Sonia Bompastor extends contract with Olympique Lyonnais to 2013

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Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 9, 2012 at 15:10

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 9, 2012 at 15:44

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 9, 2012 at 15:56

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 9, 2012 at 16:07

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 10, 2012 at 0:40

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 10, 2012 at 9:07

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 12, 2012 at 6:56

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 12, 2012 at 8:30

The cynic in me says that should PSG sign Louisa Necib they will milk that she is outrageously goodlooking with a great personality. If you look at French team studio-photos of their lady soccer players, they all seem to wear femininely cut outfits, that they do not play in. PSG´s PR will take a leaf out of Magdalena Neuner´s book. Probably no modern woman sportsperson has been so expertly marketed. OK, the PR-companies had wonderful material to start with but they did their job perfectly.

   To some extent Lyon has already done this with Lotta Schelin. She speaks excellent French and interviews fluently with a bubbling personality. As Euro-2012 shows us, soccer is now part of the world wide entertainment business. The men´s game is pretty well fully mature now, so the next level is to develop the ladies´game and reach a different market. Somehow USA fluffed its lines and France and Germany is cornering the market. Sweden being so small can play a strong supporting role still but in the end money and market size will tell.

Richard Murray said:

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 13, 2012 at 2:25

not somehow , bad business, the USA's business community since the Reagan Era prides itself on making profit but isn't chastized for making profits while losing quality on all levels and in all fields.
Sports is no different
Lars Breimer said:

The cynic in me says that should PSG sign Louisa Necib they will milk that she is outrageously goodlooking with a great personality. If you look at French team studio-photos of their lady soccer players, they all seem to wear femininely cut outfits, that they do not play in. PSG´s PR will take a leaf out of Magdalena Neuner´s book. Probably no modern woman sportsperson has been so expertly marketed. OK, the PR-companies had wonderful material to start with but they did their job perfectly.

   To some extent Lyon has already done this with Lotta Schelin. She speaks excellent French and interviews fluently with a bubbling personality. As Euro-2012 shows us, soccer is now part of the world wide entertainment business. The men´s game is pretty well fully mature now, so the next level is to develop the ladies´game and reach a different market. Somehow USA fluffed its lines and France and Germany is cornering the market. Sweden being so small can play a strong supporting role still but in the end money and market size will tell.

Richard Murray said:

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 13, 2012 at 8:25

Our column reads a bit like a kind of philosophical transactions of a society of demented polar bears. I am not persuaded that Reagan can be blamed for the demise of women´s soccer in USA though it is an original hypothesis.

 

I have a couple of reflections.  It is a truism that if you are a sporting young lady with ball skills you are more likely to make money in tennis or golf than soccer. The obvious advantage of soccer is that you do not need specialised equipment or nets or huge areas; it can be played on any piece of reasonably level ground. Soccer does not need any up-front investment.Yet in USA and most countries, ladies´ football is a middleclass sport, not a poor person´s sport.

 

A drawback for women in all contact sports is the high risk of injury, most important knee injuries (esp ACL tears). Thus girls need to do a number of extra strengthening exercises that boys do not seem to. Nevertheless, for the game to flourish girls would have to feel safe that they remain injury-free and can earn a reasonable income if they are good.

 

The fact that attendance is gradually rising in some countries, such as Germany and France, while falling in others, most notably Sweden whose peak spectator numbers were higher than those in Germany are now, suggests that different factors may be operating in different countries. I am not a sales and marketing person but it seems that this needs to be teased out, both locally and regionally.  It is an obvious fact that the big stadia of the men´s clubs are underutilised, so building up adequate support for their ladies divisions would result in more income from these facilities. As a corollary, women may have to play mainly during the men´s off-season? A whole different market segment will be enticed to the ball-parks. Have they enough ladies´ toilets to cope?

 

It is an interesting phenomenon that ladies playing the two team sports of soccer and icehockey generates a remarkable level of antipathy and aggression from men. Women´s basketball does not seem to generate the same strong feelings. Maybe the key to successfully marketing ladies football lies in understanding and teasing out why a large segment of the male population feels threatened by women playing one but not by the other?

Richard Murray said:

not somehow , bad business, the USA's business community since the Reagan Era prides itself on making profit but isn't chastized for making profits while losing quality on all levels and in all fields.
Sports is no different
Lars Breimer said:

The cynic in me says that should PSG sign Louisa Necib they will milk that she is outrageously goodlooking with a great personality. If you look at French team studio-photos of their lady soccer players, they all seem to wear femininely cut outfits, that they do not play in. PSG´s PR will take a leaf out of Magdalena Neuner´s book. Probably no modern woman sportsperson has been so expertly marketed. OK, the PR-companies had wonderful material to start with but they did their job perfectly.

   To some extent Lyon has already done this with Lotta Schelin. She speaks excellent French and interviews fluently with a bubbling personality. As Euro-2012 shows us, soccer is now part of the world wide entertainment business. The men´s game is pretty well fully mature now, so the next level is to develop the ladies´game and reach a different market. Somehow USA fluffed its lines and France and Germany is cornering the market. Sweden being so small can play a strong supporting role still but in the end money and market size will tell.

Richard Murray said:

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by Richard Murray on June 14, 2012 at 0:46

I apologize, my intention was not to say it is Ronald Reagan's fault, it is coporations fault, Reagan is to blame for handing them responsibilities over fiscal life that they have been inept with, and the influence is in all sectors.
Interesting, you say that women's basketball is not threatening, but womens basketball as opposed to soccer is a different sport phenotypically.
In the USA most women soccer players are white, most women basketball players are black, that is the only difference, besides the sport as all the women are athletes.



Lars Breimer said:

Our column reads a bit like a kind of philosophical transactions of a society of demented polar bears. I am not persuaded that Reagan can be blamed for the demise of women´s soccer in USA though it is an original hypothesis.

 

I have a couple of reflections.  It is a truism that if you are a sporting young lady with ball skills you are more likely to make money in tennis or golf than soccer. The obvious advantage of soccer is that you do not need specialised equipment or nets or huge areas; it can be played on any piece of reasonably level ground. Soccer does not need any up-front investment.Yet in USA and most countries, ladies´ football is a middleclass sport, not a poor person´s sport.

 

A drawback for women in all contact sports is the high risk of injury, most important knee injuries (esp ACL tears). Thus girls need to do a number of extra strengthening exercises that boys do not seem to. Nevertheless, for the game to flourish girls would have to feel safe that they remain injury-free and can earn a reasonable income if they are good.

 

The fact that attendance is gradually rising in some countries, such as Germany and France, while falling in others, most notably Sweden whose peak spectator numbers were higher than those in Germany are now, suggests that different factors may be operating in different countries. I am not a sales and marketing person but it seems that this needs to be teased out, both locally and regionally.  It is an obvious fact that the big stadia of the men´s clubs are underutilised, so building up adequate support for their ladies divisions would result in more income from these facilities. As a corollary, women may have to play mainly during the men´s off-season? A whole different market segment will be enticed to the ball-parks. Have they enough ladies´ toilets to cope?

 

It is an interesting phenomenon that ladies playing the two team sports of soccer and icehockey generates a remarkable level of antipathy and aggression from men. Women´s basketball does not seem to generate the same strong feelings. Maybe the key to successfully marketing ladies football lies in understanding and teasing out why a large segment of the male population feels threatened by women playing one but not by the other?

Richard Murray said:

not somehow , bad business, the USA's business community since the Reagan Era prides itself on making profit but isn't chastized for making profits while losing quality on all levels and in all fields.
Sports is no different
Lars Breimer said:

The cynic in me says that should PSG sign Louisa Necib they will milk that she is outrageously goodlooking with a great personality. If you look at French team studio-photos of their lady soccer players, they all seem to wear femininely cut outfits, that they do not play in. PSG´s PR will take a leaf out of Magdalena Neuner´s book. Probably no modern woman sportsperson has been so expertly marketed. OK, the PR-companies had wonderful material to start with but they did their job perfectly.

   To some extent Lyon has already done this with Lotta Schelin. She speaks excellent French and interviews fluently with a bubbling personality. As Euro-2012 shows us, soccer is now part of the world wide entertainment business. The men´s game is pretty well fully mature now, so the next level is to develop the ladies´game and reach a different market. Somehow USA fluffed its lines and France and Germany is cornering the market. Sweden being so small can play a strong supporting role still but in the end money and market size will tell.

Richard Murray said:

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on June 14, 2012 at 6:38

Your point about body shape etc is well taken. Though men´s basket is dominated by black players, the women´s game is not (yet). Many of the currently great American names are white such as Bird, Taurasi and Vandersloot. The professional women do not earn much and play the off-season in Russia where every club (oligarch?) seems to want to have a women´s basket team, mainly of foreign talent bought off the shelf so to speak.

Maybe men who are successful playing basket and those who watch are more supportive of lady´s who want to play the game? They do not seem to feel threatened by it and recognise that women and men play a different game.  Maybe if soccer can figure out why, it could be used to market women´s football?

Euro-12 shows how different men´s soccer is from women´s.  It is faster, the ball control is of a much higher standard and men can both shoot and pass harder. Thus, in a one sense, women´s soccer has no role. It is redundant. Instead, ladies´ football has to profile itself and develop a different image or angle, one that can be sold. There is a huge, untapped, market out there waiting to brought on board.

Maybe one has to start with the possible market segments? Then tweak the game so as to appeal to them. Look at a triathlon vs an iron-man competition. People who do this sport consider the iron-man the gold standard but it is the triathlon that sells. Biathlon (ski-shooting) cleverly developed its competitions. Even cross-country skiing changed radically with sprint competitions (individual and team) and mass-starts, not to talk about allowing the skate-style. The purist decry these formats, but it is what gets bums on seats and TV audiences.

America introduced the penalty shoot-out into soccer. Time for America to figure out what ladies´ football needs so that a good player can earn $250 000 a year, a good player $150 000 and an average player $75 000, maybe even more.

Richard Murray said:

I apologize, my intention was not to say it is Ronald Reagan's fault, it is coporations fault, Reagan is to blame for handing them responsibilities over fiscal life that they have been inept with, and the influence is in all sectors.
Interesting, you say that women's basketball is not threatening, but womens basketball as opposed to soccer is a different sport phenotypically.
In the USA most women soccer players are white, most women basketball players are black, that is the only difference, besides the sport as all the women are athletes.



Lars Breimer said:

Our column reads a bit like a kind of philosophical transactions of a society of demented polar bears. I am not persuaded that Reagan can be blamed for the demise of women´s soccer in USA though it is an original hypothesis.

 

I have a couple of reflections.  It is a truism that if you are a sporting young lady with ball skills you are more likely to make money in tennis or golf than soccer. The obvious advantage of soccer is that you do not need specialised equipment or nets or huge areas; it can be played on any piece of reasonably level ground. Soccer does not need any up-front investment.Yet in USA and most countries, ladies´ football is a middleclass sport, not a poor person´s sport.

 

A drawback for women in all contact sports is the high risk of injury, most important knee injuries (esp ACL tears). Thus girls need to do a number of extra strengthening exercises that boys do not seem to. Nevertheless, for the game to flourish girls would have to feel safe that they remain injury-free and can earn a reasonable income if they are good.

 

The fact that attendance is gradually rising in some countries, such as Germany and France, while falling in others, most notably Sweden whose peak spectator numbers were higher than those in Germany are now, suggests that different factors may be operating in different countries. I am not a sales and marketing person but it seems that this needs to be teased out, both locally and regionally.  It is an obvious fact that the big stadia of the men´s clubs are underutilised, so building up adequate support for their ladies divisions would result in more income from these facilities. As a corollary, women may have to play mainly during the men´s off-season? A whole different market segment will be enticed to the ball-parks. Have they enough ladies´ toilets to cope?

 

It is an interesting phenomenon that ladies playing the two team sports of soccer and icehockey generates a remarkable level of antipathy and aggression from men. Women´s basketball does not seem to generate the same strong feelings. Maybe the key to successfully marketing ladies football lies in understanding and teasing out why a large segment of the male population feels threatened by women playing one but not by the other?

Richard Murray said:

not somehow , bad business, the USA's business community since the Reagan Era prides itself on making profit but isn't chastized for making profits while losing quality on all levels and in all fields.
Sports is no different
Lars Breimer said:

The cynic in me says that should PSG sign Louisa Necib they will milk that she is outrageously goodlooking with a great personality. If you look at French team studio-photos of their lady soccer players, they all seem to wear femininely cut outfits, that they do not play in. PSG´s PR will take a leaf out of Magdalena Neuner´s book. Probably no modern woman sportsperson has been so expertly marketed. OK, the PR-companies had wonderful material to start with but they did their job perfectly.

   To some extent Lyon has already done this with Lotta Schelin. She speaks excellent French and interviews fluently with a bubbling personality. As Euro-2012 shows us, soccer is now part of the world wide entertainment business. The men´s game is pretty well fully mature now, so the next level is to develop the ladies´game and reach a different market. Somehow USA fluffed its lines and France and Germany is cornering the market. Sweden being so small can play a strong supporting role still but in the end money and market size will tell.

Richard Murray said:

I didnt say she was algerian french to make it seem like she was raised in algeria but she has family and PSG will definitley milk that angle and Paris has many of the francophonie peoples in its banlieu.

Yes she is of an age, but i think she has years on her, she looks fit and playing with OL is good to maintain her physique. She can't slack off for it will be noticed especially if she wants to start more, as oppose to Abily.

We sball see.

Lars Breimer said:

I know it is impolite to ask a lady her age but Louisa Necib is 25 years old, the same age as Neuner. Stenmark and Borg both retired at 26, and Kringstad at 25. Steffi Graf hung up her racket at 30 but in that year she won the French Open and played the Wimbledon final. Like Poirée and Kuzmina, Louisa could chose to have children while competing or like most girls, wait till after retiring.

In some ways Abily has been more adventurous than Necib but she is also older and had the opportunity to go to USA. Taking PSG to the top would in some ways give Ms Necib the same aura as Cruyff -- if that is possible. Finally, Paris is a lot more exciting than Lyon and, maybe, she has a friend in Paris? Who knows? A career in France after retiring is easier to achieve in the capital, that country being so centralised.

It may be worth noting that Louisa Necib was born in France just like Henke and Zlatan were born in Sweden.

Richard Murray said:

:) haha! remember what Camille Abily said when she was asked what do you think about next season,she said win another.

I agree with you that career wise it is smart for her. The arab owners of PSG will definitely showcase her as an algerian french and she will be the centerpiece position and they will definitely shower her with money.

But, what will she decide. I am not certain. And, she not being in the UEFA CL may be too big to drag OL players, as I wrote, I think PSG should look outside of France for talent, they have the money and it will make division 1 stronger.

Lars Breimer said:

She has done the treble. How many CL victories do you need to be happy? Magdalena Neuner just retired from biathlon (ski-shooting) at 25 years of age because she felt she had achieved everything and could not motivate herself anymore, and Helena Ekholm did the same at 27 -- two years older.  

   I can see the attraction. You go to PSG and the club provides the funding and you take PSG to the CL and if all goes well you win. That is something to treasure.  ("Auntie Katie" aka Rudi Völler took on managing a weak German men´s team and took them all the way to the final in 2002, where they lost to the favourite Brazil. Klinsmann and Löw took strong German teams but only got to the semi-finals, and Klinsi on home ground to boot.)

Richard Murray said:

hmm, I am  not certain she is gone, it is just rumours. But, I don't think she should OL is on high, PSG isn't even in the UEFA CL, why leave? Bolleau going to Juvisy makes more sense, but who would leave OL now, though of all the rumours I can see Necib and Georges for more playing time.  But, PSG had to get second in the league, and Juvisy did that.

Lars Breimer said:

It is good for the game that there is turnover and movement of players.  OK. Man Utd had a stable pack for quite a while but even they bought and sold as Sir Alec thought fit.

Louisa Necib is a most elegant player but sometimes I wonder whether she may be too slight for the modern game?  She was injured in the world cup against Sweden (bronze medal match). If she picks up injuries, OL may have been OK to see her go.

Richard Murray said:

not having NEcib will be a problem for Ol for the future. if Abily gets hurt. but Cruz took Necib's spot so she left for PSg to start , so did Georges
PSG, Juvisy, OL next season will be a fight i think