colleague Graham Taylor said, in a jocular fashion: “You do say some stupid things sometimes, Alan” (inadvertently echoing the thoughts of half the nation). And Alan later warned Taylor, off-air, something along the lines of “Don’t call me, stupid.”
The spat made it impossible for the two to work together comfortably at the Croatia game. So 5Live listeners got Chris Waddle instead. Thanks, Alan.
But why demote Taylor? Why, every time Alan Green says “jump” does the BBC ask “how high?” This is far from the first time Green has been indulged by his nominal bosses.
In 2004, Green was censured by the media watchdog Ofcom for a crude racial stereotyping of Manchester United’s Eric Djemba-Djemba which the BBC labelled “irreverent banter” while highlighting Green as a “campaigning anti-racist.”
The latter would have surprised those who heard Green utter the mortal words: “Number 17 – that’ll be the Chicken Chow Mein, then” in reference to Chinese defender Sun Jihai” only a few months previously.
It was crude regional stereotyping next up, when he pondered aloud if film star Sylvester Stallone would have bricks instead of wheels on the limousine he had parked outside Goodison Park while he watched Everton play Reading a couple of seasons ago.
But let’s, for the sake of argument, dismiss the furore these incidents caused as “political correctness gone mad” or a manifestation of some anti-Green agenda. After all, the bricks instead of wheels gag appeared on “Have I Got News For You” soon afterwards without attracting anything like such opprobrium.
Everton v. Reading contained a prime example of Green’s downright unprofessionalism. After a lifeless first quarter to the game, Green took the microphone and said: “Got any paint?” before taking nearly two minutes to set up the obvious “I’d rather watch it dry” gag.
In itself, little more than irritating, except that Reading went one-up in the meantime, and we had to rely on the summariser to describe Joleon Lescott’s inadvertent contribution to the Royals’ ‘goals for’ column.
Similar scenario play out quite a lot when Green is on the mike. “What happened there?” could easily be his catchphrase – and not in a rhetorical, Fred Trueman “I don’t understand what’s going off out there” sense, which relatively endeared him to cricket followers.
So bad, is Green, the joke goes, that he has to ask Graham Taylor what’s going on, although it is a line that relies on the misleading “Do I not like that” and “can we not knock it?” image of Taylor from his unhappy days as England manager – Taylor is an accomplished pundit who knows exactly what is going on.
So too Jimmy Armfield, who is frequently called upon to explain to the listener what has just passed Green by. And even Mark Lawrenson, otherwise employed solely to laugh at Green’s jokes, has to fill in the blanks from time-to-time.
Green was in full “what happened there?” mode when Manchester United tried a trick corner move against Chelsea at Old Trafford last season. At first, to be fair to him, he was joined by most everyone else; not least Chelsea’s back four. But even as he returned to commentary for his second-half stint, he was professing ignorance, despite his co-commentator’s (Mike Ingham’s?) patient explanation of the ‘trick.’ Almost as if he’d been so wrapped up in himself that he didn’t care to listen to anyone else.
More serious misdemeanours have also gone unsanctioned. While other journalists covering England’s Wembley encounter with Kazakhstan last year were there to cover Friday’s pre-match preparations, Green was allowed to travel to the game on the Saturday, not feeling the need for such trivialities as research.
As a result of being exempt from what was a requirement for other BBC personnel, Green…MISSED…THE…FIRST…HALF, because his plane had been held up in fog. His punishment for this downright unprofessionalism? Answers on a blank sheet of paper.
So why is he indulged? Apparently, it is because he is so controversial and outspoken. A refreshing, unpredictable voice among the bland leading the bland. He is “not afraid” to “tell it like it is.” And he provokes debate.
Much of that was true. Little of it remains so. Accusing referees of trying to be the centre of attention is less controversial, more a potential dictionary definition of ‘irony.’ And it’s the same “isn’t this dreadful?” shtick every game. So that’s “refreshing” and “unpredictable” out of the window.
And while he may provoke the debate, that ultimately provokes as many people to turn the BBC off as tune in specially, making his net effect zero, in which case he may as well be one of the “bland” who lead the “bland.”
And none of them can regularly miss goals, dabble in casual racism, turn up 45 minutes late for World Cup games and dictate commentary policy, like Green can.
Like I say, there’s nothing original about criticising Green. But that’s no reason to shy away from the task. Green is very well paid to do his job. And in a highly competitive media environment, subject to crucifying budgetary limitations, the continued employment of what many see as a self-centred, incompetent, borderline racist such as Green is plainly unacceptable. This needs reiterating in as many different fora as possible, as often as possible.
Great blog post and thank you for saving me the time, trouble and mental torture of trying to put into words how Alan Green’s commentaries make me feel. He is an idiot and should be relieved of his duties immediately.
Maybe Notts County can hire him to do their exclusive commentaries?
There are plenty of decent commentators on 5Live. I know that because I DON’T remember their names, which is how it should be, just like referees.
Alan Green has an entry in Michael Henderson’s recently published ’50 People Who Fouled Up Football’.
Quoting the author…
“There is no joy in English football today, and little dignity. The game is richer to the tune of many billions, yet it is poorer in spirit… Football has been shamed by people who do not hold its best interests at heart.”
Alan Green is described as ‘a man who speaks almost exclusively in capital letters’.
Alan Green is one of the best things about the BBC i’m not surprised about the Graham Taylor incident listening to that boring clueless idiot who can’t pronounce players name would drive me to insanity, he and David Pleat should never be allowed to commentate..VIVA ALAN GREEN
Did anyon else listen to Five Live’s 606 show on Saturday 5th Decmber 2009.I couldn’t believe my ears when Mr Green asked a Manchester City fan why she didn’t ” put her two boys down at birth” when she informed him that they were Manchester United fans.This proves to me that Mr Green is nothing more than an ignoramus. Why do the BBC put up with this racist bigot.I am a taxi driver and rely on Five Live for commentry on football matches. Unfotunatly when Mr Green is commentating I have no choice but to listen to any other radio station ( sometimes it’s so bad that I listen to Gardening Question Time on rado 4). On a serious note though I use to look forward to listening to England games on radio 5 but for a long time now Mr Green has made it a challenge to listen to. His commentry is nothing more than rant filled with naff boring jokes, but worse than thatr Green is like a poisonous puff adder especially when commentating anytime David Beckham is playing for England. I could of started this blog with a bigotted rant and just called him a “W**k Stain” but I have tried construtive critism and I feel I have been more than fair. I will now sum it up BBC get rid he’s a wrong un.
I genuinely hate this man with a passion. How he can dismiss callers at a whim when they dare question him about his pro-Liverpool leaning is shocking! He hero worships Gerrard, case in point no longer than half an hour ago during the Liverpool home defeat to Arsenal “How dare N’Gog get in the way of Gerrard!?”. Furthermore, on the 05 December 606 during a conversation with a Newcastle fan, discussing Liverpool’s 5-1 win last season, the Newcastle fan mentioned the game and rather than taking a neutral perspective of “what a great game/performance” Green spurts out “WHAT A GREAT WIN THAT WAS!”, confirming the long-held suspicion that he is a Liverpool fan. He is free to support whoever he wants, but I don’t understand how he can continually get away with being so biased in his ‘analysis’.
I don’t understand how the BBC can get away with having Liverpool fans or past players in the primary positions of football coverage. For the last few years now in the Merseyside derby listeners have to contend with Green coupled with Mark Lawrenson, followed up by Alan Hansen on MOTD or MOTD2. Again, with the Man Utd-Liverpool games it is always Green who commentates, usually supported by Lawrenson, and I cannot stand to listen to his ramblings during these games. How about a bit of balance? Why does Green automatically get the pick of the top games? How about everytime he offends/annoys/dismisses his listeners the BBC take the example of referees who have poor performances – relegate him to the Football League show for a fortnight so he can see how grateful he should be for being in such a privellaged position as to be paid to watch football for a living!
He is so quick to offer his ‘divine’ opinion on all aspects of the game – most of which are pathetically opinionated – but whenever he is questioned or challenged on his favouritism he simply disconnects them!! I personally do not care how bored/annoyed/appalled/disappointed Green is with whatever element of the game or atmosphere he has chosen to pick up on – I tune in to listen to commentary of the game and professional analysis, not this spoilt, deluded little ‘man’ litter the airwaves with his horrible, horrible ramblings.
I thought I was alone in my frustration at listening to Alan “The T***” Green. I now turnover as soon as the muppet comes on. Some of the great BBC commentators who have preceeded him must be turning in the proverbial.
He just does not have any understanding of football.
Is there a website or blog one can sign up for to get the BBC to get him removed.
regards
Pete M
Alan Green is a clever man. He infuriates those of the public with brains because he is an idiot. He charms the terrace tossers because he is one of them. He hates referees because he is from a part of the world the despises any form of authority. Alan Green should be removed from any form of broadcasting because he is a danger to the free thinking of young people.
I’ve come to this post late but am in agreement with many of your points. He seems to believe that the listeners are tuning in to listen to him rather than listen to the game. For me John Murray should be getting a larger share of the bigger games in the run up to the World Cup – he commentates with a smile on his face rather than bile in his belly
But what has happened to Alan Green? He seems to have gone missing from the Schedule recently?
I really enjoyed reading this – I was interested in the insights from ‘behind the scenes’ on R5. I missed the original story altogether – I was listening to AV vs ManU this evening on R5, thinking how irritating Robbie Savage is and dreading that it would be him and alan Green on commentary… then I realise that I’ve not heard anything of the abysmal Green for a long time (I stopped listening the R5 mainly because of him).
Agree with most of the above, and thanks for an interesting article – but do we know if he has been sidelined in recent weeks (I’ve heard Graham Taylor, for example).
sorry – now I just saw Gavino’s comments…
green is the irriting little middle class twat at school who crap at football but think he knows everything and gobs off repeatedly to cover his lack of self esteem . usually those kids get a right royal pasting invloving sevearl kicks to the head and groin . I will willingly perform the task but i suspect im a long way down the queue
Green is without doubt the most annoying man on the radio. Of his many flaws I think the the stand-out one is an almost total self-indulgence. His co-commentators must dread sharing the microphone with him.
And he’s a fat b**tard.
(Mind you, so s the legend that is Danny Baker but you can forgive him anything.)
Couldnt agree more another example of BBC losing the plot in terms of
over indulging its “star” presenters
I would suggest replacing Mr Green with
1 A series of taped “greenisms” which can be played at the touch of a button
2 The GO COMPARE guy from the advert
3 Mr Cadburys Parrott
4 A monkey with a kazoo
Its a great job if repected and done well. Hes a pub bore.
Is Alan Green now (nigh) going to stop saying ‘Game Over’ when the match is barely half over ? His stupid arrogant pomposity really annoys me. He is a fat man who has no active experience of professional football yet he promotes himself as the ‘voice of football’ . Does anybody else agree he is an objectionable idiot ?
PS I posted this on the Beeb 606 site and surprise surprise they took it down as being offensive. Of course there is nothing offensive about racist remarks about Ji Sun Park and Eric Djemba Djemba this man has made.
In the above post I was referring to his declaration that ManU were in the semi-final when their 3rd goal went in against Bayern. He is a complete imbecile
Surely, singing a sarcastic song during the Portsmouth v Spurs semi must spell the end for infuriating, arrogant idiotic ‘Greeny’. Who does he think he is – the star of the show? It was a football match not a variety show. I was trying to listen and needed a commentary, not the monotonous and meaningless repetition of comments about the pitch and other irrelevant babble screamed in an overloud whining tone. Oh how I miss the likes of Bill McLaren, Peter O’Sullevan, Harry Carpenter who always had something pithy to say and were at least amusing and on point.
Let Graham Taylor get on with it – he can talk with authority. By the way Graham, Greeny does say some blisteringly stupid things!
Self-righteous, among other things, that what alan green is..
the more people complain to the bbc the better, http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/homepage/
WHAT A LOSER .
Along with that annoying 5Live Drive Peter Allen, Green should not be allowed on 5Live. Ironically he would be better suited to Talkshite Radio, then get Saggers back on the Beeb.
I also cannot stand him to the extent that I have given up any 5Live broadcast with him on it. Be gone you wretched toad!
Tend to agree with most sentiments on Alan Green.I will never forget or forgive Greens outrageous commentary a number of seasons ago. Man United beat Liverpool 1-0 with a Rio Ferdinand last minute winner at Old Trafford.Having endured 90 minutes of verbal abuse directed at Gary Neville and his family by the Liverpool suporters Green had the temerity to condemn Neville for kissing his shirt badge after the winner in front of the Liverpool supporters.He failed to acknowledge the quality of the goal and continued to berate Neville for his actions.After 90 minutes of insult who wouldn’t enjoy the moment of triumph in such circumstances?
I HAVE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE STARTED TO CELEBRATE A GOAL, THANKS TO GREENS COMMENTARY GOING INTO EXCITEMENT OVERDRIVE,ONLY TO FIND THAT NOTHING HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED APART FROM GREEN BURSTING A BLOOD VESSEL OVER A HALF CHANCE.
I started a facebook page about the dispicable Alan Green. Link Below
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121942727835256&v=info#!/group.php?gid=121942727835256&v=info
I cannot believe his lack of understanding of the game. Having spend the past year in a professional football club (commercial side unfortunately) I have come to recognise the great discrepancies between fans and managers’ views.
Add this ignorance to a thoroughly unpleasant personality it is difficult to see just what the Beeb sees in him
I hate this guy. Why the BBC keep him I do not know. He is a bigoted pain in the backside. Hopeless trying to follow a match that he is “commentating” on. My son phoned his talk show one sat. My son wanted to talk about our team, Torquay United. Green was not in the least bit intrested as my son was not talking about a premiership club or, indeed, Liverpool FC. Get him off my radio ASAP
I’ve been tolerant of Alan Green and his opinionated rants for long enough. He is extremely arrogant and presumptuous, and clearly has a secret belief that he is god’s gift to football commentary. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a paid up Orangeman either.
Nowt wrong with him. Speaks his mind. Provokes. But gets lambasted because he does not conform to the modern PC conformist ninny generation. No wonder the English can’t win anything these days. I don’t agree with all he says, no. But I also don’t see why we have to put up with the stereotypic. We need more Alan Green’s confronting each other, not goody-goody yes-folk. Also shows what a spoilt brat Fergie is sometimes if he can’t put up with someone standing up to him – and I’m a United fan!
Couldn’t agree more. He’s no more a commentator than I am. He’s opinionated, self absorbed and I’m not sure he even likes football. He’s not that clever as he always telling the listerner after a quip that”…I’m being ironic.” If he was being ironic we would know. I listen to 5 live a lot during a season because I can keep up to date with the games and not vegitate whilst watching SKY and I quite often will turn off the radio when he’s on. I particulalry dislike the way hew personalises criticisms “….. Nani, your no Ronaldo, son”. I can’t understand why the BBC keep him on, to use one his stock phrases “….he’s awful”
This man is really not fit to be employed in the same job held by the late, great Peter Jones and Bryon Butler. Those gentlemen commentated and told you what was happening on the pitch. They usually had an ex-player with them to offer opinion and, in many cases, knowledge of the game that only an ex-player can offer.
In a book called 50 years of Sports Report, Green actually says “A commentator on radio must deliver the ‘whole picture’, not merely describing the game itself but what’s happening around and because of it”. In reality Green thinks it is all about him and quite frankly, he is a disgrace, or to use one of his favourite expressions “woeful”.
Couldn’t agree more with the majority of what’s already been said. I never thought there was a man who hated Manchester United as much as I do, but we have it in Alan Green. His personal feelings should be kept to himself as a commentator he is supposed to give an impartial view. My heart goes out to anybody who can only rely on the radio for football commentaries such as the visually impaired, if Alan Green is the best the BBC can offer.
Green’s constant barracking and over reaction to refereeing, player’s behaviour and whinging about his own personal circumstances are just plain tedious. Combined with a really poor understanding of team play, formations and tactics make it
his commentary’s simply impossible to listen to. He ruins the game for me.
Dump the Chump.
I had a break of listening to games between 1998 and 2006 and the change in him from then was clear. Instead of the opinionated commentary we got back then we just have a nasty bitter man who constantly moans about referees. Then he has the brass neck to moan about his job being sent all over Europe and Britain to commentate on football games, i mean you would think he was a chimney sweep.
Its impossible to gauge the tactics of either team when hes commentating as he rarely if ever mentions it, again prefering to winge about players ‘antics’ or incompetant refs.
Agree with most already said above. To think that he started as an understudy to the late, great Peter Jones. If he had any humility he would just sit and listen to recordings of the great man. One particular gripe I have at the moment (although he is not alone in this) is his comments “will you just look at that?”, well the point is Mr Green your audience is listening on the radio……I don’t think I need to explain any further…..
We live in a democracy but the venom in alan green’s critical,often hurtful commentary towards certain,particularly black players, is legendary. i hear hatred in his voice re: ashley cole,rio ferdinand,glen johnson,shaun wright phillips,malouda,drogba,ngog,babel…..the list goes on.
the beeb should at least pair
him up with a fellow black summariser at each game rather than with mark lawrenson who merely stokes alan greens bigoted flames.
Further to robbo’s comments of February 11, 2010, where does one sign up to kick Mr Green in the head/groin? Am more than prepared to queue.
I had the misfortune of hearing him yesterday evening, just after Liechtenstein had taken the lead against Scotland and I was trying to see if commentary was available on the internet. First time I’d heard his voice in years. Last time, too.
No mention of another infuriating “Greenism” viz “it’s a nonsense” – which he will regularly employ to support often totally contradictory points of view. Well done Alan!
Alan Green is ignorant, dreadful to listen to and unprofessionally biased against certain teams.
When Spurs beat Man City to snatch the 4th champions league spot last season, Green completely lost it with joy. He ended up sounding like that mad Viking commentator who flipped his lid when Norway beat England. Someone forgot to tell him he’s supposed to be objective.
Every time Man City are mentioned he starts frothing at the mouth as though they have no right to have money, good players and win games. The man is a cretin.
Alan Green?
Ruins my enjoyment of radio football.
Sometimes only the ‘c’ word will do.
N.
Having decided long ago to get rid of my TV, I am dependent on radio for my football updates. And have recently caught myself thinking: Why should blind football-lovers have to put up with the egotistical Green? Recently I had the misfortune of hearing him comment that he had never heard of a Welsh supporter of the English national team before. So why is an Ulsterman given such freedom? Wouldn’t this man be better employed in his own neck of the woods? Or is he afraid to live amongst his fellow countrymen in Ulster?
hi just read your comments, which I agree with very much ,when I first heard Alan Green on the radio,I thought he was a breath of fresh air,he was telling it as it was from the fans viewpoint eg the referee’s not upto it(as polite as I can say)but over time he turned out to be just a ref basher (there is only so much bashing you can do and still retain the interest of the listener), i stopped listening to him but I would make an exception when I found a match that I was interested in listening to and he was commentating on,you could feel the pressure the co-commentator was under not to disagree with alans outlandish comments that didnt have anything to do with the match and football, all in all graham taylor and most co-commentators comments are more worthwhile and have more sense than Alans contribution
Could not agree more. Greens bias and bitternes has spoilt radio 5. I really don’t know how professionals such as jimmy armfield put up with him.
His comments regarding Saturday’s fiasco at Old Trafford were scandalous- he should be barred from ever commentating at OT again.
One thing I would side with him on- Graham Taylor is a humourless individual whose grasp of modern football is tenuous at best. I share Green’s view on the Mexican Wave- it’s really a case of ‘the biased leading the bland’ when those two get together.
Alan Green? He just deserves a bloody good smacking, and then his P45. The BBC used to employ intelligent, informed, analytical football commentators who we could respect for their even-handed impartiality. It seems the order of the day now is pompous, puffed-up, partisan prats. There’s only one thing to do when Alan Green is on – and that’s switch off. What a complete idiot he is.
Well really. I understand perfectly well the criticism of AG. Just as I understand the criticism of Catholicism. Or agnosticism. AG is an agnostic. Although allegedly a Liverpool supporter, he does indeed say it like it is and never have I heard him guilty of bias. And like any agnostic he will upset anyone of creed. Eventually he’ll say something that crosses a creed barrier. That’s a shame. But the alternative is blandness. I grew up with Maurice Edelston. Bryon Butler and Peter Jones. Every week I wanted to strangle them. The platitudes. And the snobbery. I followed Leeds as a lad (and my home town Brighton). The supercilious snidey comments about Leeds, a team 20 years ahead of their time (plus a bit of thuggery) was absurd. Leeds were criticised for possession football, not the thuggery. Now, at Brighton, we love the possession style. Sorry, AG would have had the smarts to recognise effective clever play and it has been his unbiased yet passionate commentary that drew me back to the radio after years of snooze sent me off cycling on a Saturday afternoon. Hat’s off to Greeny and bollocks to the rest of you 🙂
I enjoy Alan Green’s commentaries. So what if he occasionally expresses bias? Isn’t that what all football fans do, especially when impassioned. As for his non-PC quips, so bloody what? Some of us can remember when true freedom of speech existed in Britain and wimps didn’t start crying about what they deem to be an ‘offensive’ comment. Bet you bunch of bed-wetters listen to Coldplay. Of course, these days, if anyone in the media dares to express anything other than strong left-wing bias, they are immediately considered a bigot and are attacked by internet cowards; the type of people who probably let their wives boss them around. And enjoy it. What the lefty wimps want is to silence anyone who doesn’t concur with their controlling agenda. Which is a pretty good description of fascism.
Greeny, carry on calling it how you see it. Flawed honesty is always better then anodyne establishment banality.
I just googled Alan Green to see the face of the man who has been spoiling football for me for years now. Finding this forum has allowed me to know I’m not alone. He’s a woman in a man’s body with his constant whinging and whining. I really do not like listening to him one iota.
There was a time when i thought mr green was a breath of fresh air, but no more i’m sick of him criticizing fans for leaving early and booing players. Today he lost the plot by saying that arsenal were not playing well because the fans were still in the bar when the second half started. Here is a man who does not pay to go to games, who is paid by us telling us what we can do.Time he retired.
I loved radio commentary when it was proffered by Peter Jones, Maurice Egglestone and the incomparable Bryon Butler. These were ex-professional footballers and they REALY knew their stuff. I have never really enjoyed listening to Alan Green and I have often wondered where he draws his authority from. Is he a former professional player? I doubt it. He often comes across as being pompous and remember that he would cut off callers, to phone-ins, abruptly if he disagrees with them and I’ll never forget when he threatened to put his lawyers onto one caller. Hopefully, he will retire soon and I hope that the BBC can find commentators who are comparable to the late Peter, Maurice and Bryon – what masters they were.
This man is out of his depth. He complains about referees all the time and is full of his own self importance. He is ignorant on all aspects of football and does not have one original thought.