Liverpool vs Wigan

Final score : 3-2
Scorer : Kuyt-2x, Riera (Liv), Amir Zaki (Wigan)
Red Card : Valencia (Wigan)
Man of the match : Dirk Kuyt

Never in my wildest dream had I thought I would see Liverpool under Rafa Benitez playing with only two defenders. Well it happened in this game, be it after Wigan were down to 10 men, but it happened and it worked!

Another comeback victory, another Kuyt winner in the dying minute, and I’m absolutely loving it right now.

Daniel Agger made his first appearance in the league this season and while overall he did ok, the rustiness was clear for all to see. He missed tackles, failed to get the ball off the opponents lots of times, he messed up the offside trap once and of course that horrible error that gifted Wigan their first goal. But he made up for it with that wonderful run, beating his man and a perfect assist for Kuyt for the equaliser. I felt sorry for him after the error because the last thing he needed was just that, stupid error that will take away his confidence in his league comeback. But he reacted well and I’m so pleased for him. He is a good player, an important one and I’m sure he will be back to his best with the run of games he will play. I just hope Rafa won’t be too harsh and drop him after this.

Kuyt played upfront in the absence of Torres and he played very well. He could have had a hattrick if not for the fine saves by Kirkland. As well as he played, I have no doubt he will return to the right side when Torres came back. I hope he will take it well because based on his performance in this game he certainly deserves to play up front. However the team is more important than a player and I’m sure he won’t make an issue when he is asked to play on the right.

We are leaking goals at the moment and when the halftime finished at 1-2, I fear we have used up all or our luck for the season. Surely we can’t stage another comeback? But we did and big pats on the back for the whole team including Rafa. He subbed off both of the fullbacks and replaced them with attacking players. Of course the sending off helped, a lot, but it was really pleasing to see Rafa took real initiatives to win the game. When we were chasing the game we were actually playing 2-4-4! Well done Rafa.

However we need to be careful, we need to stop conceding goals. We can’t keep producing gritty comebacks; sooner or later we won’t be able to win games after going behind. The laws of average guaranteed that. I’m sure Carra and Agger will get used to play with one another soon and I hope they will produce the partnership that worked so well before Agger got injured. I want them to be the first choice partnership because for me, as well as Skrtle has been playing, Carra-Agger partnership is better.

Riere scored his first goal, and he deserved it too as he has been playing well since his debut. Gerrard put on a real mature performance, he really is becoming a real wonderful player, realising his potential as the best central midfield around. Alonso also continued his good form without being spectacular and Keane is still trying too hard, I think. He needs to relax more.

Only 1 player I’m worried about, Dossena. I had such a high hope for him when he signed but right now he is looking like the weak link of the team. And he is fat too! Losing a few kilos will do him a lot of good.

Special mention to Amir Zaki, he really is some player! I’m not just talking about that goal he scored (beautiful wonderful second goal), but also how hard he worked for the team. He pressed the defenders all the time and just never stopped running. Definitely the signing of the season.

Wigan played really well. Shame that the sending off robbed them of all 3 points. Oh well, that’s football for you, sometimes things go against you, sometimes they go for you. One thing for sure, it luck in football has its own way of balancing things out. We are enjoying good lucks at the moment but bad lucks will come our way. I just hope when the time comes we will be good enough handle it…….

Trippin' GUP

GUP is having a company trip early next month, you know, one of those activity people do to bond. Some people feel that since we have been so busy working hard in the office and we hardly have time to bond with each other, this trip will be good for us (sigh). Great, that’s what we need here at GUP. More reason to get away from work!

And this trip will involve the big bosses as well. I DON'T WANT TO GO. It's not that I don't like where we are going, in fact I love it the last time we were there. But I can just imagine what the conversations would be like, something like this.....

Big Boss : So how are things with you right now?

Me : Erm….good. Everything is good.

Big Boss : That’s good. How do you find working with GUP after….how long have you been with GUP?

Me :16 months…

Big Boss : Yeah, 16 months. So how do you find GUP so far?

Me : Erm…..GUP is……good…

Big Boss : Yup. Working in this field will make you feel good. It’s a noble thing that we are doing. You should be proud working with GUP.

Me : Erm…yeah…I guess I should….

Big Boss : What are you working on right now?

Me : Oh….I’m working on….on this…..thing….

Big Boss : What thing?

Me : You know….that thing….

Big Boss : No, I don’t know.

Me : Err…I’m working on….nothing…

Big Boss : What was that?!

Me : I’m not working on anything…

Big Boss : What do you mean you are not working on anything?

Me : It means I’m not working on anything. Everyday all I do is ‘News Brief’, and that is it.

Big Boss : I’m not getting this. So you don’t do any work? Why is that? And what the hell is ‘News Brief’?

Me : News Brief is news summary. Everyday I look for related news on the net, then summarise it and email the link to everyone. I don’t do other things because there are no other things to work on.

Big Boss : So we are paying you.…how much are we paying you?

Me : Erm…XXXXk…

Big Boss : Right, so we are paying you XXXXk just to surf the net?

Me : Erm…I guess…

Big Boss : How can that be? You get paid to surf the net and sit around all day!

Me : I guess….if you want to put it that way….

Big Boss : So what do you do with your time in office?

Me : Well….I try to do……my own…..research. Yup that’s right, I do my own research.

Big Boss : What research?

Me : You know…..research…..

Big Boss : No, I don’t know.

Me : Well...research on….PR….you know...how we can…increase…erm….. ah screw this! You want to know how I spend my time? Well here’s how. I chat online with my friends all day. Also I’m on Facebook a lot. I like to play Mobwar. Do you play Mobwar? Fun game you should try it. And also, I spend a lot of time writing for my blog. I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but GUP is embarrassing. It is everything that is wrong with this world today. Incompetence at the top management level, no direction whatsoever. Our partners are laughing at us, you know that? We are a joke. People give us money and we spend it for things like this, fun trip, fun outings, fun whatever else. And you, we hardly ever see you. You call yourself the big boss? If not for this trip, I would have forgotten how you looked like. GUP is going straight down to hell!
There, I’ve said it all!

Big Boss : Oh…ok…hmm…

Me : ...............

Big Boss : So you have a blog? Interesting. Can I read it?

Me : No.

Big Boss : Why not?

Me : Because in it I made fun of GUP a lot…..

Ok, of course it won't be exactly like that, but you get the idea right? The big bosses, they are hardly around, so the few times that they are, they will ask a lot of questions to make it like they care for GUP. So, to avoid bad situations like above, I seriously don't want to go but I have no idea how to escape from this trip.......

Help, anyone has any ideas?

Idiot

Can I just blame you
For the way I am right now,
Before I met you
Words off my mouth were never foul

Or are they to blame
When 'righteous' and 'pure' me turned bad,
Too much love bring shame
‘Be cruel to be kind’ and all that

Or is it the world
‘Nasty’ and ‘ Mean’ it has been called,
Too cold with no soul
Too cursed to have roses on the wall

Yup those are the reasons
You and them with the whole world,
Wiping my innocents
Tainted me in the rotten mould

It can’t possibly be my fault
Written on the stars no matter what,
A white piece of cloth
Up to you how I’m coloured and cut

I’m a hopeless victim
Always have and always will be,
Fragile heart that I am
Need all the loving from everybody

So be nice to me
Let it go when I’m being an ass,
When you’re mad at me
Remember the world to me is a tough test

Tearing My Hair Out

You know what sucks? When the time comes for you to finally get something that you really wanted, after you’ve been waiting for so long, only for you to be told that you need to wait a little while longer.

Things happened recently that made me feel like the whole excitement and happiness in me was taken out painfully and replaced with huge disappointments.

First, I finally managed to gather all my nerve to buy an N-series. I’ve wanted to buy it since last year and since my plea to family and friends to buy it for me was ignored, I have been saving for it, bit by bit. I bought it on Tuesday, using my birthday as an excuse, excitedly planning to show it off to everyone. But to my big disappointment, it didn’t happen. I have to return the phone because there was a problem with the camera. How suck is that? I could have paraded it at my dad’s birthday dinner, could have taken pictures of the belly dancer, but no, I have to wait a little bit more.

Then I also found out that season 7 of The Shield, the greatest TV series ever, has only just started showing in US. I think they are now at the 4th episode. That means I have to wait for quite sometime for the DVD to be available. I already have season 1-6, and season 7 being the final season is going to be the best ever. Being a big fan of it, you can imagine how excited I was to complete my collection. I knew there were some problems with the production of season 7 because of the Hollywood writer’s strike, but at that time they were almost done with the shooting so I thought whatever problems occurred, it won’t take long for them to finish it. Obviously I’m wrong, and obviously I’m very disappointed right now. I'd be lucky if they started selling the DVD early next year.

My third disappointment is work related. GUP was supposed to participate in this big exhibition next weekend, it will be my project. I’ve made plan for it since August and was so happy to have something to work on because playing Mobwar all day can be a little bit boring. But then my boss ruined it all for me by saying we have to pull out because we don’t have the budget for it. We can’t even afford to pay for the exhibition fee! Why the hell did he tell me we were going to join when he knew we can’t afford it from the start?!! I was so looking forward to next weekend but now, again, I’m left disappointed.

What a tragic life I’m living right now. It’s like nothing is going right for me.

A phone that has all these features I don't need was taken away from me, the new season of the TV series that I loved is not out on DVD yet and a weekend job that I don’t get to do.

Can you see how sucky my life is right now?

Sigh, enough complaining, I have to go. I need to look for the latest update on these tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, who are still homeless after all these years. Hmm....

Man City vs Liverpool

Result : 2-3
Scorer : Ireland, Garrido (Man City); Torres-2x, Kuyt (Liverpool)
Red Card : Zabaleta (Man City)
Man of the Match : Arbeloa

Have I told anyone lately how much I love football? Well here it is, I FUCKING LOVE FOOTBALL! Multiply that by 10 and you will get how much I love Liverpool!

What a game it was. Two goals down at half time, we managed to score three after the break to win the game. A shade of Istanbul there. Many people were saying that the sending off of Zabaleta was the reason for the comeback; I’m not having that, we were flying in the second half from the word go, we would have won it regardless of the red card.

I’ve been saying how right now I’m happy with the passing and movement of the team as a whole, and how Riera is giving us the width we so lacking before, and those two factors combined to give us a well deserved win in this match. Another big plus, we were suddenly dangerous in our corners (starting from the PSV game actually). Obviously the lads have been working on it in training and they were well rewarded when Torres scored from one of it. Well done boys, well done Rafa!

Rafa again got it absolutely spot on in this game. We started the game with 4-2-3-1 formation which gave us so many wins towards the end of last season. Keane was sacrificed for The Chief, and Torres played upfront alone with Gerrard supporting him. The Rafa haters took no time at all to use that as a stick to beat Rafa. ‘oh his changing things again’, ‘oh how can he left Keane on the bench after Keane scored in the last game’, ‘Rafa the Tinkerman is back’.

Well they can shove their ‘expert views’ up their asses because they are shit. It was the correct decision and we controlled the match from the start. We created chances but failed to take advantage of it. That’s the problem with Liverpool. We are not ruthless enough and we need to have our back to the wall before we can see some urgency in our play. Couple that with our bad defending on the day, Man City managed to score two goals. It has got nothing to do with Rafa changing the formation. When we signed Keane people were complaining that it will ruined our 4-2-3-1 formation, now we have people complaining when Rafa play that formation again? Rubbish!

For me it was necessary to play that formation in this game to contain Man City attacking threat. Right now I don’t mind either 4-4-2 or 4-3-2-1 because we always need to adapt to the games we are playing. I won’t complain as long as Rafa used the right players for the formations and not asking players to play outside their normal position. We have the players to play both ways, and we have the ‘know how’ too amongst the players.

Rafa also got the subs right. It was Benayoun, a sub on the day, who made that good run and cross for the winner. So again, shove your negative comments up your asses!

I have a couple of concerns on the game though; one, we looked a bit tired. Legs looked heavy, the tempo of the game was slower and the running & pressing were not as normal. We can’t possibly be tired this early in the season. Maybe the Euro did take a lot out of the players. For whatever reason, it is worrying because our plays depend on hard running, closing down and pressing. We need everyone to be on top of their fitness.

Another thing, I’m worried about Torres. I thought he was going to hit the ground running in this game but in truth he was awful especially in the first half. His controls weren’t as good and he got bundled off the ball too easily for my liking. He did improve in the second half however and scored two goals to get us back in the game but he was still far from his best. He scores goals when he is not playing well, just imagine what he will be like when he is truly in top form. Scary!

Again, the goals weren’t spectacular in this game and that pleased me to no end. All the goals were scored by the strikers, from inside the box, feeding of good delivery into the box. That showed the team is playing really well at the moment. When your strikers score tap-ins, it means the whole team is functioning as it should.

I’m so pleased to award Arbeloa the man of the match. He improved big time since the start of the season. I have never doubted his defensive quality, it was his contribution on the attack as a fullback that worried me. Now however, he really has shown he can help with the attack. He overlapped all the time, hugged the touchline to give us width and put in good crosses as well for the strikers to feed. It was his overlapping run off the ball and his cross that made the first goal for Torres. I’m just so happy with the way he’s playing right now. He truly deserved the man of the match.

Gerrard was a bit subdued, as were Torres and The Chief. But the rest of the team played well, and Riera and Alonso were excellent. For Reina, he had absolutely no chance on the first goal but I think he should have done better on the second. It was a good strike from the freekick but Reina kind of encouraged Zabaleta to go for it as his positioning was bad. I’m not going to give Reina too much slack as he won us games before. No one is perfect.

Next weekend is the international football break and that sucks. We are flying at the moment and international football often put a halt to our good form. Hope it won’t happen this time around and we will continue where we left. We have a really good team, playing good quality football, and I couldn’t be happier right now…

Sweet October

This week is definitely the fastest week for me this year. Seems like it was only yesterday that I cursed the pakcik who sold lemang for RM12 because the lemang was not that nice. Seems like it was yesterday that I got all excited about putting on my new bed sheet which has ‘sleepy head’ written all over it. Now I have less than 35 hours before going back to work. I want more holidays!

This week is also one of the most tiring weeks ever. My family and I really did ‘beraya’ this year, we went out every day since day one. I pity the kids who always come to our house for their duit raya collection because we were never home. It has been quite a while since we ‘beraya’ like this and I have forgotten how tiring it can be. But it was all fun, especially our trip to Behrang because we skipped Behrang last year (and the year before, I think).

Like I said, the week flew by too fast that I couldn’t find the time to finish a couple of posting for this blog. I planned to get it done this week because they have been pending for quite a while, now I’m not sure where I’m going to find the time to finish it. If only I had my own laptop, it will certainly make it easier for me to write. Writing using pen and paper has stopped being an option long ago. Brat!

However, there is one thing that I like about the time right now, it is already October. October is the month where it really matters every year. October is my birthday month! I’ll be officially 29 on 21st, and I’m going to buy myself that thing that I want for my birthday, at whatever cost. I have also reminded everyone about my 29th birthday since last year by telling them to put aside money every month, so they will have enough to spend for my gifts this year. I told them it would be like my birthday fund. They thought I was joking but I was not. I was dead serious and I will shamelessly claim my gift come 21st. So be prepared everyone!

Don’t know what to get me? Don’t be silly, it’s easy! I will update my wish list in this blog so be alert. You don't want to be in my bad book!

Tomorrow

If I don’t make it to tomorrow,
Tell the world that I never meant any harm
despite all the troubles I caused
Tell the world that I have tried all I can
although my all never seemed enough

When I get scared,
I always try to cast the fear away
But the fear often proved to be too great
And the courage just couldn’t find its way inside

When I’m down,
I try to hold the tears back every time
But the tears flowed through my clenched fist
And the smiles drowned failing to surface

When it appear like I don’t care,
Take my word that I lay in bed thinking about it all night
That I lay gathering all my strength to make it right come sunrise
Until my uncertain heart destroys my honest intention
Pushing, burying and damning me into agonising eternity

So if I don’t make it to tomorrow,
Tell the world that I have love in my heart
in spite of the abundant of hatred
And tell the world that I have faith in my soul
amidst the constant angst and anger

But if I do make it to tomorrow,
Remind me of how I used to give up
And how the first step is the hardest part
And remind me that doubt is like the mist
When the wind blows I will be well in peace

Liverpool vs PSV

Result : 3-1
Scorer : Kuyt, Keane, Gerrard (Liv); Danny Koevermans (PSV)
Man of the Match : Gerrard

Had anyone written a script exactly like this match, the script would be rejected because it would be deemed unreal and too glorified. Liverpool passing were excellent in a match that saw the long awaited goal for a big signing striker finally over and the captain of the team managed to reach the 100 goal landmark by scoring in front of the Kop End with an absolute wonder strike.

A lot of people were hoping for all those things to happen, but no one dared to expect it for real. But all that really happened, it was an excellent team performance by Liverpool and for me, even though I’m fully aware that it was a Champions League match, the performance brought genuine hope of us challenging for the league title, at last!

On paper we played 4-4-2 but to me it looked like we played 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard playing in the center midfield with Alonso. Rafa made only one change from the Everton game with Aurelio in for Dossena. I just have to stress what a big plus that was. Rafa is rotating far less this season and that shows just how settled the team is at the moment and how Rafa right now knows his best line up and has high confidence on the players. I’m very happy about it indeed!

After the big win against Everton on Saturday, I was a bit worried about the possibility of the players being tired and therefore won’t be able to play well. However the players proved me wrong and everything that I wasn’t happy about before seemed to improve a lot. While we weren’t exactly Arsenal, the passing was outstanding and the movements were terrific. The triangles, one-twos and the pass & move were all there. For some reason there were extra zests and higher tempo in our passing. The players looked like they have more believe in each other now. Even in defense they passed the ball around, something that I never expected from Liverpool even in my wildest dream. I can’t and won’t ask for more.

Now lets talk about Keane’s first goal for Liverpool, the goal that everyone has been waiting for. It was a long wait, 10 games to be exact, but it was worth the wait because there were so many positives in that goal. One, it was a proper striker’s goal, where a great move by the team finished off by a striker waiting inside the box. It wasn’t a wonder strike from outside the box and he didn’t dribble pass a gazillion players to score. It was done with good anticipation, positioning and instinct, everything a good striker should have. Two, it showed improved understanding between Keane & Torres partnership. Torres did well on the right flank and instinctively whipped an excellent ball into the box for his strike partner to score. They are learning each other movement well. Three, the goal showed great wing play, good width in our team. In fact, our width was excellent through out that game and that goal was like the exclamation point to that fact. We seriously lacked width in the team since forever so it was really good to see that we can stretch teams like that.

Just to point one undeniable fact, I predicted that Keane will score his first goal in either this match or the Man City match, so give me a big pat on the back because Nostradamus would have been impressed with me!

Now on to our captain marvel, Steven Gerrard. He has now scored 100 times for Liverpool, and he is still only 28, an amazing feat for a MIDFIELDER who earlier in his career started as a DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER, and also a few times played as a RIGHT BACK! And to score that 100th goal with his trademark thunderbolt in front of the Kop End was just remarkable. Only Superman can do what he has done for Liverpool. He was my man of the match for that game and I gave it to him not just because of the goal, but because his overall performance. His passing was phenomenal last night, it was his best passing game in a long time.

Gerrard, together with Kuyt, Arbeloa, Carra, Reina and Alonso are at the top of their game at the moment. Add that with the signs of improvement to the partnership of Keane and Torres, the season set to be a really good one for Liverpool. I just hope that the optimism that I have right now won’t be dashed again. I do realize that PSV were woeful and I just might be a tad carried away with things but God, please let this be the season I’ve been waiting for….

Bring on Man City!

**Special mention to PSV young striker, Nordin Amrabat. His attitude and enthusiasm for the game was a joy to watch. Keep it up and he will be some player very soon…

The Day Of Celebration

What hint it brings
When I breathe the air of the dawn
I can sense the hope and fear
Tangling and converging into one
As they run through my vein
Making their way to my greedy heart

What words it whispers
When the sunrise caresses my eyes
I can see the path up ahead
Clear yet misty at the same time
Urging me to explore
While doubt clouded my ungrateful mind

How many steps have I wasted
Walking around in unfounded fears
How many more seconds will go by
Squandered in my endless daydreams

What today make obvious
Is that I have never tried
And I have never lived
Frightened by reality
I stay cosy and cowardly
In my safe little world

As the colours unite under the call
As the rhyme of greatness brings tears to the eyes
I dropped tears of my own in regret
And lost in the thought of what could and should

On this day of celebration
The deep beautiful melody go on and on
As to my hope and fear for what lies in front