Tony Ward

Bits_n_Bobs

Am I the only one who struggles to hear what he's saying when he commentates? He seems to mumble away in a total monotone with long drawn out sentences, drives me nuts trying to understand him.

Superbus

He's too far from the mic.

bm_1212

they should get ollie campbell in and we can have the no 10 debate all over again on and off the pitch

CatFromHue

I think you need to turn up the tv, get a hearing aid, or check the reception on your tv.

There's never any problem hearing Ward in my household or anywhere I've watched him commentate.

Quint2010

Can certainly remember his totally impartial and unbiased "yuuuueeee-essssssssssssss!!!!" when Geordan kicked that ball out in 2009...:D

Digifriendly

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think you need to turn up the tv, get a hearing aid, or check the reception on your tv.

There's never any problem hearing Ward in my household or anywhere I've watched him commentate.

Sounds harsh but probably true all the same. Ward IMHO is worth listening to and I've never had any difficulty following his analysis either.

Chavways

Bits_n_Bobs wrote: »

Am I the only one who struggles to hear what he's saying when he commentates? He seems to mumble away in a total monotone with long drawn out sentences, drives me nuts trying to understand him.

Its because he has his head up BOD's arse.

Quint2010

Wardy is espousing that the armband should be given back to BOD ahead of the France game.

Boscoirl

Superbus wrote: »

He's too far from the mic.

He is too close to the stadium

cp

Don't mind him as a commentator, and generally he's got a good voice/temperament for commentary.

But his articles in the indo leave a lot to be desired. Its like he has a column but nothing to say. He was having a go at bloggers and tweeters today (yesterday?) in that usual condescending manner that old media types like to portray us. The 'all internet/user generated content is the produce of rambling, irrational, violent idiots' type argument that is just so tiresome. I'd honestly sooner read a Conor George piece - he'd at least stir something in me

Whereas Brian Moore is arguably the opposite - a good columnist who shouldn't be let within 200 feet of mic!

CatFromHue

Digifriendly wrote: »

Sounds harsh but probably true all the same. Ward IMHO is worth listening to and I've never had any difficulty following his analysis either.

You're right, I was too harsh.

.ak

Folks, no personal abuse of pundits will be tolerated. Offending posts deleted. Any more will receive infractions.

Swiwi

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think you need to turn up the tv, get a hearing aid, or check the reception on your tv.

There's never any problem hearing Ward in my household or anywhere I've watched him commentate.

And morever, what is up with these endless threads on the rugby forum where X commentator is made the title of the thread, and then it's a race to throw as much mud as possible?

I have no problem with dissecting the content of what they say in an objective manor, but just slating the guy is tedious, especially as I believe he was once a very good player for Ireland and did the country proud.

danthefan

I don't like his articles at all. A few weeks ago it was Kidney has to give youth its fling. Then it was Kidney has to start ROG. Then it was Kidney has to stick with Jackson. Previously it was BOD has to look after himself and move on without the captaincy. Now it's Kidney has to return the captaincy to BOD. I just think he's all over the place.

irishbucsfan

I haven't regularly read anything of his for a couple of years now. He's an odd man, very hard to pin down what he wants at all.

CatFromHue

danthefan wrote: »

I don't like his articles at all. A few weeks ago it was Kidney has to give youth its fling. Then it was Kidney has to start ROG. Then it was Kidney has to stick with Jackson. Previously it was BOD has to look after himself and move on without the captaincy. Now it's Kidney has to return the captaincy to BOD. I just think he's all over the place.

I have to agree, some of his articles have become a bit erratic. So much so that at one stage I wasn't sure if they were actually his!

durkadurka

He really seems to just bob up and down with the tide. I don't see any real original thinking in his articles at all.
Not worth reading IMO.

danthefan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I haven't regularly read anything of his for a couple of years now. He's an odd man, very hard to pin down what he wants at all.

He's also backed Kidney to the hilt so far, I've no doubt when he realises Kidney is finished he'll do a 180 on this too.

Swiwi

danthefan wrote: »

He's also backed Kidney to the hilt so far, I've no doubt when he realises Kidney is finished he'll do a 180 on this too.

All the mainstream journalists have seemed fairly tolerant of Kidney. I guess if they get too sharp in their analysis, they might get denied access to coach & players, which would be a shame, but not unheard of.

danthefan

Swiwi wrote: »

All the mainstream journalists have seemed fairly tolerant of Kidney. I guess if they get too sharp in their analysis, they might get denied access to coach & players, which would be a shame, but not unheard of.

Not an issue for Ward though, he writes opinion pieces. Doesn't report news, do interviews, any of that.

Podge_irl

cp wrote: »

Whereas Brian Moore is arguably the opposite - a good columnist who shouldn't be let within 200 feet of mic!

But then we'd miss out on golden moments like this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQWT-B0EBw

shuffol

I like Moore, find him entertaining and he picks up on little things that a lot of other commentators miss. Agree on Ward, he's another journalist who's credibility is impaired by being overly biased toward one province, wasnt it last season when he was commenting on the amount of options Ireland had for the AI's, he basically listed every player that kicked a ball for Munster that season.

P_1

Ward can be infuriating to read at times but to be fair it is pretty hard to write for the national papers these days

Swiwi

danthefan wrote: »

Not an issue for Ward though, he writes opinion pieces. Doesn't report news, do interviews, any of that.

True. In fact, I prefer these type of pundits, cos they can write what they think without having to worry about treading on toes. I guess I find Ward has some good points to make, but does seem quite conservative, and certainly non-confrontational. If he is backing Kidney, I would strongly disagree with him, I think Ireland does need a fresh approach.

For Paws

CatFromHue wrote: »

I have to agree, some of his articles have become a bit erratic. So much so that at one stage I wasn't sure if they were actually his!

Ah now, you might be hitting the ball on the head there !

Always reckoned these lads just jot down a few lines and then some sub editor 'polishes' the piece by adding 70% more text.

Generally like the 'colour' commentators (except Frankie) on RTE.
Welcome break from Ryle's incoherent rubbish.

Swiwi

For Paws wrote: »

Ah now, you might be hitting the ball on the head there !

Always reckoned these lads just jot down a few lines and then some sub editor 'polishes' the piece by adding 70% more text.

Generally like the 'colour' commentators (except Frankie) on RTE.
Welcome break from Ryle's incoherent rubbish.

I know a lot of people don't like Frankie, but he was far and away the most knowledgeable Irish pundit when it came to the ABs last time they visited. I was pleasantly surprised.

P_1

Swiwi wrote: »

I know a lot of people don't like Frankie, but he was far and away the most knowledgeable Irish pundit when it came to the ABs last time they visited. I was pleasantly surprised.

Frankie is a strange one TBH. A lot of people don't like him for him seemingly pushing his clients when he has the platform to do it. Personally I don't begrudge him that, it probably makes him a good agent.

He can be a bit arrogant in how he mentions us 'Troglodytes' too but he does strike me as being fairly knowledgeable most of the time.

thebaz

Swiwi wrote: »

All the mainstream journalists have seemed fairly tolerant of Kidney. I guess if they get too sharp in their analysis, they might get denied access to coach & players, which would be a shame, but not unheard of.

agree with you , but it is so wrong - we are not living in a political dictatorship - and the coach is a profesional, national coach on top money - today Gerry Thornley , once again writes another dont blame the coach eulogy - used to like a thornley read , but his conservative luke warm journalism is just plain BORING these days - much prefer a Ward read now

Foxtrol

Swiwi wrote: »

I know a lot of people don't like Frankie, but he was far and away the most knowledgeable Irish pundit when it came to the ABs last time they visited. I was pleasantly surprised.

One swallow... There is a chance he could actually be knowledgeable but he comes out with such idiotic tripe when trying to promote his clients or mates that he loses all credibility when he does say something intelligent.

For example Horan should bench for Ireland when there were 22 man squads despite neither Ross or Healy being able to prop the other side. When challenged he responded by saying that he'd be well able for it because "he'd played TH a few times in Munster training".

The old BOD quote about knowledge and wisdom could be quite apt when it comes to Frankie.

Swiwi

thebaz wrote: »

agree with you , but it is so wrong - we are not living in a political dictatorship - and the coach is a profesional, national coach on top money - today Gerry Thornley , once again writes another dont blame the coach eulogy - used to like a thornley read , but his conservative luke warm journalism is just plain BORING these days - much prefer a Ward read now

I'm with you on this. I read the paper for entertainment, not for reading bland analysis. I always read Chris Rattue in the nzherald and before they put up the firewall, S Jones in the Times. Obviously, I disagree with much of what they write, but at least they have an opinion and voice it in amusing ways.

Tox56

thebaz wrote: »

agree with you , but it is so wrong - we are not living in a political dictatorship - and the coach is a profesional, national coach on top money - today Gerry Thornley , once again writes another dont blame the coach eulogy - used to like a thornley read , but his conservative luke warm journalism is just plain BORING these days - much prefer a Ward read now

It's strange, I don't remember Thornley being like this with EOS. In fact I seem to remember him being one of his most vocal critics, even though EOS statistically had a better record than Kidders (even accounting for his shocking final 2 tournaments). Wonder what's different this time

washman3

durkadurka wrote: »

He really seems to just bob up and down with the tide. I don't see any real original thinking in his articles at all.
Not worth reading IMO.

Tony probably feels that he can change his arguement at will, safe in the knowledge that 90% of the clowns reading his articles know little if anything about the game anyway. He's getting paid and the clowns have a different angle for their barstool chats...!!! its a win win.

thebaz

i find the end of the article really sums up whats wrong with the Irish national team :-

"Ireland’s luck doesn’t look like improving any time soon."

This deluded lazy idea thats its just down to bad luck , is what is perpetually wrong with inconsistent irish teams down through years , way before kidney took charge too.
To sum up Gary Player , the harder i trained , the luckier I became.

thebaz

Tox56 wrote: »

It's strange, I don't remember Thornley being like this with EOS. In fact I seem to remember him being one of his most vocal critics, even though EOS statistically had a better record than Kidders (even accounting for his shocking final 2 tournaments). Wonder what's different this time

I find thornley , cause he is from leinster , over compensates his respect to Munster rugby - but he's a journalist - he should just say it as it is - regardless if it hurtfull to munster (or leinster / ulster / connaught for that matter)

Suasdaguna1

danthefan wrote: »

I don't like his articles at all. A few weeks ago it was Kidney has to give youth its fling. Then it was Kidney has to start ROG. Then it was Kidney has to stick with Jackson. Previously it was BOD has to look after himself and move on without the captaincy. Now it's Kidney has to return the captaincy to BOD. I just think he's all over the place.

Yeap a true"running with hare and hunting with hounds" analogy. I hate to say it the biggest defaulter here too is Mr Quinlan. I have found Wards articles all over the place in recent times. As much as we give out about the hookie monster, at least he sticks to his guns on issues.

irishbucsfan

thebaz wrote: »

I find thornley , cause he is from leinster , over compensates his respect to Munster rugby - but he's a journalist - he should just say it as it is - regardless if it hurtfull to munster (or leinster / ulster / connaught for that matter)

Hes a Munster fan. The original Lunster!