All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

I don't venture on here a lot, because I don't know anything about - nor do I much care for - soccer.

So I don't know if this would be of interest to you guys: WaPo's Steven Goff did an interesting story on the Crystal Palace feeder club that has set up shop outside of Baltimore.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/21/AR2007052101529.html

Perhaps this is nothing ground-breaking to you guys, but I figured I'd pass it along just in case. As a non-soccer person, I found it pretty interesting.

 

I saw these guys listed in the USL division list, and was interested as to whether there was a connection. Thanks for the article, it's a nice find H.

 

Aren't you going to Ireland v. Ecuador at Giants Stadium?

 

They're using a silver ball. Anyone know if there's a provision like the World Cup where the winner gets to keep and play with it next season?

 

Wasn't that a hand ball?

 

F-ing Inzaghi directed that in with his arm -- OK it's a stretch, but seriously, can't Rae and the little Leprechaun mention it --- Dammit, how many times does it happen in a big game that one team dominates and the other sneaks off with the lead/win

 

Absolutely Claude!

 

Nah, off the back of his shoulder. Tough break for Liverpool to give one up right before the break like that.

 

Rae and Smyth don't appear to be seeing the replays. That's the only way they don't mention that near handball.

 

Thank you Steve Nicol! Finally someone who knows the game

 

Not off the back of the shoulder. It hit him in the crook of the elbow/bicep.

 

It hit him in the shoulder, and he didn't extend his arm outwards to deflect the ball in. Just an average Inzaghi goal, the lucky sod. According to the BBC that's 41 in 69 Champions League games for him.

Also to be fair to Rae and Smyth, the halftime whistle blew pretty much as soon as the game restarted, so they didn't have the time to get it in.