3 Goals in so easily Liverpool?

When your favourite football team lets in 3 goals against a 3rd world soccer team, you begin to wonder what its chances are in the upcoming 2011-2012 season.

Hmmm

I should be lucky I have a job. While having dinner alone in the hotel diner, I saw Richard Quest host his show Quest Means Business and he showed the lives of two people in the USA who lost their jobs. One was unemployed for 2 months while the other was out of a job for 8 months now. And life isnt getting any better for them. Ouch. In the current economic times, those of us who have jobs to do, should do them well, complain less and be grateful that we're employed. And its not because we're skilled that we have jobs. There are others out there who are even more skilled than we are but unemployed. Timing plays a big part. You could be one of them. So never look down on the jobless, their just like you and me. Help them out when you can. Remember Lion King and the Circle of Life - you and I are all part of the Big Circle of Life - dont forget it. Samir, if you're reading this, thanks for my job.

On another note, I watched Liverpool struggle to beat Leeds United 1-0. Leeds United is three divisions down the English league but at times looked like they were the Premier League team and not their opponent. Without Steven Gerrard, Liverpool looked a pale comparison of themselves, a real let down. It's no wonder Manchester United will win the league again this year and become the most successful team in England, surpassing the only history that Liverpool had all these years.

Skills make all the difference. No matter how good of a personality you have, its not going to help you if you cant do a decent job. No amount of positive thinking can substitute hard work and skills. You can only bluff you way through life to a certain extent. After that, people will know what you're really made off. So keep studying, reading and thinking. Polish your skills daily. Sharpen your mind. Persevere and never give up.

Tomorrow the traffic will be back to normal. Cars clogged along the highway to Victoria Island. Commute time to and from work will be around 45 minutes. Good time to catch up on some reading. It's so relaxing not driving to work. I dont feel so drained when reaching work, as I do in KL when I drive on my own.

Got another visit to the hospital tomorrow. Just to double check that I am all okay.

Good night.

Football Club as a Nation

Arsenal - France. Still a big player on the international scene but in recent years has become the perennial bridesmaid. Enjoys the quality of life/football but is unable to really dictate matter in the larger scheme of things. Retains the ability to but perhaps there is too much emphasis on one man who seems to constantly miss the important events...

Aston Villa - Australia. Big fish in a small pond. Have enjoyed the new regime much more than the previous. Have the set up. Have the finance. Have the leader. But can they achieve the impossible?

Birmingham - New Zealand. Living in the shadows of their larger neighbour for years. Would love a relative period of stability after the turmoil of the last few years. Has an opportunity to develop to the level required.

Blackburn - South Africa. Had an all too brief moment in the sun due to it's enigmatic leader. Since his tenure have strived to regain that reputation. Under the current regime things could change. Need to embrace all aspects of the population however..

Bolton - Mongolia. Dull. Lifeless. Dwindling population. Enjoyed a period of relative prominence, largely due to the tactics of one individual. Since his departure have failed to grasp the public's eye.

Burnley - Switzerland. Harmless. Have their endearing qualities but ultimately will never gain the power they crave. Happy with their lot however and content with their leader.

Chelsea - Pakistan. Trying hard to be one of the big boys, but has upset a large percentage of it's supporter base through its over involvement with foreigners. Striving to consolidate it's position on the world stage but finds it tough to find friends and allies. Fears of a revolt from within and financial collapse refuse to go away.

Everton - Japan. No attack, last campaign of any note 1942. Big player financially in the 1980s, however struggling a bit these days

Fulham - Italy. Strives to be a big player. Ego of it's owner could stand in it's way however. Loves the good life possibly too much due to the lifestyle of it's people. Distinct lack of firepower has been a problem for years..

Hull - Somalia. Came out of the blue to grab the headlines last year with their plundering raids on various other countries possessions. But is time running out for them or can they continue to defy the odds in the face of adversity?

Liverpool - Germany. Used to be the big player in the international arena. Have suffered for years as a result. Tendency to self destruct. A strong history but still attempting to regain that top spot. May just do that, but with foreign aid.

Man City - Palestine - A team currently looking for recognition. Had been on the periphery for many years before the late 00's. Funded by rich Arabs who are determined to prove their worth and seriousness. May be hindered by their current leader.

Man United - USA. Bullies. Arrogant and motivated by greed. Have become the foremost leader due to a combination of industry, luck and planning. Very strong ruler who loathes to admit defeat. Shows no signs of weakening despite various setbacks.

Portsmouth - Iran. Have had a summer of discontent and revolution. What the future holds for this enigma remains to be seen. Will it be a stable democracy or will they succumb to yet another tyrant? The loss of individuals to the West must be stemmed however.

Stoke - North Korea. Capable of upsetting just about anyone and don't care who. Are content with themselves and their senile leader. The development of secret weapons caught everyone off guard last year and others have begun to combat against it.

Sunderland - India. A sleeping giant, not a contender at the moment but with a huge supporter base. Likes to think it's opinion is worth plenty, yet is largely ignored by non fans. Local derbies can be a bit fiery.

Tottenham - Canada - Appear to suffer from delusions of grandeur. Have strived to force their way in with the big boys but have failed despite their unlimited resources. See themselves as the chosen ones and better than their neighbours but in reality suffer from an over inflated sense of self. Big promise but no substance.

West Ham - England. Unwanted leader and looking for direction. Used to be a power but way back in the day. Would love to have kept it's prized assets but outside circumstance dictated otherwise. Has the potential and keeps producing but changes need to be made.

Wigan - Israel. Still a relative upstart in the larger scheme of things. Trying to create a market for themselves in a hostile environment. Their main enemy comes outside the borders of their religion (rugby/Palestine). Still continuing due a combination of luck and astute management/leadership.

Wolves - Iraq. Years of turmoil and unrest. Could finally be on the brink of solidarity and stability. Have come on wonders in the last year but doubts still remain about it's citizens and leader. Is it all too much, too soon?

Fighting for Fourth Place Again?

Oh my Liverpool, why do you break my heart?

I've been waiting 18 years for league title to come to Anfield and I thought this would be the year. It certainly started out well but alas, it seems that we will be fighting for fourth place again this year.

Why cant Liverpool play with the fluidity of Arsenal or Man United? These two teams play beautiful, flowing football. And the fact that Arsenal is doing very well since the departure of Henry does show the preference that was given to him during his time there. Some players tend to become Gods just because their exceptionally good. And the team suffers because of that.

When I see Liverpool play, I dont see the smooth flow of play that brings great confidence to their supporters. It's all kick and chase. Where's the flow Liverpool, where's the flow?

What can I say about Robbie Keane except that he's darn good and if only he was playing the for the Reds, Liverpool would be scorching hot.

My only consolation is that it took Drogba a year to settle in and I hope the same for Torres before he comes alive and scores on the average two goals every weekend.

Another Mediocre Liverpool Season

At the end of last week, I thought this would be the season my beloved Liverpool makes a claim to the premier league. But alas, the last 3 games, I see the true Liverpool. Another dissapointing mediocre season for Liverpool again.

When Torres was brought on in the last 30 minutes of the game, there was some fire upfront. But all Birmingham had to do was to hand tight for half an hour a point was theirs. At Liverpool's expense. If only Benitez has played Torres from the beginning, then we would had more fire power. Everyone knows and is scared of Torres's speed and skill in the 18 yard box. And his overhead kick was just a testimony on how much skills he has.

Alas, Arsenal is at the top of the league and I think they deserve to be there. They seem to gel well without Henry, according to Farbegas. And I think so too. Arsene Wenger paid too much emphasis to Henry and lost the cohesiveness of this team. When Henry left for Barcelona, their more harmony in the team.

While Barcelona is stuttering in the Spanish league. I hope they dont become the next Real Madrid.

And poor Juventus. After leading 1-0 in the 17th minute against Roma, they let in 2 goals and their wonder boy, Del Piero missed an equalizing penalty when he blasted it over the bar. My guess is Juventus will not win anything this season but I now they'll be able to finish in the top 6. This season is team building, next season is the Scudetto.