The Final of our lives!!! Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

1. Once in a blue moon, I get to travel on the same time when a crucial game is on. The challenge would be - how to find the time to run to the nearest TV that shows the match! It was the case in 2005 when I had to travel to Tokyo during the final of the historical come-back of Liverpool in Istanbul. The commentary was in Japanese & fortunately I recognised the whole squad back then, especially Jimi Traore...
   
   
2. Im now in Elciego, southern Spain for a motoring event. The lousiest scenario is that the launch will be on the same time with the kick-off tonight. How to skip without invoking wrath on my host!
   
   
3. My title says the final of our lives. Is it true? I would say that. In a season such as lousy as we are having now, to win the game against Atletico Madrid will be a huge moral booster and get to the final of Europa Cup is something that can erased the whole bad episode of season 2009/2010 especially when we get to win it.
   
   
4. Trailing Atletico by a single goal is not much of a task, though having Kun Aguero on their side will be a tall order for our fullbacks. Hey... Carra did well to stop the likes ofmanytop top striker... what is the different with Kun? One thing for sure, I will be wearing Liverpool shirt tonight in southern Spain. Viva le Liverpool!
   
   
5. Thats all for now. Adios amigos!!!

Liverpool to assist Man.U for its 19th title. Obnoxious thinking!

1. It is heavily debated now, still very much on people's mind and been analyse thoroughly since yesterday of this notion that `Liverpool have to beat Chelsea, thus in directly help its own bitter rival, Man.U to win the 19th premiership title'.
   
   
2. I am a bit offended on that very thought. In any way, Liverpool will never, must not, don't have to, help Man.U - be it directly or indirectly. It's a blasphemy to even suggest it. Let the nature of football take its own course. Let the goals-scored be the one to determine it. Not the interested parties who are in a foolish way, trying to belittle another party with their stupid thinking.
   
   
3. I prefer to see it solely on Liverpool requirement. Of course Liverpool need to win, because the need to pursue for the No.4 spot, no matter how remote it could be at this juncture with 2 other teams are in a better position to gain it! So we must beat Chelsea. And because of that, Chelsea could lost its opportunity to grab the title, well... we can't do much about that.
   
   
4. Liverpool must win for its own survivability. Even so, if Liverpool were already secured for the Champions Cup, I don't think we will give Chelsea any quarter. Liverpool is simply not a team that would do that.
   
   
5. On the other hand, with a hugely depleted squad - without Torres and possibly Kuyt (let's hope he'll recover by Sunday), Liverpool has lost its threatening charm. Chelsea don't see anything to fear of from this ordinary-looking Liverpool team. They will go for easy tactical, stop Gerrard from playing and Liverpool will stop playing altogether! So still, Chelsea come into this game as a favourite to beat Liverpool.
   
   
6. If you ask my opinion, I think if Liverpool is to win, they might come out as a winner with a margin of a single goal only. Chelsea is on the high at the moment. They were surprisingly beaten by Tottenham but that could be a one-off situation.
   
   
7. With so many focus on the Chelsea vs Liverpool match and how the outcome would decide who'll win the title, I think it is wrong to suggest that Man.U is having a free-ride for its remaining matches.
   
   
8. The same evening, Man.U will be going against Sunderland. On paper, this is another frustrating team. But if you watch them play, Sunderland is a team that gives themselves a 100% effort. They have a good attacking-minded team, though something must be done for its fullbacks - who kept on losing the plot!
   
   
9. So I think, Sunderland could spring a shocking result against Man.U. Realistically, it's hard to imagine that Sunderland can beat Man.U. but if they can hold them to a draw, that is a great achievement for the average team in Sunderland.
   

Burnley 0 - LFC 4 (when TV commentators became annoying!)

Bunley should have more respect towards Gerrard and not trying to spark anger in him. After 1st half of taunting by the crowd, Gerrard returned the fire with a double... so are you talking to me?

1. Prior to the game, many of us would have expect a sure win for Liverpool. But who would score? Because aside than Torres, we really have striking issues. Fortunately, it was Gerrard. And he's double open the others (the goal-shy fellas) to emulate. The first half was horrible for Liverpool. Well... after a torrid week of Le Tour de Europe, some of them look a bit slower than the usual.
   


2. One thing was clear, it was the inclusion of Benayoun that changed our luck. Not to say Kuyt was the blunder (and hopefully his injury is just temporary and be available for Atletico match). I must also comment on Aqulaini. Now we start to see bit by bit he's real value. It's never too late because he will be good for Liverpool next season, if he stays fit majority of the season.
   


3. What anger me most last night was not the match, the ref, the pitch or even the players. It was the freaking weird TV commentator. I didn't get his name because I am a bit pissed off. He mentioned that Burnley was unfortunate to let in the first goal. Then he repeated it again when Gerrard blazed his screamer onto the left side of Burnley goal.
   


4. Fine. Burnley was dominating but nothing can be deemed as `life threatening' effort, because none of their players could beat Pepe Reina. But the TV commentator repeated the same sentences... ``Bad Luck... simply Bad Luck. The score didn't give Burnley a fair assessment by the way they play...''. Excuse me Mr Bias, you can say it once or twice but when Babel scored Liverpool's fourth goal, those words confirmed you as a `bias dim-witted S.O.B.' Who is in the right mind to say ``4-0 is not fair to a side that plays better''? Jose Morinho, may be!
   


5. Burnley play better. But in football, no matter how good you control the ball, it mean nothing if you don't freaking score. Ask Mr Arsene Wenger. He knows very well of that theory. Liverpool may have played one of their lousy game, but remember the fact that they had just travel to Spain via ferry, buses and train. Then go against a formidable opponent in Atletico Madrid's den. Rushing back, luckily with a flight available at last to face the Burned-really team.
   


6. Any team that scored four is a manifestation of a good team, in actuality. Because even when you play lousy, but managed to score... that's just fine with me.
   
   

Atletico Madrid is not invincible. Liverpool can go to the final of Europa Cup

Not me! Not me! It was him!... Not Gerrard nor Lucas or even Kuyt ready to accept any card and pointed the finger to some one... though I'm pretty sure it wasn't Johnson that they referring to. hahaha

1. wow... this could be the longest time I didn't post anything in this blog. My sincere apology. I must admit that the current situation of LFC is one of the many reasons why I don't have any motivation to write. Also because that I am a bit hooked up with Facebook and my new hand phones. hahaha...
   


2. Let's talk a bit on the last Europa match against Atletico Madrid last Friday. The goal by Forlan was a fluke but effective. But I must say, the best player on the field that day was no other than David Ngog. Again, he show his true value to the club. Not valuable. But worthless. He failed to hold the ball AT ALL...!!! He can't stop the ball, not even passing a normally simple knock-on-the-front tips of his boot. Really pissed off.
   


3. Regardless of the 0-1 deficit, if this is the way Atletico is playing (with all the superstars like Forlan, Simoa, Reyes and next Aguero), I think Liverpool can contain them in Anfield. We don't have a ready solution because Torres won't be playing, unlike Aguero who was benched because of one-match suspension. So who do we have? Ngog again? hmmm...
   


4. Many would agree if the number one slot should be given to Babel. And the three powerful forwards of Gerrard in the middle, Benayoun on the left and Kuyt on the right, would do the pounding.
   


5. I agree but not really agree on the tactic. Imulating Serbegeth Singh... if I'm the manager (wow!), I'll put Kuyt as the number 1 striker, get Benayoun on the right, and Babel on the left. Gerrard middle. Two Latinos, Mascherano will be the holding midfielder and our beloved Blondy, Lucas Leiva as his assistant.
   


6. And also, to ensure a fair match, UEFA should enforce the ruling that Atletico Madrid to travel by bus, train and ferry to Liverpool. At least, while Liverpool had to endure the agony of traveling thanks to the Icelandic volcano, the Madrid team failed to capitalise the situation and should have been scoring more. Our key to that success of containing the margin is none other than the superb Jose Reina.

LATEST MESSAGE FROM LSCM

Friday, 05 March 2010

1. We are often too obsessed with team line-ups and quick to blame the manager for not picking Yossi Benayoun or Albert Aquilani that we seldom pause to think the factors behind Rafael Benitez's team selection. In response to this, we explore the evolution of the Reds under him in the last six years.
   


2. There are no matchday gatherings this weekend as our league game against Wigan Athletic is on Tuesday morning while the Europa League tie against Lillle is on Friday morning.
   


3. But the LSCM have been very much busy on the ground trying to get our second Family Day moving. The event will take place at Padang (1 Utama) on April 11 and we are expecting members to come out in full support for all the activities we have in store.
   


4. For starters, we need eight teams for our Mini Futsal Tournament: four for the men's section and two each for women and children.
   
   
5. We also welcome suggestions on alternative activities to make the Family Day - held in conjunction with the Hillsborough Memorial - a lot better and since we know that members are good with ideas, we direct you to cameron@padang.com.my.
   


6. The deadline for team registration for the Mini Futsal Tournament is April 3, 2010 and must be confirmed at the email above and the same applies for proposals for the event. Get cracking!
   
   
7. Regards, BOOTROOM BOYS.
   
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8. You guys who are yet to be a member of LSCM, this is the good time to do so. LSCM has a lot of programmes, not only viewing party but also family-oriented activities such as the family day and futsal matches. Click on the LSCM link in this blog. Then do what you have to do. Register! - utusanLFC

LFC 2 - Blackburned 1 (Match day 28th Feb)

1. Yesterday was so hectic that I couldn't find a fine time to post anything here. Due to the shortest month of February, I had to do all the late-payment chores. A Maybank call centre lady called me twice on my credit card. Your payment of RM160 is overdue. And I laugh. She was offended and asked why did I laugh. My reply was - it's only RM160 and yet you waste your time calling me. If you look through my record, I never pay the minimum amount. It's just February and I didn't have a proper timing to do so. Why didn't I use the online? There's another side of the story. Never mind. hahaha
   
   
2. Regardless of what Allardice said and what Rafa have replied, I think the match itself is one of the best we ever seen the squad play this season. Simply because we have all the 1st 11. We have Gerrard, Torres, Benayoun, Kuyt at the front. Though Mascherano was positioned at the right back, I didn't really noticed it. While he was in the middle, he did his job with the same vigour. I thank God that Mascherano is in our team.
   
   
3. Now that we have about 10 games left or less, apparently we have to win all of it to ensure the last spot to the Champions League. Man.City is doing well, same goes to Hotspur. another threat is Aston Villa. The dark horses would be Everton. If Torres stays fit and soon Johnson will be back, then we have the perfect idea of our main strike force. Perhaps, we shall achieve that target. Though Man.United is next, very soon.
   
   

Uniera 1 - LFC 3 (Agg: LFC 4 - 1 Unirea)

Mascherano scored his : 2 goal of the season and 3rd overall. Never mind. We know his true value is stiffling the advancement of the opposition. Viva Mascherano!

1. When that tall Unirea defender leap for their first goal, without any cover by LFC players - then only the game start to get some life. LFC played economically because Unirea decided to put 10 men in front of their goal keeper. By flooding the entire own half, they somehow have only one thing in their mind - to stop LFC from playing. But the surprised element is their fast advancing during the counter-attack. Thus the resulting corner and then the equaliser.
   


2. However, our back are filled with experienced bunch. And no match for the Unirea. Pity them. Gerrard was hungry for goals. And the one that he scored, was powerful strike and a bit dangerous because two Unirea were trying to stop him which if he is late by a second, could see him injured instead. The skipper rounded off a convincing Europa League win with a 57th-minute strike to become Britain's highest scorer in Europe, eclipsing Alan Shearer's tally of 32 goals.
   


3. Mascherano goal was superb. Especially from a guy who's main job is to stop the ball in the middle, not really scoring. Then of course, Babel who we have been asking a few questions about his ability, managed to score. Good for him.
   


4. The remaining silly player we have to cope is David Ngog. Utterly useless. Can't stop the ball. Can't control the ball. Can't beat his marker. Didn't make any shot at all. He is one good dummy in the team. Simply because the opposition have to dedicate a defender to shadow him the whole time he is on the pitch and were conned when the real zest comes not from him, but other LFC players.
   

Unirea? Care to watch?

C'mon you Kops! Wake up and give us a support... says Carragher to the fans around the globe. And it's gonna be 4am here in Malaysia. hmmmm....

1. ohhhh there is a small matter of the second-leg of Europa Cup. Since all of us have seen the returned of our best players, Torres & Benayoun... perhaps this is one game we should be watching. Since 26th is on Friday and coincide with the Holy Day for our Prophet Muhammad Birthday, I am declaring now that I shall be watching the game.
   


2. It won't be that difficult because I am declaring myself to be on leave that day too. Care to join me?

ManCity 0 LFC 0 (The most BORING game, EVER!)

Mancini couldn't stand the way his team played. Similar with Rafa who look bewildered...

1. When I said BORING, it doesn't mean only when we win it's not. It's so boring when there was hardly any attempt on the goal, either side. It was like a test of defensive tactics. Whom ever make a mistake, they would be the losing side. Both teams had their moments of stupidity, luckily the finishing was lousier. Or the goalkeeper was better.
   


2. It was a handball by Adebayor but ``missed'' by the ever so-lenient ref (who gave us 6 yellows) and made a good shot at Reina. It could have gone in and another sorry misery.
   
   
3. Rafa tinkered again in this match by having Kuyt as the number one forward with Gerrard behind him. It was good. But also bad. Simply because all this while, Kuyt from the right flank who have been supplying the crosses. When he's up there, no one managed to replicate that. And I don't even want to mention Babel. 15 minutes to the end, with Benayoun on the left and Torres at the front, only then did Kuyt returned to his habitat. But the defence of Man City was so tight and for that, we must commended them. No wonder the newly-rich club managed to dent Man.United and Arsenal with their new line-up.
   


4. Some of the news report, is so funny when they presented their case as Liverpool `failure' to defeat Man.City. I think it is incorrect. With a 200 million pounds squad, it is Man. City who `failed' to topple a depleted Liverpool. Torres was there but he just came in for the last 15 minutes, after four weeks of medical leave. Same goes to Benayoun.
   


5. But look at Man. City, the Chelsea-pretender. Even without Tevez, they still have Adebayor and Bellamy. And that newly-acquired Adam Johnson from Middlesborough. What a revelation he was! He actually dancing on the pitch. And what was the respond of our defenders? Clipped him! hahaha...
   


6. But the game is a dour. Boring. I hardly could forced myself to sit up on the sofa. There's nothing to get excited about. Boring. Boring. Boring.

We can beat Manchester City, right?

1. If you an avid reader like me, you might came across some strange news in the UK online newspapers pertaining to Manchester City. The most bizarre would be from the Daily Sports, claiming that Mancini has lost the plot when he can't controlled his players any more. Not that I am interested or what so ever, it's just that our next match (less than 2 hours to go) is Man.City.
   
   
2. A couple of days ago I saw that Mancini had a bust-up with our former golfer... errr Craigh Bellamy. Speaking of a bust-up, who doesn't when it concerns Bellamy. But then, Mancini denied it yesterday and today, the story has evolved into total chaos. How true is it, can only be seen in tonight's match. If it's true, then the whole squad will play awful. If not, then the story is just another sorry story.
   
   
3. So do you think we can make it tonight? I sincerely hope so. I have prepared myself a massive stocks of peanuts and hot drinks. But not, at this very moment I'm still in the office. Will only leave at 10pm. That's when my shift ends. Let's cheer it for Liverpool ....!!!