Thursday 21 February 2008

Singapore-League Opening Rounds

18 Feb 2008 Super Reds 2 : 1 Woodlands Wellington MATCH REPORT
19 Feb 2008 Young Lions 0 : 0 Sengkang Punggol MATCH REPORT
20 Feb 2008 Gombak United 0 : 2 Tampines Rovers MATCH REPORT
21 Feb 2008 Geylang United 2 : 1 Balestier Khalsa
21 Feb 2008 Home United 2 : 1 Dalian Shide Siwu

The DICE

After the midweek Champions League fixtures, the DICE predicted 6 out of 8 games correctly! As it stands, the DICE has a 75% score. Next up the Premier League weekend fixtures and the League Cup Final.

DICE Predictions

It was spot on yesterday. Lets see how it predicts today.

Arsenal 0 - 2 AC Milan
Away Win

Celtic 0 - 2 Barcelona
Away Win

Fenerbahce 5 - 4 Sevilla
Home Win

Lyon 1 - 4 Man Utd
Away Win

Tuesday 19 February 2008

New Feature: The Dice

From tonight onwards, the DICE will try to predict the outcome of games.

Schalke 2-1 Porto Home win predicted

Roma 4-2 Real Madrid Home win predicted

Olympiakos 4-4 Chelsea Draw

Liverpool 3-1 Inter Milan Home Win

Sunday 17 February 2008

Reactions - Man Utd vs Arsenal

mciesla Posted on 16/02/2008
as an arsenal fan,i need to say my team put in an embarassin performance,no excuses. Gallas was a major disapointment,so slow tonite. Traore was a disaster,just like lehmann. Im hopin to see the strongest lineups of both teams next time.that should be a cracker.and lets have sum respect to each other,dont get carried away after readin sum *** interviews b4 the game in the sun.

fabregas Posted on 16/02/2008
We were beaten on the night, no question about it, you guys definetly out played us, but in all fairness we had at least half our first team missing, and what did Eboue actually get sent off for, because from what I saw, it looked like barely a yellow card....not that we would have won if he is on since I don't rate him, but still we were horrible. We will rebound after this, we will beat AC Milan as we should have a decent team back, Traore and Hoyte simply aren't that good against the likes of Rooney and Nani. Even though our fullbacks were indeed useless, we had Toure and Gallas as the centre-backs, we shouldn't have conceded 4 goals with those guys there...Lehmann is way past it, i found a few of the goals he let it to be really soft, then again we weren't marking well. People can go on about oh arsenal lost 4-0, they must be *** but the fact remains we had Van persie, Clichy, Sagna, Almunia, Adebayor, Rosicky and others who are first team players, but the team we used simply got out beaten so im not gonna blame our poor game simply on having half our team not there...

NO NANI Posted on 16/02/2008
Enjoy your FA CUp faggots. Chelsea will beat you anyway like last year you manure dirty scum. Enjoy the premier league title......oh wait were 5 points ahead cause you get rolled over twice by manchester *** city. You lost to Bolton as well you *** *** team. First time in manure history you have won, since cronaldo has come, without him. Fat *** ferguson can jump up and down cause he beat arsenal reserves. no more title come june manure faggots

gunner_fan Posted on 16/02/2008
Nicely done Utd. And to the Utd fans saying how we were missing Ade and Flamini and Clichy and how it's no excuse....you're absolutely right. It isn't an excuse. Our team is made of glass. You have more depth and better replacement players than we do, and it was the difference today. Props to SAF. I don't support his extravagant first team spending, but the backup players he's bought have been well worth it.

tania Posted on 16/02/2008
was wat Arsenal or Derby, looked like Derby? Gre8 performance by ya 11. Up D Reds

Reactions from the Forum Boards-Liverpool vs Barnsley

Phil Posted on 16/02/2008
Please don't tell me you lot are still willing to protest to keep Benitez in a job based on a 3 year old Champions League Medal. He has to go, I could blow better tactics out of my ars.e!!

tania Posted on 16/02/2008
rafa's probably on his way out now but unfair to blame him for today, our strikers need dozens of chances to get one on target atlast, some players dont need rotation, they need elimination from our squad!!!!!!!!!!

GERARD HOULIER Posted on 16/02/2008
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE. YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE (SCOUSERS CRY, SCOUSERS CRY). serves you *** for sacking me. i was the best thing to happen to you moaning scouse *** and you sacked me. you ***

CUNT Posted on 16/02/2008
Benitez has to go!

stig Posted on 16/02/2008
The fellow is overated. The champleague victory few years back was a fluke. If you remember pool finished fifth that year and needed a special exsemption to enter the tournament the next year. He should have been gone a long time ago.

worthly Posted on 16/02/2008
we were useless failing to barnsley. we simply suckks. we got to search for young talents like manU's nani .. if not .. we would just carry on like we are now. we are considering a flop. a shity flop.

KC Posted on 16/02/2008
I'm a pool fan and I have to admit that we have been crap these few years. Really crap. We haven't been able to beat the big 3 teams like chelsea, arsenal and man u in the league often and we get humbled by those never heard before pub teams or lower division ones. We excel in the UCL though. Benetiz clearly doesn't have the credentials to win us the league as we tend to get half decent players like kuyt and voronin and benetiz likes to keep faith in players who are long gone their prime like kewell. Thanks for the your enormous contribution but I do believe that its time for benetiz to leave. We can't be just focusing on the UCL every year and forget about the league and other silverware. Every time me and my mates go to watch a big match featuring pool, we cheer them on but there is always this lingering feeling in the back of our heads that we can draw as we tend to lose often.


worthly Posted on 16/02/2008
i'm a liverpool fan too. and also. i think that we had been a useless and flop. really. unable to beat teams like chelsea or arsenal or manU really feel so fuckk up. arsenal can easily go top of table. manU can easily get into the knock out stage of CL. chelsea can easily go into the finals of FA cup. but we? lol. shitt team. i donno what's more to say about my fav club. and still .. as a supporter .. i will keep my faith and support towards the reds. all the best in the remaining years. hope the DIC era will eventually change something at least if not everything.

Orange Posted on 16/02/2008
Benitez I think its time for you to pack your bags. We had enuff!

anong Posted on 16/02/2008
we lost to "B" team...sacked "B"enitez because his tactics is very very poor...i relly don't understand why he give a chance to Kuyt and Kewell to play again..their form is worst..no word to describe..

redknapp Posted on 16/02/2008
Msg is clear: stop tinkering Rafa! It's time u realise what mess u get Pool into. Treat all cups with respect, play your 1st team players every week and rest them only if need to. Every week fans are seeing different players & we get frustrated when the players don't gel. We have a great set of players - no doubt, but they need to understand each other. Tinker at your own peril, we won't see you last your contract! Another piece of advice: Rid Kuyt ASAP! He's not even worth a place in Pool's Reserves!!!

red Posted on 16/02/2008
im glad liv lost the tie, this should send a clear msg to the owners tht Rafa must leave! Now!

One thing for sure from the forum boards. They want him out.

Whats in the British air on Saturday?

Qoute...Our squad can win things. And I know that it will be difficult for Manchester United to win.....Unquote....

Words from Arsenal's captain William Gallas before the game agst Man United.

I must admit this should be one off result and i dont expect Arsenal to perform like that again. But they are making a name for exiting cup competitions is style. 5-1 agst Tottenham and 4-0 agst Man Utd. The men i have the most sympathy for is Arsene Wenger and Flamini. Why Wenger? His players let him down. Why Flamini? When he came on, he was the only player who looked like giving his 100%. The rest of the squad was disappointing. Even the most ardent Arsenal fans should be agreeing with me on that. It seems that they were distracted by the Milan game(which i think they could win) and that Old Trafford pitch was atrocious.

Man Utd could have shown the world how to beat Arsenal. Get goals early and constantly press high up in the field. An onrushing Rooney is definitely not a pretty sight. The back four seemed to be uncomfortable with the pressing game. Another thing that we all could learn is the importance of the back four to ensure stability. Arsenal changed their fullbacks while Man Utd first choice back four looked assured thru the 90mins. I thought Wes Brown was playing particularly impressive. Another impressive aspect was Man Utd's fitness and workrate. Of course Arsenal down to ten man could heva helped that.

Arsenal set up 4-5-1 with Bendtner up front with Eduardo on the left. Yes i understand the cautious approach at Old Trafford but i couldnt help but wonder what would have happened if 4-4-2 was used with Eduardo playing his normal role. Gilberto and Bendtner looks out of sorts and i expect the Brazillian to be offloaded soon.
Some positives we can draw is that some star players were rested for the game agst Milan(Adebayor, Fabregas, Sagna, Clichy, Almunia, Flamini). With the thin squad at Arsenal now, maybe an exit could be a blessing in disguise. Now they can focus on two fronts. Less toll on the players. I believe this is the best chance for them to win the league and i think they can do it. The Champions League can go to anyone honestly due to its knockout structure.

Something i didnt like with the Man Utd performance was the arrogance of players like Evra and Nani. Yes u guys have won the game, but dont have to rub it in. There should be a level of professionalism in the game. I was telling myself that the arsenal players should just have whacked him down when Nani went on his juggling act(a good one too i must add). Imagine if Ronaldo was on the pitch? He might have broken the world record for most stepovers. I have lesser respect for the new breed of Fergie Babes(Nani, Anderson, Evra) for their arrogance. My utmost respect goes to the likes of Vidic, Giggs, Scholes. Aand yah i dont fancy Rio either. He's not as good as HE thinks he is.

Arsenal to win the league. Chelsea to win the League Cup. Man United to win the FA Cup. Champions League goes to God knows who. Everybody's happy. Oh yeah, Everton to get 4th place and Rafa gets the sack!

Not Surprised

I know some of you, if any, especially those who just love to diss liverpool, yes i know who u are, are just laughing out loud after liverpool's exit. Fair game. The reds played poorly and they lost. Before i express views on the matter, i would to take this opportunity to...

CONGRATULATE PAOLO MALDINI ON REACHING HIS 1000TH GAME!!!!!!!

The ageless defender will be playing his 1000th game in his career this weekend. The Rossoneri captain made his debut an incredible 23 years ago on January 20, 1985 against Udinese in Serie A. I was two years old at that time. Amazing. It has been 8427 days since his first professional debut.

PAOLO MALDINI...THE BEST LEFT BACK IN MY BOOK...

Back to the fiasco, Liverpool is in the slumps. Hell yeah and i hate placing the blame but majority people would agree that rafa has been the reason. I need to check what they add to the drinks up there in Anfield because "In Rafa We Trust???". I heard boos at the end of the game and for once i was smiling; and a sinister one it is. "Maybe the fans have finally realised!", i said to myself.

Pako Ayestaran left early in the season and since then, Liverpool has been PLAYING poorly. Yes, they ve lost less than last season in the league but the performances have been sub par. Could it be that Pako was the master of puppet rafa???? Anyways, Man Utd just took a 2-0 lead. It looks like reserve game with both teams resting star players; losing the gloss of the game. Winner of that should be facing Chelsea in the final if draw permits. Good luck to both.

To the game itself. It just proves what i ve been saying all along. Rafa selection tactis are quizzical. My evaluation of Kewell, Kuyt are justified. Since the beginning of this blog' life, i have said, they should be going off. I am sticking my neck out and saying a certain Rafael Benitez wont be here either next season. Who to come in? God knows. But it will be a mighty task to lift this club at the moment.

Taking the best player off the pitch Babel was dumbfounding. Even Rob Palmer commented it was quizzical. Rob Palmer was the commentator for those who are wondering. Gerrard only to come in in the 75th minute? He is not Superman. That was just a sign of desperation from a desperate man. Another sign that he is playing on luck. Torres and Gerrard has saved Rafa's blushes too many a times. Did anyone see Gerrard's body language when he wanted to come on. He wasnt very up for it.

As i ponder into the future, i will not be surprised if Rafa gets the boot and players come out to the media grumbling about the spaniard's reign ala Woodgate wrt Southgate.

Liverpool needs a lot of work. Rafa's reign should end and rebuilding should be done slowly. Back to basics. As a fan, i dont see the title in the near future. Not even in the next five years or even more. The Arsenals and Man Utds are to continue to dominate. Liverpool's hey day has pass them. Its time for Arsenal and Man Utd. A shout out to Sir Alex for his ability to ensure continuity in his team. Arsenal was not a powerhouse back then when ManU and Liverpool were dominant so its about time they take their turn. They have the potential. Sidetrack....Rooney is on fire in the 'reserve' game. A football clinic by ManU....

I ll end this here for now. Again KUDOS TO PAOLO!!!

Friday 8 February 2008

Sunday 3 February 2008

Questions over the weekend games

1) Why was Carragher on the right? Is Hyypia better than Carra at central defence?

2) Why was Lucas, a defensive midfielder, on the left hand side?

3) Was it me, or is Gerrard looking unmotivated and lethargic?

4) How does Wenger buy the right players majority of the time? (Eduardo)

5) Will Eduardo drop out when Persie returns?

6) Did anyone see how good was Tottenham?

7) Why did Fulham buy Litmanen?

8) Will it be Arsenal this year?

9) Werent Man Utd lucky to get that draw?

10) Did anyone see Carrick in the game?

11) Will Fulham get out?

12) Will Derby get into double figures? points that is...

13) Did anyone know Reading has lost 6 in a row?

more when it comes into this mind of mine....