Quote: pies-r-us "Just Sky trying something new out, can’t call em for that, but as you say it adds nowt to the game like Clarkey’s match swingometer thing for early last season, which soon bit the dust. So will this, nice try but totally useless. Hope never to see that bloody spider cam thing again too!'"
Agree re ref cam from a viewing perspective that it adds very little, probably costs a fair bit and I don't believe it's particularly beneficial for the official to lug around ....... except the players will be fully aware of it's presence and any interaction is now potentially being visually as well as audibly recorded, so could improve the level of respect showed to the man in the middle but as ever presumably (?) only in the SKY televised games. Any that overstep the line should expect to be made an example of with incontrovertible evidence and the game can stop any slide towards the antics seemingly tolerated in a certain other popular ball game.
Clarke's swingometer has had a makeover but it's still there - only difference is the commentary team have toned down it's significance.
I may be alone in this but I thought 'Spider-Cam Spider-Cam' was brilliant and unlike 'ref cam' really added to the outstanding coverage at Manchester. The only issue I had with it was it's overuse at times as the director was like a kid with a new toy - but I'd still like to see more of it in future. Last weekend with live coverage of seven games was an ideal way to introduce it - while spreading the cost across the full program. It will be interesting to see if any individual games are afforded the same treatment.