Green, renowned for having never previously complimented a professional footballer, caused gasps in the gantry when he labelled Tevez "terrific" following the Argentine's third goal of the night. The comment, apparently delivered without a hint of sarcasm, caused co-commentator Chris Waddle to fall into a stunned silence that lasted until the final whistle.
Whilst Green's uncharacteristically positive outburst was a shock to colleagues and listeners alike, some observers claimed they had seen it coming. Mark Lawrenson, listening in his car outside Heston services, felt that the compliment was inevitable. "I could hear Alan's head wasn't right from the start" claimed Lawrenson in an interview today. "He was making unequivocally positive statements all over the place. There's only so many times you can throw a sarcastic rejoinder in three seconds later and get away with it".
Green, initially oblivious, then embarrassed and confused, did not follow up on his positive statement for a full 15 seconds, only returning to the microphone to make a desperate dig at Sam Allardyce's scarf. Green peppered the remaining three minutes of commentary with a number of fiercely negative comments, branding Blackburn's defence "a joke" and describing sections of the home support as "deserters" for leaving a routine home win two minutes early.
Waddle's stunned, catatonic state spoke volumes, however, and Alan Green left the ground immediately after the final whistle. He has been unavailable for comment today as speculation mounts that, after 29 years in football broadcasting, Green may have finally lost his hatred for the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment