The men’s game has changed for the better… ‘defending’ the women’s game would be the wrong step – but Eni Aluko doesn’t deserve the criticism
Eni Aluko speaking on talk SPORT on Tuesday morning (Image: talk SPORT)
Some of the best voices in the entire men’s game are female. Kelly Cates is a great presenter and is always in demand. Gabby Logan was a great addition as a Match of the Day regular.
Lucy Ward is amazing. She provides insight and talks about patterns in the game and why they happen, as well as several other co-commentators. She is in a different class.
Jules Bleach is another great example. Great post-match pitchside interview. Katie Shanahan is amazing. There are many people doing equally good work.
Laura Woods is a great presenter. Seeing her career path is so inspiring for anyone, especially those who have daughters. she is amazing
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And OK, things are different as the men’s game is more high-profile and established than the WSL and the growing popularity of Lionesses. But it was really important to get a variety of voices in our coverage of the Premier League.
Seeing clips from the 1990s, or even the 2000s, feels prehistoric and heightens my fear that my daughters will never see this movie.
And at the same time they will go to the match with you. There have always been female soccer fans around me in my life. everytime. The balance of television coverage had to be addressed, but it was done in a very positive and progressive way.
And in fact, that’s also why I can understand some of what Eni Aluko is saying. It’s a joke to have success in the women’s game and think everything is great.
Yes, we had back-to-back successes at the Euros, culminating in great viewership and interest. It was truly a time of game change.
However, if you talk to people in the TV industry, viewership numbers for WSL games are not what they would like. There is much work to do and we need to move forward.
Eni Aluko was cut from the ITV broadcast (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Aluko is clearly very passionate about reporting and being an informed voice, but do viewers want so many men playing all the games? We may not agree with it or like it, but it’s actually a fair question.
Not long ago, Dinosaur didn’t like women joining men in reporting. That was a scary part of early social media. Reply and disgust. That’s disgusting sexist nonsense.
Some of the best women currently involved in the men’s game might argue that that hasn’t changed. Especially when idiots like Joey Barton are involved.
But in my unglamorous view, that has changed – and for the better. And what’s so frustrating about Aluko’s statement is that she’s aiming for the wrong target here.
She’s not talking about experts who aren’t well-informed, unprepared, or unresearched. There’s someone on one channel who spews out a bunch of tired old clichés because they clearly haven’t done their research. It’s embarrassing. But she’s not talking about him. She’s talking about Ian Wright.
Wright is very passionate about the women’s game. This is nothing new in furthering his career. It’s a genuine interest. He has the right insight. There is mutual respect between players.
I loved the clip Crystal Palace sent me of him taking a pre-match walk at Wembley before the 1990 FA Cup final. He sees the members of the England women’s team and obviously knows them and they know him and he runs up to them.
He was in his mid-20s at a time when TV stations allowed hosts to make fun of female goaltenders live on air. And we don’t think he’s a good fit for the game or passionate about growing the game?
Nedum Onuoha is also passionate about research and insight. Seb Hutchinson is a commentator on ITV.
Laura Woods’ analysis was spot on (Image: Getty Images)
But just like in the men’s game now, there were some really good combinations. Laura Woods nailed it with her post about how caps shouldn’t be the right to get a job. She’s right.
Laura would be the perfect example. She definitely had to strive for the top and was always such a nice person and always came out on top.
I think it sometimes becomes a bit of a problem when the same people are doing too many shows (more on the men’s side, to be honest). I really forget what channel I’m watching.
But I wasn’t a big fan of journalism awards when I saw Laura Woods’ social media photo of the ITV team winning Best Picture at the Women’s Euros! -It’s a very good team.
And she’s also spot on. If you want something to grow, don’t gatekeep it. And the women’s game needs to grow further. To make that happen, don’t hold back your talent. Get the best talent. That way, you might be able to reach a wider audience. I think it’s the same in the Premier League.
One last thought… it’s unfair to make this a pile-on against Arco. Despite her strong and controversial views, the way she is portrayed in some areas is unfair and wrong.
She has the right to watch, and has been the victim of a lot of bullshit in the past (most notably from a so-called fan account in 2018), but it’s a truly horrifying experience.
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