A very subjective look into AWFC

We all know how fast the news cycles are all over the world and the footballing ecosystem is a prime example of that, now more than ever, it seems. I think its understandable to a large degree because of the nature of the sport, how many matches there are and how much happens in so many leagues all over the world. We haven’t even processed one insane VAR situation and next match day comes around and an equally insane VAR decision comes around and we focus on that.

There are some news that are left behind that sometimes hit you a few days or weeks later and makes you say: “holy sh*t! that was not good” And even though I made a comment when it happened, I thought about it this morning and it truly bothered me.

Around the first week of October, former England manager Kevin Keegan was at an event in Bristol and was reported to have said this:

“I’m not as keen, I’ve got to be honest, and it may not be a view shared. I don’t like to listen to ladies talking about the England men’s team at the match because I don’t think it’s the same experience. I have a problem with that.”

I have a problem with him having a problem with it but that’s not relevant, since the issue at hand is not my opinion but his thinking, which I’m aware that I cannot change or affect in any way, nor do I want to.

He isn’t wrong, its not the same experience, factually he’s right. But not because women can’t be as good. I’m hanging on to the semantics and express how silly he was. Those comments didn’t add anything positive so what’s the point?

All experiences are different. Men aren’t better just because they are men.

We have ex-players as pundits who have had ZERO communications or broadcasting training and have massive shows on some of the biggest stations and TV channels in the world. Just because they are men or played the game doesn’t make them great at that particular craft.

So, to negate women’s experience not only as pundits, analysts but also as former players, is really lame and it’s wrong.

Currently some of the best at the game as a whole are women. It’s just a fact.

Karen Carney and Jill Scott provide incredible analysis. Suzy Wrack is among the best journalists in the game. Caroline Barker and Shebahn Aherne are incredible behind the camera, interviewing people, covering matches. Laura Woods is about as good as a host as it gets, and so are Kate Abdo and Rebecca Lowe are all absolutely incredible.

Thankfully we’re at a time when saying things like what he said just makes you look so old and bitter and silly and frankly, dinosaurs like that are becoming irrelevant… when he said it, it was one of those: “GET OFF MY LAWN!!!” moments.

Anyway, women are better.

d ❤

THAT ARSENAL WOMEN PODCAST on:

APPLE PODCASTS
SPOTIFY