Women's Football

[Toast]

Yes mate, then Cheryl Lunghi will win the double.

Proper fit in that she was.

 

[Simon Buttle]

I'm all for encouraging and applauding the tremendous strides made in women's football and hope this World Cup represents another big step forward for the game in this country and worldwide.

This however can go too far with some of the ludicrously outlandish claims being made by some. Statistics and facts are being bent and apples compared to pears all in an effort to justify a particular reporter's enthusiastic cheerleading and unalloyed support for anything that can even vaguely emphasise his point.

We have free of charge primetime mainstream channel audiences being spuriously compared to a 'limited by number of signed up customers' and therefore severely restricted subscription tv audiences as if it was like for like and other absurd mismatches.

Attendances of less than 15000 being termed 'sold out' doesn't only not tell the full story, and there are plenty of reasons why this doesn't necessarily represent any failure, it gets in the way of any fair reporting on the numerous good points.

Wider media exposure both televised and in the written media is significant and will bring more followers, but the story has to be told truthfully and not misleadingly.

They should stop pretending everything is rosy, it isn't, but neither should we expect it to be.

Think this is more to do with FIFA and their stupid ticket policy which by all accounts has already been causing a number of problems, people are reporting that areas that were supposed to have been setup for collecting tickets are just not there hence the half empty stadiums. The tv viewing figures have been pretty good for it so far worldwide.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Be great to allow women in the men's sports. Pipe them right down about equal pay as the best players will be around the foot of the football pyramid earning beans and not getting the attention or sponsorship they get now

Didn't they try it with the top woman golfer on the men's PGA a few years ago?

I think she failed to make the cut after the first compulsory two rounds a few times and gave up

As a generalisation, there are plenty of exceptions to this obviously, men just have too many advantages, they are at least at an elite level, often stronger and faster, whereas speed in golf is not essential, strength in driving is.

Other sports including football would also carry these inherent disadvantages, a woman can be more skillful but may find the physical aspect too much too overcome.

Most elite teams do have very skillful players already with perhaps a more suitable physique for the other aspects of the game.

I'm not saying it won't or can't happen as footballers come in all shapes and sizes already, our own Barnard for example, but perhaps management is far more likely as a first step and a lower league or conference club more likely to take the risk before a too club who have far more candidates and some more obviously ready.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Think this is more to do with FIFA and their stupid ticket policy which by all accounts has already been causing a number of problems, people are reporting that areas that were supposed to have been setup for collecting tickets are just not there hence the half empty stadiums. The tv viewing figures have been pretty good for it so far worldwide.

Yes there are plenty of reasons why... (as i stated to be fair).

But the attendances have been very low at several matches, even if unsurprisingly so given the difficulties encountered, it doesn't mean they are sold out just as it shouldn't be used as a pointer to any failure of general support. There are reasons for it so the organisers simply telling lies helps noone.

The television audiences aren't bad but they do need to be put in the correct context of primetime tv on free to air television with plenty of promotion and trailers.

I'm pleased people are watching and it's getting the airtime it is a sign of real progress, but comparing viewing figures to restricted subscription tv is absolutely farcical and ridiculous and just undermines anything else the reporter has to say.

Truthful reporting, without bending statistics in anyway that best supports a certain agenda, in the end always serves to promote a sport more successfully.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

It got similar numbers the BBC got for the Man Utd/Wolves FA cup match.

Anything that compares like with like is fair enough and shows far more truthfully the audience attracted, although the time of broadcast can also make a difference.

I just object to comparing apples with pears, when virtually anything broadcast at prime time on BBC 1 (even croquet or tiddlywinks) will have far more viewers than the most attractive event ever on subscription tv, simply because there are multiple times more viewers who can potentially watch it.

 

[Bluerover]

A different sport I know but women's Gaelic Football now gets huge attendances for finals. 46,286 at the All Ireland in 2017 was the highest attendance in the world for a women's sporting event.

2018 blew that away with 50,141.

 

[roydo]

Anything that compares like with like is fair enough and shows far more truthfully the audience attracted, although the time of broadcast can also make a difference.

I just object to comparing apples with pears, when virtually anything broadcast at prime time on BBC 1 (even croquet or tiddlywinks) will have far more viewers than the most attractive event ever on subscription tv, simply because there are multiple times more viewers who can potentially watch it.

Indeed. Lob in the novelty factor, the derby factor, and lack of much else sport to watch on BBC/ITV as well.

 

[davids]

Very strange sight last night of the USA team and supporters celebrating as if they'd just won the trophy after putting 13 past a keeper who'd struggle to get in a half decent secondary school team.

 

[EFCPaul]

To be fair a lot of those women who scored for the US were making their World Cup debuts, to score (no matter whom it may be against) was no doubt a very special moment for them.

It was no way near as cringe as when the England women all ran over and gave Mark Sampson a group hug because he was under scrutiny for making racist and sexist remarks towards their former team-mate (Eni Aluko). Literally the day after that particular game he was sacked and publicly disgraced. Massively embarrassing for all of them.

 

[Charro]

I enjoy it me.

Think there's some very talented players on show, and the standard continues to improve.

If you don't like it the don't watch it.

 

[davids]

I enjoy it me.

Think there's some very talented players on show, and the standard continues to improve.

If you don't like it the don't watch it.

Not a case of not liking it, it's being hyped to be something it obviously isn't. And the BBC are as usual playing the Emperor's New Clothes with viewers.

 

[Carlito]

Not a case of not liking it, it's being hyped to be something it obviously isn't. And the BBC are as usual playing the Emperor's New Clothes with viewers.

I would have preferred them to spend the money on broadcasting the Copa America instead. I don't know how anyone could sit through a women's football game.

 

[gonetomorrow]

The women's world cup is restoring my faith in football. Pure enjoyment.

 

[Wizard]

I would have preferred them to spend the money on broadcasting the Copa America instead. I don't know how anyone could sit through a women's football game.

Probably because England are in the Women's World Cup and have a chance of winning it. And the games are on at normal times. No Copa game regardless of timing is getting 6m people watching it apart from maybe the final if Brazil get in against Argentina. If England get to the World Cup final the viewing figures will be huge. Pretty clear why BBC picked what they did (and why no one else major bothered picking up the Copa)

 

[Carlito]

Probably because England are in the Women's World Cup and have a chance of winning it. And the games are on at normal times. No Copa game regardless of timing is getting 6m people watching it apart from maybe the final if Brazil get in against Argentina. If England get to the World Cup final the viewing figures will be huge. Pretty clear why BBC picked what they did (and why no one else major bothered picking up the Copa)

Oh, I don't disagree. As I said earlier, I just don't understand the appeal of watching very low-level sport, but unfortunately the TV stations don't cater to my personal preferences.