Losing Respect for Sour Grapes United

I'm a Liverpool fan. Have been one since 1996 when they lost the FA Cup final to Man Utd, and decided I prefered the decidely more unpredictable and interesting McManaman to the arrogant-looking (though arguably brilliant) Cantona.

Yes, I started supporting them when they were losing, when any other football fan would have gone for the obvious choice - Manchester United.

I supported the losing team (I didn't even KNOW they were so dominant in the 80's BEFORE that 1996 match, in fact, that was the first football match I ever watched), because I couldn't stand the sight of the winning team.

It's no secret that I hate Manchester United. I don't like their players, and I love it when they lose.

But know this. Although I hate Man Utd, I DO respect them as a team, and I acknowledge that they are a formidable team, and their success in the Nineties have been well-deserved.

As much as I hate the sight of Ferguson, I admit that he is one hell of a brilliant manager. The bugger can buy well, and he can lead his team to victory even when they are not at their best.

As for fans of Man Utd, as much as I like to gloat when they lose, and curse at them when they win, I'm actually fine with them, AS LONG AS they are REAL fans of the club, not a bunch of bandwagonists who supported the team just because they were winning. I have loads of friends who are Man Utd fans, and we jibe and gloat over each other all the time.

When Man Utd won the Treble in 1999, I was happy for them, because it was an English club, and it was against Bayern Munich. Plus the way they won it was just brilliant, and deserves the applause. They deserved the respect of ALL football fans all over the world for the way they won it at the last minutes of the game when they were on the way to defeat.

Fast forward to Liverpool's triumph in the Champion's League, and I'm hearing a lot of grumbles from Man United fans about how 'Man U's win against Bayern was better' or 'Mickey Mouse team who got lucky' and so on.

Funnily enough, it's only from the Man Utd fans that I'm hearing all this talk. Even my friends who are Chelsea fans (who grumbled about the semi final, but accepted it), and Arsenal fans (who can't say anything because they did diddly squat with THEIR chance at the Champion's League) congratulated Liverpool.

But Man Ud fans? They complained that we didn't deserve it. That the way we won was 'ugly'. That the 'best teams' were not playing. That if it were Man Utd playing in the final, they would have had a better game.

Even their Chairman, when they lost to AC Milan, complained that the 'best teams' are not going through, and wanted the format changed so that teams like Real Madrid and Man Utd can go through more easily.

I have to say I'm losing all respect for Man Utd and their fans as a result. Can't you just quit the sour grapes and acknowledge a marvelous and dramatic night of football, like the rest of us did when YOU won so dramatically against Bayern?

So, were Liverpool lucky? Well, we DID have a healthy dose of luck.

Liverpool are a team of average players? I can't argue with that.

Were Liverpool's tactics too boring? Probably, but hey, we DO have a team of average players , no?

Did Liverpool have a RIGHT to win the trophy when they are NOT one of the 'best teams' in Europe? Well... based on history, YES. Based on recent years' form, NO, I can't argue that Liverpool HAVE that 'right'

But since when does any one team have a 'right' to win a trophy?

Liverpool deserved the trophy not because we have a 'right' to it. We may not be currently one of the 'best teams in Europe', but we won it by BEATING the best teams in Europe.

After all, we DID beat the league champions of Italy and England on the way to the Final, and there, well, we DID beat AC Milan in the Final didn't we? The same AC Milan who beat Man Utd in OLD TRAFFORD?

As much as I'd like to, I can't argue with that either.

Liverpool: My Summer Wishlist 2005

Check out this story on Soccernet: Rafa has to be ruthless, which dissects the entire Liverpool squad to see who should stay and who should leave.

While I don't agree with some of the opinions (I think Finnan, Hamann and Hyypia should stay), I'd say the article is spot on with some of the accessments.

Kewell's lack of mental strength, Traore's lapses of concentration, Dudek's proneness to mistakes, Baros' failure to live up to his goal-scoring exploits in Euro 2004, all point towards a likely exit.

With at least 50 million pounds in the kitty after winning the Champion's League, and more coming if they manage to sell some players, Benitez is gonna have to beef up the squad and get rid of the deadweights.

And here is MY wishlist of players I hope he'll go for:

• Pablo Aimar (Valencia) - Liverpool have absolutely NO creative attacking midfield players that can conjure up tricks to unlock defences like Aimar can. Kewell was supposed to be that player, but look where he is now. Aimar in Liverpool would be MAGIC.
• Vicente (Valencia) - I rate this guy the BEST left winger in Spain. Would be good support for Riise. Bad news for Warnock though, but then, Warnock and Riise can ALSO play left-back, which is good for them too.
• Wayne Routledge (Crystal Palace) - Fast, young and a good crosser. We need a right wing man as well, with Smicer going and Garcia being the only one playing there now.
• Shaun-Wright Philips (Manchester City) - Ditto the above. Either him or Routeledge would do just fine.
• Another left-back (from anywhere!) - We NEED someone to cover for Traore, if not replace him.
• Another goalkeeper (from anywhere!) - Villareal keeper Pepe Reina, who was one of the best keepers in the La Liga this season, has been saying that a deal has been made to come to Liverpool. Let's hope its true.
• Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza) - Real Madrid made a HUGE mistake when they decided not to sign him. Would be great cover for our defence, AND has been linked to the club.
• Mista (Valencia) - Proven goalscorer, and a Benitez favorite son, despite the un-striker-like name.
• Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid) - Another youing and talented goalscorer, but this guy is a long shot to come to Liverpool, I think.

I'm optimistic that Liverpool can get some of these players, especially the Valencia ones, due to the Benitez factor (notice that most of them are from the La Liga).

Of course, that would mean that Valencia, the team I support in Spain, would be severely weakened should Mista, Aimar and Vicente leave... Dammit, can't I win it all? :)

Champion's League: Still Can't Believe It...

What was most memorable about last nights game was not just that we won (but of cours,e that is THE most memorable part), but because I nearly missed the game due to the fact that my hotel in Korea does not have ESPN.

So it was that me and a fellow Liverpool supporter/reporter from Singapore spent the hour BEFORE the match wandering around Seoul trying to look for a bloody pub that showed the match. We'd nearly given up on the search when we chanced upon a dingy looking bar that happened to have the match on at the time. Who cared if the beer cost 10000 won each?

After the match, it was worth it all.

What a game it was. This is the most nerve-wracking match I'd even watched, and my hands could not stop shaking throughout the penalty shootout.

First half was abysmal. I still say Benitez made a tactical mistake by NOT playing Hamann at the start. Kewell was a mistake, and did nothign at all. In fact, Smicer did more in the first few minutes of comign on than Kewell did in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch. And that's not saying much.

First goal was Luis Garcia and Traore's fault. Garcia for not marking Maldini, and Traore for giving away the free kick. Second goal and third goals? AC Milan totally outclassed us. Simple as that.

Anyway, It was a brilliant fightback. With Hamann protecting the defence, Kaka couldn't feed the strikers, and Gerrard could attack. When the first goal went in, I was still sceptical. When Smicer scored, I was hopeful. And when Xabi missed the penalty, my heart stopped, until I saw him lash the rebound into the goal.

From then on, I couldn't stop shaking, because I was so nervous. And when Dudek made that double save from Shevcehnko, my heart nearly stopped. Ditto the penalty shootout. My hands couldn't stop shaking.

But winning it... the feeling was unbelievable.

Here's my personal opinion about the heros:

Dudek: Two penalties well-saved, a FANTASTIC double save from Shevchenko at point lank range, and another GREAT save just before Gerrard scored. Redeemed himself, he has.

Carragher: One scenario says it all. He got the cramps after tackling Shevchenko, was taken off for treatment, came on again, and immdietely launched into another tackle on Shevchenko. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Hyypia: Was all over the place in first half, but came back strong in the second. Had our only shot on target in the whole first half...

Finnan: Victim of second half change of tactics, but was ineffective in first half anyway. Maldini kept him out superbly.

Traore: Our weakest link for 70% of the match, losing his concentration so many times that I had bad feelings whenever he got the ball. But redeemed himself with that goalline clearance.

Kewell: Bloody Useless. Did nothing for 20 minutes, and it was good riddance that he got injured.

Smicer: At least did slightly more than Kewell. Scoring that second goal and converting his penalty really capped his Liverpool career supremely well.

Riise: Our most dangerous attacking player GREAT cross for Gerrard's goal. Too bad about the saved penalty.

Luis Garcia: Rather quiet, actually. Tended to be too fancy, losing the ball a lot. But ran and ran, and played his part.

Xabi Alonso: Great passing as usual, but could not handle Kaka in first half without Hamann. Did REALLY well to get to the rebound after he missed the penalty.

Gerrard: Inspirational, relentless, almost flawless second half. Man of the Match for me. And I take back everythign I said about him. STAY, Stevie G, STAY.

Hamann: We REALLY should have played him in the first half. Without Hamann to protect the back four, Kaka ran riot. WITH Hamann, the defence looked solid. Gets my vote for player with the most telling influence on the game.

Baros: Another bloody useless player. Fell down all the time, lost the ball too many times, fouled people a lot, and had a tendency to get in the way when you didn't want him there (at one point Alonso had a clear shot on goal, but bloody Baros got in the way), and to be NOT where you wanted him to be.

Cisse: Played too deep for a striker, but Benitez was probably already thinking about the penalties by the time he came on... and at least he didn't give the ball away as often as Baros did...

And last but no least:

BENITEZ: Screwed up supremely in the first half by playing Kewell from the start, but changed tactics masterfully, putting on Hamann in the second. And that must have been SOME team talk he gave at half-time...

Best part is, UEFA have to make a new trophy because we've won it FIVE BLOODY TIMES! Woohoo!

Dammit, I still can't believe we won. And I can't believe how close I came to missing this match.

Now I can't wait to get back home and gloat over some Manchester United fans...

UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

Champion's League: The Hunt for a TV Channel...

Bloody hell...

Three more hours to the biggest match I'll ever watch as a Livepool supporter, and I'm still trying to find a Korean TV station or a bar that shows the match.

This does not bode well...

GAH, the suspense is killing me...

Champion's League: The Most Important Game of Their Lives

Tomorrow night, I will be watching arguably the most important game I've ever watched since I started supporting Liverpool in 1996.

Yup, even bigger than those UEFA Cup and FA Cup finals in 2001.

It's the Champion's League Final. It really doesn't get bigger than this.

It's AC Milan. It doesn't get tougher than this.

And it's a chance to get FIVE stars above our sheild the next time our boys troop out for another Champion's League game.

Come Thursday morning, I will be in Seoul, Korea, watching the match in my hotel room. And I bloody well hope that I don't jinx them.

Carragher, do your stuff. Shevchenko is all yours.
Hyypia, help Carragher out. He needs all the help he can get.
Traore, bravo on redeeming yourself. Now do it some more.
Finnan, Show us why you were considered the best right-back in England when we bought you.
Dudek, now is the time to recapture your first-season form.
Hamann, you're our shield in front of the defence. Repel Kaka, please.
Biscan, you've exceeded all expectations this year. Please exceed them for at LEAST one more game.
Xabi Alonso, you are our light at the end of the tunnel.
Gerrard, it's time to prove to us that you ARE worth a damn.
Luis Garcia, you're our top scorer in the Champion's League. Pray continue.
Riise, remember THAT free kick against Man Utd a few years ago? DO IT AGAIN!
Ciise, welcome back to form. Score score score
Baros, even if you don't play, it IS gonna be the BEST time to start scoring again...
Nunez, you're the only player in the Spanish contingent that hasn't really shone yet (besides the abysmal Josemi). Give it your best shot!
Smicer, if you play, give us one last hurrah please! (And at least you did SOMETHING while wearing the number 7 shirt...
Le Tallec, prove to Benitez that you ARE good enough to stay. You and Sinama-Pongolle will be Liverpool's future...
Kewell, PLEASE don't play.

And last but not least, Benitez.

Thanks for bringing us this far. Now PLEASE go all the way!!!

and to all Liverpool fans, no matter what happens this Thursday:

FA Cup: The Sweet Smell of a United Defeat

The only thing I like as much as Liverpool winning is Man United losing.

And I have to say, their loss to Arsenal on penalties after a 0-0 draw and dominating the game is just... poetic to me. :-)

Is Man United in decline? Is Ferguson losing it? Will Glazer change anything? Will they continue season after season of no trophies? Will their fans change allegience to Chelsea instead?

Find out more when you tune in to the next season of The Amazing Premier League, starting in August!

now, I gota get ready to cope with No-football Withdrawal Syndrome...

On to the Istanbul then...

Liverpool: Quick, someone get me these T-Shirts...

Quick, somebody get me these T-Shirts before the Champion's League final!








And somebody PLEASE tell me which girl would want to wear THIS T-shirt:



And it's the website's most popular T-Shirt too!

Go check out the site, http://www.tshirts365.com for more really cool and funny sports-themed T-shirts!

Check out especially the Caution! shirts...

EPL: Final day Relegation Confirmations

What a night of drama it was. Southampton are relegated after 27 years in the top division after losing to Manure at home, Norwich self-destructed in spectacular fashion by losing 6-0 at Fulham, and Crystal Palace so NEARLY got out of relegation, but drew 2-2 at Charlton to a late goal.

What all this means is that West Bromwich Albion, who won 2-0 at home to Portsmouth became the first team EVER to avoid being relegated despite being bottom at Christmas.

Damn. I wanted to see the Proton logo in the Premier League again next season, but let's face it - Norwich were never good enough to stay up. Not winning a single away game was crucial, and too many draws at home as well.

I wanted So'ton to stay up too, mainly because I really liked the team, and its always sad to see a team that has been such a permanent fixture for so many years in the EPL go out.

But oh well, that's football.

Oh, and Liverpool won 2-1 against Aston Villa, with Cisse scoring two goals. Looks like Cisse's gonna be the man to start in Istanbul then...

EPL: At least we only conceded 3 goals....

SEVEN NIL? SEVEN NIL?

THIS is the Merseyside team that's gonna represent England in the Champion's League next season?

Even considering that Everton already have the fourth spot sewn up already, SEVEN NIL is a bit too much right?

Sheesh, at least we only conceded three.... not saying much, is that?

Champion's League: AC Milan Awaits

So, it's REALLY gonna be AC Milan in the Champion's League Final. they beat PSV last night 3-1 after surviving a scare, and now Liverpool have to meet the OTHER Italian team tussling at the top of the Serie A.

So once again, Liverpool are the underdogs.

But hey, we beat Juventus. We CAN beat AC Milan as well.

In three weeks time, Xabi Alonso will be back. Hamann is back. Gerrard will be all fired up captaining the team out for the final. the defence is as strong as it ever will be (see what the Chelsea players said of Carragher HERE).

Yes, Milan is beatable. But for now, back to more mundane tasks. We have GOT to overhaul Everton.

Even though I've already given up hope on that fourth place, to tell the truth, but hey, anything can happen. After all, we're in the Champion's League final. Who really expected THAT?

Champion's League: Anfield Roars, Garcia Scores!

(I apologise in advance to those who clicked on the ping in PPS thinking it'll go to Eye on Everything but ended up here instead. I accidently pinged the wrong Blog Title. :P )

What a night! What a game! What a performance! What luck!

As Carragher says HERE, we WERE due a bit of luck, after losing out on luck to Chelsea FOUR bloody imes this season. And we REALLY rode our luck, especially in the final minutes of the game. My heart must have skipped a beat when Gudjohnsen's shot flasehd JSUT wide. Did you SEE how close that was to going in?

Carragher was a deserved Man-of-the-Match, and I'll put him down for the European Defender of the Year shortlist as well, if I were UEFA. The guy never put a foot wrong, and that tackle and dribble out of the box in extra time was not only calmed and composed, he took on Drogba AND Gundjohnsen at the same time!

Finnan and Hyypia were solid too, though I felt that Traore was our weakest link, especially in the first half when he gave the ball away and played some very scary backpasses. But he played well and defended well later on.

And what about the save by Dudek from Lampard's freekick eh? Dudek only made one small mistake the entire night, but he more than made up for it with that save.

Hamann was all business, not giving any mercy in his tackles. Him and Biscan protected the defense well, though Biscan was a little quiet later. Riise was all business, running, tackling, defending, atacking. He's also been one of our most outstanding performers all season.

Gerrard was inspirational. If he can play at this level in ALL the games, then I'll take back everything I said about wanting him to leave.

Of the attackers, Baros was anonymous, except for his part in the opening goal, while Luis Garcia... This guys remains an enigma to me. One day I hate him because he gives the ball away too often; but the next day, I can't help but love him, because he DOES have an eye for goal, and he's been scoring a lot of important goals in the Champion's League that got us this far in the first place!

As for the subs, Cisse really should have rapped up the game with his two chanes, while Nunez held up the ball brilliantly. Kewell didn't do much besides dribbling around the corner flag, but he played his part as well.

But for all the work on the pitch, it was really the atmosphere in Anfield that helped the team. The atmosphere was ELECTRIFYING. When they were singing You'll Never Walk Alone before the match, it was enough to bring tears to your eyes and make you ish you were there.

I don't think I've ever been as ecstatic and emotional over a game before (even more than the UEFA Cup and FA Cup wins in 2001), and it was all worth it, because ultimately,

WE'RE IN THE CHAMPION'S LEAGUE FINAL!!!!

BRING ON AC MILAN!