Fran Kirby

[KC Royal]

Thanks RB, interesting stuff there.

[sandman]

Thanks RB, interesting stuff there.

In amongst the usual ranting and raving accusing people of all sorts.

[SCIAG]

Absolute crap to claim that keepers struggle to kick the ball to the halfway line. That is the case at the lower levels but not at WPL and WSL

the Mexican keeper failed numerous times last night to kick it to the half way line

So does Wayne Hennessey.

[Royal Rother]

Women not able to kick the ball as far as men???

Surely not.

[RoyalBlue]

I used to detest and despise Oliver Holt, however, first there was his apology to Stephen Hunt and now this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3122972/Why-trying-belittle-women-s-game.html

[Royal Rother]

An excellent article.

Damn him!

[Hoop Blah]

He's basically said a lot of what's been on here recently, nothing too well written about it at all

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good. I'm all for the competition and women playing football, as I am anyone because it's an excellent game and an amazing social sport.

What I still find amusing though is those defending it's quality. Being realistic about it, or perhaps poking fun at the quality at times in the same way as you would for men, isn't belittling the sport or even being misogynistic, it's just being honest.

[tidus_mi2]

The quality is much lower if you compare it to the men's game but if you compare it with women's football from 10 years ago then it's clear to see how much it has improved.

[Duke the Dog2]

I feel quite ill, I agree not only with an Oliver Holt article, but in the Daily Mail to boot. Aaargh!

Seriously though, I was quite impressed by the standard of the second half (first half was pretty meh tbh) of the England v Mexico game, not having seen a Women's game before and having read the opinions here I wasn't expecting much. Sure, it ain't premiership, but it's never going to be, but then again nor is RFC mens team!

Probably wouldn't have bothered if Fran wasn't playing and well chuffed to see her score. "Mini Messi" plays for Reading!

[tidus_mi2]

I feel quite ill, I agree not only with an Oliver Holt article, but in the Daily Mail to boot. Aaargh!

Seriously though, I was quite impressed by the standard of the second half (first half was pretty meh tbh) of the England v Mexico game, not having seen a Women's game before and having read the opinions here I wasn't expecting much. Sure, it ain't premiership, but it's never going to be, but then again nor is RFC mens team!

Probably wouldn't have bothered if Fran wasn't playing and well chuffed to see her score. "Mini Messi" plays for Reading!

Very much so, in a summer with very little men's football, having the women's world cup certainly fills the gap. It certainly isn't as bad as people make out, goalkeepers can still be caught out by a shot hit high in the net and I saw very poor positional sense in some games but I enjoyed the games.

[Extended-Phenotype]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

His point being that banging on about the quality in comparison to the men's game is rather inane.

[Royal Rother]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

Is that REALLY the best thing about Holt's article?

Royal Blue is the only one I've seen bigging it up beyond what it really is.

Being realistic about it, or perhaps poking fun at the quality at times in the same way as you would for men, isn't belittling the sport or even being misogynistic, it's just being honest.

Your apparent denial of misogyny towards woman's football is odd. There's plenty of evidence of it even on this thread.

Kick misogyny out.

[sandman]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

His point being that banging on about the quality in comparison to the men's game is rather inane.

Yeah but only if you're a detractor.

If you're defending it then apparently it's fine to compare the quality of it to the men's game.

How anyone can moan on here about the quality of football on show at the Women's World Cup, after the league season we've just endured.....

[sandman]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

Is that REALLY the best thing about Holt's article?

Royal Blue is the only one I've seen bigging it up beyond what it really is.

Being realistic about it, or perhaps poking fun at the quality at times in the same way as you would for men, isn't belittling the sport or even being misogynistic, it's just being honest.

Your apparent denial of misogyny towards woman's football is odd. There's plenty of evidence of it even on this thread.

Kick misogyny out.

No doubt there is some misogyny towards it from some quarters.

The problem comes when, like in Mr Holt's article and countless RoyalBlue posts, anyone who criticises women's football even slightly are instantly branded misogynistic no matter how valid the criticism may be.

[Hoop Blah]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

Is that REALLY the best thing about Holt's article?

Royal Blue is the only one I've seen bigging it up beyond what it really is.

Being realistic about it, or perhaps poking fun at the quality at times in the same way as you would for men, isn't belittling the sport or even being misogynistic, it's just being honest.

Your apparent denial of misogyny towards woman's football is odd. There's plenty of evidence of it even on this thread.

Kick misogyny out.

I'm not denying it exists, just saying that a few jokes about women keepers being awful is not misogyny, it's just reality. It's easy to get far too PC and defensive about it, IMO.

I do agree that the standard seems to have improved too, although I've not seen enough to really qualify that, and that's good news. As I'd said before, I don't want to belittle the achievement or the competition or, as Holt puts it well, the struggle of sport at any level. How many of these reports or defences of the standard do you get about park football or Conference South in the mainstream media? None really, and that's because people just get on with it without the need to defend it.

[RoyalBlue]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

Is that REALLY the best thing about Holt's article?

Royal Blue is the only one I've seen bigging it up beyond what it really is.

Being realistic about it, or perhaps poking fun at the quality at times in the same way as you would for men, isn't belittling the sport or even being misogynistic, it's just being honest.

Your apparent denial of misogyny towards woman's football is odd. There's plenty of evidence of it even on this thread.

Kick misogyny out.

I'm not denying it exists, just saying that a few jokes about women keepers being awful is not misogyny, it's just reality.

No it's not. It's a sweeping generalism rooted in ignorance and a lack of exposure to enough women's football at the higher levels. I can assure you that there are some very good female keepers out there. They are good enough that semi-pro male players will happily train with them and treat them as an equal. That is a statement of fact based on personal experience and knowledge.

And yes, Bardsley has been dodgy at times - for some reason she always seems to crumble when it comes to major tournaments.

[Extended-Phenotype]

The best thing is that he does admit, unlike some of it's fans, that women's football isn't really that good.

His point being that banging on about the quality in comparison to the men's game is rather inane.

Yeah but only if you're a detractor.

If you're defending it then apparently it's fine to compare the quality of it to the men's game.

How anyone can moan on here about the quality of football on show at the Women's World Cup, after the league season we've just endured.....

Not arsed about sides m8. Just agree with Holt that the difference between the two games is irrelevant. Not that I believe any critic is automatically a misogynist. In the same way as me rocking up at my little nephew's match scoffing about how shit the game was compared to the Premiere League - it would just seem such a mince thing to keep banging on about.

[From Despair To Where?]

I'm not that bothered about any difference in standard between the men's and women's game. If the game's exciting I'll watch it, if it isn't I'll switch off and that's all to do the individual game itself and fcuk all to do with the relative merits of the men's or women's game as a whole.

Moaning that the women's game is inferior to the men's game is largely irrelevant if you ask me.

[Angry Shed Sex]

I just with they'd all wear tighter shorts.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Women footballers look a bit stocky to me but I suppose with a lisp like that you have to get it where you can