Why is the bbc shoving the women game down our throats?

[Trix]

Right I'm going straight in for it.

What grates me is that we have women footballers who are good footballers in their own right within the women's game are commenting on top level premiership football matches. You wouldn't find a league two footballer being invited to the sky studio to give their opinion?r And the reason why the league two player is not invited because he has not played at the same level and neither has the female player.

I'm sure some moron will try and compare the top level game of WSL to the Premiership. It's like trying to compare the Premiership with the Albanian fourth division...if there is even one.

Anyway I'm off on a sabtical now so look forward to returning to my 500 spam ratings!
When we all know deep down that at least 80% of you agree with me.

I actually agree with some of that. There are without question some female pundits/commentators that are only in the job because they are women. I have to also say there are plenty of male pundits that are only there because they were good players. The standard they played at is irrelevant to how well they commentate or understand the game, and I'm sure there are lower league players that are far better, but don't get the chance because of their playing status. TV companies employ plenty of shit pundits because of who they are and not what they can do male and female.

 

[John48]

Might be because 50% of the population are women & they might be interested, plus the BBC don't really have men's football.

Mind you I do agree the number of female pundits is starting to feel like it's the old diversity issue & whilst some of them seem OK, some I can't stand.

 

[Maxtremist]

If we're starting to move onto pundits, sure there's some female pundits that aren't great. But as we all know, there's male pundits that aren't great too.

So... again issue is pundits and their skills.

 

[Danny1]

My thoughts are that it doesn't really affect me with regards to the headlines on the websites as I always know when Spurs are playing so wouldn't read into a headline about a Womens team loss & think its the mens side.

I have no interest in the Womens game to be honest as the quality is utterly dreadful and is the same reason I would never watch a Scottish match or League 2 game. Doesn't matter whether it is a woman playing or a man, I just prefer to watch higher quality.

 

[ILS]

If we're starting to move onto pundits, sure there's some female pundits that aren't great. But as we all know, there's male pundits that aren't great too.

So... again issue is pundits and their skills.

Some of the female pundits are good and very knowledgeable about the game but are they more knowledgeable then the former Stevenage Captain or the Southend Former Keeper?

But they don't get asked to become a pundits because they did not play at a premiership level, so what is the difference unless it's purely about them being female which therefore in my opinion is wrong.

 

[muppetman]

I think this is because sport has been male dominated for so long that it can look like "political correctness gone mad", when in fact the Beeb are reporting on women's football in the logical place - the football section of the website/RSS whatever?

As for female pundits I can remember how absolutely woeful Shearer was when he first started out (I'm not suggesting he's amazing now) so it may just take a bit of time for them to find their voice.

 

[Maxtremist]

Some of the female pundits are good and very knowledgeable about the game but are they more knowledgeable then the former Stevenage Captain or the Southend Former Keeper?

But they don't get asked to become a pundits because they did not play at a premiership level, so what is the difference unless it's purely about them being female which therefore in my opinion is wrong.

They might not be more knowledgeable than former Stevange captain. But then Is Souness? Is Sherwood? Is Savage? Are the ESPN football crew? Etc... there's a lot of pundits we can call into question for their skills and knowledge and there likely are better out there. Not just the female pundits.

Yes, they likely got offered the opportunity more so because they're female, but I think representation matters and when there are Women watching the sport, fans of the sports etc... they might also wanna hear a female voice and that represented more often. Same way there's now a couple more female voices on Soccer Saturday etc... it's just adding a different voice to the mix and they decided to focus on getting some female voices in.

I think if they were 100% soley being hired because they are female, that's wrong. Same if they hired people 100% because they're Black or Gay etc...
But if you're looking for new voices and have two candidates who both are as 'good' and 'knowledgeable' as each other, then in that case you can start to look for doing more for representation and giving marginalised voices a chance. So someone who is very knowledgeable and charismatic BUT HAPPENS to be a woman and that kind of thing.

Like I think ultimately we all agree that we want the best people for the job and all of that. And a lot fo the female pundits are good enough. So give 'em a chance. Lord knows a lot of the male pundits have been given how many chances and a lot are still awful.

 

[werty]

Some of the female pundits are good and very knowledgeable about the game but are they more knowledgeable then the former Stevenage Captain or the Southend Former Keeper?

But they don't get asked to become a pundits because they did not play at a premiership level, so what is the difference unless it's purely about them being female which therefore in my opinion is wrong.

Most male pundits are only hired because they have a high profile, rather than because they offer any insight. Maybe more girls/women will watch a broadcast because there is a woman involved that they recognise?

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Some of the female pundits are good and very knowledgeable about the game but are they more knowledgeable then the former Stevenage Captain or the Southend Former Keeper?

Probably.

We don't pick managers based on their level of play - why do you think punditry is any different?

 

[Mattspur]

My thoughts are that it doesn't really affect me with regards to the headlines on the websites as I always know when Spurs are playing so wouldn't read into a headline about a Womens team loss & think its the mens side.

I have no interest in the Womens game to be honest as the quality is utterly dreadful and is the same reason I would never watch a Scottish match or League 2 game. Doesn't matter whether it is a woman playing or a man, I just prefer to watch higher quality.

Out of interest, what would you do if in 10 years time Spurs found themselves in League 2? Would you still support us or would the quality be to low for you?

 

[Metalhead]

Might be because 50% of the population are women & they might be interested, plus the BBC don't really have men's football.

Mind you I do agree the number of female pundits is starting to feel like it's the old diversity issue & whilst some of them seem OK, some I can't stand.

That's true equality because there are also plenty of male pundits that I can't stand.

 

[ILS]

Most male pundits are only hired because they have a high profile, rather than because they offer any insight. Maybe more girls/women will watch a broadcast because there is a woman involved that they recognise?

But how does having women pundits commentating on Men's football help the women's game? What it says to me is even after 12 million viewers watched England women's play, nobody really gives a shit about the WSL as all the former stars are commentating on the men's games.

I have yet to see one girl at our local football club with a female footballers name on the back of their shirt.

They should be using these women to promote the women's game not the men's game.

 

[Maxtremist]

But how does having women pundits commentating on Men's football help the women's game? What it says to me is even after 12 million viewers watched England women's play, nobody really gives a shit about the WSL as all the former stars are commentating on the men's games.

I have yet to see one girl at our local football club with a female footballers name on the back of their shirt.

They should be using these women to promote the women's game not the men's game.

They... are using Women to promote the men's game in front of a mainstream audience that might be a tiny bit more tempted to watch than before (I know I've watched and followed it more since it's gotten more attention)


And now that Sky Sports have finally bought the rights to some WSL games I'm sure we'll see more of it with them used there. At the moment, the WSL didn't really have much going in the way of rights so a lot of the games were shown for free on the FA player with no commentary or build up and only like two angles available.

 

[Danny1]

Out of interest, what would you do if in 10 years time Spurs found themselves in League 2? Would you still support us or would the quality be to low for you?

Well as I’m a Spurs fan I would of course watch us. However I can’t say that I would overly enjoy the football to be honest. I have a mate who is a Sunderland fan and watches all their games but hates the standard of football.

This, however, doesn’t change the fact he is a supporter of the club.

 

[Thewobbler]

We're 1 down to chelsea at HT.

 

[Danny1]

We're 1 down to chelsea at HT.

Who cares, they are only women.....




Kidding! ?

 

[Hazelton]

First time seeing this thread and I honestly don't understand why people care. If you want to watch it, go for it. If not, mute it, go on your phone, switch channels until the kickoff, whatever you feel necessary. Life is a bitch without getting worked up over pointless shit like this.

 

[muppetman]

Women's CL final on and Chelsea losing after a minute.

 

[muppetman]

2-0 down now - not a good week for Chelsea FC

 

[Dougal]

When you spend all your preparation time concentrating on how to deal with the opposition...