KdB Interview in the Guardian

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

At some point in the past 20 years, football fans lost the ability to be objective about anything surrounding their own clubs. It wasn’t great before that, but nowadays any form of criticism cannot be taken.

I think, with respect AHT, that there's more to it than that. Firstly, the degree of media scrutiny on sport and particularly football is just exponentially greater than even thirty years ago. And let's be honest — we lap it up, don't we? (I'm particularly aware of it at present because I'm making an effort not to know the results of any matches in Qatar, because I'm cussed like that. It's virtually impossible if you want to keep up with, say, what's going on in Ukraine or Iran at the same time — which I do).
Secondly, and this strikes me every single day of my life, now: everybody, without exception, is being invited to express their opinion over and over, informed or not, highly publicly on forums such as this one, but also down to taking a bus from A to B, ffs!! You get an e-mail three hours later saying “So,Mr Lovebites, how was you waiting-at-the-bus-stop experience this afternoon? Was the shelter to your liking?”
The world has become incredibly noisy with opinion… Also, everybody is invited to be offended about something. It's something that affects society at large.

 

[wolviedinho]

A good article on a city player. Kev comes across very well. He is a decent person from a normal family who happens to play football. Refreshing and for me personally he is right up there with Yaya, Kun, Silva as our best ever player from the new batch.

Unassuming and brilliant.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

A decent article on a city player. Kev comes across very well. He is a decent person from a normal family who happens to play football. Refreshing and for me personally he is right up there with Yaya, Kun, Silva as our best ever player from the new batch.

Unassuming and brilliant.

A bit like another guy who was blond, and also played midfield.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I think, with respect AHT, that there's more to it than that. Firstly, the degree of media scrutiny on sport and particularly football is just exponentially greater than even thirty years ago. And let's be honest — we lap it up, don't we? (I'm particularly aware of it at present because I'm making an effort not to know the results of any matches in Qatar, because I'm cussed like that. It's virtually impossible if you want to keep up with, say, what's going on in Ukraine or Iran at the same time — which I do).
Secondly, and this strikes me every single day of my life, now: everybody, without exception, is being invited to express their opinion over and over, informed or not, highly publicly on forums such as this one, but also down to taking a bus from A to B, ffs!! You get an e-mail three hours later saying “So,Mr Lovebites, how was you waiting-at-the-bus-stop experience this afternoon? Was the shelter to your liking?”
The word has become incredibly noisy with opinion… Also, everybody is invited to be offended about something. It's something that affects society at large.

Absolutely agree that the scrutiny is off the scale now and media is all encompassing in everyone’s lives.

It’s caused objectivity to disappear though.

 

[manimanc]

Really enjoyed reading that.
Cheers OP for putting it on.

 

[Stuuuuuu]

Yeah - I spotted that too, and it’s an unnecessary and knowing inaccuracy in an otherwise excellent article.

Personally I still read the Guardian on occasion for their content on politics and culture, despite the increasingly overbearing Americanisation across their entire editorial, but there’s a reason I won’t ever pay a penny towards them and won’t click on their sports content - because it’s lazy, poorly researched and frankly racist.

I made an exception for this article, and as well written and insightful as it undoubtedly was, it’s still marred by outright lies and a clear lack of balance.

It’s a shame, as they used to produce content worth reading like this more often. It’s like reading a Murdoch rag these days!

Indeed. They're currently running an anti-teacher article written by the Education Secretary FFS.

 

[Kamaro011]

Very good insight to the man and his whole family. You really get to see a proper view of life in his family, right down to the kids, and even the cat. Just one thing might have been missed - possibly some questions about his relationship with Pep.

I saw KDB in the car park of Sainsbury's in Wilmslow a few years ago. It didn't occur to me to stop him and get a photo though.

Maybe it's best that you didn't approach him, i don't think it's good idea because we don't know if he have the mood to meet the fans on public or not.

 

[halfcenturyup]

Absolutely agree that the scrutiny is off the scale now and media is all encompassing in everyone’s lives.

It’s caused objectivity to disappear though.

Not so sure.

When I was a lad, you would have heard opinions from your mates down the pub and from a daily newspaper. You could choose the circle you wanted. There were plenty of assholes if that was what you wanted.

Now, though, you hear opinions from every asshole with an internet connection. And let's face it. There are a large number of assholes everywhere.

In those days, you could choose to avoid the assholes. These days you can't.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Not so sure.

When I was a lad, you would have heard opinions from your mates down the pub and from a daily newspaper. You could choose the circle you wanted. There were plenty of assholes if that was what you wanted.

Now, though, you hear opinions from every asshole with an internet connection. And let's face it. There are a large number of assholes everywhere.

In those days, you could choose to avoid the assholes. These days you can't.

Ultimately, it’s killed objectivity, however we've got there though.

 

[halfcenturyup]

Ultimately, it’s killed objectivity, however we've got there though.

Well, that's subjective.

:)