When I grow up, I wanna insure my nose hair. Those lil things are the shortest and neatest things I have ever seen. Hahahaha, okay, lemmi go back to how this came about. I was heading to work today morning and as usual I was listening to Rude Awakening by Fareed Khimani (by the way I totally dig that MNet ad they did). So yea, I was listening to him, and he was talking about what body parts people insure. Some celebrities have insured crazy things like voices, fingers, CHEST HAIR etc. Beckham actually has his legs insured for 70 million dollars (jumping off that 25-storey building seems worth it now, huh?)
But seriously, that is insane. The lengths people would go to are just amazing. So back to me, yea, I would insure my nose hair. Do not look at me like that. It was either my nose hair or my ankles. The former kicked ass more :) Anyway, I know I promised today (okay, twas to be yesterday but I was a bit sick) would be all about football so here we go. I will take it in order of how the clubs finished the season, from 6th position going up.
So Liverpool were playing Aston Villa and despite Dalglish's recent brilliance in his managerial role, they failed to win, losing out, though narrowly, to Martin O'Neil's side. I am a Devil (Red, that is) and as a result my entire DNA goes against what I am about to say right now. All the same, Liverpool have been great the past couple of games, since Kenny took over. Suarez is in sensational form and they have finally started playing like a team. However, I am yet to be fully convinced that they will pose a credible title challenge next season. This is because they lack one very important factor. CONSISTENCY.
TOTTENHAM played relegation threatened Birmingham (and to think they are playing European football next season, while in the Coca Cola Championship) and Rednapp's men were able to win. Now Spurs is my second favourite team in English football for one reason. Okay, two. One, they are the comeback kings (just ask Arsenal, hahahaha). They almost have this never-say-die attitude shown by UNITED which is something I have always admired. The second and most important reason is one man going by the name of HARRY REDKNAPP. I hold that he is one of the best managers today (hence his friendship with Fergie). He has done so much with an average team and I salute him for that. Spurs missed out on a Champions League place but they still have European duty in the Europa League.
Arsenal played against Fulham in a game few expected them to not win. But then I think people always forget that this is Arsenal. They are quite capable of anything. I mean, for most of this season, the EPL was a two horse race. They finished FOURTH. Only they can pull that off. So they ended up drawing with the Badgers while their CAPTAIN, Fabregas was away in Catalonia watching the Grand Prix (I reckon it was more comforting after recent events). Bottom line is Wenger needs to dig deep into the bank and buy players. Experienced players. They now have to prepare themselves for the Champions League qualifiers, which is a sad turn of events for a club deemed among the elite in European football.
Now, this pains me even more than the Liverpool part so I will not even refer to this club by name. Let us call them our noisy neighbours. So at least they won their last game against Bolton on the last day and throughout the season managed to fend off Spurs AND beat Arsenal to the coveted automatic Champions League spot. All this mainly thanks to former UNITED player Tevez (we are everywhere :D). They also won the FA Cup, their first trophy in almost 5 decades (sound worse than giving the exact number of years *evil laugh*). Mancini is doing a good job but the 'failures of Manchester' need to realise that money is not everything and they need to be careful in the future lest they turn into another Real Madrid (I really hate these guys too). Oh, and to neutralise all the praise I have heaped on them, I hope in the CL group stages, they draw Barca, AC Milan and Bayern :D
The boys in blue were playing Rooney's former club (told you we everywhere) Everton and the Toffees beat Ancelloti and co. Actually, a more precise statement would be Everton put Ancelotti out of his job. However, the manner in which Chelsea went about sacking him was just uncalled for. Very unprofessional. Yea, so maybe they suffered mid-season blues (all pun intended) but he was able to get them on their toes again and even led them to believe, albeit falsely, they they could reclaim the title (which is rightfully UNITED'S). And anyway, a second place finish is not that bad so the sacking was just stupid. Even Fergie said it. Let's see who Abramovich's money will lure to The Bridge next.
Finally, the part I have been waiting for all this time. MANCHESTER UNITED. So we played Blackpool and won 4-2 ('big whoop') leading to their relegation. Owen and Anderson even scored (this may be a long shot but Fergie should probably start Owen at Wembley) and then we were given what is rightfully ours. It was only fitting that VDS retires at the top of his game and what better way than with an unprecedented 19th title? Seeing Nemanja 'Terminator' Vidic lift that trophy was so satisfying because he has practically carried us throughout the season. He deserves every moment of glory. Fergie was watching by the sidelines as he basked in the glory of finally achieving what few thought he could. Knocking Liverpool off the perch. And to think when they were at 18 titles we were at a mere 7. I am actually out of words to describe that day so for now, GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED.
Sunday was dubbed Relegation/Survival Sunday with close to 5 clubs fighting to keep their heads above the water. It was an endless tug-of-war which eventually saw Blackpool and Birmingham go down along with already relegated West Ham. Birmingham can go for all I care (after all, they have Europe duty next season) and West Ham I do not care much for but Blackpool honestly did not deserve to be relegated. They put up a very strong fight this season, especially against much stronger opposition. They have been brilliant, at times. I do feel bad for them but then again that is football. It is the price you pay for inconsistency. I hope to see them promoted next season.
Yesterday was the Gary Neville Testimonial (with all proceeds going to charity), played against Juventus. The visitors won 2-1 thanks to as stunning free kick given away by the master of set-pieces, David Beckham. It was so good seeing Becks and Butt back in UNITED colours, with the former receiving cheers with every touch of the ball. Seems he is still a favourite at Old Trafford. The class of '92 (Becks, Butt, Scholes and Gary's brother Phil) re-united to bid their friend farewell as he hung up his boots on his professional playing career. However, he has said he will stay on at OT in a coaching role. I salute Gary for giving his formative years to his boyhood club. He may not have been the most talented of players but his sheer determination, will-power and disciple saw him through a glittering career. God bless you Neville.
But seriously, that is insane. The lengths people would go to are just amazing. So back to me, yea, I would insure my nose hair. Do not look at me like that. It was either my nose hair or my ankles. The former kicked ass more :) Anyway, I know I promised today (okay, twas to be yesterday but I was a bit sick) would be all about football so here we go. I will take it in order of how the clubs finished the season, from 6th position going up.
So Liverpool were playing Aston Villa and despite Dalglish's recent brilliance in his managerial role, they failed to win, losing out, though narrowly, to Martin O'Neil's side. I am a Devil (Red, that is) and as a result my entire DNA goes against what I am about to say right now. All the same, Liverpool have been great the past couple of games, since Kenny took over. Suarez is in sensational form and they have finally started playing like a team. However, I am yet to be fully convinced that they will pose a credible title challenge next season. This is because they lack one very important factor. CONSISTENCY.
TOTTENHAM played relegation threatened Birmingham (and to think they are playing European football next season, while in the Coca Cola Championship) and Rednapp's men were able to win. Now Spurs is my second favourite team in English football for one reason. Okay, two. One, they are the comeback kings (just ask Arsenal, hahahaha). They almost have this never-say-die attitude shown by UNITED which is something I have always admired. The second and most important reason is one man going by the name of HARRY REDKNAPP. I hold that he is one of the best managers today (hence his friendship with Fergie). He has done so much with an average team and I salute him for that. Spurs missed out on a Champions League place but they still have European duty in the Europa League.
Arsenal played against Fulham in a game few expected them to not win. But then I think people always forget that this is Arsenal. They are quite capable of anything. I mean, for most of this season, the EPL was a two horse race. They finished FOURTH. Only they can pull that off. So they ended up drawing with the Badgers while their CAPTAIN, Fabregas was away in Catalonia watching the Grand Prix (I reckon it was more comforting after recent events). Bottom line is Wenger needs to dig deep into the bank and buy players. Experienced players. They now have to prepare themselves for the Champions League qualifiers, which is a sad turn of events for a club deemed among the elite in European football.
Now, this pains me even more than the Liverpool part so I will not even refer to this club by name. Let us call them our noisy neighbours. So at least they won their last game against Bolton on the last day and throughout the season managed to fend off Spurs AND beat Arsenal to the coveted automatic Champions League spot. All this mainly thanks to former UNITED player Tevez (we are everywhere :D). They also won the FA Cup, their first trophy in almost 5 decades (sound worse than giving the exact number of years *evil laugh*). Mancini is doing a good job but the 'failures of Manchester' need to realise that money is not everything and they need to be careful in the future lest they turn into another Real Madrid (I really hate these guys too). Oh, and to neutralise all the praise I have heaped on them, I hope in the CL group stages, they draw Barca, AC Milan and Bayern :D
The boys in blue were playing Rooney's former club (told you we everywhere) Everton and the Toffees beat Ancelloti and co. Actually, a more precise statement would be Everton put Ancelotti out of his job. However, the manner in which Chelsea went about sacking him was just uncalled for. Very unprofessional. Yea, so maybe they suffered mid-season blues (all pun intended) but he was able to get them on their toes again and even led them to believe, albeit falsely, they they could reclaim the title (which is rightfully UNITED'S). And anyway, a second place finish is not that bad so the sacking was just stupid. Even Fergie said it. Let's see who Abramovich's money will lure to The Bridge next.
Finally, the part I have been waiting for all this time. MANCHESTER UNITED. So we played Blackpool and won 4-2 ('big whoop') leading to their relegation. Owen and Anderson even scored (this may be a long shot but Fergie should probably start Owen at Wembley) and then we were given what is rightfully ours. It was only fitting that VDS retires at the top of his game and what better way than with an unprecedented 19th title? Seeing Nemanja 'Terminator' Vidic lift that trophy was so satisfying because he has practically carried us throughout the season. He deserves every moment of glory. Fergie was watching by the sidelines as he basked in the glory of finally achieving what few thought he could. Knocking Liverpool off the perch. And to think when they were at 18 titles we were at a mere 7. I am actually out of words to describe that day so for now, GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED.
Sunday was dubbed Relegation/Survival Sunday with close to 5 clubs fighting to keep their heads above the water. It was an endless tug-of-war which eventually saw Blackpool and Birmingham go down along with already relegated West Ham. Birmingham can go for all I care (after all, they have Europe duty next season) and West Ham I do not care much for but Blackpool honestly did not deserve to be relegated. They put up a very strong fight this season, especially against much stronger opposition. They have been brilliant, at times. I do feel bad for them but then again that is football. It is the price you pay for inconsistency. I hope to see them promoted next season.
Yesterday was the Gary Neville Testimonial (with all proceeds going to charity), played against Juventus. The visitors won 2-1 thanks to as stunning free kick given away by the master of set-pieces, David Beckham. It was so good seeing Becks and Butt back in UNITED colours, with the former receiving cheers with every touch of the ball. Seems he is still a favourite at Old Trafford. The class of '92 (Becks, Butt, Scholes and Gary's brother Phil) re-united to bid their friend farewell as he hung up his boots on his professional playing career. However, he has said he will stay on at OT in a coaching role. I salute Gary for giving his formative years to his boyhood club. He may not have been the most talented of players but his sheer determination, will-power and disciple saw him through a glittering career. God bless you Neville.
As I sign out, booyah!
Another great piece :)
ReplyDeleteadok60 seconded!!! :)
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