Football

[scotrail158713]

I thought that the Scotland women's team approached the second half with far more self-belief than they showed in the first half against England.

Definitely, the second half was much better. If Cuthbert has scored just before halftime it would’ve been a completely different game.

We don't care about Scotland's mens not qualifying for major tournaments as we've always got Ingerlund to provide top quality, uncensored comedy live on the tv for us.

ABE

As Thursday night showed. (Not that the Nations League is a major tournament)

 

[DarloRich]

We don't care about Scotland's mens not qualifying for major tournaments as we've always got Ingerlund to provide top quality, uncensored comedy live on the tv for us.

As Thursday night showed.

Yeah. Hilarious. Superb comedy when we reached a world cup semi final. Have Scotland played in many of them?

 

[Scotrail84]

Yeah. Hilarious. Superb comedy when we reached a world cup semi final. Have Scotland played in many of them?

Difference is we are not bothered and don't have the attitude that England do - the divine right to win everything. That 1966 comfort blanket must be needing a wash by now!

You'd be better walking Darlington v Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor or York city. local derbies as such.

 

[DarloRich]

Difference is we are not bothered and don't have the attitude that England do - the divine right to win everything. That 1966 comfort blanket must be needing a wash by now!

You misunderstand: I have no expectations of success where England are concerned. I don't expect us to win anything.

It really seems to pain you in Scotland that England might do almost well. Personally, I would be focusing on making the best of the resources available and making my own team better. Wales, Northern Ireland and Iceland are all examples of small nations excelling with similar resources to Scotland. I would really like Scotland to do well. I don't have any malice towards them.

 

[The_Train]

I thought that the Scotland women's team approached the second half with far more self-belief than they showed in the first half against England.

I have to agree, I thought Scotland were superb in the 2nd half. England have much to do if they are to be serious contenders for this World Cup

 

[DarloRich]

I have to agree, I thought Scotland were superb in the 2nd half. England have much to do if they are to be serious contenders for this World Cup

I am not a fan of women's football or very knowledgeable about it but felt Scotland played very well .England looked hesitant and nervous.

I also find the games to be played at a much lower pace then football, with a lack of physicality and without as much technical skill. I also find it refreshing the players aren't out to con the ref every 2 seconds, that the matches seem to be played very fairly and that the crowd is well behaved if a bit middle class!

I don't think it is for me but it is very popular with girls and young women, especially young girls so that can only be a good thing.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I also find the games to be played at a much lower pace then football, with a lack of physicality

In the second half, a wee Scottish lass took on the big England centre-back and laid her out on the deck with a most physical challenge that caused the England player enough distress that she had to be substituted.

 

[HOOVER29]

England v Scotland men or women

Either way you can’t beat a good dust up between these two.

 

[The_Train]

I also find the games to be played at a much lower pace then football, with a lack of physicality and without as much technical skill. I also find it refreshing the players aren't out to con the ref every 2 seconds, that the matches seem to be played very fairly and that the crowd is well behaved if a bit middle class!

I agree about the pace of games and this will probably be more apparent when watching games that don't involve the world's best. However, it is certainly something that has been improved upon over the years and I think this is down to the fact that a lot of clubs and national sides are now coaching the women teams in the same way as their men's teams and allowing them access to facilities that they never had years ago (just look at what Man City have done for their women's team). There were glimpses of this improvement yesterday, particularly when England passed their way out of defence and then Parris flicked the ball through the Scottish players legs - we went from defence to attack very quickly in that move, it just needs to be something that happens more to make the games more exciting.

Physicality is unlikely to ever be the same as to what we are used to from the men's game and there elements of shirking a tackle that I've seen but it's certainly not non-contact with some hefty challenges being made yesterday. The technical aspect of the women's game is also improving with players like Parris, White and Cuthbert leading the way yesterday (shame that Kirby had a quiet game as she's superb on her day).

One area I've seen much improvement over the years is the goalkeepers. I remember when I first saw women's football many years ago it felt like every shot would find the back of the net but now the keepers play a part as was proven by the 2 top saves from the Scottish keeper yesterday.

I just hope that it doesn't turn like the men's game has and just become one big corporate event with overpaid players throwing themselves to the ground or screaming in the refs face in a bid to gain an advantage

 

[scotrail158713]

Yeah. Hilarious. Superb comedy when we reached a world cup semi final. Have Scotland played in many of them?

No. And I was pleased for England last summer as for the first time in a while they had a decent squad that was chosen on merit and not name - which meant they did the best they’ve done for years. And Gareth Southgate seems like a really good guy.
What annoys us in Scotland is EDIT -the English media - talking themselves up for World Cup contenders after beating teams like Panama 4-0 or 5-0 - not the hardest challenge for supposed world champions.

 

[Darandio]

What annoys us in Scotland is England talking themselves up for World Cup contenders after beating teams like Panama 4-0 or 5-0 - not the hardest challenge for supposed world champions.

6-1.

You certainly wouldn't hear that from me and I suspect from the vast majority of fans, years of disappointment brings realism and i'm sure you are the same. For the most part it's the media whipping up the frenzy.

 

[DarloRich]

No. And I was pleased for England last summer as for the first time in a while they had a decent squad that was chosen on merit and not name - which meant they did the best they’ve done for years. And Gareth Southgate seems like a really good guy.
What annoys us in Scotland is England talking themselves up for World Cup contenders after beating teams like Panama 4-0 or 5-0 - not the hardest challenge for supposed world champions.

you are missing the point. That is not "us" who build things up it is the media. "Us" know we aren't going to win. Anyone who has ever watched an England game in the flesh can see that!

mind you at least we usually beat those teams. Costa Rica? Peru? Iran?

( although Scotland do have a habit of drawing Brazil which makes progress hard!)

 

[scotrail158713]

6-1.

You certainly wouldn't hear that from me and I suspect from the vast majority of fans, years of disappointment brings realism and i'm sure you are the same. For the most part it's the media whipping up the frenzy.

Yeah. I was just coming on to edit that just now. The media do it mostly - some fans do but not many.

 

[tony_mac]

I agree about the pace of games and this will probably be more apparent when watching games that don't involve the world's best.

I wonder if it would help with the intensity if they made the games shorter.
It may sound patronising, but under-16s play 80 minute games, and they can cover about the same distance as female athletes. Probably the most popular professional women's sport is Tennis, and they play shorter games (at least in the big tournaments).

 

[Geezertronic]

Probably the most popular professional women's sport is Tennis, and they play shorter games (at least in the big tournaments).

And from what I understand they expect the same amount of prize money for it as men which is disproportionate if true

 

[adrock1976]

And from what I understand they expect the same amount of prize money for it as men which is disproportionate if true

Is it exactly the same amount that the women who participate in big tennis events such as Wimbledon get paid as their male counterparts, or is it 60% pro rata?

I am aware that for the Wimbledon tournament, the men play best of 5 sets, with the women playing the best of 3 sets, hence how I was asking if it is the exact same amount or 60% of the male rate keeping it in proportion.

 

[Darandio]

Is it exactly the same amount that the women who participate in big tennis events such as Wimbledon get paid as their male counterparts, or is it 60% pro rata?

I am aware that for the Wimbledon tournament, the men play best of 5 sets, with the women playing the best of 3 sets, hence how I was asking if it is the exact same amount or 60% of the male rate keeping it in proportion.

In the 2018 final winners of the men's and women's singles titles earned £2.25m each.

 

[greyman42]

You misunderstand: I have no expectations of success where England are concerned. I don't expect us to win anything.

It really seems to pain you in Scotland that England might do almost well. Personally, I would be focusing on making the best of the resources available and making my own team better. Wales, Northern Ireland and Iceland are all examples of small nations excelling with similar resources to Scotland. I would really like Scotland to do well. I don't have any malice towards them.

I agree. I like all the home nations to do well.

 

[The_Train]

Wow, the USA have sent a message out to their competition tonight. Just beaten Thailand 13-0 and they were just utterly ruthless

 

[AlterEgo]

Wow, the USA have sent a message out to their competition tonight. Just beaten Thailand 13-0 and they were just utterly ruthless

Thailand would lose to an under-12s side though. God knows how they qualified. Appalling side.

 

[JamesT]

Wow, the USA have sent a message out to their competition tonight. Just beaten Thailand 13-0 and they were just utterly ruthless

Yes, that was a massacre. Huge disparity between the teams, the Thais just couldn’t get near them.

 

[The_Train]

Thailand would lose to an under-12s side though. God knows how they qualified. Appalling side.

I'm not sure about the first part of your post but I think it's obvious that teams like Thailand are there to make the numbers up. I think the general idea is that by being there it will grow the woman's game in countries like Thailand but unfortunately results like tonight will probably have a more negative impact than if they hadn't bothered

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm not sure about the first part of your post but I think it's obvious that teams like Thailand are there to make the numbers up. I think the general idea is that by being there it will grow the woman's game in countries like Thailand but unfortunately results like tonight will probably have a more negative impact than if they hadn't bothered

I am not sure there is a professional women's game in Thailand. They really were a dreadful side. FIFA need to protect the real minnows from humiliation by not having them qualify and instead playing them in regional tournaments to drum up interest.

 

[The_Train]

I am not sure there is a professional women's game in Thailand. They really were a dreadful side. FIFA need to protect the real minnows from humiliation by not having them qualify and instead playing them in regional tournaments to drum up interest.

I can see that working. It would be like what the ICC do with cricket.

As with anything though, it boils down to money and FIFA will make more of it from a longer format tournament and to achieve this they need as many nations as possible to participate.

 

[JamesT]

I am not sure there is a professional women's game in Thailand. They really were a dreadful side. FIFA need to protect the real minnows from humiliation by not having them qualify and instead playing them in regional tournaments to drum up interest.

They qualified as the 4th best side in Asia and seem to win most of the time against their local competition. Possibly suggests Asia shouldn’t have as many places? Though that tends to lead towards an overwhelmingly European tournament.

There does appear to be a professional league, but it’s only been running for a few years.

Rather than restricting ‘minnows’ to regional tournaments, there needs to be more opportunities for them to play outside of their region. That’s the only way they’ll work out how to play against bigger stronger players.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Is it exactly the same amount that the women who participate in big tennis events such as Wimbledon get paid as their male counterparts, or is it 60% pro rata?

I am aware that for the Wimbledon tournament, the men play best of 5 sets, with the women playing the best of 3 sets, hence how I was asking if it is the exact same amount or 60% of the male rate keeping it in proportion.

The question of how many sets are played is irrelevant. Tennis players don't spend their time solely playing in competitions, far more of their time is spent training and practising. While the very top players can also earn good money from endorsements many players rely on prize money to keep going. There is no evidence that women tennis players spend less time on out-of-competition preparation than their male counterparts. As an individual sport tennis is a totally different way to earn a living compared with team sports whose elite players are on lucrative contracts which very often bear absolutely no relation to the success of their team cough*MUFC*cough. How much interest would there be in Wimbledon if it was a male only tournament? Equally why do the grand slam tournaments insist on theirs being the only tournaments in which men have to play best of five sets thereby making matches sometimes tediously long?

 

[AlterEgo]

They qualified as the 4th best side in Asia and seem to win most of the time against their local competition. Possibly suggests Asia shouldn’t have as many places? Though that tends to lead towards an overwhelmingly European tournament.

There does appear to be a professional league, but it’s only been running for a few years.

Rather than restricting ‘minnows’ to regional tournaments, there needs to be more opportunities for them to play outside of their region. That’s the only way they’ll work out how to play against bigger stronger players.

I had no idea the Asian region was so poor for women's football. Japan also fielded a weak side against Argentina this week, which is surprising as the men's team in Japan is pretty good.

 

[JamesT]

I had no idea the Asian region was so poor for women's football. Japan also fielded a weak side against Argentina this week, which is surprising as the men's team in Japan is pretty good.

The Japanese women have been pretty good in the past. They won in 2011 and lost in the final in 2015. They were also runners up at the 2012 olympics.
So their draw against Argentina was somewhat of a surprise. But maybe that does indicate an underlying weakness, they found a golden generation but now those players have aged out of the side they’ve reverted to their normal level?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It is noticeable that some of the better players from a number of countries in this tournament play for the top women's professional football teams in Europe.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Meanwhile, back to the current men's game of football, Belgium did choose to play Romelu Lukaku against Scotland, despite his somewhat indifferent second half of the season for Manchester United, and he took advantage of this opportunity to score twice.