Lady Reds

[bpowell454]

Heres a can of worms...

I really want to support the lady reds but there is something I personally find cringey about the way we perceive them and womens sport in general.

Its that womens professional athletes seem to be above criticism. If your team plays terribly its just not really socially acceptable to call them out, its more a case of “ ohwell girls you tried really hard we are proud.”

In no way is it a critique on the players, its more about the way the public percieves them for various societal reason.IMO its condescending and disrespectful to them that we do not scrutinise them in the same way.

Even this thread is ultra positive ( with good intentions ) but i feel like womens sport needs to get beyond this road block to progress into the mainstream.

A perfect example is many years ago we had a keeper who was clearly not physically fit ( im sure some remember), however its was and still is taboo to even go into detail and even raising the issue you felt like a bit of an ass leaning towards a mysogynist.

Or anytime a goal is scored outside the box suddenly its a worldie.

I dont see how this kind of well meaning positivity actually shows any kind of respect to proffesional athletes that they deserve.

I completely agree. Any criticism of the w-league is met with anger whether it's a valid point or not doesn't seem to matter.

How is it ever supposed to improve if the status quo is not only accepted but praised?

I really think that the W-league should be striving to have a curtain raiser game before as many A-league games as possible but until they are producing a higher quality product, I don't see that being worth the extra costs.

[BenAD]

I call it how I see it, I feel like this is the best lady reds team we have put out and I see a team working really hard for each other.

I know the post wasn't directed at me but I am happy to criticise the performance and its been clear in previous years we haven't given too much care as a club towards our womens team, which is why I have only watched one or two games a year. This year has been different and Ive watch them all.

Obviously the quality is no where near the mens game and that probably makes it harder to judge as there are not many high quality womens leagues around the world as yet (and not many games you get to see, besides the internationals). Its hard for everyone to judge when they have no point of comparison.

I also wonder how many people actually follow it closely, because if you don't, then again its hard to judge individual players.

For the reds, the weakness imo is concentration. They give the ball a way a little too much and have the classic Adelaide United defensive lapses.

[Stuckey]

Yeah that's a very fair point.

[mcjules]

What sort of criticisms do you want to make? I think most people get annoyed at the criticisms the same way as when people criticise the A-league in comparison to the Premier League. It's not particularly productive IMO.

General criticisms about the team might come when they're not playing that well. As it stands, they're undefeated in 5 matches and have shown good character so I don't see the issue. Certainly when the Matildas had a few bad matches I saw some criticism.

The W-League in my opinion is a pretty decent product now, the players have decent technical skills and they play a nice style. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't watch it (like I dont watch AFLW as the product is pretty average IMO).

I think BenAD summed my thoughts on the team at the moment pretty well

[shinAUFC]

What sort of criticisms do you want to make? I think most people get annoyed at the criticisms the same way as when people criticise the A-league in comparison to the Premier League. It's not particularly productive IMO.

General criticisms about the team might come when they're not playing that well. As it stands, they're undefeated in 5 matches and have shown good character so I don't see the issue. Certainly when the Matildas had a few bad matches I saw some criticism.

The W-League in my opinion is a pretty decent product now, the players have decent technical skills and they play a nice style. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't watch it (like I dont watch AFLW as the product is pretty average IMO).

I think BenAD summed my thoughts on the team at the moment pretty well

I probably explained myself poorly.

I have no criticism of the players at all. I totally respect them as professionals and i hope the league and womens sport progresses.

My cringe is this sort of SJW forcefield that prevents people feeling like they can critique a player/effort/skill etc.

The best example i can give is The way its presented to us is more like a primary school sports day rather than a serious contest between players who win to put food on the table.

So my point is this does not respect the girls out on the pitch who have geared their lives towards football and being an athlete. Its treating them like children pretending to be stars and i feel this SJW forcefield is preventing womens sport going to the next level.

Let me be clear, in no way am i saying we should be able to ridicule and personally attack any player.

You can absolutely sense this in the way the media report on the aleague , how its marketed and womens sport in general.

Its not really an aleague or sport issue, probably much closer to a societal in that society is still playing catch up with the emergence of womens sport and we are trying to understand how we are supposed to consume the product ... if that makes sense?

[Stuckey]

What sort of criticisms do you want to make? I think most people get annoyed at the criticisms the same way as when people criticise the A-league in comparison to the Premier League. It's not particularly productive IMO.

General criticisms about the team might come when they're not playing that well. As it stands, they're undefeated in 5 matches and have shown good character so I don't see the issue. Certainly when the Matildas had a few bad matches I saw some criticism.

The W-League in my opinion is a pretty decent product now, the players have decent technical skills and they play a nice style. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't watch it (like I dont watch AFLW as the product is pretty average IMO).

I think BenAD summed my thoughts on the team at the moment pretty well

I probably explained myself poorly.

I have no criticism of the players at all. I totally respect them as professionals and i hope the league and womens sport progresses.

My cringe is this sort of SJW forcefield that prevents people feeling like they can critique a player/effort/skill etc.

The best example i can give is The way its presented to us is more like a primary school sports day rather than a serious contest between players who win to put food on the table.

So my point is this does not respect the girls out on the pitch who have geared their lives towards football and being an athlete. Its treating them like children pretending to be stars and i feel this SJW forcefield is preventing womens sport going to the next level.

Let me be clear, in no way am i saying we should be able to ridicule and personally attack any player.

You can absolutely sense this in the way the media report on the aleague , how its marketed and womens sport in general.

Its not really an aleague or sport issue, probably much closer to a societal in that society is still playing catch up with the emergence of womens sport and we are trying to understand how we are supposed to consume the product ... if that makes sense?

I hear you Shin, until this was mentioned it was something I was always aware of at some level but never really paid enough attention to for it to be something I was completely aware of, but I agree I think the school sports reference is very accurate. Some of the commentating we hear towards some of the play is often overly kind, I recall a number of times where a long range shot that results in a goal but mainly due to keeper error is considered a great goal. I do find this interesting as I can't imagine every coach involved in women's football at high levels would act that way directly towards the players. So I very much doubt the players would not have the coping skills to deal with the media speaking critically about poor play.

[shinAUFC]

Yeah im with you stuckey.

Remember our 100kg plus goal keeper?

Never once did i here her called out during a broadcast for lack if fitness and to be honest, despite me raising this issue im not totally sure how i feel about myself pointing out this individuals weight which totally ties in with my point.

This is a problem everywhere in society though. As we become a much more egalitarian society both in the work place and in homes we need to think very carfully about the difference between equality of outcome abd equality of opportunity.

Sorry ive really derailed this thread lol, i just feel thise with the best of intentions end up unwittingly disrespecting these girls with an attitude of rainbows and unicorns.

[Stuckey]

Yeah im with you stuckey.

Remember our 100kg plus goal keeper?

Never once did i here her called out during a broadcast for lack if fitness and to be honest, despite me raising this issue im not totally sure how i feel about myself pointing out this individuals weight which totally ties in with my point.

This is a problem everywhere in society though. As we become a much more egalitarian society both in the work place and in homes we need to think very carfully about the difference between equality of outcome abd equality of opportunity.

Sorry ive really derailed this thread lol, i just feel thise with the best of intentions end up unwittingly disrespecting these girls with an attitude of rainbows and unicorns.

Yeah it's certainly an aspect of society that many of us act on. I was always brought up to be kind to women and show respect by doing things like not asking their age or weight as this may upset them into thinking they aren't beautiful and therefore of less value to society.
I think these sort of actions do have good intentions but lead society to value young attractive women over experienced and hard working women. This is the very aspect of women's sport that I love. That it challenges that thinking in people so men who purely look at women as sexual objects have to look beyond that to see the value each member of a sports team brings to that side.

[shinAUFC]

I dont follow on the last bit stuckey and it actually confirms my point.

The sjw forcefield makes us feel we cant comment on a players appearance or attractiveness and while there is merit to the premise its taken to the extreme.

Male players are absolutely sexualised by SOME female fans and even male fans. We dont batt an eyelid to this.

Again let me be clear, i am not saying we should be judging players upon their attractiveness but that does not mean its wrong to comment.

There is just NO WAY media or general fans can follow the womens game without having to dodge and weave around these social sticking points forcing us to treat these professionals different to their male counterparts.

I dont think a single one of us in our heart of hearts can say we approach womens sport without a level of trepidation of what is the “right way” to be a fan, when we wouldnt even think twice for male sport.

I really am an advocate for womens sport but we need to treat them as they deaerve to be treated as professionals and not like talented children

Ok ive derailed the thread plenty, back on topic lol.. sorry

Who are we playing next week?

[Stuckey]

Yes I understand what you're saying and I just have memories of years gone by when the only female sports personalities most of us heard of we ones that featured in FHM who often did so to raise the profile of themselves and their sport.

Gladly I think those days are gone, as far as women needing to show some skin to promote themselves. I think maybe the pendulum has swung too far the other way now.

But one aspect I take on, is that for a lot of women growing up being athletic can be something that a draws a lot of judgement and disrespect especially thru the awkward teenage years. So like a number of other areas of community, have probably had enough unsolicited critique or unnecessary influence from white males, so being one myself I'm happy to take that on board and dial back criticism.

BTW the girls are playing Sydney in Sydney tomorrow!

[MartinAUFC]

BTW the girls are playing Sydney in Sydney tomorrow!

Can't call 'em "girls" Stuckey - it promotes the "primary school sports day" attitude.

Please use the term "ladies" in future

Yours Sincerely,
WATR Political Correctness Officer (self appointed)

[shinAUFC]

BTW the girls are playing Sydney in Sydney tomorrow!

Can't call 'em "girls" Stuckey - it promotes the "primary school sports day" attitude.

Please use the term "ladies" in future

Yours Sincerely,
WATR Political Correctness Officer (self appointed)

Ladies infers they are polite and dainty, lol

Www.Sackpoliticalcorrectnessofficer.com.au

[Stuckey]

How does everyone feel about females?

[sevengoals]

How about, Adelaide United Women's team?

[BenAD]

Game day today, Sydney have a struggled a little this season, so hopefully we can nab 3 points. 4th away game out of 6 for the lady reds, and next week is victory at home on friday night.