This supposed Moneyball theory states that by making more than thirty crosses in a game a team will more than likely win, but has that been the case for the Reds this season? Interestingly, not one opposing team has broken the thirty cross barrier against Liverpool during this campaign. . . .

Whilst Liverpool might be adhering to this Moneyball statistical theory relating to crossing, it doesn’t appear to have done them too much good; only two wins from fifteen matches – and none from the nine games with the highest number of crosses – and a disappointing overall points-per-game tally of 0.93, which is relegation form in anyone’s language.

Conversely, the Reds have taken 1.71 points-per-game from their league matches when they have crossed the ball thirty times or less; as that points figure has been enough to secure fourth place in three of the last five seasons, it’s clearly a lot closer to where Liverpool want to be, and so suggests that this particular Moneyball strategy may not be entirely the right way to go. Could this large difference in points-per-game have played a part in the dismissal of Damien Comolli?

"a team that wins more than 40 headers, or crosses the ball more than 30 times or makes 12 regains in the final third, will nearly always win."

I've not been this excited for a soccer game since the World Cup.

Extra time and a shoot out today right?

The English really do the moment of silence well. They just had one at old trafford and I thought I had hit the mute button on my tv it was so quiet.

If those are the statistics being used by the "football sabrematricians" then their teams are going to lose a lot of games

Ursus pointed this out on another board

'It is with heavy heart that I confirm to you the rumours: Josep Guardiola is leaving FC Barcelona—'

I'm waiting. Just waiting.

'We would have liked nothing more than to have retained his services—'

Just waiting. Waiting here behind the board.

'—but we know that some people are marked out for a higher calling—'

Waiting here behind the board. The sponsors' board.

'—and we couldn't stand in Pep's way—'

The board they sold to the Qataris. The board they sold to ####### UNICEF.

'So he will shortly become manager of the Spanish national team—'

I can see them. They can't see me. Not through the board. Not through the shiny ####### board. They can't see me. But I can see them. See into their heads.

'—Archbishop of Barcelona—'

I can see them, and I'm waiting. Just waiting. Waiting for my entrance.

'—Crown Prince of several lucrative overseas markets—'

Waiting for my entrance. Waiting to walk onto my stage.

'—and President-for-Life-designate of Catalonia, which, as you know, will shortly be granted full sovereignty by King Juan Carlos personally, on account of Barça's magnificent performances in recent seasons—'

Waiting to walk onto the stage that I've been waiting for all my life. The stage that was built for me.

'In order to minimize disruption to our club, we have decided to move swiftly in appointing a replacement—'

Waiting for the audience that are waiting for me. But they don't know they're waiting for me. No ####### clue. No ####### clue at all.

'We have found someone with vast experience, who has had great success and knows Barça very—'

I step out from behind the board. I don't need to be cued up. I write my own ####### cues.

They all gasp. They all look like Jesus ####### Christ has walked out from behind that board. If they didn't have notepads in their hands, if they didn't have notepads and dictaphones in their hands, if they didn't have notepads and dictaphones and ####### cheese rolls in their hands, they wouldn't know whether to punch my lights out or stroke my beautiful face.

So what would a bettor have made on a Wigan parlay this week?

I really hate the way defenders can get away with murder in the box while attacking players are whistled for a stern glance.

Pogrebnyak

So which evil empire will folks here be rooting for in the Real/Bayern semifinal?

Oboy, I don't know. Do I want another Real-Barca match up?

I'm rooting for Bayern

I'm excited for Bayern's goal.

I actually enjoyed rooting for Bayern

China soccer sounds sort of nuts.