Jan 16 — Is it me, or has football suddenly become so insignificant in the world we live in?
One can’t help but think about that since the new year began. It is also why I have felt less inclined to talk footy over the past two weeks, be it with friends or through this online channel.
Even the weather seemed to be in agreement with me, what with the unusually heavy snowfall over the same period leading to very few matches taking place in England, let alone Europe. Hence, making for less things to talk about.
But in the big scheme of things, the white snow is far less of a concern than the dark side of Africa. Not since a Colombian player was shot dead after returning home following the early exit by his country in the 1994 World Cup, has a more horrific incident occurred involving members of a football team, be it backroom staff or players.
A coach and communications staff of the Togo national team being killed, along with the bus driver who was taking the team to Angola for the African Cup of Nations (ACN), is definitely not the kind of headlines that African football needed. Especially not in the same year that the World Cup is being held on the continent.
This was not some minor skirmish mind you. One could even compare it with the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage tragedy, in which the lives of so many members of a national team were at the mercy of ruthless terrorists.
As Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor put it, had it not been for the presence of some Angolan security forces, most of the team would have been killed by the terrorists who started spraying the buses with machine gunfire.
The ACN has since started, amid some initial confusion over the participation of the Togo team, and now the situation seems to be very much under control. One cannot blame the team or the leaders in Togo for pulling out of the competition considering the trauma that the players would have had to overcome to be able to put up a decent performance.
Sadly, some bosses in the English Premier League (EPL) tried to capitalise on the tragedy, for their own selfish reasons obviously, and asked for the tournament to be cancelled. Fortunately, the voice of reason in Arsene Wenger and David Moyes, salvaged some pride for the EPL when they suggested that cancelling the ACN would only mean a victory for the terrorists.
Speaking of terrorists, the issue that has caused attacks against 10 churches and a Sikh Temple in Malaysia made for some interesting exchange on Facebook between me and some fellow Arsenal supporters. Yes, we were on opposite sides of the issue, and yes, I know this has nothing to do with football, but do let me explain.
It was rather intriguing how one Gooner related that the ‘celebration’ scene in the court room by the winning party in the much-heralded High Court case generated so much anger within him and his fellow brethren. He said it was akin to how we would despise the over-celebration and gloating by another club’s fans when goals are scored against us by their team.
The example does pale in comparison — as I said above, football is insignificant — but it does give some insight into how the other side feels, when you think about it.
That aside, we all agreed that the aforementioned attacks against houses of worship were sick and definitely not the actions of so-called people of faith, while also acknowledging that we will remain united in support of our team, regardless of our differing views in other areas.
Still, I can’t help but wonder, what next?
It’s probably the same thoughts running through the minds of Manchester United (MU) and Liverpool supporters when it comes to their respective club’s financial state . . . what next?
The financial turmoil that could possibly drown both these English giants, which are now in the hands of American owners, will make the relatively-troubled season that both clubs are facing pale in comparison.
The Glazer family has come under fire from MU fans and the media alike for their plans to sell of the club’s training ground and lease it back to the club. For those who are not aware, this was the same path that Leeds United took before their dramatic collapse, eventually having to sell players to rescue the club financially, and finally being relegated.
Now, I don’t think that MU will suffer the same fate when it comes to their Premiership future, but the signs are indeed ominous for a club once priding itself on being a great buy on the stock market, with a value that was constantly on the rise, to now being a club in debt to the tune of a few hundred million pounds sterling.
The simple fact that Alex Ferguson is unable to buy new players, despite being in desperate need of reinforcements due to the number of injuries, seems to indicate that things are not well in Old Trafford.
The loss to Leeds in a home FA Cup tie was probably more prophetic than most people realise. One wonders if the club’s fortunes could take a dive overall, with other teams knowing that MU are just not the force they once were, both on and off the pitch.
After all, most times half the battle is won or lost, even before the players enter the pitch. Just ask Mick McCarthy and his lads at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They are also known as Wolves incidentally, but not to be mistaken with the wolves who are baying for Rafa Benitez’s blood in the city of Liverpool.
Like MU, knocked out of the FA Cup third round at home by a lower league side, but unlike MU, out of contention in the Premiership, Champions League and Carling Cup, Liverpool are in the greatest pile of doo-doo that I can recall since I started following English football more than 30 years ago.
The state of affairs at Liverpool has reached a point where their game against Stoke City tonight is considered “massive” and a must-win.
Financially, the club is so out of sorts it can’t even sack the clueless Benitez, unless they can cough up close to ?20 million (RM108 million) in compensation.
On the pitch, the situation is so dire that just getting fourth place, as the Spaniard promised, will be regarded a major success. Throw in a decent run in the Europa League (winning it would be ideal), and Benitez might even be able to stumble into next season, safe under the cover of the still-loyal element in the Liverpool support and his five-year contract.
However, the chances of him keeping his word are diminishing by the day.
Liverpool have an early kickoff tonight (8.45pm, Malaysian time), and it is likely that their match away to Stoke won’t make for pleasant viewing for the neutral. Stoke would usually cause any visitors problems, but have been sloppy lately.
Tony Pulis’ men aren’t doing especially well, but if they adopt the correct mindset then they could claim an important point or possibly even all three points. Confidence is terrifyingly low for the Reds and perhaps Stoke will take their chances.
Liverpool have not scored more than two goals in one match since September while Stoke have kept a very respectable six clean sheets in 20 Premier League games thus far. Add to this the fact that both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are out, then surely a low scoring game, possibly decided by an odd late goal by either team, will be the order of the day.
MU have an 11pm kickoff against Burnley, who will have new manager Brian Laws looking to turn things around for the club. This is the revenge match that MU fans have been anticipating more than most. The Clarets caused a sensation when they beat the then-mighty MU at Turf Moor back in August.
Statistically Burnley are the worst away side in the top flight while the Red Devils’ home form remains pretty stable this term despite one loss (Aston Villa) and one near loss (Sunderland).
The last time Burnley won a match was on October 31 — 2-0 over Hull — and since then they’ve only managed five draws and four defeats. Even that famous home form has deserted them, with no wins in the last four home ties.
MU are fortunate that Burnley will be there for the taking following their managerial change, and should appease the home fans with at least a two-goal margin of victory.
League leaders Chelsea face their first game without their African stars. Everyone’s watching this match to see how they cope without Jon Obi-Mikel Michael Essien and especially, Didier Drogba.
Playing Sunderland at home should be a no-brainer but then again, that’s what all pundits (and punters) thought about Chelsea v Everton too. Lightning ain’t gonna strike twice though, as the Blues will silence the Black Cats, who have lost five of their last six on the road.
The other sure bet in this match should be Darren Bent keeping up his scoring record against the top teams this season, even if he ends up on the losing side.
In other matches tonight, Tottenham Hotspur should succeed in proving that last season’s home loss to Hull City was just a blip while Manchester City travel to face an ever-improving Everton side.
Despite their lowly league position the Toffees are unbeaten in the Premiership since November. My tip is a first loss in England for Roberto Mancini.
Mancini might have other worries when Adebayor returns to Manchester after ‘recovering’ from the trauma he is currently suffering from. Can a player who always showed signs that he didn’t care enough on the pitch really start ‘showing up’ at matches after going through such an ordeal as he has?
I think the shock of the terrorist attack has definitely affected his brain and possibly caused some memory loss already. That is the only possible reason why he was seen giving an interview in Togo last Wednesday while wearing an Arsenal shirt. Maybe football and the EPL, in particular, is now insignificant to him too.
*The views written here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
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