...to be really pissed off with the sneering mysogyny around women's football?

[NiniLegsInTheAir]

Not so much from the commentators in these Olympics, but from people (particularly men), that I talk to.

I enjoy women's footy (used to play) and think the standards in this country are coming on in leaps and bounds - bearing in mind most teams in the UK are unpaid part-timers and still working back from the FA ban on women's competitive games for 50 years.

I've got tickets for the Olympic final and really looking forward to it. If I had a penny for every time someone's sneered at me something along the lines of "Why waste your money", "they can't defend/kick/score/dribble/perform anything like men", "it's like watching the men's lower leagues" (I also support a lower league men's club and would never compare the two, completely different). It's not like the men's national team has won anything lately either yet they're treated like gods!

You don't get this with other sports involving women (mostly), so why is this still acceptable to some people? It makes me very .

"Many people agree and a couple don't" - ha ha ha ha. That is one of the funniest things I've ever read

And yet it's a fact

Been nice to watch some football tonight that didn't involve men falling over crying in an Oscar-worthy performance because an opposing player brushed past them. Also nice to see players actually trying to win, playing their hearts out and not swearing at the cameramen or whining that their country doesn't support them after they lose the game.

In fact, whining, whinging and laziness has been virtually invisible tonight. Very refreshing.

Women's football beats men's hands-down on that score.

I dare anyone who watched the 2nd half of tonight's Women's USA v Canada match to say that they're a "lower standard" to men's football.

Absolutely incredible match. Brutal and amazing. :)

I've nothing negative to say about women's football, all power to them do doing what they enjoy. But I simply do not enjoy watching it as much as the men's. I just find it dull.

Lucie I honestly think that's because we're used to seeing a faster pace

And let's be honest, it is a fast paced game. Therefore I do think having a smaller pitch would speed it up.

I'll add to that notmyproblem - no abuse of the officials either! Kudos all round for a great match, really looking forward to the final!

Worra I think you need to go and look the word "fact" up in a dictionary.

I said it earlier though worra, the men's is a fast paced game in england, on the continent not so much so. Yet pitch sizes stay the same. It wouldnt make an ounce of difference.

Oh ffs yellow if I know that many people agree with me and a couple don't then it is a FACT

Now please stop whinging at me, it's derailing the thread.

Maybe not Nini but the International league games are just as fast as the Champions league and so on...so hmmm I'm not sure now

Having to have two different sizes of pitch would reduce women players' training options more than now. The players themselves are happy to play on a full-size pitch.

I can put words in bold capital letters too, it doesn't make it true.

You're derailing as well, so.

Good point, SmallClanger and also about football being fast here but not in Europe so much. It's bollocks that it's about quality, quality or lack of it doesn't seem to put men off supporting shit 3rd division teams, who are undoubtedly worse than the women playing in the Olympics.

Why is it dull though. It's exactly the same! Ffs don't you ever question yourself? Obviously there is a bias there. Just look at it objectively for fucking once please.

"they can't defend/kick/score/dribble/perform anything like men"

No they can't. Our women's team win, why would they want to perform like the losers that is our men's team ?

Just back from Old Trafford, due to nightmare roadworks on M6, but that's another thread and from watching one of the best games of football I've watched in many, many years of watching people play football.

I've only started watching women's football this year, and have been staggered by how good, and entertaining it is. I can't believe that those who have suggested it is slower than the men's game have watched the same games. (I'm including league and FA Cup as well as just the Olympics). The women's game is FAR faster. There aren't the drama queens and time wasters, and the games actually flow at a terrific pace for the whole 90 mins - unlike either the Premiership or mens Internationals, where there is a considerable amount of time spent waiting for this or that 'injury' to be treated or this or that argument to be had, or yet another free kick to be taken. Honestly, I was staggered by how much running they do compared with the men, and I'm not one to knock the men's game - I like to watch football at all levels.

In the Olympics, I've seen 6 womens teams and 2 mens teams live, and I have to say the poorest game was the men's one. I know that's not a lot of data , but there is no way the womens football needs to be viewed as some kind of second rate game. It's been brilliant. Well done to all those who have played.

the women's team are national heroes here in Japan (World Cup winners) but there there is still not enough money put into women's sport

of course, now they are in line for either silver or gold, lets hope they get to fly home Business class

love this

scroll down to nearly the bottom photo for a truely friendly, Olympic spirit moment

So if GB women played GB men, who would win?

Very strange. Was just remarking to (English) DH that the reason the US women's soccer/ football team has been so successful is because in the USA soccer is truly a sport for both sexes (I'm American). This is a result of it 'flying under the radar' - i.e. most people think women's pro basketball, baseball or American football leagues are ridiculous and there is definitely the kind of sexism you describe, but kids of both sexes grow up playing soccer/ football and as a consequence it's much more evenly split.

I have never thought of women's football as being crap or anything else, I know lots of people who play for the women's team at our local professional club but DS age 5 saw a result on Sky Sports news about women's football a while back and he was hysterically laughing and said ' Look daddy, women's football, thats really funny!'.

I am guessing there are still not that many girls playing football at school these days!

So if GB women played GB men, who would win?

Men probably; sheer physical, brute strength.

With mini-soccer they syphon the girls out to girls teams at 11 because they no longer are equally matched with height, weight, speed, agility.

You could throw in the bone regarding physical equality and roll the Billie Jean King scenario out "Battle of the Sexes" yes she did beat Riggs, but he was also 20 years older than her!

skiinggardener I had this same conversation with husband last night. He said someone like Carragher would knock the girls flying, I said he'd have a hard time catching them first

Why is it dull though. It's exactly the same! Ffs don't you ever question yourself? Obviously there is a bias there. Just look at it objectively for fucking once please

But that's your opinion Krumbum and you're entitled to it.

That doesn't mean that anyone who doesn't share your opinion, isn't looking at it objectively.

I think the Olympics are just showing football up to be a problem sport. How many of the heptathletes or 10,000 metre runners were racially abusing each other or calling the officals effing c on camera, we wouldn't be so in love with the athletics right now. And these athletes are getting their once in four years moment - this is not another league match on another Saturday for them. So they are under huge pressure and still manage grace and responsibility.

Not quite on topic but just an observation.

How can they be looking at it objectively, please explain? How thinking just because the person playing has tits they are shit.

my post made no sense