They examine a ton of questions that you might have about the game that you never asked like:
What bonus does playing at home give you?
What are the real benefits of having the World Cup in your country?
How closely does a country's economy tie in with success on the pitch?
Are penalties equally given to home and away clubs?
What's the best little country at soccer?
Which countries overperform and which underperform given population. economy, government etc.
Interestingly, they went on and on about Inter-Milan and how good they were on the transfer market etc. They basically predicted the Champions League victory for them. (They also spoke glowingly of Bayern Munich)
They've grabbed data from hundreds and hundreds of matches to back up their claims. It's very easy to read, and I learned a lot.
I realize this might be so forgive an ignorant Yank. Great fucking book.
Picked this up yesterday and put a little dent in it. Aweome read thus far. Loving it. Great recomendation, jamrage.
Cool man. Looking forward to discussing with you. As you might imagine it's not something that a lot of Americans have read so I haven't been able to talk about it with anyone.
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Comedy Quaddafi wrote:So we're supposed to predict games? I thought we were selecting players for a fantasy team. I guess that's a different thing?
Yeah, that has totally confused me too. I registered with Yahoo, expecting to be picking a starting 11 that won points based on their performances, but it seems it's predicting scores instead. Ah well, I've got involved anyway.
And as far as picking players, I'm signed up to a couple of regualr Fantasy Football sites for that.
Where do they have good sites for that? I'll pick a kickass team for sure
I can't - each user can only create 1 league (although they can join as many as they want), and I've already created a private league for me and my mates.
It's very easy to do though, if anyone else can be bothered.
Brougham33 wrote:I agree, go fuck yourself Giuseppe Rossi.
Totally. Dude gambled and lost. Fuck that guy.
I was disappointed to see that Emile Heskey made the World Cup instead of Darren Bent. He's slow as fuck and didn't really do shit this season for Villa. I know he's got intangibles, but I'd rather have a guy who can actually score at striker.
Actually kind of glad Walcott didn't make it and Joe Cole did. Walcott is way too hit and miss, and Joe Cole was huge for England last World Cup. Other than that, no real beefs with the squad.
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Brougham33 wrote:I agree, go fuck yourself Giuseppe Rossi.
Totally. Dude gambled and lost. Fuck that guy.
Fair enough, it's deserved. However, I think he'll be a part of the Italian NT once Prandelli takes over for Lippi in a month. He's only 23. I highly doubt he will regret his decision to play for Italy when it's said and done.
Fwiw, Lippi made missteps with his selections, especially in attack. I wouldn't be shocked if they disappoint like at the Confed Cup last year. Like, who's going to fear em if they play the 4-5-1? Gilardino, Iaquinta, Di Natale, Quagliarella and Pazzini? I'm sure teams are shaking in their boots at the thought of that strike force.
Y'know it's bad when you can think up the same amount of players off the top of your head that weren't called up that'd be better (Miccoli, Totti, Cassano, Balotelli, Rossi; for example).
Di Natale is the man, besides that I agree, Italy could have picked a much more dangerous attacking team. Rossi will by all accounts be in the 2014 Italian squad...unless he has a timely injury seriously, I hate that faggot.
Emile Heskey is a beast of a target man, and a hand full in the air/on set pieces. I understand his inclusion over a Bent in that while Bent is a better singular talent Emile gives England a guy who knows his role, and who fits well with their best players (ie Rooney, Gerard, Lampard). Really though, it's an embarrassment of riches where the manager can pick bench players who specialize in particular skills.
VideoKilledThe wrote:Di Natale is the man, besides that I agree, Italy could have picked a much more dangerous attacking team. Rossi will by all accounts be in the 2014 Italian squad...unless he has a timely injury seriously, I hate that faggot.
I guess I don't get the amount of hate. I'm an American and would've obviously loved if he was playing for USA, but even with this exclusion, can you blame the man? He's a first generation immigrant. I mean, I agree with stupidregister, he's a full blooded Italian who just happened to be born in Jersey (shocking). But it was the dude's dream to play for the Azzurri since he was 2 years old.
Giuseppe Rossi wrote:"When I was a kid, I grew up watching Italian soccer,'' Rossi told the Post. "Everything I did on the soccer field was based on my father's training and off what I saw on TV from the likes of (Roberto) Baggio, (Alessandro) Del Piero, (Gianluca) Vialli, etc. and also from my favorite team since I was 2, AC Milan.
"Growing up the way I did, my dream was always to play with the Italian jersey and today I did so 14 times and hope to get many more.''
"Of course it was awkward playing against the USA.; it's the country where I was born and where I come back every summer to spend time with family and friends,'' Rossi told the Post. "But when you play any sport, you always try to win for the team you represent and that's what I tried to do that day in the Confederation Cup.
"I never thought the decision I made would've upset the USA fans. In a way I could understand where they come from, but my decision was made based on a dream I had since I was 2 years old. I never chose Italy over USA for money or for fame, but for the simple fact that I wanted to fulfill my childhood dream.''
The hate stems from the fact that he could have been one of the greatest American players ever, that he played for both Italian and US youth teams but shunned us for greener pastures, from the cracking goal he scored against us (thanks for posting it, I really needed to see that again ya bastard), and the fact that he says shit like this. "Off the field, I have always felt American. On the field, Iגve always felt Italian.ג Basically he's always thought he was too good for us so fuck him.
VideoKilledThe wrote:The hate stems from the fact that he could have been one of the greatest American players ever, that he played for both Italian and US youth teams but shunned us for greener pastures, from the cracking goal he scored against us (thanks for posting it, I really needed to see that again ya bastard), and the fact that he says shit like this. "Off the field, I have always felt American. On the field, Iגve always felt Italian.ג Basically he's always thought he was too good for us so fuck him.
Yeah, I'm a first generation American (my parents are English) and the only way I wouldn't play for the U.S. in anything (if I was a world class athlete) would be if the U.S. didn't want me at all. Then I'd go to England.
Dude was born and lives here in the offseason. He's way more American than he is Italian.
I can't help but revel in the fact that he got shunned. There's no guarantee he makes it in 4 years either. We know he'd be going if he played for the United States.
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VideoKilledThe wrote:
Emile Heskey is a beast of a target man, and a hand full in the air/on set pieces. I understand his inclusion over a Bent in that while Bent is a better singular talent Emile gives England a guy who knows his role, and who fits well with their best players (ie Rooney, Gerard, Lampard). Really though, it's an embarrassment of riches where the manager can pick bench players who specialize in particular skills.
I'm pretty sure Defoe was the one who was included over Bent. And Defoe (or Bent if he were included) would probably only play if Rooney were injured/fatigued in the end of games. A big man like Heskey (or Crouch) works much better together with Rooney than what Bent would've. (Sorry for the bork grammar here, it's early.)
VideoKilledThe wrote:
Emile Heskey is a beast of a target man, and a hand full in the air/on set pieces. I understand his inclusion over a Bent in that while Bent is a better singular talent Emile gives England a guy who knows his role, and who fits well with their best players (ie Rooney, Gerard, Lampard). Really though, it's an embarrassment of riches where the manager can pick bench players who specialize in particular skills.
I'm pretty sure Defoe was the one who was included over Bent. And Defoe (or Bent if he were included) would probably only play if Rooney were injured/fatigued in the end of games. A big man like Heskey (or Crouch) works much better together with Rooney than what Bent would've. (Sorry for the bork grammar here, it's early.)
Pretty much perfect grammar my good bork.
Crouch is pretty much worthless at anything other than set pieces. He's great to have off of the bench if you need to score though. We'll see how they set up their strikers, but I suppose I'd be surprised to see Heskey starting over Defoe or Crouch.
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Funny, it works the opposite way for Frenchmen from Africa, most of them are quite eager to embrace their new country. Props to players like Kanoute, M Diarra, Bassong... I'd much rather be my country's leading star than a fringe player for a bigger team. Then again, Mali e.g. aren't about to play in the WC anytime soon so it's perhaps more understandable from their perspective. But we really are in a poor position to judge either way. If playing for Italy was my childhood dream, I'd say 'fuck what anyone thinks.'
Whether to Jason of Philaflava or John Podesta, I will speak my fucking perspective openly
- MB
The Algerians in France play for France if they're good enough. Like Zidane, Benzema and Nasri.
Take a look at the Algerian national team, they're pretty much all born and raised in France. "One day I'ma play for la France, aah, merde I'm not good enough, well Algeria will do, then."
VideoKilledThe wrote:
Emile Heskey is a beast of a target man, and a hand full in the air/on set pieces. I understand his inclusion over a Bent in that while Bent is a better singular talent Emile gives England a guy who knows his role, and who fits well with their best players (ie Rooney, Gerard, Lampard). Really though, it's an embarrassment of riches where the manager can pick bench players who specialize in particular skills.
I'm pretty sure Defoe was the one who was included over Bent. And Defoe (or Bent if he were included) would probably only play if Rooney were injured/fatigued in the end of games. A big man like Heskey (or Crouch) works much better together with Rooney than what Bent would've. (Sorry for the bork grammar here, it's early.)
Yeah, that's basically what I was saying, you're better off pairing Rooney with Heskey or Crouch. Never really understood where all the Crouch hate comes from, dude is skilled with the ball, has a good understanding of the game/player movement, and of course is outstanding in the air. Defoe > Bent.
jamrage wrote:Yeah, I'm a first generation American (my parents are English) and the only way I wouldn't play for the U.S. in anything (if I was a world class athlete) would be if the U.S. didn't want me at all. Then I'd go to England.
Remember when England didn't qualify and loads of players went and played for teams like Ireland?
Gutted that Ireland didn't make it this time. Would like to see England do well, but the thought of them winning and people like John Terry, Frank Lampard Jnr, Ashley Cole etc getting knighted would be horrible. Not that it'll happen though.
jamrage wrote:Yeah, I'm a first generation American (my parents are English) and the only way I wouldn't play for the U.S. in anything (if I was a world class athlete) would be if the U.S. didn't want me at all. Then I'd go to England.
Remember when England didn't qualify and loads of players went and played for teams like Ireland?
Gutted that Ireland didn't make it this time. Would like to see England do well, but the thought of them winning and people like John Terry, Frank Lampard Jnr, Ashley Cole etc getting knighted would be horrible. Not that it'll happen though.
out on penalties against Portugal/Germany/Falklands
i have them goin all the way to the semis against Brazil actually... if I'm reading he bracket correctly.
Fuck it, my prediction is either England or Argentina. The favorites (in this case Brazil or Spain) never seem to win these things. It's always the team having controversy or infighting.
Rafa out as manager of the Reds, with Inter set to make him their next. Who knows what that means for the futures of Gerard, who Real are chasing, Mash who Barca are chasing, and Torres who everyone is chasing.
Times have never been more uncertain for a Reds fan, one thing is for sure the Yanks must go.
Also: Jozy sprained his ankle in practice today. They are calling it a "mild sprain" but they did take him to the hospital for x-rays (which were came back negative). It looks like he might miss at least the last tune up on Saturday against the Aussies.
so forgive an ignorant Yank. Great fucking book.
Cool man. Looking forward to discussing with you. As you might imagine it's not something that a lot of Americans have read so I haven't been able to talk about it with anyone.
seriously, I hate that faggot.
