During this week’s Gillette Soccer Saturday, pundits Paul Merson and Clinton Morrison got into a fiery debate over Mohamed Salah’s “frosty” entrance to Anfield. This comes after the midweek battle between the Egyptian star and manager Arne Slot over lack of playing time.
This also comes after Jamie Carragher, a famously immoral and disgusting individual who’s spitting antics are somehow forgotten because of his charisma. And whilst his status as a Liverpool legend (4 goals, 7 own goals) does give him the right to have an opinion on the disrespect of his club, it doesn’t give him the right to personally attack his club’s best ever goal scorer with suggestions of “not being a big star before Liverpool” and that “he failed at Chelsea”. These claims are not just disrespectful to a club legend, but a personal attack on his character and past struggles.
Three days later, Merson reinforces Carragher’s suggestion of “ego” and “disrespect” by pointing out his stern expression walking into Anfield, whilst his teammates branded smiles. Merson was quick to claim that the forward was making a statement with his frosty entrance. He said: “That is ridiculous, you don’t want him around like that, you need to have a meeting and say Mo, everyone here looks up to you, don’t walk around like that, or don’t come in.” before presenter Simon Thomas and Clinton Morrison quickly defused the situation and moved on.
And this begs the question, if Mo Salah “isn’t doing his job” as a role-model, is Paul Merson really doing his as a pundit? The ironically celebrated man, almost comically mispronounces every player’s name week in week out. Highlights being: “Mento” (Minteh), “Madawookie” (Madueke) and “Salami” (Slimani). And this is almost celebrated. Social media phrases his “mistakes” as “hilarious” and “comedy gold”, however I would say these aren’t mistakes, it’s arrogance. He’s not ill-informed, he’s just not bothered, because his career isn’t in jeopardy – unlike thousands of smaller names that would do 1000 times better than him. He isn’t “funny”, he’s taking advantage and disrespecting other pundits who would kill to have his job.
But why is this? Is it because he is seen as a loveable old man that makes silly mistakes? Is it because he has been on the show so long that the audience feel like they know him? Or is it simply because the football audience of predominantly white males resonate with his character and see themselves in him. Either way, whilst people do love him, it doesn’t give him the right to slate Mohammed Salah’s job when he can’t even do his own.
It also links to contextual ideas of female pundits making mistakes. Whilst I believe that Eni Aluko should also not have a job, her mistakes and arrogance are branded much differently in British media. With headlines including phrases such as “Absolute Nonsense” and “Mocked” being associated with her. The common argument among football supporters is that Eni Aluko is there to “tick a box” however the celebration of Paul Merson proves this invalid.
