04/27/24
April 30, 2012
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I always take those estimates for any sporting event with a handful of salt; if you look at confirmed figures compiled after the fact, this one needs a bucketload.
posted by etagloh at 03:33 PM on April 30, 2012
Yeah, I just turned it on (tape delayed) and was wondering if that number was really possible. A lot of people must be staying up late or leaving work early.
posted by yerfatma at 03:46 PM on April 30, 2012
Well, however many, they got a hell of a show.
posted by yerfatma at 05:30 PM on April 30, 2012
I thought Yaya Toure was pretty immense in that match. Cool and strong on the ball, dangerous going forward, diligent tracking back. I suspect Komany will get the lion's share of the "Man of the Match" accolades (and is not an undeserving choice), but I would give it to Yaya.
posted by holden at 06:34 PM on April 30, 2012
According to Wikipedia, there are 207 sovereign states. Wonder where the 212 number comes from. Either way, someone in every country in the world tuned in?
posted by kokaku at 07:36 PM on April 30, 2012
I thought Yaya Toure was pretty immense in that match
Completely agree. He and Clichy ("GUY-EL" according to Sportscenter, God help me) were the best players on the pitch to my untrained eye.
Just to clarify, yes, stress on both syllables.
posted by yerfatma at 09:10 PM on April 30, 2012
Wonder where the 212 number comes from. Either way, someone in every country in the world tuned in?
I think the key is "sovereign states".
If you include protectorates (like Puerto Rico) and special municipalities (like Bonaire) and autonomous countries (like Greenland) and overseas territories (like Bermuda). These are "countries", but not necessarily "sovereign states".
posted by grum@work at 09:43 PM on April 30, 2012
NTM Scotland
posted by LionIndex at 11:45 PM on April 30, 2012
" He and Clichy ("GUY-EL" according to Sportscenter, God help me"
At least you haven't had to listen to David Pleat refer to him as "Cliché ."
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:12 AM on May 01, 2012
I just want to know WTF Ferguson was thinking with the starting XI straight from the retirement home. Scholes, sure, Giggs, okay, but Park? Red Devils simply didn't have the pace to break through one of the best defenses in the league all season. Jones may be young but he was never challenging City bombing up the right and Evra no longer seems to have the legs for it.
Welbeck and Ashley Young should have started in place of Park and Giggs, with Giggs coming on at the hour mark. Not like SAF to blow a lead in the table this late on!
posted by billsaysthis at 12:12 PM on May 01, 2012
Scholes, sure, Giggs, okay, but Park?
Wouldn't that make sense if you were playing for a 0-0 tie?
posted by yerfatma at 12:19 PM on May 01, 2012
I just want to know WTF Ferguson was thinking with the starting XI straight from the retirement home. Scholes, sure, Giggs, okay, but Park? Red Devils simply didn't have the pace to break through one of the best defenses in the league all season. Jones may be young but he was never challenging City bombing up the right and Evra no longer seems to have the legs for it.
I think the biggest omission in the team sheet was Valencia, who has been on great form and provides some width, guile (but without the theatrics of Young), and ability to get the ball from out wide to central players in dangerous positions.
posted by holden at 12:22 PM on May 01, 2012
Yerfatma, no because between them those three don't have enough speed to get up and down as Mr. Toure Yaya demonstrated.
Holden, I went for Welbeck over Valencia because he's been combining so well with Rooney lately--I didn't think 4-5-1 was the right formation given the likelihood that City would score at least once. Also, Nani has come back into form lately and he had Valencia's role wide on the right.
With Nani, Scholes, Carrick, Park and Giggs as the midfield, there was no width on the left at all and Welbeck tends to drift to that side naturally.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:43 AM on May 02, 2012
I knew the Premiership was popular, but I had no idea that 650 million people in 212 countries would watch a regular season match.