The quality of Fox Sports’ A-League commentary has slipped since Simon Hill departed and fans have been quick to criticise.
A subsequent rift appears to have emerged between lead commentator Brenton Speed and analyst Mark Bosnich, with the latter keen to clearly establish his position as the self-proclaimed ‘expert’ during live calls.
The two were at it again over the weekend, sparring during the Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC clash in Wollongong and Macarthur FC’s inaugural home match against the Mariners.
Their initial dispute in mid-2020 and the obvious frostiness that seeps through the screen into lounge rooms raises questions of credibility. Is Bosnich unfairly puffing out his ex-goalkeeper’s chest and disrespecting the views of the man alongside him in the box; citing his own playing experience as the reason?
Aspiring football journalist Jack George and I take different views on the situation and mount our cases below; with Bosnich’s credibility as an analyst put up against his obvious and considerable ego.
Jack George
Mark Bosnich has proven himself to be a decent analyst in his years at Fox Sports. His pre-game, half-time and post-game analysis are mostly enjoyable and accurate.
However, before Simon Hill departed, Bosnich was rarely given a commentary role. Now, the former Socceroo goalkeeper has found himself in the box regularly and his ego has expanded as a result.
I’m not quite sure what Bosnich really meant when he appeared to claim football superiority over Brenton Speed and Adam Peacock towards the end of the 2019/20 season, but I’ve narrowed it down to two possibilities.
Bosnich may have been referring to the trio’s football pedigree. He is the only one of the three with experience on the field at the top level.
He is also one of the most celebrated goalkeepers in Australian history, having played 208 games in the Premier League, winning two English League Cup titles and a Premier League crown along the way.
However, as a goalkeeper, Bosnich didn’t have to be as tactically inclined as other players in his team. Let’s face it, a keeper spends their life working on skills completely foreign to those honed by players who actually possess, pass and distribute the ball.
A striker focuses on a run that could best help the team, a midfielder on positioning themselves for a turnover of possession, whereas Bosnich dealt mainly with the angles he had to cover to stop possible shots. While goalkeeping is an art in itself, it doesn’t require a high level of tactical skill with the ball.
And while Brenton Speed isn’t the best football commentator on the planet, he certainly has the edge on Bosnich behind the microphone, with the latter only really starting his commentating career in the weeks after the recommencement of the COVID interrupted A-League season.
Mark Bosnich has the potential to become a good commentator, however, his months’ worth of experience in the art, and an immense ego, do not make him an ‘expert’.
Stuart Thomas
If over 200 matches in the top flight of English football does not give a player the right to call themselves an expert, I don’t know what does.
Such numbers are still rare for any Australian player, yet Mark Bosnich not only spent the 1990s carving out an impressive reputation in the old dart, he also played 17 times for the Socceroos. The rough and tumble kid from south west of Sydney forged a goalkeeping career to match the best of any other Aussie abroad.
Initially with Manchester United, Bosnich enjoyed his peak when in the claret and blue of Aston Villa from 1992-99, before returning to Old Trafford and also playing briefly at Stamford Bridge.
Mark Bosnich during his time with Manchester United. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport
After some personal issues and a little fling with A-League football in 2008, Bosnich resettled in Australia, destined to become a key part of the Fox Sports A-League commentary team.
Few internationally experienced Australians have the pedigree, personality, nor the infectious laugh of the 48-year-old. His move into the media was logical and has proven to be an asset for the domestic game.
Always candid, Bosnich speaks from the heart, clumsily at times, yet determined in his attempts to convey the inner workings of the game to the Australian viewer. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet football cred is football cred and when Brenton Speed took on ‘Bozza’ live on air in 2020, there was destined to only be one winner.
With discussions around a contentious penalty forming the crux of the debate, Bosnich and Speed were both adamant in their opposing opinions. When Bosnich confidently announced his view that Speed was merely a commentator and that he was “the expert” voice in the commentary box, the tension was palpable.
The altercation came about soon after Simon Hill had been jettisoned by Fox and Bosnich had stepped into the commentary box on a consistent basis for the first time.
For a while now rumours have circled around the credibility of Speed in football commentary; rumours not denied when I have probed other members of the team for their opinions on his efforts.
Speed has lately been referring to shots quickly taken on the turn from the edge of the box as “snap shots”, a clear AFL crossover and his more extravagant style of commentary does not sit well with many traditionalists.
He can call a decent game of football, AFL, rugby league or whatever else to which he turns his hand, yet that may indeed be the fuel behind Bosnich’s attack.
When it comes to the sphere, Mark Bosnich’s career, knowledge and experience far outweighs that of the media professional sitting alongside him. Hence, it might be best for Brenton Speed to pipe down, let Bosnich’s ego’s run free and let the expert be the expert that he is.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Bosnich - all ego. cannot open his mouth, even on a RL program without talking about himself. Like Mundine - no matter the topic of the conversation they always turn it around and talk about themselves. the Matty Johns show must be pretty hard up for guests if they invite this prat on the show.
jbinnie
Guest
Ian. Good sentiments. Only one problem. You mention 50,000 attending a Grand Final in the mid 60's and that in itself is not mis-leading, for grand Finals in any sport in Australia have a habit of drawing big crowds, see Perth Glory and Brisbane Strikers GF crowds. However having lived through the NSL years it would probably be nearer the truth if you cited an average crowd over those years in the 3-5000 range. I watched a game in Sydney around the mid 70's when the best team in Australian football was playing, Hakoah, and I doubt very much if there were 1000 people in the ground. As you say, the A-league over it's 13 year history has been doing substantially better than that in their season long average crowds. Cheers jb.
Ian Birch
Guest
NickoM and Buddy know nothing about the game. Safeway United came out of sponsorship of South Coast United in the days of APIA, St George Budapest, Marconi, Hakoah, Pan Hellenic in NSW. Great crowds, and some great players of that time- Johnny Warren amongst them. I can remember going to the old Sydney Sports Ground with my dad to see South Coast and APIA replay the Grand Final in the mid 60’s with about 50,000 people there on a Wednesday night. The game has a vast history. Get your hand off it and look at the past history and at least hope we could get back to those crowds and following.
Richard
Guest
I don't care about Speed spilling AFL or rugby league references into his football commentary. When Bosnich gets the laws of the game right, then he can claim expertise. But every game I hear him commentate, he (and every other commentator) gets law 1 wrong. I don't care how many games a person has played or in what leagues, if you can't get the basics of Law 1 right, don't claim to be an expert. For those wondering what I am referring to: Law 1: THE FIELD OF PLAY > Field markings "The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines." Have you ever heard a commentator refer to a goal line? No. They always say "by line". An expert would call it correctly.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
LOL. I had to stop and think, for a micro second Tiger
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
It’s Ben Homer and he’s an avid reader of the Roar.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
WA – Not so much (well COVID were doing excellent, but in terms of Perth Glory, well, yeah nah, were no good)
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Schwarzer is a fabulous commentator when on Optus.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing: I hear they're looking for promotion out of the 2nd Division
Buddy
Roar Rookie
You know there is a new team on the block - Aldi Rovers and rumours of Lidl United have been doing the rounds for sometime!
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Buddy, traditional rivals with "Coles City", the derbies are epic
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Agree
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Yes I fully understand. I was simply raising a point that both were brilliant, not who is best. And how extraordinary is it!
Patrick Doan
Guest
As Shane Warne said once - he learnt from Richie Benaud - the viewers can see what is happening in front of them, so you don't need to call the play as obviously but show the why and the tactics and everything around it so the play has a clearer picture. That's the art of commentating.
Squizz
Roar Rookie
Hate them both as commentators. I have met Bosnich once with another great Australian keeper, Terry Greedy (very intelligent guy – could be worth someone looking at him as an analyst). I had just seen Danny Vukovic miskick a ball into a young girl’s face. Bozza was with her in a minute looking after her. A side of him I don’t see enough of. Bosnich offers a lot as an analyst – preferably in the studio before or after the game or at half-time. He does though have some strange views even on keeping. i.e. He advocates staying directly on the line for free-kicks to give yourself the longest time to react. Most keepers prefer to stand at least six inches in front so that if they have to turn the ball around the post – they can – rather than into the post and in, either directly, or off your own head or body. When Fox loses the rights I hope that is the last I hear of Speed. I’d still be happy to listen to Bosnich from a studio though – just not calling the game.
Simoc
Guest
Not having heard but read, I think Bosnich is ok to remind the other that he is the expert. That would be the basis of his initial appointment. I dislike commentators who argue with the expert. That is not their role. It doesn't matter if there is a disagreement. The audience always has their own opinion anyway. The AFL guys in particular often get that part wrong.
pacman
Roar Rookie
jupiter, you have highlighted one of the major differences between viewing a match on TV as opposed to viewing that same match live at the stadium. The human eye is able to view far much more than even the most advanced video camera lens. And expecting a commentator to describe what players off the screen are up to is wishful thinking. Even the best commentators would likely fail your demands. The commentator describes, or attempts to, what the screen is showing. To ask him/her to comment on what is not visible on the screen is a tough call, and most unlikely to gain any plaudits from viewers. My ideal TV coverage would consist of crowd audio and absence of commentator input. Not going to happen. That is why I much prefer to view matches at the ground, with a reasonably high vantage point looking down at the half way line. And without any "friends" or "experts" or "smart arses" to distract me. Was hoping to be in UK around now, on what would likely be my last visit. Thanks COVID 19 !!
jbinnie
Guest
late news - Shrewd observation about 2 of our "better" goalkeepers. Bosnich Premier League experience -In an 11 year career 205 premiership games at AV & Man U. Socceroo Caps -17 Schwarzer Premier League experience- In a 16 year career 513 games with Middlesboro & Fulham Socceroo caps-109. Good job (for Bozza) that Schwarzer resides in UK with his family. jb.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Evidently! :stoked:
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Yep! He has an irritating voice, and I know more about the game than he does, so his inanities grate severely. I therefore commonly get to the point where I turn off the sound when Speed is commentating.