Eye on Sports

Because the Eye on Sports only opens....

2006-09-10T12:57:00.000+08:00

...when Maria wins.

Sharapova drops Henin-Hardenne to win U.S. Open title

Two Grand Slams, and still as hot as ever.

Anna who?

If You Can't Beat Them, Import Them!

2006-03-26T12:03:00.000+08:00

As I clear the cobwebs and dust from months of disuse off this blog, I'm a little pissed off.

You see, I watched the Commonwealth Games badminton mixed doubles bronze medal playoff yesterday and I was very annoyed.

Why? Because Malaysia lost. But that's not why I was pissed off. No, I was pissed off mostly because they lost to to a pair from China/Indonesia, passing off as Singaporeans.

Yes people, if you can't beat them, import them!

After all, it's just a medal right? Who cares who's playing for us, as long as we get the medal right?

I don't know, I have a real problem with countries importing players and passing them off as their own. It's the same with footballers in Europe jumping around and playing for another country just because they couldn't possibly get a sniff at the national team of France, England yada yada yada.

If it were a foreign import playing for money in a professional league for a professional club, I don't have a problem, because they're getting PAID for it. But when it comes to national duty, playing or competing for your country is probably one of the proudest moments one can have as an athlete.

But when that player playing for our country really isn't FROM our country in the first place... that's where it all gets a little hazy. Do we support him or her the same way we support our own homegrown 'talent' (who couldn't get a chance to make the team because he/she was not as good as the import)? Would the imported player have the same pride and passion playing for his/her adopted country?

Don't mind me, I just hate the idea of getting a player from another country to play for your country just for the sake of winning. It just doen'st feel right, even when they win. When Singapore came close to an Olympic table tennis gold in the last Games, they were trumpeting that 'feat' all over the place. But can you really feel pride at 'winning' when the playing winning it for you isn't even FROM your country in the first place?

Geez. At least Malaysian shuttlers are actually Malaysian.

At least when we lose, we know we suck, not because we didn't import the right players.

Eyes Wide Shut on Sports

2005-12-10T17:47:00.000+08:00

I've decided to let this blog go on hiatus for a while, mostly because since Hantu Bola started up, it's been a lot more fun updating THAT blog than here.

Besides, most of my posts here were about football anyway, so I decided to screw it all, and just let this blog go to sleep for a while. Besides, I don't really have THAT much to write about sports anyway, besides the occasional Maria Sharapova and Michelle Wie tribute post.

So, this Eye on Sports is gonna get some shut-eye for a while, maybe waking up occasionally when I have something to talk about regarding sports (that DOESN'T involve football, of course).

Until then, DO catch me on Hantu Bola if you want some bitching about football. :D

And as a final gift, here is a final gratuitious shot of Sharapova. Enjoy!

Champion's League: Liverpool go through!

2005-11-24T09:25:00.000+08:00

YAY! Last night I was tellign someone that Liverpool had better win or draw their match with Real Betis, because I really didn't fancy going to Chelsea needing somethign from that game to go through. That last group match against Olympiakos last season was already nerve-wracking enough...

Well. They didn't win. But they drew. 0-0. And Liverpool are through! Yay!

Oh. And Chelsea won. Damn.

So, alld the English sides are now through, and we can loo.... what? what's that you say? Manchester Unitd need to go to Portugal and WIN or they're OUT OF THE CHAMPION'S LEAGUE?

Now THAT'S something to look forward to, eh? :)

Football: Thank You Spanish Liverpool!

2005-11-14T11:10:00.000+08:00

"Thank You Spanish Liverpool!"

Luis Garcia scored three. Morientes scored one. Xabi Alonso came on as a sub. Spain won 5-1.

And I thought Liverpool was an English team.

Oh wait. They ARE an English team. England won 3-2 against Argentina - Gerrard had an assist. Crouch lost out to a shortstop for a HEADER.

If only Carragher had played, and if only Crouch had scored, then it would have been all good. DAMMIT.

Football: Big Mike and Little Peter

2005-11-11T11:50:00.000+08:00

(picture from Soccernet.com)

This is such a great picture that I just HAD to put it up here:

It accompanies this story from Soccernet: Owen warns boo-boys off goalshy Crouch

Well, it's easy for OWEN to say, eh? He's been banging in the goals for Newcastle, but Crouch has zilch.

But I AM hoping Crouch would get a goal. It would do his barely-existent confidence a whole lot of good.

Not that I'll be watching the England match though. I don't support England, REMEMBER?

WANTED: Reasonably good badminton players for regular court

2005-11-10T18:29:00.000+08:00

Wanted:

I'm looking for people who...

Play badminton well,
Would like to play more regularly, weekly,
Are free on Wednesday nights, 8pm -10pm,
Don't mind paying RM35 a month for shuttles and reasonably good games,
And can come to PJ for the game...

to join my weekly regular badminton group every Wednesday, 8pm at PJ Astaka area.

I'm looking for around 2-3 more players. We currently have 4 -5 reasonably good players (meaning, can have good game wan lar), and are looking for a few more to make it an ideal number.

So, anyone interested? email me at eyeriz@gmail.com if you are.

WOOTS!

PS... Offers to play BEDminton will also be considered. Profived you're a hot chick, of course. :P

EPL: Weekend of the Season & Team of the Week

2005-11-07T11:55:00.000+08:00

I suppose it's been a good weekend for all fans of the EPL huh? (Unless you're a Chelsea fan, of course).

Manure winning 1-0 was a breath of fresh air (and bear in mind, I don't usually have a lot of good things to say about them), and Liverpool finally getting an Away win was great too (That, coupled with the Champion's League win, was a mighty great result).

Anyway, I'm here not to gloat, and not to jump with joy, but to point out a frankly incresingly brilliant feature on Soccernet that I'm really starting to enjoy: The Team of The Week.

Yes, it's another of those features that highlight the best players over the weekend. It used to be pretty boring, but lately, the writers have spruced it up by making it really funy and creative. Check out this week's, which is a series of poems dedicated to each of the players in the team. Check out Stevie G's Ode:

O Captain! My Captain!
O CAPTAIN! My Captain, our dreaded task is done,
Our foes are vanquished with two late goals, and the three points are won,
For you, the bouquets and the Champagne, for you the fans a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying masses, though for us the skies are still clouding;
Here Captain! Dear Stevie!
Giver of our daily bread,
How sad you look, to see
Our title dreams still cold and dead.

For the rest, Check out Soccernet's TEAM OF THE WEEK here.

And check out last week's as well, which was equally hilarious, HERE.

EPL: The Runt vs the Beanpole

2005-10-31T01:49:00.000+08:00

Michael Owen = 5 goals in four matches
Peter Crouch = 0 goals in 12 matches

Go draw your own conclusions, Rafa.

Liverpool: Beanpole Woes

2005-10-26T10:00:00.000+08:00

So, we're supposed to believe that a player who

still has not scored a SINGLE goal in eleven matches for Liverpool
is SO low on confidence that he doesn't seem to know where to stand half the time
can't seem to head the ball towards goal because the crosses always come LOWER than his head,
uses every single part of his body EXCEPT his HEAD and FEET to dribble the ball, AND
did fuck all against a FIRST DIVISION TEAM (Ok, CHAMPIONSHIP team),

is worth seven million pounds, supposed to help Liverpool win the Premier League, defend the Champion's League and help England win the World Cup next year as well?

Please Rafa, put him (and US) out of his (and OUR) misery.

La Liga: Red Cards for all the Beautiful Footballers!

2005-10-25T13:30:00.000+08:00

"David Beckham's Real Madrid team-mate Pablo García yesterday claimed that the Englishman's third sending off in Spain owes more to his good looks than his bad behaviour, after the England captain's red card during Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Valencia."
- Guardian Unlimited Football (Beckham 'punished for his looks')

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Now THAT'S the most brilliant justification/excuse for being sent off EVER. It ranks all the way up there with Beckham's 'The ground was moving' excuse for doing a Jonny Wilkinson and whacking his penalty into Row Q during the last Euro.

If Beckham was sent off for being 'good-looking', so what was Wayne Rooney sent off for when he did exactly the same thing Beckham did, when Man U played Villareal? For being UGLY?

GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

EPL: Business As Unusual

2005-10-24T12:08:00.000+08:00

So, Chelsea finally drew (though Mourinho is adamant they 'won', which admittedly they did, but not all the points eh? eh? eh?), the Tyne-Wear derby was a cracker of a game, Man United and Spurs got all tangled up together, Wigan kept on winning, and Arsenal made probably the STUPIDEST penalty miss in the history of the game.

Business as unusual in the EPL then. I take back my post about it being boring a few weeks back.

Ah, but some things never change. Liverpool lost (again). I'm gonna go support Wigan now. Pah.

Oh well, at least Valencia won, and beating Real Madrid at that. Woot!

Oh BTW, if you think Chelsea dominating the EPL was bad, think of how relieved the Norwegians football fans must be feeling right now... (Norwegian fans happy as Rosenborg's monopoly ends)

Golf: We love Wie!

2005-10-18T12:46:00.000+08:00

Golf is one sport I don't get. I don't like watching it because its... so... boring. I even wrote a whole post about how I don't get golf a year ago, when I just started this sports blog (wow, even THIS blog has lasted a year. I'm amazed...) Here it is: Sports I Don't Get (No. 1) - Golf.

Anyway, my thoughts about golf have not changed. I still think it's boring. No offense to people who like their golf, and love watching players putt and swing their way through vast spaces of green, but me, I prefer my sports on TV to have a lot more action, thank you very much. And preferably with a lot of crunching tackles as well.

But anyway, I've found myself looking at the golfing pages that bit more lately, because of this chick:

This chick just turned pro, and though her first pro tourney didn't turn out too well, she's gonna be around for quite a while. Which should spark a lot more interest in golf eh?

But..... wait.... she's... only.... SIXTEEN!

GAH!

I guess it's back to tennis and drooling over Sharapova then. But before that, here's another shot of Wie I found in Google:

(Photo taken from ESPN, via Google)

Can't wait for her to grow up, eh?

When and WHY did you start supporting your favorite club?

2005-10-17T19:03:00.000+08:00

Ok, all you four people who read this sparcely updated sports blog. I wanna know this:

When and WHY did you start supporting your favorite club?

No shirking now. No lies, no made-up romanticized stories. I want the TRUTH. If you're a bandwagonist who supports a team because they happen to be the team who keeps winning right now, I wanna know.

Me, I started supporting Liverpool ever since I watched the first English football match I'd ever watched, which was the FA Cup Final between Liverpool and Manure. The Mancs won that day, and I HATED the sight of Cantona, so I decided to support Liverpool from then on.

Plus I kinda thought Steve McManaman was pretty cool back then. Before he ran away to Real Madrid.

Right now, I still support them. Best moment ever? last years Champion's League Final, what else? Why I still them even though they're broke, have not won the league for AGES, and still appear to be playing CRAP even with some good players and a damn good coach?

It's passion babeh. Passion of belonging to a club, of supporting a club because you genuinely like it. But exactly WHY so much passion for a club that I have not even SEEN? Donno. Maybe it's the feeling of belonging to a group of people and a club, with so many friends supporting the same thing.

It's not just the football per se. It's the whole social culture! It gives me somethign to talk about when I'm with other guys. And it gives me a sense of belonging. (sad, I know). Sigh...

Anyway, I'm not saying anyone here is a bandwagonist fan, but GODDAMN I hate those. Any around here?

PS: How did this post come about? Lets just say I met a bandwagonist who pissed me off somewhat...

EPL: The League of One

2005-10-16T16:32:00.000+08:00

Before Fernando Alonso won the F1 this year, a certain Michael Schumacher and a team called Ferrari was on a rampage, winning every single race and wrapping up the championship WAAAAAY before the final race.

That was when I decided not to follow the F1 anymore. There just wasn't any excitement anymore, because the Big-F was just untouchable.

Seems like the same thing is happening at the EPL, folks - Big team with lots of money and resources buys any player they want and just sweep the floor with the competition.

There just isn't as much excitement anymore. Look at the table: Chelsea WAAAY ahead of everyone right now. Take them out of the equation, the table would look a lot more fun and exciting.

So here's my suggestion: Let's give Chelsea the trophy to keep, start a new league that consists of them ALONE, and then the rest of the league can go on fighting in another league WITHOUT them. Would make things a lot more interesting wouldn't it? Eh? eh? eh? :P

(BTW, disregard the fact that Liverpool aren't doing so well either. I'm USED to that anyway)

Bah.

2005-10-03T01:09:00.000+08:00

I don't wanna talk about it.

TRAORE SUCKS.
CROUCH SUCKS.

Time to change tactics, Rafa. The Beanpole is NOT doing well...

Champion's League: BLEH

2005-09-29T09:38:00.000+08:00

Thank goodness I didn't bother waking up at bloody 4am to watch Chelsea defend and Liverpool TRY to score.

I vote we boot Chelsea to the Serie A.

Champion's League: Rematching the Titans

2005-09-28T09:19:00.000+08:00

So, both English teams won last night - Manchester Red Sox beating Benfica, and Arsenal beating Ajax (AWAY!?! Wow, miracles DO exist eh?).

But tonight... tonight ONE English team will be losing. And I'm praying it won't be Liverpool.

Of course, given our form lately, a draw would probably be a likely result though. And with Robben and Duff back for this game (they didn't play in both semi-final matches last season), it's gonna be a tough game for our full-backs.

But then again, Xabi Alonso didn't play in that semi-final either...

Whatever. BRING IT ON!

Malaysia: I Remember a Time when...

2005-09-25T21:42:00.000+08:00

I remember a time when...

When nobody cared who beat SINGAPORE as long as it was a MALAYSIAN team.
When SELANGOR were the Manchester United of Malaysia, ie. the team everyone except their supporters loved to hate
When PAHANG were the team to beat
When I actually got upset when Pahang were beaten.
When KL actually won quite a lot of trophies
When Fandi Ahmad was the player every kid loved
When Piyapong "Ping Pong" Pyu-On (can't quite remember the spelling) was DA MAN.
I actually cared who won the Malaysia Cup and the local league

Champion's League: Liverpool gets a win, Real Madrid gets trashing

2005-09-14T05:48:00.000+08:00

Seems as though this season is looking a lot like last season for Liverpool. Mediocre in the EPL, but playing ever so well in the Champion's League.

But whatever. Winning 2-1 away against Real Betis is a decent result, and I'll take it anytime. With Chelsea in the group, we're gonna have to do well against Betis and Anderlecht to go through to the knockout stages, so this IS a good result.

Some thoughts about the game this morning:

Sinama-Ponggolle should be given more games!
Luis Garcia is the most inconsistent player I've ever seen...
Hyypia is looking very shaky these days.
Josemi still can't defend
Carragher solid as ever, and good to see him as captain this time
Crouch looks like a giant sotong sometimes
We seem to play better without Gerrard sometimes...
Sissoko is looking good
Xabi Alonso IS our best player
Zenden is only who seems to be able to cross...

Oh well, a win's a win, which is more than Real Madrid can say...

EPL: What a lot of goals!

2005-09-11T12:58:00.000+08:00

Wahlau, ONE goal in THREE games. Liverpool's strikers are really doign the business eh?

Last night's 0-0 draw with Spurs was encouraging AND discouraging at the same time.

For one, we kept another clean sheet. third clean sheet in a row in the EPL, and the second one away from home.

Problem is, we seem to be trying to keep clean sheets at the OTHER end as well. Sigh.

After seeing him in action for the first time, I can't help but think Crouch is too lanky to be of anything but a nuisance. He looks like Puddleglump the Marshwiggle from Narnia. His limbs are all over the place, and he seemed to be one step slower than everyone else on the pitch. MAybe it's lack of match practise, but now I AM wondering why Rafa bought him...

Cisse? I think he tried. But he needs a lot more shooting practise. If this were CM, I'd have him stuck under intensive shooting practise week in and week out until his shooting stats go up to 20. Now, it's only about 10.

And last but not least, Lui Garcia. FOR GODS SAKE, can you at least TRY to do LESS instead of OVERDOING things all the time? Instead of trying to DRIBBLE your way through two defenders, wouldn't it be easier jsut to pass the damn ball? ANd instead of trying to VOLLEY the shots all the time, can't you try something LESS spectacular? For every goal you score, there are 20 bloody times you shoot but DON'T.

You wanna see how overdoing things can REALLY cost you? Look at Arsenal's game last night - trying to over-elaborate the set-up with too many passes and losing the plot in the final third, and then getting hit with two sucker punchs (of course, it was Cygan's fault mostly).

Three clean sheets in a row = GOOD
ONE goal in THREE games = Not so good

Tiem to start scoring, guys. We're already 10 points behind Chelsea. Not going for the record of finishing with the most points behind the leaders again are we?

Oh well, at least ManUre didn't win last night either (though I think if Howard or Carrol were still in goal, they would have lost to that last Cole shot...)

Liverpool: Geram betul, gua!

2005-08-30T21:17:00.000+08:00

Apara. Itu Kubu-Baru manyak kacau lar. Kalau bukan sebab itu Kubu-Baru mau bayar Madrid-Sebenar enam belas juta paun, kita Liverpool sudah dapat Owen.

Tapi itu Madrid mau duit banyak-banyak, jadi, kita punya tawaran lapan juta dia tak mau ambik.

Cilakak betul itu Kubu-Baru.

Takpe lah. Kita ada ramai penyerang lagi - Cisse, Morientes, Crouch. Itu Rafa Benitez memang tau apa dia buat punya.

Sekarang, isu itu sudah diselesaikan. Diharapkan bahawa pemain-pemain kita boleh menumpukan perhatian mereka ke atas bermain dengan lebih baik, dan penyerang kami akan menjaringkan lebih gol lagi. Tak boleh asyik-asyik harap itu Gerrard lar.

Super Cup: Liverpool 3 - 1 CSKA Moscow (ET)

2005-08-27T08:49:00.000+08:00

I wanted to watch the match last night, but after my assignment in Genting, I was too pooped to wait up anymore. So I slept.

Woke up early, came down to the Starbucks in First World Cafe, and the first thing I did was check Guardian Football. EH? Why no news on Super Cup wan?

Checked Soccernet, oh... LIVERPOOL WON 3-1!!!

Sure, it's just the Super Cup, kinda like the Community Shield in European terms, but heck, at least Cisse scored. TWICE.

But then again, the last time we won the Super Cup back in 2001, we then proceeded to slump the following years... sigh...

What else is there? Football 365 is reporting that Owen is coming to Liverpool! For bloody 10 million! geez. and where's the Central Defender and Right Winger we need so badly? Don't tell me Cisse's gonna play right wing ala Heskey? Deja vu all over again eh?

Champion's League: Whew!

2005-08-24T11:19:00.000+08:00

Liverpool are through to the group stages, whew!

Good thing I didn't watch the match last night, or I'd be in an even fouler mood than I am right now. Losing 1-0 to Sofia at ANFIELD? Some European Champions we are.

Oh well, Rafa Benitez probably had one eye on the Super Cup this Friday anyway. So what the heck, at least we're through. Now give us the money!

In other news, Real Madirid's most inspiring buy EVER also inspired this blurb in Guardian:

Woodgate plays - for just four minutes
Friendly: Jonathan Woodgate touched the ball on three occasions as Real thrashed a MLS XI. Well, it's progress.

Eheh.

Liverpool: Do I really want Owen back?

2005-08-17T14:04:00.000+08:00

The answer is, YES.

After all, which club (especially one whose strikers don't seem to be scoring...) wouldn't want a striker who scores an average of 20 goals a season here even when he is 'off-form', and nets so many goals in La Liga off the bench?

Ok, that may be the LOGICAL reason to bring him back, but what actually, the reason why I want him to come back is purely sentimental.

Yes, I once said that we really didn't need him to come back. But deep inside, I still acquaint Michael Owen to Liverpool, and I really hope that he WILL come back to the club one day.

Like Stevie G himself said, can you really imagine having Michael Owen lining up in the Premiership with ANOTHER CLUB, playing AGAINST Liverpool?

It's unimaginable. It'll be even worse if he goes to Man Utd.

Rafa, it's still your call. But if there is a chance, GET OWEN BACK.

EPL: Boro 0-0 Liveprool

2005-08-14T17:18:00.000+08:00

Bah. I don't wanna talk about it.

EPL: Season preview coming soon!

2005-08-04T10:49:00.000+08:00

The English Premier League season is starting soon! Will Liverpool beat the odds and help Stevie G complete his set of medals? Will Arsenal survive the loss of Vieira? Will Chelsea buy Akmal Rizal? Will Man United survive the relegation battle?

Stay tuned for an exclusive Season Preview on Eye on Sports!

Kambing soon....

Liverpool: The Beanpole and the Vertically-Challenged Right Winger

2005-07-21T19:21:00.000+08:00

We got Peter Crouch! YAY!

Ok, I'm not THAT happy about it, since I seem to remember two years (or was it three?) when Aston Villa brought him into the Premiership and he was a hopeless striker who couldn't score to save his life.

Ok, so he scored a lot of goals last season. But still, I really do hope Benitez knows what he is doing. Though I DO agree that Baros should be leaving.

Well, at least Crouch is not a left-back. If he was, he would not have been able to see Shaun Wright-Philips run through his legs whenever we play Chelsea....

SWP... Now THERE'S a player I which Benitez could have bought. Or at least Wayne Routledge (before Spurs got him, of course). God knows we need a right winger, and Luis Figo ain't gonna last more than one season if we DO get him...

Chelsea Financial Chumps: The Fast Way to save your club from Bankruptcy

2005-07-18T11:44:00.001+08:00

Having a lot of problems balancing your bank accounts?

No money to buy any players?

Have incredibly vast chasms between the money you get from your pitiful jersey sales and your expenses due to astonomical player's salaries?

Threatened with administration?

Fear not! The answer is here!

Just contact:

CHELSEA FINANCIAL CHUMPS!!!

For immediete cash injection, why look for ANOTHER Russian oil baron when there is already one in the EPL willing to help your club?

Just follow these instructions for an instant 20 million pounds:

1) Pinpoint the best player in your squad. Make sure he trains a lot, and scores lots of goals

2) Make sure he plays REALLY REALLY well throughout the season

3) Make sure he gets a reputation as the 'best player in his position'.

Now comes the tricky part:

4) Try to invite as many Chelsea scouts to see your player as possible

5) If possible, try to win as many FA Cup games as possible to get a game with Chelsea

6) Make sure your best player outplays Frank Lampard or John Terry or scores a hat-trick

7) Now, go to the press and say the following:

CHELSEA WANTS TO BUY MY BEST PLAYER

8) Don't worry whether it's true or not, as long as you whip up the hype. When there is sufficient hype, release THIS story:

REAL MADRID/ARSENAL/MANCHESTER UNITED WANT TO BUY MY BEST PLAYER.

9) Sit back and watch as Chelsea scrambles to buy your best player with a bid of 10 million pounds.

10) Then, release THIS story:

I WILL ONLY SELL MY BEST PLAYER FOR 30 MILLION POUNDS

11) Sit back and wait for Chelsea to bid 20 million pounds. Reject any bid below 20 million pounds.

12) Complete transfer.

VOILA! You now have twenty million pounds in the bank, which you can either use to buy five other players, or clear your club's debt.

So what if your club will now get relegated because you sold your best player? You saved your club from bankruptcy!

(Disclaimer: This guide not apply if you are Manchester United. YOUR problems came from the other side of the Atlantic...)

Liverpool: Owen or Crouch?

2005-07-16T11:58:00.000+08:00

So, Liverpool have been 'made aware' that Michael Owen is available for transfer back to Anfield eh? (REF: Liverpool consider deal to bring unhappy Owen home)

Well, THIS is what I have to say to THAT:

Sod that lar.

Do we REALLY need him back? As good as he is, he is pretty much a one trick horse, and having him back might affect the way Liverpool play again. Benitez has an idea of his tactics, throwing Owen in (who is arguably the same type of player as Cisse and Baros - the run an gun type of striker), might disrupt them.

Now, I'm not saying CROUCH might be a better player than Owen, but if Benitez wants him, I say get him, and forget Owen. Crouch would add a different element to the strikeforse. we have Baros (Who might leave), Cisse, and Sinama-Ponggole, all of whom can run very very fast and finish well, we have Morientes, who is a pretty good goal poacher. Crouch could be the team's beanpole, heading goals in or heading the ball on (eh, wait a minute, isn't that what Heskey used to do? Ok, scratch that then).

As Arsene Wenger says, 'TRUST ME'. And I DO trust Benitez to buy the right players (Nunez aside, though the fact that he was exchanged for Owen is pretty ironic eh? eh? Never mind).

Even if Baros leaves, I say Benitez shold use Sinama-Pongolle, Le Tallec or Mellor more. Blood these youngsters. They have the talent.

We don't really need Owen.

And Figo? We need a right winger. Figo is a right-winger. Nuff' said.

Champion's League: Stevie G 3 - 0 Tenaga Nasional

2005-07-14T11:21:00.000+08:00

It was a somewhat sluggish match for Liverpool. If the two teams had met later in the middle of the season, TNS would have lost by four five goals.

As it is, a Stevie G hattrick is about right, since the strikers were pretty much still in holiday mood, except for Cisse. All Credit to TNS's goalkeeper too, he had a good night too

As for the new signings, only Reina and Zenden were on the pitch. Zenden actually looked good in the last 20 minutes he came on, crossing the ball more often than Kewell did all of last season... Heh. couldn't resist a dig at Kewell even now.

Pepe Reina only had two things to do all night - one, to save a long range shot, and the other, punching a corner and nailing Riise one in the nose at the same time.

It was nice to see youngsters like Darren Potter, Stephen Warnock and Anthony L Tallec in th squad though. And they were pretty good too (although Le Tallec needs to work on his reaction time and shooting).

All in all, a nice little match. One down, 18 to go then...

Badminton: The Jaguh Kampung Conundrum

2005-07-13T14:39:00.000+08:00

Malaysian badminton is in a state of affairs that can only be described as 'who gives a flying fuck?'.

It used to be that we would cheer our shuttlers on at every tournament. The high point of it all was during the 1992 Thomas Cup when almost the entire nation was cheering the team along, and when Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang (or was it Yap Kim Hock?) won, the whole nation rejoiced together with them.

Fast forward to now, and the national badminton players are all pretty low-key now. Frankly, not many people care about the local badminton scene now. Sure, we still have fans turning up at stadiums to cheer the Malaysians on, but nowhere is the hype over badminton as high as it was when we just won the Thomas Cup.

This is just a personal opinion, mind you. I love the sport as much as anyone, but I prefer playing the game rather than watching it. I used to idolized Zhao Jianhua, and loved watching players like Yang Yang and Han Jian playing, because their strokes were frankly brilliant.

But now... I just don't like watching it anymore. It's getting boring.

Anyway, back to Malaysian badminton. Lee Chong Wei just won the Malaysian Open. Well, congratulations to him for successfully defending the crown. But like many have said, he cannot be considered a world-class player until he starts winning OUTSIDE of Malaysia.

Rashid Sidek used to be like that also. Couldn't win any tournaments outside of Malaysia, but when Malaysian Open comes around, wahlau, win every game.

Is it just me, or do Malaysian athletes lack the mentality to perform outside Malaysia? Sure, Hafiz won the All-England some years back, but frankly, I think that was a lucky one-off. What has he achieved since then?

Face it, Malaysian badminton is in the doldrums. Politics, in-fighting and plain laziness and arrogance is proving to be its downfall. If you take a look at other sports, we're not doing so well eighter, mostly because of the SAME reasons.

Thank God then, for our squash players and bowlers. At least we know that Malaysians actually CAN be good at sports. there MAY yet be hope for us after all...

Liverpool: The Rafa Shopping Spree

2005-07-11T17:41:00.000+08:00

Gee... even without the 35 million pounds he would have gotten if Stevie G had left, Rafa Benitez is going pretty wild in the transfer market hasn't he?

First, a Spanish goalkeeper, then a Chilean winger, a teenage right-back, and then a Dutch Chelsea-reject.

Now, what's this? FIGO? GALLAS? UPSON? Wow. Maybe Rafa really IS serious about the Premiership title after all. Heh.

Anyway, I reckon we're still short of a right winger, another centreback, and maybe another striker. Sissoko is one for the future, we've too many left wingers now, and Kewell bloody well better ship up or ship out.

Next up, TNS and the begin of one long season...

Liverpoool: Thanks for staying, Stevie G. Now lets get that title!

2005-07-07T11:15:00.000+08:00

The past two months have been a real roller-coaster ride for Liverpool supporters.

First, THAT Champion's League win brought us higher than we'd ever been in the past 20 years (in my case, all nine years of supportingthe club).

Then, getting to defend the title despite finishing fifth (albeit starting from the first round).

And just recently, Gerrard's decision to 'leave' brought out the brickbats for the skipper, and sent us crashing back down to the football pitch.

And yesterday, Gerrard decides to stay.

I can't take it anymore.

I'd felt hatred towards Stevie G when he wanted to leave, and when he decided to stay after all, I was sceptical, and afraid that we might have to go through the whole circus again next season.

But then, I read that:

There are NO get-out clauses in his to-be-signed contract (it may not stop the offers from coming in, but at least it won't be easy for suitors)
He offered to give up the captaincy (rejected by Rafa)

And my heart softened.

Maybe it REALLY isn't about the money after all (but consider this, if he'd moved to Chelsea, he wouldn't have earned as much as he would have been getting in Liverpool). Maybe it IS the bloody agent's fault after all.

Or maybe, JUST maybe, there he really DOES have a certain thing called loyalty towards his childhood club.

He's still got a lot to prove after putting us through that roller-coaster again. But for what it's worth:

Thanks for staying, Stevie G. Now lets get that Premiereship title!

Liverpool: So, he's decided to stay. NOW what?

2005-07-06T17:38:00.000+08:00

I posted the last post about an hour ago, and when I got back from tea, I looked into Soccernet and lo and behold, Gerrard's decided to stay after all.

Soccernet: Parry convinces Gerrard to reconsider

Does this change how I think of him?

Well, to tell the truth, I don't know. I actually DID want him to go, so we could get the money and get more players. But now that he's decided to stay, we don't have to face the problem of finding someone to partner Xabi Alonso.

Yes, I think Xabi Alonso is FAR MORE important to Liverpool right now. Gerrard may be the the heart of the team right now, but Xabi's the future of the club.

Stevie G, you alienated a segment of fans with your 'I WANNA GO' declaration, and this about turn is not gonna change the fact that some of us (yes, me included) think much less of you now.

So, the ball's in your half now. PROVE to us that money isn't everything. PROVE to us that you ARE loyal.

And one final thought on this issue:

GAAAAAH!!!! Now we'll have to endure ANOTHER season of speculating whether he'll leave or not!

Liverpool: The best analysis of the $tevie Geez situation

2005-07-06T16:02:00.000+08:00

This was in The Guardian's 'The Fiver' joke/news email newsletter, but is probably the best 'analysis' of the $tevie Geez's 'betrayal' I've read so far. Of course, it takes the piss out of the whole thing and gullible Liverpool supporters in general, but damn me if this isn't a pretty accurate analysis of the team's situation:

Of course, if Liverpool fans spent less time idolising sportsmen who are bewildered by their fanaticism and more time examining the facts, they'd quickly realise that (a) if it's loyalty you're after you should buy a dog and (b) $tevie Me will be no great loss. Yes, he can trap footballs in the giant furrow that is his forehead, but in four of the last five seasons Liverpool have averaged more points per Premiership game played without him than when he's been there cannoning trademark 60-yard passes off pitchside burger vans.

The upshot? With Xabi Alonso on their books, Liverpool are set to trouser well over £30m by way of compensation for losing their second best midfielder. As to where he'll go next: the smart money says Chelsea - who today had a £32m bid rejected - although that suspicious-looking paella van parked outside Anfield could well contain spies from Real Madrid, who admit they're "monitoring the situation". Either way, having already rejected a £100,000-a-week deal to stay at Liverpool, $tevie won't come cheap.

Read the whole thing HERE.

I say, sell the bugger, and use the thirty million pounds to buy another midfielder to partner Xabi Alonso. And a few more players at the same time.

$tevie Geez, this is one road you WILL be walking alone.

So long, and thanks for all the money.

Liverpool: A Farewell For Stevie G (Thanks for the trophies, and your enourmous transfer fee)

2005-07-06T01:40:00.000+08:00

Stevie G, Stevie G,
You can't say it's because you can't win a trophy,
You've already won all except one of them already.
Why don't you just come clean and say it's all about the money?
Don't beat around the bush and say the club wants you to leave,
Your excuses are making us feel rather peeved.
If you wanna go then get going A.S.A.P.
So Rafa can spend his 40 million in peace.

Liverpool: Zenden?!?!?!?!

2005-07-03T15:04:00.000+08:00

ZENDEN? A left winger who did hardly anything in Boro and Chelsea?

Oh well, we ARE short of left wingers, since all we have are the great Riise, and the not-so-great Kewell. But is Zenden the one we need?

Sigh... I can't seem to shake off the feeling that this might not be such a good idea after all.

Related stories (from football365.com): Zenden heads for Liverpool

In other news, Venus won the women's crown in Wimbledon after a great final against Lindsay Davenport. Not that I watched the match though - my interest in Wimbledon ended after Sharapova lost to Venus in the semis.... sigh...

Brazil wins Confede...zzzz... Oooo! Sharapova!

2005-06-30T16:46:00.001+08:00

WOW!

Brazil won the Confederations Cup! 4-1 over Argentina! What a game! What a win! What a tournament!

Yippee.

Not that I cared anyway.

The Confederations Cup has always been a rather insignificant and unneccesary tournament. I'd much rather watch the Euro, or World Cup. THOSE are important. The Confi Cup? Bah.

I'd much rather watch THIS instead:

(Pictures taken from http://www.mariaworld.net)

Maria vs Venus tonight! Go Maria! :-)

Liverpool: Boro first... Uh oh...

2005-06-24T18:06:00.000+08:00

We'll be playing Middlesbrough first. AFTER we've already played five matches in the Champion's League Qualifiers.

I have a bad feeling about this....

But then again, it could be worse. We could have been Wigan...

Chelsea start at Wigan

Oh, and we drew Tenaga Nasional in the first round of the Champion's League. Oh, I mean Total Network Solutions from Wales.

Champion's League Draw

Liverpool: The Off-season Transfer Merry-Go-Round (Edition #1)

2005-06-10T15:20:00.000+08:00

It's the off-season, and since I'm really not very interested in the Confederations Cup (more on this another day) and World Cup qualifiers, I'm gonna have quite a lot of posts on the transfer market and mostly centering on the Liverpool ones. :)

Of course, a lot of players have been linked to Liverpool since we won the CL, and I'm guessing a lot is just bullshit. But oh well, that'sthe fun of off-season, right?

Anyway, here are some recent ones:

In:

Dietmar Hamann - YAY! Hamann is signing a new contract! Of all the players who were rumoured to be leaving, he was the one I wanted least to go. (Hamann agrees new Liverpool contract)

Vicente? - Drat, he doesn't want to come. Drat drat drat. (Vicente snubs Reds' moves)

Peter Crouch? - PETER CROUCH? I know we need a striker, but why Peter 'The Beanpole' Crouch? Sigh.... (Saints reject Crouch bid)

Alberto Luque? - Not too bad a buy, if it really goes through, methinks. Though I'd REALLY prefer the next name on this list... (Luque opens door to Anfield switch)

Raul!? - I really think it's wishful thinking that Raul would come to Anfield, but one can always dream right? After all, who'd have dreamt that our dream to win the Champion's League this year would come true.... haha. (Raul to join Rafa's Reds revolution?)

Out:

Milan Baros - His constant whining gets on my nerves so often that I wanted him to go the most. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd actually been SCORING for Liverpool. (Houllier admits interest in Baros)

Igor Biscan - Damn, Benitez is releasing him. Damn, I'd hope he'd stay. I was fancying him as our replacement utility man who can play any where on the pitch (now that Carragher has cemented his position in central defence). (Reds let Biscan go for free)

Chris Kirkland? - He's a good stopper, and if he didn't get injured all the time, I think he would have been a great goalkeeper by now. But as it is... (Baggies eye Reds stopper)

Liverpool: Who died and made Martina a football spokesperson?

2005-06-08T16:37:00.000+08:00

Check THIS story out: Martina won't back Liverpool

Last I heard, Martina Navratilova was a freaking TENNIS player. So what in freaking hell is she doing saying things like:

"I think the rules are pretty obvious. You have four teams from England that can go through and Liverpool didn't make it."

"They should concentrate on the Premier League instead. Just because they won it, it doesn't mean they should bend the rules."

"I think a champion should be given the chance to defend their title, but at the moment, the rules are the rules."

"Liverpool did it to themselves. They shot themselves in the foot."

And this was on SOCCERNET, for gods sake. What, no other 'celebrity' wanted to comment on the damn issue is it?

Just bloody wait for the damn UEFA decision lar. Play or don't play next year, we're THE CHAMPIONS. Nothing can take THAT away from Liverpool.

And judging from THIS story - Everton miss out on European seeding - there'll be hell to pay if Everton draw Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Monaco, Rangers or Celtic in the qualifying rounds, and don't even get into the damn group stages.

I say the English FA should do what Guardian readers say:

Give Arsenal's place to Liverpool. They do bugger all with THEIR place anyway.

Tennis: The Almost-forgotten French Open

2005-06-03T14:54:00.000+08:00

With all the excitement about Liverpool's win last week, I'd forgotten that the French Open was going on!

Oh well, I was never a big fan of this particular Grand Slam anyway, because it's a much slower game on clay, and not like Wimbledon which tends to have very fast games. Though one of my favorite tennis matches ever was in the French Open, when Michael Chang beat Ivan Lendl for his first and only Grand Slam.

Also, I lost interest because Sharapova got knowcked out early. Sigh...

Oh well, at least Federer is still in the race for his first ever French Open title, though his Semi-Final match against teenage sensation Rafael Nadal should be pretty interesting. Hmmm. Maybe I WILL watch this match after all...

Losing Respect for Sour Grapes United

2005-05-30T23:53:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-29T11:04:00.000+08:00

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...

2005-05-26T18:13:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-26T06:00:00.000+08:00

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

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

2005-05-26T00:21:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-24T13:44:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-22T01:56:00.000+08:00
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...

2005-05-19T17:37:00.000+08:00
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

2005-05-16T12:06:00.000+08:00
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....

2005-05-12T16:22:00.000+08:00
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

2005-05-05T11:13:00.000+08:00
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!

2005-05-04T09:43:00.000+08:00
(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!

EPL: I give up

2005-04-19T10:44:00.000+08:00
I give up. I can't stand this kind of topsy-turvy form, I can't stand the tension of Champion's League semi-final football being tempered by another week of under-achieving in the EPL.

Carragher, you're the brightest spark in the team. Keep walking (and running!), and most of all, keep defending.
Xabi Alonso, get fitter soon. The team needs you now more than ever
Luis Garcia, score more, give ball away less, ok?
Morientes, Cisse, get used to the EPL quick. We need your goals
Baros, quit your whining and start scoring soon, or you WILL be surplus to requirements
Diouf, will you stop scoring for Bolton already?
Gerrard, go already. You seem to be doing the team more harm than good these days.

Benitez, don't give up on Liverpool. You've done more good than bad in this first season, and we need you to soldier on (and maybe raid Valencia for Aimar or Vicente!)

EPL: Liverpool's Towering Number 23

2005-04-15T11:04:00.000+08:00

I've always been a fan of Jamie Carragher. Everyone else can have your Gerrards or Owens, I went for the number 23 on the field, the forgotten guy who seemed to be playing everywhere on the pitch.

Heck, I associated 23 with Carragher so much that his name was the first name I thought of, (not Jordan), when Beckham chose the number 23 during his first year in Real Madrid.

Carra has been collosal this season, and against Juventus the other night, he was singled out as the best player on the pitch by many. Throughout the season, he has been quietly solid in defence, no matter whether his partner is Hyypia or Pellegrino.

It's good to see his good form is finally recognised on Soccernet HERE, and though he didn't make it to the shortlist for the best English players, he gets MY vote for Liverpool Player of the Year.

Champion's League: We're in the Semis!

2005-04-14T13:35:00.000+08:00
As if I wouldn't blog about THIS result. :-) I mean, beating Juventus 2-1 on aggregate and drawing 0-0 in Turin? We're in the semi-finals, for god's sake! And where's Manure??? Complaining about the 'best teams' not getting in. HAH!

To tell the truth, I didn't watch the match, because I was expecting either 1) a really boring defensive match, or b) Liverpool to lose; and I didn't want to either one.

Anyway, I think the best teams bring out the best in Liverpool. How else can you explain beating Juventus but losing to bloody Man City?

By all accounts, Carragher was solid in defence as ever, with Hyypia, Finnan and (sigh) Traore.
And looks like Xabi Alonso has not missed a beat despite being out for so long. Gerrard? Didn't play, didn't miss him.

Bring on Chelsea!

Champion's League: Liverpool 2-1 Juventus, A Tale of Two Halves

2005-04-06T11:37:00.000+08:00
Yes yes, I know the title is a big cliche, but it's what described the game last night (or rather, this morning) best.

Liverpool were absolutely BRILLIANT in the first half, getting two GREAT goals, and the defence was rock solid. Young Scott Carson also had a good half, making a great save.

Luis Garcia and Jamie Carragher get my vote for Men-of-the-Match, with Finnan and Gerrard coming close too.

LG's goal was beautiful, and he was also central to most of Liverpool's attacking moves last night. Carragher never put a foot or head wrong either, keeping Nedved nicely in his pocket. Gerrard was his usual aggresive self, and Finnan's game was pretty fluid on the night as well, attacking and defending well. Hyypia was also solid, and the goal was just great.

Too bad about the away goal, but although it was an obvious mistake by Carson, it IS his first European game, and he IS only nineteen. He's got the potential though. Just look at that brilliant save he made from Del Piero.

Traore and Biscan were good in patches, and Le Tallec was quite lively. Baros was dissapointing though, and I'm beginning to think he really should go in the summer.

Juventus controlled the second half, and if this is a sign of what Liverpool will face in Turin, then next week's game is gonna be a real test of my nerves. I think I won't be watching that one....

But for now, all in all, a great win. Pity about the away goal though.

EPL: One Point! One Point! One Point!

2005-04-04T15:33:00.000+08:00
Gee, I think I should just rename this blog the Eye on Liverpool instead, since I haven't been updating it anyway. :-)

Anyway, Liverpool are now ONE POINT behind Everton in the chase for fourth place after their loss at WBA, and Liverpool's win at home against Bolton. Now that the Blues' momentum is slowing down (Four straight defeats already), fourth place looks very attainable, actually.

And all this after starting without a single out-and-out striker.

Liverpool started with Luis Garcia up front, who looked incredibly out of place. It was only when Le Tallec came on that Garcia dropped back behind the striker and played much better. There was one fabulous move in which he showed off some really cool tricks, and almost led to a goal.

But the goal came from an unlikely source indeed. Sure, it was a Gerrard corner, but he took it short, played a one two with Traore, who lifted a fantastic cross to Biscan who had an open header to score.

Two of Liverpool's most unglamourous players, Traore and Biscan, combining to score the winner. How about that eh?

Biscan HAS been playing well under Benitez, and as much as I hate to admit it, so has Traore (although he still loses concentration a lot).

Now, on to the game with Juventus, and hopefully Baros won't do anything stupid in THAT game.

EPL: Baros, you IDIOT!

2005-03-22T01:05:00.000+08:00
You'd think I'd be really happy that Liverpool won.

Well, I am, but not THAT happy. Hamann, Warnock, Luis Garcia and Morientes got injured (thankfully, all minor ones), and Baros will be suspended for 3 games because of that straight red card he got for a horrendous tackle he made.

Baros Baros, you idiot. We're already short enough on strikers, and you had to get yourself suspended? Sheesh. And you call yourself a top stiker when you miss tamely in TWO one-on-ones with the keeper? You better bloody score some goals against Juventus, or you'll have a lot to answer for.

Gerrard was superb on Sunday, but my man-of-the-match has got to be Carragher. He was fabulous, as he has been throughout the season. I never doubted Carra even when Houllier decided to play him in left back (which he adapted to damn well), and I'm glad to see he's finally showing what he can truly do. He's been consistent and solid in the center of defence all season.

And what about that Morientes shot that nearly beat Martyn? If that had gone in, it would have been one of the goals of the season. Well, at least Luis Garcia (who was suprisingly good on the day) was quick enough to head in the rebound.

But we shouldn't have struggled so much in the end of the match. Baros, you idiot. Think of the TEAM, kid, the TEAM!

Champion's League: Liverpool storm through!

2005-03-10T11:47:00.000+08:00
The headline on Soccernet today:

LIVERPOOL STORM THROUGH

Now let's keep up this level of performance, lads. DON'T let it be a one-off.

I was too scared to watch the match last night. Everytime I've watched a match, Liverpool seem to lose. So I've decided NOT to watch anymore games this season. Not even if they enter the Champion's League final.

Oh, and Man Utd are out. HAH!

EPL: So long, Champion's League...

2005-03-07T14:25:00.000+08:00
Thank goodness for Blackburn, or it would REALLY be over. But as it is, Liverpool are making things so hard for themselves, we might as well admit it - we're not gonna be in the Champion's League next season. Which means:

So long Gerrard.

So long Baros.

So long Champion's League.

Hello UEFA Cup.

Carling Cup: Can't win trophies, eh, Stevie G?

2005-02-28T11:25:00.000+08:00
Gerrard's gonna have a lot to answer for if he leaves Liverpool for Chelsea in the summer.

He certainly can't say he couldn't win trophies with Liverpool when he just bloody GIFTED one to Chelsea no, can he?

Granted, it was an honest mistake, and I blame the 'score early goal and sit back to defend ' tactics more than Gerrard himself, but seriously, he'll need a lot of cheek to leave with that 'more trophies' excuse now, won't he?

Anyway, the game, the game.

Chelsea were bloody lucky. They could find no way past the Liverpool defense until the own-goal; and after that, Liverpool just crumbled. Oh, and Mourinho deserved to be sent off. The arrogance of the man.

Liverpool's defense was magnificent. Carragher and Hyypia never put a foot wrong, Finnan did well to keep Duff out, and even Traore was great on the night. Riise and Traore doube-teaming Duff in the first half was a joy to see, and of course, Riise's goal was just class. Hamann did a good job protecting the defence and Dudek.... well, Dudek was brilliant. Nuff' said.

As for midfield, Lui Garcia was utter crap, losing the ball god knows how many times. HE should have been taken off and replaced with Baros instead of Morientes. Morientes was great while he was on, and even Kewell had a good game, considering he's been out injured for so long. Nunez was quiet all game, except for that last goal.

I say the main problem was the overly-defensive tactics, and Gerrard. Not because of the own goal, but because he controls the game too much. A few times, Liverpool had the chance to break fast, but the ball was pulled back to Gerrard instead.

Granted, he started some good moves, and he droved the team on as well, making lots of good tackles, but the point is, when he plays, we rely on him too much, and he dictates play too much, causing the team-play to breakdown sometimes.

Do we REALLY need Stevie G? Well, I'd say we do, but not as badly as we thought. I think Xabi Alonso should be able to fill in the gap SHOULD Stevie G leave.

And if he does, he better come clean and say it is because of the money, because he certainly can't say he can't win trophies with Liverpool when he just bloody lost one for us.

Carling Cup: All eyes on Cardiff

2005-02-24T14:56:00.000+08:00
Wow.... as it turns out, Liverpool were the only English team to win a Champion's League match this week...

Chelsea should be able to sneak into the quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge, thanks to that away goal at the Nou Camp, but Arsenal really have it hard against Bayern at Highbury, needing to win 2-0. Manchumpster Utd need to win by two goals at the San Siro, which I think is gonna be pretty hard.

Liverpool? I just hope they don't capitulate at the BayArena in two weeks time...

But that's in two weeks time. For now, all eyes turn to this Sunday's League Cup final at Cardiff where Liverpool meet Chelsea.

It's a good time to play Chelsea. They have lost two games in a row, and have some players injured. But then again, it may be BECAUSE they have lost two games in a row that Liverpool need to look out for a backlash.

It IS a cup final after all, and a trophy, even if it's only the League Cup, and both teams will wanna win it.

Lampard vs Gerrard should be a fairly interesting battle, while I actually think our strikers are slightly better than Chelsea's.

So hopefully our defence can stand firm (which it should as long as Josemi and Pellegrino don't play, and Dudek doesn't make mistakes). If that happens, we have a shot at the trophy.

Me? Am feeling optimistic, but not getting my hopes too high...

Champion's League: A Good Gerrard-less Victory

2005-02-23T19:02:00.000+08:00
So, a good victory this morning, spoiled by a last second blunder by Dudek.

From needing a 4-0 margin to win, Bayer Leverkusen now need only a 2-0 win at home to progress at Liverpool's expense.

Dudek's become a real liability in the team. He may have the ability, but Dudek's confidence and concentration is seriously suspect. We need new 'keeper.

Anyway, Is it just me, or does Liverpool actually play better as a team when Gerrard is NOT on the field? Last night, the whole team actually clicked as a unit for the first time since god knows how many games. Biscan was surprisingly good, Hamann was commanding, and Riise was just brilliant (I swear him and Carragher have been our players of the year so far).

When Gerrard plays, the team tends to rely on him too muuch. I remember reading a story in Singapore which showed that Liverpool actually won MORE games when Gerrard was out with that injury early in the season than when he came back.

Makes one wonder whether he really IS as important to the team as we all assume.

But anyway, a good victory, and hope we don't collapse in Leverkusen like we did three seasons ago...

Oh, and I think I'll stay up for the Chelsea-Barcelona game tonight. Now THAT would be a cracker...

Van Nistelrooy Enters Breeding Barn!

2005-02-06T16:08:00.000+08:00
I came across this old Racing news story in the archives one day, and thought that it was the most hilarious thing ever.

The fact that the player in question is one that I REALLY dislike makes this story even better.

this story appeared in The Star's Racing pages on 31 July 2003. There's actually more to the story, but since it was mostly about the horse itself, I took it out and left the opening paragraphs only.

Enjoy!

EPL: Two Wins on the Trot

2005-02-06T11:53:00.000+08:00
Last night's match, coupled with the win over Charlton wrapped up a damn fine week for Liverpool, and for Fernando Morientes in particular.

Morientes has now scored in two consecutive matches, and is now showing us what he can REALLY do. His goal in mid-week was superb, and his headed one last night was taken brilliantly.

Overall, Liverpool were ok last night. Started off well, scored first, but gave away a sloppy goal. Our second half performance was WAAAAY better, and both goals were taken nicely.

After that, I watched the Villa-Arsenal match and was blown away by Arsenal's attacking in the first half. They were 3-0 up by 30 minutes, and could have been 6-0 up by half time. Although they tuned out in the second half, that first half was the best I'd seen from Arsenal since they lost at Old Trafford.

Somehow, I don't think it would be wise for ManUre and Chelski to write the Gooners off just yet...

In other news, ManU won again. Pah.

EPL: What a night!

2005-02-02T10:55:00.000+08:00
What a night at the EPL it was last night. Though I didn't watch any of the matches, the minute I opened Soccernet this morning and saw this headline: UNITED FLOOR GUNNERS, I knew it was all over for Arsenal.

Losing 2-4 to Man Utd at home is no joke, and once again, Arsenal prove that they can win a title, but can never retain it. Not that I'd want Man Utd to win either, mind you. I'm the kind that hates MU with a passion. I'm not an Arsenal fan, but I still prefer them to Man Utd anytime.

Anyway, it looks like it's gonna be Chelsea's title this season.

On happier news, Liverpool actually CAME FROM BEHIND to win 2-1 at Charlton, one of the teams chasing fourth spot as well.

Winning away has been a rarity this season (we've only won 4 out of 13), and to come from behind AGAIN (we came back from 2 goals down to beat Fulham 4-2 earlier, remember?) is something unheard of during the Houllier-era. Rafa is doing some good motivation work, me thinks.

And Morientes got his debut goal for the club! Here's to more goals from Fernando!

Viva Rafa-lution!

2005-02-01T14:45:00.000+08:00
Steven Gerrard.

Fernando Morientes.

Milan Baros.

Xabi Alonso.

Djibril Cisse.

Add Sami Hyypia, Harry Kewell, John Arne Riise, Dietmar Hamann, Mauricio Pellegrino, Steve Finnan and Jamie Carragher into the mix, and you'd have a Championship-winning team.

In Championship Manager, that is.

In real life, it SHOULD be good enough to challenge for honours. Sure, it may not be as strong in depth as Chelsea, who have at least two internationals for each position, but it's a good squad. Except Traore, of course.

For now, things may look bleak, but give them a break. It's Benitez's first season, and many of the new players are still finding their footing in the EPL. Add in the injuries and all, and it's been a real bad debut season for the Rafa-lution.

Benitez may be buying a lot of Spanish players, but he knows them well, and he knows what they can do. It's also their first season, but look at Xabi Alonso. Before his injury, he really looked like he could be the player to take over Gerrard's position IF Stevie G leaves.

Maybe Gerrard will leave next season. Maybe not.

But I trust in Rafa Benitez's ability. I followed him when he was in Valencia. Next season, Liverpool will be one to watch.

As for THIS season.... well, let's at least TRY to get fourth AND win the League Cup, eh?

Tennis: Safin (Yay!) and Williams (Boo!) win

2005-01-31T11:08:00.000+08:00
The Australian Open ended yesterday. Safin practically steamrolled over Hewitt, who put up a brave fight, but in the end just ran out of gas. Safin's shots were just too good for Hewitt, who must have been dead tired by the time he played the final.

Serena Williams also won, (boo! boo!), beating Lindsay Davenport, though that final was dead boring. Even though it was three sets, but almost the entire game was just them serving and whacking the ball really, really hard. That's why I don't like watching the Williams or Davenport play, because most of their games are based on power, not skill.

So, on to Wimbledon, and Federer should be top seeded again. And it would be interesting to watch Sharapova defend her title. :)

Now, back to football. :)

Tennis: Federer and Sharapova fall. :-(

2005-01-27T21:30:00.000+08:00
Just watched the Australian Open Men's semi-final between Federer and Safin, and Safin has just won after a superb marathon five-set match, and I have to say he deserved the win. He played really really well, and it takes a lot to beat Federer.

Now, the Roddick vs Hewitt semi-final should be good too.

On another note, Maria Sharapova lost today in another titanic match. Boohoo. :-( and to Serena Williams, the player I can't stand the most. Sigh....

Football: So'ton 2-0 Liverpool: ......

2005-01-23T13:53:00.000+08:00
....

......

Lost to Southampton.

..........

........

Three losses in a row.

.......

.......

No goals in last three games.

.........

.......

Go Valencia!

....

Football: Burnley 1-0 Liverpool: The Traore Syndrome

2005-01-19T13:32:00.000+08:00

Sigh... dumped out to an own goal by Djimi Traore. What a drag.

He may have loads of potential, and improved under Benitez (somewhat), but the fellow has the concentration and focus of an Ah Beng watching Mystic River.

Ironically, I used to rate Traore quite highly, because I thought the boy had potential. But after all those mistakes he has been making, and watching him stumble around in every match he's played so far, I'm beginning to think that this is one player who may never live up to that potential.

Why Benitez (and Houllier before him) persists on playing him, I can't understand. Granted, Liverpool IS short on left-backs. We only have Riise and Carragher, besides Traore. Riise has to play left midfield right now because of Kewell's injury, while Carragher (being right-footed) is better played at right-back or centre-half, even though he CAN play left-back as well.

Anyway, back to Traore. The guy can defend. But he can't concentrate. Strikers nutmeg him, go past him and just bamboozle him without a raising a sweat. And when things get messy, like in last night's FA Cup loss to Burnley, he panics and starts making schoolboy errors (and in last night's match, concede own goals).

Sigh... Next player we buy needs to be a left-back. Strikers, we have plenty now. Midfield is fairly crowded. But we need better defenders.

Centre: Carragher is great, and so is Hyppia. Pellegrino is a top-class defender, so essentially, the central defence is covered with three good defenders.

Right-back: Finnan is injured, but I'd prefer him and Carragher more to Josemi. Josemi has been very poor in his first season.

Left-back: TRAORE? PLEASE stop playing him. Riise is great there, so when Kewell comes back, Riise should go back to left back. But we still need another left back... Maybe Benitez should think of playing Stephen Warnock in left-midfield more, and put Riise back to left back.

Goalkeeper: Kirkland, PLEASE stop getting injured. Dudek's confidence took a serious dip after the 2002 World Cup, and he has never been at his best since then. We NEED another goalkeeper.

Tennis: The Australian Open begins!

2005-01-18T11:21:00.000+08:00
Ah... finally, a whole new season of sports is kicking off. My year didn't start very well with Liverpool losing last weekend, but never mind that. Always look ahead, I say.

The Australian Open has just open served, and already a big name has bitten the dust, with World No. 5 Carlos Moya losing to fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Serena Williams went through though. Drat. Can't stand the sisters.

Anyway, if you ask me, Roger Federer looks good for another Grand Slam. FedEx was almost unstoppable last year, and this year, am hoping he'd be able to do the Grand Slam. The only ones that may be able to stop him maybe be Leyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick. I don't see Agassi being able to beat Federer though.

On the women's court, the Williams sisters may be favorites again, but I predict another of the Russian girls winning (don't know which one though, they're names all sound the the same to me). After all, they were the most impressive players last year, and don't look like slowing down.

Of course, my eyes will also be on Maria Sharapova, but that's for a different reason all-together. Hur hur.

Here's another gratuitious picture of her. Hehe.

Football: Liverpool 0 -1 Man U - ONE bloody mistake...

2005-01-17T01:01:00.000+08:00
I'm depressed. Goes to show how important having confidence in your goalkeeper is.

ONE bloody mistake by Jerzy Dudek, and the entire game collapsed around Liverpool. They were doing fine up till that point, but after the Double-Judas Rooney scored (now I can't decide whether I dislike him or Van Nistelrooy more), the team was in disarray.

Sigh... how depressing.

We're now TEN points behind Man U, and there goes all the faint hopes of getting THIRD. Fourth is still obtainable, but another bloody season of finishing behind Man Utd is just depressing.

But as one Liverpool fan said at the party I was at - "We WILL keep improving."

Football: Rah-rah Morientes!

2005-01-14T13:57:00.001+08:00

I'm back with another rare post here. :) Wanted to post about the Morientes deal for a while now, but now it's confirmed, I think my timing couldn't be better. :)

Liverpool buying Morientes is the best news I've heard since Rafa Benitez taking over at the club and brought in Xabi Alonso.

What's not to like? Morientes is experienced, a proven striker, a good goalscorer, and should work well with Rafa Benitez. And if what Baros says HERE is true, then I truly look forward to their partnership.

What I AM sad to see is Mellor and Sinama-Ponggolle pushed down the pecking order again. I think SP has great potential, and would love to see him get more games. Ditto Mellor.

But then, they ARE one (or rather, TWO) for the future. For the immediate future, Morientes looks set to line up alongside Baros (who should have recovered from his injury) this Sunday at Anfield against MANCHESTER UNITED.

We've beaten Arsenal at Anfield, lost to Chelsea only because of Mike Riley's incompetence, and I have THIS to say about Man U's visit.

Bring 'em on, I say.

BRING 'EM ON.

Football: Man Utd 0-0 Spurs - The Worst Decision Ever?

2005-01-05T15:14:00.000+08:00
YAY! I'm back to this blog. But will not be updating as much as my other blog though.

Anyway, last night's Man Utd vs Spurs match featured a REALLY bad call by the match officials. A clear goal was not allowed because the linesman did not see it. The problem is, it was such and obvious goal that its amazing how he missed it.

As Sky Sports says in their report HERE:

"Spurs were denied a win over Manchester United by one of the most controversial decisions in Premiership history, after Roy Carroll had clearly dropped the ball over the line in the last minute at Old Trafford."

Am I the only one who thinks referees seem to make a lot of decisions FOR the home team, ESPECIALLY when the stadium is OLD TRAFFORD?

Judge the 'goal' for yourself here:

Oh, and BTW, the match ended 0-0. Boo! Boo!

The Long Break between Seasons

2004-12-08T14:20:00.000+08:00
A.K.A. Sports Bored!!

When I first started this sports blog, it seemed like a good idea. But right now, I'm just getting a little sick of sports, especially football. I've been following English football for some time now, and I'm getting a bit sick of the game. Sure, I still watch the games, but I'm not as enthusiastic about it now.

To add to that, all the other sports have been pretty stagnant. The same old faces, same old competitions, and same old winners. The only bright spark in sports right now for me is when Maria Sharapova's picture is in the papers.

Bearing this in mind, I think I'll take a break from this blog for a while (read: not so frequent posts), and start again when MORE sports are back, and there is MORE to talk about besides bloody football...

GENERAL: Boring, boring, boring

2004-11-23T10:55:00.000+08:00
I'm getting sick of football. And it's not just because Liverpool is going through a bad spell.

There's just too MUCH football going around. There's football on TV almost constantly throughout the day, there's football in newspapers everyday, and live football every week.

It's come to a point where I'm just kinda sick of it all.

Soccernet.com used to be the first website I'd open when I go online, but these days, the 'news' has become so predictable and bloated that I can go DAYS without even opening the damn site.

Even talking about football is getting so predictable that I don't bother anymore. The only pleasure I get out of the sport nowadays is gloating at Man Utd fans. And even that seems a bit tired now...

I think I'll go play some carrom instead...

Football: How quickly they forget...

2004-11-17T17:58:00.000+08:00
I'm getting pretty sick of Man Utd fans moaning and groaning about how 'arrogant' and 'boastful' Arsenal and Chelsea fans are becoming. How short their memories are.

dudes, how do you think all the rest of us football fans felt about you Man U fans when your club was so dominant in the 90s'? Everywhere we went, they were singing 'We Are The Champions' like that was their theme song, even when they lost the league.

It came to a point where a Man Utd jersey was probably one of the most hated sights among the ABU (Anything But United) fans. Heck, I even chased someone out of my car once for trying to enter my car while wearing his Man Utd jersey (dude, doesn't the sign saying 'This is Anfield' on my car window mean anything to you?).

I started supporting Liverpool when they were past their prime, (during 1996 FA Cup final, to be exact), so I wouldn't know anything about how Liverpool fans were like when WE were dominating the football scene. What I DO know is that now, Liverpool fans are pretty much used to people calling the club a 'has-been', and saying we are 'reliving past glories'.

Now that all the talk this season has been all about Arsenal and Chelsea, Man Utd fans are resorting to complaining and moaning about how other fans are stepping all over them. Well, get use to it, I say. It could be a lot worse. You could be a Liverpool supporter.

Football: Goals, Goals, Goals!

2004-11-16T15:37:00.000+08:00
What a weekend it was. Lots of goals everywhere, Liverpool winning, and a thrilling North London derby to savor. Lots of great goals, lots of abysmal defending, but lots of fun to watch.

First up, Liverpool won 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace. Baros scored a hat-trick, which included two penalties he himself won. The second penalty was the match-winning one, scored in the dying minutes of the match, when I thought we'd be drawing the game. Thank god Baros is on form. With our lack of strikers now, I'm just glad that the only one left standing is at least scoring, and that he is not Emile Heskey.

Next, the North London derby. Tottenham 4-5 Arsenal. NINE goals, some really bad defending, and a match that was more like an NBA match, with both teams trading goals for fun. It was great fun to watch, but not as fun for my brother, an Arsenal fan, who was left biting his nails when Kanoute scored Spurs' fourth goal to make it 4-5.

Good entertainment overall, with the only blip being Newcastle losing 3-1 to Man U at home, and Valencia slipping further off the pace in La Liga by drawing 0-0 at home.

Football: This and that and a bad weekend

2004-11-09T16:12:00.000+08:00
Nothing has been happening in the sports world, except football news. So my opinions have been few and far between.

But for the record, it was a bad weekend for football last weekend, for me at least. Liverpool lost, Baros got injured, we lost our 100% home record and Chelsea went top of the EPL when Arsenal lost.

The only consolation was that Man Utd's so-called and supposed 'revival' after beating Arsenal hasn't come to be. After losing to Portsmouth 2-0, they went and drew 0-0 to Man City at Old Trafford. Looks like they STILL can't win with 'just' eleven men, and they can't get a penalty at Old Trafford without Mike Riley officiating...

Football: Deportivo 0-1 Liverpool: Yay!

2004-11-04T14:36:00.000+08:00
Liverpool won! Liverpool won! Sure, it was due to an own goal, but who cares. Liverpool won! Liverpool won!

Andrade gives Liverpool the initiative

Badminton: Junior champions today, where tomorrow?

2004-11-02T13:20:00.000+08:00
First of all, congratulations to the new world junior badminton boys’ doubles champions - Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How! It's no mean feat, being junior champions, and these two look to have a bright future. Or DO THEY?

TWO Malaysian pairs have won the same title before - Chan Chong Ming-Jeremy Gan (1996) and Chong Ming-Teo Kok Seng (1998), and neither have made an impact in the senior level (except Chan, of course). What happened?

Anyway, BAM may have 'big plans' for Tan and Hoon, but it remains to be seen whether if BAM can REALLY nurture this pair properly. If we're lucky, they MIGHT go on to become world beaters. More likely than not, BAM will screw up again by spliting up the pair to 'help them improve'.

IMHO, rather than all the constant 'restructuring' of their training programs, what we REALLY need is to get Park Joo Bong back as head coach. Look at what he did for Korea's badminton AFTER Malaysia let him go!

GENERAL: Where are all the local, non-football news?

2004-10-29T10:55:00.001+08:00
Is it just me, or is football fast becoming the ONLY sport that people care to read about these days? Everyday, there are countless stories on football, football, football, but hardly any stories on other sports. Even badminton is taking a back seat in the papers' sports pages.

Here's a breakdown of the Sports pages in The Star today (Friday, October 29 2004):
11 Sports pages
6 pages dedicated to football (7 if you count the one on LOCAL football)
28 stories overall
9 non-football stories
7 stories on English football
12 stories on football in other countries, including two Malaysian ones, and one from the CHINESE league.
And the most damning one:
a grand total of FIVE stories on local sports. FIVE out of TWENTY-EIGHT.
So much football, so little other sports. and this is not even counting the 16-page special weekly pullout solely dedicated to football. No wonder most Malaysians didn't bother with the Olympics. They may not even know what sports are in it!
So much foreign sports news, so little local news. No wonder local sports (or any other sports besides football, for that matter) are not generating much interest. Look at how little is reported about them! Even local football is limited to a measly TWO stories. And FAM wonders why the stadiums are half empty. After all, why bother paying to go watch a game between Kedah and Perak when the EPL is on at the same time, right?
Funny thing is, I remember a time when huge crowds would turn up for local football matches, when the start of the Malaysia Cup or the Liga Perdana would feature a daily profile in The Star on each and every team. These days, a visit from NORWICH CITY probably generates more excitement than the Malaysia Cup final.
It's pathetic that Malaysians can be so passionate about an English team, and yet care so little about sports in their own country. I'm also guilty of being more passionate about Liverpool than the Malaysian national football team. But I also think it's a Catch-22 situation. The fans don't care about Malaysian sports, because frankly, Malaysian sport is pathetic. And the state of Malaysian sports can hardly improve if there is no interest or support from the fans.

Football: Man U vs Arsenal: The Aftermath

2004-10-26T10:29:00.000+08:00
Here are some news stories that have popped up in the aftermath of that encounter at Old Trafford:

FA charge Ruud, summon Wenger

An excerpt from the Soccernet story:

Holland international van Nistelrooy has been charged with serious foul play following a challenge on Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole during the match which United won 2-0.
A statement from the FA read: 'The FA has today charged Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy with a breach of FA Rule E3 - for serious foul play.
'The charge relates to an incident involving Ashley Cole during the match between Manchester Untied and Arsenal on Sunday, October 24.

Ah... this was what I was hoping for. I hope the cheat gets what he deserves.

In the same story, Arsene Wenger was also called up to explain his comments about Riley's performance and calling Van Nistelrooy a 'cheat' (which, IMHO, he IS). Looks like the repurcussions of this match could last for quite some time, just like the same fixture last season.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Ref chief defends Riley

An excerpt from the Soccernet story:

Referees chief Keith Hackett had no complaints about the way Riley controlled the match.
He added: 'We know this is one of the tough encounters of the season. Mike clearly had a gameplan to try and not suppress the match.
'He wanted it to breathe and perhaps went in with the intention of getting through the game without having to dismiss any players.

My question is: HOW can a referee go into a match with the intention of NOT giving red cards? If a player commits a foul during the course of the game that deserves a red card (which happened on TWO occasions duringthe game), surely the referee HAS to give the marching orders?

Ferdinand deserved a red card for his professional foul on Ljundberg, and Van Nistelrooy should have been sent off for his malicious tackle on Cole. That Mike Riley DID NOT do so makes the referee look more inept than bias, to tell the truth.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Police could land Arsenal in the soup

An excerpt from the Guardian Football story:

Arsenal may yet face charges over the "Soup-gate" scandal after it emerged that police officers were in the tunnel and witnessed a visiting player showering Sir Alex Ferguson in pea soup and pizza in the wake of his Manchester United team's 2-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Imagine all the headlines if it turned out that Sol Campbell threw that soup at Ferguson. As it is, Guardian is already having fun with 'soupy' headlines like:
Winning recipe wasted in food fight
Arsenal could land in the soup

Football: Man U 2-0 Arsenal: Pah. Ptuui!

2004-10-25T10:21:00.000+08:00
Let it be known loud and clear that I am utterly disgusted at the way Man U won their match last night.

The main reason I'm seething is not because I'm an Arsenal fan, but because of the way the referee made some pretty bias decisions. Like the sending off of Vieira and Van Nistelrooy's penalty in the same fixture last season, it was as though Riley WANTED MAn U to win. EIGHT bloody penalties given TO Man U by Riley in EIGHT games at Old Trafford says a lot, doesn't it?

Some sites have waved of the controversial decisions by saying 'He did not want to show any red cards', but how can you not give a red card for a deliberate barge by a last man on a player through on goal? That's a professional foul, that is! But was it really a surprise that after three or four really bad tackles by MAn U players, the first player to be booked was Ashley Cole?

Anyway, here are some 'controversial' decisions referee Mike Riley gave:

Waving away the professional foul by Ferdinand on Ljundberg that should have resulted in a red card for Ferdinand
Nothing given a blatant stud-showing kick by Van Nistelrooy on Ashley Cole's knee. Even the commentators said that was a 'disgraceful tackle'.
No card for Gary Neville's tackle from behind on Reyes' ankle (retaliating after Reyes had nutmeg him)
The Penalty. The Penalty. Rooney was BOUND to go to ground at the slightest of contacts, and Riley didn't even HESITATE when giving the penalty. Even BEFORE Rooney had fallen down, Riley had pointed to the spot. (Granted, Campbell shouldn't have stuck his leg out, but he did, and in that time honoured Man United tradition, the striker bit dust, and Riley got his excuse to give a penalty)
Granted, Arsenal got some decisions THEIR way as well, but I think it's safe to say that Arsenal fans will have more choice curses for Riley.
Football wise, the game was entertaining enough for the neutral (though I wanted badly for Man U to LOSE, and that's not just because I'm a Liverpool fan), with a few decent shots. But it was was a very scrappy game, and had more bad tackles than good passes. Cole stifled Christiano Ronaldo, Ferdinand kept Henry quiet. With their main creative forces shackled, Man U could do very little, while Reyes was giving Neville a bad time.
Man U's second goal was well-worked, but only because Toure and co. had gone upfield in search of an equaliser.
So, Arsenal lose the unbeaten record. But on this evidence, even Man U fans are saying that they still WON'T win the league this season.
PS: With all the hype focusing on the Man U - Arsenal game, Liverpool quietly won 2-0 against Charlton and now have the ONLY 100% home record in the entire league, won their first away game last week, sit 6th in the table on 16 points (Man U are fifth with 17), AND have a game in hand. Looks good, looks good. :-)
PSS: Valencia lost to Real Madrid 1-0, the only goal coming courtesy of MICHAEL OWEN. How very ironic...

Football: A woeful mid-week

2004-10-21T14:27:00.000+08:00
What a week to forget it's been for Valencia. Not only did they lose 2-1 to Seville over the weekend to fall five points behind Barcelona in La Liga, but last night they lost 1-5 to Inter Milan at HOME. Lets hope Ranieri's men can pick themselves up again after that thrashing. Sigh...

Liverpool didn't have a good mid-week either, only managing a 0-0 draw against Deportivo at home. I have a feeling that Benitez NEEDS another striker. Cisse is having trouble adapting to the side, while Baros has gone back to his pre-Euro-Golden-Boot inconsistency for the club. I'm now hoping that all those rumors of Morientes wanting to join Liverpool in January will come through...

Football: Fulham 2 - 4 Liverpool: YAY!

2004-10-18T22:26:00.000+08:00
A bit hard to update the blog, because I'm on holiday for a week, but Saturday's result was just too good NOT to blog about. :-D

Sure, Liverpool had a lot of luck, with Zat Knight's own goal, and Xabi Alonso's deflected kick, but then, we WERE down to ten men when Alonso scored. Also, to come back from 2-0 down, and win our FIRST away game of teh season is jsut great. Oh, and Biscan's goal was just a superb team goal.

On to Deportivo!

PS: Am a bit pissed that Valencia lost to Seville that same day, but oh well. Can't win them all, I guess.

GENERAL: The Gym Germ

2004-10-15T15:36:00.000+08:00
Currently, it seems as though every other person I know either:

i) is a member of a gym
ii) is applying for membership at a gym
iii) is looking for a gym to join as a member
iv) got suckered by a salesman into getting a gym membership

It's as though no one ever goes for REAL sports activities anymore. Everyone just wants to go to a gym, run on threadmills, pump some iron, and chat up girls.

Personally, I'm not exactly drawn towards the idea of gyms. Paying a fortune for a gym membership just does not seem logical to me, especially when it's a lot more fun exercising by playing a sport like badminton, futsal or basketball.

Since I have not exactly BEEN to a gym to see what people do there (I will, one of these days, just for the heck of it), by the comments I have gotten about gym-life I have come to the conclusion that people who go to gyms are divided into several types:

a) Those who actually DO make full use of the facilities at the gym
b) Those who only have time to go exercise at night after work
c) Those who DON'T exercise, but go to socialise and check out chicks in tights
d) Those who join as members but never use it

It's like a GERM is going around. EVERYONE wants a gym membership. While it's good that they want to EXERCISE, why is it the very first avenue of exercise they think of is joining a GYM?

Of course, there are still those of us who don't even bother with gym memberships and prefer to either:

I) Stay at home and exercise their finger muscles by pressing the Astro remote
II) Go jogging religiously
III) Play games or sports
IV) Have more sex

Ok, so I made up the fourth option (or did I?), but my point is, there are so many cheaper and more fun alternatives to going to gyms. When I was still in cometitive sports, I remember HATING going to the gym, because it was so boring. Pumping iron or running on threadmills could never compare to the exhiliration of playing a good game of badminton, scoring a goal in futsal, or playing any other game.

But that's just me. And other people's money.

Me, I shall continue asking any salesman who approaches me to sign up for a gym membership this: "Do you have a badminton court in your gym? No? Then why should I sign up?"

Tennis: Ra! Ra! Sharapova!

2004-10-13T11:19:00.000+08:00
I'm trying very hard NOT to write about football these days, which explains why the posts have been less frequent lately. The problem is, it is that time of year when most of all the other sports have wound up their seasons. All the major badminton tournaments have ended. The Olympics has gone by in a blink of an eye.

The only thing left to watch other than football is baseball, which I understand quite well (due to a youth wasted on reading Japanese baseball-related manga) but just don't see the point of; American foot-*scoff*-ball; GOLF (see this post for my thoughts on THIS game), and tennis, which has already finished its Grand slams, but has something (or rather, someONE) that the other sports don't - MARIA SHARAPOVA.

Ever since Anna Kournikova burst onto the scene a few years back (or more), women's tennis has been a lot more interesting to watch. Of course, before Kournikova, there was Gabriella Sabatini, but that was about it. Martina Hingis was rather cute (in fact, I loved it when she partnered Kournikova in doubles), and a big loss to the women's game when she retired so early in her career. Kournikova herself has pretty much faded away from the courts (though her face is still everywhere).

Thank god then, for Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova is the hottest thing in women's tennis right now. Although she's just one member of the this year's Russian women's tennis revolution (There are currently five Russians in the Top Ten; plus Elena Dementieva lost TWO all-Russian Grand Slam finals - to Svetlana Kuznetsova at the US Open and Anastasia Myskina at the French), she certainly is the prettiest, in my humble opinion. Hehe.

When she won Wimbledon this year, she proved that she is no Kournikova, who merely looked good, but still can't win a SINGLE tournament. Although Sharapova didn't do that well in the US Open, just recently, she has picked up the pace again, winning the Korean and Japan Opens back to back.

But enough talk, here then is a gratuitous photo of her winning the Japan Open, courtesy of Sharapova fan-site Maria World. Enjoy! :-D

Football: England 2-0 Wales: Whoopiedoo.

2004-10-10T16:32:00.000+08:00
So... England beat Wales. Yay.

Forgive me if I'm not exactly overjoyed, but I just don't get as excited over England playing as much as some people who are so passionate about the team that you'd think they (the fan) were English, not Malaysian.

England has got to be one of the most overhyped and yet most underachieving national teams I have ever seen. Granted, they have some pretty good players, but they can never seem to get their act together when it counts. Furthermore, everytime a major tournament comes around, the hype always centres around England, as if it is they, not Argentina, not France, not even Brazil, who are the hot favorites.

Perhaps it's also because most of the websites I have been reading are pro-English, and that the EPL is probably the league that commands the most support these days. People tend to support something that they're familiar with. After all, most of us can name all the players (and positions) of the English team, but can we even PRONOUNCE the names on the French, Brazilian or even the Swedish teams' teamsheets? So, it makes sense to support the English team, no?

Or maybe because most of us are fervant fans of English clubs, so one is 'naturally' expected to support the English national team as well. As one colleague put it - "How can you support an English club but not support England?"

Well, my friend, maybe that's because I'm Malaysian. And although I'm also not exactly enamoured with Malaysia's standard of football, the point is, I'm not about to declare my loyalty to a nation that is not even my own, even if I DO support a CLUB that happens to be IN that country. And so there!

Football: Fun with Stadiums

2004-10-06T16:09:00.000+08:00
So.... Arsenal's new stadium is gonna be called Emirates Stadium, after the Middle Eastern airline agreed to sponsor the stadium.

All together now: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Anyway, I thought this might be a good time to rename some of the OTHER stadiums around England after some potential sponsors...
Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) -> Roman's Place
Anfield (Liverpool) -> Estadio rojo de España
Old Trafford (Manchester United) -> Old McDonald's (a Big Mac-United, anyone?)
Villa Park (Aston Villa) -> Villa Parkmay (Team buses included in the deal)
The Riverside stadium (Middlesbrough) -> Harry's Riverside Cruise Stadium
Upton Park (West Ham) -> Damansara Uptown Construction Park
White Hart Lane (Tottenham Hotspur) -> White Castle Lane (Harold and Kumar not included)
Elland Road (Leeds United) -> Melon Road (sponsored by Ah Hong Watermelon Farm, who bought the stadium on E-bay)
Carrow Road (Norwich City) -> Kenari Road (Well, Proton sponsors their jerseys, so Perodua can sponsor the stadium...)
Wembley (England) -> Support Bush Stadium

Carrom: SHEEEESH....

2004-10-05T16:00:00.000+08:00
The Visitor has been pestering me for a post about carrom. So here it is.

Carrom is fun. Carrom is easy to play. Carrom is not an Olympic sport.

That's it for today.

What? Not enough? Sigh....

Ok, to tell the truth, I DID play carrom when I was a kid. I remember my favourite part of playing it was sprinkling the Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder (in white bottle) on the surface so that the carrom pieces/pucks/whatever would glide smoothly. I usually ended up making the board look like the Alps after that, and the puck would occasionally slam into a bunker of sno.. er... powder and send a white cloud flying into our noses.

Anyway, one thing I never got about carrom was the way you flick the puck. Do you use your index finger and the thumb in an 'OK' position, or the finger and the middle one in a more sideways motion? Every time I used the second option, I'd send the puck flying out of the board.

I used to have a carrom board at home, but I lost the pieces when I mixed them with my Lego, and my mom gave them away when they moved to KL. So we rather than buying new set of pieces, we just donated the board to someone.

That's about it. It's been ages since I played Carrom. Although if The Visitor would be so kind as to bring a board and the pieces to the office, I'll gladly have a game... :-D

Football: Chelsea 1- 0 Liverpool: Sigh...

2004-10-04T11:05:00.000+08:00
It's gonna be a long season ahead for Liverpool fans. Three wins in seven games, and not a single away win so far. Time may not be running out for Benitez just yet, but if he doesn't start winning away games soon, we're not gonna even qualfy for the Champion's League next season.

Last night, it was a passable defensive performance (with a good game by Carragher), but in attack, Liverpool were neutralised completely.

Benitez dropped Hamaan for Diao (who was useless), and put on Traore for Finnan. The minute I saw Traore on the pitch, I knew that was it. The fella may have potential, but he has the concentration of a pea-brained chicken, and sure enough within five minutes of me turning on the TV, I saw him make TWO mistakes IN FRONT OF GOAL.

To Chelsea's credit, Joe Cole's goal was brilliantly taken, but what was alarming for Liverpool was that they never looked like scoring after going behind. Which is sad. Xabi Alonso had an ok game, but he needs to practise taking free kicks and corners more, because he ballooned at least FOUR balls into the crowd from the EXACT SAME position.

Sigh... I still believe that Benitez needs time to mould his team, but come the transfer window in January, I hope he bloody SELLS Traore and Diao, and GET BETTER PLAYERS.

Football: I'm all alone....

2004-09-30T18:32:00.000+08:00
It would appear as though I am the only Liverpool fan around that believes that Rafa Benitex's team are going somewhere. everyone else has been complaining, and some have already said that he should be sacked. Tsk tsk, so little faith.

Granted, the've lost to Man Utd, and they have had lousy games against Olympiakos and MU, plus they don't seem to be traveling well. But surely it's still early days yet, and even Valenca didn't win anything during Benitez's first year. HOWEVER, they DID win the league title the year after that.

Having followed Benitez's Valencia, I have complete faith in his ability to change a team. Already, his Liverpool team is showing signs that it CAN go places. But it still needs a bit of time. At least the attacking football is a lot better than it was under Houllier...

Football: A Tribute to Brian Clough

2004-09-27T13:14:00.000+08:00
It always amazes me how an entire stadium full of of at least 40,000 - 60,000 people can go completely silent for an entire minute. This happened a lot in the past weekend, as the EPL mourned the death of a legend - Brian Clough, who passed away last week.

I'm not gonna go into the details of who Brian Clough was (after all, he ONLY won two SUCCESSIVE European Cups), so if you wanna know who is was, check out his fact file here, and read a tribute to him here.

As for this blog, here is a collection of quotes from the man that I got from a colleague of mine:

--------------------------------

"Manchester United in Brazil? I hope they all get bloody diarrhoea" - on Manchester United opting-out of the FA Cup to play in the World Club Championship.

"I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball - he might grab mine" - on the influx of foreign players.

"I bet their dressing room will smell of garlic rather than liniment over the next few months" - on the number of French players at Arsenal.

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one" - looking back on his managerial career.

On Eric Cantona's infamous kung fu kick at a fan: "I'd have cut his balls off."

"If he'd been English or Swedish, he'd have walked the England job" - on Martin O'Neill.

"I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn't have hit him very hard" - on dealing with Roy Keane.

"Walk on water? I know most people out there will be saying that instead of walking on it, I should have taken more of it with my drinks. They are absolutely right" - a typically candid reflection on his drink problem.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes" England's exit from Euro 2000, explained the Cloughie way.

"We talk about it for twenty minutes and then we decide I was right" - on dealing with a player who disagrees.

"I'm sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I'd want to run the show. They were shrewd, because that's exactly what I would have done" - on not getting the England manager's job.

Guessing who nominated him for a knighthood: "I thought it was my next door neighbour, because I think she felt that if I got something like that, I'd have to move."

"For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls!" - Referring to Sir Alex Ferguson's failure to win two successive European Cups.

Brian wasn't a fan of the women's game: "I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud."

After a life-saving operation, Clough gets sentimental: "Don't send me flowers when I'm dead. If you like me, send them while I'm alive."

"I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed - I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me" - on how he would like to be remembered.

Football: It's been a gooood weekend

2004-09-27T10:37:00.000+08:00
Yup, a good weekend it has been, with Liverpool winning 3-0 at home to Norwich City, and Valencia winning 2-0 at the Mestalla against Racing Santander. The only thing that prevented it from being the perfect weekend was that Spurs went down 0-1 to another van Nistelrooy penalty (A colleague said that if we took away all the penalties that van Nistelrooy has taken and scored, Man Utd would be in the bottom half of the table last season. Whether this is true remains to be seen. Heh).

Anyway, Liverpool's match on Saturday was the first time I actually WATCHED a delayed telecast even AFTER I knew the result. Such is the faith and enthusiasm I have for the current Liverpool team (Right. If Liverpool had LSOT 3-0, I wouldn't have bothered).

Anyway, it was well worth it, as Liverpool once again impressed me, even without Gerrard. Baros scored a great goal, Luis Garcia scored a deflected goal, and Cisse scored a free kick goal. For once, all the forward players delivered.

Xabi Alonso took over Gerrard's role flawlessly, spraying passes and crosses well; while Luis Garcia was again the center of the attack. These two Spaniards, along with Josemi (who didnot play against Norwich), have been very impressive indeed, and I think they will get even better with time once the get used to the pace of the EPL.

Yup, here's to more goooood weekends in the future!

Badminton: What are they DOING there?

2004-09-24T11:26:00.000+08:00
Last night, I went to watch a friend play in the inter-college badminton championships. She was playing in the team semis against HELP Institute, who thrashed them 4 games out of 5.

Now, before you say that her team was pathetic, consider this - HELP Institute's team have the following players - Wong Choon Hann. Lee Tsuen Seng. Law Pei Pei. Alvin Chew. All former or current national badminton players.

What the heck are they DOING there?

With all the hoo-haa about the 'failure' and 'short-comings' of the national badminton team, one would think that these players would be training even harder to make up for that 'failure', or at least playing in more international tournaments; instead of playing an inter-college badminton tourney with college kids who are probably only ONE TENTH of their standard. That's almost like asking Zidane or Ronaldo to skip one league match to go play for their local pub team in an inter-pub kickabout.

How do they expect to improve that way? One of the best ways to improve in a sport is to play with superior players who can teach you a lesson or two. What do they expect to learn from playing against a player who probably only touches a racquet once in three months, and can't even smash properly?

Granted, they may be obligated to play for their colleges because of the scholarships given to them, but it still seems a pointless waste of time, considering they are virtually guaranteed of winning without even shedding a drop of sweat, and might even get injured when a stray shuttlecock from a kampung player hits them in the eye.

Perhaps BAM needs to take a good hard look at what the PLAYERS are doing, before even questioning the training methods, or the coaches (which is ANOTHER pet peeve of mine).