Football Focus could be axed

[jackal2]

Good.

Will not watch it with Alex Scott.

I actually feel some sympathy for Alex Scott. She is not at fault for accepting the opportunity to host a once iconic football programme. On face value it's an honour and a great opportunity for her, but that doesn't mean it was the right choice to match the audience's expectations.


In choosing the new presenter, did the executives do careful research into what their audience wanted, or did they decide what/who the audience should be given? I'm sure I'm not the only one who suspects it was more the latter, nor the only one who suspects that the choice was more political than football-based.

I'm a supporter of women's football and I see no reason why there shouldn't be female pundits and commentators if they are up to scratch. The best two female pundits I've seen are the extremely knowledgeable and articulate Karen Carney, and former Notts Ladies player Courtney Sweetman-Kirk. Both of them know their stuff and are being gradually integrated into football programming alongside more established male pundits. That's the way gradually ease the audience towards the idea of football punditry not being a male domain, but if you do that too fast, or worse still promote people who aren't ready, you'll just lose the viewers and do more harm than good in terms of selling the women's game.

[kill_the_drum]

Haven’t watched it for years.
It used to be an intro into the weekends fixtures and I really enjoyed it.
With football being covered and analysed to within an inch of its life, I found FF (even 10 years ago) was just covering old news by the time it was aired.
I find football punditry has become completely saturated which results in them fighting for the spotlight. They aren’t just giving opinions on a game of football, they’re having to try and go much deeper and just end up talking absolute garbage.
Last weekend was a prime example. Richarlison has had absolute pelters from pundits since he went to Spurs. He opened up about his mental health recently and how he’s struggling. Pundits on BBC/SKY then spoke about him like he was Messi last weekend.

[irish_pie]

I saw somebody comment today that it mostly now does reports on how green clubs are, Sunday League refs and their gender identity and promoting the women's game, which is probably an exaggeration but that was beginning to creep in on a regular basis when I gave up on it. I must have watched it every Saturday for 40 years or so before that, unless I was travelling to an away game.

This is exactly how I find it... Good post

[TSANHO]

Good.

Will not watch it with Alex Scott.

She’s quite ‘watchable’ to be fair!

[OP67]

Judging by the replies here I can see why it may be axed, hardly anyone watches it I try to watch it from time to time while having lunch but end up turning over as it's just crap.
It still amazes me that Ashley Williams is on it after the abuse he gave to the ref at the U12's match and was charged by the FA for....oh hang on they can't sack him can they!!

[Magpies1959]

I find it very strange to believe the BBC would bring green, and diversity issues into a football programme .

[TedBovisPie]

I find it very strange to believe the BBC would bring green, and diversity issues into a football programme .

It’s seeping into everything sadly, long gone are the days when it was apolitical. They fill programs with content that most aren’t interested in so no wonder the numbers are dropping.

[optipez]

I used to like FF, it marked the beginning of the football day and you got to see goals, analysis and look forward to the big games.
Not now. Partly because live matches and social media have encroached on to its space but I think equally because it's become issues based and preachy. It's Saturday, it's my free time and I just want some fun and I just gradually tuned out as the fun stopped.

[Elite_Pie]

The last time I watched Football Focus, Jim'll Fix It was on later in the evening!

[ForeignLegion]

The last time I watched Football Focus, Jim'll Fix It was on later in the evening!

Bring back Bob Wilson.