Pepe Reina made a clown out of himself when he comically allowed Arsenal to get a point at Anfield. He tried to enact Robert Green from the World Cup who's howler against the United States left England in a state of shock.
I had no plans to write until tomorrow after the Man U vs Newcastle match got over but Reina's mistake and Liverpool's inability to win yet again inspired me to write a few lines.
Liverpool were all set to win playing extremely well with 10 men against an Arsenal side which did not really deserve to draw the match when Reina suddenly realized that in previous seasons Rafa had taught them the art of messing up and its his turn now to step up to the occasion and carry the tradition forward, goof up and he executed that to perfection.
I hope Liverpool keep can keep up with the tag of being chokers and don't finish in the top 10 this season. Kudos to Liverpool and Reina :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Was the first day exciting enough?
Oh yes it surely was! All the waiting was over and the Premier League started with a bang as the first match was closely contested by teams hoping to pick a spot in the top 4 this season and eventually get a chance to play in Europe. It was almost 5 when I finally had that feeling yet again that I need to stop doing everything else, rush back home, turn on the tv and watch Football.
The first match was Spurs at home against Man City and the players seemed like playing for their lives as soon as the referee blew the whistle to get things started. Joe Hart - the Man City goal keeper was the man of the match and he had an absolutely fantastic game who had made so many unbelievable saves in the first quarter of the match itself. The match finished in a draw which was a shame but I never knew the day was going to get better.
Blackpool entered the top flight with quite a superb win over Wigan, Aston Villa mugged West Ham United while Chelsea run riot at home against West Bromich Albion. As if the rain was not enough to deal with when it was raining goals at Stamford Bridge and there were 6 of them and West Brom were punished for their defensive generosity.
Drogba got three in the first match which is a scary thought and the race for the Golden boot has already started with Harewood getting a brace for Blackpool. Chelsea would probably be at the top of the table after the first round of matches are completed on Monday courtesy the number of goals scored.
The first match was Spurs at home against Man City and the players seemed like playing for their lives as soon as the referee blew the whistle to get things started. Joe Hart - the Man City goal keeper was the man of the match and he had an absolutely fantastic game who had made so many unbelievable saves in the first quarter of the match itself. The match finished in a draw which was a shame but I never knew the day was going to get better.
Blackpool entered the top flight with quite a superb win over Wigan, Aston Villa mugged West Ham United while Chelsea run riot at home against West Bromich Albion. As if the rain was not enough to deal with when it was raining goals at Stamford Bridge and there were 6 of them and West Brom were punished for their defensive generosity.
Drogba got three in the first match which is a scary thought and the race for the Golden boot has already started with Harewood getting a brace for Blackpool. Chelsea would probably be at the top of the table after the first round of matches are completed on Monday courtesy the number of goals scored.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
A Look into the Future
The Premier League season would be always full of surprises but predicting the top and bottom teams would not be too difficult. Man United will be challenged by Chelsea obviously and maybe Man City would get into the top 4 this year. I do not see Arsenal and Liverpool being too much of a threat to Man U or Chelsea though I think Arsenal would unexpectedly do good and surprise a lot of people and pundits. I am a big fan of Arsene Wenger and would want them to finish second after Manchester United and I wish them all the luck. Manchester City have been spending money lavishly to buy new players and if Manchini is able to make a good team and if all these players can gel together to play well then they could be a threat.
Manchester City have signed David Silva from Valencia and Yaya Toure from Barcelona. Yossi Benayoun has moved from Liverpool to Chelsea and Joe Cole has joined the Reds. Sir Alex Fergusson has again injected youth into his current squad of fairly young players by signing Chris Smalling from Fulham and Javier Hernandez 'Chichirato' from Chivas de Guadalajara
Michael Ballack has been released by Chelsea which I think should work for them since I never saw him as a team player. He always had issues with his attitude and I still remember the argument he had with Drogba as both of them wanted to take the free kick. Luckily Drogba scored and he could not complain otherwise I am pretty sure he would have walked up to him to let him know that he would have done much better with the ball.
The big saga related to Cesc Fabregas is finally over as he has finally committed his future to Arsenal atleast for now but I surely see him moving to Barcelona next season. The team sheet of Barcelona would be invincible with players like David Villa, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Puyol, Gerrad Pique, Danny Alves already a part of the team. The thought of facing this team would give chills to any team in the world.
Getting back to the Premier League I think Manchester United would have a very good season and though I wished we had bought some new players but I trust Sir Alex and he for sure knows exactly what he's doing. Wayne Rooney should have a very good season since he has to prove a point after a dismal performance at the World Cup and if he can have an injury free season there is no reason why he can't match what he achieved last season. Valencia looked pretty sharp in the game agaisnt Chelsea in the Community Shield and Hernandez looked like an instant hit with the crowd and the players and I think he would score many wonderful goals for the club.
Fitness like always would play a big part and I really hope Rio Ferdinand gets fit and takes his place next to Nemanja Vidic in the heart of the defense and make sure we have a strong spine throughout the season. Patrice Evra would again need to make those menacing runs on the left side which would make sure we would be able to attack from all corners of the field and United would be in control of the game. Michael Owen would still have a big part to play from the bench and I wish he would be able to score more amazing and important goals like the one he scored against Man City last season in injury time and the whole stadium erupted.
The newly promoted clubs Blackpool, Newcastle United and West Bromich Albion would probably finish in the second half of the table and one of them might get relegated.
Liverpool should stay in the top half of the table but it would be fantastic if that does not happen and eventually Gerrard and Torres leave the club during the end of the year.
All in all the top four teams would be strong but I see Man City finishing in the top 4 along with Manchester United , Chelsea and Arsenal with Manchester United winning the league for the 12th time and getting past Liverpool by winning their 19th top-division title.
Manchester City have signed David Silva from Valencia and Yaya Toure from Barcelona. Yossi Benayoun has moved from Liverpool to Chelsea and Joe Cole has joined the Reds. Sir Alex Fergusson has again injected youth into his current squad of fairly young players by signing Chris Smalling from Fulham and Javier Hernandez 'Chichirato' from Chivas de Guadalajara
Michael Ballack has been released by Chelsea which I think should work for them since I never saw him as a team player. He always had issues with his attitude and I still remember the argument he had with Drogba as both of them wanted to take the free kick. Luckily Drogba scored and he could not complain otherwise I am pretty sure he would have walked up to him to let him know that he would have done much better with the ball.
The big saga related to Cesc Fabregas is finally over as he has finally committed his future to Arsenal atleast for now but I surely see him moving to Barcelona next season. The team sheet of Barcelona would be invincible with players like David Villa, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Carlos Puyol, Gerrad Pique, Danny Alves already a part of the team. The thought of facing this team would give chills to any team in the world.
Getting back to the Premier League I think Manchester United would have a very good season and though I wished we had bought some new players but I trust Sir Alex and he for sure knows exactly what he's doing. Wayne Rooney should have a very good season since he has to prove a point after a dismal performance at the World Cup and if he can have an injury free season there is no reason why he can't match what he achieved last season. Valencia looked pretty sharp in the game agaisnt Chelsea in the Community Shield and Hernandez looked like an instant hit with the crowd and the players and I think he would score many wonderful goals for the club.
Fitness like always would play a big part and I really hope Rio Ferdinand gets fit and takes his place next to Nemanja Vidic in the heart of the defense and make sure we have a strong spine throughout the season. Patrice Evra would again need to make those menacing runs on the left side which would make sure we would be able to attack from all corners of the field and United would be in control of the game. Michael Owen would still have a big part to play from the bench and I wish he would be able to score more amazing and important goals like the one he scored against Man City last season in injury time and the whole stadium erupted.
The newly promoted clubs Blackpool, Newcastle United and West Bromich Albion would probably finish in the second half of the table and one of them might get relegated.
Liverpool should stay in the top half of the table but it would be fantastic if that does not happen and eventually Gerrard and Torres leave the club during the end of the year.
All in all the top four teams would be strong but I see Man City finishing in the top 4 along with Manchester United , Chelsea and Arsenal with Manchester United winning the league for the 12th time and getting past Liverpool by winning their 19th top-division title.
Monday, August 9, 2010
S-painful champions of the world
It surely was not something that I wanted but it happened and Spain went on to win the world cup. I was irritated by the way they played their football which was extremely boring all the time. I understand it's all about winning and a whole lot of other things but the football needs to be flamboyant and has to appeal to the common man. Spain's matches were the most boring of all time as they would not attack at all. With players like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and others the game should be exciting rather than slow and extremely boring.
I don't want to do too much complaining as I enjoyed the world cup and it was fun-tastic. The football played was super duper extraordinary at times and there were great skills at display.
Going to Manali to watch the world cup final was one of the best decisions I took in the month of July and it was awesome. The setting was a cafe in Old Manali where me and my friends were the only Indians watching the match while the rest of the people were from all corners of the world. Oranje scarfs, pajamas, caps, shirts were all around and though only a few people were cheering for Spain but they left the cafe happy and we were all sad.
All in all it was a thrilling final and I could feel the adrenaline rush, the anxiety level only knew one direction that was UP as the minutes passed by and neither team was able to score. I wish it had gone to penalties and then Holland should have won it but Iniesta messed it all up and decided to finish it before it went to penalty kicks which I think is the right way to end a major tournament like the World Cup.
If Netherlands had gone on to win the World cup they would have been the only team after Brazil in 1970 who would been unbeaten in the qualifying matches and throughout the course of the tournament as well.
To be continued.....
I don't want to do too much complaining as I enjoyed the world cup and it was fun-tastic. The football played was super duper extraordinary at times and there were great skills at display.
Going to Manali to watch the world cup final was one of the best decisions I took in the month of July and it was awesome. The setting was a cafe in Old Manali where me and my friends were the only Indians watching the match while the rest of the people were from all corners of the world. Oranje scarfs, pajamas, caps, shirts were all around and though only a few people were cheering for Spain but they left the cafe happy and we were all sad.
All in all it was a thrilling final and I could feel the adrenaline rush, the anxiety level only knew one direction that was UP as the minutes passed by and neither team was able to score. I wish it had gone to penalties and then Holland should have won it but Iniesta messed it all up and decided to finish it before it went to penalty kicks which I think is the right way to end a major tournament like the World Cup.
If Netherlands had gone on to win the World cup they would have been the only team after Brazil in 1970 who would been unbeaten in the qualifying matches and throughout the course of the tournament as well.
To be continued.....
Just the beginning !
Another piece of silverware and it was impressive the way United played. I would have to say the way we played today makes me say with a lot of belief and confidence that we would be able to lay our hands on more trophies this season.
Cheers to Man U !
Cheers to Man U !
Sunday, August 8, 2010
It's all coming back !
Its happened a lot of times before and it happening again. There's this weird kind of pain in my tummy that I feel every time Man U plays. The match starts in another hour and I am getting all nervous about it.
Even though I am confident that we would play well and win the match but this feeling and anxiousness is always there and could be compared to something that happens to all the Indians when Sachin bats.We kinda want and wait for him to bat but then every time he plays we all are kind of scared and wish that he doesn't get out. I need to do a few preparations before the match starts and do a few things which I would do every time Man U play and I think it is partially responsible for making them win:)
Even though I am confident that we would play well and win the match but this feeling and anxiousness is always there and could be compared to something that happens to all the Indians when Sachin bats.We kinda want and wait for him to bat but then every time he plays we all are kind of scared and wish that he doesn't get out. I need to do a few preparations before the match starts and do a few things which I would do every time Man U play and I think it is partially responsible for making them win:)
It's that time of the year again....
Its August and the month that I am most eagerly waiting for. The Football season begins again and I have no words really to express the sense of excitement that has been creeping up in the last few days. It all begins with the Community Shield which is contested in an annual match between the champions of the Barclay's Premier League and the winners of the FA Cup.And just to add to the excitement my favorite team features in the match today and there are actually no prizes for guessing the name of the team.
Its Man U vs Chelsea, the rivalry and the desire to win more trophies than the other team starts yet again for this season. The Community Shield is not considered to be a big trophy by many but it has on offer the chance to win the first silverware for the season and denting the other team with a psychological blow.
Neither Man U nor Chelsea have made any new big name signings but it would still be a match to look out for and hope its exciting and is fiercely fought. I have high hopes from the new kid on the block "Hernandez" and cant wait to see him being paired with Rooney upfront. Micheal Owen should have a injury free season and Berbatov needs to play better to help Man U achieve success this season. It was Rooney last year who almost made them win the Premier League title.
Its Man U vs Chelsea, the rivalry and the desire to win more trophies than the other team starts yet again for this season. The Community Shield is not considered to be a big trophy by many but it has on offer the chance to win the first silverware for the season and denting the other team with a psychological blow.
Neither Man U nor Chelsea have made any new big name signings but it would still be a match to look out for and hope its exciting and is fiercely fought. I have high hopes from the new kid on the block "Hernandez" and cant wait to see him being paired with Rooney upfront. Micheal Owen should have a injury free season and Berbatov needs to play better to help Man U achieve success this season. It was Rooney last year who almost made them win the Premier League title.
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