...whilst I am pleased for the England Ladies and think it is a great achievement, am I alone in thinking the media hype (particularly the BBC website) is completely OTT). "legends..." "remembered in the same vein as England 1966" " ....made history" Blah! blah blah! Good for them, but if I can't get over excited about 22 blokes in England shirts kicking a ball around, I am hardly likely to get excited by 22 women in England shirts playing at a much lower pace and standard even if they have come 3rd in a 'World Cup event"!! It's more of a rant at the Sycophantic British media and press rather than the players though!
TBF just said on the other thread, its only teir manager who I have seen say that (whatever their achievement clearly delusional) and the press are just quoting him
I just hope we don't end up hearing loads of nonsense about how women should be paid the same as men, and how money should be siphoned off from the men's game to support them. It's a business at the end of the day.
The rules I would introduce are that EVERY league club in England has to have a women's team that is fully funded by the club (which doesn't mean they have to be paid a wage for playing), that they must play their games on the same pitch as the men's team and that entry to all their league games must be included in the cost of a season ticket. They wouldn't cost the world to implement and would really help with the popularity which in turn would help with the quality. I'd also make it a rule that clubs must have a section in their official sites for their women's teams. The biggest problem is that it is hidden away and while Barnsley ladies for example are called Barnsley ladies that is where their connection to the club ends
Well done England women. One fluke goal cost them a chance to get to the final. Beat Germany for the first time ever. The highest placed European team. On its own merit I applaud them.
Why wouldn't it? All those stiletto heels around the pitch would save 'em the job of aerating the grass
Yes it might be over the top but it needs to be to get people's attention. If the press didn't make a big fuss other people probably wouldn't either. Once women's football gains popularity, the press will be much more critical you can bet your life on it but for now it is necessary I feel.
Why though? yes women's football is in vogue at the moment, but there's loads of minority sports up and down the country that could argue the same case
I'm saying that it needs to be to gain popularity - not that it needs to gain popularity (if that makes sense). This doesn't really count as a minority sport though as football is obviously extremely popular in England, so why not the lady variety?
Ditto, but apparently that makes you sexist. The BBC has milked it to the point I'm actually avoiding it now. Even Wimbledon is more appealing than Women's football right now.
im sorry but this thread and the title is total ********.... "not wanting to pour cold water on it" ... thats exactly what you are doing and it probably says more about your own views on womens football than any achievement the ladies have made. the ladies who represent England have finished third in the world cup. they deserve all the credit they get.
Maybe it's the standard. We get the Premiership, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, etc. on our TV's 24/7 which is worlds away from women's football.
I agree, it's just as good an achievement as the men winning. People keep (rightly) saying that the quality isn't as good as in men's football yet but are using that as an argument to belittle the women's achievement. What people don't seem to realise, however, is that they were playing against other women and so therefore the difficulty was still the same for them as men playing against men is - whether the overall standard is as high or not.
so you directly compare it with the mens game and expect it to be of a similar standard? im glad we haven't cancelled all female athletics as they cant run as fast or jump as high as the men.