Netherlands piloting women to play men's football

[number4.]

Football is a meritocracy, if you're good enough you're good enough. This applies to race, background, age etc. No reason it shouldn't to gender.

As long as it doesn't turn into tokenism I'm all for it

 

[BlueInNZ]

That's the point though, put them in a women's team and they'd look like Samson and Goliath or Keane and Vieira.

But it's not the point. Like it or not Davies and Bernard are EPL players. The case in point involves the Dutch 4th tier. It appears that those involved think she is good enough.

The point is - if she is considered good enough for the Dutch 4th tier, should she be allowed to play?

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Fokkema freudian slip material.

Anyways don't see the problem myself. No true blue can dismiss the possibility of physical upgrades with Bernard in our squad!

 

[ForeverBlue92]

You fight women? I am impressed.

The fact you dont know what sparring is shows you know little to nothing about this topic mate.

 

[The binman chronicles]

But it's not the point. Like it or not Davies and Bernard are EPL players. The case in point involves the Dutch 4th tier. It appears that those involved think she is good enough.

The point is - if she is considered good enough for the Dutch 4th tier, should she be allowed to play?

It is exactly the point if even their small size and mass is able to wreck serious damage playing against females.

If they want to allow this in 4th division who am I stop it but everyone around will treat them differently. By opening Pandora's box you just create a blurred line, what's good for 4th surely is ok for the 3rd and so on? The best way around this is to improve the product of the woman's game so they don't feel like they should play in a man's team.

 

[BlueInNZ]

The fact you dont know what sparring is shows you know little to nothing about this topic mate.

Thank you.

 

[carolinablue232]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footbal...at_medium=custom7&at_custom3=Match+of+the+Day



A welcome move in my eyes. If a woman is as good as a man then really what's the difference in them playing in the men's sport?

Would anyone be arsed what gender our striker was 10 years from now if they were banging 30 goals a season in?

You can't really call it a men's game anymore with all the play acting.

If they’re good enough, they’re good enough. However, it’s far fetched to think many will be able to compete at even remotely high levels in the men’s games.

I’m sure they regret it 1000% but the US women’s national team scrimmaged the U15 FC Dallas boys a few years back and Dallas won like 5-2. It’s only a scrimmage but we’re talking about the best women’s side in the world getting destroyed by a bunch of kids.

 

[Lloydystark]

Would they like a big tackle? Would they have separate showers? Would we be allowed to shout get tight or get up there arse?

Jokes aside no I don’t think it’s a good idea at least at a competitive side. I’ve played years of cricket and have often played against and some games with a women on the team and I have no bother about that as it’s a non contact sport where physical aspects aren’t as important as a contact sport such as football.

I would like to point out this is my opinion and I understand there will be a lot disagree but we’re all entitled to an opinion.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Considering we watch Tom Davies and Bernard every week, im amazed people dont think there are professional women players with more upper body strength than those two.

Thing is mate its not just about upper body strength.

The higher up you go the faster the play is, the more intense it is, non stop pressing etc mens football is simply too high a leap for womens once you get to a certain level.

I watch a decent bit of womens football (mainly to perv at the tight shorts in fairness) and the intensity levels are completely different.

Its simply not fair to tell a female competitor "you're only good enough for this level based on your gender" same way its not fair to pit them up against physically stronger, faster, athletes with more stamina and endurance levels.

Same way it wouldnt be right to put a 9 stone lightweight boxer in the ring with Anthony Joshua just because he's the best in his weight division.

We have weight classes, gender divisons for a reason and thats about acknowledging physical and genetic differences which makes a competition as competitive and fair as possible.

The day you have a female rugby player trying to throw 18 stone blokes around and 8 stone boxers fighting 18 stone ones competitive sports becomes an utter farce.

 

[The binman chronicles]

If they’re good enough, they’re good enough. However, it’s far fetched to think many will be able to compete at even remotely high levels in the men’s games.

I’m sure they regret it 1000% but the US women’s national team scrimmaged the U15 FC Dallas boys a few years back and Dallas won like 5-2. It’s only a scrimmage but we’re talking about the best women’s side in the world getting destroyed by a bunch of kids.

Here is one of those boys getting his picture taken with one of the USA players Now imagine a Duncan Ferguson type flinging himself at a corner with her standing in the way....

 

[jaycee]

It will come down to psychical strength that would hold most women back rather than lack of skill or vision,genetically men tend to be a lot stronger and faster,as gender fluidity becomes more the norm you could well get somebody who identifies as female playing high level competitive football in the next couple of generations,but would that be classed as a female player?

 

[Tin-Tin]

That's the point though, put them in a women's team and they'd look like Samson and Goliath or Keane and Vieira.

Thing is mate its not just about upper body strength.

The higher up you go the faster the play is, the more intense it is, non stop pressing etc mens football is simply too high a leap for womens once you get to a certain level.

I watch a decent bit of womens football (mainly to perv at the tight shorts in fairness) and the intensity levels are completely different.

Its simply not fair to tell a female competitor "you're only good enough for this level based on your gender" same way its not fair to pit them up against physically stronger, faster, athletes with more stamina and endurance levels.

Same way it wouldnt be right to put a 9 stone lightweight boxer in the ring with Anthony Joshua just because he's the best in his weight division.

We have weight classes, gender divisons for a reason and thats about acknowledging physical and genetic differences which makes a competition as competitive and fair as possible.

The day you have a female rugby player trying to throw 18 stone blokes around and 8 stone boxers fighting 18 stone ones competitive sports becomes an utter farce.

The Davies Bernard comment was slightly tongue in cheek but I seriously dont think they are much 'stronger' than women physically, just as you say more stamina, endurance etc, but then not all top level male footballers can cope in the PL either.

They can get so far and make up for the shortage by technical ability which is why I think they may make it in the Dutch/French/Italian 2nd division at a push. I just think that final step of 'the top' would see them fall short.

I think though, that it is entirely up to clubs. If a club deems a female player good enough then its their decision.

 

[chrismpw]

I'm not saying women can't be strong, but I remember seeing a documentary on the SAS guys that stormed the Iranian embassy and they looked about 5 feet nothing but would happily snap a larger man's bones because they are freaks of nature aided by training. That is what we are talking about here, that is the type of difference, people have mentioned Messi on here like he is a vase made out of china. He would have been used to being kicked around all over the place and has the muscle mass to deal with it.

That lady who was untouchable in your match, perhaps she was a proficient footballer playing week in week out? If so she might be able to look decent if no one else is playing to that standard. I bet also no one is thinking they are going to test her physically in a friendly type match. In a professional setup they would look for the week links. In fact they probably wouldn't clatter in to her as it would be better to have her on the pitch than be replaced.

We all laugh at Keane's tugboat turn, well he would look like Usain Bolt if suddenly men are allowed to play in women's teams.

For a laugh in a non-competitive match then no problems, anything else is just PC nonsense. You would likely have to change the rules as a woman would get seriously injured and instead of just written off as a naturally occurring mismatch which happens in the mens game, it will be deemed the game is unsafe. I want to see more tackles not get to the point touch football is introduced.

In terms of different physicality, I'd love to see Rapino, that virtue signalling arrogant US women's player, who uses the world Cup to blather her own political agenda and then demands pay parity get clattered by a 4th div centre back. Would pipe her right down.

 

[DOMNOLAN]

But it's not the point. Like it or not Davies and Bernard are EPL players. The case in point involves the Dutch 4th tier. It appears that those involved think she is good enough.

The point is - if she is considered good enough for the Dutch 4th tier, should she be allowed to play?

Thing is, Bernard is one of the smallest players in the world, and even he would outclass most women physically. The muscle mass of a man at 5’6 isn’t the same as a women at 5’6. For women upper body strength is about 2/3 of a man of comparable size which is staggering. I mean, I know it’s anecdotal, but my girlfriend is 5’6 and she can’t even complete a single press up despite pretty regularly exercising, and I’ve met loads of others who can’t either, whereas I’ve never met a guy who can’t. Even during school with the scrawny kids having to do the fitness tests they could manage a few.

Bone density as well is far less, so there’d be a massive danger of seriously injuring female opposition players.

He’s also actually pretty rapid, doesn’t show it enough because it’s his acceleration that’s good, but his acceleration is really quick. Same with Lennon who was an inch shorter. He’d be far quicker than any female player.

All of these things put together means that you’re putting the women at risk. Higher speed, from stronger, heavier people against those with weaker bones is a recipient for disaster. There’s another reason there’s separation that people are neglecting, and that’s safety. I’d be really concerned that a really serious injury would be inevitable, and I don’t particularly want to see that.

 

[DOMNOLAN]

Hang on. I thought this had been the case for years? What’s Firmino doing on the pitch if this has only just become a thing?