Is this a blog about football?

2011 2012 and ahead

2011-12-28T23:21:00.004+08:00

It is almost 2012... and I have not entered a single entry in 2011.

Not that I have nothing to add, but just that getting my words and thoughts online seemed like a chore, when one can have facebook...

My resolution for 2012:

"To be a positive person, with positivity who receives willingly and expectantly"
"To be a positive influence with all that I will meet in the coming future."

Have a fantastic 2012!

Has it been more then a year again!

2010-01-06T21:32:00.002+08:00

Its the 6th of Jan 2010!

I have not been in here since dont know when...

A little update though, the Nike boots that i was wearing, has come undone... and i have got myself a Gold Puma Boots!

will come back in again soon, hopefully before this pair of boots go kaput!

Its been a year

2009-03-13T12:09:00.002+08:00

A year comes and goes just like that...?

its been more than 13 mths since i last had an entry, not cos i was lazy, more so cos i forgot how to get into this thing.

well now that i have remembered how to again, i shd see some new developments in this site soon again...

till the next time...

Hello!

Why are soccer boots so bleerdy expensive?

2008-02-10T00:46:00.000+08:00

I had no choice but to hunt for a new pair of soccer boots for the new season. Can't possibly play soccer barefooted or with other's boots.

This predicament came about cos some kuku idiot stole my very well liked nikes after i left it outside my home. And thats not all, in total that kuku idiot actually stole 3 pairs of shoes. There were like over 20 pairs outside and the idiot took 3 pairs.

Anyway, so the search for boots went on for about 2 months. And boy did i not discover that soccer boots are so much more expensive than my other shoes that I wear to work. Most boots start at the exorbitant price of $100+++

And i was adament that i wldn't get another pair of nikes anymore cos, well cos nikes aren't really soccer boots but merely fashion wear. I was so sure that i would get the new Adidas. They are soooo bleerdy cool! And all that technology involved in making that adidas and the awesome ads on their webbie.... anyway enuf said

My new & oversized soccer boots, i present to you...

Mental Strength

2007-11-15T02:29:00.000+08:00

What really does go through the minds of football players???
Is it that important to a soccer player?

...Mental Strength

Emmanuel Adebayor admits it was a relief to end his mini goal-drought at Reading on Monday. The Arsenal striker had gone eight games without scoring before he calmly slotted home his side’s second at the Madejski Stadium. The 23-year-old was well aware of his shot-shy spell in recent weeks. “I had not scored for a while and, yes, that was on my mind,” he said. “ As a striker it is important to score. That is what you are judged on.

(source soccernet.com)

It was a close call...

2007-10-29T16:08:00.000+08:00

Arsenal cld have won it, having 2 open goals but fluffed both... It was arsenal's game to lose as possession was with them arses, even though having gone down to a superb bullet of a free-kick, but still liverpool was somehow no match for arsenal.

A draw wld have been a great result for both teams though, having maintain their unbeaten streak.

Next comes Man U...

Intelligent football! (from a so-so player, yet)

2007-09-26T01:15:00.000+08:00

A good reflection of how football is no longer a working class game but an intelligent and intentional sport from Arsenal's current top scorer.

Despite all the debate around Thierry Henry's departure from Arsenal, Emmanuel Adebayor has not let the added pressure of replacing the Frenchman affect his game and, so far this season, has proven that he could be the Gunners' new attacking sensation. (source soccernet.com)

Q. One of the main differences with last season is that Arsenal are competitive at home, impressive I should even say. What has changed?
A. The confidence. It is getting better and better each day, as last season we were struggling on the pitch due a lack of confidence. We started the championship with two or three draws and it affected us. We didn't know what to do, we were not playing intelligently. So far this season, the team is playing without pressure, just focusing on its football and with confidence. It is a good thing for the players and the coach. We are happy all together; we always try to go forward on the pitch with the desire to win.

Q. Does this make Arsenal a serious contender for the title this season?
A. It is too early to say that. The road is still very long. We just want to keep on improving and going one step further each game. We are playing very well currently and we learn a lot. Everybody has seen how mature we have been so far and now each player knows how to play for 90 minutes. Even when we are behind, we don't panic. We have to keep this dynamic. We control the ball, that makes everything easier and makes it more difficult for our opponents.

Q. Are you back in your best shape after the injury troubles you have been through over the summer?
A. I was feeling really well physically and mentally before my injury in Austria. That was really hard to accept and to live with at the start. It really affected me. I knew I would miss the first two or thee games of the season and there's nothing more important than the summer's preparation. But now I'm back and I'm playing. I can't play three games a week yet as I'm not at 100% - perhaps only 80% I'd say. It will take some time but I will get there.

Its been awhile, over 3 months it seems

2007-09-22T01:25:00.000+08:00

Arsenal has been on fire actually!

Do they really play football from another planet? Some players are bound for hyperbole.

The last time?

2007-06-24T00:48:00.000+08:00

The last time you will see him in an Arsenal shirt?

Henry to leave Arsenal!

2007-06-24T00:42:00.000+08:00

So how now?
Where is Arsenal to go now?

Having been forced to sell their most priced asset, the acrimonious leaving of their most beloved vice-chairman, with the rumoured leaving of their most sucessful manager in the modern league, and the need to fill their new stadium. All cos the arsenal board doesn't want to sell their shares to a foreigner.

Let me just announce the demise of the arsenal position as one of the big-4 in the EPL. I will be glad if arsenal wins more matches than they lose in the coming season.

Maybe Lehmann wld retire together with lungberg next season too.

Business does play a part in soccer.

And the Biggest Mistake!

2007-05-24T19:44:00.000+08:00

(source - Getty images)

Removing 'the little chief' from the match! The biggest mistake!

Was Milan better or did Liverpool make them?

2007-05-24T14:04:00.000+08:00

While I was waiting for a mouth watering revenge-themed finals, it turned out to be a sleep inducing chess-game.

Firstly, why was only Alonso doing all the dirty work? Alonso could have been sent-off by the end of the first half if not for the leniency of the ref. But where were the cruching tackles from Guttuso, Gerrard and company? Maybe its true that they are really nothing but the 'kittens' that were traded before the game. Maybe since they were contended with playing chesse, there was no need for tackling.

Then, what was Liverpool thinking. Why was Liverpool playing into the hands of the Italians? BAD mistakes. Any manager that is not actually playing a match against the italians will say, 'Let's not play into the italian card.' But it seems like when its their turn to take on the italians, they do just that!

Why did liverpool only play one small tiny striker upfront? Was Nesta and Maldini going to be tested? Were they being stretched? Did that not allow their unherald full-backs to become wingers? I wonder.

This strategy contributed to the chess game.

Whereas playing inzaghi was a master stroke. The type of strikers where even Maldini would hate playing against. A Pest, nasty, tricky, irritating. But effective. And effective he proved to be. Even the way he celebrates his goals demoralises the opponents. I like to have such a player playing on my side if i was in a finals.

And thats what Liverpool played into. And many of you would agree.

That session at AH n the next

2007-05-22T17:52:00.000+08:00

PSC, 20th May

It was a good 20, 23 turn-out and I was impressed that 3 boys turned up after their work even at 6.30pm.

We had an improved warming-up program which I think got you guys sweating and added an element of teamwork and communication. It should only get better.

A short 12-12 minute game where there seem to be an overall improvement in the way players 'played' with the ball, especially the regular players whom I had not 'noticed' earlier became more noticeable. Also, this should only get better. I hope the few minutes of pointers I gave during the breaks were taken in good stride by the players. Work on it and individually you will get better.

The 3-lane exercise and corner kicks, completed the tactical aspect of the session. There were some initial confusion but that is normal for all tactical training. You guys will get the hang of it really soon.

3-Lane Exercise
Objective - Thinking Players
5v5, Half-field, goal post without keepers, 3 lanes incorporating 1-3-1

Rules:
You have to play the ball out to either one of the outer lanes before creating a goal scoring opportunity.
Attacking team may hav additional player in the outer lanes but defending team cant.
However defending team can have additional player in the center lane.

The rules are simple. Its the way the 5 players communicate that is important.
The player with the ball has to look up and read the game and think. Who to pass to. Do i switch flanks or do i play the same flank. Do i support in the outer flank or do i stay and defend. These are decision making and thinking skills that this 3-lane exercise can help improve your tactical understanding of how to play soccer.

Of cos there will be progression for this 3-lane but until then, we will stick to the simpler rules.

In the next session will demo to you how to be a better tactical team in this 3-lane exercise. We will also spend some time on set-pieces like thown in and corners.

The F.A. Cup

2007-05-16T12:05:00.000+08:00

What makes a Saturday night?

Soccer!

Manchester United v Chelsea for the penultimate trophy in English Soccer.

I say, Man U for the double.
They are on form, with better mental n physical preparation, the technicians and tacticans are primed and ready for the kill.
However Chelsea is a team based on morale and instinct and a single game suits them.

So its technical and tactical brilliance versus instinct and morale.

Who can you bet on!!! Its quite an obvious bet right.

The ball is round, I wouldn't bet on soccer. And i advice you the same.

2007-05-16T11:55:00.000+08:00

Training at the immaculate Redhill field. Can you spot that ball that James is keeping his eye on?

2007-05-16T11:47:00.000+08:00

Wesley preparing for the next shot from the other side after saving this one!

CPSC

2007-05-10T00:16:00.000+08:00

Since the uploading into the club's wedsite is not ready, I thought that it would be a good idea to post my PSC on my blog too.

Post-Session Comment, 6 May

Master the Ball, Control the Game

It was a hot and dry day for soccer and the turn-out of 23 was good for a thorough training session of 2 main components, including at least 3-level of progression.

Dribbling and Warming-up
- Straight-lined cones
- Jagged cones (s-curve)
- Passing and Receiving (wall-pass, 1-2)
- Dribbling with a passive defender

Ball Control Technique (Discover your ‘Sweet Spot’)
- Individual ball-control technique
- Technique with team awareness
- Technique against goal-keeper

I hope that you realized in the last 5 sessions that you are not only training to improve your technique, but also on how to be an intelligent player. From my observation of this current team, there are 7-8 skillful players but only about 2-3 ‘intelligent players’ and this is not enough to form an intelligent team. Players with good technique and skill do not mean ‘intelligent player’.

Let’s use a few well-known skilled players as examples.

J Cole, Pirlo, C Ronaldo, Arteta, A Lennon, Pennant, Fabregas.

Let’s put aside team preference and imagine you are a team manager able to get any 2 of these players. The condition is that both players have to be ‘intelligent players’. You almost seem to know the qualities that enable him to be more ‘intelligent’ than the other. Discover what it is and implement it into your game.

My personal comments on the list of players:
- J Cole is a bag of tricks and speedy, but until he is more effective, I am not sure.

- Pirlo is a master class. He pulls the string, the tempo and controls the way Milan plays. He can do without Kaka, but Kaka cannot do without him.

- Ronaldo is a player who suddenly became effective. All dribble and fancy in the past, now he is an assured creator and scorer.

- Arteta is an artist full of flair. However, he is one-dimensional now that Gravenson is no longer there for support.

- Lennon is a bag of energy, young and enthusiastic. Only.

- Pennant is so one-dimensional that he will only start or end a match, but not both, unless soccer has rolling substitution.

- Fabregas does not have the best natural body movement, not the strongest but sure on the ball and picks the right passes.

So what makes an ‘intelligent player’?

Even not-so-skillful players can be intelligent players. Here are some pointers that could improve your game. Think about how you could add to your game.

- You are the ‘master of the ball’, controlling with awareness and intention
- You can make better decisions, individual and tactically
- You control the tempo and the type of game that the team plays
- You understand the tactic used during different ‘moments’ of the game
- You don’t act cute or be a clown and let the team down

You need a visual example? Watch Pirlo during the Finals

Training At Redhill

2007-05-07T15:38:00.000+08:00

So Liverpool did make it!

2007-05-03T15:30:00.000+08:00

The two teams that qualified for the finals played the second-leg at home. So does playing the second leg at home has its benefits?

In this case, it did.

Chelsea and Man U didn't 'really' make their home game count. Worse for Man U as they conceded 2 'away' goals. I was banking on Man U using their speed and guile to break down Milan but the tactical acuement of Milan was just too strong against the leading protaganist of the English game.

Will the guts of Guttuso and class of Pirlo run the game in the finals again?!? I almost forgot Kaka, but without 'Gutto' and 'Pillow', Kaka will surely be just another classy player.
But with the other 2 players and 8 supporting cast, Kaka becomes a world class player.

Now thats what I want to have in my first eleven.

A team.

I think Liverpool will make it!

2007-05-01T02:28:00.000+08:00

I am fairly quite certain that Liverpool will beat Chelsea to be in the finals of the Champions League to meet Manchester United!

Chelsea will have problems with the quickness of Liverpool's attack, and might not be able to meet Liverpool in their kind of game...

Manchester will also be too 'quick' for the tactically gifted Italians, and to wily too!

So an all english finals?

We shall see

One of the better grass patches in Singapore

2007-04-18T18:07:00.000+08:00

If you'd read my initial posts, you know that I have a tooth to grine with the state of our local grass patches that they call soccer fields.

Recently the team that I am coaching, Schwarz Star, have had to train at the grass fields next to Redhill MRT. Here I have found a place that is really good to have a Sunday kick-about.

1) Next to MRT station (convenient)
2) 7-11 (drinks)
3) Great grass cover (I do not like playing 'beach' soccer)
4) Does not really waterlog (I definately do not like playing soccer in a 'swamp')

So if any of you passes by Redhill MRT on a Sunday evening and sees a colourful marked out area with cones and markers and a bunch of handsome young guys having some soccer training... thats SCHWARZ STAR in action!

Swamp Things in Punggol Farm

2007-01-16T01:46:00.000+08:00

I never thought that we could play soccer on a swamp. but last week we did.

When i was younger and eager to impress my soccer coach back in school days, i actually did play soccer on a waterlogged pitch.

Queenstown Sec was the location, sometime in the mid-90s. i got acquainted with the taste of mud that day.

Anyway back to present day. My team, Schwarz Star, is involved in an island wide soccer league.

As everyone would have noticed, Singapore hasn't exactly been a sunny island for the past 2 months. Any migrating ant would have left our sunny shores for the relative safety of Timbaktu by now, but not our soccer players.

Its a farce. Its about time our-people-in-some-sort-of-authority did something for people who are not in authority but who can do a better job than those in authority.

Get those astropitch in faster than UPS can synchronise their commerce will ya!

http://www.geocities.com/isfl2007/

A Winning Start

2006-10-03T00:05:00.000+08:00

The 'Coaches FC' played a game against the Temasek Poly team at their Poly field on 22 Sept.

It was the first time since getting to know each other from the 'C' license course that we had really played a game of 11v11 soccer together and I was bloody excited to finally play a game with people that had actually been coached on how to play soccer.

We did win 2-1, coming back from a goal down. Scorers I remember were Lek and Salleh. Lek's goal , a lopping headed goal from 10 yards, seemed impossible to score but he did, without him knowing how he did it it seems.

We could have scored a couple more, the culprit being odds-on on more than one occassion but I guess his bookie didn't allow him more than a goal. I mean if FIFA did approve the rising of the goal posts by a yard, that 'horse rider' would still only probably side-foot the ball onto the bar from 10 yards with the yawning goal at his mercy. This was after Salleh had done all the hard work, brilliantly robbing the keeper of the ball. Maybe his ankles were 'over-locked'. He did say he 'overlocked' his ankles... maybe thats how he missed that penalty during the course too?

Gabriel played a superb sweeper, giving coordinates like a 47 year old seasoned pro.
Faisal came to the rescue as keeper when called upon.
Philippe bossed the midfield, with what seems like a smile, as always, and had a bullet-like thunderous 25 yard right-footed shot tipped over the bar by the keeper.
Fei somehow lost his way over in Simei I heard but when he got out of the woods, wowed the opposition with fancy footwork, legancy of matthews, cruff and our very own scissors cut. I liked his toe-poked through ball late into the game.
Elan somehow managed to get booked. Apparently for time wasting. Maybe he should cos he was 45 minutes late for the game anyway.

The guys played well. Both individully and as a team. The others who were there, Nick, Leong, Akbar, our very own 'Keane' lookalike Firhad, Fook, Syed, Jensen, Burn, Imran, Kenneth... and of cos the many supporters, 8 maybe, including Fook's family. Oh not forgetting Sing and Jarmal who played on the other side. Sing breaking up many of our oh-so-heart-attack-arsenal-like passing.

There was another game last weekend which i wasnt able to make. There should be more games for this bunch of players cos we are just so good playing together! Or are we? Only playing can tell right!

Sun tanning during the AFC 'C' License Course

2006-08-30T16:24:00.000+08:00

(back row)
Jamal, Saleeh, Lek, Syed, Fook, Jamal, Neil, Faisal, Fhirhad, Fei, Nick, Syed, Jinsen, Robert
(front row)
Kenneth, 'Burn', Gabriel, Liong, Elan, Justin, Sing, Marren, Imran, Akbar, Philippe

I attended the recent AFC ‘C’ license coaching course conducted @ FAS by our own local coaches Robert (someone called him Richard I heard) and Jamal. Robert's ability to crack a joke a minute must have been borne from his years of dealing with jokers. It was such a splash at times!

It was a tough few days initially considering that I haven’t been exercising in any form for at least 2 months cos of a few niggling strains and injuries from my regular Sunday soccer and a terribily sprained wrist @ The Cage. The twice daily training under the unrelenting hot sun at Jln Besar took its toil on me. And I had my regualr 'appointments' with the sport trainer

What made it even worse was that on a few occasions during the practical sessions, I had no idea what the coaches wanted us to do, especially during sessions involving 2V2 or more . There were so many stoppages, stop and starts… but after a few days, I started to understand why we were constantly stopping, coaches will know.

But what made it fun was that I wasn't going to work but was already kicking a football when half of Singapore has not even reached their offices at 8am. At least my mom or sister havn’t. I was on the train in soccer gear going for soccer coaching course rather than going to work. Who wouldn't envy that?

There are a few people that in just that 14 days I got to know:-
Ashraf – the sports trainer, who dutifully attended to almost every single one of us, for our niggling injuries to muscle aches and for some, just for his very powerful massages.
Kiah Fook – my mrt kaki
Justin, Nick, Gabriel – all whom I usually had lunch with and had great lunch time conversations with
Liong – no one can compete with him when it comes to soccer stats and history
Lek – Horse trainer at turf club and no-nonsense tackler, hear he has quite a few pairs of boots
Marren – Glad to train with a former lion. I remember when I was a wide eyed young boy supporting the singapore team during the malaysia cup days.
Philippe – the playmaker. He was the one who could dictate where he wanted the ball to do or go. We just watched n admire.
Faisal – the jolly fellow who sat behind me and who is a wise crack with a face that makes you laugh even though you didn’t want to…. Who else will have an email address title ‘nomotive’?
Elangovan (or Elan) – another damn funny fellow! Just his facial and body expressions will make one laugh. Often peppered with funny lines, though I didn’t understand what he said most of the time but I gathered it was funny cos people laugh. I laugh even when I didn’t understand. Now that’s the mark of a real funny fellow.
Fhirhad – our very own Roy Keane look-alike

At the end of it all, I had a great time and it sure feels weird when the day after the end, I didn't get to do warming up or stretching @ 8am. Am sure from the reaction on the last day, my fellow aspiring coaches felt the same too!

2006-08-30T16:19:00.000+08:00

Instructor Jamal giving pointers to Fhirhad on how to 'coach a team's defensive play' ... (Faisal as keeper, Lek and Syed as defenders while Saleehullah in bib wonders what he has to do to get past them)

2006-08-30T16:16:00.000+08:00

Our instructors (Jamal and Robert) giving even more pointers...

2006-08-30T16:15:00.000+08:00

Asraf (sports trainer in slacks) looking out for participants with aches strains and pains... appointments with him were always full! Marren (white shirt) getting ready for his 'coaching' practical.

2006-08-30T16:12:00.000+08:00

Fellow participants gathering after the last practical session.

2006-08-30T16:10:00.000+08:00

Rangasamy (Burn) and Chai Sing during one of the practical sessions. Note Chai Sing with the Tekka Davids eyewear!

2006-08-30T16:07:00.000+08:00

Syed, Imran, Liong, Philippe filling up their survey forms before the final theory test

2006-08-30T16:06:00.000+08:00

Marren, Lek, Justin, Syed, Fhirhad, Jarmal, Faizal filling up their survey forms prior to the theory paper

2006-08-11T16:08:00.000+08:00

This was my class of aspiring referees. Batch of Aug '06. Our very own World Cup referee is on the extreme left. You will be able to spot my bandaged hand.

2006-08-11T16:07:00.000+08:00

This was the pic taken at my prelim basic coach course back in March. I am heading for my 'C' licence next week. Soccer everyday for the next 2 weeks. Yipee!

2006-07-22T13:35:00.000+08:00

Perfect balance. Pity that the inferior stitching and glue. Only lasting me about one year, i fear i have to hunt for a similar balanced pair by the other superior brand

2006-07-22T13:34:00.000+08:00

Look at how the cleats are positioned. Perfect balance and symmetry. Even though its arguably the more inferior brand for soccer gear, this pair of boots has given me the best balance and feet structure.

Red Card and Yellow Card

2006-07-19T01:44:00.000+08:00

The red card!

The card that signifies off-you-go... sit in the dressing room and wait for things to happen...

'Its my fault!' - David Trezequet

2006-07-10T14:39:00.000+08:00

The player who decided which way the Trophy will go to...

I am surrounded by Italian supporters

2006-07-10T14:33:00.000+08:00

My online survey has shown that I am surrounded by Italian supporters!

100% supported Italy to win the World Cup!!!

100%

100% for the blue of Italy!

Of cos my other qn in the survey was if Italy or Franch did not deserve to be in the finals, who would... and a good deal indicated my fav team Argentina. And there were some Brazils and Germany and the odd kuku who actually indicated England. One English kuku being me! Haha

To the 100% who supports Italy, did you guys really think that ZZ, Henry, Thuram, Makelele, Vieira et al are lousy players???

Anyway the Italian victory did vindicate your choice...
Just that too bad it was through the dreaded penalty shoot-outs again!
What a shame! What a bore!

Last Silly Survey on the World Cup

2006-07-06T14:58:00.000+08:00

This is the last stupid survey I have on the World Cup...

Take the survey to tell me more... only 2 qns anyway.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=527982330323

Oh after you click done, the browser will go to the 'survey company' page, you can either ignore it and back click or do what ever you like...

Italy v France in the Penultimate Match of WC 2006

2006-07-06T14:14:00.000+08:00

I've tallied the survey and the games have also been played.

Though it may not be as accurate as I wanted it to be...
30% voted Germany to be in finals
80% voted in Italy
20% voted in Portugal
70% voted in France

We have an Italy v France finals, just like what we got in Euro 2000!

Promises to be a great final w 2 great teams

Last team for the Finals?

2006-07-05T15:19:00.000+08:00

This is the survey result as of 3:15pm (Wed)

Germany 37%
Italy 75% (considering that some might have completed the survey after the game)
Portugal 0% ZERO
France 87%

I didn't know that no one fancies the Portugese!?!
There is the wonder kid speedy gonzalez C. Ronaldo. I think he has already lighted up the finals with his goals and contribution. There is still a 25% that he will carry aloft the World Cup.

Anyway, does the result so far indicate that ppl think that the French will win the World Cup?
They could

'Form is temporary, Class is forever' Kenneth

To take the online survey, just look for the link in the previous entry.

Do you think you have a cystal ball like mine?

2006-07-03T13:27:00.000+08:00

Who will line-up for the Finals?
Take my survey and I will post the result one day before the finals

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=507362321432

Argentina should still be champions!

2006-07-02T12:01:00.000+08:00

The Q-finals have thrown up some really intriguing permutations.

There was of cos the heart wrenching Argentina lost in the penalty shoot-out with Germany.
There was the disappointing upset of England.
There was also of course the expected knock-out of once briliant Brazil.

Argentina and England were the biggest heart-ache for me. Well regular readers will know that I have supported both since the beginning of this World Cup. Fervently for Argentina and as a closet for England.

Nothing much to say but that the best team lost cos of a lousy tactical move and an almost good team lost due to the fact that they didn't need a coach.

Brazil. Well they deserved it actually. I know its a harsh word but I was never once impressed by them at all in the group stages. They were run ragged by Ghana remember.
Tactically naive, technique superb. But I think ppl have forgotten that football is now all about tactics rather than skills. Skills don't win matches anymore.
What made it worse was that Ronaldinho wasn't allowed to show casehis skills nor was the media favourable of Ronaldo. So too bad for them. Good riddance, enough of bluffing your way through this time. Next time maybe.

So sofa coaches and punters out there... who to go to the finals now?

Juan Roman Riquelme the playmaker

2006-06-29T20:16:00.000+08:00

I am not Argentine but their soccer do attract me! I like the way they play football. Just the way I want my game to be based on... keeping the ball in order to play football.

"You can't score goals if you can't keep the ball right." Kenneth

Oh by the way, if you are watching Germany v Argentina and wowing at how the Argentines beat the Germans, listen to the terrace go. They have the most fanatical flag-t-shirt-scarf-waving fans and some of the best songs soccer fans have to offer.

And there's also Juan Roman Riquelme.

Argentina Argentina Campeno!

My crystal balls say so

2006-06-29T13:43:00.000+08:00

Don't ask me why, but I do know my balls are crystal.

Anyway, my balls say...

Bad luck to Germans, I know millions are behind you but I guess its time to say bye in 90. Though both teams are not flowing along the income stream at Nike.

English to thrash the poor-thing-lousy-ref-induced-setback Portugese. You see what I mean by what I said in my previous posts. 90 minutes.
Piece of cake for 3-1 thrashing?
Oh will Rooney even score in this World Cup? This shall be his stage if he is not busy f-ing the argentinian ref for sending off beckham again.

Italians V Ukraine???
My balls are clouded on that. I don't know if the Italians are sentimental folks but the nonsense that they have to put up with at home, may have an effect on their performance? Am not sure.
120 minutes of ridiculous chess game plus 10 stationary balls...
Shevchenko to score this time with the Eastern Euporeans to go through?

Oh and the very mouth watering Brazilians v French.
Balls have to put themselves on the line and go for the samba balachan to go thro by the skin of their buck teeth.
I know I know you will say its going to be the most boring game of the 4 games but the Spanish ref is going to play a big part in this game. Darn to say such things but going by events we have seen so far, ref this time round aren't going to be just the 23rd man, they seem bent to BE the 12th player!
Maybe a drag of 1-1 through extra time and penalities to decide with Ronaldo doing the do

Oh and who to meet in the finals.
My balls are quite clear on this actually...

English hooligans will have a time of their lives V Argentinians the eventual Campeno

Who are the Man-with-the-Whistle?

2006-06-29T13:30:00.000+08:00

Was told I got the name wrong from a Malay fren... Its Shamsul Maidin and not what nonsense I spelled his name.

Anyway, I think I got bad news. Our man-in-black does not seem to be getting any more games.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5108722.stm

Well there you have it, I wonder whats their referee committee up to. I mean we can all say let them decide, they are the governing body afterall and will do a good job. But look at the line up of ref man.

1) Argentinian refereeing the Eng (many believe to be arch enemy) V Portugal (many believe to be neutral acquaintance) game
2) East European refereeing the Germany V Argentina game (maybe nothing in here cept...)
3) European refereeing West Europe v East Europe in Italy V Ukarine (Can meh?)
4) Spainish refereeing the S Americas V European game (Is Spain very close to French or are there too many brazilians playing in Spain?)

I am not saying anything, yet, I am just stating the facts so far. However if I am allowed to look into it (am an social science student anyway, academic hazard), I just don't like the way the referees have been alocatted. But I don't want to undermine the professionalism of the referees.

Will only give my comments, after, the games.

Play-On!!!

Oh where was I...? Shamsul Maidin where are you?

2006-06-28T01:32:00.000+08:00

Do I need to repeat myself that this World Cup is a farce?!?

FIFA you have outdone yourself. You are now officially an embarassment! I was so embarassed with your referees that I am not even interested in the World Cup anymore... FIFA you are a disppointment in training, organising, guiding and deploying of your batch of referees.

Can somebody just explain to me what happened in the Brazil v Ghana match?!?

Oh maybe, just maybe, that there is a reason for the inept referees that are out there... the reason might be to give Singapore referee Maidin the opportunity to referee the finals. Lets hope that this honest, straight and fair referee gets to officiate at the Grand Finals. If its someone else, I would say that there is a very high chance that the game will turn out to be just another farce.

Shamsul Maidin for the Finals!!! Did I get his name right??
Shamsul save my throat and heart and save the World Cup!

Oh just to set the matter straight...

I love Brazil, but I am not Brazilian you see. So I actually wouldn't mind Brazil losing the game. Infact i wouldn't mind any team losing any team cos I am Singaporean afterall. For the love of the game I play and support soccer, just some fancy jersey or club. Ghana is not a big name in soccer, but they had a big heart. They are not the best, they are not top scorers, by golly they are not pretty boys... but they were trying to play soccer. Yes they missed chances, but they had the heart which Brazil didn't display. And this white ass idiot had to spoil 1 billion people's joy of the game. This stupid bugger actually behaved as if he really want Brazil to go through. Thats what infuriating.

Once again I ask, who does the referee think he is. Has the referees forgotten that a brilliant referee is one who doesn't get noticed in a match. Tat a referee is a lousy referee once he gets mentioned instead of the players in the papers the next day.

Dare I say that the referee eat money and fish at a kelong?!? Probably not but one couldn't help noticing right.

Suspensions in the World Cup

2006-06-23T20:01:00.000+08:00

Here comes the first suspension notable of the World Cup.
Michel Essien- Ghana

For a sliding tackle on USA captain Ayrena. The tackle was timly and 'good', even from USA head coach Bruce (* source soccernet) but the idiotic ref who probably cannot tell the difference between his nostril from his anus had to show the yellow card.

So the World Cup round of 16 between Brazil and Ghana will see the non participation of a world class player.

I just don't get it. These referees who are reportly paid (source Straits Times) USD 48000 per game have to go all out to spoil the World Cup.

I am not saying soccer has no fouls and such. By all means, card those players with 2 legged tackles, tackles with studs showing. But for more than 75% of the cards dish out at the group stages, are cards that might not have to be flashed!

There was one given to a player for taking a penalty too early. One given to a player who took a shot at goal 1 sec after the whistle. One to a player who took more than 6 secs in deciding who to kick a free kick too. And wasted even more time after seeing yellow cos he decided to argue with the ref for 3.2 secs more and promptly walked away giving the task of taking the free kick to another player, who probably took another 4.32 secs taking that kick. The bloody stupid list goes on.

Its damn stupid FIFA refereering committee.
Trust me
The World will hate those ppl who decided to list down those things that 'needed' clamping down.

Imagine Ronaldinho given a yellow for taking 7.8 secs decided where to place his freekick after taking his trade mark stare down of the gk. And in the semi-finals, took a free kick 1.24 secs too early before the whistle bcos of lesson from that first yellow that he got in the q-finals.
And he gets suspended from the final!

FIFA you are greedy, a farce and a fraud

And FIFA referees, you have not been fair to the paying public

Play-on!!!

My stupid crystal balls said so

2006-06-22T17:39:00.000+08:00

So tonight's big matches are worth all the euros one has paid for the tickets

Czech v Italy - 0-1

Ghana v USA - 2-1

Italy and Ghana to go thro to the nex round

Japan v Brazil - 0-3

Aust v Croatia - 3-1

Brazil and Aust to go thro

Hey its my stupid crystal balls that say so... I am just the damn messenger

The World Cup is almost coming to the end and I hate referees

2006-06-22T14:16:00.000+08:00

The World Cup is about to come to an end. There aren't many matches left and I say good riddance! In a blink of the eye, the World Cup will be over and Mexico might be World Champions and we can go back to our normal way of life. And ppl can dutifully earn back all the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they have deposited with singapore pools for a better future for all.

Anyway I almost had to activate my AXA insuance policies either cos of heart attack or broken foot or lung implosion. All this not caused by the teams representing their countries but just one man... The bloody Referee!

I hate referees as much as I hate judges. Who was the idiot sitting in his FIFA leather chair that decided to gave one man so much power who has the ability to decide the outcome of a match?
That idiot who 'decides' on the way a game is played n ultimatly its result... but who checks on him.

This referee hating nonsense started when in a previous blog I castigated an idiot when he judged the champions league final Arsenal v Barca. You know who lah. I forgot him name anyway he is nobody cos he will never referee another high profile game again in his life.
I found a newfound hatred for referees that night cos not only was he plain stupid, he destroyed a few ppl's life and destroyed the spectacle which is the biggest club finals in the World. I do support Arsenal but I like Barca too. Those who understand football will know what I m talking about.

Its not enuff to say that there are match commissioners to check on the performance of the referees, cos by that time its already too late. Iran would have progressed to the finals to play Mexico and the referee commission or whatever wouldn't have been able to catch up cos the referee in the other match would have screwed up so much that it would take another 4 years for FIFA to decide how to 'punish' all those damn lousy referees. Anyway the punishment would prob only to ban that referee from judging high profile matches only anyway.

Trust me, this years World Cup final we will not see a/or some superstar play. Cos either he is serving a one match ban or manage to get himself sent off.
Ppl would have paid the blackmarket a few months of his salary to watch a stupid idiot referee a match without star names. The game will decend into a boring spectacle with a few yawns.

Whats this nonsense about giving out so many yellow n red cards. Is it so that they can earn high match commission fee like how players earn allowances for scoring or winning???

Anyway enuff said. As i said, only those who understand soccer will know what i mean.
I hate referees.

A tip for soccer punters who already deposited a few grand with our insurance agents singaproe pools, check whos the referee before placing your bets.

Its Brazil's Argentina's or Ivory Coast's World Cup?

2006-06-12T10:34:00.000+08:00

WE scored 3 goals but lost again...enuff said

I have had enuff of losing

2006-06-10T21:59:00.000+08:00

I play 'sunday' soccer almost every week. I think we have lost all the time. I think it must be me. Hahahaha
I havn't gotten used to the constant losing but as thats the feeling I get almost every week, I might one day get 'used to it' and thats what i don't want.
However just last week, the team played to a goalless draw in a tournament. I hope they will work on it and get that elusive win man.

Theres another team tat I play with too and when I play with the other team, usually its better cos usually its either a draw or, once in a purple moon, a win.
You can say that I am a journeyman when it comes to which team I play for.

Anyway I do not want to pay money to sweat and to lose everyweek. Again!
It has to start with this weekend's game!

Lets go for the win guys!

England will WIN!?!

2006-06-08T23:25:00.000+08:00

Even though the last few days my windows messenger nick is 'England will Win'... I am sure many ppl will seriously be asking 'Will Englang win the World Cup this time round'?

Well this is my prediction.

England to draw with Paraguay
England to thrash T&T as a form of revenge say 2-0, leaving the crucial last game versus Sweden all the more crucial, playing out to a disppointing high scoring draw say 2-2.
What does that leave?
England to go home after the first round?

Maybe...

What is your fav position... soccer formation lah!

2006-06-04T11:54:00.000+08:00

4-4-2 or 4-3-3?

4-1-4-1 or 4-2-4?

Lets discuss the merits of the different formations and leave your comments. Especially those guys who play soccer with me regularly, maybe you will like to leave comments on how you think we could play.

Just click comments and if you do not have a blog, click anonymous and leave your name/initials.

2006-05-31T11:13:00.000+08:00

World Cup is here!

The referee does not deserve another match again.

2006-05-18T12:55:00.000+08:00

It was one of the most boring match in the history of European Cup Finals! The spectacle that everyone was expecting was a no-affair! Barcelona was the only team playing soccer. And you cant blame it for happening. Arsenal had to play defensively. If you wanted to blame someone for dragging you up in the middle of the night to watch some training game, blame that ass-stupid referee.

As i've said many times before, there are alot of buggers out therewhile holding alot of discretionary power, who consequnetly make alot of money and fame, cos of some 'cosmic forces'. However as many as there are leaches in the Nepali highlands, many of these people with discretionary powers have the charisma of a cabbage.

The three stupid referees for the finals are examples of that.

Yes thats Terje Hauge, that dumb ass for a finals game and not to mention his 2 assistants, they will only remind just that for the rest of their lives.

Pulling game back after the fouled team had scored a goal, just to do the ultimate no-no in a cup final, is beyond comprehension. If he had allowed the goal and sent Lehmann off, I can still understand it. But to disallow the goal, pull the game back to send-off the Arsenal keeper and to allow a stupid free-kick is just pure stupidity. There are many more stupid decisions that Terje Hauge made, but I am going to spare him more agony. He has already been cursed and damn by too many, one more by me will only make him look good.

1-0 down but at least it wld be 11v11 and its still game-on. Terje is obviously a brainwashed referee who is not bright enough in this modern game.

We will now never know how great this line up of a game would be, ever again. Blame the referee.

The Sweet Spot

2006-05-13T17:15:00.000+08:00

I had a fantastic soccer game on Saturday!
The grass patch was bad as usual, the weather threatening, the patch was somewhere in Tanglin... the opponents looked good too!

This team, comprising of Wendell's Church people whom I used to play with quite regularly, finally turned up and when we started, I felt that my body was quite ready to play the game knowing that i was playing with like-minded players, at 9am some more.

The game started off good, I was able to control the midfield with the very intelligent midfield Josh and knowing the the ever willing Wendell was playing the defensive midfield role, I got into my stride.

With superb first touch and clever passes, the team was controlling the game and we went into a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes. What I want to comment is that the passing in this team is great. The players are good on the ball not cos they have superb ball-stick-to-foot-kind of skills, but rather, they are composed and not not hurried. Every player will hold the ball for 2 seconds or so, making the ball theirs, before looking up to find a player to pass to. Thats what I call ball possession.

Than came my turn. A long punt upfield that was sort of 'deliberately' missed by myself. Hey it was prob a goalkick and the ball was fast and high, I didn't ready need to challenge yet and let the ball bounce over me. The defender sort of made a mess of trapping the ball as no one was even near him and managed to control the ball with his 'hands'.

I ran up first to the ball took it and readied myself for the direct.

Looking for the spot to kick on the my favourite addidas ball, I placed the ball and due to the way i position my feet, everyone will know that i will take a left foot shot. Took exactly 3 steps back, complained to the ref about the wall, pretend to look around for options but knowing that i wouldn't, took 1 huge side-step, took my run-up and even though the keeper made a fantastic move to his right and got his fingers to it, it was no stopping, my 'postage stamp' free-kick GOAL.

The mandate gathered in FACTS!

2006-05-08T15:51:00.000+08:00

Now that the rhetorical is over, Lets look at facts!

In sum of the wards contested by WP. (source The Straits Times -ST)

total votes cast votes won

Hougang 22,293 13,987 WP seat

Joo Chiat 18,799 6,577
Nee Soon Central 21,737 7,527
Nee Soon East 30,478 9,533
Aljunied GRC 133,395 58,585
East Coast GRC 104,757 37,867
AMK GRC 146,059 49,468

Total 477,518 183,544

183,544 voters casted their votes for the WP!

Know lets try to look at its significance and the points that we can learn from this:-

1) WPs voters will fill the national stadium 3 times over! (if capacity capped at 55,000)

2) WPs votes certainly topped the number of ppl who turned up at WP's rallies. ST reports that there were only 10,000 watching the WP's 9 rallies anyway, so to 'them' there were only 90,000 ppl 'in total' at the rallies.
We who attended, knows otherwise, that there could have been 90,000 at each rally.

3) Most rally watchers were regulars, just like me and huiping! Travelling all over Singapore chasing their aspiring leaders, thus causing massive traffic jams all over! Including the major expressways

4) Some rally watches couldn't even vote for WP cos they are in walkover or other opposition contested wards.

5) Rally watches come from all walks of life. I know as I was there to witness.

Enuff for now cos I the PAP wouldn't be able to take such significance. I shall spare them the agony.

The point is. It shows that those who went to WP's rally, DID INDEED support the WP team!

183,544

183,544 of votes is alot. Considering that it is 38.4% (source ST) of the total votes cast. Almost 4 ppl out of 10 sitting in a coffee shop supported WP. Thats almost half. Taking into consideration that out of the reminding 6 ppl, 1 would have cast a spoilt vote, did not cast or voted SDP, and 1 to SDA (Chiam), that means only leaving 4 ppl only supporting PAP!

The rallies also shown a few other things ( I cannot only talk about WP right)

1) Very few ppl turn up for PAP rallies (hundreds or so - ST)

2) Many ppl (maybe 1 million) did not even turn up for any rallies (there are 1.22 million voters this time - ST)

The most pertinent we can see now is:-

The profile of those who voted for PAP I gather is:-

1) PAP workers, civil servants, public servants (I make a guess here is that most of them are on duty anyway so they have didn't have a choice), RC members, CCC members, PA members???

2) And (the most annoying and disturbing fact), ppl who didn't know who to vote but just did so anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I am not pro-opposition or anti-PAP.
I am just but a student of this watershed election.
I also cry cos there are signs that civil society is just about to sprout in Singapore. And the seeds do come from the 'very people' who represent our nation's people.
I also cry cos I discovered myself.

This is a Great car... no need to test drive!

2006-05-06T13:58:00.000+08:00

'WV' has got a new car in town! The model 'V3' is the latest craze in europe cos of its funky design with 28 different colours to choose from and boast lastest 1.6l technological advance. The price is at a supperb S$38,900 only! Cheaper than vans!
Great for buyers like you and me right. I am going to get one from Leng Kee Rd. You wanna get one with me? Come on cheap cheap and latest model.

For car buyers and owners out there, what will you do?

-Will you just say 'Yes i want one too'?
-Or will you say hey 'How come you not going for test drive first, there are so many car models out there'?
-Let me 'Check it out first. Must make sure'?

Where am I coming to?

I am talking about this watershed election for me.

Any good friends will ask
'Why is this election such a watershed for you when you are in a walkover ward?'

Did you ask me... are you a friend who asked already?

My rough short blog answer:-
I am at the age of consciousness, 30 years old. Having gone thro 'world class' uni education and trying to use my educated mind to get a grip on whats happening about me. 'Class room education cannot apply in real life' many have told me anyway.
At my age, I am making choices in my life now. I am starting to feel and know that things do happen out there. That I shouldn't see things in a selfish light. I want to be part of a first class, world class populace and society. I want to be a participating understanding empathetic human being before i die.

So what should i do to be one?

I think i should be more:-
Involved
Open my heart and mind
Absorb more
Understand
Get to know more ppl
Get to know what 'represents' the ppl that i already know, where they 'come from'
Love
Decide
'I want to know, tell me more'
etc

Be less:-
Cynical
Apathatic
High and Mighty
Know it all
A Follower
Singaporean kiasu kiasi

I don't think that a difficult task right?
The points above transcend whether i am a civil servant, boy, girl, policeman, armyboy, businessman, student, teacher, unemployed, employed, in love, out of love, boring or outgoing, mahjong or blackjack player, hokkien, cantonese, mandarin, french or english... gossh i think i have been one of above at one point of time or another. Except the girl part of cos.

Through the past few weeks though:-
I get the feeling and thinking that in my society,
some soceity members cannot understand alternative view from himself or herself, or simply put it, see where the other person is coming from. My society doesn't have the finesse to take the time to know fully before standing his or her grounds and stick by it for awhile. Tat the society that i stay in may be questionable but not willing to question.
Some people don't even know what is happening and what voting is about.

So back to the question i pose myself, why the watershed?

I now have learnt, the many differences and view points of our civil society.
I bothered myself to listen and understand where a person is coming from. To get some facts and information before I make an impression for myself.
I don't based on hear say, I don't based on herd mentality.
I base my vote (although technically i don't have a vote cos of walkover) on what I have learnt and heard.
I am not a herd nor a shepard.

I make my choice after knowing the sum of its parts

In other words, I base my choice to buy the new car cos i went for a test drive.

This election for me is not to create a divide between me and the frens and ppl i know becos of the vote each of us stand for. Politics should never divide ppl cos we are a first world country with first world education.

This election does show however that there are ppl in society who may not be as sophisticated as our economic and educational status would allow us to believe in the world. That many are herds, that many can make a decision based on what others have told them. That many can make a choice based on an impression that he or she didn't experience first hand.
That some cannot create a 'paradigm shift' or put on a 'yellow hat'.

I don't blame them. Our education isn't 'tuned' that way to begin with in the first place. We haven't learnt what it is like to be a civil society.

However this election shows where my divide lies...

I know what I want becos I went looking for what I wanted to know.

Do you want to test drive?

Day before the Polls

2006-05-06T02:04:00.000+08:00

Another rally I attended tonight. The turn-out was unexpectedly amazing!

I didn't expect such a big turn out, I thought everyone will go over to the PAP rallies. But I was almost locked out of Serangoon stadium. My estimate is that there were well over 80000 people at the worker's party rally.

Well if based on past election experiences, ppl wouldn't support the opposition anyway. So why should the PAP care? They didn't. I think LHL said so too. They are confident that they will win.

So come polling day, PAP will expect to win.

Oh anyway do I remember correctly seeing images of 1960s photos of PAP speaking to huge crowds too when they were still the opposition then? I think i did. Correct me if i am wrong, did PAP come into power after that? Those hugh rallies?

The difference. MPs and Ministers

2006-05-05T16:24:00.000+08:00

Some ppl think we are voting for 'leaders' of Singapore. Yes voting for ppl to go into parliament is indeed voting for leaders, but not fully true.
Whatever you have studied in primary school, sec school and even university doesn't apply for Singapore's context.

Why do I say that?
Cos PAP has already 37 seats out of 84 seats. 6 more PAP buggers and they form majority of parliament. Are you going to tell me that PAP cannot get that 6 seats? I will be damn glad if they don't but thats as good as saying Singapore getting to the World Cup finals against England.

So what are Singaporeans voting for atually?
You are voting for someone to represent your ward for the next 5 years. Someone who you know will best represent you in parliament, only. Represent how you will feel for the policies and regulations that will be set by those in the ministries.

Whereas the leaders and ministers will be chosen by LHL and probably his father as his is a mentor, not you.

Infact they have already chosen. Those 4 PAP persons have already been introduced already in the papers right!

So it doesn't necessarily depend on your choice.

Even having 10 Oppostion in parliament will not mean that those 10 opposition will be in government office. They will only represent you as an MP in parliament. Helping you to either agree to or disapprove of issues raised in parliament.

Infact in our long and glorious history, since when has an opposition MP leader been in 'leadership' position or govt office? Like i said earlier, our opposition cant even get into Ministry of Sound.

So now you know the difference. So now you can make a more informed choice right?

Are we are really that uneducated?

2006-05-05T02:52:00.000+08:00

The past few days I have heard alot of people talking 'uneducated' stuff.

I have also refrained from using profanities just in case i inslut someone's mother or dog.

1) Will it be a mistake to vote in opposition party candidates? How ah I vote them into parliament singapore will collapse right? They will be so stupid in parliament and talk nonsense. They can't even talk properly at the rallies.

Now we r making a presumption that they cant talk... and shit some of them really cant. Thats not the main point here, thats the sub point. So I move on first.

Do you know who represent Singapore in international affairs or even make policies? Office Bearers! Ministers!

You have no powers in voting who your ministers are. They are appointed.
Since when did you ever vote for the Ministers of Trade or Minister for Foreign affairs etc?

Your vote this saturday is not about who is going to represent singapore at the World Bank Forum or whatever capitalist forums or who makes policies, your vote this saturday is about who is going to represent you and your views and issues!

There are already 30 plus PAP elites that are in parliament soon, just a few more buggers, n they will form the govt for the next 5 years plus. Infact, most of the minister post will go back to the same bugger.
Chiam and Low in parliament so many years but are they ever going to be allowed to be ministers? Are they going to be officer bearers?
No right! Ministry of Sound also cannot get in man!

You, Yes You! For those who had even bothered to go to the oppo rallies, you know you like the opposition, you feel what they are talking about. Yet scared to vote for them. Cos you scared they will maloo you.

2) 'They' will know who i vote for!?!

This is worse
The first point maybe ppl didn't understand before cos PAP has always been the govt. Cos no one ever told them or ppl just plain stupid.

You know what are residing and returning officers? You know who are the people who sit there 12 hours and tick off your bloody name and check your polling cards and IC. You know those ppl who count the votes. They are human beings. They could be your mother father, brother sister, neighbour. Not some robot or machine that can remember every serial number or ic number. There are going to be opposition polling members and PAP polling members making sure everything is done properly.

Now i know every singaporean thinks he or she is damn big shit. Every one thinks the world revolves around a singaporean. That his or her bloody serial number is damn important. Yeah important to buy 4D only man. You think your father the polling agent will purposely go and remember that Mr Agisgandi Tan Big Chee Chee with hair growing out of his mole serial number is 0867F and then later when the votes are cast and counted, your father will go and open the bloody box in the midnight sky and see which bloody box you shaded?

This stupid theory that ppl will know who you vote for has gone on for years. But these people only sound plain stupid and apathetic and suspicious and pathetic. Please be educated and don't sound so stupid anymore. We were only once stupid.

I don't blame you if you know and have made your choice in the right manner. No blames at all. Its your right.
But if one makes uneducated remarks like those I have taken pains to rebutt logically and sensibily, I cannot stand.

What does he imply?

2006-05-04T15:09:00.000+08:00

I read this in The Straits Times. May 4, 2006

Headline
Dominant PAP is what makes S'pore succeed: PM

quote from headline news:-

...Right now, he noted, there were three opposition members in Parliment - Mr Low, Mr Chiam See Tong, Mr Steve Chia. "So we can deal with them, it's ok." But the situation would be different if more opposition candidates got elected, he said. If the opposition held 10 to 20 seats in Parliament, he would have to spend much more time thinking about how to counter them and "how can I solve this week's problem, and forget about next year's challenges".

Well if I can have my 17 cents worth, I think that's what politics is about aint it - Having an opposition? What is politicking if there is no opposition? Just come into power every election and make a farce and mockery on democracy. Yes it is a hassle to have someone breathing over your back when you are thinking or planning something, imagine you playing mahjong and someone standing behind you. But thats makes for better planning, that makes you a better mahjong player. Cos the internal censor is now working overdrive, wanting to prove something.

And that begs the age old political scientist questioning of the paradoxical theory in that continunity does not necessarily equate to stability nor does instability is the result of discontinunity. Thats for political scientist to debate on.

Maybe you have other ideas?

Anyway, this year's election definately is a watershed election, for me and for the nation.

2 more days left.

Would you believe if you weren't there?

2006-05-04T01:29:00.000+08:00

This is a photo I found on web of what a rally can turn out to be. I was there and when I stood on a stool to check out the crowd, I was amased at how many people turned up to hear what the opposition had to say.
I vouched for the authenticity of this photo. I guess only in Singapore do I need to even do such a disclaimer. I guess we are born both apathetic and suspicious.

Anyway did you see this pic on the papers? Probably wouldn't see such photos on the newspapers.

If you are wondering how many people? Make an intelligent scientific guess. Compare the stage with the rest of the field. This hougang field stretches to about 300m or so and I think you can only see about 200m here.

As I guessed in a previous entry, there was about 8 to 10K? Some ppl I hear even suggested 100K and he could be right... At least there are people who do turn up.

U have only 2 more days to participate in such a momentous event in Singapore. Only once every 5 years.

Rallies Rallies Rallies

2006-05-04T01:15:00.000+08:00

As election fever heats up, I find myself skimming over muddy fields and sweaty bodies at rallies. Always trying to get a better view.

Parliament has been dissolved a few days ago and technically we can actually say 'bo zheng hu' (no government) now!

Other than that, I find comfort and excitment in that there is going to be elections in Singapore again! Political participation in Singapore. Once only ONLY in every five years.

Theres nothing much to do in Singapore anyway, many people would say. But when there's something to do and participate in, I know and see people rather sit around and watch SCV repeats or just sit about repeating their complains. And the worse of all, they say 'nothing' by saying that nothing is going to change, some 1 cents worth uneducated comment or something to that effect.

Well probably nothing is going to change, maybe something might change.

But until the time when ppl first get to know the issues that are debated at this election, the parties that are involved, the current affairs thats happening, the blogs and webs, other than our media, than are they in a better position to say so. To give their 2 cents worth.

I am happy that I have some perogative to do so now. To feel more patriotic, a sense of nationhood, a sense of belonging. But I know alot of hollow people will say otherwise. I will just stick to calling those ppl hollow. "Kung(1) She(1)"

For crying out loud, I was interview by our papers! I can be such a media whore. Did you guys catch it? Newpaper Monday (May Day) I forgot to buy a copy.
However, my quote wasn't quoted correctly. They left out the most important words. Well am not going to dwell on it.
That's the 140th rank media in the world out of 167 media.

Until 6th May, soccer seems to be suspended. Got a game on sunday though.

More ppl than at an average S-leage match

2006-05-02T13:19:00.000+08:00

I was over at Hougang over the long weekend with friends for a Worker's Party Rally. Amist the fanfare and excitment of finally having elections in Singapore again, I noticed a few interesting observations.

1) It sure was damn jam-packed! One can wind down the window or follow the horde of people carrying newspapers, fan, chairs etc and you will be able to find the rally site. The carparks were packed n you really can't get any parking lot 5000km from the site.

2) It sure was crowded!
At first I thought only a hand-few of ppl would turn up. Maybe 1000 the max. The number of cars and ppl walking along Hougang was surely not going to be propotionate to the number of ppl who would actually stand on some muddy field right? Boy I was sure wrong. When I first arrived at about 8.15pm, I found myself a nice little spot 100 m away from the stage, and when I realised that I wasn't part of the crowd, we made our way through the 'Zouk-like crowd' to probably about 50m from the stage. We were also at where the loudspeakers were and could hear everything, including those from the front row of the stage. However by about 9pm, when I stood on a chair that we had brought along to take in the view, I was flabbergasted!There was at least 5000 people triple plus gathered. I kid you not. I think it could even have been 10-12 triple 000s. I don't think I guessed wrong. The whole field, including on the trees, side walks, HDB corridors etc were covered by someone!I felt a sense of nationhood that such a crowd had turned up and I sure was fired up!

3) The speeches were disappointing.Besides a Henry 'something' and another hokkien speaking candidate, the other speakers were well below par.These aspiring politicians should go for some courses or pactice more first man! There speeches at times bordered on nothing. If i listened carefully, i could tell where they will coming from, but if i was there for the fanfare, i wouldn't have been able to catch any of those balls that they were trying to throw to the crowd!So if in the very unlikely event that a politician would even be surfing the internet let alone my blog at this stressful period of time, please please please, attend a rally or two, stand among the ppl and listen to your fellow candidates speak. Please. Get your message across in a structured way. Structure it so that ppl can follow.

4) The ending was even more disappointing. Due to the bad speeches, the lack of emotion quotient, or as what I remembered saying, the inability to make my hair stand, the ending was a pure anti-climax. The crowd was not worked-on! We were not made or even forced to think, to feel, to empathise, to feel one with the worker's party!Such a big big disappointment!

However, in all the gloom that i seem to have suggested, all isn't lost for this opposition party. I see and hear where they are coming from. They have a few more days to get their act right. And many more ppl will definately come to hear and hopfully support them.

I do remember hearing alot of these chanting though... 'Workers' Party Workers' Party Workers' Party'!

The last European game at Highbury

2006-04-19T19:17:00.000+08:00

Wooo its going to be such an exciting night for all gooner fans!
Arsenal in the semis for the first time, but ironically the last european game at Higbury. I hope the players are up for it! The passion and the determination should be there for us to enjoy. Thats wenger's job.

I would expect nothing less than full blooded English pace and passion. Not some tactical football that sometimes is so bloody boring! Passing between the 4 defenders, pass to midfield, pass it back... boring even just typing it out!

Up for all gooners, lets hope that those overpaid players play their hearts out and WIN. No point playing hearts out and lose right!

Oh my goosh, someone in China could be reading this!

2006-04-16T15:13:00.000+08:00

I know I know... the format doesn't look to great does it! Still learning. Will get it right the next time. A scout in England cld be reading this and the layout and formatting wouldn't do justice to how great a team we are!

Right!

Looking Good on a Sunday!

2006-04-16T15:02:00.000+08:00

Half time team talk!

Its a save! Tipping it over the bar.

Proof! We don't need Henry's stories

2006-04-16T14:49:00.000+08:00

Warming up! We looked like we overwhelmed the opposition right! But we only had 9 players

Some dazzling footwork!
Great volley! Intensed concentration by Bernard!

The pitch is as usual horrible!

2006-04-16T14:25:00.000+08:00

Sunday 15 April 2006 Marina South 9am

9 players turned up for this sunday game only!: Terence, Ivan, Ian, Kelvin, Bernard, Henry, Colin, Kenneth, Alex.

Even thought we were short of a couple of players, we were quite alright! Maintaining some composure and passing well. However as we were not able to hold the ball long enough, we were losing out on possession and penetration. However by half time we were only 1 goal down.

We switched goal-keeper between Terence and Kenneth as Kenneth was clearly losing steam playing as a lone man upfront and only chasing defenders shadows. Terence was a bundle of energy!

The opposition was rampant after the second half started, sensing that probaby we were very drained playing with only 9 players as they threw caution out of the window, threading balls down both channels. It wasn't long before they started peppering our goal and kenneth with a few shots. After a while of 'warming up' to playing keeper, kenneth caught a few crosses and some saves before conceding the 2nd, 3rd and 4th goals.

Bernard capped another high tempo energy game by scoring our consolation. It was an impressive lob from probably outside the box! Beauty from where I was standing.

So as we await for another game, with more players hopefully, and register a much needed win!

Do we even care? We have to figure it out!

2006-04-13T13:49:00.000+08:00

There were two stories that are on the papers today that confounded me. Both involved our neighbours Malaysia. 13th April 2006

First, the one of them halting the building of a 'scenic' bridge to replace the causeway. I don't want to get involved in politics here but one couldn't help thinking.... especially when they have already spent so much on setting up the foundations over in JB. You go figure whats up with them.

Second, Singapore Young Lions beat Sarawak 7-2.
Did it really mattered to Singaporeans? Before the game? After the game? I cant answer for you.
Did you know we were involved in some FA cup of sorts against Malaysian rivals?
I hear some bigwigs in FAS who would probably say, i don't know better. I am apathetic to their work in trying to get singaporeans involved in singapore soccer again. But i have got this to say, if no one knew of such participation thingie, or even if they did but didn't bothered, then sorry, all their work is just that, pathetic, down the drain.

Even the news report of the thrashing was so much smaller than the one of St Andrew's beating ACS(I) in the National Schools Rugby. I didn't even notice that Lions won cos the report of St. Andrews with the picture and headlines so much bigger!

WEll that really represent what we have for Singapore soccer!!!

So are the ARSEs out of it?

2006-04-13T01:57:00.000+08:00

So Arsenal lost to Man Utd. Its seems like its the end of the road for the Arses...
But to me what does Arsenal have to worry about? They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. They have players coming back from injury. Their players are mostly focused on the job on hand and they have Edu!

Who?!?

At times like these in the past, I always hope to have Edu playing in the team. Not becos he is bound to win the game by scoring that impt goal or make that vital pass, rather he is one player who is so damn eager beaver to play!
Edu has left and consequently never heard again in world football. That shows once again probably the tactical acument of the coach.

But more importantly Arsenal has a squad of players waiting to come in and play.
Every player in England can pass, shooting, trap, run etc etc except for probably Duncan Fergurson... but not all have that desire or hungry or passion to want to play for the win.

So before the game against Portsmouth later, I wonder who could be that player for Arsenal.
Who is going to be the eager beaver with that extra 'freshness', that 'lemonade' spring, that desire to 'just do it'?

Sol Campbell? Maybe. Kolo Toure, Henry, Gilberto????

Yes No Don't know

Well my humble blogging opinion tells me that there may just be 3 players who will push Arsenal to that forth spot (via beating Spurs)
To neutral supporters, maybe you would agree maybe you will not, but these are the 3 anyway

Reyes, van Persie and Eboue
Who? Where?

Just watch and read. They could be the names that Wenger will sprout come the end of the season.

Not far soon. There are only 5 games left anyway.

State of Singapore Soccer

2006-04-10T15:23:00.000+08:00

There are thousands of people who play soccer in Singapore. Some can dribble.
There are hundreds of people who can play soccer. Their feet, deck out in the latest nikes, may have 'kicked' the nike ball more than 9 times throughout the roughly 80 minutes or so.

All well and good, for the love of the sport they say.
However that is not my topic of this entry. It would be the most beloved issue the thousands of people have about the sport, or maybe just my issue.

There are only 2 grass patches in Singapore where you can play a decent game of soccer.
St Wilfred Sports Complex and... St Wilfred Sports Complex.
The others, well lets just keep it pleasant and cordial and call the others, grass patches.

Any other recommendations?

Arse's Arse

2006-04-10T01:33:00.000+08:00

So Arses have lost to Man U! Again! Actually i wasn't expecting anything otherwise. Its a feeling repeated all too often anyway. And like all losers who will always have someone to blame, as usual all the years he has been there, i blame the very same guy that has tactically brought success to Arsenal. The ARSEne Wenger.

Whats up with playing the players that he played? Whats up with leaving the players that he left on the bench?

Oh the conspircists will have it that Man U was given the win to keep pace with Chelsea. And to finally push them all the way to the end. Whereas Man U will support the Arses all the way to the Champions league final glory. So both win in the end!!! Yeah right! Those ppl with bookie connections will be telling me that it isn't surprising to throw one-half ball to arses!?!? How on earth can you otherwise explain Arsenal's complete reluctant to play soccer... Damn

Anyway like i always say to console myself, them arse's are so bloody far away for me to actually 'feel' happy or sad for their results. I should be concentrating on who's winning at Queenstown stadium instead.

History lesson

2006-04-06T12:51:00.000+08:00

History has been made! The first time in Arsenal's history!
WIthout Vieira, Edu, Campbell, Cole, Bergkamp, Anelka, Overmars, Petit... Arsenal goes into the semi-finals with a young team. A team that dares to play football. Does not get overawe. Led by the managers tactical acument! We can talk about his tactics all day but tactics are always subjective!

Anyway I am a happy gooner fan. Finally!

In my heart, I know its not done and dusted, wheres the trophy anyway?!? Not in the showcase yet. So Spain next, with Frebregas and Reyes going back to their country. I think they should pip the semi-finals and make it to the finals, facing, well i think AC Milan. And it will be a bloody heart thumping repeat of last year finals, England v Italy. If Arsenal wins, if if if, it will be another miracle.

However as some idealist or conspiracist will put it, Barcelona will go through to the final, beat Arsenal and Henry will join them!

HAha
The plot thickens

Juventus v Arsenal

2006-04-05T12:54:00.000+08:00

Will Arsenal make it to the semi finals for the first time in their history?

I definately hope so! I have been supporting Arsenal since 1989. There has been too much lows for Arsenal FC and I do think that they might have the edge to go into the Finals.
Although they might not win it if we go by their histroy, cos Arsenal does have the ability to choke when the going gets tough.

What say you?

Sunday's Game

2006-04-03T13:46:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday was a wet n hot n sorry game.
We played against a team that will not look uncomfortable in the S-league. Their passing was almost 100% and they knew where who was at and wat they were suppose to do. Infact when playing against just 7 of them for the first 10 minutes, we were already overrun.

I conceded 3 goals in the first half. The first one a one-on-one, the second a solid downward header from a corner and by the third i have already forgotten.

BUT, we played to our best! We were composed and we actually also played well!
Joos, our flying left winger commented that we are actually getting our counter attack pretty good!

Just hoping tat when season restarts, we shall finally beat an opponent with this counter attack. Lets just start with that SGX team with the new blue jersey.

Oh Ian has a comment to add:-
I finally know who my first eleven is....haha...finally....i think this is it?...i will try to buiild this team....

The manager would like to clarify

2006-03-30T21:27:00.000+08:00

Oh i received a phone call after posting that comment from our manager. Heres what he had to say

Ian clarifies:- By the way, its 4-2. and when i become manager? and i definitely did not do an interview with you....i sue ur blog ah...haha....

2006-03-29T00:52:00.000+08:00

These are the aspiring coaches from my class

The Team defending a Free Kick

2006-03-27T16:32:00.000+08:00

Interview with the manager

2006-03-27T16:12:00.000+08:00

The team took on the 'SGX soccer team' over the weekend.
Having taken a 2 goal lead after barely 10 minutes, the team was badly beaten 5-2.
What happening to the team? Here's an interview with Ian who gives his post match comments.

Ian: Our team isn't that bad individually but we just can't play as a team. Tactically we are very naive and I will definately like it if the team players will just spend some time with a coach to work on some team tactics. Infact we have a coach in our mist, we can learn from what he had learnt from his coaching course but I am not sure if the team is receptive to training. The players only want to play soccer. But they do not realise that not knowing what to do means that they are not playing the game that it should be played.