Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Pemain Malaysia Di Hadapan Gol

Title - Sepakan tak cantik, tapi mahukan gol.


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I woke up to two things today, Real Madrid first defeat in La Liga after a summer of eventful cash splurge and the defeat of Del Potro in the first round of Japan Open after a dream triumph in the US Open. All these knocked my head on how fragile success could be, if nothing good is done with lingering complacency.


In less than a week, Zulkefly Mohamad Omar will walk in the ring as Pakatan Rakyat looking for their straight win in all eight matches.


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Benitez brought lots of results for Liverpool, most of them in the hardest of way unthinkable, like allowing Liverpool to play badly in the first half against Milan before turning the game to a historic Champions League moment and bringing Andriy Voronin and Robbie Keane to Anfield as the new number 10 and 7 consecutively.


Great managers share an amazing trait of spotting talents that cost million more in few years. Arsene Wenger is the epitome of managerial talent spotting prowess. Just look at how he did it with Thierry Henry and lines of Arsenal-bred Forbes-listed players.


But it is the trait that Rafa Benitez just doesn't have, no matter how stylish he wins the game for Liverpool. He tried to groom an N'Gog, an Insua and an El-Zhar when he failed to give final touch to the already groomed Ryan Babel. And then came Lucas Leiva into the fray of Melwood's failing grooming saloon.


End result, another year of hoping the other big four will slump to a certain Hull City or in other words, to call for luck to win Liverpool a Premier League crown.


While I have to thank him for Fernando Torres and of course, 2005 Champions League, I think Rafa Benitez has to go because losing 2-0 twice in a row is not funny. It is not because I don't believe in great managers longevity theory, but I think great managers stay long because they are simply great.


Or Alberto Aquilani could prove me wrong and Rafa could still taste the non-alcoholic Standard Chartered paycheck next season.


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I watched 'The Invention of Lying' last week. I have a huge amount of respect for Ricky Gervais, the man who doesn't have to pull a stupid face to be funny. The Office is his brilliant franchise, and I thought his second movie would make me adore him even more.


It is funny how arts work sometimes. An artist could be a star in a day on the day he made a brilliant piece and be scorned contemptibly on the day he made lousy art, as if he never made anything brilliant. This unfortunate reality applies to footballers as well who are always under the spotlight of fans' selfish expectations.


That is why while Gervais' 'The Invention of Lying' was totally out of my tune, I wish to remember him when he touches me through The Office.


And to remember Manchester United version of David Beckham.


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Indonesia struggle with earthquake, typhoon heads to Japan, storm stalls over Philippines and hatred still making rounds in Malaysia. I just hope we all know that Someone is not happy.


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Gerak dulu.

 
posted by Izham Ismail at 4:46 pm | Permalink |


1 Comments:


  • At 07 October, 2009 04:46, Blogger njahmat

    well, hello. welcome back to college days and the days of studying and eating tak menentu and sleeping little (if we even sleep at all).