Media - Hypocrisy

[Neil Young]

Im not necessarily wound up about their support of Hodgeson. Its more the general feeling from fans that "Everyone hates us" Its beginning to be every article that paints us in a slightly less favourable light, then people automatically assume that the writer has an agenda.

Not everyone in the Media likes us, but not everyone hates us either.

As usual, I'll probebly make no sense to you Neil

Actually I did get that - I was trying to move it on.

You said the pundits support Hodgson for a reason so why do you think they do it?

[Fredo]

I was going to ask him that as well.

[kemm1]

I agree it's interesting to note how many pundits support Hodgson (as I've said before) and it is something that needs explaining in far less simplistic terms than media bias.

I don't see the point in getting wound up because others are dismissing it so what's your interpretation of the phenomenon?

Well my answer is simplistic. It's a combination of xenophobia and being a part of the 'old boys' club I also think that sections of the media are definitely complicit. The sports journalist who are even remoely unbiased and are construcive in their thoughts and writings are NEVER on Sky sports.

That said, I have a strong anti-media (tabloid & Sky) bias so maybe I'm being biased.

Another thing, one of the reasons I've been such a staunch supporter of Rafa is because he nver gave a flying **** about the media, be-freinding the pundits, brown-nosing with Fergie, Fat Sam, 'arry Redknapp, Fat Head etc.
Rafa made some mistakes but I desparately want him to suceed where ever he is because of the cuntish football fraternity in England, which Hodgson is a fully fledged signed up member.

[banditos]

Interesting article from Lawro given that on MOTD he stated he was dissappointed with how deep we played at Stoke and that if we're gonna go into away games with a defensive line-up and still lose, we may as we have a go at them instead. I saw this as a critiscism of the tactics and he didn't say a word about the players efforts. Hansen, notably, didn't make a single comment about the game. I think they realise that Roy's tactics are the problem, but I get the feeling that whoever is in charge and however bad they are doing, the ex-player pundits struggle to publically criticise a current LFC manager.

[Fredo]

Interesting article from Lawro given that on MOTD he stated he was dissappointed with how deep we played at Stoke and that if we're gonna go into away games with a defensive line-up and still lose, we may as we have a go at them instead. I saw this as a critiscism of the tactics and he didn't say a word about the players efforts. Hansen, notably, didn't make a single comment about the game. I think they realise that Roy's tactics are the problem, but I get the feeling that whoever is in charge and however bad they are doing, the ex-player pundits struggle to publically criticise a current LFC manager.

Lawrenson did all the talking on MOTD, Hansen was quiet. What was irritating to me (and I said this to the missus who was sitting next to me) is that no one will come out and lay the blame at the manager's feet. They don't want to come out and have a go at 'good old Roy' because he's part of the fraternity.

With Benitez it was different. He wasn't 'one of them'. Pundits in general don't give a **** about the fans. Most of them are glory hunters, living on their past exploits and rehashing tripe which was 'order of the day' 20 years ago. It makes me sick.

[danperkins]

All I will say on the matter is this.


Whinging about the Media is something every fan does. Every fan thinks the media hates there team, and then produces 100's of quotes to back it up. I know fans that think Grey is pro Liverpool. Its all about perception.

The more we whinge and moan the more stupid it makes us as fans look. I know SkySports is a bit of a WKD crowd channel and there opinions should be taken with a pinch of salt. But all these pundits and so called experts are backing Dodgeson for a reason. So maybe rather than moaning that there all pro Dodge and anti Rafa, fans should read the articles propely and stop automatically assuming the same position of "The Media hates us"

Winds me up some times


*Slate me for this post if you want, but its been bugging me for a while.*

great post. Tired of hearing that every things is a witch hunt or an everyone has an agenda, and the whole world is against LFC lark, its embarrassing. Think we're developing a bit of a persecution complex, wee bit paranoid people are.

[Exiled_red]

All I will say on the matter is this.


Whinging about the Media is something every fan does. Every fan thinks the media hates there team, and then produces 100's of quotes to back it up. I know fans that think Grey is pro Liverpool. Its all about perception.

The more we whinge and moan the more stupid it makes us as fans look. I know SkySports is a bit of a WKD crowd channel and there opinions should be taken with a pinch of salt. But all these pundits and so called experts are backing Dodgeson for a reason. So maybe rather than moaning that there all pro Dodge and anti Rafa, fans should read the articles propely and stop automatically assuming the same position of "The Media hates us"

Winds me up some times


*Slate me for this post if you want, but its been bugging me for a while.*

I agree that most fans think that sky(or the media in general) is biased against their club and biased in favour of one of their rivals or the big clubs.

I think the point in this thread is the change in attitudes since we've had a change of manager. Rafa was constantly critisised by the press for our relative lack of success, slated for the players he brought in and the tactics he used, and the 7th place finish provoked alot of questions about him having 'lost the dressing room' and being unable to motivate the players. With a different manager (one whose cause had been championed by the press) in charge, putting in worse performances and getting worse results, the current state of the squad is blamed on the previous manager, and the new guy seems immune from critisism. The inconsistencies are there for all to see, either the squad isn't good enough and Rafa over achieved, or the squad is good enough and both Roy this season and Rafa last underachieved. People are becoming frustrated by this blinkeredness, personally I don't care whether the media love us or hate us, I'd just like them to be consistent, I'd especially like to see the same from our former players who should know better.

[Neil Young]

Well my answer is simplistic. It's a combination of xenophobia and being a part of the 'old boys' club I also think that sections of the media are definitely complicit. The sports journalist who are even remoely unbiased and are construcive in their thoughts and writings are NEVER on Sky sports.

That said, I have a strong anti-media (tabloid & Sky) bias so maybe I'm being biased.

Another thing, one of the reasons I've been such a staunch supporter of Rafa is because he nver gave a flying **** about the media, be-freinding the pundits, brown-nosing with Fergie, Fat Sam, 'arry Redknapp, Fat Head etc.
Rafa made some mistakes but I desparately want him to suceed where ever he is because of the cuntish football fraternity in England, which Hodgson is a fully fledged signed up member.

Hmm, I think you mean your answer is simple. Unless you're suggesting you're oversimplifying things in which case you don't believe your own answer.

I agree there's an old boys club thing about English football and I also think there is some xenophobia. I think the one major thing you're missing out is how the media works - journalists have relationships with people within the game and any outsider will therefore always be regarded as a threat, especially when they don't try to ingratiate themselves with the journalistic in-crowd. By the same token they'll also seek to protect their own - hence the easy ride Hodgson has had and the vitriol poured on the fans by so-called experts like Barclay.

And there is also the nature of media itself - the need for black and white stories, heroes and villains, the need to make a story run and run, etc.

There is also the fact that most pundits are ex-players but not ex-managers so they look at things through players' eyes ("he'll be disappointed with th..." zzzzzzzzzzz). And they don't keep up-to-date with the latest trends in football, from tactics to conditioning to technique (like goalkeepers making fingertip saves with their "wrong hand" ) because they're out of the game and, frankly, they're intellectually lazy.

[Alex]

Actually I did get that - I was trying to move it on.

You said the pundits support Hodgson for a reason so why do you think they do it?

I honestly don't know, but its too easy to dismiss it as "The Old Boys Club" Id like to think that the majority of pundits have integrity. I dont really want to get into why people like/dislike Hodgeson. Its been done to death on other threads, and no doubt will be discussed for a while longer.

For what its worth, I want him gone. I think he is a decent manager, but not good enough to manage us. His level was Fulham. That's where he should have stayed.

[Fredo]

Rafa was constantly critisised by the press for our relative lack of success, slated for the players he brought in and the tactics he used, and the 7th place finish provoked alot of questions about him having 'lost the dressing room' and being unable to motivate the players. With a different manager (one whose cause had been championed by the press) in charge, putting in worse performances and getting worse results, the current state of the squad is blamed on the previous manager, and the new guy seems immune from critisism. The inconsistencies are there for all to see, either the squad isn't good enough and Rafa over achieved, or the squad is good enough and both Roy this season and Rafa last underachieved.

A lot of that fed with 'lies' or inaccuracies from the media. I remember discussing with someone some time ago, a staunch anti-Benitez fella. He was banging about how 'Rafa lost the dressing' room and was purporting this as a 'fact'. Now you don't see anything like this in the press, it's 'down to the players' the manager is immune to the criticism.

Most of them are hypocrites and I'll include the so called 'legends' in that, I don't need to name them.

[kemm1]

Hmm, I think you mean your answer is simple. Unless you're suggesting you're oversimplifying things in which case you don't believe your own answer.

I agree there's an old boys club thing about English football and I also think there is some xenophobia. I think the one major thing you're missing out is how the media works - journalists have relationships with people within the game and any outsider will therefore always be regarded as a threat, especially when they don't try to ingratiate themselves with the journalistic in-crowd. By the same token they'll also seek to protect their own - hence the easy ride Hodgson has had and the vitriol poured on the fans by so-called experts like Barclay.

And there is also the nature of media itself - the need for black and white stories, heroes and villains, the need to make a story run and run, etc.

There is also the fact that most pundits are ex-players but not ex-managers so they look at things through players' eyes ("he'll be disappointed with th..." zzzzzzzzzzz). And they don't keep up-to-date with the latest trends in football, from tactics to conditioning to technique (like goalkeepers making fingertip saves with their "wrong hand" ) because they're out of the game and, frankly, they're intellectually lazy.

I agree you just made my points better for me.

One exception, I don't think most of the ex-players are intectually lazy, I beleive they are intellectaully inept. It's not their fault, the English academy system never put a premium on educating the youngsters and/or producing well rounded young men.

[Fredo]

I agree you just made my points better for me.

One exception, I don't think most of the ex-players are intectually lazy, I beleive they are intellectaully inept. It's not their fault, the English academy system never put a premium on educating the youngsters and/or producing well rounded young men.

Not all of them went to Lilleshall.

I don't think a show format of 1 hour or so favours debate, with all the things they've got to cover as regards the match footage etc ...

[Neil Young]

Yeah well, I'm pretty sure some of them at least aren't exactly among the brightest, most thoughtful people on the planet.

Yes, I am thinking of Paul Merson.

[danperkins]

Yeah well, I'm pretty sure some of them at least aren't exactly among the brightest, most thoughtful people on the planet.

Yes, I am thinking of Paul Merson.

Entertainment Purposes, funny bloke.

[Fredo]

Entertainment Purposes, funny bloke.