Just a thought

As the EPL season approaches us, is it only me or there are others who think that the Owen signing is going to be a masterstroke of this season by Sir Alex...hmmm

Champs

Sums up my feelings about the match by the article here.

The only thing that I would say is the match is over, no point in abusing the referees. I can definitely understand the frustrations of the players but there is no point in dissing out trash to the referees after the match. Make an official complaint and get on with it. Teams in the past have lost because of bad referring and teams will lose in the future too. There is something called sportsman's spirit and everyone needs to imbibe it.

This match should shut up all the people who talked about Barcelona being the best team. All this talk about attacking,creative football and talk about Chelsea playing anti-football; and all we get is this. Surely, I would like to have the thing they are smoking.

And, the nest time anyone talks about Chelsea playing boring football,us playing anti-football; I will just smile and move on.

New website

This page has not see much activity for a while, one of the reasons is my involvement in helping develop a comprehensive website.

Please visit http://www.isport.in/ for news, previews and reviews of all the football action.

WTF!

Seriously, WTF!
Chelsea drew again! This season has been a total disaster. We are playing real bad. Period.

~HP

New Season, Old Aspirations

The football season has been kickstarted and I hope Chelsea wins all the trophies in sight :-)

Chelsea has done a couple of big changes this year. Bringing in Scolari in place of Grant was a smart move though I would have loved to have Jose back. And Deco is a cool signing. Our mid-field is not the strongest in EPL but infact in the whole of Europe. 
Also, I agree with the release of SWP. I really liked him coz he always gave his all when he was on the field but somehow he never was able to fulfill his true promise in the blue shirt. May he do well in City though not aganist Chelsea :-)

And I guess from this year atleast, we are stopped being called big money spenders. 

The Reds did some spending too and some blocking too. They bought in Bebatov and managed to hold on to Ronaldo by going aganist the wishes of the player. If the same would have been done by any other team when Utd was interested in that player, then Alex and the English press would have crucified that team and its owners but then Sir Alex has a unique place in EPL and he gets away with anything.

Arsenal are still the same. I do like them except for Adebyor. So, I would not mind them taking the second place in EPL after Chelsea.

Liverpool can take the 3rd place with the Spurs in 4th. Yes, I want the Reds out of the top 4 and one could call me a bit mad but I do hope to see that happening this time :-)

And as Asif said, CL is more of a lottery and I have always been bad at them. So, I don't mind Jose's team taking the CL this time.

Let the beautiful game roll on!

~HP

The more the things change, the more they remain the same

Three rounds in the new season and things look the same as they were the last year, the year before and the year before.

Can't figure it how? Well Man. Utd started out with a draw against Portsmouth and looked like they wouldn't be able to defend their title, This year they started with a draw against Newcastle and don't look all that strong with all the injuries.

Liverpool started the year with some good performances, but always looked short of looking like they are going to be the champions. Its exactly the same story this year, add to it the sparring between the owners and the manager and the chairman etc etc.

After a disappointing year by standards of Jose's era, Chelsea started off strongly but there were always doubts about their quality and they are still being derided for one of the most boring football in the league. The second win scraped over Wigan and the following draw, just reaffirmed that they are the same as last year. The only difference, they've manage to bring in one of my favorite player - Deco - and a less boring manager.

As for Arsenal, well they didn't start the year strongly as they did last year, but nevertheless looked at ease in the next few game. Apart from that, it has been the same. There is no body apart from the manager who thinks that some money needs to be spent and big players brought in. But call it french arrogance or his old age, Wenger is hell bent on sticking with the kids to win him the league. God bless Arsenal and may they kick the other 3's ass!!!

The most interesting developments have come from Man City, where it looks like a crazy Sheikh got up one morning with a billion dollars to throw away, bought the next available club on the market and plans to turn it in to the biggest club in the world.

No offences to Chelsea, but after spending 3/4th of a billion, many cups won and as many managers in the number of years that Abromvich has owned the club. Chelsea is losing 10's of millions of dollars a year and still has empty seat for many of the matches. Man Utd. and Arsenal did not become the biggest clubs in the world in a year or two, it takes years and years to build a hugely successful club and I hope the Sheikh's have the patience unlike the big fat impatient owner of Newcastle.

Ok the important part, prediction time.

League winners --- Man Utd/Chelsea
CL --- Its always a fluke you know

Arsenal --- Might win a cup or two
Liverpool -- Nothing, unless they get really lucky

Watch EPL matches live

Watch Chelsea V Spurs live

As for my predication. Well unless Chelsea do anything stupid, Spurs will be thrashed!!

Watch EPL matches live

Watch Portsmouth Vs Everton live

Footballing lessons for Man U. and Chelsea's win

I was surely expecting a cake walk for Man United in their semi-final against a struggling and out of form Barcelona side, but there was a hint of doubt that it might turn out to be a repeat of last years semi-final. Whoever watched the match would surely remember how Milan made Man U. chase shadows for the 90 minutes. But the first half has turned out beyond my expectations. Fergusson's team have literally been receiving some footballing lessons from Rijkaard's side. Yeah they haven't scored a goal yet and they might loose too, but the game till now has been an amazing display of footballing skills by the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Toure, Eto and the team.

Thats the reason Barca along with Arsenal are a treat to watch, the free flowing, controlling football that they play is what the beautiful game is all about. One thing missing out of the Barca game and the reason why they haven't scored yet is the speed at which they are playing. Though they have complete control of the ball, they are not playing at the speed which they use to rip apart teams.

So who do I think will win the match?? Well at the start of the match I was sure it will be Man U. but as the match has progress and they have been completely outclassed, I have my doubts. Considering the great English tradition of long ball which Man U. have resorted to at times tonight and at which most English team rely on. Man U can still win the match. For now I have fingers crossed.

I had said a couple of posts back that Chelsea have been lucky this season and might just win the UCL and boy their luck was at its best last night. After being completely outclassed and outplayed at Anfield from start to end, they were lucky to get a Goal, obviously an own goal by Riise, who is obviously at the end of his footballing career at Anfield. Considering Riise was not under too much pressure when he netted the ball, it came down to plain dame luck which got them the crucial away goal. But as I have said before UCL is quite about luck and many not so good teams have won it in the past, so it might be the luck of one such mediocre team to win this season and just if you didn't get it, it was Avram's team last night.

End of days!

Another night another heartbreak, the sad story of another failed season for the Gunners. Sometimes you might be the best but the things just don't work probably that's what they call luck or is luck just an excuse for not doing well enough. Probably it was the mix of two for the gunners this season, their loss to Liverpool was a quick highlight of the whole season. The brilliant spark which threatened to completely steam roll the opposition, A mistake causes the setback and then another one and all seems lost, then there is a glimmer of hope and some exceptional display, then it seems its won, but just when you think the battle is won, a chink in the armour is exposed and its all over. All that is left is hurt expectations and the feeling of what it could have been. If you haven't watched the match with Liverpool or not followed the Gunners all season you will probably find it difficult to relate to.

So what's next in store for the Gunners? well nothing for this season, though mathematically they can still win the league but that even Liverpool can. All they need to do is to win against Man U this Sunday, the for Chelsea and Man U to draw and then Man U and Chelsea to loose atleast one more match and then ..... and then.... but well but it can happen only in day dreams.

More to come....

Strong comeback by Gunners

Last few weeks have been a big disappointment for any Gunners fan, so many draws and then a loss against Romans trophy team and the trophy coach almost ended the season for the Gunners and gave the chance to the blues fans to poke fun, anyways every dog has its day. Yesterday the disappointment reached its limit when the gunners went 2-0 down and a man short and I gave up hope, switched off the telly and went for a stroll, only to return after an hour and find the Gunners have won it!!! believe me it was one of the most amazing result of the of probably the season.

So do I think the Gunners will win the title? nope I never thought so, in fact like most other fans I was myself surprised at the ascent of the team to the leadership position where they stayed most of the season. At the start of the season if some asked me who would win, it was a straight forward answer Manchester United or Liverpool, both had spent heavily, had stable managers (off course the Gunners too) and played good football. Liverpool like the previous many seasons fell apart and Manchester United are very much on their way to win the league.

The Gunners always have the quality but what they lacked all season and what actually will kill their season is the lack of depth in their ranks. They have some of the best players in the league, but not enough for each position, so if Kolo Toure or Gallas are out the defense struggles. I know it difficult to replace a player like Fabregas, Flamini or Hleb but you need some experienced players if one of them gets injured. Anyways if Gunners win the CL which will be difficult, considering the first match is against battle hardened Rafa's side, who if everyone remembers have knocked Chelsea out twice very recently, it will be a worthy price for the efforts and the quality of a young team.

The surprise package this season could be Chelsea ;) no they won't win the league but their luck is smiling in the Champions league, they were lucky to get a small team in round of 16 and again when they got the weakest or one of the weakest team of the last 8, lets see how long do they ride their luck.

Finally a win...

Finally, Chelsea manage to win a match against a big team. And am I glad that it came against the perpetual whiners Arsenal. :-)

Arsene once again whined about the aerial play and sometimes I wonder if these teams and their fans expect all the teams to play their way. Strange!

I don't see Chelsea winning the league but we have returned the favour by dashing Arsenal's hopes of winning as they had dashed our hopes last time.

But, I have a feeling that they are gonna be crowned the European Champions. Yeah, I would loved to be proved wrong but I guess the the gunners are gonna rules Europe this time.

One down for Chelsea ;-)

I myself often wondered what difference does a coach make if you provide him the best players in the world, any tom, dick and harry can pick up an eleven and win the game. But after watching the Carling cup final today, it was pretty much clear. While a Jose Mourinho would have guided Chelsea through the final with clinical, though often boring, efficiency. An Avam Grant couldn't bring it on in his team when it mattered the most, the football was same boring one, but the efficiency was missing when it mattered the most.

As for Spurs, the journey from the relegation zone at the start of the season to defeating Arsenal and then Chelsea has been phenomenal. The manager is what made the difference, while Martin Jol couldn't get his team win a game, Juande Ramos is doing wonders with almost the same team. It could be start of an special era for Spurs from now on and Ramos could prove to be the next special one.

Well done Liverpool!

How often do you complain as to why did you agree to a dinner invitation specially when away from home, the prospect of lovely home cooked curry, well you do when you have a Champions League game to watch including Liverpool and Inter Milan. Frankly speaking Liverpool have been really poor in the last two seasons excluding their Champions league final appearance and this was something which has turned me off from watching their games in the recent past. But I had a hint that todays game might be one of those great Anfield nights and recorded the game to watch after dinner and boy Liverpool finally kept up the promise by playing a great game of football against one of the toughest opponents in Europe.

Well done Liverpool hope you give some great performances and help keep Rafa his job, After Mourinho and Wenger he is one of the most interesting manager in the league and it will be sad to see him go.

To add something for the Blues fans, their side as boring as it is got another boring draw. I wonder why Mourinho was fired, he too was doing exactly what Chelsea is doing right now winning 1-0 or getting 0-0 draws. Atleast he provided some great entertainment quite opposite of the Abramovich stooge who is one of the most boring managers in the league.

Arsenal disappoint again

To say that it was a disappointing evening will be understatement, having known that Arsenal are playing a side weakened there was some apprehensiveness about how the match will turn up. But a 4-0 defeat came as a much bigger disappointment then the loss to Spurs few weeks back. I was pretty sure that the earlier loss was just a one off event and the gunners will be back in form after that, but having a pub full of Man U. supporters clapping at a great match(for them) makes it much harder to digest the defeat and I had to leave at half time.

One could see in the first 5 minutes itself that Man U. looked to be the better side but I expected the gunners to be in their rhythm soon, but it wasn't to be. Frankly speaking the worry now is that they might blow away the whole season if they have another couple of such games. The Premier League looks pretty much a two horse race and needs consistently good performance rather then depending on a single match and as such look pretty much in grasp of the gunner with todays winners as the only other real contenders. Chelsea fans will fume at this, but they should accept now that they winning the league can happen but only as a miracle.

The Champions league matches starting this are gonna put me in a tough spot as to decide which team support, but I will rather not watch those matches out. I still remember being booed out of a pub for celebrating AC Milan goals against Liverpool in last years final. Milan haven't been in the best of the forms this year, but as they say the class is permanent so can do wonders by winning the cup again. For now I'll my fingers crossed for a busy week ahead.

One Down...Three to Go :-)

So, the Carling Cup is ours. Sad to see the brawl almost at the end of the game. It nearly robbed the sheen of a good win over a very good competitor in a Cup Final.

Arsenal dominated a better part of the game but luckily, playing experienced people in the final paid dividends for us. Also, the goal scoring machine Drogba clinched the match.

Overall, a satisfying win barring the fact that Terry had to be carried on a stretcher during the
match. Seriously hope that no one is added to our ever increasing injury list.

As per now, Chelsea might be the only team that can play a Injury XI instead of a Playing XI. :-)

Cheers,
HP

Thanks Henry!!

Dear Henry,

Thanks. Heartfelt Thanks. I have never considered you as a great player and have always been against you while arguing with my friends. But , after your vital Sunday's goal against the Devils, I am just full of gratitude towards you. The moment your head butted the football into the net, I was jupping around with joy and glee and the jumping around doubled when my brother entered the room. :-)

So, please forgive me for all the things that I have said against you. This goal has redeemed you and from now on, I am not going to take anything said against you lying down. Yep, thats a promise :-)

You have kept alive the hopes of the fans of the Blues. And, we just hope that Jose gets over his sulking and gifts us the 3rd premiership title on the row.

Cheers,
HP

PS : Common, Chelsea, pull up your socks and gift us a treble this time. Common guys. You can do it.

Shevchenko can be the best ever, says Mourinho

Hi all,

This post is for all those who believe that Shevechenko is 30 million pound waste. Shevi is slowly coming out of his shell and proving to the world that he is a match winner. Read on guys...

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Andriy Shevchenko can establish himself as the most prolific striker in the history of European football.

Shevchenko scored his first European goal for Chelsea as his side clinched top spot in Champions League Group A with a 2-0 win against Levski Sofia at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian forward has endured a miserable time since his club record 30 million pounds move from AC Milan in pre-season, but his clinical finish against the Bulgarians was just reward for the kind of dynamic display that he has lacked for much of the campaign.

Shevchenko has now scored 57 goals in European football and Mourinho is convinced he can get to the top of the list before he retires.

"I am happy with Sheva. I think he has gone ahead of Eusebio in the top scorers in the history of European football and he is just behind Gerd Muller," Mourinho said.

For full story click here...

njoi,
Kurt

P.S. : This has been Cross-Posted @ Whatever!!!

Barca avoid Champions League knockout...

Hi all,

Yesterday was a crucial day for all the Barca fans, it was a do/die situation for their team. They(the fans) can now sit back and relax coz their team has been successful in qualifying for the KnockOut Stage. For more details read below:

Barcelona and AS Roma made their own entries into the history books of the Champions League on Tuesday, although it was the defending champions who penned the most interesting reading.

Frank Rijkaard's Spanish giants calmed the nerves of their anxious fans with a 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen at the Nou Camp which secured entry to the last 16 after a second place finish in Group A behind winners Chelsea.

Roma, missing talismanic skipper Francesco Totti, beat Group D winners Valencia 1-0 at home to finish second in their group and enter the knockout phase for the first time in its current format.

However Barcelona's win, for Champions League posterity, had a little more significance: it meant they avoided becoming the first defending champions to exit the competition at the group stages.

For a complete report: Click Here

njoi,
Kurt

P.S.: This post has been Cross-Posted @ Whatever!!!

Barca rulezzzz.... Once again!!!

To be very frank just before the start of last nights match between Barcelona and Werder Bremen when my roommate asked me for a prediction, I was pretty quick in predicting "I think like all good things, Barca's good run is near to over". I am not the one to comment so easily on such things but after watching them play in the last few matches or almost of the matches I felt something was a miss. It wasn't the same Braca of last two years, The La liga and the European champs suddenly started looking beatable and after their last match against Levante, I was pretty sure that they are on their way out to play the UEFA cup.

I was proved wrong and I am so happy to be proved wrong, The first 45 minutes of the game was stunningly amazing. I could feel the punch, the energy in the game that Barca had been missing this year. The cheeky goal by the magician Ronaldinho was a proof that he is the best brain in football at the moment, coz it was less of an art and more of being smart considering the way he slid the ball below the wall as soon as they jumped. There was more to come, the second goal was more about speed from Giuly and lack of good defending from Bremen. For a moment it looked there would be many more but Barca missed some very good chances to score, anyways this was less about match analysis and more to express my happiness wih Barca qualifying to last 16.