Morning all.
What an afternoon/early evening it was for womens football in England. Germany tried every trick in the book to stop England playing their game but in the end, it didn’t work. Sarina Wiegman and her squad worked hard for 120 minutes before a late winning goal secured the Euro Cup. The entire tournament has been a success for the womens game. 87,000 fans at Wembley is incredible but a long time coming. When I started playing in the 70’s, it was rare to see anyone bar the linesman, substitutes and team managers on the sidelines but just look at it now. But there’s still a long way to go yet as Ian Wright, Alex Scott and Jonas Eidevall alluded to after the game.
Captain Leah Williamson said after lifting the trophy:
This is the proudest day of my life. The legacy of this tournament is a change in society. We’ve brought everyone together and we’ve got people at games. We want people to come to WSL games but the legacy of this team is winners, and it’s the start of a journey.
England won the tournament the hard way, with Spain, Sweden and then Germany to beat but beat them they did. Beth Mead came away with the golden boot and was named player of the tournament but every single one of the players Sarina Wiegman turned to throughout the competition played their part. From captain Leah Williamson to the older and experienced Jill Scott, fantastic.
Well done to them all.
England women are the new European Champions. They are history makers, record breakers and simply brilliant.
Back to Arsenal, Flo Balogun is on the brink of joining Reims according to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter. Premier League clubs were also interested but suggestion is, he wants to go abroad. Another exit Romano says is close is Bernd Leno to Fulham. An £8m transfer fee has been agreed as have personal terms between the player and club.
The rumours regarding potential signings are showing no sign of letting up. They won’t either after Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are still hoping to add to the squad. Cody Gakpo is again in the news with the Mirror suggesting we’re favourites to sign him. Leeds are interested in him too but come on, if it’s only between us and them, surely there’s only one winner?
The ghastly Roy Keane reckons Man City only sold Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal because we’re not a threat to the top two teams. Perhaps he’d be better to keep his views to himself, especially as his old club are not exactly firing on all cylinders. Perhaps we’re not seen as a threat to Liverpool or money bags Man City but I’ve a sneaky feeling he might be left with egg on his face in May. 8m not suggesting we will win the League but I reckon there’s a good chance the gap between the top two of last season and the rest, especially Arsenal, will be closed considerably. If I end up being right, it’ll be because City sold us Jesus and Zinchenko because put them in with the other players Arsenal have signed, we’re definitely stronger. Much stronger.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, I’m still elated by yesterday’s result and it was terrific to see Wembley packed to near capacity to cheer on both sides. A great advert for the women’s game and, hopefully, a stimulant for the fans of the WSL.
I think the FA missed a trick with it’s choice of venues for the whole of the tournament. Perhaps they were afraid of showing the matches being played to half-empty stadiums when in fact using the larger grounds would have allowed far more spectators to attend and enjoy the games live.
Arsenal should definitely consider playing WSL games at The Emirates even if initially it means closing off the upper tiers and keeping the ticket prices down to an affordable level for families.
Keane with egg on his face? I doubt we will see that behind the mass of his badger coloured facial hair. What that he is.
“What a twat he is’. That should read.
Morning Cicero, you and me both.
Wrighty was saying after the game that a number of PL clubs turned down the offer to host the Euro fixtures. I really hope Arsenal weren’t one of them but I think they might have been.
Keane is everything I despise about ex footballers who fail in management.
Some of the Arsenal fixtures were played at The Emirates but not enough imo. It’s probably difficult with the PL fixture schedule as well as the Europa etc this coming season.
I would like to say that I am more than happy for the England ladies team and I hope that it sparks a larger interest and anything that might get 9 and 10 year olds away from Minecraft and other on line games the better.
Having said that there is a long way to go before the media clarion calls for equality and parity with the men’s game can be achieved. Currently the average crowd for a WSL game is just over 2000 and average ticket price is around £10 for adults and £ 5 for under 16s . which makes it at about the same rates allowing for inflation as the game I used to play in .
If it is to be credible and stand on it’s own two feet then it has to increase both gates and prices .
It is noticeable that when you look at the players Man City , Chelsea , United and Arsenal have acquired the best players and have so far subsidised the game’s development.
I am not being sour , in fact I am delighted for their success , Women’s football is only at the beginning in this country , let’s hope that girls are inspired to get involved and lets hope that the schools with playing fields do their bit because even trying to get a pitch for kids football is already difficult . It comes back to if the F.A are really interested, then they will have to spend their money in the grass roots and make sure that the facilities are there for all kids of either sex to play and not necessarily tied to a big club .
BRING BACK AFFORDABLE PARK PITCHES
1999 World Cup set America on their way and I’m hoping this has a similar affect here. I doubt the woman’s game will ever catch up with the men, not in my lifetime anyway, but I certainly believe the opportunity should be similar, and the support from the FA and sponsors etc…
Afternoon Rico and all
Hopefully the win by the English Ladies will bring more young Girls to the game both as players and fans.
I am just guessing but I recon there is 3 reasons why the major clubs don’t allow / like the Women or younger men’s teams playing on main ground. ( 1 ) It’s comes down to managing the pitch ( 2 ) The amount of work to cover up the men’s sponsorship signs around the ground and replace them with the other teams sponsors ( 3 ) the cost to run the stadium like Security, catering and electrical etc.
There are certainly costs involved in playing WSL games in the major stadiums. With modern playing surfaces, underground heating, effective drainage and little or no training taking place on the pitch, wear is not so much of a problem, Geoff.
Hosting crowds containing many family groups and young girls will not require the heavy police and stewarding presence needed for the men’s games.
As the pitch-side advertising displays are provided electronically on digital screens there little effort or cost involved in changing them.
As most Premiership matches are played between Friday and Monday, WSL games would have the choice of three days each weekend, four if the men are playing away. Cup ties are generally played midweek and Europa League games are on Thursdays so their should be no clashes.
Afternoon Geoff, I hope so too. Girls/women have always wanted to play football, it just needs to be accessible. I bet the 10/12 year olds at the clubs don’t have to worry about how they get to training.
But the WSL fixtures are at the weekend too, shifting them to week days is more likely to reduce crowds imo.
Rico, I’m not suggesting they are shifted away from the weekend’s. Take the coming weekend, Arsenal are playing Friday night, that means the WSL game could be played at any time during Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
I know that in fact we are away Friday , but the principal is the same.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Well done to the English Ladies. Not only did they win the Euro cup, but also the top scorer and the tournament’s best player.
However, there were other areas in which England will benefit from. Women’s football will surely take a boost in the right direction because more girls will want to emulate their heroes. The results might not be immediate but I can assure you that by 5 years time the percentage of girls attending football training centres will increase dramatically. And the level will surely rise.
The argument that some people put forward that football is a man’s game will be a lost cause now because it has been shown on the big stage and suddenly (it happens with the boys all the time in academies) there will be parents who would want their daughter/s to have a bite at the cherry so they will take them to football centres more willingly.
This win will put the FA with its back to the wall. Now that England women have bought a big trophy to their country the finger will be pointed at them if they dont take action to promote more women’s football. They will all look like fools and dragging their feet now if they just do nothing but twiddle their fingers. Football coaches should be encouraged to coach girl’s/women’s teams even if they are male coaches and their should be a required level to teach certain ages. For example coaches who want to coach from under 12 upwards must have a UEFA A licence. And clubs should be instructed to pay coaches equal pay whether they coach men or women especially from under 23 down. Its not only the players who should be paid equally. Its important that coaching staff are paid equally as well because that way you will get good coaches and that is equivalent to getting better football players.
The structures that are evident withing the coaching sector in the men’s team should be the model adapted to the women’s team. And that should go down to academies. I personally believe that there should be a defining criteria on the role of the coaches in the women’s/girl’s teams and coaches who want to coach females should be specialized in areas such as psychology, emotional literacy and biolgical development. What affects a man in soccer and personal life is vastly different to what might affect a women. It goes the opposite way as well. Personally I have been instructed to coach men’s teams up till Uefa A however whenever I coached girls I had to research methods and knowledge myself. I also had to change perspective and my way of looking at things and also training methods.
Another aspect is that football should be made compulsory in PE subjects. The basics should be taught betweeen the age of 6-12. With this in mind, at grassroots level there shouldnt be any difference between boys and girls. Personally I think and feel that they should play together mixed equally. Why not? I have seen young girls aged 13 running rings around their peers and sometimes even older boys. Infact, for a small island such as ours we have more women playing abroad than men.
I was very impressed by England’s win. Did I expect it? tbh no…because nowadays I never expect anything in football competitions. But they stuck to their guns and played their game. And to win against a superpower such as Germany shows how much women football has advanced in England. And I enjoyed seeing them play and win
With regards pundits’ opinions like Keane I dont really give a toss to what they say.
First, the majority of pundits are ex players. Being an ex player doesn’t mean you can read the game and club situation. The football Keane, NEville etc played is vastly different to the football that is played now. It has evolved into a faster more technical game. The only thing which has remained the same is how players like GN and players of his ilk used to con/bend the referee.
secondly we must remember that ex players usually carry their past hidden agendas against other clubs. So a person like Keane and Neville would surely carry with them their bias against Arsenal. Their is no way to shut them up not even if Arsenal win the EPL for five seasons in a row unbeaten. That should shut them up but I guess they will still spout their harboured agendas against us.
The only thing which irritates me when i hear pundits’ opinions is how much they are paid to spout rubbish
Phew Cicero. Lol
If the FA got their act together, surely some weekends, the women could play right after the men? I know I’ve suggested this before but if the Hundred in cricket can, why can’t football I wonder.
Afternoon Devil. I think the FA and clubs are doing a good job already but there’s always room for improvement. Personally, I don’t think football should be forced on anyone, male or female but it should be an option. At the age group you talk about, I’m sure boys and girls could train together etc. what imo needs to happen is more to do with the financial side, sponsorship and investment.
At the moment it’s a loss maker for most clubs , the money bought in just about covers expenses which is why the top six clubs have the players . For the girls game to really take off it has to form it’s own way separate from the men’s. This is achievable in schools and park football both of which the F.A has sadly neglected..
What would you prefer that the F.A spend another fortune chasing the staging of another world cup or spending it on a plan to produce teams capable of winning it.
Which means improving the facilities for 8 to 10 year olds and above.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1554128124492775425?s=20&t=l4H_fqxMtiA8Lo-EnCG7KQ
Torreira off to Galatasary……
I don’t know enough about the finances of clubs to comment really. If the big TV companies get hooked up to the leagues like the mens game, it would help. The BBC, usually on the iplayer, doesn’t help the game I’m sure.
I’m struggling to pick one of the realities/explanations.
It’s either the case of despite his 39 Uruguayan caps, being a Spanish champion, FA Cup winner, Fiorentina’s internal top scorer (as a DM!) since Vlahovic was sold and earned the second highest MotM… Torreira is so bad that he not only worth 18M (after being evaluated for 50M three years ago), but we cannot even get half of it.
The other scenario is that Arsenal’s department responsible for player sales sucks so much that they could only find a low-balling Turkish club interested in Lucas. I don’t know which explanation is more depressing…
Not Arsenal’s fault if other clubs don’t want to pay much for him. Better than letting him run his last year of contract down on loan somewhere.
Imagine if ever professional sports player donated 2% of there match fees to grassroot sports, better grounds and uniforms maybe this could encourage more kids to play.
Good morning Rico and all
The difference between the English men’s team and the Winning ladies team is none of the fekking ladies play for spuds. 😂😂😂😂
I still don’t get it, Rico.
If Leeds paid 11M for fellow defensive midfielder Marc Roca, 25, who worth one-third of Torreira, have only U21 caps (7), has no PL experience, and even in his 2 years at Bayern Munich he played only 552 minutes in the Bundesliga (combined); how come nobody is interested to pay 12M for a player superior in practically every aspect of the game?
Tyler Adams – OK, he is 3 years younger, but that doesn’t make Lucas old, 26 is his prime – was sold for 18M. He worth 15M according to TransferMarkt, 3M less than Torreira. He doesn’t have exposure to English football either; in fact his MLS “upbringing” shouldn’t be considered a value adding factor either.
Marcus Tavernier, 23, with market value 4M was bought by Bournemouth for 11M for crying out loud. Alright, he had 4 year Championship experience, but Lucas had 2 (good) years in the PL.
The 5.8M we are rumored to receive for Torreira is the exact same amount Spartak Moscow paid for Christopher Martins Pereira (25), who worth exactly 25% of our guy, and what Nottingham Forrest paid for Lewis O’Brien (23), who has no youth or international caps, and valued at one-sixth of Torreira.
It’s really hard to believe that Lucas – formerly valued at 50M, now 18M – cannot generate decent interest, and players with less (perceived) quality are sold for more.
Morning Devil, all.
Pb, the height difference and nationality.
New post up now.