Football (Soccer) Thread

[celedhring]

I'm a bit flabbergasted to see some Brit friends that I thought would know better moaning that "this is not the same achievement as if the men won it".

I am curious to see how things go.
Those who would be keen to go engerrrlaaannnd and boost up any success, especially vs the Germans, have a very circular Venn with those who seem offended that women's football is even a thing

You will be somewhat pleased to know several of them are Newcastle fans. 

(a friend of mine is married to a geordie and that's why I've met a bunch of people from the area).

[Sheilbh]

I hope so, but Quatar might be distorting the picture.

Definitely a bit of that. I have basically no interest in Qatar but have enjoyed this tournament a lot and (subject to timezones) will have more interest in the women's World Cup next summer than Qatar

Edit: Apparently including online viewers it's about 24 million watched last night - plus pubs and public screens.

[Josquius]

[q]

You will be somewhat pleased to know several of them are Newcastle fans. 

(a friend of mine is married to a geordie and that's why I've met a bunch of people from the area).

Of course they are.
When it comes to footballing matters horse punchers views aren't worth shit :p

[Sheilbh]

Interesting report on people abusing footballers on Twitter. Man United have a problem:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/02/seven-in-10-premier-league-players-are-sent-abusive-tweets-study-shows?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Sheilbh]

Striking from ESPN on the three highest attendance games in Europe in the last year:


Lots of men on the internet pointing out this is because tickets are cheap. Which is true - but isn't that a good thing? It's why you see kids is that, unlike men's football, it is affordable to go as a family. That seems like a good thing to me rather than something to be derided/mocked.

Although I might just be particularly cynical because minutes after I saw that I saw my team announcing their "digital shirts partner" for the Metaverse It is a bit - I think with Qatar especially - of why the women's game just seems a bit more compelling at the minute. It's also why I worry about the way it's been set up in this country through existing clubs because the sad reality is that it is just recreating hierarchies in the men's game and the second they can commercialise it in the same way they will

Edit: Also there's something particularly pathetic about assessing the value/worth of a game of football based on the ticket prices of the commercial, normally corrupt entities profiting from it (many of the clubs, UEFA etc). It's like a weird Stockholm syndrome - if it was affordable to normal people, it wouldn't be worthwhile.

[celedhring]

Barça's women's football has been a much more successful and joyful experience than men's these past 2-3 years, tbf. One of the reasons fans and media have embraced them so much. Alexia sells more shirts than any of the male stars, which is ridiculous even given the diminished stature of the men's team.

Also, if the financials side is so important, Women's football is the only profitable sports section at Barça. That tells me the players/coaches are still way underpaid, of course.

[Sheilbh]

Barça's women's football has been a much more successful and joyful experience than men's these past 2-3 years, tbf. One of the reasons fans and media have embraced them so much. Alexia sells more shirts than any of the male stars, which is ridiculous even given the diminished stature of the men's team.

Yeah I started watching some Everton Women's games last year in the hope that they would provide a bit of joy. They were promptly dragged into a relegation battle

[FunkMonk]

Barça's women's football has been a much more successful and joyful experience than men's these past 2-3 years, tbf. One of the reasons fans and media have embraced them so much. Alexia sells more shirts than any of the male stars, which is ridiculous even given the diminished stature of the men's team.

Yeah I started watching some Everton Women's games last year in the hope that they would provide a bit of joy. They were promptly dragged into a relegation battle

 

Thankfully Arsenal Women are quite good and always challenge for the title. England's captain and top scorer are Arsenal players. 

[crazy canuck]

Barça's women's football has been a much more successful and joyful experience than men's these past 2-3 years, tbf. One of the reasons fans and media have embraced them so much. Alexia sells more shirts than any of the male stars, which is ridiculous even given the diminished stature of the men's team.

Yeah I started watching some Everton Women's games last year in the hope that they would provide a bit of joy. They were promptly dragged into a relegation battle

 

At least you can keep your humour.

[FunkMonk]

Just hit me that the league starts this Friday. Christ the summer went fast.

[Zoupa]

I can't believe the amount Liverpool paid for Darwin Nunez.

I think he's very good, just not THAT good.

[FunkMonk]

I can't believe the amount Liverpool paid for Darwin Nunez.

I think he's very good, just not THAT good.

He's a work in progress but Klopp is an elite coach so it'll probably work out.

With both Manchester City and Liverpool doing major retooling with their squads there might be a small window this season for a plucky team to squeeze into the Top 2. I see a lot of pundits picking Spurs for 3rd. Might they make a run for 2nd or even the title?

[Zoupa]

I dunno. I don't think Conte has the wingbacks his style calls for.

[The Larch]

With both Manchester City and Liverpool doing major retooling with their squads there might be a small window this season for a plucky team to squeeze into the Top 2. I see a lot of pundits picking Spurs for 3rd. Might they make a run for 2nd or even the title?

I don't think their retooling is that major. Sure, both teams have lost important names, but their cores stay in place and both have brought in what could be massive signings. I still think that they'll both take the first two spots in the league.

In the race for #3 maybe Arsenal will be the main contender.

[Sheilbh]

I can't believe the amount Liverpool paid for Darwin Nunez.

I think he's very good, just not THAT good.

But I think what Liverpool are really good at (though not perfect) is identifying the piece/player they need with the right abilities and then they'll pay whatever to get him. It might be a bit like van Dijk

I know they won't play every game but I think it'll be interesting to see Liverpool and City with what feel like slightly old school classic number 9s