Joey Barton

[ramAnag]

As far as I know some of the more illustrious male football commentators - Wolstenholme, Coleman, Davies, Motson etc - had no claim to have been decent footballers but were, rightly or wrongly, held in high esteem as commentators/pundits.
My daughter has a ST at PP. She may never have put in a great defensive header or been the victim of a ligament busting tackle...but she can talk as knowledgeably as anyone on here about Derby’s promotion prospects.
One thing that irritates me slightly is the pretence that women’s football is, or will ever be, on the same level as the men’s game. It isn’t and never will be imo, and that goes for cricket, rugby, athletics, tennis, golf, swimming etc too. Doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching or that women can’t display expertise, which is at least the equal of Joey Barton’s, when discussing the men’s game.

[Andy_Faber]

As far as I know some of the more illustrious male football commentators - Wolstenholme, Coleman, Davies, Motson etc - had no claim to have been decent footballers but were, rightly or wrongly, held in high esteem as commentators/pundits.
My daughter has a ST at PP. She may never have put in a great defensive header or been the victim of a ligament busting tackle...but she can talk as knowledgeably as anyone on here about Derby’s promotion prospects.
One thing that irritates me slightly is the pretence that women’s football is, or will ever be, on the same level as the men’s game. It isn’t and never will be imo, and that goes for cricket, rugby, athletics, tennis, golf, swimming etc too. Doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching or that women can’t display expertise, which is at least the equal of Joey Barton’s, when discussing the men’s game.

Enlightening opinion from you there rA, which I think you've shared a bit before. Not sure Barton's outbursts went as far as invalidating womens' sports per se, and if so as an advocate for womens' sport I'd be 100% opposed, albeit anyone who argues for pay parity at the elite level needs a lesson in the way pro sport is funded (funds itself)

His point though was (mainly) about commentators, and knowing that you don't approve of quotas (your words, the less benevolent would call it 'box ticking') you may agree that there are some commentators in situ for reasons other than ability so would have some sympathy with his opinion, even if not his delivery.