Football

yeah look at the twin petronas towers in blue compared to the 3 storey town house in red ... and remove ronaldo from the man utd figure

and most of that liverpool spend was in the last year
chelsea spent 150mn more to get an extra 11 points £13mn per point ... does the net spend for chelsea include the £40mn for AVB ?

Basically Dicki I'm no data analist but what I read from Liverpools net spend over that time is that you've spunked loads of cash and you're still shit!

... and remove ronaldo from the man utd figure

Why?

Andy, any predictions for tonight's big match?

It's live on ITV4. KO 7pm.

Basically Dicki I'm no data analist but what I read from Liverpools net spend over that time is that you've spunked loads of cash and you're still shit!

This

Well, a large gross spend and a small net spend (which is what it is) implies we've had a large turnover of players (which we have)

That implies we've not bought the right players, because we've ended up selling them again soon (again true, too many squad players, Voronin, Poulsen, Konchesky, Dossena, etc).

But at the same time Rafa had a lot of restrictions, there were too many holes in the squad, and not enough spare cash to just buy the big players, he always had to make do with second best. Nonetheless, while I think he is a great manager, buying players was not his strong point.

Since FGS have come in, they have gone on a completely different route. They are quite clearly trying to follow the moneyball principle. That's something that clearly works in a stats obsessed sport like baseball, not entirely convinced in football (football is too random, and low scoring, the best team doesn't win the game far more often than in other sports). So they've gone all out on young British players with specific skills (assists for example in the case of Downing and Henderson). We will see if this new approach works.

Top of the (other) league!!!

1-1 on the night 3-2 on aggregate Chelsea go through to the final.

A really enjoyable game to watch. Some real skill. A good flowing game.

Final first leg at Stamford Bridge next Friday. Tickets go on sale this weekend.

Anyone want to come? Let me know today or tomorrow.

We play Blackburn, if that is at all relevant.

OK tickets now not on sale until Monday. I can buy up to 20 at £5 each.

Please let me know over the weekend.

You remind me of an ex

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIkLiT-qLms"]Usher
- U Remind Me [ Official ] HD + Lyric - YouTube[/ame]

You remind me of an ex

did they also keep asking if you wanted tickets to chelsea youth vs blackburn youth first leg match at Stamford Bridge?

if so she sounds great!

Basically Dicki I'm no data analist but what I read from Liverpools net spend over that time is that you've spunked loads of cash and you're still shit!

This ^

So they've gone all out on young British players with specific skills (assists for example in the case of Downing and Henderson). We will see if this new approach works.

Yeah, cos they'be both really added to the team?!

Yeah, cos they'be both really added to the team?!

Well that's my point, the approach hasn't been proven to work so far, but I can see what they are trying to do. Get the best passers, best assisters, biggest big man, most racist south american, and you should win games. In theory.

Looking forward to today then Pisti?

Putting aside the bullshit for the minute, what do you actually think will happen today. I really have no idea what to expect (apart from that in true Liverpool style they will make it painful to watch).

I think I'm going to wear my yellow Fowler shirt today, I know you love it Pisti.

I'm really rather nervous, but that might be the Guinness from last night

Am I right in thinking this is not on normal TV?

ESPN, innit

Well that's my point, the approach hasn't been proven to work so far, but I can see what they are trying to do. Get the best passers, best assisters, biggest big man, most racist south american, and you should win games. In theory.

Therein lies the problem, I'm pretty sure that neither Downing, Henderson or Adam have been the best passers or had the most assists in a season. Oh and Carol isn't the biggest striker either. So unless you actually buy the players with the best stats that theory isn't going to work.