1 He is biased in Manchester United’s favour to the point that he would probably no longer be allowed to commentate on the BBC even if he was good enough (and it’s a big if). During his four years at the Beeb in the early 1990s he was assigned to a grand total of four live matches!
2 He has an annoying, nasal voice which makes you wonder who encouraged him to talk in public, never mind commentate on TV.
3 He makes needlessly melodramatic outbursts. Such as – during last night’s Man Yoo-Milan semi-final – his fate-tempting: “Carlo Ancelotti said United are predictable. Oh, they’re predictable alright: they also score early against Italian teams.” Hmm, there’s the bold and italic functions. Anyone know where the venom button is?!
4 He can rarely make it through 90 minutes without referring to Man Yoo’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in 1999.
5 His commentary career has nose-dived since former co-commentator Ron Atkinson’s racist outburst against Marcel Desailly, and not many people can say that!
[Rob Parker]