I was really hit by "the blues" on the way to work this morning. Not that I was lazy to start the day at the office but was rather stiffled on the way by a minor traffic jam at Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. The Blues, I mean Chelsea football club, had taken over my entrance route to the office with two big busses, heavily escorted by traffic police and security vans. I managed to get a glimpse of the people in the team bus and there was Chelsea's new manager, Andre Villas-Boas sitting alone in the front seat of the bus. To me, Villas-Boas is almost in the same mould of the great Jose Mourinho. The difference is, Villas-Boas has not declared himself as the "special one". But believe me, Villas-Boas, the latest choice by Abramovich to bring the Champions League title to Stamford Bridge, has got the personality and tactical background to succeed. So, we will see how much Chelsea has changed it's game style when they take on Harimau Muda team in Kuala Lumpur on July 21, 2011.
Its hardly surpirising that the reason that I am going to watch the Harimau Muda-Chelsea game is mainly to listen and study the reaction of Mr Villas-Boas about the game. Perhaps he would be the real "special one" to Abramovich.
Am I getting carried away with the EPL, its players, coaches and board of directors stories? I hope not because I'm one who has not been amused at seeing how much the EPL has influenced the Malaysian society over the last decade or so. In short, I feel akward to know there so many "football expert and pundits" out there despite actually being a "kaki bangku!" They love the EPL not really for it's football, they love the players not because of their skills but their looks, the follow the stories not because of their instinctive interest but for their gossiping Malaysian nature.
Arsenal, Liverpool dan Chelsea has made quite an impact with their Tour of Asia trip to Kuala Lumpur. Manchester United also had their moments of enjoying "the Malaysian craze" around this time last year. Where does Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan, Bayern or Ajax stand among Malaysian fans? How many Malaysian fans truly appreciate and salute the "tiki taka" football being played by mighty Barcelona?
* I am not so sure why this guy under the name of "Meganova Hulk" on his FB is so up-set. He went a little bit overboard to me. No doubt he has his own legitimate reason to be appalled by the EPL's "Big Three" presence in Kuala Lumpur. He is the opposite from the EPL loving group of fans in Malaysia. Perhaps "Meganova Hulk" read too deeply into UEFA President, Michel Platini's criticism of too much financial issues plaguing football these days.
Phrases like "modern football", "circus matches" or "business only FAM" are some of the terms used by Meganova Hulk to berate and belittle his fellow "Ultras Malaya" for being too accomodating towards Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea's Asia Tour 2011. Interesting huh? This is definitely a sign of the new spirit for Malaysian football fans following the 2009 Sea Games gold medal feat and also emerging champions of South East Asia in the Suzuki Cup December last year.
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