everreddy

If fans want regular 3pm kick offs, then they should stop kicking off….

36 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

Good to see it looks like almost everyone stood

We need to sort out this mindset that everyone is “entitled” to stand up all through a match. Seats are there for a purpose - to sit on! A significant number of fans - children, disabled, elderly -  are ignored, bullied or abused if they ask offenders to sit down, in order to allow them to get a view of the match. Many fans are so intimidated by this, they’ve given up going to away matches. 

It’s just boorish, selfish behaviour to be standing and blocking the seats of those who want to, or need to sit.  There are many elderly fans who are not technically disabled, but have physical problems with knees, hips etc  who are not able to stand up for the duration of a match. It’s just inconsiderate to ignore these very real issues - and it’s the reason why many older fans have given up going to away matches, even though they’d still love a day out supporting their team. 

Is anyone else having problems hearing the questions being asked of Nige, in the pre-match "pressers", on the club website?  Its almost impossible to pick up what they're asking!

And... why does Nige have to be so grumpy and dismissive of the journos, who may (but, see: previous comment) be asking daft questions, yet are only doing their jobs...?

3 hours ago, Erithacus said:

Now we've had a little time to reflect...

So what happened?

Now the tournament is finished, what has been the real result?

England (the nation that Gave The World Football) actually won a major trohy. Been a while, and a journey from a wilderness within living memory. There cannot be any disguising or denying that and we should be proud of the achievement.

Has it been inevitable, given the complete seachange in the authorities' commitment? No. But it is a sign that things have changed, and may continue to do so in the future. But are these changes for the good? I often wonder if it will be a case whereby Women's football will only be considered a success by some when it replicates Men's football in every important aspect - good and bad. How would people react if the women were (over)paid and (over)idolised as greatly as the men, or had similar dark secrets brought out such as the recent spotlight on abuse? Would bigger gates at women's game inevitably create hooliganism? Or would that be considered 'equality'? Can we have it both ways, or will women's football retain a distinct difference that will keep it apart. I note that when a women's match ends the players are much more keen to stay on the pitch and meet the fans, unlike the men. I accept there is a sage reason for men to disappear and not invite trouble but this difference is making many people reconsider their affinity. Hearts and minds have been won as never before. Women play a game that has all the important ingredients and is impressing new converts. A sign of progress.

Overall, the tournament has proven quite a result on may levels. After the FA were awarded the bid and chose the grounds used, it will be happy to realise that the Lionesses could and should have played at Wembley. Of course, the use of other grounds brought the game to more people (who after all are suffering from the general financial crisis) but the sell-outs are indicitive. Even the non-host games were well attended, not neccessarily by nationals. It will be to our credit that the numbers were above expectations. Winners here. It must be appreciated that the crowds are mainly family-based compared to men's, but there seemed to be more single men/mates that also turned up to cheer. Would an increasing proportion of the latter be an indication of a greater acceptance? Much has been made of the atmosphere at the games, mainly as a breath of fresh air and as a place where people come to enjoy, not antagonise. The demographic was, nonetheless, somewhat different this time.

In terms of the actual play, there cannot be any denial that the standard was higher than ever seen before. (On a world stage the USA, whose approach is the best in the world still, are the ones to aim for). The European players have shown that the top level produces a highly competitive game, with technical skills, stamina and recogniseable structure that will compare favourably with any other, male or female. England especially have a way of playing that pleased many observers, and their success will not be undeserved.

Elsewhere, I felt the games were more competitive, with a few more heavy fouls committed not by clumsiness or inexperience but with deliberate intent. And there were a few more 'fouls won' by some tactics from the book of the Dark Arts - an inevitable evolution? Game management? Professionalism? Again, is this progress?

Officiating standards were better, if not yet as good as possible - same might be said of the men's, though. Again, poor decisions are replayed many times, but is this a sign of the modern approach?

So what changed?

A few things I noted have been a little different this time around. The media coverage was pretty extensive, and mainly to a terestrial audience, compared to the past. More was made of the tournament, but will this extend to the future? World Cup 2023 is in the Antipodes, so can the women capitalise on the attention generated?

When the men played in the Euros last year the nation put the flags out. When the women played previously there was barely any sign on the streets, but this summer I saw a few St Georges out here and there (plus a few Union Flags perhaps left over from the Platinum Jubilee). Fan parks - such a male culture - started to spring up for the Lionesses. Elsewhere, many pubs and clubs had large gatherings to watch. Again, the demographics were somewhat different. The victory parade from Trafalgar Square did not feel unnatural; cheeky calls for a national day off were a finishing touch.

So now what?

Victory will last forever, but the game moves on and we need to sieze the opportunity. If there is a real desire for women's football to benefit then there are plenty of challenges that need to be recognised and met with.

There have been many points raised about the game in this country - a game that has delivered on one prime aspect. The present system has created something that had not existed until a few short years ago; inevitably, the sudden growth has also created other issues of a more pragmatic nature. The WSL is replicating the Premiership (as in my earlier point) in that the top clubs are present in both, largely due to the enormous financial resources available. The top clubs are the breeding ground for the international side (which the FA are keen to promote, not autonomous Premier League mandarins); the rest of the top flight clubs are the background against which the stars are highlighted. Sound familiar? Here we must acknowledge that the men's game is run by a three-headed dog and no prizes for guessing which dog has by far the biggest bark. The FA control the women's game in total.

What really concerns me is the 'legacy' of this famous victory. There will surely be lots of young girls (and boys, let's not ignore) who will be inspired to play. Where will they go? Who will coach and encourage them? How many will want to join a club but can't find one local to them, or find the club does not have a female section? If legacy means anything, it must surely mean providing an opportunity - for without it the game is dead. Will the powers put the right amount of emphasis on creating and growing the game where it needs it most?

I feel the incredible surge of the women's game in this country has produced a worthy 'product' at the elite level but what of the rest? Being of an old-fashioned mind, I believe the national team must be a culmination of a solid and healthy pyramid, and that the success is related to the many players and clubs that support it. As others have pointed out, the system is not perfect and the financial imbalance is a worry. The WSL and the FA are the highly-visible apex of a pyramid that perhaps looks rather narrow-based and top-heavy. If the grass roots game is not allowed to grow properly and organically then there must surely be a time in the future when that pyramid crashes.

Grass roots are the very foundation of talent; very few will be brought up in a professional club environment. The job is to ensure the girls are able to express their talent in a welcoming and enjoyable pathway. Apart from the lack of clubs in places, the real shortage in the game centres around female coaches. It took generations to get them to play; it will take longer for women to rise to the levels needed off the pitch and this is the key.

Our victory will not be a simple trophy in a cabinet nor a scoreline in the history books - it will be a nation that offers the chance to all that want to embrace the Beautiful Game.

Yes, agree with most of that!

But, the truth is that the mens' game has lots to learn from the example set by the women.

On the pitch: play the ball forward quickly, with incisive passes. No more dilly dallying, passing the ball back to the 'keeper. Get on with the game. No need to argue with the ref (s/he aint gonna change their mind). Keep the ball when marginally ahead in the final minutes of a game. Get stuck in, but don't keep falling over in the penalty box. Try hard not to deliberately stamp on your opponent's ankle.Make positive use of the crowd, as a "twelfth man/person".

Off the pitch. No need to break into stadia, without a ticket. Sit down, so that everyone, especially elderly and disabled spectators, can actually see the match.Try not to kick the head in of rival fans/own fans you don't agree with. (Integrating home and away fans is not even worth suggesting). Applaud good moves. Sing "clean" songs. Try to stay sober. Enjoy the match - its supposed to be entertainment!!!

On 24/06/2022 at 20:16, ChippenhamRed said:

Haven’t seen it mentioned elsewhere so apologies if this is old news - City are coming to Chippenham.

 

Chips and ham! I was DH at Redland Primary School, Chippenham when it first opened, in 1973. I got into trouble with Wiltshire Schools’ FA cos I fielded a GIRL in the school football team! 
 

Commentator made I larf, when he said "Good to see all the City women watching" - and all of them were looking intently at their phones!!!

I'm being told that I'm not "authenticated", after putting in my code: maybe I'm a "robot"?!!!

I love it. Very retro. Reminds me of watching City, and Atyeo, in the late ‘50s   After tacky efforts, with betting company sponsors in recent years, it’s a shirt to be proud of. 

Stream, anyone?

JL is so full of bright marketing ideas. His earlier brainwave was rebranding City as “The Robins”! Why? Cos we wear red shirts, stoopid!!! 
Call the club and the stadium what you like - as long as it brings in the dosh!
So much for our unique “identity”!!!!

26 minutes ago, Magger1 said:

I think it’s time players took a hard long look at themselves, nobody wanted these players on dead line day ( except offers of loans for free ) so their going nowhere.They should be embarrassed to turn out performances like they have in front of 20thousand paying hard working supporters, taking our money and stealing a living in this division 

Maybe at least 8 of 'em could be persuaded to tear up their contracts....?!!! 

15 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I didn't really see anything wrong with the guy's questions. It just seems he has a massive downer on the Post because of its player ratings and maybe some of the more speculative transfer stories. But that's local papers. They are the same everywhere. You gotta be thick-skinned and say "they are playing their game, I'm playing mine".

He had similar views about the Leicester Mercury as numerous snarling press conferences can attest. Didn't like the Watford Observer either.

You've just got to be a bit more professional in how you deal with people who are asking questions at press conferences.  They are trying to do a job and it's your job to deal with these Q&As.

And at the end of the day, local media covering football helps rather than hinders interest in the game.  It's in the club's interest to have the paper's interest, even a paper as bad as the BP.

And in any job if you piss people off when you are doing well, you may find they are not inclined to be charitable when you aren't. 

Absolutely! NP needs to be a bit more accommodating and agreeable when responding to local media- even if, sometimes, the questions are a bit trivial. He is an ambassador for the club, and there’s no need to be so surly, arrogant and disrespectful. He could take a few lessons from Klose, who, in his interview, was polite, thoughtful and engaging!

What an awayday that would have been! And a chance for the club to claw back some money, with gate receipts and tv coverage….

Paying 50 quid for clothing which advertises a betting company seems a bit daft, to me. Anything with a naff Robin on doesn’t make much sense, either. So I won’t be spending too much time or money in the City shop then!

Some good points there, f_i_z, and I agree with many of them.

I started watching Western League football with my ol' man when I was knee high to a grasshopper. Good view of the match, leaning against cold, rusty rails behind the mud heap that was the home goal. After a disgusting tasting Bovril at half time,I then wandered to the opposite end with a dozen or so other fans, as the teams changed ends...

Travelled by train to see Bristol City when I started at grammar school - and that in itself seemed, in comparison, "miles away"!

The point I was trying to make, in the op, was that the gap between the current position of our club, and of many on here who dream of "the promised land", and the reality of Premier League football is ever widening, and I really despair that this gap will ever be closed.

Once, I had a dream: that I would sit among three generations of my family, in a state of the art new stadium, full to capacity, cheering on our team as we held our own against the likes of Arsenal....

Travelled miles away to watch footie, today.

As the City match was (pathetically) cancelled, but I had pre-booked rail tickets, I went to the Emirates to see the Gooners against Badiff. Match not too special, until the end, but:

The stadium was fantastic

Transport there so easy

Good food and drink at reasonable prices

Fans of all ages, races, genders enjoying a match in an environment with little swearing or abuse

Club shop selling a wide range of quality merchandise

Clear announcements and visible video footage of teams, highlights, club legends

Stewards who were helpful and friendly

I could go on and on....

We're just miles away!

West ham need portsmouth to stay in Business to keep the 6 points, would love it, if west ham only made the play offs then crash in them HA HA

Can anyone post the Championship table - with points gained from Pompey taken out? Just wondered how it would affect us?