Let's Count To A Million!

[Rew]

173,560.

So was Manchester the team that won the championship today for the first time in 50-odd years? Who did they beat?

[hisak]

173,561

Q something.

[Rew]

173,562.

I can't think of any British town that starts with a Q.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,563

In short: Manchester City. Beat QPR (Queen's Park Rangers. They're a London side. One of half a dozen in the Premier League.)

In more detail: There are two Manchester teams. Manchester United who were looking to win their third title in a row (and their 13th in 20 years) and Manchester City, who until recent heavy investment from a Middle Eastern tycoon and several high profile, high cost player purchases had had a 44 year trophyless run. Until today, City were little more than the noisy neighbours.

They came back from 2-1 down with two goals in the 93rd and 94th minute to win 3-2. Although United won their match against (my beloved) Sunderland, their disastrous choke in the previous three games of the season (when it looked like they had the trophy in both hands) meant they lost on goal difference.

[hisak]

173,564

I was right!

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,565

Fun fact: There could only be one winner today. Unless United beat Sunderland 9-0 and City beat QPR 7-6. Then their goal difference and goals for and against would be equal and the title would have been decided by a play-off.

Premier League maths is fun!

[hisak]

173,566

Fun!

[Rew]

173,567.

So basically it sounds like the equivalent of our Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the New England Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl.

How many minutes are there in a football (soccer) match? 100?

[hisak]

173,568

90

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,569

(click to show/hide)

90. Two halves of 45. Plus injury time.

(Unless it's a cup-tie, in which case a draw after 90 minutes can lead to a replay of another 90. Still a draw after that, then it's 30 minutes of extra-time in two halves of 15. Still a draw, it's a penalty shoot-out. Best of five shots each. Still nothing between the two sides after that then it's sudden death which goes on until one side misses and the other scores.

In most quarter-, semi-finals and finals, the replay is skipped and it's straight to the extra-time and pens.)

[hisak]

173,570

:o

[Rew]

173,571.

Odd. But if the score was 2-1, then how could it have gotten to a 93rd minute since the game should've been over? Unless it was 1-1 at the end of 90? [/footballnoob]

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,572

90. Two halves of 45. Plus injury time.

Or more properly referred to as stoppage time. Since on this occasion, the time added was due to the Premier League's Number One Numpty (Joey Barton) hacking a player down, then getting a bit violent. It's his "thing".

[hisak]

173,573

Duh Rew!

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,574

*quietly hopes the questions are kept simple* Not often I'm able to be the smartest person in a football conversation.

[hisak]

173,575

Just got strangely reminded of Retro's canceled football game...which of course is a completely different sport.

[Rew]

173,576.

LOL, hisak.

@EA: Oh, we Americans excel at making Brits look smart.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,577

Maybe I should pick up Inazuma Eleven. Looks kinda fun.

Some of my friends are SO into the sport, they play a game called Football Manager. They manage a whole club. Tactics, transfers. They can watch a whole 90 minute game scrolling through in text format.

[Rew]

173,578.

Believe it or not, there is a football team in South Carolina. No, not the American football team(s). Genuine, rest-of-the-world type football. Not even called a soccer team but a football club.

South Carolina United FC

No idea if they're any good or not, though.

EDIT:
Looking closer, it looks like it's for youths only.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

173,579

Almost forgot, one of my Uni friends is so obsessed with FM he made a documentary about his obsession. It's on YouTube. If that doesn't grab you, you can see people EA went to Uni with, here!