It is messy complicated. Coming upon the heels of the farewell to Gerrard who stayed with Liverpool even when presented with greener (in dollars and trophy opportunities) pastures, Sterling's demand for departure are fingernails to a chalkboard.
The issues are nicely covered in the ESPNFC piece.
Excerpt:
As for Sterling himself, he's been very disappointing, but it's harder to play well when you're no longer surrounded by great players. He could have demonstrated that he is more than just potential this year, and he fell short. But when he looks around the dressing room, is it any surprise he thinks he could do better elsewhere?
On this season's form, how many members of the Liverpool team could play for Chelsea? Two, for sure. Sterling and Philippe Coutinho, though only one at a time. Jordan Henderson might make the bench. And that's it. That's not enough quality for a team who aspires to win major trophies.
..........
What FSG have to decide now is whether they want pull out their wallets and have another go, whether they want to run the club within its means and so decline, or if they want to hand over the enterprise to someone with more willingness to spend. That final option should not be easily dismissed. This a consortium formed to make money, not to chase romantic dreams of victory.
.............
FSG took over a basket case of a football club that was on the brink of serious financial trouble. As disappointing as this season has been, they no longer have to worry about meeting the payments of ruinous loans. If UEFA do throttle back on FFP, there may be someone out there who wants to throw money at one of the most famous names in club football.
Outside of the Champions League once again, Liverpool are drifting away from the top four. By the end of the week, they could be behind Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton as well. You can't blame Sterling for wanting to leave. What matters now is how FSG react.
*******
Will the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) open the wallet?
As owners of the Red Sox, they know the world of USA Major League Baseball (MLB) the best.
There is a "soft wage control" mechanism in the from of the "luxury tax." Most MLB spend below the amount needed to trigger the provisions. But with a relatively high luxury tax cut-off, there are salary disparities below the line such that big market high budget teams above/below but near the line will toss free agent dollars to lure stars developed/discovered by small market teams.
Yet, through good usage of stats and scouting, teams with more modest budgets can be very competitive in MLB.
One wonders if stat heavy analytics is as effective in soccer as it is in baseball?
From what I read, Liverpool spent the 5th most in salary in the EPL in 2014-2015 and they are, at the moment, in fifth place.
Will be interesting what the wage bill will be at the start of the 2015-16 campaign and what it was in the previous years under FSG?
Since FSG has taken over the club, Liverpool have finished the following:
2010-2011 6th place
2011-2012 8th place
2012-2013 7th place
2013-2014 2nd place
2014-2015 5th, 6th or 7th place depending on this weekend's matches.
Given their financial commitments thus far (generous but not at big 4 levels), finishing 5/6/7/8 has been the typical result. The fantastic run in 2013-2014 was the high water mark where they caught magic in a bottle. I suppose that is what saber metric money conscious MLB organizations do in the USA.
Is that FSG's model for Liverpool?
If so, how often will they catch the magic and break into the top 4 without spending on top 4 salaries?
Liverpool fans may eventually conclude this isn't enough for them but unless FSG sells to even deeper pocketed owners, this might be as good as it gets?
LA Galaxy off to a slow start, Part II
Time to panic yet?
The 4-0 mauling of the Galaxy at Orlando was not good.
Two analysis pieces over at MLSSoccer.com put the LA Galaxy troubles under the microscope and into perspective.
In this piece, it is a "show me the numbers" analysis that the problem off poor passing accuracy by the team overall and the midfielders specifically are a major source of concern. The drop off is most striking in the final third passing accuracy and creation of chances in open play.
In the other piece, the focus again was on the poor passing and lack of consistent activity in the final third. Additionally, there was the reality that the Galaxy fielded a make-shift line up with no designated players and some regular role players were out with injury.
So no time to panic yet, but the Galaxy braintrust will have to find a way to keep afloat and not fall too far behind as they await Keene's return and Gerrard's arrival.
The 4-0 mauling of the Galaxy at Orlando was not good.
Two analysis pieces over at MLSSoccer.com put the LA Galaxy troubles under the microscope and into perspective.
In this piece, it is a "show me the numbers" analysis that the problem off poor passing accuracy by the team overall and the midfielders specifically are a major source of concern. The drop off is most striking in the final third passing accuracy and creation of chances in open play.
In the other piece, the focus again was on the poor passing and lack of consistent activity in the final third. Additionally, there was the reality that the Galaxy fielded a make-shift line up with no designated players and some regular role players were out with injury.
So no time to panic yet, but the Galaxy braintrust will have to find a way to keep afloat and not fall too far behind as they await Keene's return and Gerrard's arrival.
Liverpool defeated by Crystal Palace in Gerrard's last home game
What can you say?
The soccer script writers have not been kind to Gerrard's final season.
It is remarkable how the same team that was pretty much beating everyone before now finds itself struggling to stay competitive.
I suppose one part of the problem is that the season is very long. Between Premier League matches, Champions League, Europa League, League Cup, and FA Cup competitions, this team's legs have logged lots of miles. If they are 100% they win today's game. But lately they are probably playing 94 to 97% and that means struggles and ugly defeats. The team just seemed to be slow in reacting on defense and only occasionally had bursts of speed in the offensive half.
Another problem appears to be explainable with the cliche that "the team doesn't know how to win the big game."
I've only been actively following the team since November 2014. During that time, when there were pressure situations, they haven't been able to get the win. Facing the end of their Champions League season, they could only manage a draw against Basel (Basal would be easily eliminated in the next round). In the elimination game in the League Cup, they lost 1-0 to Chelsea. In the second leg of the Europa Cup, they fell to Besiktas (Besiktas would be eliminated easily in the next round). Vying to be in the top four they lost back-to-back to Manchester United and Arsenal. In the FA Cup semi-final they were outclassed by the almost relegated Aston Villa.
An additional factor for the team is whether the emotions of Gerrard's final home game played into the psyche of the team?
In any case, the final game of Gerrard's Liverpool career will be on the road at Stoke. Hopefully, the team can summon the strength and will to send him out a winner.
The soccer script writers have not been kind to Gerrard's final season.
It is remarkable how the same team that was pretty much beating everyone before now finds itself struggling to stay competitive.
I suppose one part of the problem is that the season is very long. Between Premier League matches, Champions League, Europa League, League Cup, and FA Cup competitions, this team's legs have logged lots of miles. If they are 100% they win today's game. But lately they are probably playing 94 to 97% and that means struggles and ugly defeats. The team just seemed to be slow in reacting on defense and only occasionally had bursts of speed in the offensive half.
Another problem appears to be explainable with the cliche that "the team doesn't know how to win the big game."
I've only been actively following the team since November 2014. During that time, when there were pressure situations, they haven't been able to get the win. Facing the end of their Champions League season, they could only manage a draw against Basel (Basal would be easily eliminated in the next round). In the elimination game in the League Cup, they lost 1-0 to Chelsea. In the second leg of the Europa Cup, they fell to Besiktas (Besiktas would be eliminated easily in the next round). Vying to be in the top four they lost back-to-back to Manchester United and Arsenal. In the FA Cup semi-final they were outclassed by the almost relegated Aston Villa.
An additional factor for the team is whether the emotions of Gerrard's final home game played into the psyche of the team?
In any case, the final game of Gerrard's Liverpool career will be on the road at Stoke. Hopefully, the team can summon the strength and will to send him out a winner.
Should he stay or should he go? Manager Rodgers and the final two games
I had previously wrote:
"If Liverpool were to take 3 losses in this stretch, the ownership group may look to sack Rodgers. Clearly, unless the team falls to a rash of injuries, they should get 4 to 5 wins over the next 6. Failure to do so would represent a failure to motivate the team which would be a firing offense."
I had forgotten that draws were likely outcomes. But my view of 3 losses still stands.
How have they been doing?
Draw to West Ham
Loss to Hull
Win over QPR
Draw to Chelsea
Tomorrow, Liverpool play Crystal Palace at home with a Stevie G send off and the final game of the season is at Stoke.
Both opponents are in safety from relagation so they don't have to win except for pride. Don't know if their managers are going to use the final two games to test out younger players in which case getting a win or draw might be easier for Liverpool.
On the Liverpool side, their number 5 spot is relatively safe as Tottenham and Southampton who could catch them haven't been winning. I do wonder if those managers maybe testing out players planning for next season.
I wonder if Rodgers will plug in perhaps one of their youngsters in each of the last two games to test them out. He gave Sinclair ~ 20 minutes in the last match. Wonder who else might get a call up? Certainly, Gerrard, a fierce competitor wants to go out a winner at home and in his last EPL game so he and his Liverpool teammate should be quite motivated. Thus, I don't see Rodgers doing wholesale testing of younger players. So my guess for the starting XI will be pretty much the same as last week unless somebody is injured.
Forecast:
2-1 win over Crystal Palace
1-0 win over Stoke.
The other thing to watch is whether Rodgers will have Gerrard play all 90 minutes or have him subbed off to applause as in last week's Chelsea game. Barring injury, my guess is that Gerrard will get a full 90 unless Liverpool has a two or more goal lead.
"If Liverpool were to take 3 losses in this stretch, the ownership group may look to sack Rodgers. Clearly, unless the team falls to a rash of injuries, they should get 4 to 5 wins over the next 6. Failure to do so would represent a failure to motivate the team which would be a firing offense."
I had forgotten that draws were likely outcomes. But my view of 3 losses still stands.
How have they been doing?
Draw to West Ham
Loss to Hull
Win over QPR
Draw to Chelsea
Tomorrow, Liverpool play Crystal Palace at home with a Stevie G send off and the final game of the season is at Stoke.
Both opponents are in safety from relagation so they don't have to win except for pride. Don't know if their managers are going to use the final two games to test out younger players in which case getting a win or draw might be easier for Liverpool.
On the Liverpool side, their number 5 spot is relatively safe as Tottenham and Southampton who could catch them haven't been winning. I do wonder if those managers maybe testing out players planning for next season.
I wonder if Rodgers will plug in perhaps one of their youngsters in each of the last two games to test them out. He gave Sinclair ~ 20 minutes in the last match. Wonder who else might get a call up? Certainly, Gerrard, a fierce competitor wants to go out a winner at home and in his last EPL game so he and his Liverpool teammate should be quite motivated. Thus, I don't see Rodgers doing wholesale testing of younger players. So my guess for the starting XI will be pretty much the same as last week unless somebody is injured.
Forecast:
2-1 win over Crystal Palace
1-0 win over Stoke.
The other thing to watch is whether Rodgers will have Gerrard play all 90 minutes or have him subbed off to applause as in last week's Chelsea game. Barring injury, my guess is that Gerrard will get a full 90 unless Liverpool has a two or more goal lead.
LA Galaxy off to a slow start
No time to panic ..... yet.
The LA Galaxy aren't playing well. The experts at ESPNFC have them 11th in the MLS.
If you look at the MLSSoccer.com stats page, on many parameters the LA Galaxy is middling, very middling: 10th in goals scored, 9th in goals given up, 10th in shots-on-goal....
But no time to panic as they have been without their top player Robbie Keane who has missed 6 out of 10 games, Steven Gerrard doesn't arrive until August, and they definitely miss Landon Donovan.
Key will be the continued development of their younger players like Jamison, Villarreal, and Zardes, etc.
Also, will need to keep on eye on their 30+ year-old role players like Gordon, Vayrynen, Ishizaki, and Gargan. Want to get good effective minutes out of them in their respective roles without over-taxing them.
If all goes well, by the second half of the season Keane will be back at 100%, Gerrard will fit in doing what he can do from midfield, Zardes continues to improve, Gonzalez anchors the defensive backfield and the blend of 30-something/20-something role players will gel and give good minutes subbing in-and-out for each other.
Unlike European leagues, MLS has a playoff system. Thus, one can have a slow start but peak toward the end and make the playoffs and run-the-table. Twice the Galaxy took the MLS Cup by making it into the playoffs as 4th in the West.
Thus, fans don't need to panic. As long as the team gets healthy and keeps building without getting too far behind they should be able to peak and make the playoffs and give it a go. Expecting to win another MLS Cup might be much but certainly a good run in the playoffs would be a reasonable expectation.
On a side note, it has been interesting to see the difference the place soccer has here in Los Angeles in comparison to Liverpool. As a new follower of Liverpool, all I need to do is go to the Liverpool Echo online and there are at least several articles every day about some aspect of the team. The articles range from strong opinion pieces to news updates about injuries and prospects to personal stories about the players.
Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles Times, one might get several articles a week about the LA Galaxy. Most of the articles are brief factual reporting on an upcoming/just concluded match.
Of course, one must understand the massive difference in the fan base. Liverpool has 25 million Facebook followers! LA Galaxy has 1.1 million Facebook followers.
In case you are curious, Manchester United has 64 million Facebook followers and Barcelona has 82 million!
The LA Galaxy aren't playing well. The experts at ESPNFC have them 11th in the MLS.
If you look at the MLSSoccer.com stats page, on many parameters the LA Galaxy is middling, very middling: 10th in goals scored, 9th in goals given up, 10th in shots-on-goal....
But no time to panic as they have been without their top player Robbie Keane who has missed 6 out of 10 games, Steven Gerrard doesn't arrive until August, and they definitely miss Landon Donovan.
Key will be the continued development of their younger players like Jamison, Villarreal, and Zardes, etc.
Also, will need to keep on eye on their 30+ year-old role players like Gordon, Vayrynen, Ishizaki, and Gargan. Want to get good effective minutes out of them in their respective roles without over-taxing them.
If all goes well, by the second half of the season Keane will be back at 100%, Gerrard will fit in doing what he can do from midfield, Zardes continues to improve, Gonzalez anchors the defensive backfield and the blend of 30-something/20-something role players will gel and give good minutes subbing in-and-out for each other.
Unlike European leagues, MLS has a playoff system. Thus, one can have a slow start but peak toward the end and make the playoffs and run-the-table. Twice the Galaxy took the MLS Cup by making it into the playoffs as 4th in the West.
Thus, fans don't need to panic. As long as the team gets healthy and keeps building without getting too far behind they should be able to peak and make the playoffs and give it a go. Expecting to win another MLS Cup might be much but certainly a good run in the playoffs would be a reasonable expectation.
On a side note, it has been interesting to see the difference the place soccer has here in Los Angeles in comparison to Liverpool. As a new follower of Liverpool, all I need to do is go to the Liverpool Echo online and there are at least several articles every day about some aspect of the team. The articles range from strong opinion pieces to news updates about injuries and prospects to personal stories about the players.
Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles Times, one might get several articles a week about the LA Galaxy. Most of the articles are brief factual reporting on an upcoming/just concluded match.
Of course, one must understand the massive difference in the fan base. Liverpool has 25 million Facebook followers! LA Galaxy has 1.1 million Facebook followers.
In case you are curious, Manchester United has 64 million Facebook followers and Barcelona has 82 million!
It is Soccer Night in Sweden - What you need to know in 59 seconds
The top soccer league in Sweden is the Allsvenskan.
The strongest team historically and recently is Malmo having won the league crown 21 times since the founding in 1924. If one looks at recent history (since 2008), Malmo has won 3 of the last 7 titles and are currently vying to win their third in a row.
Tonight, Elfsborg, the last team other than Malmo to win Allsvenskan (in 2012), has a showdown with Malmo.
UPDATE: It is a final, 2-2! Sadly, the high profile game was marred by disruptive fans late in the second half. Elfsborg fell behind 1-0 but leveled before the half. Malmo got a 2-1 lead late (76 min) in the second half. Unfortunately, some Malmo fans set off fireworks in the stands and the game was halted while officials decided how to proceed. After a lengthy stoppage, the game was resumed and 20 minutes of extra-time was added. Elfsborg got the equalizer at 90+16 minutes.
Sadly, fan misbehavior remains an occasional issue in Swedish soccer. I do hope someday to see a match in Sweden but would probably not attend a contest in a large city arena where drunken fan violence and misbehavior tends to be more common.
The strongest team historically and recently is Malmo having won the league crown 21 times since the founding in 1924. If one looks at recent history (since 2008), Malmo has won 3 of the last 7 titles and are currently vying to win their third in a row.
Tonight, Elfsborg, the last team other than Malmo to win Allsvenskan (in 2012), has a showdown with Malmo.
UPDATE: It is a final, 2-2! Sadly, the high profile game was marred by disruptive fans late in the second half. Elfsborg fell behind 1-0 but leveled before the half. Malmo got a 2-1 lead late (76 min) in the second half. Unfortunately, some Malmo fans set off fireworks in the stands and the game was halted while officials decided how to proceed. After a lengthy stoppage, the game was resumed and 20 minutes of extra-time was added. Elfsborg got the equalizer at 90+16 minutes.
Sadly, fan misbehavior remains an occasional issue in Swedish soccer. I do hope someday to see a match in Sweden but would probably not attend a contest in a large city arena where drunken fan violence and misbehavior tends to be more common.
More on Association and Separation within the Church Community
Am continuing to think about this issue more intently ever since I started to put some initial thoughts onto my blog space with this previous post.
Within the church community, there have been two major historic separations. There was the break between the Western Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church in The Schism of 1054. And then there was the Reformation that began in 1517 when Protestants and Catholics divided. Since then there have been many smaller breaks over various issues.
Today, churches in the USA divide over a wide variety of issues. Here is a list off the top of my head that are the source of conversations, debates, potential and actual division:
Adult or infant baptism
Continuation or cessation of certain spiritual gifts
Role of women in church leadership
Calvinist or Arminian understanding of salvation
Specific details in one's understanding of Jesus as the Christ
Details of the End Times
Young or old earth
Forms of church government
Role of Scripture for doctrine and practice
Approachs on music use in corporate worship
Degrees of support or non-support of Israel
Propriety of same-sex marriage in the church
Frequency of and who could partake in the Lord's Supper
Views on and degree of activity in matters of politics.
If you faced a division of opinion in your church community over any of these or other issues, how do you decide whether to separate over that issue?
I think 1 Corinthians 8 is one portion of Paul's teaching that can be helpful. However, this teaching seems to be limited to issues where there is personal history with an issue but ultimately is not a theological/ethical barrier. Nonetheless, every effort should be made to avoid wounding others who believe in Christ but might differ on that particular matter.
James 4 offers quick hitting advice on a variety of issues in life and ends with verse 17: Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.
Thus, there are several layers of consideration. One step is determining whether the issue falls into a theological/ethical category in which case, one should try one's best to decide (1) what is one's view on it, (2) how important it is to get right, (3) how certain you think you are about your position, and then finally (4) proceed to a decision of association or separation.
If the item falls outside of a theological/ethical category and how important it is to get right, then one's view on the matter needs to take into account how one's actions regarding that issue impacts on others who disagree.
Within the church community, there have been two major historic separations. There was the break between the Western Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church in The Schism of 1054. And then there was the Reformation that began in 1517 when Protestants and Catholics divided. Since then there have been many smaller breaks over various issues.
Today, churches in the USA divide over a wide variety of issues. Here is a list off the top of my head that are the source of conversations, debates, potential and actual division:
Adult or infant baptism
Continuation or cessation of certain spiritual gifts
Role of women in church leadership
Calvinist or Arminian understanding of salvation
Specific details in one's understanding of Jesus as the Christ
Details of the End Times
Young or old earth
Forms of church government
Role of Scripture for doctrine and practice
Approachs on music use in corporate worship
Degrees of support or non-support of Israel
Propriety of same-sex marriage in the church
Frequency of and who could partake in the Lord's Supper
Views on and degree of activity in matters of politics.
If you faced a division of opinion in your church community over any of these or other issues, how do you decide whether to separate over that issue?
I think 1 Corinthians 8 is one portion of Paul's teaching that can be helpful. However, this teaching seems to be limited to issues where there is personal history with an issue but ultimately is not a theological/ethical barrier. Nonetheless, every effort should be made to avoid wounding others who believe in Christ but might differ on that particular matter.
James 4 offers quick hitting advice on a variety of issues in life and ends with verse 17: Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.
Thus, there are several layers of consideration. One step is determining whether the issue falls into a theological/ethical category in which case, one should try one's best to decide (1) what is one's view on it, (2) how important it is to get right, (3) how certain you think you are about your position, and then finally (4) proceed to a decision of association or separation.
If the item falls outside of a theological/ethical category and how important it is to get right, then one's view on the matter needs to take into account how one's actions regarding that issue impacts on others who disagree.
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