SOCCER SPORT !

[93EXCivic]

NASCAR is really interesting from an academic point of view. Strategically, it's so tactical, that the car nerd and video game player in me can't help but find it interesting. As a race, it's dead boring. Basically, they could put strategy and fuel and aerodynamics into a computer and run a sim, and I bet it would be 99% accurate. Drivers seem such a small part in ring oval racing, it's barely worth putting them in the cars.

I don't know that I agree that drivers play a small part. I have talked to a few guys that have done both oval and road racing. It takes a completely different skill set and any small mistake can cost a lot of time.

[shameless]

Half a season with Aguero is still far far better than 5 seasons with Balotelli.

quite right -a couple of spectacular goals randomly seems to fool a lot of football managers that really should know better - we shouldn't be in a position where we will miss Aguero -but i fear we might -its wait and see -tomorrow in Rome will be a big test but i feel in my heart we will win convincingly

[thewalrus]

Drifting away slightly from the Racing / Soccer discussion...

Anyone else following the MLB winter meetings down in San Diego? I've been casually checking in - pretty much a non-event so far.

Seems like Lester is going to be the signing that kicks it all off. And that the Giants are at least one of the finalists in getting him. Instantly revitalize their rotation, if that's the case.

[shameless]

sorry Raza -feel for you [honestly] - wish us well for tomorrow

[Steppy]

If anyone still thinks Rodgers should be Liverpool manager any longer, they are deluded.

They were awful again tonight. At half time why did he bring Moreno and Markovic on (who have both been terrible) when Coutinho and Lallana were sat there?

Every game we play makes it look like last season was all down to Suarez and nothing to do with Rodgers. He's clueless at the moment. Basle are average at best, to not be able to beat them at home is a disgrace.

i'm not usually an advocate of sacking managers but these constant bad performances and all the money he's wasted, he has to go. We sacked club legend Dalglish for the same reason, and he wasted less money than Rodgers.

[CamB]

Australia are dominating against India two weeks after the team lost their team mate Phil Hughes. Three Aussies got hundreds and devoted them to Hughes. I think this photo taken today when Steve Smith got his century is going to be recorded as one of the most iconic photographs ever in cricket history. What a brilliant picture as Smith devotes his hundred raising his bat to the sky near the 408 on the ground.(Hughes was the 408th player to play Test Cricket for Australia).

[Raza]

I don't know that I agree that drivers play a small part. I have talked to a few guys that have done both oval and road racing. It takes a completely different skill set and any small mistake can cost a lot of time.

But in the equation of NASCAR, drivers are really the only variable other than weather.

[Raza]

sorry Raza -feel for you [honestly] - wish us well for tomorrow

Yeah, good luck. We need the remaining English teams to have some success. If it's on TV here, I'll be watching, supporting City.

[Raza]

If anyone still thinks Rodgers should be Liverpool manager any longer, they are deluded.

They were awful again tonight. At half time why did he bring Moreno and Markovic on (who have both been terrible) when Coutinho and Lallana were sat there?

Every game we play makes it look like last season was all down to Suarez and nothing to do with Rodgers. He's clueless at the moment. Basle are average at best, to not be able to beat them at home is a disgrace.

i'm not usually an advocate of sacking managers but these constant bad performances and all the money he's wasted, he has to go. We sacked club legend Dalglish for the same reason, and he wasted less money than Rodgers.

I don't think, still, that it was Suarez's talent that was the difference maker. We won games without him last season. I think the difference is that he had an intangible quality that, along with Gerrard, lifted the entire team. This season, demoralized because of his slip, Gerrard hasn't been able to motivate the team like before, and Suarez leaving felt like a betrayal.

The talent is there. They just need to find a way to use it again.

But I don't think Rodgers is the right man to do it anymore.

[GaryF]

I don't think, still, that it was Suarez's talent that was the difference maker. We won games without him last season. I think the difference is that he had an intangible quality that, along with Gerrard, lifted the entire team. This season, demoralized because of his slip, Gerrard hasn't been able to motivate the team like before, and Suarez leaving felt like a betrayal.

The talent is there. They just need to find a way to use it again.

But I don't think Rodgers is the right man to do it anymore.

I'm coming around to the idea of moving Rodgers on. I hate the idea of having to start again from scratch when we were so close to having a prem'-winning side but whatever is wrong with the squad- and there are several things which ought to be obvious to anybody- Rodgers either can't or won't address them.

I don't think he is suddenly crap. I don't think he was a genius last season. He's a pretty good manager who, like most managers (including arguably the best of all), can't see past his favourites.

Last season, the team pretty much took the decision-making process out of his hands. This season, with two very important elements missing, he needs to be earning his money by making the machine work with what he has. I understand if he wants to maintain an attacking style even though he finds himself temporarily stuck with second-best talent in those key positions but, if he's going to do that, he has to use those players properly. If it is all about the movement, you can't field Lucas, Gerrard and Lambert every week. Lucas can do his job. For limited periods so can Gerrard. But much as I love the idea of the Lambert fairy tale, he cannot be the lone striker in a system based on quick passing, rotating positions and forcing defensive lines backwards.

This seems to me so basic that I can't believe Rodgers can't see it. So what is going on? It looks to me like teaching Borini to leave when he is told is a part of it. I don't know if is about business or pride but it certainly doesn't look like it's about the desire to win matches.

I suspect the latter given the situation with the only good centre-half at the club and his mysterious injury. It's rumoured that he was a transfer board appointee while Lovren is Rodgers's boy.

Honestly, all managers do a bit of this- they've all got their egos, haven't they?- but the results make the difference. Right now, Rodgers looks like like he's reluctant to do what's necessary.