Comments on: Multiple Regression, “Soccernomics”, and the World Cup Draw http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/12/04/multiple-regression-soccernomics-and-the-world-cup-draw/ If he has a chihuahua character, I can't make a chihuahua into a rottweiler. He could be a proud chihuahua but he remains a chihuahua. - Paolo Di Canio Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:43:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Green Eggs http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/12/04/multiple-regression-soccernomics-and-the-world-cup-draw/comment-page-1/#comment-8920 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:24:37 +0000 http://avoidingthedrop.com/?p=4556#comment-8920 Looks like the book is only $10 right now on Amazon – it’s on the wish list, and might become an Xmas gift suggestion. I’m a sucker for new footy books, especially ones that try to break it down through statistical analysis (even if those statistics are seemingly unrelated to the matches).

]]> By: Magnakai Haaskivi http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/12/04/multiple-regression-soccernomics-and-the-world-cup-draw/comment-page-1/#comment-8908 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:54:00 +0000 http://avoidingthedrop.com/?p=4556#comment-8908 Yeah, the book LOVES Arsenal; they make a lot out of the fact that Arsene Wenger is a trained economist, and that he was a good example of a team hiring a manager the “right” way (i.e., Arsenal went on a bonafide search for a manager, brought in an unknown instead of a guy who’d bombed out somewhere else, etc.). They also talk about how Arsenal will help a player through personal problems rather than sell him at a discounted rate for someone else to do well with him, and how Arsenal most likely has a set price for every player that they’d cash out at. Barcelona can probably get Fabregas if they wanted him, for example; it’s just a question of whether they meet Arsenal’s valuation.

It’s funny, I was actually reading that part on Sunday and when I heard Wenger’s comments about Drogba – about how “efficient” he is, etc. – it made sense that he was complimenting him. Getting maximum results with minimal expense – whether that expense is money or energy – is really the dream of an economist.

That said, their model franchises are Lyon (who have one sporting director who oversees the club and treat whoever the manager is the way Beane treats whomever his manager is: as a middle manager) and Nottingham Forest under Clough.

]]> By: Georger http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/12/04/multiple-regression-soccernomics-and-the-world-cup-draw/comment-page-1/#comment-8907 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:37:30 +0000 http://avoidingthedrop.com/?p=4556#comment-8907 I would say Arsenal are the A’s: they’re cheap as shit and don’t win anything, but people constantly blow them for doing things “the right way.”

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