Women’s Football

[farawaysaint]

5 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Curious to see if it'll spark any increase in domestic attendances (which is where the women's game needs to find an audience ) Tournaments/cup finals will always pull in the audiences.

Maybe but the fact that international attendance has exploded over the last 10 years is surely a good sign.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Whew! That was a great watch. So proud of the squad (and all the players before them) for working so hard together and getting their reward.

As expected it was a bruising, physical encounter. But what it lacked in the flair of some of the other matches, it more than made up for in tension.

Like the other matches, strong challenges are allowed. Germany seem to be good at knowing just where that line is, getting in a lot of boderline challenges, and a few over that line throughout the match (Oberdorf being a main culprit). England ended up with two early yellow cards, which had me worried (especially as Stanway stayed on after a couple of other fouls).

Germany started to look the more likely before the break and in a strong spell at the start of the second half. England kept at it, without really being able to release a well shackled Mead and without the clear run into space that Hemp often gets. They kept Germany's chances to a minimum, didn't over-commit going forward and trusted that they would get their opportunities. 

Very impressed with Toone's goal. under pressure forom defender and onrushing keeper, she got enough lift to get it over and in. And it was a game that needed that level of composure and skill to get a breakthough.

I was thinking that England might be able to hang on. Popp getting injured in the warm up was a big blow for Germany, but both Magull and Dallmann had been had looked dangerous in the tournament. With Dallmann on the bench, Magull looked the most likely and it was past Earps before she could parry it away. 

As the game went on and entered extra time, I thought Germany's experience in finals and the energy levels they'd showed in previous games would pay off. But all credit to England who had shown lots of stamina throughout the tournament too. Hemp, in particular, didn't stop all game. The game certainly stretched, as players tired. But,a s much as that might have suited Germany, it did allow Walsh some space to pass.

It might have been a scrappy goal, but Kelly had made a difference as a sub in previous games. Jill Scott and Greenwood also played important roles in the win. Scott might be the veteran in the squad, but her positioning and little touches and niggles kept England on the front foot. Greenwood is a very able repalcement for Daly in the same way that Russo comes on to offer soemthing different to White.

It was just an amazing feeling to think that England were finally the ones who could be going on to win a final. Very composed game management in the final 7/8 mins of the game. England kept it in the corners when they could.

The commentators mentioned it was the first England final win in 56 years. But it's been about a lot more than that. It's been about the hard, difficult progression of football for women in Britain and hopefully a further platform for it's ongoing development, investment and success.

Edited 31 July, 2022 by Holmes_and_Watson

[ant]

Surely not an evening for picking holes in the semantics of women's football or the minutiae of commentary?

A nice thing has happened. 

Crack a beer and celebrate us winning something, FFS.

[angelman]

7 minutes ago, ant said:

Surely not an evening for picking holes in the semantics of women's football or the minutiae of commentary?

A nice thing has happened. 

Crack a beer and celebrate us winning something, FFS.

Absolutely. Really good to actually have won something (even if I didn't enjoy the game)

[Saint_clark]

You could almost feel the BBC wrestling with itself whether it should show a replay of Kelly's celebration like they would for the men's 😂 

Well done girls, great atmosphere in the pub where I watched it and it was difficult not to get emotional at the end thinking about how far the women's game has come. 

[cloggy saint]

29 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Are you suggesting Sue Whistle isn’t reflective of the modern female footballer?

No, no I'm not.

[JRM]

50 minutes ago, whelk said:

He wants the PL to run it! Moaning about having to travel to games. That’s what I did every weekend for 15 year when I played at the weekends. I get his point a bit but it is like he just wants the vulgar wealth of PL to be there. Part of why it is so joyous is because it is more pure.

He started moaning about Arsenal not having away allocations and having to be a member of every club to go when obviously you can just turn up and get in to any fixture you want 

[John Boy Saint]

12 minutes ago, JRM said:

He started moaning about Arsenal not having away allocations and having to be a member of every club to go when obviously you can just turn up and get in to any fixture you want 

He also needs to get his head out of the WSL - go and find any local ladies team - The Premier League would destroy it.

1500 people from Wolverhampton and Southampton made an effort to traipse flipping miles to Stockport to watch the 3rd Tier play off final. I can’t see Saints turning away other Championship teams fans this season. We played Pompey at SMS with nye  on 5000 in attendance and it think we only saw 2-3 Coppers, the banter was good natured with the Skate fans, and their players showed respect when we were presented the Championship Trophy. There is an appetite to watch the women’s game, but Wrighty saying the Premier League should be involved, and mentioning grass roots football, the premier league could not give a toss about grass roots football.

Watching Saints Ladies is a refreshing change, like watching England has been these past few weeks. A few troglodytes on here find it amusing to make comments akin to  “I’d rather shit in my hands and clap” ……….grow up or keep your thoughts to yourselves. 

[Dr Who?]

56 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

You could almost feel the BBC wrestling with itself whether it should show a replay of Kelly's celebration like they would for the men's 😂 

Well done girls, great atmosphere in the pub where I watched it and it was difficult not to get emotional at the end thinking about how far the women's game has come. 

It’s been emotional. What a rollercoaster 🎢 

[Dr Who?]

1 hour ago, ant said:

Surely not an evening for picking holes in the semantics of women's football or the minutiae of commentary?

A nice thing has happened. 

Crack a beer and celebrate us winning something, FFS.

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

Edited 31 July, 2022 by Dr Who?

[Badger]

1 hour ago, whelk said:

He wants the PL to run it! Moaning about having to travel to games. That’s what I did every weekend for 15 year when I played at the weekends. I get his point a bit but it is like he just wants the vulgar wealth of PL to be there. Part of why it is so joyous is because it is more pure.

That'll be the ruin of it then.

Agree with your points on this.

[whelk]

1 minute ago, Dr Who? said:

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

Were they bollocks. Problem is some can’t handle any criticism because hey they’re so progressive 

[The Cat]

 

 

 

[Turkish]

45 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

Utter bollocks you won’t find a single person who wanted that 

[cloggy saint]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

It’s absolute bollocks. 

Can you expand on this?

[The Kraken]

52 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

Yeah, that’s a bit of a daft statement really.  Despite some comments on here I think (hope) everybody wishes them well and nobody wanted them to fail.
 

The biggest thing IMO that can come out of this is is that, on a national level, it normalises girls playing football from a young age into adulthood.  That’s a massive win and at grass roots level can be a huge positive. The league structure will grow, as it should do, but it needs to do so organically albeit with a good bit of help from the existing infrastructure around the sport. If, from this tournament, girls taking up the sport from a young age can see where it can lead to and grow the game that way, that’s the biggest success possible.

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Dr Who? said:

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

For one this is just absolute horseshit.

Secondly, "against the odds"? They were second favourites after Spain before the tournament started, and got to the semi finals in the last four tournaments they've played. Against what odds? 

They've done great, but there was an expectation that they would do well. I expected them to get to at least the semis and with home advantage and their hand picked high-class manager it was always a very likely they would make the final.

You should be ashamed of yourself if you didn't think they could do that and this is all some massive out-of-the-blue shock to you. Are you some kind of misogynist or something? 

Edited 31 July, 2022 by CB Fry

[Turkish]

13 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

Can you expand on this?

In what way? Today was brilliant and I loved watching them win. The sad thing it a lot of people have used it as a chance to virtue signal, bang on about how they’ve done it despite not being allowed to play football, like they had to face firing squads if caught, how those that fought it lost all their dignity. Now they’ve done it hopefully these poor girls with their noses pressed up agains the classroom windows crying as they watch the boys play will be allowed to join in

yet on the other hand we’re told it’s a massively growing sport with nearly 4 million girls play regularly. 
 

so who is telling the truth?

[cloggy saint]

You said it's 'utter bollocks' that women footballers from earlier times suffered indignity. Why do you think that?

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

You said it's 'utter bollocks' that women footballers from earlier times suffered indignity. Why do you think that?

Because I know two former high level female footballers, ones played for red star saints in the late 70s early 80s the other played for Leeds in 90s, neither suffered indignity. Sometimes real life experience is far more enlightening than what people want you to believe 

Edited 31 July, 2022 by Turkish

[Saint_clark]

One thing that is kind of amusing to me is all the ridiculous "White will overtake Rooney as top scorer" nonsense has backfired, as she didn't score another goal once that started, will probably retire after this tournament and therefore can never be described as England's top goalscorer again.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

Women's football should play their leagues in the summer months.

This would definitely make me go and support the Saints women

Make use of the staduim too.

[wild-saint]

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

One thing that is kind of amusing to me is all the ridiculous "White will overtake Rooney as top scorer" nonsense has backfired, as she didn't score another goal once that started, will probably retire after this tournament and therefore can never be described as England's top goalscorer again.

They were talking about this in Talksport and argued (rightly) that if you are suggesting that you white will become Englands top ever scorer then you are wrong because  you are clearly forgetting about David Clarke who has scored 126 goals for the England blind team. Made me chuckle.

[skintsaint]

59 minutes ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

Make use of the staduim too.

Would rather give the pitch a rest for the new season.

[Billy the Kidd]

50 minutes ago, wild-saint said:

They were talking about this in Talksport and argued (rightly) that if you are suggesting that you white will become Englands top ever scorer then you are wrong because  you are clearly forgetting about David Clarke who has scored 126 goals for the England blind team. Made me chuckle.

How many of his 126 actually went in though? I bet more than 100 of those missed and he just said - yep, top bins that one.

[Jimmy_D]

On the subject of the St Mary’s pitch, pretty cool that it was part of England’s route to a major trophy.

Might have been a dead rubber for the group, but at the very least contributed to Mead’s Golden Boot, England’s record goals scored in a tournament, and England’s record of winning a tournament with the same starting line up in all games, as well keeping our momentum going.

[Sheaf Saint]

4 minutes ago, Jimmy_D said:

On the subject of the St Mary’s pitch, pretty cool that it was part of England’s route to a major trophy.

Might have been a dead rubber for the group, but at the very least contributed to Mead’s Golden Boot, England’s record goals scored in a tournament, and England’s record of winning a tournament with the same starting line up in all games, as well keeping our momentum going.

Was interesting listening to Alex Scott talking about how they virtually begged some clubs to allow their stadiums to be used back in 2018 and most said no. It's pleasing to know that Saints were one of those that saw the merits of it back then.

[JRM]

4 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

One thing that is kind of amusing to me is all the ridiculous "White will overtake Rooney as top scorer" nonsense has backfired, as she didn't score another goal once that started, will probably retire after this tournament and therefore can never be described as England's top goalscorer again.

Yeah they need to stop the ridiculous comparisons, I've now seen the same quote several times that yesterday was the BIGGEST EVER ATTENDANCE AT A EUROS (MENS OR WOMENS) with the clear inference being look more people came to watch this than the mens!! But in reality the mens game was oversubscribed by millions with prices 10x the price of the women's final, all PR really. 

It was a brilliant occasion yesterday and will help boost the women's game no doubt , some of those players will also get lucrative sponsorship deals and I'm sure domestic crowds will increase but not by much. 

I agree with others don't let the Premier league run it, all the focus would be on the big name clubs , it's already bad enough allowing Man Utd straight into the top division to take advantage of their franchise and global fan base (fast track to bigger TV deals) 

[JRM]

3 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Was interesting listening to Alex Scott talking about how they virtually begged some clubs to allow their stadiums to be used back in 2018 and most said no. It's pleasing to know that Saints were one of those that saw the merits of it back then.

I think some of that has to be taken with a pinch of salt. They choose to have games at Leigh sports Village and Man Citys academy stadium as those grounds were deemed big enough for crowds expected, it made sense as well using Rotherham for group stages (Not full) but then use the bigger Sheff Utd ground for the semi. 

I'm pleased St Mary's was used and the England game was a great occasion, but for the other two fixtures ground was 1/3rd full 

 

[Turkish]

8 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Was interesting listening to Alex Scott talking about how they virtually begged some clubs to allow their stadiums to be used back in 2018 and most said no. It's pleasing to know that Saints were one of those that saw the merits of it back then.

But why would they? Most games dont have crowds to warrant opening a 30,000+ stadium. The revenue generate from these matches with the small crowds and lower ticket prices would mean clubs would struggle to break even from them, plus they'd all be rattleing around in a massive stadium with at best only 10% full. They aren't running charities. Plenty of clubs reserves teams play at other grounds for a lot of games as well, dont here anyone grizzle gutting about that. 

Edited 1 August, 2022 by Turkish

[angelman]

2 hours ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

Women's football should play their leagues in the summer months.

This would definitely make me go and support the Saints women

Make use of the staduim too.

Issue is, would enough go to justify opening up the stadium, both financially and atmosphere wise? We can all get carried away by the attendance last night and at previous games, but not sure that would be carried through to the league. Of course I might be wrong, but I do think you are right in not having it run alongside the men's game 

[skintsaint]

23 minutes ago, Billy the Kidd said:

How many of his 126 actually went in though? I bet more than 100 of those missed and he just said - yep, top bins that one.

Didn't see that type of joke coming up 🤓

[whelk]

1 minute ago, angelman said:

Issue is, would enough go to justify opening up the stadium, both financially and atmosphere wise? We can all get carried away by the attendance last night and at previous games, but not sure that would be carried through to the league. Of course I might be wrong, but I do think you are right in not having it run alongside the men's game 

I thought they were now at St Mary’s? My missus said she might start going but she won’t. Caught up in the emotion of it all. 

[angelman]

@whelk not sure TBH. But a wider look at the women's game.. How many PL grounds are used for their games? 

[whelk]

Are there many blokes who only like women’s football and not interested in the mens?

[badgerx16]

39 minutes ago, JRM said:

I think some of that has to be taken with a pinch of salt. They choose to have games at Leigh sports Village and Man Citys academy stadium .......

 

You mean the home grounds of Manchester United and Manchester City.

[Jeremy Corbyn]

51 minutes ago, JRM said:

Yeah they need to stop the ridiculous comparisons, I've now seen the same quote several times that yesterday was the BIGGEST EVER ATTENDANCE AT A EUROS (MENS OR WOMENS) with the clear inference being look more people came to watch this than the mens!! But in reality the mens game was oversubscribed by millions with prices 10x the price of the women's final, all PR really. 

It was a brilliant occasion yesterday and will help boost the women's game no doubt , some of those players will also get lucrative sponsorship deals and I'm sure domestic crowds will increase but not by much. 

I agree with others don't let the Premier league run it, all the focus would be on the big name clubs , it's already bad enough allowing Man Utd straight into the top division to take advantage of their franchise and global fan base (fast track to bigger TV deals) 

I generally agree.  I think making any sort of comparison (attendances, goal scoring records) just opens it up to ridicule and almost suggests that women's football is a sideshow to the mens.  Women's football is now a fantastic product in its own right and should be trying to set itself up clearly independant from the men's game as much as possible IMO.

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I generally agree.  I think making any sort of comparison (attendances, goal scoring records) just opens it up to ridicule and almost suggests that women's football is a sideshow to the mens.  Women's football is now a fantastic product in its own right and should be trying to set itself up clearly independant from the men's game as much as possible IMO.

It almost feels like some of these comparisons are being done for bait, knowing that they’ll attract ridicule from some and therefore generating the negative comments which they need to fight against. It’s a shame that women’s football seems to attract this kind of thing and both sides are as bad as each other. For every troll saying, “get back in the kitchen,” there’s some other idiot comparing Doris Bennett to Dennis Bergkamp.

It never happens in other sports. If a woman wins gold in the commonwealth games 800m, nobody will be saying, “she’ll be very disappointed with that performance, 20 seconds behind the slowest mens time.”

[Saint Billy]

10 hours ago, Turkish said:

Because I know two former high level female footballers, ones played for red star saints in the late 70s early 80s the other played for Leeds in 90s, neither suffered indignity. Sometimes real life experience is far more enlightening than what people want you to believe 

Sue Lopez? 

[Saint Billy]

55 minutes ago, whelk said:

Are there many blokes who only like women’s football and not interested in the mens?

I must admit I enjoy the woman's celebrations after a goal more than the men's. 

[hypochondriac]

33 minutes ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I generally agree.  I think making any sort of comparison (attendances, goal scoring records) just opens it up to ridicule and almost suggests that women's football is a sideshow to the mens.  Women's football is now a fantastic product in its own right and should be trying to set itself up clearly independant from the men's game as much as possible IMO.

And if that were to happen it would be brilliant. Piggybacking off the men suggests that some at the top don't believe it can succeed on its own. 

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Saint Billy said:

Sue Lopez? 

Sadly not, both were just run of the mill players in their time, but never once have i heard any suggestion of them or anyone else "losing thier dignity" because they were female footballers. 

[hypochondriac]

26 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

It almost feels like some of these comparisons are being done for bait, knowing that they’ll attract ridicule from some and therefore generating the negative comments which they need to fight against. It’s a shame that women’s football seems to attract this kind of thing and both sides are as bad as each other. For every troll saying, “get back in the kitchen,” there’s some other idiot comparing Doris Bennett to Dennis Bergkamp.

It never happens in other sports. If a woman wins gold in the commonwealth games 800m, nobody will be saying, “she’ll be very disappointed with that performance, 20 seconds behind the slowest mens time.”

You're right it is a bit bizarre. You don't really see comparisons across the sexes in other sports either. I'm not sure why it's done with football. 

[Charlie Wayman]

11 hours ago, Dr Who? said:

I think you will find the majority on here we’re waiting for the team to fail. Oh well. CHAMPIONS… it’s come home, and the women have done it against the odds and despite the system. 👍✊🏽

What makes you think that? Sounds to me like your own prejudice surfacing.

Most on here are absolutely delighted with the result and were cheering on the Lionesses throughout the tournament

 

[whelk]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

You're right it is a bit bizarre. You don't really see comparisons across the sexes in other sports either. I'm not sure why it's done with football. 

But the contrast in football is stark. 
 

Some of the media types seem clueless when making comparisons about hostility of the mens game and joy of crowd at womens.  Same people must be baffled why it doesn’t kick off in the Commonwealth Games crowds? BBC putting some right idiot reporters out in the field. 
Like so many news stories the need to endlessly report on a story that doesn’t have endless angles. 

 

[JRM]

41 minutes ago, Jeremy Corbyn said:

I generally agree.  I think making any sort of comparison (attendances, goal scoring records) just opens it up to ridicule and almost suggests that women's football is a sideshow to the mens.  Women's football is now a fantastic product in its own right and should be trying to set itself up clearly independant from the men's game as much as possible IMO.

I think they have an opportunity with the cost of living crisis, a day out at the football to watch Saints girls for a family can be done a hell of a lot cheaper than going to watch the men. If your kids want to go to a game and you're watching the pennies the price might make the choice for you. 

[sadoldgit]

Christ almighty. The women’s national football team have just won a major tournament and become the best in Europe, something the men’s team have never done, yet some people still feel the need to find things to whinge about. Why not just enjoy the achievement without the nit picking for once? There are people on my face book feeds today who never bother about football and who are loving it. God knows we need something to cheer us up and the Lionesses have given us that. The celebrations were awesome, especially when they crashed the coaches presser at the end. Enjoy the moment FFS. You will have plenty of time to moan about it later.

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Christ almighty. The women’s national football team have just won a major tournament and become the best in Europe, something the men’s team have never done, yet some people still feel the need to find things to whinge about. Why not just enjoy the achievement without the nit picking for once? There are people on my face book feeds today who never bother about football and who are loving it. God knows we need something to cheer us up and the Lionesses have given us that. The celebrations were awesome, especially when they crashed the coaches presser at the end. Enjoy the moment FFS. You will have plenty of time to moan about it later.

If you rely on external factors to cheer you up then you need to reassess the priorities in your life. Happiness is a journey not a destiation soggy.

[whelk]

1 minute ago, sadoldgit said:

Christ almighty. The women’s national football team have just won a major tournament and become the best in Europe, something the men’s team have never done, yet some people still feel the need to find things to whinge about. Why not just enjoy the achievement without the nit picking for once? There are people on my face book feeds today who never bother about football and who are loving it. God knows we need something to cheer us up and the Lionesses have given us that. The celebrations were awesome, especially when they crashed the coaches presser at the end. Enjoy the moment FFS. You will have plenty of time to moan about it later.

Twitter seems full of people saying the same. I worry that people seem to be looking for negativity only to gloriously contrast it with their lovely righteousness. So ironically quite a negative post. 

[whelk]

What I don’t get is all these people who want to put the Lionesses into death camps?Enjoy the game you horrible people