Women's World Cup

[Sister of fu]

I dont compare womens football to mens at all as there is fuckign zero comparison.
Its on TV , its for the public to watch and IMO its been fuckign shit overall......I am obviously focusing on Englands performances compared to the others....the passing has been fuckign shite , even sunday league sides pass the ball better than these lot.

No need to get fuckign defensive !!! , what you see is what you get and so far its rubbish.

I watched Sunday league football for the best part of 10 years following my Dad around, I assure you that they don't pass better.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I dont compare womens football to mens at all as there is fuckign zero comparison.
Its on TV , its for the public to watch and IMO its been fuckign shit overall......I am obviously focusing on Englands performances compared to the others....the passing has been fuckign shite , even sunday league sides pass the ball better than these lot.

No need to get fuckign defensive !!! , what you see is what you get and so far its rubbish.

I watched Sunday league football for the best part of 10 years following my Dad around, I assure you that they don't pass better.

My sunday league team did.

[BlueinBosnia]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

Yes, I'd treat it equally from a sense of pride, but in terms of financial security out of it, obviously if both were at an equal level of their game, and vying to be worldbeaters, then the son would come first.

I go to more women's games nowadays than men's games (it's been like that for 3 or 4 seasons), and although the level here is little better than, say, I am, I think women's football suffers massively from all equipment, etc. being designed for men. As you say, Fu, the infrastructure is massively behind the men's game, and investment and development is put into technology suited to the men's game, where players are taller, and kick harder, on average. One problem from this is the ball - it bounces around like something from a pound store in the women's game, because (less experienced) players are more prone to chipping, and less capable of trapping (I assume it's the same in the UK that women play with a smaller-sized ball to a much later age than men). However, nobody will ever develop a ball more suited to the skills in the women's game than the men's, simply because there isn't enough money in it.

[Nigels Tackle]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

Yes, I'd treat it equally from a sense of pride, but in terms of financial security out of it, obviously if both were at an equal level of their game, and vying to be worldbeaters, then the son would come first.

I go to more women's games nowadays than men's games (it's been like that for 3 or 4 seasons), and although the level here is little better than, say, I am, I think women's football suffers massively from all equipment, etc. being designed for men. As you say, Fu, the infrastructure is massively behind the men's game, and investment and development is put into technology suited to the men's game, where players are taller, and kick harder, on average. One problem from this is the ball - it bounces around like something from a pound store in the women's game, because (less experienced) players are more prone to chipping, and less capable of trapping (I assume it's the same in the UK that women play with a smaller-sized ball to a much later age than men). However, nobody will ever develop a ball more suited to the skills in the women's game than the men's, simply because there isn't enough money in it.

they should also look at the size of the goals because women keepers are useless ;-)

[Sister of fu]

I dont compare womens football to mens at all as there is fuckign zero comparison.
Its on TV , its for the public to watch and IMO its been fuckign shit overall......I am obviously focusing on Englands performances compared to the others....the passing has been fuckign shite , even sunday league sides pass the ball better than these lot.

No need to get fuckign defensive !!! , what you see is what you get and so far its rubbish.

I watched Sunday league football for the best part of 10 years following my Dad around, I assure you that they don't pass better.

My sunday league team did.

Yeah and im sure they trained harder and sacrificed loads....

[BlueinBosnia]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

Yes, I'd treat it equally from a sense of pride, but in terms of financial security out of it, obviously if both were at an equal level of their game, and vying to be worldbeaters, then the son would come first.

I go to more women's games nowadays than men's games (it's been like that for 3 or 4 seasons), and although the level here is little better than, say, I am, I think women's football suffers massively from all equipment, etc. being designed for men. As you say, Fu, the infrastructure is massively behind the men's game, and investment and development is put into technology suited to the men's game, where players are taller, and kick harder, on average. One problem from this is the ball - it bounces around like something from a pound store in the women's game, because (less experienced) players are more prone to chipping, and less capable of trapping (I assume it's the same in the UK that women play with a smaller-sized ball to a much later age than men). However, nobody will ever develop a ball more suited to the skills in the women's game than the men's, simply because there isn't enough money in it.

they should also look at the size of the goals because women keepers are useless ;-)

Women around the world, are, on average, 8% shorter than men, so narrowing the goals by 2 feet, and making them shorter by 8 inches would make sense. Same with pitch size (although this would be massively expensive to accommodate, and risk further isolating the women's game to a certain extent). Fu - as a goalkeeper, how would you feel about slightly smaller goals? Would it put you off, because of what you're used to, or would it make things easier? Also, what about for kids just starting in the game now?

[Wonderwall]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

Yes, I'd treat it equally from a sense of pride, but in terms of financial security out of it, obviously if both were at an equal level of their game, and vying to be worldbeaters, then the son would come first.

I go to more women's games nowadays than men's games (it's been like that for 3 or 4 seasons), and although the level here is little better than, say, I am, I think women's football suffers massively from all equipment, etc. being designed for men. As you say, Fu, the infrastructure is massively behind the men's game, and investment and development is put into technology suited to the men's game, where players are taller, and kick harder, on average. One problem from this is the ball - it bounces around like something from a pound store in the women's game, because (less experienced) players are more prone to chipping, and less capable of trapping (I assume it's the same in the UK that women play with a smaller-sized ball to a much later age than men). However, nobody will ever develop a ball more suited to the skills in the women's game than the men's, simply because there isn't enough money in it.

they should also look at the size of the goals because women keepers are useless ;-)

Women around the world, are, on average, 8% shorter than men, so narrowing the goals by 2 feet, and making them shorter by 8 inches would make sense. Same with pitch size (although this would be massively expensive to accommodate, and risk further isolating the women's game to a certain extent). Fu - as a goalkeeper, how would you feel about slightly smaller goals? Would it put you off, because of what you're used to, or would it make things easier? Also, what about for kids just starting in the game now?

Karen Bardsley is 5' 11" but she looks a lot taller, maybe because most of the women are a lot smaller. Its a good point about the goals

[Sister of fu]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

Yes, I'd treat it equally from a sense of pride, but in terms of financial security out of it, obviously if both were at an equal level of their game, and vying to be worldbeaters, then the son would come first.

I go to more women's games nowadays than men's games (it's been like that for 3 or 4 seasons), and although the level here is little better than, say, I am, I think women's football suffers massively from all equipment, etc. being designed for men. As you say, Fu, the infrastructure is massively behind the men's game, and investment and development is put into technology suited to the men's game, where players are taller, and kick harder, on average. One problem from this is the ball - it bounces around like something from a pound store in the women's game, because (less experienced) players are more prone to chipping, and less capable of trapping (I assume it's the same in the UK that women play with a smaller-sized ball to a much later age than men). However, nobody will ever develop a ball more suited to the skills in the women's game than the men's, simply because there isn't enough money in it.

they should also look at the size of the goals because women keepers are useless ;-)

Women around the world, are, on average, 8% shorter than men, so narrowing the goals by 2 feet, and making them shorter by 8 inches would make sense. Same with pitch size (although this would be massively expensive to accommodate, and risk further isolating the women's game to a certain extent). Fu - as a goalkeeper, how would you feel about slightly smaller goals? Would it put you off, because of what you're used to, or would it make things easier? Also, what about for kids just starting in the game now?

I never had and never would want anything changed. Its never bothered me the size of goals. You play with what you have and I have never known anything different. No female player I know wants any changes as that just gives the knocker's more ammunition.

Its not something that will happen as you say it would just cost a to much money. Schools for instance can barely afford decent pitches as it is so there is no chance for two different sized pitches/goals popping up at schools or in local parks.

[South Stand Balti]

Just a couple of questions I would like to pose to all you Dads....

If your daughter came home and send I wanna play football would you support this and if you had a son and daughter would you support them equally??

If you had a daughter and she played international football would you see this as an achievement or would it be more of an achievement if your son was an international footballer??

My daughter did play a bit of footie at school and I would support her just as much as a son. It would nt cross my mind to do anything other than that. She was a season ticket holder at City at the age of 4 so I did all I could to introduce football to play and watch. If she had played international footie then I would be equally proud as I would for a son. I don't agree with the "more money in mens' football" making it more legit.
I'm enjoying the tournament more than I enjoyed the England v Ireland men's game a couple of weeks ago.
I think we should be making the goals bigger if anything, particularly in the men's game given the size of Costel Pants and others.

[BlueinBosnia]

I never had and never would want anything changed. Its never bothered me the size of goals. You play with what you have and I have never known anything different. No female player I know wants any changes as that just gives the knocker's more ammunition.

Its not something that will happen as you say it would just cost a to much money. Schools for instance can barely afford decent pitches as it is so there is no chance for two different sized pitches/goals popping up at schools or in local parks.

That's an interesting response. Thanks.

As for 'giving the knockers more ammunition' - and I assume I interpreted 'knockers' right here ;) :The way I look at it is that "women are using men's equipment". Most sports where women's events (and athletes) receive greater attention have differences between the men's and women's disciplines. Whether or not the greater recognition has been helped by the modification of a sport's parameters to allow a more competitive women's arena is open to debate, but I honestly think the effects of a ball developed to suit the women's game (slightly smaller and denser) would be interesting to see - certainly women are no less skillful individually than men, and I think that such a change to the ball would allow a bit more flair and trickery to develop, which may appeal to a wider fanbase.

[Ted Hughes]

Some years ago, a few of us were lumping a football around on a Norwegian beach, & several girls were hanging around admiring the procedure. But it wasn't our skills or good looks they were admiring, it was the fact that we had a football, & were having a kick about & they happened to be passing & could not resist the urge to join in. So they did.

One of them, about 5 ft tall, just had bare feet, but had no problem leathering the shit, wet, sandy, heavy old casey back at us or heading the fucker when we leathered it in her direction & her little feet looked red raw by the time we finished but she was still smiling & would have been happy to carry on all night if we didn't have an appointment with alcohol etc.

I didn't get the impression that any of those girls had a problem with the equipment used for playing football.

[Spurge]

Well quite simply, I've enjoyed watching it. Some good football, some bad football some ridiculous football.

Enjoyed the argentinian ref Salome Di Lorio

The German goalkeeper not so much. The Swiss manager a cross between Sting and jurgen klinsman - interesting.

But in all seriousness I have enjoyed it as a footballing spectacle, I think overall the womens game has come a long way. Just like in the mens game the Africans have the potential to make some big strides in the game with the right coaching. The Europeans are much more tacticaly aware and the south americans have the flair.

[BlueinBosnia]

Some years ago, a few of us were lumping a football around on a Norwegian beach, & several girls were hanging around admiring the procedure. But it wasn't our skills or good looks they were admiring, it was the fact that we had a football, & were having a kick about & they happened to be passing & could not resist the urge to join in. So they did.

One of them, about 5 ft tall, just had bare feet, but had no problem leathering the shit, wet, sandy, heavy old casey back at us or heading the fucker when we leathered it in her direction & her little feet looked red raw by the time we finished but she was still smiling & would have been happy to carry on all night if we didn't have an appointment with alcohol etc.

I didn't get the impression that any of those girls had a problem with the equipment used for playing football.

There was a girl in my school who was pretty good at shot put. We only had (junior) men's weighted shot puts in the school, and she was maybe 5th or 6th best in the school year. However, had she taken it up as a professional sport, she'd have used a much lighter shot than the men, and would have been given as much recognition and prominence as them in Olympic competition.

[Ted Hughes]

Some years ago, a few of us were lumping a football around on a Norwegian beach, & several girls were hanging around admiring the procedure. But it wasn't our skills or good looks they were admiring, it was the fact that we had a football, & were having a kick about & they happened to be passing & could not resist the urge to join in. So they did.

One of them, about 5 ft tall, just had bare feet, but had no problem leathering the shit, wet, sandy, heavy old casey back at us or heading the fucker when we leathered it in her direction & her little feet looked red raw by the time we finished but she was still smiling & would have been happy to carry on all night if we didn't have an appointment with alcohol etc.

I didn't get the impression that any of those girls had a problem with the equipment used for playing football.

There was a girl in my school who was pretty good at shot put. We only had (junior) men's weighted shot puts in the school, and she was maybe 5th or 6th best in the school year. However, had she taken it up as a professional sport, she'd have used a much lighter shot than the men, and would have been given as much recognition and prominence as them in Olympic competition.

I don't think women need a different football.

If they do then so do most blokes who play at weekends.

[BlueinBosnia]

Some years ago, a few of us were lumping a football around on a Norwegian beach, & several girls were hanging around admiring the procedure. But it wasn't our skills or good looks they were admiring, it was the fact that we had a football, & were having a kick about & they happened to be passing & could not resist the urge to join in. So they did.

One of them, about 5 ft tall, just had bare feet, but had no problem leathering the shit, wet, sandy, heavy old casey back at us or heading the fucker when we leathered it in her direction & her little feet looked red raw by the time we finished but she was still smiling & would have been happy to carry on all night if we didn't have an appointment with alcohol etc.

I didn't get the impression that any of those girls had a problem with the equipment used for playing football.

There was a girl in my school who was pretty good at shot put. We only had (junior) men's weighted shot puts in the school, and she was maybe 5th or 6th best in the school year. However, had she taken it up as a professional sport, she'd have used a much lighter shot than the men, and would have been given as much recognition and prominence as them in Olympic competition.

I don't think women need a different football.

If they do then so do most blokes who play at weekends.

And I'm not saying they need one, I'm just saying that the women's game will always be forced to follow advances designed for the convenience of the men's game, unless someone actually sits down and discusses it.

If a piece of equipment was designed for a men's sport to be optimal for a person of 6 foot 4 height, and the average player was 5 foot 10, wouldn't you think that was a bit daft?

[Ted Hughes]

The only piece of equipment you really need is a ball.

If the goals are 20 ft by 20 ft, it is the same for both teams. No reason women's football has to be exactly the same as men's football. If more goals float over the keeper's head or whatever, so be it. Men's football has changed over the years & players have become better & worse at different aspects.

The football played here in the days of Wimbledon etc, was almost a different sport to the way City play now. Loads of enormous blokes lumping the ball in the air & running after it. (Ironically, England women had more in common with that 2nd half vs Columbia, than with the way City play).

I don't think it matters whether the game was originally designed for blokes. The women just get on with it.

[BlueinBosnia]

The only piece of equipment you really need is a ball.

If the goals are 20 ft by 20 ft, it is the same for both teams. No reason women's football has to be exactly the same as men's football. If more goals float over the keeper's head or whatever, so be it. Men's football has changed over the years & players have become better & worse at different aspects.

The football played here in the days of Wimbledon etc, was almost a different sport to the way City play now. Loads of enormous blokes lumping the ball in the air & running after it. (Ironically, England women had more in common with that 2nd half vs Columbia, than with the way City play).

I don't think it matters whether the game was originally designed for blokes. The women just get on with it.

You may see that as fine, but I see it as a detriment to the sport, from an aesthetic perspective (due to the fact there are a far higher proportion of high, uncontrolled balls at all levels of the women's game) as a spectator, and (although neither me nor you are qualified to give a relevant opinion on this) from the perspective of equipment being designed for a different set of attributes to those the average player has. A professional sport shouldn't be in the situation where "The women just get on with it", but thanks to ignorant attitudes toward the game by those at the top and those who bring in the money, that is exactly the situation that has unfolded.

The goals were agreed as 8 yards by 8 feet for the men's game due to it being a (roughly) optimal size for goalkeepers to have the chance of preventing a decent proportion of goalscoring opportunities. Why shouldn't the women's game have the same level of thought input?

[Ted Hughes]

The only piece of equipment you really need is a ball.

If the goals are 20 ft by 20 ft, it is the same for both teams. No reason women's football has to be exactly the same as men's football. If more goals float over the keeper's head or whatever, so be it. Men's football has changed over the years & players have become better & worse at different aspects.

The football played here in the days of Wimbledon etc, was almost a different sport to the way City play now. Loads of enormous blokes lumping the ball in the air & running after it. (Ironically, England women had more in common with that 2nd half vs Columbia, than with the way City play).

I don't think it matters whether the game was originally designed for blokes. The women just get on with it.

You may see that as fine, but I see it as a detriment to the sport, from an aesthetic perspective (due to the fact there are a far higher proportion of high, uncontrolled balls at all levels of the women's game) as a spectator, and (although neither me nor you are qualified to give a relevant opinion on this) from the perspective of equipment being designed for a different set of attributes to those the average player has. A professional sport shouldn't be in the situation where "The women just get on with it", but thanks to ignorant attitudes toward the game by those at the top and those who bring in the money, that is exactly the situation that has unfolded.

The goals were agreed as 8 yards by 8 feet for the men's game due to it being a (roughly) optimal size for goalkeepers to have the chance of preventing a decent proportion of goalscoring opportunities. Why shouldn't the women's game have the same level of thought input?

Because they don't agree, aren't asking for it & don't wish to have it imposed on them perhaps ?

[carl_feedthegoat]

I dont compare womens football to mens at all as there is fuckign zero comparison.
Its on TV , its for the public to watch and IMO its been fuckign shit overall......I am obviously focusing on Englands performances compared to the others....the passing has been fuckign shite , even sunday league sides pass the ball better than these lot.

No need to get fuckign defensive !!! , what you see is what you get and so far its rubbish.

I watched Sunday league football for the best part of 10 years following my Dad around, I assure you that they don't pass better.

My sunday league team did.

Yeah and im sure they trained harder and sacrificed loads....

Gave up alcohol on a saturday night...I think you will find that there is no bigger sacrifice.

[Dameerto]

Well quite simply, I've enjoyed watching it. Some good football, some bad football some ridiculous football.

Enjoyed the argentinian ref Salome Di Lorio

The German goalkeeper not so much. The Swiss manager a cross between Sting and jurgen klinsman - interesting.

But in all seriousness I have enjoyed it as a footballing spectacle, I think overall the womens game has come a long way. Just like in the mens game the Africans have the potential to make some big strides in the game with the right coaching. The Europeans are much more tacticaly aware and the south americans have the flair.

Typical tournament football, like every tournament (male of female) I've watched since I was a young kid.