Torres didn't want to rot at manure....

Last night match between Liverpool and Manchester City (the other half of Manure) was like The Miracle of Istanbul 2005 Revisited, almost.

To enlighten those of you who do not know what Istanbul 2005 was, it's the Final of Champions League 2005 between AC Milan and Liverpool. At half-time, Liverpool were three nil down. And majority of people, even Liverpool's own fans like myself think that it's all gone, Liverpool is going to lose that Final because AC Milan was the favourite to win the Cup.

But in the second half, there was a dramatic come back by Liverpool and after extra time, the game is tied at 3-3. Then Liverpool went on to win on penalties. Liverpool fans dubbed the game as the Miracle of Istanbul. Who would've thought any team can come back from 3 nil down and against a great team like AC Milan!! Read more here and another story.

On last night's game, Liverpool's play was good, got a few chances of scoring too but made a number of mistakes are done, which led to Man City leading 2 zero at half time.

In the second half, Liverpool's player showed character and managed to get two good goals from Torres. At the dying minute, Dirk Kuyt got the winner that breaks the home fans (Man City). Of course, some may say it was helped by the sending-off of one Man City player but again in my opinion, it was due to the great character and desire by Liverpool's player to carry on to win. This is what we Liverpool's fans want, winning when we are not playing well. Some may say also that this is what Champion's is made of.

As usual, my friend Henry will send me text messages during the game, either to taunt me or praise my team, but usually is the former. Last night's was the second time he send the same message - "Torres should play for Manure...". I know what Henry means - that Liverpool's No. 9, Fernando Torres, should play for a great team - Manure, as Henry consider Liverpool not that great.

The first time he send me the text, I answered - "all his life, Torres wanted to play for Liverpool.." and that Alex Ferguson didn't bat an eye for Torres when he was in Athletico Madrid in La Liga. My last night's reply was - "Torres didn't want to rot at Manure...". Hahaha.. that was my ultimate answer to Henry.

I do believe that LFC's No.9 wanted to play for Liverpool all his life due to many factors - Rafael Benitez is one of Spain's great managers, there are a lot of Spanish players at Liverpool, Liverpool's rich history, to play with Steven Gerrard, who is currently one of the best and great player around, etc. He was once spotted wearing an armband with "You'll Never Walk Alone" printed on it when he was playing his last games for Athletico Madrid.

Thus, one creative LFC fan penned the now famous Torres Song, where it starts like this :

His armband proved he was a Red, Torres, Torres,

"You'll never walk alone" it says Torres, Torres..etc

Though Fernando Torres will never really admit about the 'armband issue' (he was reported to say that it was given by a friend) and we will never know, it was not important. The important thing now is that he is now a Red and Liverpool's No. 9!!!

(Henry - siapa suruh Alex F tidak peduli sama Fernando Torres dulu.. sekarang menyesal pun tiada guna.. kah kah kah!!!)

The unsung hero...

“We’re in a shock!!” says Jens Lehman after the Final. You could see their ‘unbelieving faces’ after the final whistle. You bet you are, Pak Leman. “Nahhh.. baru kamu tau!!”, “kotoh” et al.. and I stop short of using more extreme abusive language to the “Jolomon”.

Spana Jaya, you made my days, viva!!!

Right after the end of the EPL season 2007/08, my good friend Henry told me how boring it will be waiting for the new season to start. Of course, he is still celebrating the double winning season of his (I hate to mention this.. arrgggghhh). (Yea, yea, he’s a Mancs, allright). In club football, we are sworn-enemies, but both of us support the same national team, England. When Steven Gerrard and co. crashed out of Euro ’08, Henry spoke about the ‘b’ words. Well, I said, what to do lah… we have to live with it.

So, a couple of weeks prior to Euro ’08, I was ready face bleak months without footie. I said to myself, I don’t want to have anything to do with Euro ’08… I guess I was wrong. Totally wrong. A weird feeling tells me that I don’t have to live a miserable life during EPL’s off-season. As if some one spoke to my head saying “Why don’t support Spain? Torres, Pepe Reina, Arbeloa & Xabi Alonso is there. Or the Oranje for that matter since Dirk Kuyt & Ryan Babel is in the team?”. (well, Babel was out a few weeks before Euro due to injury).

I never liked the Dutch though (although I like Dutch Lady – not THE lady, but the ‘susu’.. no, not what you think it is ya!). So it was obvious I ‘adopted’ Espana – or Spana Jaya, as what I call them. And they didn’t disappoint me… hey, they won, didn’t they.

So here I was proclaiming my allegiance Spana Jaya throughout Euro’08. They started brilliantly by demolishing Russia and of course there was the Final. The crowning glory after they won it 40 years ago… hooorrayy to the Spaniards.

Of course, during the games I always want to look for Torres and the Liverpool contingents in each games. But of course there was David Villa, who is also rumored to be linked with Liverpool, including the nippy David Silva. But the player that really caught my eyes is Marcus Senna. He was the ‘Protector’ of the centre-backs. He played brilliantly throughout Euro’08. He was, in my opinion, one of the factor that won Spana Jaya the Cup. He was reliable and very strong, breaking up attacks from the opposing team. He reminds me of Javier Mascherano of Liverpool.

Initially I was angry at the Old Man Aragones because he didn’t play Xabi Alonso. But after the first game, I have forgotten about Xabi (I’m sorry Xabi!!). Senna is cool and composed throughout his games and I would say, he is the unsung hero. He didn’t get much publicity like Torres, Villa, Fabregas or Silva.. but he did caught the attention of many people, including me. Too bad he didn’t connect to Iniesta’s cross in the Final, otherwise he would have scored. Marcus Senna – you’re the man!!

Spana Jaya - you made my 'EPL holidays' great...

Fernando Torres - I told them that you would score in the Final

Marcus Senna - you're the man!!!

Stupendous Spain

Yes yes yes… Spana Jaya is through to the Final of Euro ’08.. viva Espana!!

I was watching in ecstasy at 2.30am in the morning (though my son is fast asleep, tired maybe from outing in City Mall earlier, and unable to join me for the match..again). So, again when Espana scored the first goal by Xavi Hernandez, I raised my fist and roared a ‘muted’ hooray.. as I don’t want to annoy and face the warth of my sleeping wife and also the neighbours so early in the morning. But I am used to this ‘muted’ and ‘animated’ actions of pure joy when my team scores (Liverpool that is…). Nice goal from Xavi – a poke from his leg and through Akinfeev legs.. yes!!!... what a stupendous goal that is!!

The Russian was actually very threatening in the first half and solid in defense. They forced a couple of great saves off Iker Cassillas, but he is up to the job. Well done Cassillas!! There were a few but dangerous chances for Espana also eventhough the Russians are man-marking Torres and Villa. Not one but two the minimum when Torres, Villa or Silva gets the ball. In my point of view, Guus Hiddink’s boys strategy is maybe to unshackle the Spaniards by using hard and rough tactics, so that they won’t be able to play their usual game of slick passing. The very same tactic used by the Russian against England some time ago in the qualification. Credit to the referee who is able to control the game and its flow, although there are a lot of tackles, especially from the Russians flying around. That works for the first 50 minutes..

I believe that when Spain scored early in the second half that took off the Russians spirits as their game becomes dodgy after that. Gone are the dangerous attacks seen in the first half.. their passes gone wayward most of the time. They tried to come back I believe but the damaged is done.. Torres seems to be able to make many chances near the goal as the Russians defending become very dodgy.. OOhhh, how nice if Torres had scored, only to be taken out and replaced 20 minutes before time.

In my point of view, Torres is still unable to adapt to Spain’s (or rather the Old but Magnificent Aragones) style, because at Liverpool, he is used to the fast attacking works employed by Benitez. He gets fantastic support from Gerrard and co. As for Spain tactics, they like to play around with the ball to open up chances, I would say a ‘calm and pateint’ type of play, just like Aragones himself. You could see that when the team try to use a fast game, you would see Aragones in the sidelines saying (maybe) ‘calm down, calm down’. Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter as long as Espana wins. Though I would love Torres to score many goals in the tournament. I hope he do it in the Final against the Germans.

Spain was actually very patient throughout the game and that paid off. Credits to Guiza and Silve who scored the other two goals and Cesc Fabregas cool passing, but I believ the harm is done when they got the first goal. The Russians unable to come back and that helped themselves to kill off the game.. Well, we saw the last of Arshavin’s blue tongue in the Final, eh?

So, we wait for the Final and hope spana Jaya beat the Germans.. at least that is the hope of many Espana people, fans, myself including Lab Papa and Rin-chan… yeah!!

Unscrew the Germans Spana Jaya!!! Score goals Torres!!!

(pics courtesy of Euro08 official website)