Phil Sumbler“Swansea City, who are the very definition of mid-table mediocrity at the moment and unworthy of any neutral’s time” – the words today of Sun journalist Ally Ross in a typically Sun “fuelled by hate” article about football focus and a lot of hot air about “Wokes”, “Political Correctness” and generals dismissiveness of anything that doesn’t fit his 1970s male dominated agenda.
The word journalist is used in the loosest term here (as it can be for many who claim to be within this profession) and his dismissing of what was a very interesting interview with Russell Martin summed it up nicely.
Russell Martin is a young football manager, new to his trade but getting more plaudits in two years in management than Mr Ross could manage with any anger that his pounds (or is that mashes?) his keyboard with.
However, his lifestyle and ability is dismissed by Ross with the words “The item that really took the biscuit was an interview with Russell Martin, the manager of Swansea City, who are the very definition of mid-table mediocrity at the moment and unworthy of any neutral’s time.
“Crucially, though, it transpires Russell is a vegan with “a strong interest in the environment and sustainability” who makes his players recycle and turn off the tap when they’re brushing their teeth.
“How the hell this will help Swansea sneak promotion wasn’t explained. Nor would the BBC political propagandists even think they have to because, despite the show’s name, activism rather than football seems to be the show’s main focus now.”
What Ross – and his ignorant persona – seems to miss is the fact that Russell is a vegan doesn’t impact his football management skills but does give an insight into the man himself. Would Ross have said the same if the Swans boss was described as a “Beer swilling man who likes nothing better than ten pints of Stella down the pub with the lads” – of course he wouldn’t but that is what happens when you have someone stuck in a generation of the past and who has seen life pass him by.
He continued with the below…
It must really grate on this philistine that football has moved on from the mistakes of the past and is a different game in so many ways from the one that was around when Ross simply dreamed of working his way downwards to work for the Sun.
So whilst this fool continues his hatred the world moves on and if our performances of the past week are “mid table mediocrity” then give me mid table mediocrity any day of the week.
And a big well done to football focus for recognising what a talented young football manager is doing within the game.
