Comments on: Dear Jen Striker, Cite Your Sources!

By: Jennifer Doyle

Jennifer Doyle — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:57:24 +0000

You know, history has shown that the FA is perfectly capable of limiting the development of English women’s football all by itself! The more the rest of us do to give talented English women the chance to play, w/o having to earn their “keep” by working in other jobs for the club (as do the arsenal players) the more we do for the women’s game overall. I’ve written periodically about the unbelievably backwards attitudes about women and sports in the UK, and that Guardian story – which wasn’t real journalism on the issue – was totally typical for english coverage of the women’s game. (The Guardian never publishes real stories about the women’s game, never really investigates anything – they just write an annual celebration of Arsenal’s dominance, and do us the favor via the observor of the occasional op-ed piece by David James – who has said more in his columns about the sexism which hobbles the women’s game in the UK that anyone else on their payroll.)

Anyway, I’ve heard some interesting suggestions from a reader in sao paolo about barcellos. would love to talk off the record w/ you about them.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:15:28 +0000

I actually argued this point with Zach when this article came out. Btw, he said to stop stealing his thoughts. Anyways, the jist I have of the English women’s league isn’t that it’s a strong league. Yes, Arsenal is a power but are there really that many other top flight teams in that league. Not only that but the league seems to be full of home grown talent. As everyone likes to remind the men of, England isn’t the world power it likes to think itself to be. If major English players jump ship that doesn’t leave them with much of a league. I can see where that guy is coming from I guess. Then again, I don’t know much about women’s soccer so I could be totally wrong. Heh.

By: Amanda Vandervort

Amanda Vandervort — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:43:17 +0000

First of all, thank you for criticizing Jen Striker for writing a blog that doesn't allow comments and often leaves out critical sources. Of note... Back in July, I emailed Jen Striker to say hello and introduce myself as a fellow blogger. She never wrote back and in fact the next day she posted my hiring at the Red Stars as "nepotistic" in her blog. WHAT?! Sorry Jen Striker but I'm not related to anybody in WPS. Needless to say, I have removed that page from my blogroll. Second, I posted a response to the Guardian.co.uk article at my blog here. Here's a look at how I echo your sentiments. In Leighton’s article, Vic Akers names four players and claims that “if these girls and other England players go to America, it could set the game here back 10 years.” How strong is your existing league if the departure of four players is that threatening? That’s quite a statement to make about the FA, especially from the manager who’s won ten Premier League Championships, nine FA Women’s Cups, nine FA Women’s Premier League Cups, five FA Women’s Community Shields, seven London County FA Women’s Cups and the UEFA Women’s Cup during the past 20 years.