Football

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English football likes to market itself as the “people’s game.” We’re told that every club matters, every fan counts, and that whether you’re in the away end at Morecambe or the prawn sandwich seats at Old Trafford, you’re part of one great tapestry. Yet turn on your television on a Saturday night and the reality is very different.

When the cameras cut to the studio, when the lights come up on the pundits’ panel, what do we see? The same narrow pool of ex-players from the same handful of clubs, sitting in judgment on a game that millions of us watch but only a select few seem to get paid handsomely to talk about.

This isn’t by accident. It’s not even subtle. English football punditry is a closed shop dominated by a cartel of ex-pros from the same “heritage” institutions, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea. The supposed guardians of neutrality, the producers, the executives, the rights-holders, are in fact perpetuating a cycle of bias that sidelines entire swathes of football culture. And it’s high time that was called out.

Let’s strip it down. Take the current “top 25” pundits who played the professional game and now earn fees on Sky, TNT Sports, BBC, ITV, Amazon, or TalkSport. Look at where they came from:

• Manchester United: Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen (late career), Dion Dublin (briefly).
   
• Liverpool: Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness, Steve McManaman, Danny Murphy, Michael Owen, Joe Cole (late career), Ian Wright (brief links via youth circuits).
   
• Arsenal: Ian Wright, Lee Dixon.
   
• Chelsea: Joe Cole, Chris Sutton (brief), Andy Townsend.
   

Already, over half the major pundit roster is accounted for by just four clubs. Now compare that to representation from, say, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Walsall, Bradford, or even Sunderland. You’ll struggle to name one. Don Goodman occasionally pops up to provide a Midlands accent, and Clinton Morrison is wheeled out on Soccer Saturday, but they’re outliers, tokens in a system that overwhelmingly prioritises “big six” alumni.

This isn’t meritocracy. It’s brand recognition masquerading as expertise.

The bias runs deepest when it comes to Manchester United and Liverpool, the twin poles of English football’s media economy.

When Neville and Carragher spar across the Sky Sports desk, it’s presented as “banter”  tribalism packaged into digestible entertainment. But think of what it really means: the most prominent voices shaping national debate are locked in a perpetual United v Liverpool dialectic. For decades, those clubs were giants, yes, but they are not the whole of football.

Why are Sunderland’s supporters, who once filled Roker Park with 47,000 people in the second tier, not represented in the national conversation? Why is there no weekly voice from Nottingham Forest, a club with two European Cups to its name? Why is Coventry, a proud founding Premier League member with an FA Cup win, absent from the big TV chairs?

The answer is simple: broadcasters chase the advertising pound. United and Liverpool move the needle, so ex-United and ex-Liverpool men are parachuted in again and again, until it feels “normal” that no one else need apply.

Producers will tell you that these appointments are based on charisma, ability to analyse, or “chemistry” on screen. Nonsense. The pool of talent is far wider than they admit.

There are dozens of articulate, insightful ex-pros who’ve cut their teeth on local radio, regional press, or community coaching. Players who grafted at Coventry, Wolves, Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday, or Portsmouth. Men who lived the game outside the rarefied bubble of Champions League football. But because they didn’t spend a decade at Old Trafford or Anfield, their CVs get binned.

And when those players do get a seat, Don Goodman on Sky’s EFL coverage, for instance, notice where they’re positioned: banished to the margins. Goodman isn’t on Super Sunday; he’s shunted onto the Championship graveyard shift. The hierarchy is blatant.

Scratch deeper and you see it’s not just about the crest on the shirt, it’s about class, accent, and image.

The media is far more comfortable giving a microphone to Gary Neville, university-educated, property developer, comfortable in the boardroom, than to, say, a hard-bitten ex-pro from the lower leagues with a thicker regional accent. Neville is now a multimillionaire businessman; Carragher’s Scouse wit has been carefully repackaged into prime-time entertainment. Both can spar in soundbites that executives know will clip well on Twitter.

But give a slot to a journeyman like Clinton Morrison or Don Goodman? Suddenly the chemistry isn’t right. Suddenly the “brand fit” is questioned. Translation: they don’t tick the middle-class, advertiser-friendly box.

The issue is compounded when you add the lens of racial diversity. Micah Richards is almost permanently on TV now, partly because he’s good, but partly because the industry is desperate to prove it isn’t the closed boys’ club it so clearly is. Richards himself has joked about being “the token black pundit.”

But where are the other voices? Where are the ex-pros from African or Caribbean backgrounds who played across the leagues but didn’t happen to land at City or Arsenal? Why are Dion Dublin and Clinton Morrison the only representatives from that world, and why are they so often restricted to fringe roles?

The industry pats itself on the back for progress, while the structural bias, towards certain clubs, certain accents, certain social classes, remains intact.

Who’s to blame? Not the pundits themselves. Neville, Carragher, Shearer, Wright — they’re doing their jobs, and many do them well. The real blame lies with the commissioning editors, the executive producers, the directors of sport at Sky, BBC, ITV, TNT, Amazon.

These are the people who green-light hires, who decide which pundits get prime-time slots and which get relegated to off-peak filler. And these people are overwhelmingly conservative (with a small “c”) in their choices. They reach for safe names, for familiar crests, for brands they know advertisers will approve.

This isn’t just lazy — it’s corrosive. Because it shapes the national conversation around football in ways that skew our understanding of the game.

1. Narrative distortion: Matches involving United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea are analysed with depth, nuance, and multiple ex-players offering takes. Games involving Wolves, Burnley, Brighton? Skimmed over, often without any insider perspective at all.
    
2. Cultural invisibility: Fans of “smaller” clubs grow up never hearing their heroes’ names mentioned on TV. Entire histories are sidelined.
    
3. Career gatekeeping: Talented ex-pros are locked out of lucrative media careers. A Sky or BBC pundit gig can pay more than a year’s salary in League One, and those doors are closed to most.
    
4. Reinforcement of hierarchy: By repeatedly platforming the same clubs, broadcasters entrench the idea that those clubs matter more, deserve more coverage, and are more “real.” It’s the trickle-down effect of media bias, feeding the already grotesque wealth inequality in English football.
    

1. Quotas by league: Broadcasters should be required, informally if not formally, to include representation from clubs outside the top six. A Championship voice on every Premier League panel, for instance.
    
2. Regional balance: More pundits from the North East, Midlands, South Coast. Less London-centric hiring.
    
3. Transparent hiring: Right now, pundit selection is opaque. It should be treated like any other high-profile appointment: open call, fair process, accountability.
    
4. Promotion of new voices: Give lower-league pros a shot. Rotate guests. Don’t just recycle the same faces.
    
5. Challenge the advertisers: The obsession with United and Liverpool clicks is driven by advertisers. Fans must call out sponsors that reinforce this bias.
    

The punditocracy is not neutral. It’s not accidental. It’s the result of decades of lazy commissioning, advertiser appeasement, and brand bias.

Football is not just Manchester United v Liverpool. It’s Coventry and Crewe, it’s Plymouth and Preston, it’s Bradford and Barnsley. Every fan knows this. Every fan lives this. And until our pundit panels reflect it, until the Don Goodmans and Clinton Morrisons of this world are given equal footing with the Nevilles and Carraghers, English football will continue to be mediated through a warped lens.

The powers that be, Sky, BBC, ITV, TNT, Amazon, must be held to account. If they truly believe football is the people’s game, it’s time they prove it. Otherwise, let’s stop pretending and admit what punditry really is: a closed shop for the same old clubs, the same old faces, telling the same old stories.

Everton's Finances: The State of the Club and the Impact on the Coming Season

Everton's finances have been in the spotlight for a number of years now, and the club's current situation is no different. The Toffees have posted losses of over £300 million in the past three seasons, and their wage-to-turnover ratio is one of the highest in the Premier League.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to Everton's financial problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the club's finances, as it has for many other businesses. The pandemic has led to a decrease in matchday revenue, as well as a decrease in broadcast revenue.

In addition, Everton have made some costly signings in recent years. The club's record signing, Richarlison, cost £50 million, and other expensive signings include James Rodriguez, Gylfi Sigurdsson, and Moise Kean. These signings have put a strain on the club's finances, and they have also not always delivered the desired results on the pitch.

Everton's financial problems have led to a number of concerns about the club's future. There have been fears that the club could be forced to sell some of its star players, and there have also been concerns that the club could even be relegated from the Premier League.

The coming season will be a critical one for Everton. The club will need to find ways to reduce its wage bill and improve its financial performance. If Everton can do this, they will be in a much better position to compete for trophies in the years to come.

However, if Everton are unable to turn things around, they could face a very difficult future. The club could be forced to sell some of its best players, and they could even be relegated from the Premier League. This would be a major blow to Everton, and it would be a very difficult situation for the club to recover from.

The Impact on the Coming Season

The impact of Everton's financial problems on the coming season is likely to be significant. The club will need to be very careful about how they spend their money, and they may not be able to make any major signings in the summer transfer window.

This could have a negative impact on Everton's chances of success in the Premier League. The club will need to rely on their current squad, and they may not be able to compete with the other top teams in the league.

In addition, Everton's financial problems could also lead to a decrease in fan support. If fans are not happy with the club's performance, they may be less likely to attend matches or buy merchandise. This would further damage the club's finances.

The Way Forward

The way forward for Everton is clear. The club needs to reduce its wage bill and improve its financial performance. This will not be easy, but it is essential if Everton want to be successful in the years to come.

The club could start by selling some of its highest-paid players. This would free up some money, which could then be used to pay off debt and invest in the squad.

Everton could also try to renegotiate some of their contracts. This would allow the club to reduce the amount of money they are paying in wages.

In addition, Everton need to find ways to increase their revenue. This could be done by increasing ticket prices, selling more merchandise, or finding new sponsorship deals.

The future of Everton is uncertain, but the club has a chance to turn things around. If they can reduce their wage bill and improve their financial performance, they will be in a much better position to compete for trophies in the years to come.

West Ham United are one of the most successful clubs in English football history, but they have not won a major trophy since 1980. The Hammers have come close in recent years, reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2021-22, but they have always fallen short.

This season, West Ham are competing in the Europa Conference League, the third-tier European competition. The Hammers are one of the favorites to win the tournament, and they have a good chance of doing so.

West Ham have a strong squad with a good mix of experience and youth. The team is led by manager David Moyes, who has a wealth of experience in European competition. Moyes has already guided West Ham to the Europa League semi-finals, and he will be confident of leading the team to victory in the Europa Conference League.

West Ham have a number of talented players who can make a difference in European competition. Declan Rice is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and he is a key player for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen is another important player for the Hammers. Bowen is a quick and skilful winger who is capable of scoring goals.

West Ham have also signed a number of new players this season who can help them win the Europa Conference League. Kurt Zouma is a strong and experienced defender who will add steel to the West Ham backline. Alphonse Areola is a talented goalkeeper who will provide competition for Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham have a good chance of winning the Europa Conference League. The team has a strong squad, a good manager, and a winning mentality. If West Ham can stay focused and motivated, they will be a tough team to beat in the tournament.

Here are some of the reasons why West Ham have a good chance of winning the Europa Conference League:

They have a strong squad with a good mix of experience and youth.

They are led by manager David Moyes, who has a wealth of experience in European competition.

They have a number of talented players who can make a difference in European competition.

They have signed a number of new players this season who can help them win the Europa Conference League.

However, there are also some challenges that West Ham will need to overcome if they want to win the Europa Conference League:

They are not the only favorites to win the tournament. Other teams, such as AS Roma, Feyenoord, and Marseille, are also strong contenders.

They will need to be at their best in every game. The Europa Conference League is a long and demanding tournament, and there is no room for complacency.

They will need to avoid injuries to key players. West Ham have a number of important players who are prone to injuries. If they lose any of these players, it could be a major blow to their chances of winning the tournament.

Overall, West Ham have a good chance of winning the Europa Conference League. The team has a strong squad, a good manager, and a winning mentality. If West Ham can stay focused and motivated, they will be a tough team to beat in the tournament.

What an incredible night of tension at Goodison Park.

The grand old stadium has seen plenty of drama over the years and no matter how good the new stadium is when it's finished, it will struggle to match the sheer intensity and passion which flowed through the stands tonight. 

2-0 down at half time and Burnley winning at Villa had all Evertonians fearing the worst and the possibility of being relegated for the first time in what seems forever but goals from Michael Keane, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin got the three points needed to keep them up. 

There wont be many Everton fans who can remember anything other than top flight football and the rousing second half ensured they will be playing in the premiership for at least one more season.  

There is work to be done to create a team which can improve next season but the foundations are there and Frank Lampard has been a very strong talisman and with his intelligent brand of management, the only way is up.

Patrick Viera could be in some serious trouble following his reaction to provocation from Everton fans who invaded the pitch following the game. More information to follow........