Reliving glory days of 1994?

In what must be good news to most Singapore fans, we are heading back to the Malaysia Super League.

While the rest of Singapore celebrates the announcement, here is one camper who is not entirely convinced.

To be brutally honest, Singapore going back to the Malaysia Cup is like a desperate attempt to revive interest in local football again. FAS must have realised that the S League has reached a point so low, we need to return to where we ended it off. And the truth is, any move to revive the football scene will yield something. We are so low on crowd attendance in our stadiums, even the local "getai" at our neighborhoods draw larger crowds.

A Singapore Under 23 team with possibly 3 foreigners and 5 full internationals... perhaps we can relive the days of Fandi and Abbas. Maybe we can ignite the passion of our local footballers again, that they will think about playing and impressing in front of big crowds again.

Maybe the competitive rivalry that stems between our neighboring states will bring about the passionate Kallang Roar we sorely miss.

Can we relive the glory days of 1994? I am not sure we can ever revive that old magic. I just know we can go no lower than what we have now, so why do we care where we go?

When you have no idea where to go and have nowhere to go, any road will lead you somewhere.

We are proud of you Singapore Cubs !!

A big congratulations to CR Flamengo for having won the 23rd Lion City Cup. Deservedly crowned champions, the Flamengo team was always the favourites, having come all the way from the land of joga bonito. Nearly every kid on the streets and beaches of Brazil play football by the way, so it wasn't a surprise to see the Flamengo players dance and play football with such comfort and style amongst their fellow peers from Singapore, England and Italy.

But the biggest winners of this tournament must be Singapore. We have witnessed entertaining football on our shores, not least coming from our very own Singapore cubs. After watching the Singapore cubs clinich 3rd place at the last Youth Olympics, I was frankly not the most excited of Singaporeans. I refuse to be carried away by the media attention. The Lion City Cup has however revealed that we have a future in football, yes... Singapore has a future in football, our young boys can play football. If they are given a chance, and if they are coached properly.

We might not have won the tournament, but the Under 16s and the Under 15s clinched 2nd and 3rd spots respectively, no mean feat considering the opposition of Juventus, Everton and Newcastle. What has impressed me most is that our boys played positive football, attacking and inventive football. Most notably, we had young boys who are skilful and determined i.e. Hanafi Akbar and Adam Swandi and we also had strong and steady players who work extremely hard for their teammates, i.e. Dhukilan, Aaravin and almost everyone else on the team roster.

Well done Singapore Cubs, you've shown that you are worthy of wearing the national colors on your jersey. You've taught the Singapore fans (a hard bunch to please by the way) that you are worthy of their support, that you can be something more than your seniors. While this might be a loss today, let it spur you on to be even better players. Who is to say we cannot beat the Brazilians. We nearly did today.

So FAS, please continue your good work with the Cubs, pour resources into these teams, send them overseas for trials, expose them to European and South American football, build a Singapore team that is going to do Singapore proud in 5 years time. Perhaps we could have a go at the World Cup then, but instead of cubs, we will see the Lions roar.

There is only one Scholesy

He scores goals galore,

He scores goals,

He scores goals galore,

He scores goals.

He scores goals galore

He scores goals.

Paul Scholes,

He scores goals

Paul Scholes Chant

The little playmaker of Man Utd's midfield for the past ten years. Man Utd will miss him the most of all recent retirements. There is no one quite like Paul Scholes. He is the genuis that ran the show at every game.

So long Scholesy, the midfield legend of Manchester.

Barcelona was better than Winning Eleven.

For a Man Utd fan, you would think that it is extremely hard for any fan to swallow defeat, especially at the biggest stage in European football, and even more so at Wembley.

But when you witness greatness, you have to acknowledge it and give due credit when you are privileged enought to witness it. To wallow in sorrow will be doing injustice to undoubtedly one of the best team displays ever on a footballing pitch.

Man Utd were quite simply put in their place. There was no evidence of a lack in effort, just an overwhelming difference in quality. At the end of the day, Barcelona has set the bar far higher than what any team will be able to attain to. They have cemented their place in history as the team with the most outrageous possessional control and the perfect final pass in football; those and coupled with the masterful art of zonal pressing when they don't actually have the football at their feet. Gawd, this team is definitely better as a team than the one that tore Man Utd apart in 2009.

When you have Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Villa playing in such perfect tandem, you can only sit and defend (hopefully spring the counter attack), and that is exactly what Man Utd did. *While some might argue that Man Utd could have done better with an extra man in midfield, I doubt it will have changed the result especially when Barca was playing with such poise. Afterall, Man Utd wanted to attack and you've got to applaud their effort to do so.

Unfortunately, Barca rarely if ever make a stray pass, Man Utd was just chasing shadows the whole night. You almost feel sorry for the Man Utd eleven who were on the receiving end of a footballing lesson by Pep Guardiola and his team of artisans. Barca's third goal courtesy of Villa capped a magical night for purists of joga bonito.

Barca was better than Winning Eleven, those fortunate enought to witness it; knew it was unreal. There is no shame Man Utd.

Patrick Kinghorn bites co-host

Hannibal Kinghorn !! Maybe Patrick should consider having his own action figure if he loses his job at Singtel.

What kind of a full-grown man bites another in the face?

Apparently, Kinghorn (with the tie) bit his co host (red polo-tee) in the face... He must have taken the challenge "What're you gonna do? Bite me?" too seriously...

Poor Kui Jien, I hope he is not disfigured too badly, he is afterall the cute commentator on TV. Not too sure if the bite mark Kinghorn left on his face will quite add to that pretty face now.

To Singtel Mio, may I please suggest keeping Patrick Kinghorn around on local TV? I mean seriously, we NEED Patrick to be around. He is so "different" from the rest of the boring, boring entertainers we have on TV these days...

....unlike Patrick Kinghorn, the others just lack bite.

Man Utd on the brink of creating history

While the Premier League has not officially crowned its champions yet, many are already predicting without too much guesswork involved that Man Utd will be crowned English champions for the 19th time in modern history. Mathematically speaking, Man Utd only requires a single point to claim the trophy.

Never had any of the Man Utd fans thought the day will be possible to witness the club claim history as the best club in English football. That honour has rightly been attained by the dominant force in European football in the 80s that is Liverpool.

We tip our hats off to Liverpool for their dominance of football in the 80s but its time to crown Man Utd's era of footballing success. This era has been built on the dedication of legends such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Eric Cantona, Ole Solskjaer, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Peter Schmeichel, Rio Ferdinand, Nemadja Vidic, Edwin Van Der Sar, Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole and many others from many great teams built over the years by a single man, Alex Ferguson. The key point of continual success is Man Utd's ability to renew themselves and build successful teams consistently.

As surely as the era was started, it might very well end in the next instant. Man Utd will still need to look into rejuvenating its ranks with new talent and future world beaters. Its most difficult task of course will be to replace the manager himself.

But until we think hard about the future of the club, a toast to another twenty years of success !!

Fastest Hat Trick In The Premier League: Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler has left Liverpool for about 4 years now. He went on to carve a career for himself in Australia only to find himself back in England, currently serving as Assistant Manager at MK Dons (currently 5th in the English League One).

Well, I began to do a little search for more information about the "God" of KOP and found out that he still holds the record for scoring the fastest hat trick in the English Premier League. Fowler managed this at Anfield on the 28th of August, 1994, during a game against Arsenal.

I look forward to seeing this little feat repeated or beaten and maybe it would be done by one of his disciples at MK Dons.

The White Pele

I saw my mate the other day,

He said he'd seen the white Pele

So I asked "Who is he?"

He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney,

Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney,

He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney,

He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney.

Man Utd "Rooney" Chant

Wayne Rooney might be loud and abrasive but there is no doubt who is the most talented English player.

Quench the fire, and Wayne Rooney is no more who he is. So... get off his back for once.

"Don't 'messi' with me !!" 9 year-old Japanese boy wonder.

Have you seen the next boy wonder of football? The next Lionel Messi?

In the midst of sorrow and loss in Japan, its good to know the Land of the Rising Sun has loads of talent, not least in the department of football.

Don't messi with me !!

Penalties changed the game.

On Saturday evening, we saw Liverpool and Manchester United experience vast differences in their feelings towards penalties. Liverpool was one goal up in the 50th minute and looked to continue their revival, only to have their game thwarted by two penalties in the 62nd and 88th minute. Both penalties were taken by Chris Brunt and they ended Liverpool's run of success in the Premier League. Separated from Manchester City (currently 4th place) by a mere 8 points but with a game down, Liverpool will have to work hard on the rest of their games to put up a challenge for the last Champions League spot. But considering all that has happened with Liverpool this season, we should be glad they are where they are today. It could have been much worse. Manchester United on the other hand were shockingly 2-0 down at Upton Park during Halftime and a 2nd half revival by Wayne Rooney changed the game for them. Rooney's outburst levelled the score by the 73rd minute and a 79th minute penalty gave them the upper hand. They eventually ended winning 2-4 but honestly, I was secretly rooting West Ham at half time when I saw the scoreline at 2-0. Too bad they weren't good enough to defend their lead and to extend it further. I suppose this is what Manchester United is about, what Champions can do even when they are 2-0 down. Two great teams, playing on the same night, but with very different scores and very different feelings at the end of the game, all because of penalties.

Fukushima 50: A Tribute.

To every one of the Fukushima 50: "Never......Was so much owed by so many to so few." - Winston Churchill.

The devastating earthquake in Sendai Japan, has brought upon a sense of reality. The fragility of life is something that we can never ignore no matter how hard we try to defy the odds.

The earthquake itself did not deal much damage but it was the aftermath of it, the tsunami that followed which literally wiped out thousands of lives and progress worth billions. The negligence of a company has sentenced the 200 odd employees, still working hard at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, to certain death.

Though facing insurmountable odds and almost certain death, the valiant group known as the Fukushima 50 have volunteered their lives in exchange for the safety of Japan and the world. While they could have simply lamented about their fate, these brave men and women continued with their cause. Such is the making of heroes. The Japanese have always been known for their Samurai Spirit, which encompasses sacrifice for a cause for which they believe strongly in. While it may have been misused during the past wars, this spirit lives on through the Fukushima 50 who continue to display such perseverance.

I extend my admiration to the Fukushima 50, whose decision to stay on to fight has touched me. I pray for the families of these men and women. My deepest condolences to everyone in Sendai, Fukushima and to Japan. The Japanese speak most about honour and the Fukushima 50 have displayed honour of the highest degree.

Stay strong and fight on. You have the world behind you. Editors at TST truly wish everyone in Japan the very best as you look to bounce back from this setback.

A Father's Goodbye to his family: "Please continue to live well. I cannot be home for a while". Such is the sacrifice and such is the pain. To the family, spouse and children of the Fukushima 50, stand proud as your close one is nothing short of a Hero, nothing short of being the reason why we must live well to honour their efforts and sacrifice.

Silvio Berlusconi on trial for underage prostitution

Italian politics is entertaining, more so than its football actually. With a figure like Silvio Berlusconi as president, Italy has always drawn attention.

Filthy rich, owns a footballing icon in AC Milan, Hugh Hefner-style playboy (this old man actually has a mansion where he keeps his female friends with benefits), powerful... Berlusconi is the idol of many a Italian man, the Italian stallion if you will.

But the president is increasingly losing his allure and power, and sure enough, many analysts will think that this shall mark the beginning of his end.

We all know Silvio probably did have paid sex with the prostitute above (who probably did not tell him she was underage), and he probably did it in a muddle-headed sorta way, unknowingly and stupidly without thinking of consequences. But, isn't that what you will expect from the most powerful man in Italy. I bet he didn't think twice about it... unfortunately

So, its a case of finding something as lame as a sex escapade to bring down one of the most successful presidents of Italy. The same thing we saw with Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, the likelihood we will see a change of power in Italy, except Berlusconi will go out with a whim.

Berlusconi wouldn't have got anything better from his football team either, seeing them crash 0-1 to Tottenham at home. Go Spurs !

Ngog happy to see Torres leave?

I would have thought that the sale of Torres might have been celebrated by David Ngog who have been at Liverpool since 2008 and have struggled to make the first team at Liverpool despite being given many chances to prove himself.

Ngog is a strong, quick and with his agility, has the potential to cause problems for defenders. However, Ngog seems to lack composure in front of the goal and have a poor first touch. More importantly, despite the many opportunities given during Torres absence due to injury, Ngog has failed to impress with a lack of goals to be awarded as a first choice striker at Liverpool. He was benched under Benitez and continued to be regarded as second string during the short stint with Hodsgon.

The sale of Torres could have been the best news for Ngog as he might have enjoyed an automatic promotion to first string under Dalglish. Never did he expect the arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, which may have pushed him down further the pecking order at Liverpool.

Being 21 years of age, Ngog has probably another 2 years to prove himself at Liverpool. Work hard Ngog. Push yourself harder to be a better player. He probably needs some pyschological help and mediation to help him compose himself better when he is most needed, in front of the goal. Replicate your proudest moment during the 2-0 win over Manchester United (2009) in every game you play. Do that and you may enjoy the status of "Legend" at the KOP.

I'm interested to see if Ngog will have what it takes to establish himself at Liverpool. Only time (though not much) will tell.

Manchester is Red.

So much for Man City's striking prowness and cash rich owners, Manchester United still owns Manchester. Man City might have a case for being the better team, but at Old Trafford today, it was Man Utd tops again after yet another stunning derby win.

The Theatre of Dreams has yet another spectacular goal to add to its collection, courtesy of Wayne Rooney's fantastic overhead kick into the top corner. Fitting for a derby winner.

The magic of Manchester United is alive and well.

Unfortunately for the neighbors, Manchester is still red. We are Manchester.

Torres loses

Fernando Torres was non-existent.

Chelski lost despite playing at home and a three pronged attack featuring Anelka, Drogba and Torres.

Liverpool seems to have picked up a dogged revival, most likely influenced by their manager Daglish.

A new goalscoring hero emerges in Raul Meireles.

Chelsea have lost their title bid.

Ancelotti I think will lose his job at the end of the season, and I suspect strongly that there will be a big clearout at Stamford Bridge.

Dizzy end to the transfer window

Desperation drives people to do desperate things.

January's transfer window is always full of melodrama and this season's proved the same.

The biggest involved the 50 million pound transfer of Liverpool's Fernando Torres to Chelsea and the ridiculous (in my opinion) 35 million pound replacement Liverpool bought in Andy Carroll.

Paling in comparison, even though they are huge sums of money too, are the deals in excess of 20 million pounds each for Luis Suarez to Liverpool and David Luiz to Chelsea.

This signals the intent of Chelsea and Liverpool, who are not having the best of seasons.

Well, this is football. Roman Abramovich is starting to throw his weight around again, while Liverpool's owners are sadly just desperate.

Chelsea bought themselves a crocked Fernando Torres really. I don't think he is as good as when he first came to the BPL. I too can't see how you can pair Anelka or Drogba with Torres.

Liverpool bought an unproven striker in Carroll... yes, he scored a few goals this season, but I don't think he is worth more than Berbatov or Darren Bent who moved for 24 million to Aston Villa, for the matter. He is too raw to be worth that much money. Newcastle got themselves a fantastic deal in my opinion, but will they get relegated due to a lack of goals for the rest of the season and wanting money instead? We shall see.

Well, this makes for great entertainment. We will see how it all pans out. But too much stupid money going around for now.

Purpose, not passion

Many a time, you hear the all-too-common and implied phrase "You never get anywhere without passion."

While that is a statement true to a good extent, it is, at least in my opinion overused and misinterpreted.

I prefer to see things from another angle, another perspective, from that of a more significant "p" if you like. I tend to think, "You never get anywhere without purpose."

While obviously passion is a major force, it tends to have little direction unless shaped by purpose.

Maradona has great passion, and boy did the little Argetinian had talent. But all that passion and precocious talent never quite achieved its intended success did it? If you follow Maradona's career, you would most likely have thought "what if"... what if he did not get himself involved with drugs, or perhaps another talented left foot like George Best (above), arguably the most talented British winger... what if he did not fall under the spell of alcohol? They could have had a more fulfilling career, a more... purposeful one perhaps.

I see on mass media too often; the strings attached to passion being used way too rampantly. Young people are told to follow their passions with abandon, to pursue their entrepreneurial spirits with passion and attain success. While it is hard to argue against "doing what you like", I seldom think it is passion that drives someone to success, at least from what I observe, it is purpose, not passion.

Why Liverpool is in danger of losing everything.

Poor management.

And I don't mean the manager, I mean the people in charge in the boardroom.

How does allowing Roy Hodgson to leave at such an early stage in the season do anything to help the cause?

You think Kenny Daglish is going to change anything in the short term?

The problems inherent at Liverpool is that the team is simply not good enough, they are not a great team whereas Tottenham and Man City are building great teams. Secondly, they are way too thin on reserves, other than Torres and Gerrard and maybe Kuyt and Reina, the squad is lacking quality.

So, sacking the manager is NOT going to help. The Liverpool fans are not going to be appeased this season, no way should they be expecting a rousing finish. It is going to be a long rebuilding process, since the days of Rafa Benitez's era of overspending on poor players. No youth players coming up, injuries along the season, impatient and over-eager fanbase, this is a nightmare scenario for King Kenny. He could be fighting a potential relegation battle. We all know how things go in a downward spiral way too quickly.

One of the biggest mistakes made when Newcastle got relegated was releasing Sam Allardyce, and thought that a cult hero in Alan Shearer will lift the spirits of the club.

A club like Liverpool needs stability at the top, and I thought Roy Hodgson was unfairly and prematurely denied his time to do things his way, the Kop didn't allow him and I feel the Kop got it wrong.

FAS axes the whole National Team ?!?!

Excuse me, are you kidding me?

In what is a thinly veiled desperate attempt to "resuscitate" the FAS's reputation and maybe save a few "rice bowls", the FAS has decided to drop ALL current National Team players a.k.a the Lions...

I think this is the lamest piece of news I have ever seen in local football, other than of course the unveiling of the pathetic animal mascots they use for the S-League.

If the FAS think that making a publicity act of and shaming the now ex-Lions will save them the wrath of the Singapore fans, they are sadly mistaken...

For all the bad publicity about lax discipline and true to a good extent; poor performances from the Lions, I don't think the players are all to blame. I mean its been a whole year of dismal results in 2010, surely the man who picked the team Mr Raddy Avramovic and his coaches must take some blame? Surely, the FAS which did not "plan" ahead for the Suzuki Cup, thus leaving us with a bunch of oldies for the tournament should deserve a smacking too?

Anyway, Singapore fans, no matter how die-hard they may be are really just fans of Man Utd, Liverpool and what have you... we are part time Singaporeans when it comes to football. And that is a sad fact; but one that just reflects the dismal state of local football since the days of Fandi Ahmad, Abbas Saad and Sundramoorthy...

Time to go, Roy Hodgson?

I will leave this as an open-ended question and reserve my Mancunian comments for later.

Is it time for Roy Hodgson to leave? Has the Liverpool fans seen enough? Are the new owners losing their patience quickly?

What do you think?

Love to hear from the Liverpool fans.

Malaysia Boleh !!

A hearty congratulations to Malaysia for an undeniable victory at the AFF Suzuki Cup.

An incredible feat considering Malaysia has done it with mostly younger players in their early twenties. They played with heart and resolute defending to deny the tournament favourites Indonesia.

Winners overall at 4-2 aggregate, more than convincing in my opinion. With the decline of Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia's golden generation looks set to dominate South East Asian football for a few more years. (they also won the gold medal at the recently concluded SEA Games)

Special mention must be given to the Malaysian football federation for boldly turning the M-League into a 100% local tournament, with no foreign players involved. Their efforts clearly paid off, having built a solid team of Malaysian born and bred footballers. I am particularly impressed by their chief striker and tormentor Safee Sali and the bravehearts at the centre of their defence.

It wasn't long ago when Singapore thought they were better off than their neighbors. The Lions need a wake up call, the S-League needs a major revamp and fans need to demand that the FAS get their act together. Time to rid the league, the national team of slackers, wannabes and arrogant players. We need players who believe in playing as a team.

For that matter, I think our medal winning youth Olympic team is a good team to pour our resources into. Today, the moment belongs to Malaysia.

Benitez gets the sack.

So Rafa Benitez gets the sack. Boohoohoo... no one is crying.

I reckon this piece of news is the best Christmas gift Inter Milan fans will get.

I wondered why he was even appointed Inter coach in the first place, obviously he has caused Inter to go from European champions to their current dismal state in the Serie A.

Be some time before Rafa Benitez finds his new club, there are a few available places... West Ham? Blackburn? or maybe Woodlands Wellington?

Beautiful soccer vs Effective soccer

There is an animosity that will last between Man Utd and Arsenal for many years.

It stems from the rivalry of the 90s and the start of the century when Arsenal groomed a team of superstars in Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Overmars, Pires to challenge the highly successful team of Man Utd, with Fergie's Fledgings and the fearsome captain Roy Keane.

Arsenal has long been labeled as a team of kids, and kids don't win championships. Unfortunately, these days, there can be no more excuses about being young and naive, the Arsenal players are full internationals and are fully expected to deliver on the promise their pretty soccer deserves.

Which brings me to the next point, will beautiful soccer gain you any long term success?

We see Barcelona, Brazil and arguably Man Utd win trophies with beautiful attacking football.

But we also see the likes of Portugal, Real Madrid in recent years and Arsenal themselves failing to win any despite playing attractive football.

The truth is, you need to know when to play tough and when to display arrogance. Man Utd knows how to win ugly, and more often than not, they scrape 1-0 victories in their most successful seasons. On the other hand, Arsenal can be riled into playing a bad match if they are closed down either legally or illegally. We have seen them get kicked around and lose confidence almost immediately.

The old Arsenal had a steely midfield general in Vieira, and a no-nonsense back four led by Tony Adams and Martin Keown. These days, you can hardly put Alexandre Song or Laurent Koscielny in the same mould. They can be bullied into submission. Of course, I could eventually be made to eat my words, but I think Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney possess more guile and brute strenth to win physical battles when required.

Sometimes, you just have to win at all costs, and tonight's match is a crucial one for both teams. It is a huge confidence booster to go into Christmas, knowing you have beaten your closest rival and sit atop of the Premier League table. Alex Ferguson knows this too well, the Man Utd players are already pumping themselves up for the match. Arsenal meanwhile play the card of "bring it on" and defend themselves from the title of underachievers.

The key battles are individual, Evra vs. Nasri, Rooney vs Vermalaen and Koscielny, Arshavin and Chamakh vs Rio and Vida, Fletcher vs Song, Nani vs Clichy, Park vs Sagna. There is just that more experience and steely determination on the side of Man Utd.

With the home support, I think Man Utd will edge out Arsenal on this one.

Toothless Lions in AFF Suzuki Cup

I have always wondered why I will sit and watch the Lions a.k.a the Singapore National Football team on TV.

They frustrate the commentators (and audience), make schoolboy errors you only see at void deck soccer and sometimes just give the impression that they could not care less.

Luckily for all Singaporeans, the Lions put up a more gutsy performance in the 2nd half to overturn a one goal deficit against Myanmar and win 2-1; anything less will see them all but likely kicked out of the tournament.

A last minute goal does little to mask the lacklustre performance from a Singapore side that looked lost and clueless in front of goal. For long periods in the match, the Burmese looked hungrier. The "white angels" as they are called had more heart than the Lions. What an irony.

Contrary to belief... Lions don't really bite. Meow...

Five-Star Brilliance...*poofed*

Just days following the famous demolition of Blackburn by 7-1, Man Utd (Youths?) fell to a 4-0 defeat handed out by West Ham United. Formerly a Man Utd player, Jonathan Spector inspired the victory, scoring for the first time (2 goals) in the English Premier League since his involvement in 2004.

Man Utd included some "experience" amongst his predominantly youth line-up during the Carling Cup match but I suppose the likes of Ryan Giggs just proved insufficient to compensate for the inexperience of the other younger players.

Avram Grant claimed to not be surprised by the victory but for all we know, he could be croaking (I think toads croak right??) a song in his bath tonight as he relish in defeating Man Utd.

Don't they just look so alike? Croak on Avram! Read more...

Five-Star Berbatov

Five star performance from one of football's finest artisans.

Few dazzle like Berbatov when he is on fire, last that comes to mind is Dennis Bergkamp.

Man Utd 7 Blackburn 1

Liverpool's Twentyman. The secret to our glory days.

Born in Carlisle, Geoffrey Twentyman (1930 to 2004) is Liverpool's most notable Chief Scout during the Glory days between 1967 and 1990. Geoff Twentyman began his playing career in Carlisle and went on to make 170 appearances for Liverpool as a Central Defender, scoring 18 goals. He made quite an impact as Liverpool's center guard, strong and steady, fitting well into the English's rough and direct game, full of physical contact.

Following his retirement as a player, Geoff Twentyman had a short stint managing at Morecambe and Hartlepool before Bill Shankly called him in as a Chief Scout. As the KOP reminiscence the hay days where Liverpool dominated the game, we would recall the great managers of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. What they all had in common was great players, all thanks to a great scouting system, revolving around Geoff Twentyman.

Geoff Twentyman had a vision. He believed that Liverpool had to focus on recruiting players from the North or Midlands in order for them to adapt better to life at Anfield, and believed that they will commit more passion and dedication to the club and their game.

Geoff Twentyman used his charismatic personality and his experience as a player, to successfully scout notable players such as Alan Hansen, Terry McDermott, Ian Rush, Malcolm MacDonald, Trevor Francis and Andy Gray. All of whom contributed to Liverpool's dominance and became legends of the KOP. During his reign as Chief Scout, the only Southern player recruited was Paul Walsh, much against his recommendations, in 1984. Geoff Twentyman left for the Rangers in 1986 to join up with Graeme Souness and this also marked the decline of Liverpool's dominance.

A club is made up of its players, management and fans. It is the players who determine how the club play its game and it is the fans who are the cheerleaders of the game, providing the players and the club a reason to do well. Together, passion and tradition is put in place, something which till today defines the Liverpool Football Club.

We today lack what Geoff Twentyman had provided in the late 1900s. Liverpool needs to recognise the importance of a good scouting system and a good youth academy. This is a plea to John Henry to recognise this. Time is needed but an action is needed right now. The game may have changed since the 1900s, but what remains constant is the need for a player to possess passion, determination and skill. Let us begin an era of rebuilding at Anfield as we prepare for dominance once again.

Read more about Geoff Twentyman in a book titled "Secret Diary Of A Liverpool Scout".

Tribute to Alex Ferguson

As Sir Alex celebrates his 24 year reign at Old Trafford, I salute the man who remains one of my favourite heroes in football.

Sir Alex alone defined the Man Utd of today; he created a superclub of football clubs. We have come to identify with Sir Alex's ingenue when it comes to footballing tactics and player management. And we have seen his astute eye for talent, from Eric Cantona to Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the same breath, we have also come to terms with Sir Alex's fiery Scottish temper, and the infamous "hairdryer" treatment he dishes out when he demands more from his beloved team. of course, there were the politics at a big club which he handled admirably. Call him an ironfist at Man Utd all you want, but he has the record to prove he is the most successful manager modern football has ever seen in his trophy-laden 24 years at the helm of Man Utd.

There are many pretenders to the label of "best manager" today, not least Jose Mourinho who has won at every club he went to. But Jose had the benefit of riches from Russian tycoons and Spanish monarchs, while Sir Alex built a club on youth policy and banked on local heroes like Bryan Robson, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. It was a touch of masterclass that saw him bring on Eric Cantona, Ronaldo or even Wayne Rooney that will add that extra bit of world class to the rampaging Red Machine of Manchester. It was Alex Ferguson who made Man Utd a world phenomenon of free flowing football, passion and the enduring commitment to be the best.

Who will replace the Grandmaster at the hotseat waiting to be filled when one day Sir Alex shall finally step down. It is anybody's guess but it is hard to fathom what big shoes the new manager will have to fill in. Will he ever be good enough? For surely he must lack in some area Sir Alex has achieved in abundance; PR skills, player management, tactical acumen, risk-taker, drill seargeant, cheerleader, mentor, coach, disciplinarian, father, the gaffer...

Sir Alex shall remain in the folklore of Manchester United as long as the club shall exist. And he obviously is not quite finished yet.

Beckham news... what's the big deal?

And so, I caught a glimpse of the latest news in Major League Soccer... David Beckham made two assists as LA Galaxy beat some other team in the MLS to gain entry to the... whatever...

Who the heck cares about the MLS?

I say it once, I say it again... football (I mean soccer...) will NEVER reach cult status in the United States, I don't quite believe the Americans know what footballing passion really is. Its a country of baseball, basketball, football (the American kind), Nascar (the most boring thing on TV, watching cars running in circles)... anyway they even invented a name for football called "soccer"... what the heck is soccer?!??!

And for the sake of the footballing gods, Beckham being there is the lamest joke since Pele went to the USA... he is way past his due date, and LA is a just a glamorous hangout for him. I'd rather watch the J-League frankly (I refuse to stoop low enough to say I will watch the S-League though, cos that will be impossible...)

I have only respect for USA goalkeepers, cue Brad Freidel, Tim Howard, Kasey Keller... the rest of what they call soccer is bullsh**. Pretty much like this blog.

There you go, I said my piece. Now spare me the news of David Beck-ham and his merry men. More Victoria please...

Anfield rocked as Chelsea was downed 2-0 by Liverpool.

Liverpool is finally showing some signs of life as they beat Chelsea 2-0 at Anfield.

The commitment and cleverness in Dirk Kuyt's 11th minute pass led to a goal from Torres and this was followed by a brilliant strike from Torres at the 44th minute. The game was practically over by the first half as Chelsea struggled to provide an answer to Liverpool's strike force.

This has helped ease Liverpool's woes and helped further open the competition for top spot as Arsenal succumbed to a home defeat by Newcastle and Man Utd claiming a narrow 2-1 win over Wolves.

I do hope that Kuyt and Torres can further their performances this weekend at Wigan! Come on now Liverpool! You Can Do It.

Crouch no Van der Vaart.

Tottenham seem to suffer a hangover from their inspired triumph over Inter Milan at home during mid-week, as they slumped to a 4-2 away defeat to Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

Just 2 weeks ago, Rafael Van der Vaart came to Tottenham's rescue, claiming a goal against Everton to steal a much needed point from Everton in front of the home fans at White Hart Lane.

This week, we see Van der Vaart being left out of the squad, leaving Crouch alone up front. Tottenham only managed 2 goals coming from Hutton and Pavlyuchenko, which makes us wonder if Crouch simply lacks the instinct to bring in any goals other than his occasional header from amongst the confusion during set pieces. To make things worse for Tottenham, Gomes' "butter fingers" allowed in 4 goals which made their 2 goals somewhat of a consolation as they failed to complete their comeback to equalise for the needed point to challenge for this season's Championship spot.

Having played just over 10 games, the season is still young but the competition is fierce. Hopefully, the loss at Bolton won't come back to bite Tottenham at the end of the season as they mount their challenge for honours in the English Premier League.

Suggestion: Stop Crouch from further embarrassing himself. He has failed to score a single goal in the league this season and a total of 8 in the league last season! I'm sure Harry Redknapp can better entrust his faith and dreams to someone who looked less like a pair of chopsticks on the field.

Liverpool's Star; Dirk Kuyt - The Special One.

In light of all the recent spats involving Liverpool; Benitez releasing his bursts at Christian Purslow and Roy Hodgson, another involving Kenny Dalglish and some unrests amongst current and ex players, I believe it's time to focus on some positive news about the club.

Every club seem to have their valued player and I believe Liverpool has its very own. Out of all the 34 first team players (13 internationals), I somehow feel that Dirk Kuyt deserves this special mention.

First brought into Liverpool in 2006 as a striker, Dirk Kuyt has proved himself time and again to be part of the essence that makes up the Liverpool spirit. He has established himself as an amazing player, playing an important role for both Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson. A phrase to describe Dirk Kuyt, he "never fails to deliver" when required.

Just hitting 30 this year, I do hope that Dirk Kuyt can stay on with Liverpool for another few more seasons to guide the youth at Liverpool, building its youth academy to its original glory. Let's see more young players from the youth acamdey at Liverpool, displaying the commitment and passion that Dirk Kuyt has vivdly displayed in every match, on and off the pitch, for club and country.

On a separate note, Roy Hodgson may seem like an antediluvian, but his old fashioned ways may be just what Liverpool needs to ground the entire club for required rebuilding.

Exciting new talent

The Champions League often reveal the stars of tomorrow. Remember a certain gangly young man called Wayne Rooney who blasted in a hat trick against Fernabache on his debut season in the Champions League?

Last night's Champions League matches showcased the talents in the BPL.

Most notably, they are all exciting wingers.

Bebe, Obertan and Bale. Watch out for these new names as they storm down the wings for Man Utd and Tottenham for the rest of this season.

Daylight savings starts today, 31/10/10.

Dear readers of TST,

Please do note that daylight savings (DST) begins today in the U.K. and thus the time difference between Singapore and the U.K. will be increased to 8 hours, i.e. GMT+8.

Courtesy of TST editors.

Is there no more hope in football?

I hate to rattle off on this Wayne Rooney saga. Its frustrating to watch my club going into disarray with all these media attention.

And as I read the comments made by Rooney about his decision to leave, I was left chuckling to myself. This was the hero of Man Utd last season, the boy who could do no wrong, the player who carried the hopes of England and Man Utd. And here he was, issuing a statement about the club lacking ambition.

This is the era of zero respect. Sir Alex is right, there is no more player loyalty, there is no such thing as family. Players and manager can no longer exist as family. There is no room for team first, me second. There is no belief system in a club with proud traditions and a manager with a proven track record. All that matters is money, and how much more one can get. All that matter is me, and what I want to achieve.

Notice how Wayne deflects his own part in the whole saga by claiming that it has nothing to do with money, but the lack of ambition at the club. He has turned from hero to zero in my opinion. Leave all you want, but don't leave a scathing remark behind as if the rest of the players will never match your 'lofty' standards. Leave and don't stab the rest of your family in the backs just because you want to go.

Wayne Rooney will never learn from this till it is too late. He will never find a place quite like Man Utd again. His departure reeks of selfish ambition, poor judgement and ungentlemanly behavior.

Consumerism has taken over the minds of many including young players. Just because the money is there, does not mean a club has to buy to be 'ambitious'. The last time I checked, football was a team game.

In the words of TST, turn your expectations into inspiration and stop whining about everyone else.

Rooney saga

Looks like another saga is boiling over. The media is picking up on dissatisfaction in the Man Utd camp and smells blood.

If the media is to be trusted, Wayne Rooney is set to switch clubs. It was not so long ago when Rooney told public media that he is commited to Man Utd and the cause.

What a shame it will be if England's most talented player is to leave arguably the most successful club in modern history to join Real Madrid or worse... Chelsea.

I don't like to see Rooney leave, I hope the sensible part of him will prevail and tell him this is only a phase he needs to get through; with all the media scrutiny and the reported disagreements with the gaffer. I hope he sees the better examples in Giggs and Scholes to realise that longevity in a successful footballing career lies in concentrating what is on the field not what is off it.

There is simply nowhere else for Wayne Rooney, an English born and bred to ply his trade at the highest level.

But then again, Man Utd is bigger than any player, and as much as the hearts of many fans will ache with regret, we will wish the Roon all the best wherever he might choose to go. His departure will free up space for new stars to arise. Case in point, Nani is flourishing with Ronaldo gone.

Ding ding, next legend-in-the-making please...

Peter Lim to take over Liverpool?

The biggest news at the start of the week must be the proposed takeover bid by Peter Lim, a Singaporean billionaire of Liverpool FC.

To have a piece of English history owned by Singapore is quite a staggering thought. To take it away from the Yankees (Hicks and Gillet) who know nothing about soccer must a double bonus, not least for the loyal Liverpool fans who have been yearning for a white knight. The last thing Liverpool fans want to see really is sell their club to another group of Yankees (NESV).

I can't say Singaporeans really understand how massive this might be; if the projected takeover goes through. Liverpool is HUGE, but wasn't the Formula One night race in Singapore once a distant dream too? Now, the Singapore GP has become one of the crown jewels on the F1 racing calendar. Having a Singaporean owner at Liverpool Football Club will forever etch this tiny nation called Singapore into the history of the English Premier League, arguably the league with the longest history and possibly the greatest following worldwide.

One thing I admire about this little red dot of an island we come from is that we dare to challenge the big boys, albeit in a wise and calculated manner.

I presume Liverpool fans will be stoked at the chance of seeing a local Singaporean son own their football club. Imagine the fanfare ?!?!

Oh well, I just hope we all get free EPL if Mr Lim does succeed... Get rid of Singtel mio for god's sake.

Manslater!!!

Hey Soccer Fans! Use the Manslater to find out if your spouse allows you to catch the game with your friends!

The most stupid goalkeeper, Khalid Askari

If there ever is a "funniest goalkeeper" award for professional goalkeepers, it has to go to Khalid Askari.

Google him and youtube his famous videos.

1.) "Never count your eggs before they hatch." a.k.a "Never celebrate like you have saved a penalty before the ball rolls into the goal."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-rI0aDmgpE

2.) "Run away when you make mistakes." a.k.a "Take off your shirt and run home to mama; as if nothing happenened when you miskick the ball to an opponent."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i40i39KVtPs

Hilarious stuffs.

Strong managers make a difference.

Every club faces its own set of problems, be it financial or management. However, these problems technically shouldn't affect a club's performance, due to an assumption that the players, managers and coaches alike, are there to play a good game of football.

Of course, all of that has changed due to the nature of the sport and the league, where employees of the club are worried about their paycheck and players are deemed as assets of the club, thus traded as a commodity.

Liverpool is looking to fall into administration. I urge Roy Hodgson to step up as a manager. I urge the players to step up as players of the game. The fans do not support Liverpool because of its wealth, the fans support Liverpool because of its history as a football club. A club that plays a good game of football. A club that delivers results on the field and off the field. A club that is respected for its tradition and its values.

It is important that the manager takes control of the atmosphere in the dressing room, ensuring that the right attitude is instilled in his players. To ensure that the club's administrative problems are not a concern of his players and definitely should not be his priority.

I stress again, every club has its own set of problems. Manchester United has its own problems, with fans disliking the owners, with the club making an overall loss. These should never be an excuse as it is the manager who holds the fort in terms of the game.

Roy Hodgson, take the reins in the dressing room. Do honours to Liverpool by putting out a team that delivers a good game of football.

What is wrong with Liverpool?

'Nuff said.

Roy Hodgson is not having the best of times at Liverpool.

The fans hate the owners, the owners hate the fans.

The players are lethargic and not used to the new style of Hodgson.

Looks like a long season ahead for Liverpool

Ooh ahh Berba !!

Berbatov, much maligned for the languid style he plays is the new hero at Man Utd.

Fickle minded fans (including Man Utd fans) who thought that he was rubbish deserved the slap in the face.

Berba is class. A footballer's footballer. Blasphemous as it may be, he might actually emulate the finesse of the legend himself, King Eric Cantona.

Boy do I detest fickle fans.

Letter to Mr Winston Lee: S-League CEO.

Dear Mr Winston Lee,

I don't watch the S League too much, for reasons too obvious to mention here. Most of the matches resemble "volleyball matches". The ball goes from one end to the other.

But, if I had a regret for not watching one whether live or on TV, it must be missing the "free-for-all" a.k.a streetfight, flying kungfu kicks in an otherwise typical S League match (cue Young Lions vs Beijing Guoan)

Lest to say, ugly scenes are disturbing, especially when one involves the Young Lions.

But I must agree that football is a contact sport and sometimes, tempers are hard to manage in the heat of the moment.

It is embarassing but at least it brought some well-needed (dare I say) entertainment value to the S League.

By the way, who is the marketing executive at the S League committee? Can I suggest that the fella be sacked/deduct his pay because for so many years now, the S League is still NOT attracting anbody to watch the teams play. In a city which I consider to be football mad, it is hard to comprehend why that might be the case.

Mr Lee, I think you should really, seriously consider doing some well needed soul-searching to reach the Singapore masses. Actually, it isn't that hard to spot potential viewers, they are all around us. All it needs is some creativity which obviously this league lacks. Don't say I never help:

1.) The uncles sitting at the kopitiam (offer free Tiger beer.)
2.) The void deck soccer boys (give chance to play with some pros and make them part of the "abang" circle.)
3.) The SPGs (bring in more angmohs and create "meet-the-angmoh player" nights. Etoile the French team can lead that initiative.)
4.) The soccer geeks watching BPL at home (subsidized Singtel mio if they come and watch a fixed number of live matches.)
5.) The girlfriends and spouses of football mad Singaporean men etc. (create a WAGs club per team; who will take in female members and go spa-ing, shopping and have high teas together.)

Mr Lee, I don't want to be impolite but please be sensible and stop wasting taxpayers money on something so chui that it CANNOT even attract Singaporeans. Very lau kui you know.

Yawn... I am bored just writing this. Ok, back to my Engrish Premier Reague.

Yours sincerely,
Fisheye

Will Rooney play?

Will Rooney turn up at Goodison Park, grounds of his childhood club?

Will he be dropped because of his recent scandal?

Will Sir Alex be afraid to unleash a potential hothead onto the pitch with abusing fans from Goodison Park waiting to pounce?

Will the Roon get flak from the Everton players for his escapades behind his wife's back?

Will Wayne be able to handle the pressure, the mockery and the menacing jeers?

If Wayne could rise above it all, he will prove himself to be a true fighter, a world beater, and a professional through and through.

Only then do we know that Wayne Rooney has truly arrived. Go get 'em Roon.

Capello reversing his decision. Beckham creating a new stir in England.

David Beckham is a name synonymous to Football since the mid 1990s as he rose to fame while playing for Manchester United. Despite leaving England in 2003, Beckham continue to have influence in the football community in England. Beckham has always expressed his desire to play for England and has worked hard to prove himself fit and viable for competitive football on the international stage. Beckham came close to playing for England at the recent World Cup 2010 but his plans were thwarted by an unexpected injury to his ankle.

Capello offered Beckham a farewell game as he probably wanted to subtly let Beckham know that he will no longer be considering him for the England squad. However, Capello seems have taken a U-turn on this decision as he eat his words and is now again saying that there might be value in older players and will still continue to consider Beckham for the squad as long as he plays regularly.

We can only begin to wonder what is the reason behind such a reverse in decision and words. Is Beckham too influential in England and the Football community? Maybe the retirement of some key players in the England squad has forced Capello to seek other options. Worst of all, Capello's decision to focus on the youth may simply be not feasible as we don't see many promising and capable youths coming up the ranks in England.

Well, we may once again see Beckham curl a ball for England come 2012.

Instinct

Sometimes in life, you don't have the luxury of time when making a decision or analyzing a situation.

That's when you trust your instincts. It is an acumen that is unique to the most successful and favours the courageous. It doesn't come overnight of course, it comes through trained foresight overtime, experience, talent and sometimes luck.

The best soldiers have it, the most brilliant investors have it, the highly skilled doctors have it too.

The recent acquisition of Bebe, the Portugese street footballer by Sir Alex Ferguson is a prime example of that. Who is going to bet against a manger who discovered Giggs, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Beckham, Nevilles etc. and groomed them to stardom.

From time to time, instinct fails you. (i.e. African flops Manucho, Djemba Djemba, Brazilian disappointment Kleberson, unhappy Argentine Veron, the Italian clown Massimo Taibi.) but more often than not, instinct brought him more good than bad (see above names again).

"Sometimes you have to go on an instinct, you look at material, you look at the player's age and whether they're bringing pace, balance, desire to play and things like that. That's how a category is formed." Sir Alex Ferguson

Trust your instincts.

Youth Olympics to cost more than S$300 million.

*Picture taken from http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/07/yog-budget-balloons-s104m-to-s387m/

The inaugural Youth Olympics is about to take place and while much news have been generated, I was wondering whether we all know about this piece of news.

The Youth Olympics was estimated to cost S$104 million but is now reported that it may cost the country S$387 million, which is more than 3 times the initial estimate. In contrast to this amount, The ComCare and Social Support programme is set to receive S$92.39 million while the Social Service Sector Planning programme is set to receive $83.02 million, of which both costs more than 3 times less than the inaugural event which is to last for 13 days, this August 2010.

More surprising news is that the local government is putting its initiative to allocate a special lane for YOG vehicles through markings on its road, which requires local vehicles to give way to YOG vehicles or be liable to a fine of S$130. I suppose this is to encourage the locals to show graciousness as hosts and to allow smooth travel of YOG vehicles between event venues.

I wonder if the local government extrapolates this initiative to ensuring that locals give way to emergency vehicles such as Ambulances? I suppose if the purpose is to ensure smooth travel and to encourage graciousness, this should have been initiated a long time ago for emergency vehicles too? We can only wonder...

Chicharito- the next Red legend.

Javier Hernandez, Chicharito (otherwise known as the little pea)

Small in stature, big on talent.

Love his friendly nature and his ease at finding the back of the net.

He is the next smiling assassin, we've waited long for the successor to the predatory Ole Solskjaer.

I am loving Chicharito already.

Discrimination against Liverpool Fans.

Other than the usual job requirements, Nom Nom Media added another clause, stating that the applicant must not be a Liverpool fan. Although this is followed by cheeky emoticon (:P), it still doesn't change the fact that the company is blatantly discriminating against Liverpool fans.

check out the ad here:

(http://www.nuffnang.com.sg/blog/2010/07/01/we-are-hiring-again-growing-to-conquer/)

Nom Nom Media is the exclusive media reseller for Nuffnang, whilst Nuffnang is Asia's first and leading blog advertising community. We can only begin to wonder why a company of such stature amongst the online community chose to put such a discriminating clause in their job advertisement.

Putting aside that I am a Liverpool fan, it is disappointing our following in football is now going to affect our job opportunities. I empathise with my fellow Liverpool fans, who might have been eyeing for this position. Truly disappointed to know that such things are happening. Liverpool fans should do something about this. Football fans around the world should do something about this.

NO WAY SHOULD WE ALLOW OUR FOLLOWING IN FOOTBALL TO AFFECT OUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES!

Success is built, not bought.

With the new season of the BPL soon to start in August, the current transfer period is full of activity, albeit only one club dealing furiously... Manchester City.

The blue half of Manchester is doing what we affectionately call the "Real Madrid" way of building success. Whether it is success or not is undefined.

I have a problem with buying your way to success. I am a big fan of Manchester United, and a big part of that is the way Man Utd earn their success by building from the ground up. Every generation that brought glory to the club is heavily influenced by the youth academy. You've got the Busby Babes from Bobby Charlton's era, you've got Fergie's Fledgings like Beckham, Neville brothers and the influential Giggs and Scholes. Then you had Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best talent in the world that honed his skills at Carrington. You're witnessing the rise of Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher and a new bunch of youngsters that will soon be household names (tip: watch out for Obertan, Macheda, Welbeck and Cleverley).

Success is built from the ground level up. It is the same in every area. While there are stories of instant success, they are few and far between. The problem with non-footballing owners like Manchester City's is that they expect instant success, and by that they think money will buy them a trophy. They have really missed the whole picture. History makers like Man Utd build their way up, and that can never be replaced by instant gratification from having loads of money.

If you have a goal in mind, and have dedicated yourself to working at it, I am sure you can identify with hardship, rejection and failures. Take heart because the way to success is often long and winding, and it takes many experiences along the way to find it. And just for that matter, you might never find it. Success depends much on opportunity and whether you have grabbed it with both hands.

Enjoy the journey and look back, knowing that even if you never achieve the lofty heights of Man Utd, at least you made an effort to build a legacy, not buy one.