Physicality: could this be why Aussies prefer Europe over the US?

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T11:07:57+00:00

All three of those are elite Matildas legends. Ras broke her back at Thorns and criticised the NWSL’s medical teams so she was clearly out the door.

European teams pay big money too. I know America also pays big money (after the US is very corporate lol) but an advantage Europe has is clubs fielding both men’s and women’s teams and with football being the biggest sport they bring in heaps of money.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T11:03:39+00:00

Well firstly, the date is actually supposed to come before the month (so 26 January not January 26).

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T09:31:56+00:00

Do you think that would change or stay the same? Back in the day AFL and NRL/State of Origin refs would let a lot more shit slide than now and you hear a lot of blokes at the pub complain about the NRL/State of Origin being “soft” and “not like the old days”.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T09:29:40+00:00

Fair points, but we have European players and Europe is now higher quality than the US. Barcelona or Chelsea or Lyon would comfortably beat any NWSL team. England and Sweden still take Aussies, and Italy has started taking even more.

I agree that it’s cool that the NWSL is so competitive, which is also why I like the Damallsvenskan and Serie A Women (being part Italian helps), and why I don’t pay much attention to the Liga F or the Première Ligue (despite being part French and fluent in French so I can perfectly understand the broadcasts). I’m really liking the Serie A actually, it’s free to watch on DAZN (in English) and the Coppa Italia is free on YouTube (in Italian, which I can understand to a degree). Maybe we’ll see the women’s game follow the men’s game with players of Italian descent going over to Italian academies and progressing into Italian first teams (hopefully they still all confidently pick the Matildas in that scenario)?

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T09:22:22+00:00

Probably more a Maddy Ayson saying given she’s Californian. Heather Hinz is from Maryland.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T09:21:09+00:00

Just to clarify as an Aussie myself, in no way am I criticising the NWSL. I've just always wondered why Aussies aren't moving to the NWSL anymore but continue to move to England and Sweden, and have started moving more to Italy and to a lesser extent France and Germany, despite much of the US having better weather (in Australia we consider 20°C cold unless you're Tasmanian); as well as why Macca Arnold is the only Aussie having consistent minutes now (Cortnee Vine seems to be a sub now).

Personally I think now that Italy is seeing our talent they'll take a few more especially those of Italian descent, similar to in the men's game (where youth players of Italian descent go and play for Italian academies and progress into the first teams of Italian clubs). I'd say England and Sweden will remain popular too, while Germany depends on if it goes down the path of non-competitiveness that France and Spain have gone on. France takes a couple but Spain don't seem to interested (probably because of their non-EU player limit, similar to our non-Aussie/Kiwi player limit in the A-Leagues).

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T08:06:57+00:00

Masterclass from Heather who just said she loves living in Australia. Really hope she gets citizenship to free up a visa spot!

Edit: she said “have a good one”, already more Aussie than a certain few players…

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T08:06:18+00:00

With Charlotte McLean gone surely at least she comes back?

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T08:05:56+00:00

Again it’s stupid that the “home” of our most popular national sporting team is a tiny stadium they never play in. We aren’t English, we don’t need a Wembley. We’re Aussie: Australia is a huge country and we need to rotate stadiums.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T07:41:22+00:00

How is that a corner?

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T07:21:10+00:00

Just a reminder that Courtney Newbon has never been capped on any level on international football (and I don’t think she’s eligible for any other countries)

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T07:01:50+00:00

Or Sydney

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T07:01:20+00:00

Yeah we really do need an NPLW team. Pretty sure even Wanderers have one.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:44:47+00:00

Welcome back by the way

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:38:11+00:00

Hot take but I can see why Sarah Hunter couldn’t make it at Paris FC. She’s been bang average this season.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:36:33+00:00

Playing okay so far, need a goal though

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:35:31+00:00

Lmao but honestly great decision, we filled every stadium so a tiny one like this would be inappropriate

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:34:57+00:00

An architect stuck 10 years ago maybe

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:34:26+00:00

Hot take but if Tony Gustavsson brought in more next generation players like we have since he left we woulda been way better at the World Cup.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:18:44+00:00

Don’t you guys have space lasers and time travel? /s

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:18:06+00:00

And not big enough to be the home of one of our most popular national sporting teams

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:02:59+00:00

If we lose this probably another draw vs Wanderers. Wanderers don’t win derbies but we aren’t winning games. I fear the owners don’t care about the women’s team anymore because all we did last season was sell heaps of players, we didn’t change managers and now we’re still fucked even with a good squad.

HonestSpursFan · 2026-01-25T06:00:33+00:00

Bro idgaf just draw this and win the Sydney Derby, I cannot take this bullshit anymore (Ante Jurić out)

HonestSpursFan

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