Laura Woods has become one of the most recognizable faces of British sports broadcasting. Photo: Telegraph Sport/Paul Grover
How many Ally McCoists are there? It was one of many unanswered questions hanging over the airwaves in Paris on Tuesday night after the Scot woke up at 5.45am ahead of his radio show before commentating for TNT Sports on Newcastle United's dramatic 1-1 draw with PSG. . Yet the real drama doesn't begin until he reaches 16 hours a day.
Rio Ferdinand fell ill in the second half, shortly before PSG's highly controversial goal, and so there was only one answer when an emergency pitchside substitution was required. Cue the ever-versatile McCoist running from his seat next to commentator Darren Fletcher from the gods' stand at the Parc des Princes before displaying a touchline tenacity rarely seen as he regularly scored 30-goal seasons with Glasgow Rangers. . .
The rosy cheeks that suddenly appeared on screen in rage at the injustice of Kylian Mbappe's decisive goal were not only the result of unexpected tension, but also the fact that even the most infectiously passionate person in football reaches the limit of his affection for Ware.< /p>
“I'm just annoyed, but go ahead,” McCoist said when asked if he wanted to see a replay of the penalty decision before a second review confirmed his first instincts.
“It's a mess,” he stated. “Terrible decision. To be honest, this is not happening. If it's a penalty, we can abandon the game. This borders on robbery.”
“This is not a punishment by any means…at this level it's a disgrace” 😤@allysbears and @jjenas8 having a very opinionated debate over the awarding of the penalty that cost Newcastle the win…@laura_woodsy | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Da8dMe6dCc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 28, 2023
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe bit his tongue but watched in admiration, and it was a monologue that soon saw McCoist trend on social media and in many areas of the North East, adding to his already extensive list of fans. His phone also lit up with dozens of messages of support.
“I'm angry – and I don't have a dog in the fight,” McCoist would later say, still shaking his head, before finally walking away. stadium shortly after midnight, and then woke up five hours later to say a few more words on the radio.
It was a wild finale for the entire 40-year-old TNT team in France.
>Presenter Laura Woods, the network's star summer signing, literally penned the words she had just formulated ahead of a post-match analysis that would move from deconstructing the famous victory to Ware's season-altering intervention.
Producer Tom Hambleton also tore up the script and transmitted thoughts to Woods' earpiece from a screen truck outside the stadium.
Joel Miller, the resident statistics guru (described by Fletcher as “the only person in the history of BT or TNT Sports who has never made a mistake”), was another in the full flow, having previously arrived with a completely hand-crafted A4 grid. of nine different possible group permutations.
Joel Miller's statistical notes are vital to informing TNT Sports' ; football broadcasts Photo: Telegraph Sport/Paul Grover
Becky Ives, the “eyes and ears” on the touchline, also relayed information from her seat literally next to Ware's offensive screen, while preparing for emotionally charged “snap” interviews with players.
All the while Pitchside finishing touches of makeup and hairspray were applied while manager Jaydee Darby presided over the physical pop-up window of the makeshift studio that viewers see moments after the match ends.
“You end up scripting something poetic and wonderful, thinking about all the great things it means to Newcastle fans, and then something like this happens and everything changes,” Woods said after four hours of the live broadcast. .
“Managers also have a truly human element. Huge emotions, and we get them so quickly that we have almost no chance to calm down. I don't like the element of trying to be particularly provocative – it is what it is. Eddie [Howe] – brilliant interview, whatever the outcome.”
“I feel human again”
It was all a far cry from the calm scene at the stadium a few hours earlier. Woods was the first of the screen team to arrive at 4 p.m., then spent a full two hours hiding with an iPad, headphones, Haribos and Coke Zero in a tiny makeshift “green” room along the hallway away from the players. 'tunnel. A soothing classical playlist was chosen as the background music.
“No lyrics – and very soothing, so I could look at the number of shots Nick Pope blocked against Milan accompanied by Beethoven,” she said, laughing. “I just like to immerse myself in something and be very introverted. I get really bored on game day.”
Team unity is important for successful broadcasting. , says Woods. Photo: Telegraph Sport/Paul Grover
In fact, intense preparation had been underway since the Eurostar journey the day before before steak, chips and “lots of ketchup” in a restaurant overlooking the Eiffel Tower with the TNT team, which included McCoist, Ferdinand, Ives and Jermaine Jenas. “Social events like this are very important – just for a little team bonding,” Woods said.
McCoist opted for red wine before accepting Woods' suggestion of a Brazilian caipirinha cocktail and tales of rowdy England and Scotland. The training games under Graeme Souness at Rangers went well.
It's all a big change from talkSPORT's previous morning routine after Woods moved over to host TNT's coverage of both the Champions League and main boxing. “I feel human again—I sleep more, I’m healthier, I go to the gym, I do everything I wanted to do, and it feels really good,” she says. “Definitely more balanced. I've always enjoyed my job, but when you work too much, you enjoy it less.”
As Woods headed to rehearsal next to the field, you could hear commentators McCoist and Fletcher before you saw them after arriving at the stadium. McCoist instantly refutes any questions about his stamina after mentioning the cocktail the night before – “at a quarter to six of us only one woke up, and that was me,” he said, grinning – and it's hard to overstate the bubble of positive energy that accompanies it.< /p> 
Ellie McCoist and Darren Fletcher became TNT Sports' leading commentator duo Photo: Telegraph Sport/Paul Grover
“Best seat in the house, best players in the world, mic ready – I honestly pinch myself every time I do it,” he says.
Ahead of another week dominated by Var, it was also exciting to hear their unique perspective on the problem. In European games, commentators are informed that the review is taking place through a color-coded sequence, but the confidential information goes even further in the Premier League when they have access to a live feed of Ware's remarks.
Fletcher is concerned that Wars may be delivering information to judges in a way that could push them in a certain direction. McCoist now feels some judges are avoiding certain decisions because they think they will have Ware's “backing.”
“Fans are not stupid”
It's a debate that continues, but by Wednesday morning this will be a whole new focus for much of the TNT team. Woods returned to her Hillingdon base to present Manchester United's 3-3 draw at Galatasaray alongside pundits Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves.
James was also in the studio next door Richardson, Julien Lawrence, Raphael Honigstein and James Horncastle to take part in “The Goals Show”, an often irreverent but high-minded look at every Champions League game in over three hours of alternative live coverage. The show was born at the personal suggestion of the presenters themselves, who noted that England lacks a format that is extremely popular on the continent.
Ferdinand, who was seeing off his illness, came to Istanbul from Paris. with Fletcher, where they were joined by Robbie Savage and Jules Breach. However, the main action on the ground will take place in the Emirates, where Reshmina Chowdhury was accompanied pitchside by Michael Owen and Martin Keown. Like Howe the night before, it was noticeable that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had agreed to a live appearance at a pitchside round table rather than the usual pre-match interview in the tunnel. Arteta obviously really enjoys the more informal conversations that include former players.
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