Laura Woods passionately defends Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has been passionately defended by TalkSPORT host Laura Woods, after scrutiny from Graeme Souness.
The England international has had a tough couple of weeks firstly being stripped of the captaincy by Steven Gerrard then being singled out by Souness in a scathing article.
The article from Souness hit out at Mings claiming that the defender had not achieved anything in the game and spoke too much. [Daily Mail]
However, Woods has come to the former Aston Villa captain’s defence, eloquently describing how Mings’s achievements go beyond the football pitch. [TalkSport]
Woods said: “Sometimes you need to challenge things that are said.
“Mings helped the NHS during lockdown and encouraged players to give back during that time. He was also a key figure in the inception of taking a knee in the Premier League, one of the biggest anti-racism messages that football has ever seen.
“He is a spokesperson for racism and advocate for men’s mental health, and he does that because of he has experienced both of them.
“Attacking his character was a stretch and I personally think he can teach all of us a lot about other things.”
Mings v Souness
Woods excellently described why Souness was in the wrong in the way he went after Mings in his Daily Mail column.
Despite the negativity that currently surrounds him, the former Ipswich defender is a model professional and a player that most young players should look up to.
Like Woods perfectly described the wonderful things he has done off the pitch including helping the NHS, raising awareness against racism, and helping desperate children, make Mings a fantastic role model.
Mings may not have won 15 trophies in his career, including five English first division trophies and three European trophies like Souness has, but a player who was homeless during his childhood going on to make 215 club appearances, becoming a Premier League captain and earning 17 caps for his country is an undoubted success story.
Souness simply needs to get to the times and understand it is a new age of football where the players are much more than just athletes.
He had every right to comment on Mings’s form or stripping of his captaincy, but to question his character and disregard all his accomplishments in the way he did was wrong and uncalled for.
Nowadays, footballers can be judged my much more than what they do on the pitch and the sooner Souness realises that, the better.
Also, if you haven’t seen the Woods clip, go and watch it because it is brilliant.
In other Aston Villa news, the club are still willing to allow Kortney Hause to leave the club.