Singaporeans love business school speak, even when it makes no sense at all. That's not the point. It makes them sound all grown up and modern. Take this piece of drivel...
"There is a high intangible value to this deal and StarHub has taken a holistic approach that is not just about cash,"
How the hell could you paraphrase that?

I'm opening this with the following statement:

This is an editorial piece containing my opinions about the Brian Ching situation. I do not have factual evidence to support my points, I'm simply making educated assumptions based on the information we've actually seen. That said, I'm sure I'll get some reactions from people who don't make it past the headline before jumping to a conclusion.

In what is a fairly stunning move Fox has won the rights to the English language broadcasts in the USA of all FIFA events from 2015-2022. This will include the signature events of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada and the 2019 Women's World Cup which has yet to be awarded to a host nation.

With the matches completed on October 12 where the teams behind the Portland Timbers gained no ground in the chase for the postseason, the Timbers can now focus their attention solely on their next opponent, the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo currently reside in tenth place which is also the final playoff spot, and the Timbers would need a full three points to not only draw even with Houston, but gain some leverage in the tiebreakers should it come to that.

The UnionDues is reporting that a source close to the situation told the site that Philadelphia Union midfielder Roger Torres has bought out the remainder of his contract with Colombian club America de Cali. Speculation on the move is that that either the Union are set to sign the 20-year-old to a contract, or a European club may swoop in and take the talented Colombian off to another continent.

Together we stand

Lately, you can hardly read anything from Arsene Wenger's interviews and press conferences. It was mostly towing the club line and trying to churn out as much positives as possible. Surprisingly, yesterday's one was slightly different. Very refreshing to see to.

With the registration for any new players being limited to only two days (Tuesday and Wednesday), the focus was very much in terms of transfers.

Luka Modric really, really wants to leave Tottenham. Spurs Number 2 Kevin Bond now publicly acknowledges that the unhappy player may leave if a bid matches the club's valuation of the player.
The scenario floating around the newspapers is a straight cash deal for Modric. Modric in exchange for money, giving Spurs cash to pursue other players in the transfer market.

Bernie Mandic has played us all, the whole country.
Perhaps he only had the QPR offer and every Agent needs some leverage. Run to Australia and put in some hard yards.
Then spruik it across the Aussie media and bingo.
Only shit!
They might pony up the money and now we're in the poo Harry - and besides we've had offers from Europe or the Middle East.

It may not be every day, but it looks like twice a week that the Seattle Sounders will be connected with a significant transfer rumor. Today, it is Lucas Neill. The Australian National Team Captain and Galatasaray centerback is connected specifically to the Seattle Sounders by Turkish site Fanatik (h/t KevinAirs442 - Australia).

Rumbling along quietly along in the background, the ongoing argument over whether a Great Britain team should take part in the 2012 London Olympics has been one of the slow-burning debates within British football over the last half-decade or so, but this debate ignited this afternoon after a series of statements, made in turn by the British Olympic Association, the Football Association, the Scottish Football Association and the Football Association of Wales, which already seems likely to turn into a full-blown argument.

Goals don't just happen - they are made. Both on offense and defense, teams control how they deploy their resources (speak: players) on the pitch, and they make tactical choices about how to attack and defend. Some rely more on fast breaks, while others try to create or avoid chances from open play. So this means that goals are created and allowed.

Enough already with "You Suck, Asshole" – I really don't care that much either way. The only thing that really bothers me is the lack of a game this weekend. I'm not offended by the chant as I barely consider "asshole" an expletive. I was surprised to learn that people were actually really bothered by it.

Socceroos v Chile the game is expected to be off.
But in a football world on the FFA seem to be able to handle PR with such aplomb.
Still on the backfoot - still making the most beautiful game one that lacks worthy news and promotion.
When was the last time an FFA announcement about the game excited you?

Here's a different way of looking at positive leverage. In the spirit of analyses that have looked at teams' ability to generate and take advantage of chances in a match, it's a way to identify teams that both generate positive leverage situations and manage to, well, leverage them for a win.
Here's what the graphs show.

Here's a different way of looking at positive leverage. In the spirit of analyses that have looked at teams' ability to generate and take advantage of chances in a match, it's a way to identify teams that both generate positive leverage situations and manage to, well, leverage them for a win.
Here's what the graphs show.

In earlier posts, I have discussed the idea of positive and negative leverage - the idea that being up or down a goal (or two or three) changes the dynamics and the psychology of a match. Statistically, I defined it as the odds of a team winning the match, given the particular score at the time and the time remaining in the match.

In earlier posts, I have discussed the idea of positive and negative leverage - the idea that being up or down a goal (or two or three) changes the dynamics and the psychology of a match. Statistically, I defined it as the odds of a team winning the match, given the particular score at the time and the time remaining in the match.

A couple of days ago, I wrote about the positive leverage teams generate when they are up by a goal or the lousy leverage they have when they are down by one. I defined the leverage that puts one team in control of the match or creates pressure on another team statistically as "the likelihood of winning, given the score and the time remaining in the game.

A couple of days ago, I wrote about the positive leverage teams generate when they are up by a goal or the lousy leverage they have when they are down by one. I defined the leverage that puts one team in control of the match or creates pressure on another team statistically as "the likelihood of winning, given the score and the time remaining in the game.

In soccer, a single goal has enormous value. In fact, we can put a number on that value. I've written about this before in posts on the most common scores in soccer or posts about the point value of goals. In a game where over 50% of matches involve fewer than 3 goals, and the most common score line is a goal difference of 1 (rather than 3 or 4), being ahead or behind is a big deal.

In soccer, a single goal has enormous value. In fact, we can put a number on that value. I've written about this before in posts on the most common scores in soccer or posts about the point value of goals. In a game where over 50% of matches involve fewer than 3 goals, and the most common score line is a goal difference of 1 (rather than 3 or 4), being ahead or behind is a big deal.

After an excellent round of will-he-won't-he, it appears that Middlesbrough and Bolton have finally agreed on the details, and now the contract is just waiting on personal terms. If you've been under a rock this transfer window, the player in question in David Wheater, a 6′5″ central defender and dancing queen.

Ned Dishman - Getty Images

First pick Omar Salgado -- a bit of a stretch or clever stuff from the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps?

View full size photo »

I did a mock draft for SI.

What do the FFA think of Mrs Wensing? 80 years of age, she went out of her way to sign the A-League4Canberra supporters pledge in 2009. The FFA could not have cared less.

Fozzie has spoken.
At the recent inaugural fans forum in Sydney, a marvellous initiative btw, to look at and solve the problems facing football in Australia.

Edin Dzeko has been in Manchester for all of two minutes before speaking to the press about the lie City fans spread, that Manchester is blue.

So desperate are City to get some leverage on United, they hound their new signings with their nonsense.

"I have heard a lot about the fans and that most of the people from Manchester are Manchester City fans," he said.