Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

radharc

Thought a thread specifically for OTB might be worthwhile here seeing as other single show threads seem to provoke good debate.

While clearly miles ahead of its opposition, anyone else feel the show might be coasting on its success for the past while? In previous years I would be dying to hear what the lads thought of any big sporting issue but not as bothered these days even though still a big fan of the show. It can be hilarious listening but the in-jokes etc do grate after a while. Probably a symptom of having no real competition imo.

Favourite Guests: US Murph, David Brady, Richard Sadlier, Daithi Regan, Roddy Collins, Donn McClean

Least Favourite: Johnny Giles, Conor Deegan, Graham Hunter (can be v good but have to be in the mood to listen to the Ken/Hunter sniping)

Mod warning in post 6651.

ballsymchugh

i'd agree with you on johnny giles as a least favourite guest. while his footballing knowledge will always be superior to mine, too much of his chat seems to involve 'back in my day' stuff.
if he's asked about the shenanigans of a modern player, all we'd learn is that don revie or bill shankly wouldn't stand for it.

Heroditas

Can't listen to Gerry Thornley anymore. No real analysis.

radharc

Heroditas wrote: »

Can't listen to Gerry Thornley anymore. No real analysis.

TBH I was going to stick him in the least favourite category but I pulled back because I generally enjoy the rugby conversations. Even though I have little regard for Gerry's actual analysis I still find him reasonably passionate and entertaining.

djemba djemba

I found it hard to like him bit since the summer I think Colm Parkinson is excellent.

Ol' Donie

Best show on the radio by miles, although i've never forgiven them for messing about with the friday show. (here's a treat for loyal listeners...stuff you've already heard this very week!). Cancelling the football show the day before the weekend...just makes no sense.

The giles bit is worthwhile for the "questions we can ask now that he's gone" bit.

Dont listen as much as i used to, but it is still brilliant most of the time. US murph is a favourite. So is normal murph, in fairness. Got a good laugh out of "Challenge Murph" there when he didnt win a couple of times.

mike65

Drive me nuts with their "clever clever" presentation. Can't listen.

Aidric

mike65 wrote: »

Drive me nuts with their "clever clever" presentation. Can't listen.

What does that even mean? Do everyone a favour and at least substantiate your posts. One line flurries filled with inverted commas are painful to read.

Who ever referred to their presentation as "clever clever"?

JoeA3

I love the John Giles segment myself! Maybe I'm alone.., Yes, he does do the "back in my day" stuff, but its usually after McDevitt prompts him to! Another guest I like is Malachy McClerkin (??)... Usually very interesting segment.
I like the banter between McDevitt and Murph. It's never the same if either of those 2 are off. Not a big fan of Ken "Burley"... Sounds far too fond of his own smell for my liking! Not too fond of Graham Hunter either... The constant Barca / Real banter is tiresome.

They do get some great guests on though, on what I'm sure must be a small budget.

All in all, a good show. I think it can even appeal to the non sports or very casual listener. My GF goes spare if she sees/hears the sky sports "analysts" but she doesn't mind the OFB lads so much!

Stevecw

Only show on radio that i turn off the tv for and listen. Great show, John Giles "questions we can ask now that he's gone" is a personal fave as i've asked many of those questions over the years...often got read out!!

mike65

Aidric wrote: »

What does that even mean? Do everyone a favour and at least substantiate your posts. One line flurries filled with inverted commas are painful to read.

Who ever referred to their presentation as "clever clever"?

I just did, when they are chatting away with that annoying muzak tinkling away
in the background like they were a couple of smooth dee-jays its does my ****ing head in. They could have the best pundits and guests in the world but I won't be around to hear them. The one who calls himself Murph is particularly wretched, the other one isn't much better.

ballsymchugh

JoeA3 wrote: »

Another guest I like is Malachy McClerkin (??)... Usually very interesting segment.

forward on to 4.15

DEFTLEFTHAND

djemba djemba wrote: »

I found it hard to like him bit since the summer I think Colm Parkinson is excellent.

I'd agree, he's not as dim as I first thought he was.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I think McDevitt is an excellent host and interviewer. He's surely destined to be picked up by a bigger organisation, he already does a bit of TV for Setanta I think.

Murph is quirky and funny while knowledgeable at the same time.

I like Ken, but he seems to get a bit lost when the topic of conversation is not football. He plays up to his radio persona as well, I don't imagine he is as smug in real life. :pac:

Xavi6

I used to hate Ken, really disliked him, but now he's great. His smugness has gone from being irritating to funny and his deadpan put downs of some of stupid texts/comments they get in are very good.

McDevitt is very good as well, and I love Murph's Country Pages. It's just a great show really.

passremarkable

I'm really big fan of the show as well, Great easy listening on the way to training. I too would turn it off when at home instead of the tv if someone interesting was been interviewed. Cant believe these lads get paid to chat about sport, like my ideal jobs.its just like a radio version of us on the soccer/gaa threads!!
I would always have them on the podcasts for hols..they have really good mix of sport to suit all and they do have a sense of humour, not just your typical mundane broadcasters like cooper for example!I too like parkinson....bit annoying at times but does come out with some good ones...

spank_inferno

+1 on being a big fan.

My favourite slot is "American Murph", its hard not to like the enthusiasm of that guy.

Also love the "questions we couldnt ask Giles".

I like their promo-stings that they use... especially the Joe Duffy one.

The football show is killed by ads though, but that's not their fault.

squrm

+1 for OTB, only reason anymore why I listen to newstalk during the week.

Like others I'm starting to like Parkinson, and David Brady comes out with sum zingers. Last week when he said how Donegal like to 'suck and spread' the opposition had me all :D:D:D

heybaby

OTB easily the best sports magazine programme on radio in the country, and certainly superior to anything des cahill and co in rte have to offer. Anchor man Eoin makes it look exceptionally easy and is complimented by the lads in studio who know exactly what they're talking about, be it murph on gaa or ken on football. Throw in Giles and a host of contributors from around the world and it adds serious clout, and finally the breadth of sports related stories they deal with is fascinating, very recently they spoke to a relation of Peter Norman a white Australian runner who gave the Black panther salute during the '68 olympics, a subject and person I was unaware of till now. One of the highlights over the years for me was the interview with swimmer Mark Spitz, fascinating stuff, unrivalled radio.

armchair fusilier

I just don't get this "Ken is smug" thing. For me his newsround is always the highlight of the show, it's unmissable. The best pundit is Tim Vickery. Sid Lowe would be up there too. The worst by a country mile is Graham Hunter. Now, there's a smug man.

Skid

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I think McDevitt is an excellent host and interviewer. He's surely destined to be picked up by a bigger organisation, he already does a bit of TV for Setanta I think.

I agree. He is the key to the show, it is not nearly as good when Eoin is away.

He is able to interview guests on pretty much any Sport and make it entertaining. He has a great knowledge and interest in different topics, a bit like a Sports version of Pat Kenny.

babaracus

Graham Hunter has gone really smug over the years alright.

My favourite show on radio and I listen every night. McDevitt is a great front man, Ken provides the comic relief and withering put downs and Murph has grown on me, really didn't like him at the start.

The quality of guest they get on is really good, fair play to them for getting some of the people they do.

Only bits I could give a miss are the horsey bits, not into the nags.

armchair fusilier

Skid wrote: »

I agree. He is the key to the show, it is not nearly as good when Eoin is away.

He is able to interview guests on pretty much any Sport and make it entertaining. He has a great knowledge and interest in different topics, a bit like a Sports version of Pat Kenny.

I would disagree. While Mcdevitt is very good at what he does, I don't think the show being presented by him or Gilroy makes that big a difference. To me Ken is the key. If it was just Eoin and Murph by themselves on the show I wouldn't listen to it...but each to his own and all that.

S28382

Off the ball is great its a good bit of banter whilst getting up to speed in the world of sport there is no depressing sh*t about recessions or bank bailouts its just good oul sports news.

passremarkable

listening now as I type!!

Aidric

Skid wrote: »

He is able to interview guests on pretty much any Sport and make it entertaining. He has a great knowledge and interest in different topics, a bit like a Sports version of Pat Kenny.

That's a very accurate comparison. Himself and Kenny are the two finest broadcasters on Irish radio.

Off The Ball is the one radio show I consider required listening. They handle a wide array of sports with complete professionalism, complemented with a good selection of contributors. Indeed the contributors are often challenged in a way which delivers value for the listeners.

The addition of Richie Sadlier for a weekly discussion on football matters is a wise one. I think he should replace Giles on the Thursday slot. I have a lot of time for Giles and he is a gentleman but i feel like he's just repeating the same opinions every week.

Roddy Collins is like a caricature but he is good for a laugh every week. I also enjoy Wednesday night rugby. There aren't really any slots I don't like.

Fromthetrees

The football show is my favourite bit of the show but all of it is generally top radio.

A good few months ago I was putting the little one to sleep, just lying there in silence with OTB on very low, I hadn't heard the clip before but I burst out laughing when I heard "My naams Peta Beerdsley...", ffs, it took another half hour to get her to sleep after that, was worth the laugh though.

JonathanAnon

Aidric wrote: »

The addition of Richie Sadlier for a weekly discussion on football matters is a wise one. I think he should replace Giles on the Thursday slot. I have a lot of time for Giles and he is a gentleman but i feel like he's just repeating the same opinions every week.

Richie is brilliant.. so refreshing to hear somebody speak honestly about football... He's like the anti Kenny Cunningham..

djemba djemba

Enjoyed the bit coming of the sports news at 9 o'clock when Ken interrupted Cian. Isn't that what Murph and Eoin do at the very start of every show

lempsipmax

Last night I heard a replay of the Andrew (Andy) Cole interview with Eoin McDevitt and Ken Early. Now I knew that Cole had a bit of a reputation as a bit of a surly character but straight from the off they got him to open up. They started by quoting the fact that Cole is third in all-time Premier League assists (Giggs & Bergkamp lead). Cole had not known this and you could hear his genuine surprise and delight at the stat. It goes to show how good research leads to a good interview.

Anyway they really seemed to engage with him and got him talking openly and honestly about everything. They questioned him in a direct but respectful way about potentially touchy subjects such as his spats with Keegan, Sheringham, his
failure at England level, his failure to gel with Cantona. It was an master class in sport interviewing, they covered a huge range of subjects, from his belief that agents are unnecessary, being subbed in the Champions League Final, the change and responsibility that came with joining United, racism in football, his experience as a song of a Caribbean immigrant, how his game developed over the years, friendship with Roy Keane etc.

For an interview with a not particularly effusive retired footballer it was compelling. Also I should credit Cole himself as he was very honest and answering everything he was asked, however I cant help but think that much of this was down to the fact that he knew he was being interviewed by real sports journalists with a knowledge and appreciation of the game and a genuine interest in the player and his career.

Quoting my own comment on OTB from two years ago.

Lapin

I'm gonna go against the flow here by declaring my annoyance with US Murph.
I literally have to turn the volume down when he comes on. Why the hell does he feel the need to shout down the phone ?
Come to think of it, he does he need the bloody phone at all ?

Also, some of OTBs own jingles and intros are extremely loud and annoying too. Especially the Ken Early ones. They make the old Harvey Norman ads seem tame in comparison. Time they changed them.

Apart from that - OTB is the best all round sports programme on radio or tv.

spank_inferno

What did Ken say to Cian before the football show last night?
I missed it.

Was Ken bullying the poor guy?
(#teamgentleman)

kraggy

Graham Hunter is a pain in the arse. Smugness personified. And what a waffler. If you actually listen to what he says, he says practically nothing.

djemba djemba

spank_inferno wrote: »

What did Ken say to Cian before the football show last night?
I missed it.

Cian was talking about Alan Pardews 8 year unprecedented contract... Ken jumped in and said something like its not unprecendented and said they gave a scout an 8 year contract a few weeks ago and all Pardews staff. Cian just stopped reading the rest of the news.

passremarkable

Ken is, afterall , the football expert!!

spank_inferno

kraggy wrote: »

Graham Hunter is a pain in the arse. Smugness personified. And what a waffler. If you actually listen to what he says, he says practically nothing.

I'm not too keen on Graham either.

When I want spanish football punditry with a dog barking in the background, I listen to Sid Lowe

i71jskz5xu42pb

Ken Burly, comedy gold

splendid101

I like Graham Hunter's section he seems informed about Spanish Football.

I follow him on Twitter though and 90% of it seems to be retweets of people praising his book. Kind of annoying after a while.

Hunter has a fairly idiosyncratic style. He seems very touchy. I remember once they were talking away and Ken asked him something slightly of topic. Hunter got annoyed and said, "maybe next time you should decide exactly what it is we're going to discuss beforehand". I found it ridiculous.

It's not the only time I've noticed him being like that. Ken seems to accept it though so I wonder what sort of relationship they have in real life.

Imhof Tank

Another huge, huge fan of the show here.

One of my favourite contributors is Xavier Revoi (sp?) the french football pundit. His pieces towards the end of Raymond Dominech's time as French coach were absolute priceless. (Xavier dispised Dominech, claimed to be rooting for France's opponents usually).

Away from the comedy, Jonathan Wilson would be my favourite of the regular guests.

Give thanks that there is a place for this left field stuff on Irish radio, instead of wall to wall Micheal Lyster, Des Cahill and Michael McMullen and their likes.

Skid

Some classic Off The Ball clips on their Soundcloud page

http://soundcloud.com/off-the-ball

Includes vintage Ken Burley

For Forks Sake

Lapin wrote: »

I'm gonna go against the flow here by declaring my annoyance with US Murph.
I literally have to turn the volume down when he comes on. Why the hell does he feel the need to shout down the phone ?
Come to think of it, he does he need the bloody phone at all ?

You think he's loud, have you ever heard Dave Hannigan being interviewed?

Diabhal Beag

Murph's Country Pages might be the best segment of all radio ever. Between Moncrieff and OTB they're the only radio I listen to these days.

7golfer

what is the story with cian murtaugh and ken early?... they always slag off cian. as he reads the news... is it just a little joke? or is there more to it...,is there real bad feeling amongst them?

why?

armchair fusilier

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Murph's Country Pages might be the best segment of all radio ever.

Then again, it might not be. I'm with Eoin on this one.

7golfer wrote: »

what is the story with cian murtaugh and ken early?... they always slag off cian. as he reads the news... is it just a little joke? or is there more to it...,is there real bad feeling amongst them?

Nah, they're just messing about.

Lapin

7golfer wrote: »

what is the story with cian murtaugh ?

No need to go any further.

spank_inferno

The Richie Sadlier slot last night was quite interesting.

Shame they did not devote more time to it.

I'm becoming fan of Sadlier I muhst say.

passremarkable

spank_inferno wrote: »

The Richie Sadlier slot last night was quite interesting.

Shame they did not devote more time to it.

I'm becoming fan of Sadlier I muhst say.

Agreed, Sadlier has really grown on me too..he tries to be as honest as he can, and there is no sh*t out of him!! straight talking!!

Temaz

Had to stop listening due to Ken Earley, the guy is a know it all tosser.

neris

kraggy wrote: »

Graham Hunter is a pain in the arse. Smugness personified. And what a waffler. If you actually listen to what he says, he says practically nothing.

Cant stand that guy hes like a barcelona version of sid lowe on the guardian podcasts. Knows fcuk all about the other teams in spain and youd swear barca are the only club around.

withless

Temaz wrote: »

Had to stop listening due to Ken Earley, the guy is a know it all tosser.

Interesting. You managed to spell his name wrong.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I like Roddy Collins slot on League Of Ireland football. He offers an interesting set of views each week and expresses himself quite well once you adapt to the heavy Dublin brogue. :pac:

I'm not a fan of Thornley on the rugby, I never took to the guy. Shaggy is not much better, has nothing of substance to say and is obviously reluctant to criticise his friends. I suppose Thornley is in a similar boat as he needs access to the Irish players for his Times column. The precedent was set when the Indo's Dave Kelly was temporarily blacklisted after criticising the team during one of the annual end of season tours of the southern hemisphere.