Source: Daily_Mail
Barcelona v Manchester United - the TV battle: Chiles play is at odds with Tyler's class
ShareHarold Camping, the American preacher who claimed the end of the world wouldarrive last Saturday, should have waited a week. When it came to emptying the streets,the Champions League final succeeded where he failed. [LNB]With almost 400m people tuning in, television claimed its largest audience since the royal wedding an event with which it shared some unexpected similarities. [LNB]Jamie Redknapp's suit was as tight as Pippa Middleton's dress, Adrian Chiles was as deferential as Huw Edwards and everyone wondered what Fergie was thinking.[LNB]The pre-match adulation of Lionel Messi was predictably unconfined. Jeff Stelling acclaimed him as 'the little genius' at five to seven, stealing a lead for Sky while ITV were still showing Animals Do The Funniest Things. It was a short-lived advantage,however, as Ned Boulting claimed the pre-match honours back for terrestrial viewerswith a piece on the two knights, Ferguson and Busby.[LNB] Expert opinion: Sky opted for Jamie Redknapp's easy charm[LNB]Fronting ITV's coverage, Chiles looked haunted. The presence in the studio of Roy Keane, brooding like an Icelandic volcano, left the presenter looking like a party host with an unpredictable guest. The mouth smiled but the eyes stayed cold.[LNB]If his concerns extended to the satellite opposition, they were well-founded with regard to style, if not substance. [LNB]While Messi is the model footballer, Redknapp is the footballer turned model. He looks as if he could still play, while talking as if he still does, tempering each criticism as if in fear of a disrepute charge. [LNB]The biggest pre-match issue was how to beat Barcelona? ITV's Gareth Southgate suggested stealing the ball while they had nine men committed to attack, Sky's Gary Neville 'keeping eyes in the back of your head', and Jamie's Dad, Harry, providing ballast to the ITV line-up, opting for a noncommittal shrug. No one seemed overly-optimistic.[LNB]The differences extended to the commentators. Clive Tyldesley's ITV opener about 'the best of the best' was clearly written days ago and hadn't aged well.[LNB] Brooding: ITV's line-up featured Roy Keane[LNB]On Sky, Martin Tyler married calmness and excitement with characteristic expertise, as Alan Smith embarked on his traditional list of rhetorical questions.[LNB]The patter was repeated as Barcelona took the lead Tyldesley told the story of the goal, Tyler identified the key figures, but let the pictures do the work. [LNB]Back in the ITV studio, Keane, who once walked out on his country at a World Cup, opined that United needed to stick at it be 'brave' and the sound of Mick McCarthyswitching over to Sky echoed across the network. [LNB]As Barcelona reclaimed the lead, Tyler was again brevity personified 'Messi!' simultaneously identifying the scorer and describing the defending. [LNB]Villa's third left Tyldesley clutching at straws. 'Liverpool came from three down?' he mused, but even Andy Townsend couldn't add credence to the suggestion. [LNB]At the end, Sky's Geoff Shreeves was on the pitch to ask Nemanja Vidic if Barcelona were too good for United? [LNB]'Yes,' he said, wondering if he would ever hear a sillier question. [LNB]Then ITV's Gabriel Clarke arrived. 'Sum it up for us?' he pleaded. [LNB]'They were too good for us,' said Vidic, stone-faced. He could be a pundit one day. [LNB] Messi the magician: Sir Alex hails Barcelona as 'the best we've ever played'Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa crown Barca kings of EuropePatrick Collins: How can they fail with the enchanting genius Lionel Messi at their heart?So, how were Manchester United outgunned? Fergie gameplan torn up by brilliant BarcaAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Mick McCarthy, Gareth Southgate, Pippa Middleton, Jamie Redknapp, Lionel Messi, Nemanja Vidic, Roy Keane, Adrian Chiles, Gary Neville, Alan Smith Places: Barcelona, Liverpool
