The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

I rarely watch entire games on DVR without fast forwarding. I did for this one before the second goal. That was as well as United has played this year. It would have been the best of a SAF team since Moscow.

Lost in the red card drama was just how bad the call from Gus Johnson was. He was getting excited for no reason and then barely recognizing great crosses or passes. He thought United scored in the first half and didn't realize Modric scored.

 

The miracle of the red, it caused sympathy for Sir Alex.

RT @USATODAYsports: "Legacy in Red." A little-known Turkish insurance man has wrought a global sports miracle: http://t.co/rSQOHfn0lp

 

Idiot color guy: Looking at Fernando Torres here, and thinking they paid £50 million for him, Liverpool must be laughing their ever-loving heads off.

Play by play guy: Well, they would be if they hadn't spent 35 of it on Andy Carroll.

 

Tim Howard broke two bones in his back in Everton's FA Cup game against Oldham.

It's not his spine, and he shouldn't need surgery. Estimates in the English press have him out for up to two months, which means he'll definitely miss the United States' qualifiers against Costa Rica in Colorado and at Estadio Azteca later this month.

Edit to add: I just got e-mail from U.S. Soccer that Hope Solo had surgery to repair torn cartilage in her wrist and will be out three to four months. Jill Loyden broke her hand at the Algarve Cup.

Is there a curse on American goalkeepers?

 

The USMNT is doomed. Just doomed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/08/everton-tim-howard-wigan-fa-cup

 

Guzan has been pretty good this year. Not that worried about a real dropoff from Timmy.

 

Apparently Everton should be though. Wigan score 3 in 4 minutes and lead 3-0 at halftime.

 

Can't blame the keeper on the third goal. He should have controlled his area better on the first because he was being mauled. On the second, he was hung out to dry but his angle could have been slightly more far post.

 

LATICS! Wooo! I hope this kickstarts another late run to stay up again for another year. It's so hard to be that excited and not be able to shout out since my 5-month-old was sleeping on the couch next to me.

I probably looked like a damn fool bouncing around and celebrating with no sound!

 

I agree. Guzan is pretty solid. He'll need to be at his best in the next two qualifiers though.

 

That's just it. How much is his best less than Howard's best? And how will Guzan fare with that porous USMNT defense?

 

The great Roger Bennett:

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/relegationzone/id/728?cc=5901