Liverpool - Manchester United Highlights

I'm not going to mention the score just yet in case you've Tivoed the game and don't want to know. But if you haven't, here are the highlights. More comments later.

Foreign Invasion Continues

It seems a bit of a lop sided war going on between the Non-Americans and America in the soccer world. The Yanks invade England with the Glazers buying Manchester United. So the non-Americans retaliate by adding a team in the MLS, Chivas USA. Cleveland Browns owner, hungry to buy another mediocre team in a stagnant city buys Aston Villa. The non-Americans think they fight back by having Ajax add a PDL team in Florida. (BTW, Platini was heard mumbling in French We'll show them by fielding a team of players that don't get paid!). Then George Gillet and Tom Hicks decide to risk their wallets, quite literally, and buy the fabled English club Liverpool. So the non-Americans countered by putting a USL-2 team in Baltimore. Why Baltimore? Well, it was Crystal Palace making the location decision. Just be happy they didn't go with either of their other top choices, Toledo and Chattanooga.

It seems the Non-Americans are waking up to that they're getting their asses handed to the in this tit for tat stand-off. They need to step things up a notch and get ahead in the game. So they've turned to West Ham to establish a USL-1 team in Tampa, Florida. They say they're in it to improve their football (better players). Or are they just looking for a nice place for Curbishley to retire to next year?

Non-Surprise Of The Summer : Simao Leaves Benefica

For any of you following the gossip and news out of Western Europe you're not surprised to see that coveted winger Simao has left Benefica. He's been linked with a move to a big club for a quite some time. In fact, it seems like it's been at least 2 years running now that Benetiz has been rumored to want to bring him to Liverpool. It also seems like it's been a couple years now that it's been reported Simao would rather give Ron Jeremy a wax job than have to deal with Rafa Benetiz.

The long, odd courtship is over. Simao put the matter to rest and made a €20 million move to...... Atletico Madrid! It really should not be a surprise that Simao didn't move to Liverpool. Although it's a bit ironic that a player Benetiz has been long rumored to covet got away thanks to Liverpool's money. After all, Liverpool just shelled out €40 million to Atletico Madrid for Fernando Torres. They didn't think even Atletico would let that cash do nothing but collect dust, did they?

The Last Time Crouch Scored Against Arsenal

The last time Crouch scored against Arsenal, it was for Southampton at St. Mary's. Prutton and Van Persie were sent off that day. Crouch scored in the 67th to tie the game at 1-1. He didn't score the next two times he faced them but today he scored a hat trick. Knowing the English press, this will be fuel for the debate over him play for the English national team. Seems more like it adds to the question if he's the next Emile Heskey.