Prediction Today...time to get things back right
It really doesn't bother me that much that I haven't been doing well with my picks. This is football, it is crazy. If I can always pick the winning team, then I won't need to go out there and work for someone.
Ok, this week, because of the FA cup, only 6 matches instead of the typical 10. First and only pick. Arsenal versus Tottenham. Both wants the point. Spurs can settle for one but Arsenal wants all three. At 0.75, it seems wiser to pick Spurs since if Spurs lose by one, you will only lose half your money but I seriously don't believe Spurs will only lose by one. I think they will lose by two goals.
Arsenal is a team that has seen the "big scene", Spurs on the other hand has not. Spurs is likely to be very nervous. Look at the way they played against Man United, good but not good enough. They just have not what it takes to be a big boy, at least for now.
So, go for Arsenal.
A Short Chat with Peter Kenyon (Have I signed Michael Ballack?)
When I spoke to Michael about his exit from Bayern last month, he confirmed that he will be joining Chelsea, so there was no surprise that reports yesterday mentioned that he has done so. But what was surprising is that Michael has denied that he has done so. So, which is which? Has he signed for Chelsea or not? I have to talk to the man who is responsible for this; Peter Kenyon, CEO of Chelsea FC.
CrazyGuru : Good Morning Mr Kenyon.
Peter Kenyon : Yes, Gd Morning.
CG : So, there are contradicting reports about whether "not-a-secret-at-all" signing of Michael Ballack by Chelsea. Yesterday it was all done but today it is like not yet. So, which is correct?
PK : Well, you know. Contracts are about black and white. So, until they are in black and white, we cannot say that it is done. Anything can happen.
CG : So, you are saying it is not done?
PK : It will be....eventually. But at this moment it is not done.
CG : So, what happened? I mean, everybody knows that Michael will join Chelsea so there should be no reason for reporters to make this up unless it is a done deal.
PK : Reporters are reporters. They exaggerate or make things out of air. They probably knew about my meeting with Michael few days ago at Munich.
CG : What was the meeting about?
PK : I wanted to show Michael the contract. It was basically done up and ready for him to sign. My style is that I will prepare all the contracts with different terms. I always show the cheapest one of course.
CG : Meaning...?
PK : It means that I will only give the player a lesser salary and terms, etc....
CG : I see....ok. Why so?
PK : You know, they say....if you give peanuts, you get monkeys. So, I want to offer "peanuts" to Michael first and if he signed, I know he is a monkey. Then I know he will not be a big player in Chelsea. Also, I will offer lengthy contract. And if the players prefer that, then I can tell you, he is a monkey that likes fishing. Because a lengthy contract at his age(30) means that he is planning for his retirement. Retirees likes to fish, you know.
CG : So, what was the outcome?
PK : Yes, he is a fishing monkey. He signed the cheapest offer and opted for a four year contract.
CG : I see....if that is the case, why then is it not a done deal? Since he has already signed.
PK : He isn't just a fishing monkey. He is more than that. It was unexpected, so we can't sign there and then.
CG : What else is he looking for?
PK : He wants the captaincy. How can we give him that? John Terry is doing a great job now. Even if John is not available, Frank can do a very good job. You know, when he told me he wanted to be the captain, my mind suddenly see a monkey with his fishing rod boarding a bus and take over the driving wheel. And there is a full load of passengers in the bus. It is going to be a diaster.
CG : So, you decided not to offer the contract?
PK : No, no.....it is just that I need to discuss with Mourinho. This is not within my scope.
CG : I see.
PK : Ok, I got to go. Mourinho is waiting for me to discuss on this issue. Later man.
CG : Ok, see you.
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"A short chat" is a fictional conversation that came to CrazyGuru's mind while daydreaming.
Should Fowler be part of the Rafa-lution?
It was one of the most unthinkable transfer. Seldom will you see a Liverpool player leaving the club and then come back as a Liverpool player again. The man who many believes is the most natural scorer in this decade. He knows where the goal is and his philosophy is to just put the ball past the keeper and into the net. If there is a need to use power, use it, else an accurate placement will do.
Since coming back to Anfield, Fowler has scored four goals in seven starts. A rate any striker will envy. Of the four goals, three are scored each in the last three games. Of the three, two of them helped Liverpool to win by one-nil against their opponents. This means that without Fowler's goals, Liverpool might not have win both games. The strike against Bolton was quality and clinical versus a simple tap-in against Blackburn.
It is also important to note that both goals somehow were created by Fowler himself. Against Bolton, knowing that Peter Crouch is behind him, he back headed the ball to Crouch before spinning around his defender to receive a downward header from Crouch before volleying the ball home.
Against Blackburn, he cleverly chested the ball to Morientes's path before running into a goal scoring postion to receive the return pass.
Should then the "God" be given a contract? With no faith that he will do well when he first returned, I have to agree that he should be given one, never mind the length. The only four strikers who will definitely remain in Liverpool next season is Crouch. Unless Benitez is prepared to spend a lot of money to replace three strikers and with no guarantee that they will do better than Fowler, he should definitely give him and what a lot of Liverpool faithful wants - a contract for Fowler.
Difficult pick? Just take the hungry team
Between the 2 teams, Birmingham is definitely the more desperate team. With virtually a full team available and needing to win badly, you can expect them to fight till the end. Take Birmingham.
