BLACK

I avoid the Kabuki partisan politics of America as much as possible, but I do love my guy, Col. Andrew Bacevich (check out his publications), and he delivers as usual in this recent interview.



Coupled with last week's Moyer's historical reflection on LBJ's decisions, it becomes a sobering perspective of our current situation.

Probably the single-most course of study for me this off-season is examining the intricacies of the Rodriguez/Trickett spread run game.

Starting out with the TFS-out-of-the-box run game, we struggled with consistently running the ball early. This largely had to do with our personnel at first, but we later adapted to principles that mimicked UM's spread-the-field attack. I've got a host of materials to examine Rodriguez's approach from Tulane, Clemson, and West Virginia, but haven't had the time to sit down and study all of it in-depth.

As a lagniappe, I've included the 2008 Michigan run game clips for you to peruse as well.

Can you wish for things on Thanksgiving? I dunno.

Even more awesome than this.......

23/11/09 Champions League Liverpool 1: Debrecen 0

Despite doing just enough to win their tie against Debrecen, Liverpool are out of the champions league. According to Carragher this is not a catastrophe and the Uefa Europa League will be just as much fun. I doubt the owners and fans agree.

Liverpool had most of the possession and the chances of the miracle Rafa was waiting for did increase after Ngog beat a very shaky Debrecen defence early in the match. However Juan Vargas ended the Scousers' and Rafa's dreams after half an hour when he put Fiorentina into the lead against Lyon from the penalty spot. Lyon did get close in the dying minutes of the fixture but unfortunately for the Liverpool fans there was no cigar.

It could however have been worse for Liverpool as Debrecan's Gergely Rudolf almost equalised late in the match. Lucas also got quite a lot of criticism from the Liverpool fans. Tough times for Rafa and the players ahead.

23/11/09 Champions League Arsenal 2: 0 Standard Liege

Arsenal went into this clash knowing they only needed one point to qualify, although after the defeat at Sunderland at the weekend and with Chelsea to face to Sunday, a decisive result would be a useful confidence boost.

Despite the gooners being in total control of the first half, it was far from stress free for Arsene Wenger. There is little doubt that the lead was well deserved (a clever Nasri strike and a poor keeper response to an opportunistic Denilson attempt from 30 yards), however a clash of heads which left a shell shocked Gallas with a swollen eye and Arshavin with blood oozing from his head must have got the frenchman worrying about what team he'd be able to field against Chelsea on Sunday. With the league leaders 8 points ahead, Wenger will not want any of his first team joining Van Persie on the injury list. However both players managed to get back on to the pitch before the half time whistle.

Although the Gooners did not boss the second half quite as well as they bossed the first, it was a job well done. Fabregas also demonstrated that at 23 he is a player of maturity as well as talent by not reacting to a headbutt from a frustrated Carcela-Gonzales, which led to the Liege player being shown the red card in the late stages of the game.

Premier League fixtures 25th November 2009

2 Premier League mid-week fixtures on Wednesday 25th November :

Fulham vs Blackburn Rovers, Craven Cottage 8pm
Hull City v Everton, KC Stadium 7.45pm

2 tight games I reckon. Fulham are a decent home team outfit but Big Sam has galvanised Blackburn Rovers into a tough, hard to beat side so they won't be daunted by a Wednesday evening trip to South London.

Similarly Hull City have shown signs that they will fight relegation, after their 3-3 draw with the Hammers this weekend. Phil Brown's men need to start winning their home games and Everton are a great side - a point would be a decent result for the Tigers I think.