Rebuilding At Anfield

Liverpool endured what has been a frustrating and disappointing 2009/2010 season.

They finished seventh in the table, dumped out of Champion League knockout stage and dumped out at the semi-final stage of the Europa League, lost Torres for most of the season due to injuries and heavily in debt. These sum up Liverpool season.

This explain why I have not been updating my post until now.

Now that the season is over and players preparing for the World Cup, the question is how to strengthen the team with limited budget.

It is likely that Rafa will still be in Liverpool next season. For Rafa to buy, he must sell. It would be another tough season for Liverpool if the club is not sold to a new investor.

Who are the possible departures?

1) Fabio Aureilio - Confirmed departing

2) Ryan Babel - May used as a swap deal

3) Youssi Benayoun - Likely destination - Chelsea

4) Albert Riera - Highly likely to depart

5) Alberto Aquilani - Likely back to Italy

6) David Ngog - Bit part player who is only good for Championship side.

7) Philip Degen - Who is he? I nearly forgotten about him

I hope these players can fetch at least 20 Million pounds.

The new season is just 3 months to go. We shall await good news from Rafa and team.

For now, all eyes will be on the World Cup.

Hillsbrough Tragedy

As I read about how Liverpool FC and the supporters paid their respect to the 96 victims during the Hillbrough tragedy, I could not help but to recall the incident that fateful day.

I was 15 at that time. I could still remembered I was watching the telecast of the FA Cup semi-final when suddenly crowd broke into the field. Mayhem and chaos engulf. Back then, I was wondering what was happening. I could see spectators are trying to flee the place. Moments later, something was very wrong. I saw people using the advertisement board as stretchers. However I was unable to realise the seriousness of the heart broken moments.

I went through some letters written by the parents / kin / spouse on their thoughts on her children / sblings / spouse that never returned after a football match, I felt terribly upset.

Personally, I hope these people will be strong and that their love ones who perished in this tragedy will always remain in their heart.

Pictures taken from liverpoolfc.tv

Carlsberg Web-TV Channel

I am absolutely delighted that Carlsberg Brewery has launched their Carlsberg web-TV channel featuring video clips on past classic Euro matches.



Being a soccer fanatic and a Liverpool fan, I can log on to www.partofthegame.tv to relive the great moments of past and present football greats. Apart from this, I can also check out funny moments at Football Magic Channel. I will surely be going to this website regularly.

On Spain, Torres and Barry

Spain won the Euro2008 by beating Germany 1-0. Guess who scored the goal? It is none other than Fernando Torres.

The absence of David Villa did not prevent Spain from scoring. Torres delievered when it matter most like what he did with Liverpool.

It is certainly a very good new for Rafa and Liverpool that Torres is carrying the momentum to the Euro Championship. I expect Torres to continue terrorize defenders when th BPL starts in less than 2 months time.

On the other hand, Liverpool received a boast when Villa's boss Martin O Neil declare that Gareth Barry is free to leave for Liverpool - only at the right price. Personally I feel that Barry is not worth 15 million pounds. However, he is a better and physically strong player than Alonso.

If I am Rafa, I would spend 15 million pound plus a few millions pound on a striker and winger - Roman Pavluchenko and Richardo Quaresma.

Hopefully, Rafa can get the right players for the club.

My Ideal Birthday Gift

My birthday is 3 weeks away. To me, there is not much cause to celebrate. However, I hope to have a gift for my birthday this year.

Wifey has bought the Liverpool headrest as a Father Day and my birthday gift. I like it a lot as long as it is associated with my beloved football
club.

Ok. My ideal brithday gift is a soccer ball. Why this gift? It has been almost 3 years since I last kicked a ball eversince I tore my knee ligament. Everytime I passed the soccer field at my place, I see people playing soccer. I felt painful but there is nothing much I can do.

I am thinking if I can have a soccer ball, I would practice my football again in the field. What I meant is that, I can have a kickabout myself in a corner of the field. I can start juggling with the ball. From there, I can also see if my left knee hurt when I kick the ball.

I really miss playing football....I feel terrible when I see people playing.....

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My Pain, my regret and My Unfulfilled Dreams

As I am writting this blog, I can already feel the sadness and regret.....

It has been almost 3 years since I played football. Playing football has been a part of my life since the age of 10. I was 12 years old when I took up football seriously. If you can remember my old posts, football has won me many friends. During my secondary school days, I was a part of the school soccer team. Not many chinese players are able to get into the team. I was one of the fortunate ones.

After secondary school, I went Shatec. I went for a trial with the Shatec team but was not selected. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because when I went over to the then Le Meriden Changi Hotel for my attachment. I went for their football training and I impressed the coach with my skill and goals during the training. I can recall how my team mates lavished praises on me and even my team goalkeeper was fearful when facing me. Hence I was selected for the team to participate in the Inter- Hotel soccer tourament in 1994. I was thinking this tourament could be a centre stage for me to impress football scouting in order for me to be selected for bigger clubs.

However, I destroyed the dreams by my very self. Three weeks before the touramant, I went to participate in a 7-A side tourament held nearby our ex -house. I even faked MC on that day just to play in that 7-A side competition. I was injured. My ankle was dislocated. I went on to play despite the pain with my ankle heavily bandaged. Yes, I scored a penalty to win the final but I was unable to play in the Inter-Hotel competition. I informed my coach about the injury and he looked quite upset as his star striker could not played.

The day came when the tournament began. The match took place at Farrer Park pitch. I travelled with the team and was named a subsitute. I knew I have not recovered fully but I insisted to be included in the team. It was against Allson Hotel (If I can still remember). I could not remember the details of the game but I did came on to play during midway through the second half. I can recall the pain on my ankle when I passed the ball. I knew it was bad. Then came a magic from me. I laid a defence spitting pass to one of my teammate and he ran to score.

I was very happy that I contributed to the goals. I think we drew 1-1 or won 1-0. Sadly for me, that was the last match I played for the hotel as I could not play due to further to the pain. It was a blow for me as I could not show my true potential. I regretted deep down inside my heart.

The last competitve match I played was when I was with the Liverpool Fan Club team. We travelled to Malaysia for competition with our Malaysia counterparts. That was in 2001. The following year, we had the same compeition held in Singapore.


My gal arrived in 2003 and I stopped playing until that fateful day on Mar 2005 where I tore my left knee liagment that require two surgeries. One to remove the tore liagment that blocked the movement of my left leg and the second surgery to reconstruct my knee. The two surgeries was done in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Now whenever I passed by the field near my block and see people playing soccer, I can't help but feel painful. I wonder if I did not tore my liagment, I would be able to play up to today. It was on this very field which many people know how good I am. The Malays and Indians respected me on the field.

I'm regaining at least 50% of the strength on my left knee but the pain is still there. My cousin has invited me to play leisure football with his church friends on weekend. I am very keen but just afraid to try. What if I got hurt again?

Do you know what my unfulfilled dream is? It is to represent or club or Singapore in soccer. This is a regret that will stay forever in my life.


I have two nicknames given by my teammates. They are :


MichaeL Owen as my English name is Michael and I used to possess the pace and lethal finishing as him.
The "Great" Sammy Lee. I was given this nick coz I'm a small size lad like him. Haha





Robin Van Persie. No one gave me this nickname just that I felt like my current side view of my hairdo looks like it. Hahaha

Life is Hell without BPL

So what'w now? EPL has just concluded lat night. The only matches left are the FA Cup Final,UEFA Cup Final and the Champion League Final. These matches will be shown over the next 2 weeks.

But what exactly left after these finals are concluded? Euro2008? I did not subscribe as the matches are all shown from 12am onwards. Though it is a mere $10.70 to activate the channel, I think I will most likely miss more than half of the matches.

There is a song from New Kids on the Block that goes"Where do I go from here......" Yes. It's true. Three months without BPL is sure a toture for me. Watch DVDs with wifey? Yes. I will do that but not much DVDs to last for 3 months and I do not think we will watch DVDs for consecutive days on Saturday and Sunday.

It seems that the EPL only started yesterday. I remembered when Liverpool thrashed Derby 7-0 and top the table. Now, the season has ended.

Tell me, how should I spend my Saturday and Sunday nights? I'm desperate for an answer.

Play fantasy football on my PC managing Liverpool? It's boring.

I just imagine what my life would be for the next 3 months.

Get them!!

Having seen Liverpool play this season, the club really need some solid wing players who can whip in dangerous cross, take on players and is devasating with their pace. I have shortlist 4 players and I hope Rafa can try to lure them to Anfield.

Morten Gamst Pedersen

He will provide the width Liverpool is lacking on the left side. Riise and Aurelio are not natural left wingers and Kewell is always "sick". Pedersen will whip in crossing for Crouch and Torres to attack. Though not pacy, he is deadly in free-kicks.

Aaron Lennon
I will smile if Liverpool gets him. He is blessed with pace and trickery. He will provide pace on the right and he can take on defenders. Opponent defender will have a headache marking him. Pennant should be sold. Babel and Lennon shall compete for the right wing spot.

David Bentley

He is the second "David Beckham". Deadly in free kicks. Bentley can provide Liverpool another option on the right with his power. He is a rising star.

If Liverpool can get these players, they are like Man Utd with so many match winners.

Boardroom Crisis

Just as Liverpool was celebrating their passage to the UCL semi-final, Tom Hick was said to ask Rick Parry to resign. This is another turn of event.

First, it was Gillet who wants out. Then Gillet revealed that he will not sell his 50% share to Hick. Then negotiation with DIC to buy the remaining share was broken down.

All this off the pitch crisis does not bode well for the club, most importantly the players's morale.

In my opinion, it was a wrong move to sell the share to the Americans. They have 'destroyed' the Liverpool culture. DIC would be a better owner.

I seriously hope that DIC will soon take over the club.

You'll Never Walk Alone

The Anthem of Liverpool Football Club has becoming a inspiration to me. I will listen to it everyday if I can. The song serve as a motivation to me when the going get tough. Just like Liverpool when they struggle in a match. Let's enjoy the lyrics and the song:

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver
Song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams
Be tossed and blown.

Walk on
walk on
With hope in your hearts
I And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone.

Walk on
walk on
. . .

Speedy Recovery

The picture tell a thousand words. Though I did not manage to witness the incident. I'm sure it was a horrific injury. The injury substained was enough to threaten a footballing career

I wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you in action soon , Euarado!

Congrats Singapore!

Goal 2010 is now a reality and not dream. Singapore has made it! No, no, I'm not talking about The Lions 2010 World Cup dreams but rather the right to host the Youth Olympic in 2010.

With this trumiph, we showed the world that size does not matter if you dare to dream. Let's hope the Lions can achieve the impossible by qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Though it's only a mini Olympic compared to the one to Beijing this year, it is a start of the new era for Singapore Sports.

Well Done!

When can I wear this boots again?

The last time I wore this pair of soccer boots was in 2002 where I took part in a 5-A -Side soccer tournament at St.Wilfred Stadium. Then after my gal was born, I stopped going for training and matches.

I thought I can wear it sometime later when my kids are grown up but the unthinkable happened....

I was playing football in a basketball court when I tore my left knee ligament. It was the worse injury that could happened to any soccer player. Some footballers career ended due to this injury. I have gone through 2 surgeries. Though I have trying to get my left leg into shape again, not being a professional player, there is no time for me to go gym everyday to strenghten my knee and do a full physio.

One year on, my knee still hurt a little. With this current state, how can I possibly play football again? I played football since the age of 12. I have played 17 years of football which I enjoyed numerous triumph and suffered several heartaches...Now it seems that I can't play competitive football ever again...It's just so sad...All good things must come to an end.....

England - Out of Euro 2008

The face says it all.

Ex-England coach was sacked after England failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 after a shocking 2-3 defeat to Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

England was expected to draw or win against the already qualified Croatia but the unthinkable happened when Croatia raced to a two goal lead within 30 mins.

I'm having mixed feeling of England not qualifying for the tourament. One one hand, a tourament is not complete without England in there...on the other hand, England deserved to be eliminated. The players are mega superstars and are arrogant. They play for money and not for the nation.

With this shocking exit, the English FA must really look into the EPL as there was simply too many foreginers in a team. Look at the big four. How many English players can we see in the starting XI week in and week out. Because of this, the England National Team has suffered. Look at the Big Four plus Man City and Portsmouth, how many of these team have English striker? I think only Peter Crouch of Liverpool and Theo Walcott of Arsenal and Rooney of Man Utd.

English players are finding it hard to break into the first team due to the continuity of foregin players coming into the team. If the FA does not limit the foregin players, the England Team will always be struggling. Perhaps FIFA would impose stricter rules on foregin imports.

No Cable means no Soccer....

I finally tasted the feeling of not being to soccer the EPL or UEFA Champion League at the convienence of my fingertip.

After over 10 years of EPL over the weekend, suddenly I lost touch with the game. Blame who? Blame Cable for increasing the price. The feeling is not great. I feel MISERABLE, HORRIBLE, BORED AND LOST!!!! I can't even watch the clash between Pool and Arsenal. I can simply drive to my FIL's place to watch, anyway its only 5 mins drive but I don't feel comfortable.

I have not reach the stage of regret as I thought of my studies. Though watching soccer is a way for me to unwind but it will mean less time for wifey if i start studying and then watch soccer. This is what holding me back from reconnecting the channel.

I just hope most Pool's match will be on Saturday....

Don't count Blessing too early

I remembered hours before the match between Liverpool and Marseille, I blogged an article about Liverpool being unbeaten. Then wifey asked me how's my phone betting. I said "Won money." Hours later, Liverpool was silenced and was beaten to Anfield. I began to lose money and Liverpool began to dish out poor football. They were lucky to draw Spurs when Torres scored in injury time. Then was lucky to beat Everton away courtesy of 2 penalties. At this stage, i had lost about $50. I began to get desperate and placed $50 on one match. A week later another $50 on one match. It paid off. I recovered and lost $10 in total. Liverpool poor form continued when they lost 1-2 to Betiska in the Champion League.

Unless Liverpool buck up, it will be another season of great expectation but nothing to show.

End of my EPL days

I finally terminated my Sports Channel and I target to resubscribe after 2 years provided the price remains at $25.00. Reasons being I can save close to $300 a year and also I do not want tto have any distraction when I commence my studies in Jan 08.

This will mean I can't watch my Liverpool at the comfort of my own living room. I will shuttle between my MIL's house to watch the game.

Will 'die' without EPL & Champion League? I shall wait and see...

"Walk On...Walk On...."

Life Without EPL

I'm preparing myself for weekend without EPL or rather total shutoff from soccer. I do not mind missing matches played by other teams but I simply could not shun away from Liverpool matches.

This is a move I have to made in order to save money. Imagine saving $30+ a month on sports channel..that is $300+ a year. I can buy 2 packets of Dryers for my kids each month. Then again, there is a trade off. I rather pay $7 more for my new car (If the bidding is successful) than to pay $10 more for Sports Channel. It's simply daylight robbery by Starhub to increase by $10.70.

All is not lost, I still can watch at my friend's house or my in-law place. Just that I won't be able to catch Liverpool's champion League games which will shown in the wee hours.

Anyway, it's a good thing to be without football as I will be studying again. Less distraction for me as well....

Liverpool Lucky Charm

Eversince I bought this T-shirt, I have been wearing on Saturday when I'm out with my family. So far it proved to be a good omen. Liverpool has not lost since the opening day of the EPL and Champion League matches.

Here it is.....