Stay On Your Feet Ray Wilkins

There were several storylines that came out of the Bernabeu Tuesday night after Tottenham Hotspur sunk to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. One of the most interesting to me was the annoying commentary by co-commentator Ray Wilkins, the former Chelsea assistant manager. He made his colleague Alan Parry’s mispronunciation of Spanish surnames seem trivial in comparison.

Wilkins began the match like a bossy headmaster, ranting and trying too hard to make a point instead of adding color to the match. He seemed on a mission to prove his points instead of concentrating on the minutiae of what was happening in front of our eyes.

His observation that Tottenham players should stay on their feet was a key argument. However, he repeated the same point over and over again so much that I was ready to put my hands through the TV screen and throttle Mr. Wilkins.

In many ways, it seemed that Wilkins was trying too hard as if he was rehearsing for a job interview to become a football manager. Most of his observations were welcome. It was just the delivery of those observations and how he monopolized the conversation that were annoying. Co-commentators are meant to chirp in and provide clear and concise analysis. Wilkins ended up sounding like a broken record.

I can only imagine how annoying Wilkins must have been as an assistant manager.

When referees have a poor game in the Premier League, they’re often demoted to a Football League match to improve their skills before they ref a top flight match again. Perhaps it’s time for Sky Sports to give Wilkins the same treatment so he doesn’t ruin our football viewing experience again?