Sky Sports pundits

[Pin-seeker]

Are sky sports now employing female pundits just to tick a few boxes?

This isn’t a sexist post as quite a few of the men are equally as bad.
Phil Thompson prime example.

 

[adam6177]

I personally think that they are actively putting more women in those positions yes, but as yet I haven't seen one who I think shouldnt be there.... They seem to be doing a good job and have good opinions.

 

[robinthehood]

Who is it
?

Alex Scott?
She's decent . They 've had women working in footy for a while.

Even in golf too!

 

[Pin-seeker]

Who is it
?

Alex Scott?
She's decent . They 've had women working in footy for a while.

Even in golf too!

Alex Scott is very good.

Not one in particular,just a few that seem useless imo & are only there to please people.

 

[fundy]

if youre only posting this now i assume you havent been watching cricket for the last few years lol

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Okay, head above the parapet here. I think it's a nonsense and the women Sky are employing as pundits shouldn't be there. No problem if the central presenter but pundit, no.

Who are the pundits? They aren't journalists, they are top level pro's who have played at or close to the level they are discussing. They have credibility because they have been in similar circumstances. The women on as pundits can discuss women's football but can not have the same credibility as the men. You may as well have non league players on there if they can talk well. Whether the ladies can talk well is irrelevant, it's about credibility and they don't have it.

 

[Pin-seeker]

if youre only posting this now i assume you havent been watching cricket for the last few years lol

Nope as I have no interest in cricket.

 

[pokerjoke]

Men buy more pints in a pub when there is a sexy barmaid,I suspect it’s all about numbers watching.

Myself personally I like someone who’s been there and done it.

 

[Rlburnside]

I think Alex Scott is very good and think sky missed trick taking Carragher back and not giving her the job.

I like her and she is more lucid than many male pundits.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Having worked at Sky Sports as a pundit on the NFL coverage and still knowing a lot of people involved at Isleworth, there are definitely some people presenting who are there solely for their looks.

 

[Junior]

A good pundit is rare these days. Keown said last night on commentary... ... "Is this Uniteds best night in Europe??"
Errm, no mate. We've won it a few times and came from 2 down against Juve in 99.

 

[Slab]

Having worked at Sky Sports as a pundit on the NFL coverage and still knowing a lot of people involved at Isleworth, there are definitely some people presenting who are there solely for their looks.

So if you're not there now can we surmise that you're a bit... underwhelming in the looks department!

 

[Bazzatron]

I prefer to hear the opinions of the players that have been there and done it.

 

[Orikoru]

I haven't seen that many. Alex Scott they are using quite frequently, but she has been good so no problem there.

 

[jp5]

No reason that a pundit has to have been there and done it to be a decent pundit. Same goes for managers.

 

[drdel]

Anybody, but just about anyone should replace Mark Roe!!!

 

[Pathetic Shark]

So if you're not there now can we surmise that you're a bit... underwhelming in the looks department!

Heh heh heh - the make-up department had to work overtime when I was there. I did the NFL coverage as a freelance for two years on camera and then several more writing pre-game scripts. Quite happy to just be an occasional contributor off-air these days. When it comes to live TV work, the colour of andrenaline is brown.

 

[Grant85]

Okay, head above the parapet here. I think it's a nonsense and the women Sky are employing as pundits shouldn't be there. No problem if the central presenter but pundit, no.

Who are the pundits? They aren't journalists, they are top level pro's who have played at or close to the level they are discussing. They have credibility because they have been in similar circumstances. The women on as pundits can discuss women's football but can not have the same credibility as the men. You may as well have non league players on there if they can talk well. Whether the ladies can talk well is irrelevant, it's about credibility and they don't have it.

Being a former pro doesn't mean you will be a good pundit. Yes, they have credibility and obviously get a chance to show what they can do.

Being a top pundit is a totally different skill set and in my view, broadcasters would do well to bring in some 'analysts' or 'pundits' who haven't played the game but are great communicators, analysts, personalities.

Fed up with listening to Graeme Souness trot out the same chat about Arsenal that he's had on repeat for about 10 years regardless of what performance or result he is commenting on.

Look at two top managers of the last while, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho. Not even professional players in their prime, but very good managers - for different reasons.
Meanwhile guys like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard get well paid managerial roles primarily on the basis of their playing careers. Not saying these two are duds - but very much unknown quantities as managers when they got jobs with Rangers and Derby.

As for the woman pundits, absolutely delighted to see some of this.
The bottom line is that a woman pundit will not have a presence as a pro footballer (yes, they may well have played the game at the top level, but will be pretty much an unknown, compared with 'ok' footballers such as Robbie Savage, Andy Gray, Jermaine Jenas etc). Therefore they will be only get as far as your TV if they are really good analysts and communicators.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Grant85, being a good player doesn't make you a good manager, a good pundit or in fact anything else other than a good player. That may be all you can do, not a bad thing though! My point is that the pundit role in sports, up to this point, has been held by people who HAVE been at the top level, who have the credibility. Players who don't make good pundits should get rooted out, there are plenty out there ready to step in.

The pundits we have now will hopefully get their points across well but you also know that they have been out there in similar circumstances, they are elevated above the standard, normal fan. If you want to bring in professional pundits, non players, then that is fine but at the moment it comes out as tokenism.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Having worked at Sky Sports as a pundit on the NFL coverage and still knowing a lot of people involved at Isleworth, there are definitely some people presenting who are there solely for their looks.

I've never worked in Isleworth mate, but I could have worked that one out fairly quickly.