If this had happened a year ago, I don't think it would have merited much discussion.

Now there is debate around whether Sky have an ulterior motive behind what would historically have been seen as a programme refresh.

Personal preference, but I won't miss Thompson or Nicholas but I do like Le Tiss.

Interesting to see what happens next....

Old, Ungifted and White

This is truly such a disgusting and disappointing comment. Putting football aside, how can you possibly think it's acceptable to comment on people like this, using this language?

Some of the comments on this thread have amazed me. Representation of all types of people is an important and much needed step to take in our inclusive society that moves towards equality.

Also, women are not objects to comment on their looks and football is not 'human nature'. How you can possibly believe this is appropriate amazes me.

Whatever the reason behind Sky's decision is, change does happen in work and the truth is, having 4/5 white men on the panel is not fair representation and is not where we have arrived at in 2020.

As a 'white straight man', I'd welcome whoever they put on the show, as long as their qualifications and knowledge on the topic are good enough. I'm not going to 'draw the line' at anyone. People are who they are.

Edited by YoDougie (27 Aug 2020 9.22am)

Our opinions are polarised on this matter.

Esteemed pundits have been cast aside to pander to the PC Brigade.

In my humble opinion 'Soccer Saturday' will be poorer for their absence and I can say with a great degree of confidence that I will certainly NOT be tuning in to watch it.

Edited by Willo (27 Aug 2020 9.26am)

Can women man heavy road digging machinery?
Should women be out late at night doing grocery deliveries?

Alex Scott brings nothing to the table. Mainly because she hasn’t played at the top level and at that speed because, guess why, she’s a woman.

I’m not bothered who is on a programme or panel either but they’ve got to be qualified and have the presentation skills and charisma. I remember when Ruud Gullit came on the scene. Cool as.

Thanks for your outrage and lesson in occupational thinking. I’ll file it under blithering bollox.

COYP

Women can certainly do heavy manual work.

My ex-wife was a decoy to a whaling fleet.

The trouble is these days no one can have differing opinions. I'm in my early 30's and in certain pubs (not posh bars) and with people I'd consider 'close' friends and not acquaintances, if I openly put forward a slightly alternative opinion, people would stop talking to me or ask me to sit on my own and liken me to Hitler. Younger people these days are scared of debate or compromise, it's going to be a truly shocking World in a few years thanks to my Generation unfortunately.

For what it's worth, I disagree with you on 'drawing the line' with Trans people. This is from personal experiences and knowing some. However, I don't agree it's not a mental/chemical imbalance. If a sex change remedies those symptoms it doesn't affect me in the slightest and I'm glad that person is feeling better. I just don't agree with the notion you can truly be a woman trapped in a mans body and vice-versa (but it wouldn't be a topic of discussion I'd feel compelled to have with them if I was with them). I'm just not fussed about sitting down for drinks or dinner with someone who has had this change and I don't find them revolting.

It's completely okay that you are not okay with it and I'd have a drink with you as well. I'm sick of the people that spit their dummies out the pram though and berate you for a differing opinion.

Don't get me started on non-binary. I'm not revolted by it or actively want to see people suffer but I couldn't hold a conversation with someone that idiotic. That really does smack of 'we've got all the rights we possibly want for gay people and trans people, lets make something up completely to keep moaning and be the shunned". And I know a lot of trans people that feel the same when it comes to the ridiculousness of a spoilt teenager wanting to wake up one morning as a boy and the next a girl and the next a lamp. Because it mocks the true struggle of the pain of feeling like you need to get your whole body permanently changed to feel okay in yourself.

Getting told it's 2020 and that's not where we are now is also laughable. We are worse off than we've ever been and there is a divide and full tantrum/argument/riot over every tiny difference of opinion. Just a false feeling of superiority for blindly following every active equality cause but then abusing anybody that dares to be different. Not very equal that is it?

Circling back to the topic, if they have a panel lined up better than the people sacked and they happened to all be minorities then I'd be fine wit that. We all know that won't be the case. Some people's opinion is the people fired are bumbling moronic buffoons (again your own opinion is fine) but ratings and reviews for Soccer Saturday suggest otherwise on the whole, so not sure why they've decided to pander for no reason. Time will tell.