...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 .

DP has been really enjoying the women's footie this Olympics.

I've enjoyed it to the same extent as I've enjoyed the men's - kind of lukewarm. I vicariously get enough footie throughout the year (though not women's that's for sure) - and I'm opting to watch sport I don't usually get to see during the Olympics - and there are so many sports to choose from.

I have heard women's football dissed/ridiculed in the past (as per the OP) but actually have heard very little negative about it during this Olympics, and all the coverage I have seen has been very positive.

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

On what criteria would you say the womens team outperform the mens?

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

You're the only person who brought their 'tits' into it...which is quite weird and also you're the only person how has said they're 'shit'.

You asked why it is dull.

Many people have said it's because the pace of the game is quite slow when women play it.

Now that is looking at it objectively...bringing their 'tits' into it is most certainly not.

OhDearNigel

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

But both teams went out at the same stage

Although the GB women won all their group matches, Boney, the men won 2, drew 1.

But that's beside the point I was trying to make, that the misogyny (spelt it right this time! ) is so bloody unnecessary.

I quite clearly said tits to signify that it is simply because they are women that people don't watch it. And I don't think it's shit but other people have strongly implied it. Is that not obvious?
It isn't slower than a lot of the men's games. It's slower than the very to men which people don't all watch, many people watch 2nd and 3rd division teams.
It is because of a bias against women.

People seem happy enough to watch Jessica Ennis and Victoria Pendleton, even though they're slower than the men.

but they went out at the same stage!

The England women's team are 9th in the world rankings
here
The England men's team are forth in the world rankings
here

Personally I can't stand the game not because of the game itself but because of what it does to the supporters (not all but a vocal minority), but I have enjoyed the GB games and its been better for that bloody band not being there. (although the band did spoil the hockey)

OP we went to the women's semi-final at wembly last night between France and Japan. It was brilliant and enjoyed by everyone there. I'm a bit jealous you have tickets for the final. Ignore the misogynists - the 60,000 happy footie fans at Wembly last night are proof that plenty of people love women's football.

If we're talking about rankings, I've also just looked up the other home nations (since team GB is comprised of all the home nations after all). The Welsh men are 117th, the women 43rd. The ROI men 26th, women 32nd. The Northern Irish men are 102nd, the women 53rd. Make of that what you will.

Agree with you about the band boney, they ruin England men's game with their tuneless noise.

For the last few years I've found it hard to get excited about men's football, watching the England team, I just can't help feeling that they're a bunch of unpleasant people who might be skilful, but are overpaid, arrogant, and fake injury all the time. I was surprised how I much I enjoyed watching the GB women, I thought it was fantastic that it was getting such a high profile and hope that it will encourage more girls to play.

Thanks autumn, I'm mega excited about it and honoured to be going. Glad you enjoyed it .

Thing is that the womens game and the mens game are to different forms of football. The womens game tends (generally) to be a passing game, where the mens game tends to be long balls from the back (generally). Its like comparing apples to oranges.

I agree with ninja about the players as well, the women seem to be there because they enjoy the game (especially in internationals) and it shows. Its the first time I have enjoyed the mens game for along time and I put it down to the fact that the usual suspects where not there.

Anyone who says watching women's football is a waste of time / expense is a fucking idiot.I don't understand why similar comparisons aren't made about shotput, sprinting etc etc

Yes, In a direct competition women would lose every game but that's irrelevant It's the spectacle of highly skilful and physically fit sports people giving their all that makes it entertaining.