How is Colin Murray getting on at MOTD2?
Is three weeks into the season enough time to assess a new signing? Well in the case of the BBC, their new signing is Colin Murray. Having been bedded in during his very own pre-season, presenting the World Cup highlights for the Beeb, he now anchors the increasingly important Match of the Day 2. I say increasingly important because it is normally the big game that they cover thanks to every Sunday being a ‘Super Sunday’ if Sky are to be believed.
Murray is not everybody’s cup of tea. Among the people rumoured to be considered for the role, I have the most respect for James Richardson, but if adorning the sofa with Alan Shearer’s total lack of insight, and a painfully dull Martin Keown means giving up Football Weekly podcasts for The Guardian, then I like him where he is thank you very much.
What Murray does have going for him is that is both a football fan, and is comfortable in the anchor role. Employing presenters who love football is far more effective than converting ex-pros from the pitch to the autocue: consider Adrian Chiles and John Barnes. He also seems genuinely excited by the prospect of the challenge he has been given, and having someone who enjoys the role so much may compensate for the somewhat lazy demeanour that Mark Lawrenson portrays.
Murray is somewhat up against it however. Chiles grew into his role, earning a considerable fan base along the way and there will be many viewers who will wish he never left. There is much more hype surrounding his appointment than that of his predecessor, who was ushered in relatively quietly. And to add to this, the format for the show itself has been altered.
Now we are presented with an amalgamation of archive clips thrust together as though they are an arts and crafts project. It’s the type of thing you expect to see on the build up to the showing of the 200th FA Cup final, but every week? I remain unconvinced. Also, part of MOTD2’s more relaxed appeal was the 2Good2Bad feature which has been dropped, leaving Murray less to work with and attempting to engineer the same moments within the games’ analysis. Most of the time, he copes pretty well, but segments such as the ‘sing the theme tune’ part have no place on my TV screen.
As with any new role, there should be a bedding-in period and any gripes we have with Murray should be put to one side. From his early outings it is clear that he is at relative ease with the pundits, and they seem to feed off him in return. Repeatedly referring to Phil Brown as ‘Big Phil’ on last Sunday’s show began to grate though (is he that big?…5”11” as it goes, so no, not really. And besides, I thought Scolari was ‘big Phil’, I’ve just pictured Phil Brown managing Brazil…I’m getting sidetracked…).
I am neither a massive fan of Murray, nor do I find him detestable as I’m sure some do, so I am prepared to give him the chance. He got approached to do it, and he would have been a moron to turn it down. There is a part of me that worries that there will be too much of an effort to create banter for the sake of making it look as though everyone is in a pub with their friends. That sort of relationship, or something resembling it, can be achieved (the Football Ramble podcast springs to mind, although it is not mainstream TV), but it can seem false or over-tried.
So far, there are flashes of both side of Murray’s behaviour – everything is a little too excitable rather than the easy-going Chiles approach, but I wish Colin well. I hope he does well because ultimately I’ll be watching it whether I like him or not. It’s a steady start Colin, but room for improvement, think Florent Malouda in the Prem: It took a while, but now he’s an asset, just don’t take more than two years to get there.
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A bit like Murray mints, it’s a case of suck it and see.
Liked the picking the balls out the bag to choose which games to watch, but it did seem to mess with the background!
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Not keen. A big turn off on 5 live as well.
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I’ll keep it brief, gutted cos I cannot watch the highlight’s anymore.
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much like ben shepard on sky, utter rubbish
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I like the guy more than chiles, gutted that 2good2bad’s been dropped though
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Unusually for the Beeb, he’s not a bin-dipper but a norniron glory-hunter. That’s one thing Chiles had in his favour – apart from Wolves fans, nobody cared who he supports.
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I like Chiles and was sorry to see him go.
I do like Colin Murray’s enthusiasm and he comes across as a decent bloke. However, I find his voice grating and difficult to listen to and am surprised he progressed in a presenting role without addressing this.
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Possibly the most annoying man ever to grace the telly…
I turn the saaauuunnd daaaauuunn when he’s talking…
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Have to say, i like Colin Murray!! i was starting to get a bit bored with Adrian Chiles, his montone voice was starting to grate a bit!! I also liked the 2good2bad, but i asssume a new presenter has to bring in different aspects to the programme, be surprised if Colin was offered the choice to keep it.
I listen to Colin on Radio5 live’s fighting talk on saturday mornings, or podcast if i’ve missed it and its probably one of the funniest football related things in the media.
Give the lad a chance, he genuinely seems to love the job and i’d rather have that than some boring ex-pro!!!
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I like Murray too!
However, GET ROBBIE SAVAGE OFF MOTD” and 606!!!!!!!!!
The bloke is a complete turn off!!!!!!!!!! Also – a prat.
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