To those that follow the women's game. Please tell me you aren't doing it for charity reasons and you actually like the women's game. We know the men are faster and stronger in their elite fitness. Does that mean the women's game is inferior or shouldn't be acknowledged? Give me your opinons on the women's game and the future of the women's game. Will they globally be the most interesting sporting tournament in women's history if it goes to plan regarding well known stars Mia Hamm, Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan?'' Do males appreciate these women by their performance or just by the way they look? Will just looking at them degrade their runs in future years as performance athletes and will males also appreciate their athletic ability? and finally, does it matter what males think? Should females matter what these players do? Do you believe in market? Do you believe in spirit and just appreciation that human beings that are female can be great footballers?
I prefer to watch women's games but they lack technicality and quality compared to the men's. My reasons: 1. basic passes/ball control; Japan (& maybe Germany and France) comes closest to playing how the men play in the sense that their passes connect and aren't given to the opponents after every few passes. If someone passes the ball too hard, the woman has trouble controlling it 2. horrible gks I think males will respect women's soccer if they play like Marta at her peak. However, let's also take note that women's soccer is recent. Title IX was just 40 years ago while the men had years to play and develop soccer/football.
So do you respect the women's game? Or do you think hey, they are boring as hell still they need a few more decades? BTW, I'm sure you respect women in their most althetic form today?
The women do need a few decades to achieve the level of European and South American football though. I acknowledge their inconsistency but it's the latter that makes it both entertaining and frustrating. I don't think any of the women have done anything not to garner respect; they try so hard to play and improve and develop their football that it's admirable. Those that don't respect women's game---well, I don't know, why not? They're probably sexist, or, just people who are used to men's game and don't want to give the women some credit.
It's kind of ironic because one of the reasons I have turned off men's games in the past and walked away from the TV is the rash of dramatic histrionics we see from supposedly "manly" men who are fouled on the pitch. They roll around on the ground like 3 year olds throwing a tantrum, before popping right back up without losing a step. With rare exception, we just don't see that in the women's game. A female soccer player will only stay down on the pitch if she is truly hurt, and she certainly won't roll around like a child. Who is the exception? MARTA. And if more women "play like Marta at her peak", I will LOSE respect for them.
I like that the U.S. is one of the few countries that take competing in the women's game seriously. The world is not a nice place and the way you gain respect is showing strength and competence. Because association football has had to deal with decades of inconsistency: leagues forming and then disappearing; general non-exposure; political isolation; cultural hostility. Ironically, the way the U.S. has advanced in the game for the last two decades is being on the forefront of advancing the women's game. As a people, we like to brag about being the first in advancing. So this is a point of pride for many crypto-nationalists amongst us. Having been competitive since the very beginning, it's more fun to watch them play. Then, once I get past the wins, more attention is paid to the individuals involved. I already see the transition taking place, from the mere will and strength of the early pioneers like Akers, Lilly, Milbrett, to the in-between generation of Wambach, Rampone, Boxx and even Solo, to now the promise of the future with Rapinoe, Heath, Morgan, Leroux and, hopefully, younger players like Dunn, Pathman, Morgan Brian, even a Mewis or a Kristen Press. The way forward is players with a greater feel for association football and not just "good ol' soccer" of the early years. This is not the same as having an unrealistic expectation about women and the sport. As long as players can play better with the touch while showing purpose in possession then we shouldn't care what those meatheads in the male population say. Eventually, some of them will jump on the bandwagon because they're frontrunners.
I don't watch the men's game that much, actually, but my impression is that advantages to the women's game include: - Less acting and histrionics - More teamwork required. Few players are strong enough to score from 30 yards away, so they have to work harder to put together good chances. - Who wants to watch a bunch of sweaty guys, anyway?
I watch for my little girl but now I enjoy it. I watch it b/c I enjoy soccer. I don't feel like it has to be a perfect game for me to want to watch. The men's game has more flair, speed, and is more technical. However, the ladies game feels more dramatic.