Life is a "beach"

In no uncertain terms, Rafa Benitez must be feeling the pressure... no thanks to a red beach ball, we'll call him Beachy now.

Beachy has become the newest celebrity on the football circuit. Everybody from the coach to the pundits are discussing fervently the impact of Beachy that could have just ended Liverpool's title hopes for another season. Beachy might just have given Pepe Reina the worst nightmares in his sleep... Unleashing his instincts in the penalty box, he deflected to perfection Darren Bent's strike to completely dumbfound Pepe Reina in goal. It send the Sunderland faithful into absolute delight and Beachy rolled away in celebration....

Beachy, ironically introduced onto the field by the Liverpool Kop was famous instantly, drawing loud applause from Manchester and London for his heroic antics. Beachy's goal could be the nail that encoffins Liverpool's title ambitions. What a goal that has significant importance, considering this could be the year that the title of the most successful club in English football is decided !!

Funny enough that Beachy gets such great attention, when Liverpool's poor performance should be the highlight of the game. Sure, it was bad luck... but Liverpool was just as toothless as they have ever been without Torres and Gerrard. Alonso's position is always going to be a problem. There were no able replacements to replace all three of them and it showed. Kuyt was clueless, Benayoun looked lonely, Babel is a misfit and Lucas... well... I leave you to decide why Rafa sticks to him in the first eleven.

Rafa has no one and no beach ball to blame but himself. HE should have kept Robbie Keane. HE should have purchased someone who could replace Alonso, not some Italian youngster for 20 million to sit on the bench for months on. HE should have not spend 20 million on Glen Johnson and use that money to buy someone who will have a greater impact upfront or in the middle of the park. Someone tell me why Arberloa was sold when he played so well last season? HE should have spent some time thinking about developing his younger players. Jay Spearing is never going to be a Liverpool player and it was painfully obvious.

Life is a "beach"... yeah... face it.

Hand of God works again.

In 1986, England was fuming over the "hand of god" by Diego Maradona that won the World Cup quarter finals for Argentina. Maradona was held as a hero in Argentina, and the dimunitive legend has always held great regard in his home country.

Since then, Maradona has gained more than a few kilograms, he has his own share of drug issues including cocaine controversy in 1994 and in the last year was responsible for Argentina's World Cup hopes. A name synonomous with great footballing and ingenius football skills, Maradona has perhaps one trait that he will always be remembered by, his luck.

Argentina pulled through to the World Cup Finals in 2010 by the skin of their teeth by beating Uruguay in the dying minutes with a late goal. Maradona for certain will lose his job if Argentina did not qualify automatically. As coach of a immensely talented team that boasts the best footballer in the world in Lionel Messi, coupled with the deadly duo of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero and many other talented players national teams will die for to play for them, Argentina has no good reason to not qualify as a top 4 team in South America. The only reason I can conjure is poor management and Maradona's abilties as a coach is clearly in doubt.

Many wonder if the man to lead Argentina at the finals could be Maradona. Afterall, the team struggled badly and did suffer a huge scare in this qualifying round. Maradona could ill afford to be cocky, but as always, his traditional manner of treating his critics is to make sure he gets the last laugh... at least for now.

Looks like Maradona is an enigma himself, a player and now coach that somehow has the extra factor - luck. While not doubting his genuis on the field, Maradona like most talented individuals seldom stick to a fixed route to stardom or success. The Hand of God incident gave Argentina the win. The controversies often come together with the success stories.

You could be a wonderful coach but without luck on your side, you often lose. Maradona might not be a great coach, neither is he the best tactician and manager... but if he stays on... who knows... Argentina might just win the 2010 World Cup. Now that miracle will surely surpass the "hand of god" incident, wouldn't it?

The Return of Avram

Pardon the cheap poke. But other than his less than appealing image and physical appearance, Avram Grant is a pretty good coach. I mean, come on... he didn't do that badly at Chelsea picking up the pieces left behind by the self proclaimed Special One Jose Mourinho.

So I was actually glad that Avram is heading back to the BPL again, and in fact is picking up again what was his first job as director of football at Portsmouth. Little is known about the new powers sitting at Portsmouth, but the oil rich billionaires that took over Man City and went on a shopping spree have raised expectations for the Pompey fans, knowing that they belong now to the same category (or maybe its just what they are led to believe).

Avram Grant is warming the seat for a while... the classic case of if Paul Hart screws up, Avram takes over immediately. But in any case, Portsmouth looks like they are in for a dogfight. They don't have good enough players to escape the relegation battle this season. Their strikers are firing blanks most of the matches and they have little creativity in the team since losing Krancjar. Without goals, you don't win matches.

Unless in January, a mini miracle is performed on the transfer market, Portsmouth will slug it out with the very poor Hull City, the less than convincing Birmingham, the toothless Wolves and just maybe the lacklustre West Ham. I won't count Burnley out yet even if they are winning at home.

We shall see if Avram and his gang of merry men will be able to turn Portsmouth's slow start around and park themselves firmly in the Premier League or be "toad"away to the lower divisions... as in towed away.... toad... towed.... get it get it ?!?! *roll eyes*