[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=h213GJo76sQ]

Dida is such a pussy and I can’t find any other better word to describe him. I don’t wanna discriminate Brazilian players. After all, they are responsible for the ‘Beautiful Game’. But after Rivaldo in 2004 and now Dida in 2007, I’m done and dusted with playacting.

Never mind about Ronaldo’s diving lessons, or so they call it. Drogba dives too, just in case you are smirking over Ronaldo. And so does any other ’smart’ footballers.

Football, or soccer as Beckham says it, is degrading in value by the season. As if match-fixing and bankrolling (read: Chelsea) isn’t enough, playacting has to follow suit.

Maybe they are preparing for their post-football career say, being in the drama and theatre? But ironically, the great Eric Cantona is in that line but he was never known for any kind of playacting.

Except for the kung fu kick of course.

Listening to: Bowling For Soup - High School Never Ends
via FoxyTunes

So here comes a new Devil, one that hails from the soils of Argentina. He’s the reason why Rossi makes his way to Villareal; Alan Smith to Newcastle; Solskjaer to retirement and Saha to the injury table. That leaves us with Rooney being the only fit striker to be played upfront.

And I guess the very reason why Tevez has been brought to the Theatre of Dreams.

But then again, critics had it that Tevez and Rooney are of similar playing styles. I’m not one of them ’cause I don’t have the chance to watch them play together. Even in FM07, I can’t seem to outbid clubs who offer $40 million for Tevez.

On paper, Man Utd looks intimidating. The raw pace and technique of Ronaldo and Nani on the wings, coupled with Carrick’s vision and passing range with Hargreaves keeping the midfield tight. When the opponent’s legs are weary, Anderson will be called on to perform his samba football.

Scholes and Giggs will be useful in European games and I forgot the fact that O’Shea, Park Ji Sung, Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles can form an entirely new midfield for United. Phewww!!! Did I just described Man Utd’s midfield… only?

Let’s not get complacent. The season is 38-games long plus the FA Cup, League Cup and Europe. Plus there’s such a thing called ‘gelling with a new team’ and ‘coping with the fast pace and rough nature of the EPL’.

Errr… so did Tevez arrive on a $30 million deal or a 2-year loan with an option to buy him in the future? *pondering*

Listening to: Ana Johnsson - Don’t Cry For Pain
via FoxyTunes

All hail the new Asian champions - IRAQ!!!

Yes, this very own war-torn country filled with turmoil has clinched the Asian Cup against all odds. I am proud to see soccer being the sport that binds the Iraqis together, diverting all the tension that’s occurring back in their homeland.

In the Iraq team, there’s no such thing as Kurds, Sunnis or Shiites. They are all Iraqis. The same goes to the fans in the stadium. They all cheer, encourage and shout for their very own country, not their respective groups. It puts a smile on my face to see them hugging each other as goals are scored… and now that the trophy is theirs.

But what marred all these sweet victories is the insensible wrongdoings of terrorists back in Iraq.

27 people died in two suicide blasts when Iraq won against Vietnam in the quarter-finals.
50 died as Iraq clinched its spot in the finals with a victory over South Korea. Once again, through suicide bombings.

Now that Iraq have won the Asian Cup, how many more innocent deaths will there be? I doubt the Iraqis back at home will stay away from the streets and celebrate. Yet at the back of mind, they know that in the midst of their joy, they might be near a suicide bomber and die a horrible death.

FUCK YOU TERRORISTS! You and your lame ideas of jihad, upholding Islam and whatnots. You do so by getting innocent people to kill other innocent lives?

If you think you can rule the world by killing people, go watch the cartoon ‘The Pinky and the Brain’.
If you think it is nice to see limbs fly, go detonate a suicide bomber beside you and see YOUR very own limbs fly.

Islam doesn’t encourage the killing of innocents.

Now you know why Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona

Freddie Ljungberg became the latest Arsenal player to leave the club, which will further undermine the club’s ability to mount a serious challenge in the EPL. William Gallas has been complaining since he stepped his foot into Highbury, and is still complaining now at the Emirates Stadium.

No doubt Arsenal looked like a dream team - youthful, talented and technically gifted. From Kolo Toure to Eboue, Fabregas to Rosicky, Adebayor to Van Persie… it’s exactly the squad that I have always wanted to build when I play Football Manager 2007. But in the same game itself, I always seemed fail at certain parts of a season due to a rather inexperienced squad.

Now now… if a game can depict as so, I don’t think reality fares so much in difference right?

But as punters say, the ball is round. Perhaps Arsenal will emulate their 49-games unbeaten streak?

But maybe, just maybe… Man Utd will repeat history and retain their title as Champions of the EPL next season!

Well I said maybe.

Good things sure come to an end, don’t they? So after so many glorious seasons and carving a name as the club’s top scorer along the way, Thierry Henry has finally bid his final goodbye to Arsenal. The talismanic striker has been pretty much the face of Arsenal, not Arsene Wenger really despite the similarity in names.

Arsenal fans, don’t give me that shocking face with your mouth wide open just yet. No doubt you guys from from a humble 30,000-odd seater of Highbury to the 60,000-odd seater Emirates Stadium but surely you can see this coming right?

David Dein resigned unexpectedly, Wenger refused to extend his current contract, there was a distinct lack of quality signings lately and even more obvious is the even more distinct lack of trophies.

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