Former Rangers TV commentator takes aim at Rio Ferdinand over 'unashamed' Man Utd commentary

Daily Record

21-04-2025

Ferdinand and fellow co-commentator Robbie Savage did little to his their loyalties as United staged a remarkable turnaround
Veteran commentator Clive Tyldesley has likened TNT Sport's commentary of Manchester United's dramatic win against Lyon to the club's own TV channel.
The broadcaster, who said it was 'wonderful adventure' when he worked for Rangers ' in-house TV station during the Covid-19 season, was less than impressed with Red Devils icon Ferdinand - as he wildly celebrated his former side levelling late on in the Europa League epic.
‌
Ferdinand and boyhood United fan Robbie Savage could be heard cheering as Kobbie Mainoo and then Harry Maguire scored in the final seconds of the match to secure a remarkable win for Ruben Amorim's men.
And TNT Sports later released a 'commentator cam' that showed both failing to contain themselves, as lead commentator Darren Fletcher trying to calm the duo down.
But it drew a furious reaction on social media, with Tyldesley now the latest to add his voice to the criticism - questioning if is what viewers at home want to be hearing.
Posting on his Substack blog, he said: "On TNT Sport, lead commentator Darren Fletcher was playing gooseberry to two former United players that were just loving the comeback.
"We know this because Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage could not only be heard but also seen on CommCam.
"So, just in case we were wondering if Rio's voice had temporarily lost the frequency of the commentator's traditional neutrality, we could watch his fist punching the air over and over in delight.
‌
"I got the impression that he maybe knew the hidden camera was there. Could be wrong.
"Fletch had been savvy enough to take a deep breath in the wake of United's equaliser – my wonderful mentor Reg Gutteridge used to call it 'thinking time' – before delivering the catchy line 'Kobbie Mainoo is the coolest kid in Old Trafford and Manchester United are level'.
‌
"Either side of him, Rio and Robbie were unashamedly losing their collective cool to welcome us to MUTV.
"'Go and get the winner,' beamed Robbie. And so said every City, Leeds and Liverpool fan watching on too. Not.
"The day of the commentator fan – Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher et al – is here but does it work?"
‌
It's not the first time the iconic former ITV man has criticised Ferdinand, with Ally McCoist also not escaping his ire.
Previously he said: "Having the judgment and knowledge to read a game doesn't necessarily give an ex-player the ability to read it out loud to an audience of millions,' Tyldesley wrote. 'They are two separate professions with their own techniques and thought processes.
"If you are coming from football into broadcasting, you need to be schooled and coached in the methods and disciplines of communication. Your words should count."
‌
Tyldsley was the voice of Rangers TV as the Gers won the 2021 Premiership title, and he proved something of a good luck charm at Ibrox, previously telling FourFourTwo: "Rangers really wanted me – they'd done a deal to provide free coverage of all of their home games for their season ticket holders until they could go back into the stadium.
"I was fortunate that Rangers won every game I commentated on, I think!
‌
"It became a wonderful 18-month adventure... although I learned that I didn't know Glasgow football quite as well as I thought.
"In a commentary I try to find a different way of saying the same thing, and I was talking about a Celtic match that was happening at the same time as Rangers were playing.
"I had given the score as Celtic this, Celtic that, and I happened to say, 'The Hoops have now gone three up'.
"I got so much mail from Rangers fans, all quite sympathetic, but there was an element of warning.
"One guy said, 'They are either Celtic, or they are 'them'.' So from that point on, Celtic were Celtic – don't call them something that sounds affectionate!"