Inspiring a generation

A good blog.

This Olympics is the first time i've really watched womens football and I have been impressed with what i've seen.

The level of skill has been much higher than I expected and the matches i've watched have been entertaining.

GB deserved to beat Brazil and should probably have won by more than a single goal. I hope they are able to make the most of the exposure this Olympics has provided.

There is still a defensive naivety but hopefully this can be improved with better coaching.

I believe this has done wonders for womens football. some of my mates who would usually do nothing other than slate them were def leaning towards praise for them come the end of the match.

Im sorry Tim, this maybe the second comment and im already off subject....
Have you heard anything in relation to the Lucas deal to united?

Lucas Moura reminds me of a young Ronaldo. Raw talent with some flaws that Fergie should be able to iron out.

Tim, good to see you writing on the women's game.

I've watched the women for 20 odd years now and in that time, they have made remarkable progress in terms of their technique, fitness and energy levels.

But as far as interest in the women's game goes, I do believe they are at the crossroads. It is definitely different from the men's game. It's slower but has good movement and is defined in terms of play, it can also create an equally exciting game when compared to men's football.

I hope that the women do not try to totally mimic the men's game in Britain. Even though it is the same game, men's and women's football are worlds apart.

Women's football needs its own identity which it currently has but i do believe we are seeing women approaching football in the same way as in the men's game.

I have no wish to see another example of a game, where there is an over reliance on power and pace because we already have that here in the men's game. I also feel that women will not be successful by adopting the men's approach to football, afterall it has not and never will work for our guys, playing the way they do.

After beating Brazil i thought team GB for the women can go all the way, or at least get the final, which is what the deserve.

England women's football do alot better than mens football and i would be more than happy for the women to embarrass the men as they are hard working, dedicated, serious and honest footballers.

The need all the coverage they can get and i hope team GB can now go out and compete in all the Olympic events.

As we did not have any articule on the mens team GB i would just like to say how proud i am of them.

Bellamy, Ramsey, Cleverly and Jo Allan were starting to build a potent midfield and i was so gutted we went out, because next round was Brazil and it would have been a good measuring stick to see them both play again.

Brazil mens team are looking good, of course a few faults here and their but in 2 years time i think we are going to have a very exciting team.

All in all team GB for both men and women have been a success, and while the Scotiish moan and reduce themselves to small minded politics and petty sectarianism i think the rest of the liberal world have enjoyed a very good and exciting competition.

God save the queen

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

where i agree that 70,000 plus at Wembley to see a women's game was astonishing and has done wonders for the popularity of the sport in this country in particular. I doubt that my enduring memory of this olympics will be anything football related.

It's the nations sport and the sport i love most, but we are simply not as good as we should be at it which really cannot be a good thing because we are supposed to have the infrastructure nowadays.

Whilst our football has stood still since the introduction of the mens Premier League in 1992 in other sports, since the failings at Atlanta in 1996 for example we have improved, prospered and finally flourished. Big strides in tennis, rowing, cyling and now athletics, even in rugby and cricket but still - we struggle to improve our football in similar significant ways? why? maybe the emerging countries in Africa & Asia have halted our progress, maybe its our fondness of importing, maybe our coaching is just not up to scratch??

But if football is to inspire a generation in the same way that Bradley Wiggins, Jess Ennis, Andy Murray, Ben Ainslee and our other golden olympic heroes does, then it needs to do more than getting knocked out at the Quarter Final stages of each major competition it enters.

Football should really just go home and sit in a corner. You see all these other olympic competitors trying their hardest for themsleves and their country. Footballers on the other hand... (and yes, that applies to the women footballers too)

Hi Tim, what are your thoughts on why Uruguay were so disappointing. Suarez was the only bright point in their team despite, and perhaps because of, the boos of ignorant people. Cavani was especially disappointing after being built up as a possible star of the tournament. Was this all down to poor tactics of Tabarez?

@5 shadow warrior

I agree that the midfield of Allen, Cleverley and Ramsey really improved during the tournament. Bellamy was definitely the GB player of the tournament and dropping Giggs was a bold but correct decision as he looked well off the pace in the first couple of matches. It's a pity we will probably not see another GB team in the foreseeable future.

I'm sorry to say this, but this whole thing about the Women's team beating Brazil and how that SEEMED impressive is a whole load of rubbish. That was a seriously poor turn-out by the Brazilian women, they played poor throughout the whole tournament, were coached poorly and had none of the zip that they normally have and looked disorganized. GB were playing at home in front of a very strong and enthusiastic crowd and were up for the Olympics at home, inspired, energized and ready to go, whereas the Brazilians looked like they came in expecting to cruise a bit and were surprised, but once shaken, didn't really seem to have any imagination to turn the games around, either against GB or Japan.
This analysis about how GB needs to use this as a platform to move forward is rubbish.
Try saying that to ANY team from GB, whether men's or women's, England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, and see if our home country teams can do so well in a foreign environment. We've proven, ever since the 60's, that we don't like to travel and leave our home country, so THAT's the first thing that needs to be fixed.
We should learn from the way the Japanese women play and are coached.

daniel @7

Whilst our football has stood still since the introduction of the mens Premier League in 1992 in other sports, since the failings at Atlanta in 1996 for example we have improved,
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I believe there is a good reason for that.

Professional sport was always defined by the participants receiving a fee [usually money] to play any sport. Today i do believe that definition should include many other factors. Especially if the term successful is incorporated with the term professional.

That separates football in the UK from most other sports and definitely when it comes to success in football, money is not all that is needed for success.

I compare the attitude and professionalism of our successful sports men and women to our male footballers who stand alone purely by their attitude to their sport and how they prepare and conduct themselves professionally. Footballers show themselves to be a totally different breed from all other professional sportsmen.

I think most would agree that sports like rowing, cycling, gymnastics have improved greatly with the support of money and what it can bring, in the way of coaches and facilities.

Football has had more money thrown at it than any other sport since 92 and has actually gone backwards at an alarming rate at representative levels and the image has never been as bad as it is today, in this country. The off pitch antics, on pitch, court cases, blatant cheating to gain an advantage, no other sport has that amount of behaviour, which ultimately ruins the actual sport.

That would suggest it is not the money but the actual people participating in football being responsible for the lack of success and i do not just define success by merely winning a tournament. Football is probably the least professional sport in Britain.

Good stuff as usual Tim. I must admit to not watching any of the women's game for a number of years, and I would be extremely surprised if the popularity of the game at the Olympics was anything other than temporary in the UK. With so much live football from around the world on TV, I wouldn't pay to watch women's football, but fair play to all those who do. I assume the relative standard of goalkeeping has improved! I have seen a fair bit of Marta over the years though and she always looked light years ahead of the other players, tremendously skillful along with Prinz of Germany.

Good comments from Londoner there at #4 IMO. The male Team GB side were a fairly damning assessment on the lack of flair players coming through.

#5 - As a Scot I have certainly enjoyed the tournament, and still am. It's bizarre IMO that you have decided to attack Scots in an attempt to promote your own identity though, when the opposite is not true. Surely if you understand the politics of football and voting rights then you appreciate it makes no sense for the SFA to back an arrangement that puts their identity under threat. As none of the Scottish players would get picked anyway, the impact of not backing it served its purpose and the impact was nil. I wouldn't trust Blatter's word on anything, and he won't be around forever (hopefully!)

I do feel that Team GB were a very ordinary-looking bunch and rather fortunate to get as far as they did, but fair play to them they did about as well as they could. Heavily reliant on the Welsh lads I felt though. In all fairness they could not have expected to beat the South Koreans without a real tough game, and would've been hoping for another narrow victory.

@7 Daniel

You make some interesting points. My personal opinion is that there are several reasons why football at an international level in the UK is not progressing as much as other sports.

1. Football associations

Incompetence and self interest of the football associations. The fact that several of the associations were unable to seize this wonderful opportunity is damning.

2. Players

A lack of dedication from some (not all) footballers. There seems to be a trend for young players to think they have 'made it' when they sign a professional contract. Then there are individuals who have a good season in the Premier League and believe that they are far better players than they actually are. David Bentley is a good example.

3. Supporters

Some (not all) supporters are unable to look past their club affiliation. It is even worse at a national level. The fact is that the individual nations, perhaps with the exception of England, are pretty poor on the international stage.


I've been watching a lot of the cycling in the last week. What struck me was the proffesionalism, unity and more than anything enjoyment that they showed. It really is the best of Britain (and Northern Ireland) and the results are ample proof that it is working.

baggiosponytail @14

I went to five games, I deliberately chose the womens games, each was entertaining in a different way. It was the approach of each team that seperated them from the men's game.

Of course there was the same desire to win, that is an essential element of sport but there was a purity about the women's football.

It proved you can be competitive without resorting to the usual antics found in the men's game. That word professionalism has never been more appropriate, than when watching the women's football.

Nowhere will you find professional and what goes on in the men's game together. Professional has never meant cheating and to win at all costs. Watching and following men's football today, is like watching WWF. Somehow the image has taken over the sport.

I keep thinking of Bradley Wiggins and his stopping to allow a competitor to get a puncture fixed because the road had been laced with tacks. There are very few comparable examples in football of that type of behaviour.

As you wrote regarding supporters. The tribal nature that exists in football, supporters are desperate to associate themselves with a club but the reality is, it is no more than a brand name and it means the actual game suffers because the game itself has less importance to them, than what they consider to be their club.

@13

There was enough assurances that the national identity of the Scottish team would not be hampered or taken away.

Yes Blatter is not the best, cant stand him and dont get me started on Platini.

I have welsh and scottish friends, Wales are in the same position as you and they have come out looking good and Allen, Ramsey and Bellamy are deservedly getting good accolades.

Also the way i say it is tongue in cheek sarcasm because prior to the tournament the amount of negativity aimed at team GB from our Scottish neighbours even to the point of wanting team GB to lose every game and get kicked out as soon as possible is actually very disgusting to read.

This is the Olympics in the UK, with more support we could have made a better team and had more strength in depth.

But we always have these strange haters lurking around.

This is sport and about showing the best of team GB can offer and then celebrate the festive mood of the sport and the biggest sporting event The Olympics.

But some people cant see past a false sense of patriotism and sectarian divided medieval views.

@16 shadow warrior

What interests me is that the lack of support or downright hostility seems to be unique to the GB mens football team.

Sir Chris Hoy in many respects reflects what is great about our nation. A proud Scot who is also proud to represent GB in his sport at the Olympics as well as cycling World Championships etc. I don't see or hear any criticism that he shouldn't be representing GB.

None of our athletes seem to have a problem representing GB either and also there doesn't seem to be ambivalence or even animosity towards the GB womens football team.

Enjoyed the article Tim, appreciated the "left field" article on women's football and the subtle way it was tied back to South American football. I'm guessing it was a slower week than normal?

What are the steps of football in Brazil? As you have said, Marta's star is surely starting to implode as she gets older. Does this spell the end of a "golden age" for women's football in Brazil or are there other stars waiting to take on the mantle?

As for the lucas moura speculation, I have to agree with you, he's still largely untested. Whilst I have seen little of him, from what I hear and have seen, the comparisons to Ronaldo (ex-man utd) seem to be fair. The only thing you have to question are:

a) Would he settle well in dreary Manchester? Sao Paolo it is not.
and
b) Do Man Utd really need another winger come striker?

17.At 15:41 6th Aug 2012, BaggiosPonytail wrote:
@16 shadow warrior

What interests me is that the lack of support or downright hostility seems to be unique to the GB mens football team.

Sir Chris Hoy in many respects reflects what is great about our nation. A proud Scot who is also proud to represent GB in his sport at the Olympics as well as cycling World Championships etc. I don't see or hear any criticism that he shouldn't be representing GB.
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For whatever reason, football seems to bring out the tribal secretarianism out in all of us.

Maybe it's the fact that football teams play under their designated FAs where as at other sports such as cycling, tennis etc it is in a uniformed manner.

Then again, The British Lions system exists in Rugby and that's not really with too much hostility?

@19 eduard_streltsov_ghost

Yes football definitely odd in that respect.

In rugby playing for the British and Irish Lions (to give it's full title) is in some ways the highest accolade for a rugby player from these islands. If you get selected then you are generally a really good player.

Also the way i say it is tongue in cheek sarcasm because prior to the tournament the amount of negativity aimed at team GB from our Scottish neighbours even to the point of wanting team GB to lose every game and get kicked out as soon as possible is actually very disgusting to read.
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What patronising nonsense. Any evidence to support any of these assertions?

Baggiosponytail @17

Your comment regarding Sir Chris Hoy, merely illustrates the divide that football has with the rest of the sporting world.

Football stands alone in terms of the sport, the supporters, the administrators, the ruling bodies. No other sport really compares to it.

Usain Bolt really sums it up for me, no matter what nationality you are, if he doesn't set the pulse racing, when watching him, then you cannot be interested in sport itself. It's the same for our pursuit team in cycling, the NZ pair in the rowing.

Football is the only sport where a large percentage of supposed supporters colours are nailed to the mast, while showing a lack of understanding for the quality of other nations teams or players and what they bring to the sport.

I think the main point is that the majority of English people would welcome players coming from Scotland and Northern Ireland, And even if they did not make the starting 11 they could still gain valuable tournament experience and being a squad player. That would increase their stock and hopefully make them better players.

They could of had a few players going back to their national teams and firing them up by sharing the experience of how good it is to be at least invloved in tournament football and for Wales, Scotland and N Ireland this is perhaps the best chance they can get and can only benefit from it.

So many players from team GB who were unheard of now will be recognised by the wider general public.

Allans stock has increased, and we know know Butler is a fine prospect for the future, we know Sturridge is not yet ready to be a big game player and Bellamy is still an outstanding footballer still.

For me personally i saw a brand new fresh team grow game by game and at times produced some good attacking footballing, we never sat back and i think the players gave it everything which only gives us the chance to recognise that players who play for lesser teams or have been put in the shelf can with some encouragement come to the grade with a bit of help and the chance to prove themselves.

I think both the women and the men in this Olympics did a very fine job and have shown people that we can if all cooperate put out a very strong team and compete in what is the biggest sporting event on the planet.

But some just dont want that and think in backward ways.

eduard

The British Lions are a prime example of sport overiding nationality.

But there again rugby is a game that does not have the normal mindless following, although it's set up in a very similar way to football.

@21

I am not sure where you have been for the past few years, but on planet earth there is masses of evidence that the ones who refused to represent their own nation in the biggest sporting event in there homeland is in abundance.

I for one have read many times that if team GB played at hampton park they would be booed off the feild, and how many times have i read from our brothers north of the boarder that they cant wait for us to get knocked out at the earliest point.

Just read a few blogs and then see for yourself........

20.At 15:51 6th Aug 2012, BaggiosPonytail wrote:
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I wonder if "Team GB" started to do a summer tour of South America / Asia etc whether that might help to gain more "respect".

Football is a strange fig.

Well Brazil v South Korea. Could Brazil be in for a shock? They have never won the Olympics!

24.At 16:03 6th Aug 2012, Londoner in exile returns wrote:
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Well you generally tend to be "educated more" if you play rugby. Rugby union certainly. We have said before that football can learn a thing or two from Rugby, but i doubt Blatter and co would ever be willing to concede such a stance.

@22 Londoner

Indeed. You can add Ainslie in sailing, Federer in tennis, Phelps in swimming etc. to that list. Individuals who transcend their nationality and sport.

I just hope womens football is able to steer clear of petty politics. Perhaps a permanent womens GB team should be formed now?

shadow warrior '23

I do think a team thrown together, as was GB showed more improvement in three matches than we have witnessed for any three consecutive England matches in 10 years. Which shows it is possible to improve a team in a short space of time.

Football should certainly take some advice in regards to the other sports, and Rugby is fine example of how we could also replicate a team GB in the Olympics.

Just imagine the team when Liverpool was in its hey day, that was one of the best teams in the world at the time if not the best and it was made up of mainly Scottish and English players.

Its also another chance to dip into the pool of talent we have here that does not always get a chance to come thrugh because of the mass invasion of overseas mediocre players.

We want a multinational sport that pulls down the divisions between people, i love rooting for top rated players no matter where they are from.

I hope team GB did enough to make some steps for GB to take a team to Brazil.

We can either approach it in 2 ways

1st We can pick our best players in GB and go and compete.

2nd We can play fringe international players and give them a chance to get more experience of international football and again this would certainly help their clubs and countries respectively.

All i am saying is that our nation could really show the world that we are indeed a true footballing nation and not some petty tribal gathering that bickers over meaningless politics that have nothing to do with the true spirit of sport.

#25

So your evidence is based on a few selective comments you have read on a couple of blogs and which you then trot out as facts to cover everyone, or is somehow representative of what most people think.

And on 'your planet' this somehow counts as 'masses of evidence'.

Oh dear!

eduard

Yes we can state education as an influence but it is far more than that.

I've noticed the infiltration of a football type stance into our cricket team [which i am watching right now] where the usual bull about overseas players representing England & Wales occurs. They qualified under the rules, end of story for me.

Myself, i just want to see the best perform, it would of been a shame, to have been denied the pleasure of watching Pietersen bat, in test cricket.

These Olympics have thrown up the usual bull from the usual crowd, they seem to forget it is sport and it is meant for all the people to enjoy.

@26 eduard_streltsov_ghost

I expect Brazil to win the tournament.

I think we have already learned a lot about Brazil. They have hugely talented individuals, particularly going forward.

However, for me regardless of how they perform from now at these Olympics there are some big issues they need to address. The main one is that defensively they are a bit of a shambles and this is against strikers who are by no means the best in the world.

They will not win the World Cup playing the way they have in this tournament that is for sure.

Shadow warrior, the way you criticise the Scots, whilst praising the Welsh (and utterly ignoring the Northern Irish) is interesting. You do realise that all these football associations were united in their opposition to Team GB? Because having a go at the Scots in isolation rather makes it seem like you're the one with the chip on your shoulder.

I should probably add that i've really enjoyed watching Brazil and most of the matches i've seen have been great to watch.

@29

While the quality is not as good as major tournements, i think team GB's credit goes to playing witout fear and players actually trying their best. Something which our national team cant seem to do......

I enjoyed watching how team GB was playing to to improve and get better and played with heart, again something i havent seen in Englands team since Hoddle, Robson and Venables.

Under the circumstances team GB i think did not deserve to go out when they did and penalties are always cruel, even in extra time against South Korea we kept pushing for the win.

And we may have found some new stars, Allen i think most people will know if they follow the prem, and now he will be talked of as a potential big player and this will give Wales national team a massive boost and who if your honest had ever heard about Butler before the Euros and seen what he is capable of, being a Blues fan i knew about him for quite a while, but even then i didnt think he was as good and confident as he was.

Alot and i mean alot of positives have come from this and Wales especially have done themselves proud while others may just have a bit of egg on their face.

27.eduard_streltsov_ghost

Well you generally tend to be "educated more" if you play rugby

__________________________________________________________

???

i cant really get my head around this comment? i find it tends to be lots of overweight lumbering oafs playing a large game of bulldogs charge with some rules and an egg thrown in. A few fights later and some kicking and crashing some more the games over. If anything an education is the last thing you need to play Rugby, more a thick head and a good dentist.

@36 shadow warrior

I don't think many people have heard of "Butler" before or after the Euros ;-)

32.At 16:20 6th Aug 2012, Londoner in exile returns wrote:
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I think many expect Brazil to win the tournament, but that's happened in the past and they've failed. Will be interesting to see the other QF tonight.

They do have a poor defence and that will surely be the key area that Menezes will look to work on?

@37 signori

Do you actually watch any rugby?

@ 39 That was supposed to be to Baggio's Ponytail.....

Londoner,

I don't think the Cricket issue is particularly bad, I mean the likes of Pieterson, Prior etc were either not good enough for South Africa otherwise they'd been in their team.

The fact that England (so far) are ranked no.1 in the world says it's been a successful ploy so far.

You get it in football, Deco for Portugal for example.

37.At 16:28 6th Aug 2012, signori wrote:
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I think you're describing "sunday league" rugby, at which point, it's no different to sunday league football.

At a professional level there seems to be greater difference, a lot of the players are university educated for starters. The fan atmosphere is also different.

@34

No your wrong and probably dont read the blogs and the comments as much as i do.

If you did you would notice that this is not directed at the powers that be in football. Yes Wales N Ireland and Scottish FA's opposed it. But that was based on the fear that there national team would be uprooted or dismantled in one form or another.

But thats the FA's not the general public, and most here know that the governing bodys know sweet FA about what the true fans of football as a sport want and what the Olympics means especially on home soil.

But my point was directed not to the FA's because they wont read these blogs so whats the point.

My comments is towards the fans who have been against this.

Simple of that, and while i am guilty of generalising, i do know not just from the BBC that the majority of Scottish fans have been opposing this from day dot, and it would take alot to convince me otherwise.

@ Baggios ponytail.

And when would butler or Allen ever get the chance to play in a big tournament, not very likely is it....

Unless some football fans think that the Olympics is not a very big tournament :)

@44 shadow warrior

Sorry I was pointing out it is Butland not Butler :-) He looks a really good prospect - he will have to improve his kicking but at 19 there is plenty of time.

Allen and Ramsey have definitely made the most of their opportunity.

@ Baggio

To be honest i think the Olympics have made football look like a Neanderthals. There is so much purity in the events in the Olympics, i am sure apart from a few everyone wanted Usian Bolt to win and what an amazing personality he is, him alone stands head and shoulders above any footballer.

How many times have football brought tears of emotions as regular as the watching of so called insignificant sports in the Olympics.

Tears passion and true sporting spirit is what the Olympics brings.


Football is so backwards..... and so to are the fans ( but not all )

yeah sorry Butland and i am a Blues fan lol

40., BaggiosPonytail

Not if i can help it, its very boring and rather repetative and not much skill involved in my opinion. It really is a sport where you can afford to be overweight.

I would say that they are University educated as they have to be as Rugby isnt as much a high profile game as football, there isnt a lot of money in it, especially if your a youngster, some lads at big club acadamies can be on a few K a week in football, Rugby players have to try have a plan B as Rugby there is more chance of 'not making it' and being injured.

For me personally i think it's a sport that you can get away with a lot, on the football field its less harder to hide away the levels of skill are vast between the two sports. Rugby fans and players that i have met or seen tend to be that of a undecuated variety, big huge men wearing small tops to show how 'hard' they are, a very strange breed indeed, rather caveman like.

46.shadow warrior

have you ever thought thats because the Olympics is every 4 years, if it was once a week on a saturday at 3 o'clock you may not think the same.

I find it such lazy journalism to keep having a go at the football team, when have they once said anything about winning, or how good they are? why are people so quick to have a go and beome so negative about them, if you put as much emotion into getting behind the team as you did having a go then maybe the outcome would be different,

Then again thats the way it is, build them up so you have more fun knocking them down.....

48.At 16:57 6th Aug 2012, signori wrote:
"Not if i can help it, its very boring and rather repetative and not much skill involved in my opinion. It really is a sport where you can afford to be overweight." - So no you haven't played rugby. I think you're obviously thinking of Rugby Union (Rugby league players are probably more fitter than footballers) and even then the reason why they're "big" is to use that power and strength in scrums, lineouts, charges etc. You could say there's not much skill in hoofing a round ball for a "big man" to chase either.

"I would say that they are University educated as they have to be as Rugby isnt as much a high profile game as football" - I went to a Grammar school and much to my disain, they did not play football. The sport of choice was rugby union. It's no coincidence that there are more "educated" players. I think youngsters have the same risks in rugby as they do in football, there's just a different "class" that play football.

"For me personally i think it's a sport that you can get away with a lot, on the football field its less harder to hide away the levels of skill are vast between the two sports." - Not really sure how you can compare the two? Is there less skill in cricket compared to football then? Bit of a bizarre comment to make.

"Rugby fans and players that i have met or seen tend to be that of a undecuated variety, big huge men wearing small tops to show how 'hard' they are, a very strange breed indeed, rather caveman like." - I think you've just described football fans. Maybe that's just the "breed" you get in your area of Manchester! ;)

@16 - unfortunately Blatter is in no position to give any assurances. He doesn't have the remit to do so. In any event he may not be around too much longer, and in the future the new president could use it as a precedent in any argument on this issue.

Ferry_Arab makes the point which I had understood to be true - that all of the other home associations also did not back the Team GB concept for the same reason. Just because no Scottish players got picked doesn't mean the Welsh or NI are any less "moaning" in that respect. Neither association was doing it out of an inherent dislike of Team GB, but rather the implications arising from it.

Some Scots identify less with Britishness than others, and in most cases appreciate the wider footballing world moreso. I do not see that as an inherently bad thing at all, indeed it is surely a more liberal viewpoint, as you would say!

50. eduard_streltsov_ghost

i can see you like Rugby, that much is clear in your replies, rather defensive indeed.

In my opinion its a poor sport and in terms of skill it cant be compared to football. After all running and crashing into people isn't my idea of skill or fun.

each to their own but i think the popularity difference between them both tells a story.

@ 12. Londoner in exile returns

In my opinion people like you just swallow the tabloid guff.

I had to laugh at you talking about the image of football and what you regard as cheating, and how football is so unprofessional and has gone downhill in this country since 1992... then comparing it to all the sports at the Olympics that are supposedly whiter-than-white ever since 1992, like... athletics and cycling.

Shall I mention the elephant in the room yet? DOPING!

@46 shadow warrior

I've actually really enjoyed the football at the Olympics so far. Most of the games that I have watched (and I admit that is not a huge number as there is so much else going on) have been entertaining - especially those involving Brazil.

The frustration for me, and I guess by your comments you too, is the way in which a lot of people seemed to have approached it. I can understand people saying they wont watch it because there are other sports they would rather watch but to say they actually wanted the GB experiment to fail baffles me.

I'm English but if Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland qualified for the Euros or World Cup and we didn't then i'd definitely be giving them my support - being British it just seems the natural thing to do.

signori

Do you even know the difference between the two rugby codes?

55. Frank Black

ones slow and boring, the other is fast and boring.

At 55. Frank Black, he's made it clear that he's not a rugby fan. You're not going to convince people of something just because you enjoy it. Being big and strong is a huge advantage for playing both League and Union.

Aesthetically rugby is just not as pleasing to watch as football is, whatever you think of the behaviour toward the referees or the personalities of the players. It also favours bigger lads, so it's not as democratic as football is.

56 signori

Ha! Well you're consistent at least.

51.At 17:09 6th Aug 2012, stevie_bhoy wrote:
@16 - unfortunately Blatter is in no position to give any assurances. He doesn't have the remit to do so. In any event he may not be around too much longer, and in the future the new president could use it as a precedent in any argument on this issue.

Ferry_Arab makes the point which I had understood to be true - that all of the other home associations also did not back the Team GB concept for the same reason. Just because no Scottish players got picked doesn't mean the Welsh or NI are any less "moaning" in that respect. Neither association was doing it out of an inherent dislike of Team GB, but rather the implications arising from it.

Some Scots identify less with Britishness than others, and in most cases appreciate the wider footballing world moreso. I do not see that as an inherently bad thing at all, indeed it is surely a more liberal viewpoint, as you would say!
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I don't buy the excuse about the retaining independence at all, it's total rubbish.

There probably won't even be a GB Mens team at the 2016 Olympics. There's no threat from FIFA or UEFA to make Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland's men associations play as Great Britain.

They let a bunch of rocks called the Faroe Islands and a tiny principality in Italy called San Marino compete in international tournament qualifiying as independent nations for heaven's sake!

The Scottish FA just wanted to feel important and make a political point toward a London-centric 'English' Olympics.

Some Scots identify less with Britishness than others, and in most cases appreciate the wider footballing world moreso. I do not see that as an inherently bad thing at all, indeed it is surely a more liberal viewpoint, as you would say!
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About 30 years of social survey evidence tells us that about 80% of Scots see themselves as Scottish first and British (if at all) second. While this can take some people to some weird xenophobic places, its actually no different to what most people in England think as well: albeit that the growth of Englishness has been more recent.

On the point of the blog, the women's team were decent to watch. I don't know about 'inspiring' more females to play but I certainly do hope that it alters football at youth level: in the USA girls football is heavily promoted and they play in teams with other girls. In the UK my experience - having daughters - is that girls are expected to play in boys teams and develop alongside them.

Rob04

Yes, but it worked for Gregory's girl.

#61

Yes it did :) :)

This summer I watched a few local tournaments where we were in the US with plenty of all-girls teams competing either for a club or their high school. It strikes me that in the UK football is largely targeted at boys, while in the US there was little gender divide.

@ 54

I think the same as you and it was definatley a good experience for me and the fans who followed it.

And for those you could not enjoy it because of some pride then its not my loss :)

I would love to see Scotland Wales and N Ireland in the main tournaments.

The best ever game i watched when i was a kid was Peru V Scotland in the world cup back in the 70'S or around that time, Scotland lost but i was just glued at the level of football played and probably was a Scottish player for a while.

I dont really like Chelsea to much nor any of the top teams because there a circus act most the time, but when they are in Europe they get my support.

Being British is a bonus to add onto being English, i am proud to be both as i enjoy positive diversity.

Wales just proved that they have alot to offer internationally and if Scotland did compete and NI i am sure they would have had someone we would all talk up.

But that chance has gone, lets hope they change for the Olympics.

@62

Yes, I agree with you, but there would seem to be a gender divide in the US also, where 'soccer' in schools is targeted more at girls.

@63 shadow warrior

Yes I know what you mean. Sometimes cheering on a team without the worry/expectation associated with watching England in tournaments is refreshing. My favourite was USA '94 when I was following the Republic of Ireland under big Jack. I'll never forget that Houghton goal vs Italy.

@ Shadow Warrior (#25) - Where is "Hampton Park?"
-Would this be Hampden Park, the Scottish National football stadium?

Three of the four UK football associations expressed genuine concern over creating a Team GB. Their opinions were largely ignored by the BOA and the English FA who both were intent on risking the prized individual home nation status for a once-off Olympic team. I remember many occassions when other international FA's questioned the UK's right to four football teams in every international tournament qualifying round.

One example is in the 1982 World Cup where Scotland, NI and England were all present, and many FA chairmen were interviewed favoring a GB team. Last week, I saw some of these interviews on youtube. (There are many recent examples).

I hope that the BOA and English FA will now distance themselves from future GB football olympic teams and respect the strong views expressed by their fellow UK neighbours. Scotland may well be independent in 2014, so this discussion may shift.

@66

All i got from that was sectarian views once again.

Not sure why you cant find a better way to express yourself, as alot of say we would like a full team GB with all our nations offering to join in.

The rest all politics of which i am not concerned a tad...

I was rooting for both the British teams and don't see why we can't try the idea of a ladies British team at the Olympics. Unfortunately if the senior england male players had taken part, the egos would have clashed (imagine Bellamy and Terry in the same team) and we would have gone absolutely nowhere, as per the usual england tournament experience. A development english contingent plus the likes of Ramsey and experience from Wales seems a good blend. Since Giggs nailed his colours to the wrong mast, I have always hoped that he and the more skilful welsh that have come along would one day get a chance at a tournament. Currently the other FAs don't have anyone capable of getting into this squad, but if they had (and one day they will) would those players have gone against the wishes of their association? I bet they would!

having a user name noGBfootball just says it all really.

But for the ones who took part i think they are generally happy, so lets stick with the ones that took part and supported it, the rest can drink neem juice...

@68 Agreed i think the Welsh players really stood out, Bellamy certainly shined and Ramsey and Allen were growing game by game, we certainly got knocked out to early, i was so much wanting to see us play Brazil, the best footballing nation in History by far.

Who in their right minds would not want to be part of an Olympic event ;)

@59 - Blatter himself questioned why the Home Nations should be allowed their own teams, before changing his mind. Not the views of a man to be trusted implictly!

The obvious difference with your observation is the unique concentration of power that the Home Nations have - ie automatic FIFA vice-presidency and International Board membership - which is quite rightly resented by some. Both Blatter and Argie vice-president Julio Grondona have made noises about it, so if the SFA want to "hide" behind that then they at least have an argument. They are after all maintaining the status quo, not changing anything. I can see that logic more than just to have a pop at the 'English' games.

@66 - probably an idea not to bring up politics in your first post then! Seems to concern you enough to make reference to it in a blog about women's football, you seem more concerned about it than anyone else! Don't worry mate the Premiership will be back shortly and all this will be a distant memory...

Will never forget my first international game - Terry Venables first game in charge of England, a friendly against European Champions Denmark at Old Wembley, packed crowd, I was 9. Met my Dad in his office at Farringdon and got the train up with a bunch of Millwall fans who said 'If hearing 80000 people singing the national anthem doesn't make your hair stand on end then you ain't English'

David Platt scored the only goal so he was immediately installed as my 2nd favourite player behind Ian Wright - I spent most of the first half needing to go to the toilet but was held it in until halftime because I didn't want to miss the action. My dad probably did make us leave early to beat the rush though...

So it's USA vs Japan in the womens football final. Should be a good match, i'd expect the USA to win but the Japanese will give them a good game.

At the end of the day it's all politics.

Good to see the women's game getting some hard earned exposure. The US escaped tonight!

Can't really understand the haters out there who are seemingly using other sports in order to bash team GB or Football in general can we not just admire all sports and athletes? Usual tedious ignorance from middle England completely ignoring other sporting drug scandals or runners being sent home for not even trying. Every sport has a dark side to it it's just with football's much higher profile the scandals get exposed x10.
On the rugby debate the thing that frustrates me is that there is a section of Rugby Union fans who pretty much watch the sport because it's not football and think their of a superior moral authority for it i.e snobs. Baseball fans in the USA would never attack Basketball or American Football in the same way, they appreciate all sports and their value but might chose one over another but not have an obssession with hating it. Union though not League fans are also the most boring fans in the World

Hey Tim,
Just like other sports like other sports like basketball, MMA, and now football I always tell my guys to watch the ladies for superb execution & technique. This also goes with golf. I have

52.At 17:11 6th Aug 2012, signori wrote:
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"i can see you like Rugby, that much is clear in your replies, rather defensive indeed." - It's nowhere near my favourite sport, I prefer football, ice hockey, mma etc but I can watch a good game, much like I can watch cricket or athletics quite happily as well. What I'm being "defensive" about is people making ignorant comments.

"In my opinion its a poor sport and in terms of skill it cant be compared to football. After all running and crashing into people isn't my idea of skill or fun." - I don't think you've ever played it to understand the level of skill required. It's like my commenting on bobsleighing. I can say all you do is go down a very fast slide, there's no skill in that. I'd be an idiot though.

"each to their own but i think the popularity difference between them both tells a story." - Possibly the stupidest comment made so far. Does that mean football (as the most popular sport in the world) is the most skilful or the best?

Are you WUMMING? If so, then I take my hat off.

Hardly surprising. An Englishman trying to make the most of poor performances from the two British football teams. My endearing memory will be Strurridge missing a penalty against the Koreans. Brazil will probably win the men's football Olympic gold and as a self proclaimed expert on South American football, that is probably what you should be discussing.
The British teams have no future and as you probably know, the idea of Great Britain only exists in English minds.

53.At 17:20 6th Aug 2012, Vox Populi wrote:
then comparing it to all the sports at the Olympics that are supposedly whiter-than-white ever since 1992, like... athletics and cycling.

Shall I mention the elephant in the room yet? DOPING!
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Those sports with doping cases tend to be individual sports where there is obvious emphasis on gaining whatever advantage you can. The dynamics are completely different to a team sport hence, if you're in bad form, the rest of the team can continue. But if you're in bad form in say cycling or athletics then you're hte only one that suffers.

Likewise those individual sports tend to be more based on physique than technique so there's further obvious reasons why abuse may be greater than in more balanced team sports.

@ stevie bouy

Are you getting the proof you need now, and this is just a thread with 70 posts.....

Not sure why the Scottish think they are a great authority on the game, its not like they produce anything or give anything much to the game.

Celtice Poor when faced with decent opposition

Rangers Sunday League team at best

Scotland national team, so far down in the ranking one gets bored scrolling down to find out where they are.


But still they insist and procliam they are some sort of master at football

Managing yes

Politics yes

Moaning Yes

Class ermmm.....

@77

Yes Sturridge is not a big game player, but has more skill than all of the Scottish national team, he just needs to learn a bit more and could perhaps be a world beating.

But its good you have an enduring memory of this.

I am not old enough to have any real enduring memories of any Scottish players in the big tournaments, unless i really dig deep and perhaps with the use of google, its just that distant and more like ancient history.

A failed nation in football

I reckon this was the worst display i have seen from the female Brazil team in recent memory. In the game against the GB team, the Brazil ladies were very poor and deservedly lost. It's the GB team that should have worn the golden yellow shirts with the skill and commitment they showed. The Brazil ladies have peaked now and will have to look for new and upcoming players to replace the likes of Marta and Christiane. The old guard may have lost the opportunity to win a major football title now. I really hope the Brazil olympic team finally win the gold medal and start a campaign to win the WC 2014.

Sorry, mistake in my last entry, meant to say hopefully the men's olympic team go on to win the gold medal and build up for the WC2014.

C;mon be realistic. Womens football is terrible, just like womens basketball. May as well watch a low talent mens team.

People pay for quality.

pgb addick @83

C;mon be realistic. Womens football is terrible, just like womens basketball. May as well watch a low talent mens team.
People pay for quality.

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Oh dear, I suppose i should be demanding my money back throughout next season because for all the football I go to watch, roughly 95% is not what i would call quality football.

Or England, how on earth can they get 70 odd thousand to watch them, I don't see the FA saying sorry you've just watched rubbish.

Last night the match could hardly be called a terrible game.

When all is said and done, people who go to watch football, can only go, with the hope of a good game because it certainly carries no gaurantees, no matter what sex the teams are, or the level the game is at.

84. They're watching it because it's the Olympics. Womens football is not a viable commercial sport in England. It may be in the States where people will watch anything and there's 300m of them.

You're caught up in the hype.

pgb Addick @85

Gaught in the hype, NO.

I have watched the womens game develop for over 20 years because it is football.

Maybe your one of the 'only the premiership has quality' types.

No one who watches the game, would call the premiership quality in terms of skill and technique.

Now if you want your football played at breakneck pace, then the men's game and the premiership, is definitely for you.

#79/80

Since you can't produce any credible evidence to support your prejudices, can't discuss the politics of the game beyond some general wish for some idyllic happy-bunny Olympic-land UK, or even accept that other people have a different view to you...all you are left with is yet more sad xenophobic rants.

Well maybe it's breakneck speed and agression that is wanted. I think the Championship is good to watch too. The PL is quality compared to the womens games I've seen. It's a completely different game. Anybody with technique is allowed to show it.
I've seen things I'd laugh at if I was watching the Conference. Not the girls fault, it's just not a womens sport worth watching.

@ 79/80

I think the sad xenophobic rants has already be fullfilled by our not so gracious neighbours north of the boarder.

I am not bitter like you just poi9nting out a fact that the people who love sport enjoyed the event and we can see so many positives and are enjoying liberal free thinking and diversity.

pgb addick @88

Variation is what we need in football, it's just like life itself, all the same and it has no meaning and is definitely boring.

I would say if we get all people interested in the game, no matter the sex, male or female, the level or quality, then that has to be a good way to go forward.

I was there last night and I can tell you it is nothing like watching any league match. The atmosphere is entirely different. It was enjoyable but would I watch it every week? NO. But then again I do not go to premiership matches every week, throughout the season i go to all levels, even down to the Welsh league.

I think you're a bit confused shadow lad! The Home Nations not backing Team GB doesn't mean that the inhabitants of said countries can't enjoy the games. Why would it? Even if you were dead against the idea of Team GB, I would imagine you would enjoy watching them go out or watching other sides.

You keep referring to liberal free thinking and diversity, implying that somehow not backing Team GB suggests this. That in itself is a strange concept. But the most bizarre aspect is that you seem to have a problem with people who have a different view point to your own! If some Scottish people don't "feel British" then why does this offend you so?

You repeatedly refer to Scottish xenophobia when it was you who, unprovoked, launched an unjustified attack on Scottish people in a South American blog about women's football, which seems to be based on reading some comments on a football forum that you disagreed with. Which international fans from the Home Nations have had the worst relations with foreign fans over the years?

Stop ruining a perfectly good blog with silly arguments, soon the Premiership will be back and you can discuss with like-minded sorts on the McNulty blogs!

@ Shadow Warrior

Sir,

You come across as an ignorant fool. You make sweeping generalisations bordering on xenophobia about Scotland - and you most certainly are the ungracious one on this board.

I am Scottish and also a proud Brit. You judge my entire country on a decision made by the SFA and some 'blogs' you have read, which equates in your narrow mind as evidence that a majority, if not all, Scots either hate the English or have a chip on our shoulders (though what we are meant to have a chip on our shoulders about, I have no idea). It's akin to judging all British people by David Cameron (though he was elected by the public, unlike the SFA!) and the letters page of The Daily Mail.

MOST Scots are right behind Team GB and most certainly would not have booed the football team, nor did we want them to lose. We don't think we are an authority -YOU really are the ungracious, arrogant and ignorant one here, but you know what, you'd be still welcomed and treated with respect and hospitality north of the border.

You moan about the Scots, and then call us moaners. You insult and disrespect my country, yet seem to feel you are offended by us. You probably hate the fact that Sir Chris Hoy is a Scot, or that a Scot may one day win Wimbledon, while trying to protest it is the Scots that have an issue with being part of GB. In psychology terms it's called projection.

You have an obvious dislike of Scotland and your criticisms are based on - to put it lightly - spurious 'evidence'. But no doubt you know Scotland better than me, you seem to have an air of authority on the subject.

I, as many Scots, am proud to be British. I love that Chris Hoy is a Scot just like someone from Sheffield no doubt loving the fact Ennis is from there - but I am behind ALL our athletes.

I am proud to support Scotland at football, I am proud to be amongst a set of fans that the locals all over the world love, because we have fun, despite our team being rubbish - as long as they try, they are heroes. I am proud to support Team GB and that's before we won a single medal.

So, continue to spout your uneducated rubbish about Scotland, we don't care. There are plenty of English/Welsh and NI peoples that are glad to be in a glorious union with Scotland, as we are proud to be with them.

And the proof just keeps flooding ;)

My initial comments were based on the fact that the majority of people south of the boarder embraced this chance of football and i think team GB did quite well, and i replied againts comments previous to the games about team GB.

All was in context of the football experiment of team GB of which players who seldom will get a chance to play tournament football actually did themselves proud.

The rest is just your slant and defensive ideas about secular thinking in regards to the aspect of building a GB team that can compete on the international stage in the sporting spirit.

You missed the point several times and it helps me get through my working day with smile.

Keep it up lads

@ Shadow Warrior

My comments were not defensive and unlike yours were not offensive. I get your points, I am unsure if you get your points.

I am genuinely happy you are smiling through your working day.

Did i really base my comments on the whole country of Scotland.

Least be said Scotland made the biggest fuss, and its the usual story.

I dont think i added to much political debate but rather was more saying that we enjoyed the games as participants and we welcome the Scottish players with open arms if they can get in the squad that is, which is another debatable point if its based on form and skill.

And nothing against Scotland as if you read my post properly i even said my best ever football game as kid was Scotland Vs Peru, i only became aware of tension between the English and Scottish when i started meeting Scottish people. Growing up in England i thin the vast majority dont even say anything about the Scottish.

Its more our neighbours north of the boarder who keep this issue going.

Long before a ball was kicked did the Scottish blogger here (whom it is aimed at) not Helgar in the shop corner who i am sure is a sweet life loving lass was crying out for team GB to be banned, and if it did go ahead they were posting blogs that even wanted us to lose everygame and could not wait for us to get kicked out.

On teh political side i can understand any nation wanting to keep its self identity, but i am proud to be English i dont support terrorism, but do i want to harm the people who are not terrorist in words or actions.

Keep you national team and good luck, we will enjoy humiliating Scotland at Wembley next year.

But here all we heard was they will boo team GB if it comes to Hampton park ;)

Players could be fined or punished if the showed interest in team GB

Scottish people wishing team GB to lose

Not very classy really.

And my point again was that i enjoyed the football and seen some potential and good up and coming football players. And it all rather makes the Scotiish haters of this event look rather silly and you still do.

This is a football blog and its common that the subject strays, but its related to the team GB, i gave my perfectly valid point about the team GB and how England and Wales did the nation proud and Scotland only embarrassed themselves for the team GB, not off topic really is it.

I am not the one who mentioned independence of Scotland in 2014

GB Scot,

There would not even be this debate if you were say a little bit more like the Welsh. They have historic and political issues with London and England just as much as you, and i think the English in history were perhaps more brutal to the Welsh.

But i have Welsh friends, Scottish also and the Welsh were proud of Giggs, Ramsey and Allen, and they enjoyed it and saw it mostly as a sporting event.

If only you could have been the same.

But prior to the games i didnt really notice many Welsh banging on and on about politics and how they wish team GB to lose.

I ma defending team GB from the haters which mostly came north of the boarder.

I understand my point very clear but you cant see that because as per because your turning this into a political debate.

Did i ask anyone to agree with me, no.....

Do i have the right to express my views based in what i have read on the BBC, yes...

Stevie Bouy wanted proof which is really splattered all over the internet nbot just the BBC that many north of the boader did not just stop at defending the identity of team GB but went a step further to try and disrupt, antongonise and public say they want is to lose and will be booed if they came to Humptan Park.

Is this correct or not, did i say it was everyone from Scotland no

Should i research and identify each and every blogger that was anti team GB, no....

Do i care about your politics no...

Am i happy that England and Wales proved we have potential, Yes

shadow warrior - put a proverbial sweaty sock in it will you?

@ Frank Black

Are you promoting the demise of freedom of speech?

Shadow Warrior

Oh dear. Team GB haters from North of the border?? Booing at Hampden Park?? Now, I am the one smiling. I have never discussed stuff with anyone before who knows nothing yet wants to know less :-) You are not going to identify any blogger, yet you 'know' the Scottish public wanted Team GB to lose? :-)

I was hoping to have sensible debate, but with you I think that may be hopeless! Have a nice day and keep smiling and I look forward to you 'humiliating' us at Wembley. That would make you happier than a thrilling game of football, which, my friend, sums you up.

Ans Shadow Warrior - just to inform you, you did not express views as read on the BBC, you read some anonymous person posting a comment, that's slightly different than the BBC reporting something as fact.

Get over yourself. Scotland has no problem with Team GB, but you have a problem with Scotland.

Now, have a nice day, seriously.