In defence of Vic

[Jamiesfuturewife]

I don't hate the bloke but left work Tuesday night just after kick off - stuck the radio on drove home went in the house put the radio on and still hadn't heard the scoreline mentioned once?? But I knew how Chippenham, Sailsbury etc etc were getting on?!

[Ralphy]

Shaun Hodgetts is the best Town commentator.

[Weasel]

I see Vic like the Michael Pook of commentary. Wholehearted, but never going to be the most technically gifted, divides opinion and would probably flourish at somewhere other than his hometown club.

Probably a bad shout calling your audience names though, co-commentator. Especially this audience.

[jonny72]

I never listen to the commentary so can't comment on it, but the pre and post stuff is ok.

But if the original poster is who he says he is there is absolutely no excuse or justification for the rant, let alone the foul language. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, especially when it comes to the BBC, if you don't like it you need to either ignore it or show some control in your response. Wouldn't be a bad idea to get this thread deleted as if you are genuine and it gets back to the BBC, you'll be fucked and out of a job.

[Benzel]

Keep it and let him sweat.

[The_Plagiarist]

I listened to that yesterday and didn't have a problem with Vic, because he's well he's just Vic isn't he. What I did have a problem with was the utter fuckwit who kept talking over Vic to get some fucking awful pun or attempt at humour in when there was [apparently] a football match going on.

Not going to call Vic a cunt as he has a genuine enthusiasm for the town which comes through on the radio, even if he does get a bit excited and make it impossible to know who has scored. Thats the fun of listening to local radio commentators I guess.

What isn't fun in listening to local radio however, is you get frustrated comedians turned radio hacks who end up using their 90 minutes airtime they should be talking about football, to instead try and cram as many petty little one liners in and turn the whole show into an open mic night. Thats what pissed me off.
OP you were a fucking disgrace mate Vic can look out for himself I'd be worried about your own dire showing on yesterdays performance!

Try talking about the football next time and save your own unique brand of dry humour for the mirror eh?

[jayohaitchenn]

"Well you don't wake up when the sleep is nearly over..."

Awful.

[Berniman]

Neil, you are obviously not a regular visitor to this forum otherwise you would know that being called a cunt is part of the humour of the forum, in everyday life it is "nastyness" as you put it but on this forum it is just run of the mill banter, you haven't been accepted unless you have been called a cunt so chill out.  Nobody has anything personal against you or Vic but everyone has a right to comment on the job that you are doing, if you can't take the critisicm then maybe you should not be putting yourself up for commentary on a BBC radio station that is broadcasting to thousands of frustrated football fans that would rather be at the game.

You post has just shown you in exactly the same light in which you are complaining about, petty digs at us fans because we were not at the game yesterday and maybe we should travel to more games. That is a very general statement to make from somebody that has been put in a privelaged position of being able to report back what is happening to those fans that are hanging on every word that you say, and you wonder why the frustration came out when we sat for 2 hours not having a clue what is going on.

You were there to provide a service to us, the licence payer, and if we want to complain about the service provided then we have every right to do that, we didn't do it on a BBC forum we did it on fans forum which was created to allow us to vent our spleen within our own community and not have restictions on what we say, it was your choice to come on and read what was being said and now that you have responded with your views you have to expect us to be able to respond to you.

Maybe you and Vic should take on board the things being said as constructive criticism, no matter if you believe that they were relayed in the wrong way, and attempt to improve on the service that us the paying customer is getting, instead of accusing us of being non commited fans for not being there.  If it wasn't for us then there would be no need for the service that you are being asked to provide.  Did you pay for your ticket?  If you were not on Radio Swindon would you have been at the match?  All totally irrelevent, but the same sort of accusations that you are throwing at us.

If I receive criticism from my customers in my work, I listen to those criticisms and try to resolve or improve on them, even if they are on a medium that is meant for a specific community, the one thing I wouldn't do is go on the attack with the people that I am providing that service for because that would be just plain stupid.

I look forward to the Rochdale commentary and finding about the local businesses that are running in the area.

[jonny72]

What isn't fun in listening to local radio however, is you get frustrated comedians turned radio hacks who end up using their 90 minutes airtime they should be talking about football, to instead try and cram as many petty little one liners in and turn the whole show into an open mic night. Thats what pissed me off.

It works for Mark Lawrenson, I always enjoy his non stop one liners when he commentates.

[DV]

I only listened partly yesterday. I was sat in the car for 15 minute (no phone signal) and it took 15 min utes for someone to mention it was 1-1 (it was still 1-0 last id heard) but as JFW mentioned. I knew how Chippenham and Salisbury and Bolton and Southampton were doing!

I didnt listen to any more of the game.

I've listened a few times this season and the harsh truth is, Vic isnt a good commentator. He comes across like a fan who is doing commentary. If he was a guest (like Rob Hartley is it?) it would make sense but as far as I am aware Vic is a proper employee of the BBC? paid to commentate?

Alot of the time the second commentator is an ex-player, current player, fan etc so can get away with being shit (if they are) because its not their actual job.

Ed Hadwin was a commentator doing commentary and it showed, he was good at what he did. He is not a Swindon fan, but its not impossible to be a Swindon fan and be a good commentator, Shaun Hodgetts does it very well - and I really have no idea why he isnt the main match day commentator every week?

As far as I am aware (or remember) I've never called Vic a name or what not but his commentary sucks ass and on more than one occasion due to his tone of voice and description (or lack there of) I've thought something else had happened that didnt happen! the whole point of the commentary is to keep me(us) informed!

Also, it is Vic who does the after match interviews as well isnt it? because I think they've been good and he's not hid away from asking difficult questions after a defeat.

[pauld]

Not defending the tone of neil's post etc but as a point of note for those having a go at his lack of professionalism, saying he should be out of a job and generally seeming to be under the impression he's a BBC employee, he's not. The co-commentators are not pros, and they're not paid. They're usually fans (or sometimes (ex)-players, with the occasional chairman throw in for good measure!) and are AFAIK selected on that basis, to give a fan's view alongside the main commentator. None of which makes his rant any better, but I think expecting him to be a representative of the BBC is a bit harsh.

Oh and for the record, I couldn't make the game yesterday so listened on the radio and I didn't have a damn clue what was happening most of the game. I don't have a problem with VM getting over-excited about goals, but if he described the build-up properly then we'd know which side had scored. That's the failing IMO, not actually telling us what you're seeing. He seems like a great bloke, passionate fan etc and doesn't deserve to be called a cunt, but if you're after constructive criticism, that's it - describe the game because we can't see it.

[Simon Pieman]

Well I assumed he was an unpaid guest of the BBC, but why should he get the opportunity if he's going to slag off the fans.

[Mexicano Rojo]

listen fella dont go on  public broadcasting media if you cant take criticism.

[Fred Elliot]

Lucky for you I'm not feeling that petty.

I am

[pauld]

Well I assumed he was an unpaid guest of the BBC, but why should he get the opportunity if he's going to slag off the fans.

He's biting back at people slagging off his mate. Seems fair enough to me. Some of the reactions have been a bit like everyone going all holier than thou when a player gives some back after they've been giving him dogs abuse all game. I think we're all big enough to take it