February 18, 2006

Liverpool add more misery to ManU's terrible week.: In a week when United was bumped from the top pro soccer money-earners spot by Real Madrid, Liverpool achieved their first Cup win over Manchester Utd in 85 years, leaving mighty Man U with no real silverware to play for beyond next weekend's League Cup (erm, Carling Cup) final against Wigan. In addition, Man U's Alan Smith suffered a horrific Cisse-like leg break and dislocated ankle minutes after coming on as substitute in the match. The Glasers must be enjoying 2006.

posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 01:40 PM - 7 comments

A trophy's a trophy, or at least taking the Carling Cup home is better than none at all. Terrible for Smith given he's been battling injury so much this season. But as a Reds supporter I am very happy to have the result, a third clean sheet running, another goal from Tall Boy and nice momentum ahead of the trip to Portugal. FYI: ESPN 2 will have the Arsenal-Real Madrid and Chelsea-Barcelona CL matches live on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to watching the latter, Ronaldinho v Lampard. Also, overlapping on March 1, ESPN2 will have the US v Poland friendly from Germany at 11 am PST and FSC will show England v Uruguay from Anfield at 11:30 am PST.

posted by billsaysthis at 01:55 PM on February 18, 2006

How in the hell did Smith manage to break his leg and dislocate his ankle at the same time? I didn't see the match, but they showed a little clip at half-time in the Newcastle-Southampton match and it didn't even look as if the Liverpool player made contact. It was bizarre.

posted by afx237vi at 03:40 PM on February 18, 2006

When Cisse broke his leg, it looked like his foot got caught and the stress broke it. There was no contact with another player. I'm guessing it was the same thing for Smith, especially given he had just recovered from an ankle injury (according to the BBC article I linked to). It looks like this kind of injury can be caused by torque or impact. From Physioroom:

In the case of football-related injuries, the fractures are caused either by a twisting force when the foot is fixed or by a direct blow from an opponent.

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:50 PM on February 18, 2006

Smith was trying to block a free kick, landed with all his weight on one leg at a bad angle, and just crumpled. No contact at all.

posted by etagloh at 03:11 PM on February 19, 2006

That was nasty, I just saw the replay on FSC. Terribly bad luck but that seems to be ManU's destiny this season. Heinze, O'Shea, Scholes, Fortune and the just sad case of Ole GS. Yet the team is still second in the league table and favorites to take the trophy next Saturday.

posted by billsaysthis at 09:03 PM on February 19, 2006

Terribly bad luck but that seems to be ManU's destiny this season. The reason that ManU is having such bad luck is because it was bought by Malcolm Glazer. Football clubs based in England should be owned by people who love the game, not a man that likes to turn everything he can lay his hands on into $$. I wish Smith had not broken his leg, he is my favorite ManU player. And I think that Arsenal should win the game against RM

posted by Goyoucolts at 05:21 PM on February 20, 2006

I missed something in that, sorry Football clubs based in England should be owned by people who love the game, not an american man that likes to turn everything he can lay his hands on into $$

posted by Goyoucolts at 05:23 PM on February 20, 2006

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