SUFC Women - worth a watch?

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NuddysGloves said:
I agree having a stadium only 10% full doesn't look great, but at the same time how incredible that after the exposure gained from the Euros we're now talking about averages of 5,000! More than double the pre-Covid average. That's quite incredible and shows that the increased exposure is working to promote the game.

Have to disagree with your point about it being disproportionate though. They aren't just showing any old women's football they're showing the best women's teams playing in the WSL, in the same way that all the PL matches are shown on TV and a lot of the Championship matches are. Men's football is far more popular for reasons that have been done to death on this and other threads but that popularity shouldn't mean that women's football has to raise itself to the heights of the EFL Championship before they're allowed any coverage?!?

The two sports are not equal, we know that and people remind us of that at every opportunity. But the women who are playing in the WSL are at a far higher level in their sport than the men who are playing in the Vanarama National and this is why they get the small little bit of coverage that they do.
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Ultimately given that football is the de facto national sport I don’t see what the issue is with trying to grow and improve the version 50% of the population can play.

Interestingly I read some opinions at the weekend that suggested women’s football should be charging in line with the men’s game in order for people to “value the product”. This would be absolute madness.

There seems to be a school of thought along the lines that it should earn its credibility through deliberately suppressing access. As if being banned for 70 years wasn’t enough.
 

robbiez666 said:
Did Coventry just find a random woman in the street to play in goal?

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This was the sub keeper. The first choice keeper was stretchered off after a collision in the build up to the first goal.

The difference in relative skill levels between Blades and Coventry United was night and day though. Like our mens side playing against Worksop/Matlock. Probably down to the difference in resources.
 
Women's goalkeepers are absolutely woeful. I watch a fair bit of women cricket and the wicket keepers have great reactions and are genuinely impressive yet when I watch women's football the keeping is just hilariously bad
 
Berkshire Blade said:
Women's goalkeepers are absolutely woeful. I watch a fair bit of women cricket and the wicket keepers have great reactions and are genuinely impressive yet when I watch women's football the keeping is just hilariously bad
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Coventry had their first choice subbed off on a stretcher after ten mins and their second choice was truly bad. Obviously most women are smaller than men, so they don’t quite fill the goal as men do. The other thing is the coaching- England’s female keepers are now coached by former Blades goalkeeping coach Darren Ward and noticeably have improved.

People often say make the pitches smaller or goals smaller, but access for women on pitches across the country is already pretty bad. Grassroots infrastructure should be developed and invested in for everyone, using kit that everyone can use IMO. It’s our national game after all.
 
You don't need to make grass roots different sizes but it's not beyond the ability of the higher levels to make goals smaller. It just makes the keepers look daft.
 
Goalkeeping in women's football will get better, but it's natural that this will be a latter part of the game to develop. Think about when you were at school playing football at break time, everyone wanted to be Shearer nobody was saying "watch me I'm like David Seaman!" (N.B. I say this as somebody who plays in goal!!)

Being an outfield player is more glamorous and appealing to the majority than being a goalkeeper is, so there will be less women actively looking to fill these roles which makes the talent pool smaller. As the popularity continues to grow there will become more and more who give it a go, the more players that play it the higher the standard will rise.

Obviously as Nesh Blade has said above coaching is a huge thing and as this increases in the women's game the standard will continue to improve. The women will get to a standard where these types of goals aren't going in as often as they are now at which point there will be no need to 'make the goals smaller' it will just mean more acrobatic saves combined with a higher number of quality long range goals which can only be good for the game?! Perhaps we should make the men's nets bigger........
 
Berkshire Blade said:
Just seen over 700k views on that clip of the women's goals. Majority taking the piss.
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Any wonder? That goalie needs to swap her goalie gloves for some marigolds (mysoginist comment alert!!! - but it works because it's gloves for gloves. I'd say welding gloves but I don't think she'd do it).

The 3rd and 5th - she may as well not been in goal.
 
Bashamed said:
A few points to make that I doubt have been mentioned yet. Hopefully they may change a few people's minds or certainly give you something to really think about. Remember these are just MY observations and I come from a place of total neutrality.

I have found increasingly the women’s game gets more coverage than the men’s EFL, which I find infuriating. Indeed, I’ve really struggled with the saturation of women’s football on TV and in the mainstream media generally. I went on the BBC website today and underneath all the male football news and other male sports news there was clearly, not only an article about some girls game, but also highlights of said game as well. Just feels to me like this is being completely rammed down my throat. What if I didn't want to see the article headline and picture of them celebrating on the thumbnail for the highlights? I can't very well unsee that now can I? Was I asked if I'm interested in girls football? Of course not. Pay your licence fee, shut up, watch this.

Carrying on from my previous point, I am also of the view that the worst thing possible was England women winning the Euro Vase this summer. As I knew womens football would then be rammed down our throats even more. See above for how that's turned out!

I noticed on sky this weekend that during the coverage of the men's football they mentioned other football matches. Most of these were for other mens games which is fine. I couldn't help notice however that they also flagged the woman ones as well. I mean I have no problem with them being allowed to play but this is exactly the point I was making previously. Why do they have to ram it down my throat? If they are going to play why can't they just play and not tell anyone? More on this later. It all stinks of an attitude from the mainstream media of YOU WILL WATCH WOMEN'S FOOTBALL. Well if they think they can force me to watch it they are in for a rude awakening. I immediately turned off the TV. Absolutely nothing they could do to stop me, though I'm sure they would if they could!

With the TV now safely off and my throat clear it was on to the internet for a bit of research. I was still quite angry and upset about the earlier mention of the women so decided to check out the viewing figures these silly games attract. Needless to say I was far from surprised to learn that they are an embarrassment. A fraction of what you would expect. Nowhere nearbthe men's figures! All I've heard from the these so called women is that they want equal pay with their male counterparts. They are actually demanding this! I pointed out to my mate on twitter that the money the men bring in is far more than any women, therefore why should they get equal pay? We both agreed how desperate they were trying to cling to the coattails of the men. If you want equal pay EARN IT.

I moved on to give my thoughts on the new little mermaid film, (AVOID! They have completely ruined it by changing the story which now makes no sense at all) before deciding I wanted to watch some proper football again. Back on went the TV as I knew there was a big fixture in the Germany All Men's Only division. Alas, as I scrolled through the different sport channels no listing for men football was there. Oh sure there was Hockey, (girls) Netball (HA!) and more girl football (of course). I know sky have the rights to show men but obviously they'd rather carry on their obvious agenda. Back off went the TV.

I rang my mate from twitter. Wasn't prepared to go back online as I know that's a huge part of where sky and the rest of the lamestream media push their narrative. Well good luck forcing it on me!

We discussed the traumatic afternoon I'd had and both came to a rather unsettling and terrifying conclusion. You may want to grab a pen and make notes as when me and my mate get going there are intellectual fireworks. My pal is one of the best people I know. He's a real free thinker. He doesn't watch the BBC or any of those other channels who are all part of the agenda to paint women as being nearly as good as men at stuff. He's what I'd call a straight shooter. A real guys guy. I just love how he tells it like it is. No messing about. We both concluded that by choosing to produce a lot of coverage on women having a kick about, despite popularity being low, they are actually trying to somehow manufacture an increase in the popularity. Very dishonest but this is the media we're talking about! My mate explained how that's not the right thing to do for the sport. It could be turning people against it more than anything which is a real concern of mine. And it isn't fair on the other sports either. Their normal level of coverage has become less because of it, which is something the mainstream media refuse to report on.

This is where we are now. Other sports are suffering because this rubbish is rammed down our throats 24/7. When was the last time a girls game wasn't on TV? Go on. I'll wait.

Anyway, I have no problem with them pretending to play if they want. Think I've got slightly more important things to worry about than a group of girls trying to play football! But it's really unfair on the other sports and people who don't want to watch it. And as someone who loves and respects all sports I find that an absolute disgrace.

Probably get slated for my views from MSM snowflakes but I'm just saying what most of you are thinking.
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A neutral you say? 😂
I have no problem with womens football at all. Maybe it does get a disproportionate push by Sky and the BBC, but that is only mildly amusing, compared to the British Broadcasting Corporation, and their obsession with force feeding the UK population with American sport. Basketball! The erroneously entitled American football! Not forgetting Rounders for men?
These idiots even have the nerve to call Assoiation football, Soccer ffs. Hold my fuckin coat!

Where forrin ‘sports’ are concerned, I am definitely not neutral!
 

Nobody's forced to watch women's football - if you don't want to watch it, that's fine, don't. Do something else instead, like visiting an owl sanctuary or a day trip to a Victorian folly.
 
CrookesBlade said:
This was the sub keeper. The first choice keeper was stretchered off after a collision in the build up to the first goal.

The difference in relative skill levels between Blades and Coventry United was night and day though. Like our mens side playing against Worksop/Matlock. Probably down to the difference in resources.
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Nail on head. Massively different resources and a limited number of women's teams mean you'll get results like this. The difference in physique and ability between the two sides was marked, even where Coventry had skillful players they weren't able to compete physically. Keeper wise, the top women's sides now have keepers with agility and physicality to move around the goal quicker and make the saves you'd expect because they get the time and the training to acquire that ability. For Coventry I'd guess they are pretty much amateur level, so training on evenings after work etc. They might get lucky and have one decent natural keeper, but when she gets injured they haven't been able to invest time and money to get a second to the same level.


Hope the first Cov keeper was ok btw, she was stretchered off on full spinal board after 10 mins of treatment so looked pretty serious ...
 
Nesh Blade said:
People often say make the pitches smaller or goals smaller, but access for women on pitches across the country is already pretty bad. Grassroots infrastructure should be developed and invested in for everyone, using kit that everyone can use IMO. It’s our national game after all.
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Think they’ll always be a problem because it’s not just a case of a woman finding a pitch to play.

Before that happens you need to find 22 women who live quite local with a desire to play in the wind and the rain.

Don’t think the majority of women are interested in playing in these conditions and you can’t force them.

Hopefully football can be a mainstream sport amongst girls played at school but don’t think participating in football will ever be popular amongst women, it will always be a specialist minor sport. If it as 1 versus 1 then it would be easier to form league but 11 v 11 competitions will always be so difficult to get off the ground.
 
Sheffsteel said:
Think they’ll always be a problem because it’s not just a case of a woman finding a pitch to play.

Before that happens you need to find 22 women who live quite local with a desire to play in the wind and the rain.

Don’t think the majority of women are interested in playing in these conditions and you can’t force them.

Hopefully football can be a mainstream sport amongst girls played at school but don’t think participating in football will ever be popular amongst women, it will always be a specialist minor sport. If it as 1 versus 1 then it would be easier to form league but 11 v 11 competitions will always be so difficult to get off the ground.
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I play for a women’s grassroots team and we have plenty of women up for playing in all weathers, but cheers for your insight 🙂
 
Sheffsteel said:
Think they’ll always be a problem because it’s not just a case of a woman finding a pitch to play.

Before that happens you need to find 22 women who live quite local with a desire to play in the wind and the rain.

Don’t think the majority of women are interested in playing in these conditions and you can’t force them.

Hopefully football can be a mainstream sport amongst girls played at school but don’t think participating in football will ever be popular amongst women, it will always be a specialist minor sport. If it as 1 versus 1 then it would be easier to form league but 11 v 11 competitions will always be so difficult to get off the ground.
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We will never know how many women and girls develop could develop an interest in playing competitive sport until the barriers to access are removed and attitudes change so they can get involved from a young age and aren’t put off when they get to 14/15.
 
Nesh Blade said:
I play for a women’s grassroots team and we have plenty of women up for playing in all weathers, but cheers for your insight 🙂
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Forgive for asking but why not just book an 11 a side pitch and form a league?

Do women’s leagues play in the local Sheffield parks?
 
mattbianco1 said:
Tad embarrassing describing these as rockets init?

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When it reaches a certain standard eg the knockout rounds of the Euros and some of the group games, I enjoy women's football a lot, but there int half some bollocks done to "promote" it.

Rockets is just fucking patronising. How the fuck does this help anyone.

If women's football gains more and more prominence I imagine it'll be despite this sort of coverage, not because of it.
 
At the moment the Women's game is seen as flying in this country due to the plugging of the media. The major factor about Professional Football at any level is the Corporate side and funding. Currently this is being offset by the mens game. If you look at the "Women's Super League" every team is being funded by being linked to a Professional Men's side, with all but one (Reading) Men's Premiership teams.

When you drop into the 2nd tier there are 2 professional clubs that are not directly linked to a mens team Durham who have infrastructure provided by Durham Uni & London City Lionesses (broke away from Millwall) but have their own set-up sponsored an asset finance company, their team isn't backed by a Professional mens side but they do Ground share with Dartford FC (mens) so infrastructure covered that way.

Although I do not have a problem with the women's game, my main issue is around sustainability, luckily in football in this country there is enough cash in general to cover and most infrastructure is already there. However for the women's game to grow it needs it's own identity at club level and investment. Developing female referees to be kept in the women's game rather than getting them to run the line in the Football league as a "Step up" would also be on my agenda.

Ultimately we are not in cash pots of Chelsea/Man City and others so we need to think strategically, can we introduce a product (which is what professional football is) that we can market and people buy in and the investment looks after itself. I remember in 2004 when Leeds got relegated from the Premiership (mens) in 2005, they pulled the funding on the women's side as they needed to look after interests in the men's and that could easily happen to a few others in the coming years, the key words needs to be sustainable and investible if that works, doesn't matter how they turn out as they are all blades at the end of the day.
 
As a reserve keeper she reminds me of the time we had Blackwell on our bench as reserve keeper.
 
In news that is bound to tip some of the posters on this thread over the edge: they’re now actually recruiting a Chief “Ramminit Dahn Ahr Throoats” Officer 😏

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Whatever the arguments for and against it, I hope it succeeds. (No problem with the boost given to SUFC Ladies via the Prince’s daughter).

I live a long way from the Lane right now, but I would genuinely look forward to watching the Ladies team at the Lane if I can get back next year. The reason behind that is mainly the very positive comments on the family friendly atmosphere created by something most of us could get behind.

I am also very appreciative of the opportunity for an old fart like me, getting to a Blades game in such a positive, and flexible environment. :)
 

Decided to watch the women today. We’re currently 2-0 down at HT away at unbeaten Lewes at the ‘The Dripping Pan’ stadium.

Conceded a pen just after the opening quarter when a Lewes player was bodychecked, but I felt she just ran into our defender and conned the ref. The second goal saw their player drift past our midfield as if they wasn’t there and drill a good shot into the net. On both goals our keeper ( Bethan Davies, I think) was completely static. She did pull off one decent save at 1-0 though, gathering a decent effort at the second attempt.

Nothing is sticking for us upfront and Lewes look fitter and more alert. Can see them scoring more in the second half if we don’t step it up. I did think we had a decent shout for a pen towards the end of the half but the ref wasn’t interested!

Crowd very squeaky so I’ve turned the audio down. If the crowd was made up of young lads you’d want their balls to drop. Come on Blades, let’s make more of a game of this.
 
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