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.
Get updates on my articles by following me on twitter.
*
A welcome addition to the Premier League’s Wag arena – Click on image below to view gallery
Football News 24/7
Anything is better than chiles. Who can only be compared to a Toby jug full of steaming hot piss that has somehow found the ability to talk. I’m glad to see him off the telly in general. Although I’m not a supporter in any way of the BBC (tv license) extortion anyone? It’s better than I am no longer in any way funding the appearance of his horrible face on my tv. Murray is doing well. I prefer MOTD 2. That dinosaur Hanson needs moving to a rest home and Lawrenson looks like he’s had a stroke and is operated mechanically most of the time. Great that we pay for this right?
Reply
NOWHERE near enough focus on actual event’s of genuine importance. Disappointingly like most tv ‘wise guys’ they r more interested in using
patronising style over substance. cliche’d remark’s ,biased and snide under hand
comment’ ala shearer,GIles,townsend….
just keep it simples! let the ball do the work , please.
Reply
He’s crap and like Bret the Manure he should be spread all over a field
Reply
who is arsed who the host is back in the 80′s we had jimmy hill but no one cared cos lfc we winning 9/10 if lfc beat the mancs 5-0 with maggie thatcher hosting am happy,but if the mancs beat us and the host is georgie thompson topless am not might have a semi on, but get a grip lads the score is the main thing not the host stop nit pickin
Reply
Couldn’t stand him on 5, have officially stopped watching motd2 & for that matter hardly ever watch motd anymore. Some new presenters are seriously in order fast.
Reply
Agree that 2good 2bad was great and will be missed.I am pleasantly impressed with Murray apart from him being another example of the BBC being obsessed with regional accents.His is so loud and grating but it at least less off-putting than that quite dreadful Christine something who used to be on the one show.
Reply
If I could understand him it would be ok. His accent is grating and is very off putting.
And where is 2Good2Bad.
Reply
used to really enjoy motd2, terrible tonight, sorry but can’t stand colin murray – and fighting talk worst thing on 5live
Reply
Yes, I’ve stopped watching MOTD2 since Colin Murray got the gig. Music, poker, gridiron, darts, football…how does he do it? In Northern Ireland he’s also the face of Lidl’s supermarket, so count your blessings!
Reply
Match of the day 2 was always a great wind down at the end of a weekend, and the format before was perfect, colin murray has turned it into a slap stick type show as someone else said like a saturday morning show for five year olds. I will have to sky plus it now so i can edit out the beni hill bits and just watch the football, please somone stop him and go back to an more mature programme for grown ups!
Reply