Zaha on taking the knee

[oxford blue]

Interesting viewpoint from Zaha.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9256639/Crystal-Palace-star-Wilfried-Zaha-says-degrading-knee-kick-off.html

 

If Zaha's opinion is more widespread, which I suspect it to be for him to speak out in this way, how does it end? Would probably need an agreement between clubs/players  that it has made its point,. I don't understand any recent on-line abuse some players have had recently, unless it is from those with no interest in game. Every club throughout the football pyramid is dependent upon non-white players. Social media must play a greater role in blocking racist posts.

[lcfcsnow]

Good on him, clearly Les Ferdinands views were not enough. Hopefully it can end soon.

[Fox92]

Lyle Taylor doesn't do it either for similar reasons. In fact he criticized the whole BLM movement in an interview I saw.

 

Taking the knee should be choice anyway, players shouldn't be pressured into doing it.

 

Lets be honest (I doubt) the people who abuse footballers on social media are not match going fans, they are the type that have their favourite footballer as a profile picture.

[Tuna]

I see these comments have already been seized upon by the sinister, odious Laurence Fox on twitter to push his poisonous agenda.

[Fightforever]

I can see why he thinks that and to be fair its an easy gesture that the PL can push to make them look good.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Familiarity breeds contempt. The more something is done, eventually it starts to lose impact. I strongly suspect that taking the knee hasn't changed one single person's mind about racism, at least not in any meaningful way.

[Lionator]

38 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Familiarity breeds contempt. The more something is done, eventually it starts to lose impact. I strongly suspect that taking the knee hasn't changed one single person's mind about racism, at least not in any meaningful way.

I feel that it helped in the short term but it's clearly lost its effect now. Each person will have their own opinion, the opinion's of the black & ethnic minority players are the only opinions that matter however! 

[peach0000]

I supported it at the beginning but I'm unsure now. As has been said by certain people in the game it seems to me that the FA are using it to make it look like they are doing something while actually doing nothing. I can remember the first time players took the knee it was quite shocking and inspirational, now it just seems to cover over the enormous failing of any meaningful action being taken by the authorities. If it's not leading to change, what is the point? 

 

As for Laurence Fox he needs to get in the bin. Comes across as a proper narcissist. 

[Matt]

 

 

[Leicesterpool]

I can understand why the knee was brought in for the first weeks after project restart, now I just feel it's gone to far it's starting to do the opposite effect where players find it more patronising and forced. Time maybe clubs came to an agreement to end the knee gesture after the end of month.

[Guest Kopfkino]

It was pretty powerful that first weekend, particularly the Villa v Sheff Utd game because it was a genuine surprise when it happened. But after about the third gameweek of doing it, it became clear it was just going to be a performative gesture that nobody had the bollocks to stop cos social media would get angry 

 

And now it’s become devoid of any meaning. And is another classic example of white luvvie types appropriating something for their own sense of well-being and because performative signalling is prime currency for these types

[Leicesterpool]

It's a bit like clapping for the NHS, I mean it was nice for the first week, after then it came very forced. As NHS person myself we would much rather people stay indoors as requested,  maybe a pay rise would be nice when it's all over... but that's another discussion. 

[purpleronnie]

My fear is once fans are allowed back that we'll be hearing about sets of fans jeering during 'the knee' and that will dominate the news.

[Leicesterpool]

5 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

My fear is once fans are allowed back that we'll be hearing about sets of fans jeering during 'the knee' and that will dominate the news.

Quite agree I mean look at the incidents at millwall and colchester where a small set of fans started booing the knee. Maybe it's just best they think perhaps stopping it before fans return risking. I remember a few years back they introduced applause instead of minute silence for when they pay tribute to a former player. This was due to trying drown out fans who choose to chant during the silence. 

 

 

[filbertway]

The first time I saw it I was kinda like "wow this is pretty big". Now when I see it I just think "what's the point?". Then you get Martin Tyler preaching about how it's helping to challenge and change people's behaviours... not it's really not. At this point it's like seeing the captains go for the coin toss. Just another item added to the pre kick off itenary.

 

[Spudulike]

Brentford to stop taking a knee but reiterate support of anti-discrimination projects - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56057908

 

[David Hankey]

Well said Zaha. This should not be a tick box exercise but more of a meaningful display.

[boots60]

A man was walking his dog through a graveyard when he saw a man kneeling behind a headstone.

‘Morning’ the walker shouted. ‘No, just having a shit’ the man replied.

[filbertway]

19 minutes ago, boots60 said:

A man was walking his dog through a graveyard when he saw a man kneeling behind a headstone.

‘Morning’ the walker shouted. ‘No, just having a shit’ the man replied.

I want to give a double laugh, one for the joke and one for the thread that it's ended up in

 

[Alf Bentley]

54 minutes ago, boots60 said:

A man was walking his dog through a graveyard when he saw a man kneeling behind a headstone.

‘Morning’ the walker shouted. ‘No, just having a shit’ the man replied.

 

A strangely appropriate joke, given how a meaningful gesture seems to have become pointless tokenism.

 

Mind you, I'm not sure that it's a good idea to have a shit from a kneeling position - could get very messy.... 

[Farrington fox]

It has to end soon. Frankly it has run its course. It could be argued that it is increasing division. 

[South Shire Fox]

On 13/02/2021 at 21:08, Matt said:

 

 

Did it ever actually have an impact though? Most the players looked like they couldnt give two shits about it after the few games and just went along with it because they had to. There were numerous times where players ran into the opponents half from the refs whistle thinking that the game had started where ‘solidarity’ clearly wasnt on their mind 😂
 

[Carl the Llama]

I'd agree with the sentiment that it's not having the desired effect, however the fact that some people are actively willing its demise as opposed to lamenting its ineffectiveness is exactly why we need to do something still, and in the absence of anything better I think the little bit of time dedicated to it each game is a small price to pay for getting on the nerves of the bigots every time a match starts.  After all we're not comfortable living in a world with small minded racists, why should we let them be comfortable just because we can't change their minds?  The regular reminder that their sporting heroes think they're cvnts seems to be very effective at making them unhappy if nothing else so I vote we keep it while we search for a more effective solution to little brain.

[filbertway]

2 hours ago, Carl the Llama said:

I'd agree with the sentiment that it's not having the desired effect, however the fact that some people are actively willing its demise as opposed to lamenting its ineffectiveness is exactly why we need to do something still, and in the absence of anything better I think the little bit of time dedicated to it each game is a small price to pay for getting on the nerves of the bigots every time a match starts.  After all we're not comfortable living in a world with small minded racists, why should we let them be comfortable just because we can't change their minds?  The regular reminder that their sporting heroes think they're cvnts seems to be very effective at making them unhappy if nothing else so I vote we keep it while we search for a more effective solution to little brain.

I imagine people are lamenting empty gestures, I certainly am.

 

I think it's just highlighting that you're a petty man and take enjoyment out of people feeling annoyed . That's not particularly a dig at you as I think we're all guilty of it to some degree haha

 

[Carl the Llama]

1 minute ago, filbertway said:

I imagine people are lamenting empty gestures, I certainly am.

 

I think it's just highlighting that you're a petty man and take enjoyment out of people feeling annoyed . That's not particularly a dig at you as I think we're all guilty of it to some degree haha

 

I think this is one area where it's ok to be petty, a minimum requirement even.