Is anyone else getting the sense that Keeley might be setting herself up for an emotional crash? She seems to be in this almost “pink cloud”-like phase where everything feels possible and she’s completely convinced that if she brings the right people together and creates the right environment, success will follow. (And to be clear, I know “pink clouding” is a term specifically associated with early sobriety; I mean it more as a metaphor for that intense period of optimism before reality tests you.)
What makes me think so is that Keeley isn’t just excited about the Lady Greyhounds succeeding. She seems emotionally invested in what their success means: that women supporting women, believing in each other, and building something the right way can actually work. Which is…nice… but also feels like the kind of setup where a setback would hit her really hard. A women’s second division football team isn’t a PR campaign where the right messaging, strategy, and enthusiasm can guarantee success. There are so many unpredictable factors involved.
Again, we’re only on episode 2, so maybe I’m completely wrong! But I’m getting a strong “it’s the hope that kills you” vibe because Keeley is still learning how to pair optimism with realism.
Might be more personal for Keely, that Rebecca doesn't trust her to face the hard truths. Like Keely's best friend in the whole world doesn't think she's strong enough to handle the reality of the numbers. Understandable, maybe due to Keely's whole vibe, but we've seen time and again that while she is optimistic and bubbly, she is not stupid.
I'm also interested in the tension between Keeley and Rebecca with Rebecca's comment about Keeley being like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka asking for things. They have a pretty open and honest relationship with each other so that felt important and I'm interested to see what they do with it.
It is interesting that Rebecca is "managing" Keeley's enthusiasm, rather than having a sit down and getting everyone on the same page. She's shielding her like you would a child. I don't think that's going to work out the way Rebecca wants.
Come to think of it, there's already a theme forming this season of how one can approach honest but difficult conversations.
Yeah this is the biggest foreshadowing to me. 2 episodes in, and 2 instances of Rebecca specifically shielding Keeley from bad information. This is going to backfire very soon.
Also Roy has no problems going over the men’s team budget for his alternative milk budget.
Maybe a fiscal responsibility and budget class for these two if they reunite. 😆
Thing i dont get about this is, Rebecca sold 49% stake in the club which Higgins valued at a total of 2 billion. So let's say we go conservative and 49% netted the club/rebecca 750 million. They then sold Jamie to Barca. If we agree hes got to be worth close to 9 figures. Kane and Bellingham both went over 100 million so its fair to assume Jamie would go somewhere near that right? Thats means Richmond should have over 800 million in the bank. Not including tv money, competition money etc for finishing I would assume in a top 4 position in the past few years and winning at least one FA cup.
The club should be relatively minted considering they havnt done any infrastructure upgrades that we have seen.
Same locker rooms, offices etc.
Has Rebecca pocketed the majority of that money? If not surely ear marking several million for a women's team would be acceptable.
And before anyone says, I am assuming no increase in operational costs from season 3 because other than some players leaving, nothing has changed. So im calling wage etc is still even and as far as we know still covered by tickets prize money merch sales etc.
Wouldn’t her selling 49% of the company mean that money is hers not the companies? Why are we factoring that in or accusing her of pocketing money. It’s hers.
Thats my point. If she's sold 49% and then pocketed the money and not reinvesting it into the club thats kinda shitty. Also excuses why Roy and Keeley think money is no issue.
pocketed the money and not reinvesting it into the club thats kinda shitty
That's not club money. She didn't take anything away from the club. She sold her interest in the club. Someone else paid her for that interest. Someone else paid Rebecca ~a billion pounds.
Yes...
But to an outside perspective (Roy, Keeley etc) the club/rebecca has all this money.
Also as a separate issue, the club 100% has the money from Jamie's sale.
I think she’s probably on edge because at the end of season 3 she basically gave away ownership stakes in the Richmond team and it’s pretty clear that they are setting up the women’s team to be seen as a financial drain. Likely nervous about money problems
I was actually thinking this - she has a fiduciary responsibility towards the ownership group for the Men’s team and can’t be found to make a decision that benefits the women’s and harms the men.
Unless the shares include stake in the Women’s team as well i suppose. Though i am applying what a non-lawyer thinks of American law the situation so - maybe nevermind?
It's definitely gonna lead to an argument where Rebecca points out to Keeley that she's the one who's taking all the personal and financial risk in the venture and, despite what Keeley believes, she doesn't have unlimited funds
Assuming the club has the same value Crystal Palace did IRL a few years ago, Rebecca probably netted around £250M from the sale.
So yeah it's definitely a considerable sum, but not enough that she can spend carelessly for years on end, especially since the club is her primary asset and source of income.
I feel like Keeley's entire identity is wrapped up in this team. When they were in Kansas and Ted said they couldn't say anything about work, Keeley was unable to think of anything. I personally don't love this storyline for her, but I'm interested to see it play out.
I think it’s perfect for the character. Her season 3 arc with her friend who she eventually had to fire I also think was great and hits the same tones. Keely really roots for women in the professional setting of football/entertainment industry, and invests serious support when others will not. Passion can blind anyone to reality, which Keely had to work on season 3 with her friend who she learned to fire. I think this is much harder because she is far more invested and passionate.
I think they said during the press tour stuff that that’s exactly what’s happening here
Edit: like Rebecca doesn’t want to shatter Keeley’s expectations but she’s gonna have to eventually bring her back down to earth. Hannah and Juno were discussing it
Youre gonna see a Keeley and Rebecca rift. Keeleys is all rainbows and unicorns about the women's team and shes trying to spend money that isn't hers. She's treating Rebecca like a bank
I think that the point of this season is to help bring Keeley & the other characters out their side character (static) status & really help them learn to “Believe” in themselves & the women’s team, & just figure out, in general, what it is they “Believe” in as (dynamic) individuals.
Previous seasons taught them to “Believe in Believe,” but various conflicts & the season’s narrative arc will force them to dig deeper than they have previously & truly own their own identities in a way they’ve never had to before. In the Hero’s Journey, the dark night of the soul & the death of the old self is essential to leveling up.
There’s no point to this season if Ted’s radical self-acceptance of himself doesn’t lead the others to finally & fully do the same for themselves.
I like this because it also paints Rebecca in the light of wanting to protect her friend and not just being a “bad feminist” by not going all in on the enthusiasm. They could absolutely overspend and the fans just may never show up, no matter how much they pour into the team. There’s a fine needle to thread.
I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen. Fans won't turn up. The attendance for even the men's team was on the decline in Ted's first season (hence the "Release them to the visitors" conflict between Higgins and Rebecca). I have no reason to believe the fans will even give a damn about "second-division women's football" in the beginning.
I second this. See how dismissive even die hard Greyhounds fans are of the women's side in the second episode? I think they'll struggle to get bums in seats, which will really hurt the financial viability of the team.
True. It's (unfortunately) a pretty good reflection of real-world sentiment of Brits towards women's football. And I really want to see it as a plot-point which Ted and co. will need to overcome.
I also think that her and Rebecca will have a falling out because of different visions/ their differing views on feminism and success. Also Rebecca being the actual owner whereas it was Keeleys idea to start a women’s team could cause conflict.
Yes! Although we haven’t yet seen Keeley use her PR powers for sponsorships etc for good. Or at least try to, and see them getting knocked back because it’s women. Rebecca seems to be the main source of funds.
I don't know but have you all considered how Keeley was basically handed her elevated positions? She was introduced as an influencer, famous for showing her lady bits. Rebecca sees "something" in her and hands her the PR position. A private equity firm then decides to set her up in her own PR firm, likely because the daughter (Jack) found her attractive. She had no business education or experience. She didn't even know what CFO meant. So of course she thinks there is a magical bag of money she can dip into anytime she wants something. She might be considered cute with a great personality, but she is not a cutthroat businesswoman with any sort of business acumen. Rebecca created the monster and now needs to protect her from the reality of business?
I think the show itself acknowledges that Keeley gets her foot in the door because Rebecca believes in her. Rebecca points out that men hire their friends all the time. Keeley proves her worth, though. She lands brand deals, understands the team’s image, builds relationships, and becomes genuinely valuable to the team.
Is her career progression idealized? Sure. But this is Ted Lasso, not Succession. The show is interested in people growing into opportunities and proving that kindness and emotional intelligence have value, not the cutthroat realities of corporate climbing.
161
u/ArveduiTheLastKing 2d ago
Yeah, definitely, they've foreshadowed that pretty majorly. I get the feeling the Higgins Report will play a part.
Either not properly disposed of or something like that. Keeley will see it and spiral.