Leeds Let It Slip Late; But Sky Should Sack Disgraceful Paul Walsh   –   by Rob Atkinson


Chris Wood celebrates his first United goal

For those of us trying to keep up with events at Ashton Gate via Sky’s Soccer Special, it was relatively simple to gauge the progress of Leeds United at Bristol City – simply by listening to how hopeful, depressed, bored, hopeful again and ultimately jubilant was the demeanour of the most disgracefully biased match reporter, in Paul Walsh, that it’s been my misfortune to witness. 

Hating Leeds is a media preoccupation, we know that. But do they have to be so awfully blatant about it? Walsh was transparently hoping against hope from minute one that Bristol City could get a result. When Mirco Antenucci gave United the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, the ex-Liverpool striker sulked and pouted that the advantage was undeserved. Then Chris Wood doubled the gap after the interval, applying a fine finish after cutting inside a defender. Walsh was distraught; from that time until City’s late comeback, he was morbidly resigned to defeat. When Leeds missed a half chance to go three up, he admitted he knew little about it as he’d actually started watching one of the other games. 

Only when the home side scored what looked like a last-minute consolation did Walsh perk up and show some enthusiasm and faint hope. After that, we could tell that City had gone close again but missed without even going to the game – it was clear from Walsh’s clearly audible agonised gasp off camera. Then, at the end of six minutes injury time, Walsh got his reward with a scrappy equaliser – and smiled broadly at last. 

I’m not going to dwell on yet another Leeds capitulation, it’s too depressing. We know this was two points needlessly dropped; there is some consolation in Wood breaking his duck with that fine second-half strike. For the rest, it was flattering to deceive, late panic and surrender – the usual United stuff we’ve all seen far too much of. 

The stand-out point here, the factor diverting this blogger from bemoaning another sub-standard Leeds performance, was the unforgivably amateurish and biased display of Leeds-hating from yet another old pro in Walsh, who has evidently been well-paid for the sole purpose of rubbing our noses well and truly in it. That’s just not good enough, and I’ll be contacting Sky to complain. 

I’d urge anyone who agrees that Sky are basically taking the mick to add their voices to a chorus of protest. Paul Walsh should be sacked – he’s not of the standard we have the right to expect. Our protests will fall on deaf ears, of course. But the very act of having a go might just make us feel a tiny bit better on yet another let-down of a night for Leeds United. 

41 responses to “Leeds Let It Slip Late; But Sky Should Sack Disgraceful Paul Walsh   –   by Rob Atkinson

  1. I agree entirely, however at the moment I just feel so sick. Never mind where the six minutes came from, why do we do this. Time and time again another gut wrenching finale. New coach, new players, same Chinese water torture. Speechless.

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  2. Completely agree.
    Walsh made no attempt to hide his hatred of Leeds, and when we scored through Antenucci he said ” And it was all going so well”
    Well luckily, at that point, Leeds hadn’t read the script.
    This is not the first time Sky have used a completely biased Reporter.
    Luckily, most people know that Walsh is a twerp.
    Remember his hair as a player? Vot a Vanker!

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  3. Reliably unreliable

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  4. we never lost it that habit of snatching disaster from the jaws of victory just finished work and I am sick to the stomach just saw the goals rob silvestri up to his tricks again do you think turnbull should be between sticks on saturday

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  5. Totally agree Paul Walsh should be sacked. People pay good money to watch sky services.paul Walsh showed no respect to Leeds United and to fans in a whole

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  6. With you on the six minutes Popeye but doesn’t excuse our lack of ability to defend a 2-0 lead. On his day Silvestre is a great shotstopper but has cost us 2 points again today. Plus why on earth did Rosler play Bellusci instead of Cooper and sub Antenucci when Bristol had run out of ideas? Back to the original post,again Rob right on the money,yet again the anti Leeds brigade on Sky! Keep up the good work bud!! MOT

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  7. Why are we playing in Bristol on a Wednesday anyway?
    I hate the way the League treat fans.
    But we play Sheffield on Saturday.
    Makes no sense.

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  8. Sack Walsh indeed. Morons like him should not be allowed anywhere near a microphone. I hope you’ve sent this article to Sky

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    • Sure have 👍 But I’d encourage others to do likewise.

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      • David Bottomley

        He was a disgrace, he was willing the ball into the back of the Leeds net. Sky sports reporters should stay neutral or they shouldn’t be reporting on the clubs they don’t like. I could have smacked him in the mouth when he started gloating when BC equalised. That should not happen. Sky sports get rid of this idiot, he should publicly apologise at least or be sacked.

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  9. I totally agree with this.!!!!I was listening to the game on radio commentary and also keeping an ear to SKY and it was obvious that Walsh was pro Bristol City. Sky have a responsibility to ensure they appoint commentators who at least can be neutral!!

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  10. Forget Paul Walsh.
    It was all our own work.
    We learnt nothing from the Burnley game.
    We have thrown 6 points away by sitting back, which is fatal with our ragged defence.
    Manager will no doubt be praising our great performance.
    They all do that, but the truth gets out in the end!

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  11. Thanks to sky we have had to play 3 games in just 6 days with them all being away games and long trips to Reading and Bristol its no wonder we keep throwing games away. Still no excuse for throwing a 2 goal lead away going into injury time.

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  12. Ropey Wyla

    Any one got any footage of Walsh being sexist to Georgie Thompson?

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  13. Woodhouse White

    A struggling team, just up from Division 3 against the mighty Leeds United? Of course there’ll be a bias! So frustrating that we didn’t get tge 3 points BUT we’re still unbeaten in the league, and after Saturday the lads get a decent week off.

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  14. Kevin Hutchinson

    Paul Walsh was a average player no more who’s opinion is worth jack shit.
    Embarrassing turd was spineless in his shit career and one of the biggest bottlers ever.

    Sums up sky if this pathetic prick is the best they can get in summarising a game.

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  15. ARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    i just wanna F******G scream rob ………

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  16. i totally agree that Paul Walsh is a disgrace if that’s the best SO CALLED pundit sky have who himself wasn’t a great player .to be honest as a paying sky sports subscriber I’m very disappointed,he was just so one sided,perhaps he might be better if he was to comontate on a league that would more suit his knowledge like the conference,

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  17. Rubbish hoof ball against Reading shocking defending again last night this happens all the time new coach but the same old problems the blame is at your door mr rosler what do you and your staff do on the training pitch your heavy metal pressing type of football was not evident last night 36% possession please no more Scott Wootton and drop Silvestri fast becoming a liability

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  18. Steve Finnie

    What’s distrubung his Walsh’s ability to watch a game and articulate what’s going on. Wondering off to watch anoth game and continually repeating himself when asked. At no point did he mention how Leeds were performing and at the end I did not know how we had performed. Sky should give the job to someone who has enthusiasm, and enthuse the audience about events on the field and as ex footballer be able to intelligently add comment. Very noticeable a one sided report. Sky need to listen to see comments

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  19. Glen Falco

    This poisonous little person should not be allowed to ‘commentate’ again on any channel, regardless of who you support, the money we pay for these services should provide a unbiased professional person to relate the information. I was complaining about him last night on social media, when Woodsie put us 2-0 he was distraught, throughout the evening (including pre match) he was obnoxious towards the other panel members. Sack him! Oh and if Leeds need any convincing to hold onto leads do it to pi55 him off even more! MOT.

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  20. Henryvl, we threw away four points, not six!

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  21. Paul Who?

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  22. Martin Holt

    Talking about cr*p reporting, I have never heard such a boring emotionless pair as LUFC commentators Thom Kirwin and Eddy Grey.
    Completly Monotone voices until Bristol started a comeback in the last minutes, There must be someone with more enthusiasm than these two.

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  23. I think the best message we could send sky is cancel and go with BT or other suppliers are avalible I think what 20,000 plus people will at least make them notice a strongly worded letter sorry won’t do a thing also most of the other providers give you the option to get sky sports month by month so you can just get it when the mighty whites are on

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  24. SuperWhite

    GET RID OF HIM AND DON GOODMAN!!!!
    GOODMAN IS SO ANTI-LEEDS WHEN COMMENTING FOR SKY MATCHES!!! HE HAS EVEN SAID HE HATES LEEDS AFTER THEY RELEASED HIM AS A PLAYER…SO WHY DOES HE COMMENTATE ON NEARLY ALL OUR SKY GAMES???!?!!!!!

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    • Forever White

      Couldn’t agree more about Goodman the man’s a disgrace!! I spend more time moaning about his comments when doing Leeds games than I do at the actual game at times, we need the bias reporting to stop.

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  25. Simple answer, don’t pay their wages and subscribe to the overpriced Sky packages… I don’t but I do still watch the live games! 😉

    Sky no longer get a penny from me, I even switched my broadband…

    S20

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  26. i totally agree, couldn’t have put it better myself

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  27. Please come to leeds one day mr walsh id love to smash you to pieces u no gud runt

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  28. Im sick to death of everyone gloating on leeds failures its been the same for the last 40 years

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  29. I don’t watch SKY cos it’s shite, if you all did the same they’d take notice.
    MOT

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  30. Too right Rob . A biased average at best ex footballer who loves to hate super Leeds. Well add him to the multitude. …. As for the result it was sickening and felt like a defeat as we began our five hour journey home . Hardly a word spoken on bus . Still we move on and will march on together as always with our blind faith and loyalty shining through. We’re Leeds and we’re proud of it !

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  31. Forgot about that Twerp Goodman.
    It’s clear he can never find a good word to say about Leeds.
    The bias shines through like the sun glinting off Paul Walsh’s flowing locks. Birtles is a fool also. So many ex professionals could do a better job.
    Beagrie much better, but Walsh and Goodman have to go.
    I often think of proper commentators like Bill McLaren and Cliff Morgan. They didn’t do bias. They did quality. A word that Goodman and Walsh don’t recognise.

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  32. Three league draws, which should have been wins, but my biggest gripe is about Leeds having to play an extremely, unattractive cup game on a Thursday night, against the very popular, world beaters, Doncaster Rovers, due to SKY’s dictating and meddling.
    Since when has that waste-of-time cup competition, the League Cup, been played on a Thursday night ? Aren’t Tuesday and Wednesday nights enough to play in the very low-profile “unexciting Cup” ?
    I really now think that SKY is a total waste of time for the lower league teams and the extremely small finance from SKY, compared to showing Premier League games, is certainly not worth the huge disruptions, caused by SKY and not worth the hassle any more.

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  33. Pingback: Blatant Leeds-Bashing Exposes Amateur Face of Sky Sports   –   by Rob Atkinson | Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything

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