Soccer Rules

Well well well. Been a year since i posted in my own blog.

Hope to have all continual support and will make effort to make more post. Hope to have all your comments too!

After the World Cup, its back to the EPL and la Liga again. The EPL season proves to be one that is ever so exciting, with more teams threatening at the top of the pile.

Champions League looks to be the same every year, expect the same old teams to compete on the Road to Wembley this season.

Spurs looks wobbly in defense and conceding 2 goals after being 2 up at Bremen proves it. However it is still a decent recent on a historic night for the Tottering Spurs. They will not finish in the top 4 again this season, they will be too inconsistent for me. Mine top 4 bet will be Chelski-Man Utd-Arsenal-Man City.

Never been a big fan of Harry Redknapp though many fans really think he is Harry Houdini. Think this is as far as he has brought Spurs and he is not a top 4 manager for me although he seems to work wonders for the smaller clubs. A manager very much like Sam Allardyce at Blackburn who thrives on working at the smaller clubs.

Pool under Ray Hodgson is an interesting prospect this year, although like Spurs they have started this season slowly with just a single win in 4 matches. Given the time and some financial backing i think Roy will do a decent enough job there, stopping the slide under Rafa, who in my view left a season too late. The club is in transition now and i do hope Daniel Agger will be a crucial figure in the rebuilding of Liverpool as he is a top player.

Looking forward to Pool at Man Utd this weekend. Fancy them to nick a point. Torres looks way off in terms of fitness and i do not expect to see the best of him before Christmas. He should never be at the World Cup given his fitness problems.

Sunderland should be in for a decent season now that Brucie have a decent side there, Gyan looks a quality signing. The power of Gyan with the pace of Bent will be a handful for many a defense in the EPL. If Brucie can get Lee "the Reckless" Cattermole to have a little finesse in his game, the team should do well. Them at home to the Arsenal is another top game for the weekend. I do expect Sunderland to fight for a Euro place and i think they can replace Villa or Everton as a top 7 club if they continue to progress.

== Gyan's Goal that knocked the USA out of World Cup 2010 ===


I do expect Newcastle, Wigan, West ham and West Brom to be relegation faves. West ham have been really dismal since last season and under Avram Grant, that really signals the end for me. He is just not a Premier League manager. Expect them to really struggle as the team looks real average. Put them in the Championship at the moment and i do think they will do well to finish mid table.

Don't be fooled by the Toon's 6-0 win over Villa, that is a real freak result. If Carew had more sense in him and not skyed his penalty when it was still 0-0, the result will be very different. They really caught Villa a t a delicate time when the father figure of O'Neil just left the club.

Kamikaze @ Madrid

Well, just finished watching Real v Valladolid and Real looks real threatening going foward; however they looks really weak in defence. Time and again they were caught out and if not for Casillas and some poor finishing, the scoreline would be closer.


Do think Benzema is a top top signing and he looks real class for me. He is a great player for one so young. He will certainly be a new talisman for France in the next decade.

Higuain scored a great 4th goal for Real and he is also top class for me and so is the great Iker Cassila; who in my opinion is the best keeper around.

Now waiting for Barca / Valencia which will be a cracker!

Lady Luck is Man Utd in disguise?

Well, no surprise isn’t it? Again, Man Utd won again without playing well and were lucky to hold on after being nailed back by Bolton towards the end. Fergie was honest this time round saying he felt his team was lucky to hold on.

You do wonder how long will Man Utd continue picking up points playing this way. They have been more workman like rather than creative this season. That is no surprise for me after they lost CR7 and Tevez.
(Valencia: Scorer of Utd's 2nd and decisive goal)


Elsewhere, Chelsea continue to bore all soccer fans with their display and I have to say Villa deserved the 3 points. The season seems to be turning out like the last; the teams seems to be getting de-railed after a good start to the season. I do hope Big Man Carlo can turn it round or he will be under loads of pressure.

The team’s play seems too one dimensional for me with the aging midfield and no width to the formation. Lampard seems to be out of sorts this season and his lack of goals must be a worry for the team.

Neutrals will definitely want Arsenal to win the league for the way they play the game. They seem to be picking up their form again after their double blow at Manchester. I do hope they can pick up the points and win the title as they are a team that deserves the league.

Everton’s struggles continues and Tottenham got a great win at Pompey.

Man City plays on Sunday and with Pool and Chelsea losing, they will be aiming for a win to edge closer to the top and strengthen their push for a top 4 position at least.

A Real Mess @Pool

Well, Pool fans must now be fuming after Pools’s loss at Sunderland; that makes it 4 losses in the season now. Only Consolation is that Chelsea lost as well. With Man Utd continuing to pick up points even when not playing anywhere near their best, the title seems to be heading back to OT at the moment.

Those idiots who stood by Rafa when he had the run-in with the American jokers who owns the club must certainly be starting to tear their hair out now. In short the club is in a mess.

Look at the starting line up today and you have to wonder whether the team have progressed under Rafa. Other than Carra, Agger, Skrtel and Reina, the rest of the team are made up of very average players at best. The squad looks thin and it is a surprise after Rafa spent over 200 million quid in his time and has failed to build a strong squad.

I am absolutely sick of this fella and his transfers have only brought the club backwards. Lucas, Pennant, Pongolle, Leto, Paletta, Insua, Ngog, Babel, Plessis, Voronin, Riera, Degan, Dosena, Kyrgiakos are all not Pool type of players. He sold Crouch who had a good record at Pool, he sold Keane after playing him out of position, he lost the trust and Alonso and eventually he left.

He reverted to 3 central defenders, something he has not done in his time and that is baffling. From the bench he had to bring on Ngog and Voronin to try win the the game and that is definitely a disgrace for a club of Pool’s profile.

No wonder Mourinho is laughing all the way from Milan.

Without Stevie G and Torres back in the team, you can only see Pool struggling again in Lyon and against Man Utd next weekend.

If Pool lose again at Anfield next weekend, I am sure the pressure will be for him to leave.

Back in Soccer-ness!!

Woohoo!!!!

Finally its back to the world of EPL and La Liga after the ever so boring international break. I do really wonder how many people, even soccer crazy fans pays real attention to the international results.

I can imagine people keeping tabs with the results and qualifications, but I cannot image people placing the live telecast of the matches as their top priority. Just might as well the Argies made it through and I was not surprised to read that only a measly quarter of a million bother to watch the England match on the internet.

A stern message that for all the technology we have today, live soccer is just not ready for computer monitors yet.

The WC is only good when the actual events comes around.

This weekend sees a great host of matches across the 3 major leagues in Europe.

I do pray for more matches like the Man City v ASS-enal game; the game of the season for me so far, probably because Arsenal got absolutely smashed after playing so well.

(Video of the mentioned match)


We will probably see a landslide game at the Emirates. Watching Carson Yeung really makes me laugh, I just cannot envisage a man having the vision of creating a fanfare Birmingham in China. He talks about getting the club to being one of the best in the country in the next 10 years. That will need 200-400 million at least for me, not the 20-40 million quid he has pledged. A clown in the making.

Elsewhere, Harry and his team will definitely be in for a head spinning time at Pompey where the fans will be at their very best to ruffle them. I am still not convinced with Spurs after their good start, they still does not have the steel and hunger to get back at teams who dare get rough with them with some ass kicking. Just too many sissies in the team full of English Patients!! Woody and King might just have a new leading role if filmmakers decide to remake the movie.

Man Utd have been the surprise team for me, they have not been great but have picked up the points. Other than the derby game, they have really sneaked out results after results in bandits style. Without Rooney and maybe Berbatov, they could straggle upfront. They cannot rely on Giggs again and again. I think Giggs has probably done more this season than the whole of last season when he was named Player of the Season, a decision that shows that the award and the whole voting system is a JOKE!!

Fergie will have to keep his mouth real shut this time and I really pray for once to see a ref be a little biased in favor of the away team for a refreshing change. OT is fast becoming Hollywood with all the last minute drams and stoppages thrillers. Its an absolute joke. And how sly and hypocritical can the man get when he is putting his arm round Wiley’s shoulder after Owen scored in the derby and the very next week he is lashing him. A real SHAMEFUL thing to do.

Chelsea also seems to be doing what they do best – putting neutral soccer fans to sleep with their style of play. It is just PAINFUL and fustrating to watch them play. For that, I really do hope they do not win the league.

The match against Liver-Poohs was a real turn off. Watching the stifling soccer is painful enough. Watching an Olympian like Drog is a F**KING DISGRACE!! [quote Droba / after match against Barca]. Drog will definitely be ready when the 2012 Olympics come round and we might just see him in a diving event. Do hope Dunne absolutely nails him hard time and again in their encounter at Villa Park.

Rafa might be under more pressure if his team fails to win at Sunderland, who has been great at home. W/o Torres and Ger, I can see Pool having more than a few problems. I cannot think of a team having ambitions of winning the league that is just so reliant on 2 players. That shows Rafa clearly is in wonderland, especially after selling Alonso. That was the moment they lost the chance of challenging for the title.

For me, he has lost it and is living in his own virtual world of Championship Soccer, especially after spending over 200 million quid. The body language of some players just does not seem right for me at the moment.

We should see both Stoke and Everton winning their home games. Everton have to improve a lot if they want to do well. They have really struggled and Moyes will hope he has a cash pledging chairman like Carson Yeung.

We have had some unpredictable weather here in Singapore, one minute it can be scorching and the next it can be absolutely pouring. That is the way to describe Wigan now. You just wonder if they will turn up and give Man City a good match, If they do not, there can be only one winner. I just wonder how long can Bramble sub stain his form. Not scoring an own goal or conceding a penalty so far this season is a surprise.

Burley’s non-existing defense has been their downfall away from home. However at Ewood where Blackburn has not been great, they might just eek out a result. A result that will mean more grey hairs on Big Sam.

Predictions: 23rd August

West Ham v Tottenham

This match is Gianfranco's 1st home match of the season and it certainly is a tough one with Tottenham in great form at the moment. Having won and not being troubled much at the Molineux last weekend, Zola's team can expect a much tougher match in prospect here. Zola is definitely the most lovable manager in the league and most neutrals will want him to succeed.


West Ham currently have a decent suqad, with plaers like Green, Upson, Parker and Cole being the main figures in the starting XI. Expect Cole to have a good season and really push for a place in the England team. Alot will rest on whether Zola will be forced to sell. The club have been heavily linked with Marouane Chamakh and he will be a great addition if he does sign.

Tottenham have been great to watch thus far and they have a really strong squad now. They have a strong midfield mixed with strength and guile and have a front line that is the envy of many teams. Redknapp will start with Defoe and Keane upfront, but having players like Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Bentley on the bench signifies squad depth.

I do expect Harry to continue his good start to the season on his return toUpton Park, where he is much respected. With his stike force in such rampant form at the moment you will not bet against them. West Ham will do great this season but Tottenham are a serious canidate for at least a Euro place this season and they will be too strong. Ever since Harry arrived at the Lane, the team has had a more settled look to it and you can see the players are enjoying their football now.

Prediction: 2-1 to Tottenham

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Tottenham's 5 goals in midweek



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Burnley v Everton

Burnley had the result of the season thus far in midweek. The season is still early and Burnley players will be up for this one after their amazing win over Man Utd. Everton are looking to bounce back from a disastrous start against Arsenal. They had a relatively easy win in midweek in Europe.

Everyone will be under no illusion that Burnley will be in for a tough time this season, the team has no stand out player and the going will only get tougher and touger for them as the season progress.

Everton really need some major reinforcements before the transfer window closes and expect Lescott to sit out this one, now that his tranfer to Man City looks certain to go through. Arteta is a huge loss to the Toffess and Fellaini as a striker does not impress me. I do think Moyes may start with Saha up front with Cahill and Fellaini in support. Saha, if fully fit is a god striker.

I have concerns over Cahill after he is heavily involved with Australia in pre-season. The season is still early but fatigue could be a problem when the season progresses.


I expect Bunley to give Everton a run for their money in this game and probably sneak a draw here. Burnley will be tough opposition at home as Man Utd have already found out.

Prediction: Burnley 1 Everton 1

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Fulham v Chelsea

The big one on Sunday. Fulham's home debut this season and this will be a tough one for Carlo Ancelotti. Fulham were great at home last season, defeating Man Utd and Arsenal while drawing with Chelsea. Their home form was what got them a Euro spot.

Ancelotti could be sticking to the starting XI that got him the win in midweek. The team played well in midweek, especially in the 2nd half. Ancelotti's teams are always difficult to beat and this will very much be the case again.

Zamora is having a good start to the season an he looks to be the main threat upfront for Fulham. I do think they need more reinforcement in defense and midfield or they could find it hard to replicate last season's success. Duff could be an option as he is in line for his league debut.

A great exciting match in prospect here with both Chelsea wanting to maintain their 100% start and Fulham wanting to start their home fixtures with a victory. I certainly do not expect Chelsea to lose this one and i do expect them to just sneak this one.

Prediction: Fulham 1 Chelsea 2

Review: Premier League 22/08

Sunderland 2 Blackburn 1

A 2nd win in 3 games for Steve Bruce's team equates to an encouraging start for the Black Cats. The solitary defeat to a very strong Chelsea team was no surprise and no disgrace.

2 goals from Kenwyne Jones sealed a comeback win for the team in this game. Jones and Bent upfront will be a partnership that will trouble many teams.

Expect Sunderland to continue doing well and they will certainly be aiming to finish in the top half of the table at the very least. Lee Cattermole is an astute signing in midfield and his tigerish qualities was there for all to see in this game.

As for Big Sam and his Blackburn team, 2 disallowed goals ruined their day and that means 2 straight losses to start the season. They have 2 home games coming up and they will need to pick up points to boost morale and avoid a bad start that will lead to a relegation dogfight.



Hull 1 Bolton 0

I do fear for Bolton and Megon this season. They have signed poorly this summer and they were outplayed by Hull in this game. Hull could have won alot more convincingly had they taken their chances.

Nevertheless, a win to kick start the season for Hull after 2 defeats. Hull needs to pick up wins like this one; points against teams around them in the table will be vital. Their lack of signings to bolster their squad could work against them. Phil Brown must be desperate to sign a striker after failing to land most of his targets thus far.

Most will expect these 2 teams to finish in the bottom half of the table.


Brimingham 0 Stoke 0

A bore game with no goals. A decent stat for both teams to the season with 4 points each from 3 games.

You can see where Birmingham's problems are in this game; defensively they may be resolute but McLeish really needs more fire-power up front as they will struggle to score goals. The team has more work horses than flair and creative players.

Benitez has been their main signing in the summer and i will like to see McLeish start him upfront rather than starting Jerome or Phillips.

A long hard season in prospect for Brimingham and they will do well to stay up. As for Stoke, they are strong on their home patch and you will expect their home form to keep them up.

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Stoke's heavy defeat in midweek at Anfield