The ultimate battle

Football or sex?

Apparently, a recent survey in Europe found that half of European football fans would prefer to watch important matches than have sex.

I wonder if the statistics would stand in the Malaysian context!

Read the story here.

So who will Benitez buy?

The speculation has started as to who Liverpool will buy for the next season.

One piece of good news is that manager Rafa Benitez looks set to continue helming the team despite the ongoing power struggle between the American owners.

So, to kickstart the list of potential Liverpool players for the 2008/2009 season, here are some favourites being linked by the British media with the club. Mind you, the season is still three games away to official come to close.

Incoming: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Johnson (Manchester City), David Bentley (Blackburn), Antonio Valencia (Wigan) - all midfielders/winger; and defenders Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao) and Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund).

Outgoing: Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise.

Let’s see how much of these become reality.

An interesting press conference

If you are a football fan, you would be aware of the bizarre press conference given by Chelsea manager Avram Grant – who is under pressure for underperforming although his team is within a striking distance with league leaders Man U – after his team’s narrow 1-0 win over Everton last Thursday.

Below is the full transcript of the press conference. Read and have some laugh, at the expense of Chelsea and Avram.

A deserved win, Avram?
Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?
'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?
After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

Is it a relief to win here?
'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?
'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?
'No problem.'

Is there an issue?
'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?
'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?
'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?
'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?
'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?
'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Is it easier to say nothing Avram?
'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?
'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?
'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?
'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?
'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?
'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?
'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy? Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?
'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?
'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?
'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?
'Injured.'

What's his problem?
'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.
'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?
.....

This was definitely not in the same class as the previous manager Mourinho, the publicity-loving chatterbox. No wonder reports say that the club owners are looking for another manager.

I just hope the apparent disarray in the squad affects their performance against Liverpool in the Champions’ League semis on Tuesday!

Urghhhh %^&*()#@ Liverpool

How frustrating! You wake up at 4am, only to see a bunch of fools testing your patience by conspiring against scoring goals to win a match.

By right Liverpool should have beaten, no thrashed, Wigan. Still they manage to come out with a pathetic 1-1 draw. So bloody frustrating.

Liverpool is not going to win the league if they can’t kill off their opponents, especially in their own ground.

As I see, this team is only good to fight for the fourth slot in the league table, if they can hold off Man City and Everton.

I am totally buggered today. Angry with the American owners who don’t know football, angry with the manager who doesn’t know English football and angry with the players who have no English lion-heart.

What a bunch of screwballs

I am talking about Liverpool.

First it was a drab draw against Porto. And the the shocker defeat at home to Marseille. And now this outrageous loss to Besiktas.

Looks like the Euro dream for this season is over, with just three games gone.

Something is surely wrong in the team. Rafa should address this quickly, failing which this IS going to be a miserable season.

P/S: I am at the LA International Airport, waiting for a connection flight that will take me to Guatemala for a media conference. It's about 4.28pm LA time now.

A long 18-hour journey, and a further 10-hour wait for the connecting flight, were just made worse upon the discovery of the Liverpool defeat earlier today. How sad!

Blowing away the chances

Liverpool were awful yesterday against Spurs. And they were lucky to come away with a draw.

Like many Liverpool fans, I am also fed up with the tinkering in the team by the manager.

Why can’t he just stick to his best 11 and let them play together?

I hope the international break would give enough time for the manager and his players to think over on how to win over the fans again.

All the fans are asking is for a settled team playing good football to win matches.

If the tinkering continues, the dream of a league title will remain just that - a dream.

This fan here sums up my views exactly.

Beggars shouldn’t be choosy

It has become quite an open matter now that three Man U players - Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson - had paid escort girls to have fun.

And it has also become a common trait now for these girls to earn extra cash in the side by revealing to the media their moments with their conquests.

Anyway, these two girls (photo) were part of the five escort girls who romped with three footballers and apparently also with Ronaldo’s aide.

And they are complaining that all five of them were only paid £2,900—plus an extra £40 on top for paying by credit card - for their sessions.

These two are also claiming that they were treated like dirt and with no respected by the footballers.

One of these girls said:

"I thought having sex with three Manchester United stars would be like a dream come true. But I realise now that being a WAG is not all it looks cracked up to be especially if this is the way they all behave. My past customers have always been polite. But these men had no manners."

How interesting, especially when in the same interview she and her friend openly revealed how, when and where they enjoyed their playful sessions with the footballers.

I don’t see why they are complaining.

They wanted money, they got it. They wanted to shag footballers, that too they got. They wanted publicity to let the world know what they have done, and that is also in the bag.

So why make noise now about being badly treated? Would they stop entertaining footballers in the future as a result of this experience. Based on the interview, I thought they sounded like they had fun!

Read the News of the World exclusive here.

A useless apology from ref Styles

Referee Rob Styles has apologised but what’s the point now. Liverpool lost two points as a result of his folly.

And no one else is paying for the referee’s mistake. The fact that he is suspended from refereeing a match next week is nothing. No one stands to lose on that.

What about the injustice done to Liverpool? They were forced to draw a game which they looked like winning.

And how about the yellow card to Carragher for his protest over that penalty? Will the FA revoke that card? After all the player was protesting over an injustice.

And how about the ‘dive’ by the Chelsea player? No action against him?

And on the ‘blind’ Mourinho for claiming that his player was "kicked from behind", causing him to tumble in the penalty box?

This time it didn’t go over, it went in

"It's about time the lads let me take a free kick. I've been in the first team eight years now and they've never let me take them because they always go over. I managed to catch one right today, but the most important thing was three points." (Steven Gerrard on the sweetly struck free kick against Aston Villa last Saturday)

It took him about eight games to score his first goal last season. This time, it took him about 87 minutes.

The win also highlighted the fact that the manager is also learning how to play in the EPL. His changed mindset - from having an attack oriented team to not putting in too many new signings for the very first away game to playing without a holding midfielder - all indicated that this season Liverpool are better prepared to be in the leading pack.

And in case you missed Gerrard freekick, here it is, courtesy of YouTube:

It was a good start

I thought Liverpool opened their English Premier League campaign in a good, positive manner. They did well to win away at Aston Villa. And what a goal by Steven Gerrard with the stunning free kick.

I watched Liverpool play their first match against Sheffield United at Brammal Lane at the beginning of last season. Then the manager had obviously made a mistake with his team selection and that was reflected with a 1-1 draw, with Liverpool only able to earn a draw with a dubious penalty.

Last night however, it was a strong team that the manager had sent out. The partnership of Kuyt and new boy Torres looks very promising.

Gerrard and Alonso in the middle of the park were excellent. Riise as a left sided midfielder had a good game. Babel, of what he showed in a brief appearance, looked like a worthy addition to the team.

The signs are there. This Liverpool team looks good and strong. Let's now hope for some consistent performance all around.

The fun begins today

I am talking about the English Premier League. Finally the wait is over. Many teams have strengthened their squads in the summer and this sure looks like an exciting season.

I hope there will not be one team that runs away with the title from the very first month. There should be some fight and this time around the top four (Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) plus one or two others (like Spurs and Newcastle) look set to rule the roost.

I am not keen to make any predictions (though my heart wants Liverpool to win the league). Many things can happen in the course of the season – key players getting injured, a soft goal conceded here and there, a spark of genius by an unknown player etc. All these can determine how a team performs in a match.

On paper Man Utd look strong enough to maintain the run from last season. Chelsea too look good. Liverpool have bought some big names, Arsenal’s youngsters would have come out of age.

On field all factors must come in place. It is an often heard mantra – a team must be consistent to win the league. Man Utd had that last year, Liverpool didn’t.

I hope for a reversal of that fortune this season, and then what my heart wants can materialize.

So my prediction? Beat Man Utd in the points tally in the next nine months, and you shall be the new champion.

Real power in orang asli village

Last week (Friday/Saturday) I was in Royal Belum in Temenggor lake in Hulu Perak, visiting some orang asli villages.

In one village, my team and I came across this young boy, wearing a Real Madrid jersey.

The boy had no idea what Real Madrid was for he has no Astro or tv or even electricity supply for that matter.

He lives some two-and-half-hours speed boat ride away from civilisation and no one in his village has a speedboat.

His plays football but spends most of his time catching fish, collecting roots and rattan from the jungle. There is no school close by for him to attend.

Could he be our next football superstar? No one knows and will never know as his community (the Jahai tribe) is so isolated from the world we know.

Arrgh Argies

Just when you thought the Argentinians would actually convert their excellent display of matches into winning the Copa America hands down, they just do the direct opposite and lose lamely to an under-strength Brazil. (Brazil won 3-0 early this morning)

When the Copa America started earlier this month, Argentina was obviously the team to beat with their dazzling display of football from some really excellent players with individual skills to kill.

They controlled all their matches (before the final), had a superb playmaker in Riquelme, an excellent world beater in Lionel Messi and the phenomenon called Tevez.

On the other hand, Brazil struggled through their early matches, were without their world-class stars Ronaldinho and Kaka and looked as though had put too much of weight on the shoulders of young Robinho.

But at the final stage, it was Brazil who triumphed quite convincingly. Looks like Brazil still has that big-match ‘kill’ attitude in them where they seem to do well when it comes to the cruncher game.

Argentina, on the other hand, is quite the opposite - they lack that big-match nuance. Thus they fail at the last hurdle, just like what happened at the World Cup last summer.

Player-wise, I think Argentina had the better lot at the Copa but collectively they all failed to live up to their tags as favourites.

I hope they stop short-selling their fans and finally in one of these tournaments do actually attain and achieve their true status as a team that plays the best football in the world right now.

Times' world’s top footballers

Steven Gerrard comes in the top ten at number seven while Jamie Carragher (32) is also in the list. But strangely not Pepe Reina nor Xavi Alonso. Not even Javier Mascherano.

But injury plagued Gary Neville (50) is in it. So is England’s ‘wonder-boy’ Wayne Rooney (11). There are also other familiar names such as Kaka (1), Lionel Messi (9), Ronaldinho (2), Clarence Seedorf (49), David Beckham (34) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (17).

And then some unheard or less popular names such as “Lucho” Gonzalez (39), Rodrigo Palacio (46), Diego (45) and Sergio Ramos (13).

And then there are 36 other players, to make it to the Times of London’s Top 50 footballers in the world today.

Gabriele Marcotti picks the best players on the planet on this basis:

“I couldn’t even have begun to compile such a list without basic criteria.

So here they are: imagine you are the manager of a totally new team. You have a certain budget to spend, but first you get one freebie, one guy to build your team around. You get him only for one season, the 2007-08 campaign, so you want to go for who can do the best job for you here and now, without worrying how good he can be down the line. Who would you choose? Who would your “ringer” be? Have a look at all at my selection…

Do you agree? Check out his list here.

Dreamin' of another CL final...

PSV Eindhoven 0 Liverpool 3
(Champions League Quarter-finals, first leg)

The second leg takes place in Anfield next week. Liverpool looks certain to move into the semis. The picture above shows Steven Gerrard powering in the first goal. This was followed by a thunderstrike by Riise and another top-notch header by Crouch. Gerrard’s goal also meant that he is now Liverpool’s most prolific goalscorer in Europe with 15 goals, one ahead of the legend Rush.

Who’s next? Chelsea or Valencia - a mouth-watering tie. Need I say more?

Henry calls Crouch ‘the greatest’

After witnessing his side's defeat at the hands of Liverpool, Arsenal's Thierry Henry had an amazing statement for the press; "Peter Crouch is the greatest striker I've ever seen."

Henry, who glides with the grace of a gazelle, has described Crouch, who lopes with the lankiness of a llama, as "A thing of stunning beauty".

According to Henry, Crouch's hat-trick against his Arsenal side was something to be admired alongside the first budding rose of spring.

"It left me breathless." said Arsene Wenger. "I believe I actually lost consciousness at one stage from breathlessness. I only wish my side knew how to put a ball in the back of the net like Peter Crouch."

Crouch, who scores consistently for club and country, constantly finds his place in teams taken by under performing hacks. Currently he is not part of the England team which features Wayne Rooney, who hasn't scored since 2005.

WARNING:
The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.

original source.

Me and the cup with the big ears

First I thought it was a crazy idea – to stand in a long queue to touch and get a photo taken with the UEFA Champions League trophy.

I just didn’t want to stand in the waiting line. And I didn’t but I still managed to touch the trophy and have my photo taken next to it, all thanks to some friends who were kind enough to let me into their party.

I saw the list of clubs that have won this prestigious tournament and when I saw Liverpool’s name etched in the trophy as the winners of 2005, I felt a shiver down my spine.

The friends who were with me near the trophy were hardcore Arsenal and Man Utd fans and I am sure they too felt the power of the trophy.

Anyway, the trophy has travelled out to Asia for the first time for a six-week tour which kicked off on Feb 23 in Tokyo. It was in KL over the weekend – at the Curve.

After seeing the trophy, I understand the lure it has over the players in the European leagues. I just wish it returns to Anfield this summer!

‘Rafa isn't stupid’

Finally he admits that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is a master tactician. I am talking about Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho after the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool yesterday.

This is what he said:

"Rafa isn't stupid and I'm not a magician. We had no central defenders and I knew two weeks ago that Crouch and Kuyt would play in this game. The defenders we have could have coped with Bellamy but they couldn't cope with Crouch winning the headers and Kuyt's strength holding the ball up.

"In other games of late we've been able to cope but I knew we'd have
problems today and Liverpool did very well."

With this result, the second spot is still reachable for Liverpool now. I just hope they keep the momentum going until that is achieved.

Crash, Bang and Wallop

I liked the way The Sun (from UK) reported Manchester United’s unexpected loss to West Ham yesterday. Here is an excerpt:

CRASH: His (Alex Ferguson) smile turned to despair as sensational goals from Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba gave Jose Mourinho’s side a stunning last-gasp win at Goodison.

BANG: United missed a host of chances to ease away from Chelsea at the top of the table.

WALLOP: Fergie’s day got worse when Nigel Reo-Coker blew the title race wide open with a thrilling winner that cut United’s lead to just two points.

And what an excellent heading too - Fergie choked by Ham 'n Egg.

Of al-Anfield and a camel mascot

Author’s note:
First of all, I am glad that Liverpool will be getting the much-needed cash through the proposed £450m takeover by the Dubai International Capital. As a life-long fan, I now look forward to see the league trophy coming back to Anfield.

Okay, now to today’s business.

Now that we know its almost certain of the take over by a mega-rich sheikh, lets look at 10 big changes that might be taking place in this club.

1. The take-over bid includes the financing of the new stadium. Slated for opening in 2009, what are the chances of the stadium being named Al-Anfield?

2. The shirt sponsors Carlsberg must know by now that their contract will not be extended. The contract might even be terminated. New sponsors? How about Emirates Towers Hotel?

3. Advertisement hoardings around the pitch to have more Arab advertisers - Mecca Cola, new posh apartments in Doha, Qatar Airways, Azizi burqa specialists, Visit Dubai, Burj Al Arab etc.

4. How about names of players at the back of jerseys in Arabic?

5. More Liverpool greats to be paraded at Madame Tussauds as we share the same owners.

6. Accommodation for Liverpool’s away matches in Travelodge - again the same owners.

7. At least a trip to the Gulf states every two years for pre-season tournament.

8. More players to be encouraged in horse racing as the new owner is also the owner of the very successful Godolphin racing stable.

9. Finally the break in of Asian players into the Liverpool youth set up as well as into the full squad.

10. A new mascot for the team - a baby camel with a liver bird tattooed in its red back.

p/s: no offences meant for anyone. Take this in a jest. I am glad Liverpool is getting the cash to move forward.

Read more about the takeover here, here and here.

Some info on Dubai here.