Was the appointment of Ryan Mason racist?

[IamSpurtacus]

Unless ?

View attachment 87610

you sexist pig

 

[spursfan77]

I’m actually disgusted by the accusation. Wtf?!?!

 

[onthetwo]

‘Twitter racists are weak — unseen bias is real problem’

There are uncomfortable truths about racism and prejudice that football and society are unwilling to confront, according to John Barnes.One of those uncomf

www.thetimes.co.uk

 

[slartibartfast]

He might actually have the glimmer of a point here. Mason is the golden boy who has been fast tracked beyond his competence. Powell is a highly experienced coach who was overlooked because.....? We don’t know, but I think it’s fair to assume that optics were more important than experience here, and for whatever reason the inexperienced Mason was seen as more of a crowd pleaser than the highly experienced Powell.

That’s not racism, but it might fall under unconscious bias. The gammons will never accept it though.

Ok I'll bite.
Isn't 'the gammons' being racist?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

1. How do we know Powell wasn’t asked and declined?
2. I’m pretty sure in the current climate if Powell himself felt aggrieved or that he was overlooked due to the colour of his skin, we’d know about it.
3. Mason was definitely given the position for the sake of optics, but that’s nothing to do with him being white and everything to do with him being a highly recognisable recent academy product who lost his career tragically and has since presented himself very well in the media (sky sports etc) as well as being an outspoken activist about prevention of head injuries. Him becoming our manager for a few matches was the ultimate feel good story at a time when we desperately needed one. You might ask ‘why not King in that case, also an academy product and one who is more of a club legend’ and it’s a decent point, but once again he may not have wanted it and i believe he’s actually behind Mason on his badges anyway.

Like I say, Mason clearly didn’t get the gig because of purely footballing reasons, but it’s not racism in any form, he was the pritt stick to hold together the torn up pages of our season as he’s someone we all love and have an empathy with. Powell is not.

This club did twice appoint Chris Hughton as caretaker too don’t forget.

 

[eddiebailey]

Mason had already been fast tracked to Head of Development, the same position Sherwood held, so there was precedence for the appointment.
The question is more why was fast tracked to that position. Presumably because he had impressed people as a coach. The appointment may well have been seen as part of his personal development.
I suspect he’s been earmarked as a future manager since he was about 8. Even as a schoolboy the coaches could not praise him high enough for his attitude, application and eagerness to learn.
Whatever the thinking he has done fine, and it will stand him in good stead for his next stint as caretaker. Probably around the end of next season.

 

[onthetwo]

1. How do we know Powell wasn’t asked and declined?
2. I’m pretty sure in the current climate if Powell himself felt aggrieved or that he was overlooked due to the colour of his skin, we’d know about it.
3. Mason was definitely given the position for the sake of optics, but that’s nothing to do with him being white and everything to do with him being a highly recognisable recent academy product who lost his career tragically and has since presented himself very well in the media (sky sports etc) as well as being an outspoken activist about prevention of head injuries. Him becoming our manager for a few matches was the ultimate feel good story at a time when we desperately needed one. You might ask ‘why not King in that case, also an academy product and one who is more of a club legend’ and it’s a decent point, but once again he may not have wanted it and i believe he’s actually behind Mason on his badges anyway.

Like I say, Mason clearly didn’t get the gig because of purely footballing reasons, but it’s not racism in any form, he was the pritt stick to hold together the torn up pages of our season as he’s someone we all love and have an empathy with. Powell is not.

This club did twice appoint Chris Hughton as caretaker too don’t forget.

Given the public interest and profile of football and Spurs and efforts within the game to eradicate racism in all forms i personally think its time the club explained the circumstances behind this decision. They may of course have nothing whatsoever to do with race at all but if we're encouraging players to take a knee on the pitch we cant ignore circumstances such as these off it.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Would a racist club appoint Ledley, Chris and Vorm as the essential core of the backroom staff?

 

[MightyModric]

Ok I'll bite.
Isn't 'the gammons' being racist?

It's absolutely not, but the gammons will tell you it is

 

[Saoirse]

1. How do we know Powell wasn’t asked and declined?
2. I’m pretty sure in the current climate if Powell himself felt aggrieved or that he was overlooked due to the colour of his skin, we’d know about it.
3. Mason was definitely given the position for the sake of optics, but that’s nothing to do with him being white and everything to do with him being a highly recognisable recent academy product who lost his career tragically and has since presented himself very well in the media (sky sports etc) as well as being an outspoken activist about prevention of head injuries. Him becoming our manager for a few matches was the ultimate feel good story at a time when we desperately needed one. You might ask ‘why not King in that case, also an academy product and one who is more of a club legend’ and it’s a decent point, but once again he may not have wanted it and i believe he’s actually behind Mason on his badges anyway.

Like I say, Mason clearly didn’t get the gig because of purely footballing reasons, but it’s not racism in any form, he was the pritt stick to hold together the torn up pages of our season as he’s someone we all love and have an empathy with. Powell is not.

This club did twice appoint Chris Hughton as caretaker too don’t forget.

I've also seen it implied multiple times by ITK that King sadly just may not be a very good coach.

 

[SecretLemonadeDrinker]

It's absolutely not, but the gammons will tell you it is

Why isn't it, as a matter of fact?

It's a derogatory description based on skin colour. Isn't that one of the clearest definitions of a racist comment?

 

[CowInAComa]

Just give the job to Nadiya from bakeoff.

Honestly can't be any worse than Jose or mason, and windy will be happy.

 

[King of Otters]

Ok I'll bite.
Isn't 'the gammons' being racist?

I don't think so. It's shorthand for a certain type of perpetually offended blowhard who happens to flush pink when getting angry about Alex Scott being on Football Focus. I don't think anyone's in danger of being racially discriminated against on those terms.

 

[banndervaart]

Perhaps not. But Chris Miller has a large forum and has been using it to make this accusation. So... it's out there.

He's also often irrational. So this is unsurprising

 

[onthetwo]

Would a racist club appoint Ledley, Chris and Vorm as the essential core of the backroom staff?

If there was no prospect of Ledders, Vorm and Powell ever making it from the 'backroom' to the 'front-room' then yes, i think the club would need to look into that to make sure race wasnt holding those employees back.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Why isn't it, as a matter of fact?

It's a derogatory description based on skin colour. Isn't that one of the clearest definitions of a racist comment?

Is an asian or black african person with albinism considered caucasian? No

 

[danielneeds]

You only have to look at the number of black managers in the football pyramid to know that obviously there is an unconcious bias against them when clubs pick managers.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Perhaps not. But Chris Miller has a large forum and has been using it to make this accusation. So... it's out there.

sky sports news were doing the same at the time of the appointment as well.

 

[mightyspur]

I've also seen it implied multiple times by ITK that King sadly just may not be a very good coach.

Probably because of what King was exceptional at, isn't really something that can be taught easily. It's why the best coaches in the world, were generally fairly average players

 

[Nayim60yards]

Probably because of what King was exceptional at, isn't really something that can be taught easily. It's why the best coaches in the world, were generally fairly average players

Ledley hasn't done his badges yet and so was not qualified to take over even as interim head coach. Powell may have been the better choice for no other reason than he would not have had the "picking his friends" accusations thrown at him that Mason has endured.