I really enjoy Claire Balding, think she is well prepared and is a safe pair of hands. But John Lloyd annoys me more than any other commentator ever. Just says the same things every match he does, and loves to point out players are choking but never mentions that he was the biggest choker going.
I like Clare Balding as a presenter on Crufts and the like, but as an anchor for tennis I feel she talks over people who have much more insight than her. Castle is pleasant enough but his knowledge of the current game is not up to scratch - he just stated that Katie Swan made the semis of Surbiton for example. Lloyd just needs retiring. His arrogance cascades across his commentary which is not at all interesting. He describes himself as a tennis heartthrob also!!
I really enjoy Claire Balding, think she is well prepared and is a safe pair of hands. But John Lloyd annoys me more than any other commentator ever. Just says the same things every match he does, and loves to point out players are choking but never mentions that he was the biggest choker going.
I like Clare Balding as a presenter on Crufts and the like, but as an anchor for tennis I feel she talks over people who have much more insight than her. Castle is pleasant enough but his knowledge of the current game is not up to scratch - he just stated that Katie Swan made the semis of Surbiton for example. Lloyd just needs retiring. His arrogance cascades across his commentary which is not at all interesting. He describes himself as a tennis heartthrob also!!
I really enjoy Claire Balding, think she is well prepared and is a safe pair of hands. But John Lloyd annoys me more than any other commentator ever. Just says the same things every match he does, and loves to point out players are choking but never mentions that he was the biggest choker going.
I like Clare Balding as a presenter on Crufts and the like, but as an anchor for tennis I feel she talks over people who have much more insight than her. Castle is pleasant enough but his knowledge of the current game is not up to scratch - he just stated that Katie Swan made the semis of Surbiton for example. Lloyd just needs retiring. His arrogance cascades across his commentary which is not at all interesting. He describes himself as a tennis heartthrob also!!
Lol. As much as a heartthrob as Radek Stepanek was
I really enjoy Claire Balding, think she is well prepared and is a safe pair of hands. But John Lloyd annoys me more than any other commentator ever. Just says the same things every match he does, and loves to point out players are choking but never mentions that he was the biggest choker going.
I like Clare Balding as a presenter on Crufts and the like, but as an anchor for tennis I feel she talks over people who have much more insight than her. Castle is pleasant enough but his knowledge of the current game is not up to scratch - he just stated that Katie Swan made the semis of Surbiton for example. Lloyd just needs retiring. His arrogance cascades across his commentary which is not at all interesting. He describes himself as a tennis heartthrob also!!
Not for nothing was he known as "Legs" Lloyd in his playing days!
I really enjoy Claire Balding, think she is well prepared and is a safe pair of hands. But John Lloyd annoys me more than any other commentator ever. Just says the same things every match he does, and loves to point out players are choking but never mentions that he was the biggest choker going.
I like Clare Balding as a presenter on Crufts and the like, but as an anchor for tennis I feel she talks over people who have much more insight than her. Castle is pleasant enough but his knowledge of the current game is not up to scratch - he just stated that Katie Swan made the semis of Surbiton for example. Lloyd just needs retiring. His arrogance cascades across his commentary which is not at all interesting. He describes himself as a tennis heartthrob also!!
Lol. As much as a heartthrob as Radek Stepanek was
John Lloyd. One of biggest ever chokers in playing days. Worst DC captain ever Terrible commentator.
Basically stealing a living.
yes, yes, yes etc but...he did reach around 20-25 in the world, albeit in a weaker period, and he did reach the Australian Open Final, when he lost to Gerulaitus in 1977. And he did lead our team with Buster Mottram (enough said about Mottram, the fascist) to a Davis Cup Final in 1978 with the USA against McEnroe et al.
So his wasnt a career without some decent highlights.
Never as good as Taylor or Cox though, or probably as Mottram either although more interesting to watch than Mottram.
I actually saw Lloyd on Court One the same court and day as McEnroe's " you cannot be serious, the pits of the world" blow up and Lloyd played Phil Dent, big Aussie player. Lloyd won in 5 tough sets that day and it was an excellent match, certainly didnt choke that day!
John Lloyd. One of biggest ever chokers in playing days. Worst DC captain ever Terrible commentator.
Basically stealing a living.
yes, yes, yes etc but...he did reach around 20-25 in the world, albeit in a weaker period, and he did reach the Australian Open Final, when he lost to Gerulaitus in 1977. And he did lead our team with Buster Mottram (enough said about Mottram, the fascist) to a Davis Cup Final in 1978 with the USA against McEnroe et al.
So his wasnt a career without some decent highlights.
Never as good as Taylor or Cox though, or probably as Mottram either although more interesting to watch than Mottram.
I actually saw Lloyd on Court One the same court and day as McEnroe's " you cannot be serious, the pits of the world" blow up and Lloyd played Phil Dent, big Aussie player. Lloyd won in 5 tough sets that day and it was an excellent match, certainly didnt choke that day!
Yes but to be a broadcaster you have to have some charisma or at the very least an encyclopaedic knowledge of the modern game and players. He has neither and gets through on making generalised comments that most people on this Board could manage more elegantly and knowledgeably.
I'm not sure why being engaging is not higher on the list of priorities for commenters for the grass court season.
I once heard Lloyd say that, as a young player, he partied too much and didn't work hard enough.
Well, I've no idea about his social calendar now but I do know that the basic problem is still the same - he just doesn't do his homework, he knows nothing, and doesn't care
He barely knows any players outside the top 20; he forgets who's played who; has nothing of any insight to add....
I once heard Lloyd say that, as a young player, he partied too much and didn't work hard enough.
Well, I've no idea about his social calendar now but I do know that the basic problem is still the same - he just doesn't do his homework, he knows nothing, and doesn't care
He barely knows any players outside the top 20; he forgets who's played who; has nothing of any insight to add....
You're right, Jon, he was a very decent player.
But he's the world's worst commentator
that is it right there - as a player it was the same, didnt put the work in, rocked up and relied on his talent. Play boy. As a player he sometimes got away with it but could have gone much higher; as a commentator, no chance!
Do you recall as a DC Captain when he ran a selection weekend process where all the players were asked to come and play a mini tournament over 3 days to decide who would be on the team. They played best of 5 each day for 2 or 3 days - James Ward played someone to 15-13 in the final set or something. Players got worn out, didnt really tell us anything, team picked was probably the team we should have picked anyway. Pointless and mainly cos he had no clue!