The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

I thought this piece by Jonathan Wilson about the away goals rule was well done.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/mar/13/the-question-football-away-goals

 

On being a soccer fan in the USA ...

http://www.xiquarterly.com/2013/03/12/a-bohemian-footprint-supporting-american-soccer-nationwide/

 

And wow.

http://deadspin.com/one-of-the-best-goals-youll-ever-see-came-tonight-in-t-453475455

 

Very cool infograph with story
<img src="http://www.xiquarterly.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/soccer-on-us-tv.jpg">

 

What, no one wants to talk about the Algarve Cup?

Yeah, me neither. Completely meaningless competition, existing just so Grant Wahl can tweet, "OMG! OMG! Do the people in Portugal NOT understand they have two of the best women's teams in the WORLD here today?!?!?!!?!"

 

At least it was on PPV so that no one would watch it.

 

I've always found it bizarre that a supposed elite international women's tournament is in ... Portugal?

 

Big Cup draw. Becks gets a nice seat at the Nou Camp:

Málaga v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Galatasaray
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Juventus

 

The point should be made that the larger ratio of U.S.-Canadian population per club means more potential support for each franchise, compared to the small ratio of England's FA, which doesn't have four other major leagues to compete with. Saturating the North American market with soccer is not a wise business strategy.

 

Seeing how Guzan is playing for Villa these days, I'm OK with handing him Howard's gloves and leaving Friedel out to pasture. The defense in front of him? That might be a different story....

 

Man City screwed by a terrible call. Everton up 1-0 but down to 10 men. With 5 minutes left, a Tevez shot it handled by Fellaini maybe 2 years in the box, but it is called a free kick on the edge of the area and not a PK. If the penalty had been given, it would likely be a tie game and the second yellow, meaning that Everton would have to play with 9.

Instead, the free kick doesn't Mount to anything and Everton score on a break during Fergie Time. United beats Reading and stretch the lead to 15 points with 9 games left. Magic number is 13 points

 

Everton also had a goal negated by an iffy offside. Even steven.