Thetownend.com

Enjoyed watching France v S. Korea. Rather like watching a PL team play a league 1 team very one sided and that Renard No.3 for France is clearly a danger in the air. Must have started life in a growbag being feed all sorts of stuff she’s a big unit height wise for sure.

Ashamed to say I've no real interest in it. I know I should, but can't.

Until we get to the semi final, obviously

I'm glad its there and hope that all those who play and like LL watch enjoy it.  However there's only so many hours in a day and mine are taken up with other pursuits.  Would like to see England win, but they've Phil Neville as coach, so probably won't.

I watched a bit of the game, which was quite enjoyable. I’ll tune in for the England games and will dip in and out when there isn’t anything else on I want to watch (which is quite often).

I hope it’s a success.

Also, for people who go onto twitter and moan how there is women’s football on the tv, why not either watch something else, or do something else? There is plenty on the tv I don’t like, but to just have a moan about it is pointless and makes you look like a twat!

The Women’s game has come a long, long way in recent years. Of course there will always be a difference, after all however much legislation there is to make us equall ‘you cannot change the laws of physics’ as Scottie said on the Starship Enterprise, however in this instance it is the law of evolution. Making some minor adjustments based on that this tournament should be enjoyable to watch. Like my mate I also hope England win, unlike my mate I don’t give a rats arse who the England manager is. The documentary on TV the other day, a behind the scenes look if you like was interesting and backs up my comment about how far the game has come for the women.

Beautiful curler from outside the box by Henry for the fourth.

Wendy Renard, apart from being about 2' taller than the Koreans, actually heads a ball with more skill and timing than many top level, male central defenders.

Should France and the USA (champions) top their groups, they will face off in a Qtr. Final.  Not sure if that might help the Lionesses.  One game at a time.

Just about to watch Germany vs China. Enjoyed the games so far. What with the Cricket World Cup and the speedway World Championship also on TV, I'm hardly missing League football.

Based on what? Hasn’t he done quite well with this team so far

I don’t confess to know much about this form of the game (don’t enjoy watching the slow non physical style of it personally), however I caught that documentary the other night and though he sounded pretty clued up.

Nice strike from Gwinn, well taken. 1-0 Germany

Neville is part of the Salford "fairytale"  I don't thhink you'll find too many Div 4 fans liking them this season.

Childish, sorry but it is how I view your comment.

I know that, it’s got nothing to do with how he will get on as a manager though

It just seems to me that he got the job because of playing for ManU for a bit, rather than any record of success in women's football.... or men's for that matter.

And the previous manager?

Samson had led Bristol to runners up in the league and two FA Cup finals....

Fair point and probably some truth in that, he does seem to be doing quite well so far though

Doesn't invalidate what he's done since being in charge or the achievements of the team as a whole who have done really well. For once, I'm with Legends, childish and petty attitude

Fair enough, I don't post comments expecting agreement... so I'll leave it with what I said previously, hope the players and you fans all enjoy the tournament, hope England win, but don't think they will with Neville in charge.   I know that's all controversial...

Ah my apologies, I'd misread your original post as hoping they wouldn't because Neville was in charge. My bad. As you were.

Don't know why they bother having goalkeepers in the women's game. They all seem to be abysmal. Virtually anything on target seems to go in. They all seem way to keen to try to come for the ball when it's fired into the box and fluff it up all the time too.

If anyone is interested the England pre tournament documentary is on BBC1 @ 3pm. You can then asses Mr. Regimortis’ comments about Mr. Neville’s suitability to be manager of the Women’s national team.

Fair play to both Eng & Sco Ladies. Showed the men how to sing an anthem. Good start.

Harsh penalty decision but the new rules are the new rules. 1-0 England.

Whatever the result. 8 for Scotland is the best player on the park by a mile. Great touch, awareness etc. Miles ahead of the rest of em

Not a classic I think but to win your first game is vitally important and the lionesses did just that.

Slow motion version of the game....perhaps if they made the pitches a tad smaller or played with a couple more players it might generate some interest...that penalty was even more ridiculous than the Liverpool one in the C.L final...FFS.. :doh:

Just heard the official song for the England women's World Cup team.

Steam Irons on a shirt.

A note to Jonathan Pearce of the bbc who is currently having a wankfest; it is irrelevant if you win a lucky 1-0 or demolish a crap team 10-0 in the first match of the group stages.

Yes he and the whole group of ladies commenting did rather get uneccesssrily over excited as did some of the USA team with each goal celebrations after the 7/8.

All slightly embarrassing when the opponents were obviously so much weaker.

Thought this as well. Dancing in the dugout when you're 11-0 up isn't a good look.

Probably a better look than being on the other end of that scoreline though. Shocker for the Flashheart-ettes! Clearly a more experienced right back was required.

I know there's an argument that teams like Thailand won't improve if they don't play against the best but that was just embarrassing.

Shocking goalkeeping too...

Just watched the highlights, why are the goalies so shit?

Not sure what to make of the US, on one hand they played a RB with 100+ caps so maybe their name is on the cup.

The flip side is they have a 30 year old keeper experienced keeper and we know you can only win with a young kid in goal

Enough speculation, let's deal in FACTS* - what does a detailed statistical analysis of the correlation between USA results at the Women's World Cup and 30 yr old keepers since the 1960s tell us? Only then, and by ignoring any possibility that the game may have changed at all in that time or any nuance of context, can we truly appreciate the Zen of FACTS*, Padowan.




*NB FACTS may not actually be factual

Difficult playing in slingbacks.
Don't want to break a fingernail.

Endler playing a blinder in goal for Chile.

The Argentina keeper had a blinder against us.

Why no male half time pundits ?

In this modern world of equality sexism only works one way and sadly mate you’re on the wrong side.

Pipe down, Rebekah.

Norway v Australia is a blood and guts affair. More violence on the pitch than at a Tory dinner.....😁

And an annoying shouting commentator who - like and alcoholic - gets louder with each shot

Got the sound turned off so I will be guided by your audio advantage.

Ridiculous scenes from Cameroon after VAR decisions went against them.   

Reminds me of Ziare back in the 1974 WC.

I had forgotten that, it was like Ziare had never seen a rule book!

Distinct lack of non white players in the England team.

Frazackerly. I thought the Cameroon ladies were going to fuck off back to the changing room. I’m sure at the very least their ladies FA will have a communique or two from FIFA. regarding their conduct and understanding of the rules.

Distinct lack of non black players in the Cameroon team.

The French fans doing that fcuking Viking clap, how embarrassing

Are they still doing the Mexican wave as well?

I have always liked watching women's football as it seemed immune from the play acting and constant pathetic whinging at officials that seems to have affected the men's game, however this tournament suggests they are catching up fast!!

Not that I really care but...

The pundits completely contradict each other in this clip. When England score, it's "Well she wasn't interfering with play so it's clearly a goal"...but when Cameroon scored it changed to "It doesn't matter if she's interfering or not, offside is offside"...WTF?? Both goals should have been given or neither. I can see why Cameroon were a bit pissed off...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/48739245

Because of the pundits comments or the officials interpretation of the rules and the VAR system?

Had the League of Nations handed over control of most of Cameroon to the British as opposed to the French after WW1, then it stands to reason that the behaviour of the team last night would have been much more well mannered and polite than it was.

 :french: - bad influence.  :hmmm:

They didn't say, "it doesn't matter if she's interfering or not", they were saying while it could be argued she's not interfering because she's running back onside, the law states otherwise.

They went mental after the first decision anyway, so they can hardly say they were angry about double standards. The worst bit was the Cameroon captain(?) screaming at the England player on the floor after she'd just been given a leg-breaker.

Watching the USA tells you they've have obviously been practicing the dark arts.

What? With the England goal, the player receiving the ball is onside. With the Cameroon goal, the player receiving the ball is offside. Thay're not talking about the 'inactive' player.

Why do the BBC continue to insist on standing the very petit Jordan Nobbs next to the very tall Dion Dublin....

Sent from my SM-J330FN

Or indeed let that annoying prick Jonathan Pearce commentate

In all fairness anyone would look tall against her.

Wow what a ggggoooooaaaaallllllllll 0-3

Was it though? Terrible keeping

The chances of success really do rely on the ability of your keeper, generally they seem pretty poor

Yeah you’re right shit goal, keeper should have done better.

More shit goalkeeping by England.

That was a shit penalty save.

I sense a nerve may have been touched

Or you just did a great job of changing his mind.

Shit result, shit goals, shit opposition with an even Shittier goalkeeper. I like watching shit ladies football. Good job we have a shit england manager who only got the job because of his Man Utd connections. Roll on the shit French and shit Americans.

Blimey just seen the shit goal they scored against Norway’s shitty goalkeeper four years ago, a replica of the third goal. The only nerves that are raw ought to be the French or Americans after this demolition of Norway. Mine are rather calm are you Jordans brother?

I just can’t get into it. I find the comparison with men’s football is impossible not to make and the standard is probably local league or u15 academy level (judging by friendly results against men’s teams) and I’d have no interest in watching that either. I get some people probably enjoy it on a competitive level but it’s not for me and looking at the poor attendances many seem agree. The PC brigade saying they should be paid the same as men are starting to grate now as well, it’s all about supply and demand and at the moment there isn’t the demand to watch it.

Enjoying the whole tournament.

Lucy Bronze is a class full back.

You can't knock the Women's World Cup for entertainment value.  Men's world cups can be pretty boring, especially when most players have played too many games during the season.

Who do you bother watching?

Average height of male pro footballers = 6'3". Average height of female pro footballers = 5'8". According to the commentators last night Jlll Scott was the tallest player on the pitch at 5'11, well shorter than pretty much any male keeper. Yet they're playing in full size goals. Makes a difference. I'm with Legends Lounge (and it's not often you'll hear me say that), I've enjoyed the games I've watched by and large, been good entertainment and a vast improvement in standard even over the last WWC four years ago

He's a cheerleader for the WWC and I think he got sand in his vagina over Abrahammer disagreeing.

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=57769.msg1502111#msg1502111

Shows what can be achieved with better infrastructure. 

More money seems to be being spent on womens football all over the world.  If players can train everyday without having to have another full time job then they will improve. 

Quite. It's why until (comparatively) recently the women's game in the US was so far ahead of everyone else

She is actually 5'3 not sure why she looks so little.

I used to watch her old man play for the mighty Heed when I lived up there!

I enjoyed last night match. Nice to see such a unified team. They are bang up for it. They and Neville deserve credit. Hope they go all the way.

It is incomparable to the men's game though. An u15s academy side would beat all the top women's teams(has happened too) with ease but that doesn't matter. See it for what it is really. Women Vs women and judge our girls on that. Going pretty well I'd say

Yes, precisely.

Massive 1/4 final coming up.  Huge atmosphere.

England's next opponents will be the hosts or the champions

From a narrow self interest point of view bookings for Le Sommer and Rennard or O'Hara and Rapinoe would see them out of tonight's winners semi final lineup.

This is a worthy final and so will be our SF.  Germany lurk.

 :pint:

They look a class above in this tournament, technically more than anything.

Probably blow the lead now I’ve said that

They probably have a better school to U21 structure than the UK does for Mens over here - it goes right through College.  The Mens game is picking up in popularity now as well, thanks in part to the Hispanic immigration over the years - Trump will fix that with his wall no doubt.

good game this. France giving it a good go, look like coming up just short

😱 don’t tell ball pein.

I have a deep schoolboy crush on Alex Morgan.

It's pathetic.

England can beat them by the way. They're well drilled and athletic, but rather basic on the ball.

 I see GB will take a women's football team to the Tokyo Olympics... that's good. Less important for the men as club football provides so many tournaments bigger than Olympic football... but a big thing for the women.

Notwithstanding the reluctance of the Scottish, Welsh and N.Irish FA’s who have continuously blocked a mans team GB from entering the olympics.

2012?

Made up of English and Welsh players only.

I can confirm England’s equaliser was sick...

Thought I would turn the football on, but found that fucking annoying England band playing. Think I’ll turn it off.

Or peng...

Good looking?

Yeah,  you can have a good looking goal surely.  Jan Aage's vs Millwall for example.  :-)

Tenuous...

Need an inspirational half time hairdryer.

Nice dive, penalty given

was never a pen.

Then it wasn’t a dive.

VAR is pathetic

Goal line tech and at a push offside was all that was needed. The penalty and goal reviews can fuck off, just not needed and basically means you can't fully celebrate a goal properly. Another reason to enjoy lower league football.

I've tried, I honestly have, but I just can't like Women's football.  I know you should treat it as a separate sport, but you can't get away from the fact it's the same as Men's but with Women, nothing much else is different.  As such, the ability, pace etc. just seems so poor, and I say that without a hint of irony as a Swindon supporter.

Any reason why they can't stop the clock when VAR kicks in?

Goaline tech, VAR, Diving, gamesmanship, money, all here to stay.

Said exactly the same the other day. Wouldn't go watch this standard if it was men's and feel the same even if it is 'elite' females.

Because the Ref owns the time keeping, so anything on screen is for viewing pleasure only.  You'd have to have the timekeeping out of the refs hands, or have it linked.  Rugby get the ref to ask for the clock to stop and start, that would suffice if they want the ref to have control, but then you get basic time wasting to add in, which isn't really catered for in Rugby.

Got to practice those penalties

Wait for it.

If that Ellen White has bottled taking that penalty then it’s shocking

Why wasn't the Yank sent off.....she was the last 'man' and the ref through VAR saw it from 9 different angles?!

Decision was right and then didn't act on it.

Yank just nodded took one for the team and after that dogshit penalty, got away with it.

Is there some new rule?

there you go. equality.

FFS England

Double Jeopardy rule apparently.

My thoughts on last nights match....VAR is a load of bollocks. USA had more players who were better than England's.
Why the centre forward isn't fighting to take the pens I don't know. Has to be an attacking player. Centre backs shouldn't be on them.

It was OK, we were poor and they were much better and deserved it although they seem a few years further forward in executing the dark arts of the game and made us look a bit naive at times. Whilst I can see certain merits in VAR its becoming a pain in the arse, if nothing else we might as well do away with Linesmen completely, I thought offside was rightly to do away with goal hanging but this off by 1/4" is just delaying things and getting silly.

More general comments, Hope Solo has a very peculiar accent, thankfully they did away with the Dublin Nobbs combo which at least made life easier for the cameraman and finally nice to see good old Phil referring to going down to 10 men!, Christ he was a bit hyper in that interview at the end.

I assume you've not been to watch Town for the last 3 or 4 years then?

Completely ruins celebrating a goal. Given that's one of the major points of football, they either need to find a way to fix this or just get rid and go back to good old unreliable humans making a judgement call. Yes, they'll get it wrong some of the time, but if VAR continues like it is, it's killing one of the major high points of any match

the whole VAR needs looking at and quickly.

I get the concept of it but its being used all wrong. Get rid of the muppets in a van somewhere and give the responsibility to the ref and only the ref to check something if they need to, not some muppet talking in her ear.

I dunno, the Ref took a bloody age over the penalty.

Later on I generally thought she was going to have a Poll when she booked Bright and then took an age to red card her!

Nothing wrong with VAR. It's the laws that need changing.

I actually think this is quite funny:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48851152

It's close to July 4th, so expected, and please don;t tell me we are thin skinned enough to be annoyed, coming from a country that has fans singing about WW2 bombers when we play Germany!

How can you be offended at that?!

Best (tasteful-ish) twitter comment I saw in response was - "she can use the same celebration for scoring againstHolland in the final"

Fair enough.

But can you imagine if England players pretended to be bombers (or whatever)?

Not that I'm at all fussed about what this American bird did, but it's not a good comparison.

A bit like that time JAF scored against Man U and their fans thought it was a Munich reference?

More like smoking a cigar.  :)

That's a poor attempt to be honest, she's not even holding the saucer in her other hand  ;D

I'm always amused at the "Eurotrash" reference I've heard used by Yanks, generally the yanks with European ancestry.  :sherlock:

Something like that I suppose. A very disrespectful thing for a player (or anybody) to do. If that were the intention, anyway.

Has anyone actually been offended or is this just the usual media attempt to brand something "controversial" before it "provokes a furious reaction online" in the hope that it will then do so?

Amusingly based on social media it only seems to have offended those who like to go on and on and on about liberal snowflakes being offended at everything!

Its pissed Piers Morgan off which is undoubtedly a good thing, almost as much as its going to piss his buddy Trump off if he has to meet Megan Rapinoe at the White House....

To be fair, I'd be amazed if many people actually knew what the tea thing was all about anyway, other than thinking it had to do with stereotyping the English as Tea Drinkers.

Flashheart - I think Bombers is a little more direct of an insult given it references the death of hundreds of thousands of civilians.  The tea drinking refers to an idea that lead to "freedom", if she'd been doing a Musket shooting, maybe a bit more closely aligned I guess.  I know the two are not the same, hence using it to frame this - we are hardly a people who should get offended in comparison.

Well last nights game was a bit dull. I am no fan of Jonathan Pearces at the best of his times but him commentating to an audience who, I assume, he has decided need the basics of football explained to them is painful!

I've watched a fair amount of the Women's World cup. It has (on the whole) been quicker and more technical than I thought it would be.

Yes, some of the play/mistakes are pretty basic, but no worse than we see week in week out at the County Ground.

USA seem to be head and shoulders above the rest so I firmly expect them to beat the Dutch in the final.

His constant, the atmosphere/quality/passion etc was so much better in the England game and how them being in the final would make it so much better was tiresome

 :)

I can't even listen to the bloke any more. If he's commentating on a live game I use the red button, if available, and choose either Radio 5 or no commentary at all.

Last night he just reminded me of this..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YNW7IQgOIg