How good is the foxhound?

This is what I know about Leicester after their 2-1 win over Chelsea, current Champions to be officially dethroned come March.
No one expects them to be number 1.
Everyone pegged them for relegation end of last year.
Yet, they are top for 2 weeks now.

Every fan I know wants them to keep their run going. Most pundits I hear says they will definitely fall back into the hole they crawled out from. Many pundits want them to sell their star players to their favorite teams (or whoever pays them the most I guess) for pennies. One "superb" analyst at NBC even pegged them to fall so bad they will only get 60 points at the end of the season. Wait, they have 35 points now, so you are saying they hit "complete stinker" relegation form for 25 points out of 22 games? Did you plan something evil to do to Leicester which they cannot survive from?

Let's recap what 25 points from 22 games mean. THAT'S JUST 43 POINTS FOR 38 GAMES!  IT'S RELEGATION DOGFIGHT FORM. THERE IS A REASON WHY 40 POINTS IS THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED SAFETY NET. (Short of the analyst getting publicly shamed and fired for such abysmal work, I don't think I will ever ready NBC reports ever again). For other reasons why this is such a rotten prediction, google Newcastle, greatest title run implosion. Yea, that was bad. Leicester will fall off, but why let the pessimist ruin the wonderful run we're seeing right now? Also that pessimist don't even know what pessimistic predictions are. Like by at least 10x deviation. Oh sorry, I doubt he knows what standard deviation is.

The closest I hear to any sanity is from BEIN Sports, I think, (Ironically, because...God! I hate Ray Hudson, fingers crossed I got the name right, adds little insight until way after the play happened and lavish praises like "majesterial" towards every goal he sees by Real or Barcelona.) The pundit, not Ray Hudson nor his usual pal, says that Leicester should keep Mahrez at all cost and consider selling Vardy at 20 million. The reason why it is the closest is I rate Vardy at 30 million...AT LEAST. 

Sure, Vardy is 28, nearly over the hill, but the hill is like 3 years away maybe? Would you sell CR7 for just 50 million (compared to 100 or 200 million as he's supposed to be worth) because he's 30 now and not scoring as much as he used to? (No need to answer these you worthless pundits and "experts") A rags to riches story for a rags to riches club, Leicester has every right to ask for more. What about the workrate? What about the goalscoring? Even if I lower his goalscoring to his true average, 30 million for 15-20 goals is considered cheap. I'm sure many can quote other failures at 30 million or more. Can the fee go as high as 50 million? Sure, if Ranieri has leverage over negotiations. A "world class" team surely can amp up his scoring more, even at 30.

Sure, they will revert to their mean and start playing more like a mid table team, perhaps give them 2-3 seasons, they will get relegated. But don't let your biased rose colored glasses ruin the great run that Leicester fans have been so jovial about. Ranieri is no miracle maker, but he is guiding a good team, and let the real fans enjoy the fun while it is there. Let's stop all the crap the silly media machine is trying to throw at all budding teams with some potential of greatness, especially when they have some good young talent.

Mahrez, 24, and everyone wants a bit of his magic. Long career ahead and for now, well the sky is the limit. And given his similarly humble beginnings, his stay at Leicester would not only be welcomed but also beneficial for his development. Sure, go to Man U, City or Chelsea, fail a few games and get benched, surely we've see that far too many times. Unless it is a 

Albrighton, 26, brilliant winger playing on the other side of Mahrez.

Kante, 24, amateur footballer just a few years ago, playing at a level that he's never been before. 

Drinkwater, 25, lower division traveller till this year in Leicester.

Schlupp, 22, OK, I don't know much about him, but his age stood out to be one of the future.

Given them a spending of about 20 million for a few more able bodies to rotate the key players with, or even challenge the key players to be better, and I don't see why they can't reach UCL next season. Oh ya, NBC somehow knows that they will have a big disaster and only have 25 more points. I'm sure good players don't last for an entire season because others will want to hurt them.

The amount of negativity against them is pathetic and not why we love the game. We love the unpredictability, the ease that one can understand the game enough to play and enjoy it. We don't need "majesterial" abilities to understand the game. We don't need anyone to tell us that magical stories don't last. Way to kill Santa! What we need is to really think about what will happen to Leicester.

I know this is far too early to predict any massive change, but I would be very surprised that if Leicester ends up in Europe, much less UCL, that investors will not come asking. Hey, Abramovich can switch toys easily, I hear. OK, I have a decent amount of respect for him as a well functioning club owner. So, why would they sell their key assets for cheap? What is their debt like? Surely a few good years' TV revenue plus European revenue for a few years can improve the playing squad for 20 million a year, and I see this uptrend to be fairly sustainable. As long as Ranieri doesn't get fired over a sophomore slump of course.

Improve the quality and quantity of players coming through their academy, being prudent Wenger style for a few years. Don't overspend like Leeds, or Portsmouth, and they should be a steady midtable and above EPL team. This run will not last, but they have a good chance to improve their history and standing for a long time. And that starts by shedding the negativity thrown around by the media and focusing of finishing the season with all they got. Oh yea, please prove me right so that I can make fun of NBC Sports again come next year. Even if you fall off, Leicester, your Cinderella story will be here to stay for a long time. As an Everton fan, I salute your hunger and wish you the best. Break that glass ceiling that so many other teams fail to break.

EDIT: Oh wait, so everyone knew that Patriots are going to be undefeated for only 10 games and Carolina would be on a 13 game run and going. HUH?

Everton's win cast doomsday spectre on Arsene Wenger?

To be fair, it is not a great weekend. Wisconsin Badgers lost by 1 point in a very good game, and my championship luck has not really much time to sink into local sports. Not that everyone think it is a must win. A win is a win, a loss is, well, a loss.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the second game I was concerned with. However hard our last 6 games is, a win will put the ball in our court. Win the rest and at least draw Man City, and UCL is ours, barring and unlikely Chelsea or Man Utd win UCL win. Lose and it is pretty much over.

My gut tells me of a win, probably a hard fought win, and though I prepped myself to watch the game, I overslept. I missed the first half but got to watch the second half. Am I surprised to see we're 2-0 up? Not really. Am I surprised that we easily cruised through the second half for the win? Definitely.

Now, as excited as I am with Everton's performance and win, I am unsettled by the mindset of Arsenal and its fans. Sure it is bad, sure it is a horrible performance, but is there someone you know that can and will do the job better than Arsene Wenger?

Don't give me names like Brendan Rogers or Roberto Martinez or Jurgen Klopp. Why would they give up their comfy seats in a project that they can call theirs, and all the support they currently have at their clubs? Is the warchest a factor for these managers? Perhaps for Martinez and Klopp but they have always worked around it. 

And if Klopp is to leave Dortmund, he's likely destination is a UCL contender, not just a participant. As for Martinez, would you not think he will want to break that glass ceiling with Everton instead of a more wealthy yet do-or-die club like Arsenal? 

The mere fact fans are calling for Wenger to go shows me that Arsenal has little patience to wait for success. As much as there are adventure seekers like AVB, does Martinez look to be in that mold?

The question that one must ask, similar to what Everton did when OFM left, is, who is the most willing and able person for the job? We count our lucky stars that OFM left and not because we're fighting the relegation battle, and Wigan reached Europe but got relegated, and that we're a club of enough history to entice Martinez to come and perform the great restoration.

Like the recent firings that I question, e.g. AVB from Spurs, Hyypia from Leverkusen and more recently, like today, Hughton from Norwich. Hughton might be a dead man walking at Norwich for months, but the timing could not be more dire. And while it is possible that Adams create a miracle, you do not change manager until you have a direction for the club, and that direction based on the next few games is down. Leverkusen is another that leaves flabbergasted. No UCL, so Hyypia failed? How many German teams would want to be in their position? At least 10. Similarly for AVB. And don't get me started on the PR disaster of the Looney Toons that came due to the tragic decision to fire Sir Bobby Robson.

While it is a "what have you done for me recently?" world nowadays, the decision making process to ensure success has not changed. Who is the best person to lead us forward?

In Everton's case, Martinez was the best person because he is the most willing and able. Would I prefer Pep? Or Laudrup after his Cup win? Or an unorthodox name Poyet, unfortunately tainted by his untimely firing from Brighton? Yes and Yes in my dreams, and No, even when I preferred him at first. Heck, I preferred Di Canio at first but he's not even tested in EPL yet. The best person is Martinez even though I was worried about his tactics being too porous. Not to mention his first buys are mostly Wigan players. But I am patient and supported him because it is my club. 

As much as the manager runs the team onto the field for the performance, the team is backed financially by the owners and emotionally by the fans (though we do pay for their salary still). If the owners are misers, as many fans would call Kenwright, then we need someone willing to work within those constraints, and from the list most willing, the most able of the lot.

After the first 19 games, I was so elated, even the harshest defeats later would not make me doubt Martinez. Form is temporary, class is eternal, and Martinez showed that. Unless we're fighting for our EPL lives next season, I do not think I will be disappointed with anything that gets us into Europe. NOTE, I said Europe, NOT UCL. Why? Our debts in the 90s might no longer be a worry but we're not going to be a spender all of a sudden. Getting the right building blocks is far more important than a flash in the pan success.

A manager, being the key person to mold the team, should not be the first person out the door if the team doesn't perform. Unless it is a dressing room revolt, which I suggest firing both the manager and players, the only reason you should change managers is like what Guardiola said, "I cannot reach them anymore to spur them forward". Yes, a manager change can only be for the better, if not, DON'T CHANGE!

Hence, is an Arsenal fan is to ask me, should Wenger go, I would say, ONLY if a replacement is there and that given the tenure of Wenger, give him time to hand it over. He made the financial situation in Arsenal very desirable, now the next guy needs to come in and make it better by leading them into UCL. But based on what I see, is that guy going to have time to do that? Unfortunately, no. Hence, who do you have left? Arsene Wenger. Maybe some of those managers in Serie A, or someone other than Guardiola or Klopp in Germany. Hey, I hear Hyypia is unemployed right now, though I've not seen enough to gauge his prowess.

Anyhow, it is sickening for me to hear that fans want the manager that got them so far out just because he fell short of his past heights by just that bit. Bobby Robson, David O'Leary, Martin Jol, AVB and so many others. What I can say is, because of how tight the competition is, a mistake in a few games due to form of the team, injuries and perhaps decisions of the manager, it is easy to fall short of UCL or worse. Yet, is it any shame to miss out on UCL? HELL NO! There are at least 10 other teams that would like THAT shot at Europe, and the gravy train that is UCL. In fact, this last paragraph gave me somewhat of an epiphany.

To me, the only time appropriate to fire a manager during the season is at the end of November, after about a third of the games, or roughly 15. That gives the next manager time to use the transfer window to mold his team if he doesn't like the current team.

The positions that I think should make use of this window to fire managers is between 15-20. Why not anything above? Did you read what I wrote above? Plus, if we have seen the Great Escape by West Brom, anything is possible with 20+ games to go. And I did remember Everton being in top 10 despite being bottom for quite a while in that odd year under OFM. Hence, no top team, sugardaddy Roman aside since contracts mean nothing to Chelsea, should ever think about firing their managers until they are absolutely out of contention.

And even then, you should not restructure your team at whim just because they are in a lower European competition. Look at Leeds, Newcastle and Real after Del Bosque. Are they any better after O'Leary, Robson and The Marquis left? What about Spurs after Jol, or more recently AVB? Heck, I don't think Swansea should fire Laudrup. Where are they now compared to where they are when they fired him?

The only exception in the second half of the season is ironically the timing Norwich and Leverkusen took, but under a different circumstance, when the team has nothing to play for, rank 9-15 and must be quite safe from relegation yet far away from Europe contention. If the team is in Europe contention even mathematically (OK, that might be too strict but you know what I mean), don't you silly owners and fans think about removing the manager. Why? Because you can go on a run and win the title! Or escape relegation! Or whatever you think is impossible might just become possible cause a few players were injured or serving a short ban or whatever.

Even though this might mean that OFM should be removed from Man Utd, do remember that he is still in UCL and the only time from now till the end to fire (you can always fire after the season), is when you have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to play for.

To close my argument, I shall give you my list of dumbest firings:

1. Sir Bobby Robson from Newcastle, still the worst and most disgusting decision ever regardless of timing
2. David O'Leary from Leeds, seriously? Just because he achieved Europa after reaching UCL semis?
3. Vicente Del Bosque from Real, what have they achieved so far after he left? Is any of his replacements since more able to control the massive egos? Ancelotti and Capello are 2 I looked up to but look at how subdued Capello is at Real. I can only hope Ancelotti can avoid Capello's fate.

OK, that kind of concludes my rant. I cannot believe on a day I'm so happy about for Everton would be a day I rant. Seriously, if you think firing Wenger can fix what is wrong with Arsenal, Arsenal would be bankrupt if you run the club. I would agree if you HIRE a tactical consultant for him to run the in-game management. Heck, better idea, PROMOTE Wenger to Director of Football and hire a new manager, though as I mentioned, the list is not too long for Arsenal. Yes, you've been good for the past 2 decades and Everton is not, but no, I believe Martinez is sincere in seeing Everton break the glass ceiling. Only place I can see him leave us for is Barcelona. And Arsenal is no Barcelona, as much as we try to emulate their style.

And I repeat, unless we are fighting against relegation next season, Martinez has that stay of execution at least for one season. Even if he struggles to have to fight relegation, heck, didn't OFM have a horrible season too within his first 3 seasons? For the positive attitude, I'll want him to lead my team as long as we're competitive and challenging for UCL. Even if there is that one blip season once in a while.

Bobby revives the School of Science!

After listening to Bobby, it makes me very optimistic of the future of the club! (Interesting article from yesterday)

I was going to post something about not bashing Moyes anymore. But I found myself a perfect opening to make this post. While everything is going smoothly, the positive mindset of Martinez just comes out in waves! Yes, waves! I'm fairly dreamy myself as a fan, hoping to see Everton win the World Club Cup, but as any fan, handling defeat is always difficult. Yet, as he puts it, focus on the positives and do better. Obviously, we got to make sure we don't get hit by the negatives but we got to leverage the positive and try to outweigh the negatives!

It's also refreshing how he views Barkley despite his young age, choosing him over Ronaldo and Messi? Of course, where he will be is unknown but to all you poachers, lose your limbs for him or just shut up! It's great to see a talent to build a team around, and what's better is to have many talents to build around. Easily, the performance Coleman, Oviedo and McCarthy put up, you can build any EPL team around them, and to have all of them with Barkley? Yes, the team feels invincible right now, no matter the mistakes, no matter the losses!

Anyway, they will have bad days, but bad days like Sunderland are easy to swallow. I feel that what Bobby said about Everton, how you run a club, be close to your fans, its the ideal case of running a company! You treat your customers well, you stay in touch with their needs and you give them what they want! Obviously, monetary concerns are often less visible when running a football club as owners are often such passionate fans as well. Abramavich, as much as he is crazy in his manager choices, practically loves the team and squandering money at Chelsea. Not so sure of Manchester City or United, but you get the point. Besides, if you do it well, you do make lots of money! Follow the passion!

Bobby is equally gracious with his assessment of Moyes' work. Obviously not touching on Moyes' game management, he praised the foundation that Moyes built. There is a weird thought I have. The slave driving style of Moyes, perhaps when unleashed by one of Bobby's caliber, granted lucky that talent is also here, granted the biggest change in momentum in football, not just modern football! OK, I remember the Miracle of Bern but Hungary has a few key problems, like the suspended Puskas. While I have the lingering fear that this is going to be said to be flash in a pan when we get a bad run of results. But taking all that into account, I wonder how we will bounce back after such a run!

Anyway, I do have to spit out what I wanted to say about Moyes and MU in this article, so here goes. Despite taking into account all that Moyes have done for the team, it is impossible to accept his ungracious acts during the summer, from calling us a small club to treating us like beggars with a derisory bid. The fee for Fellaini is pathetic of what he's become last season and the underhanded manner of the transfer, the usual MU talk to unsettle our player and make him submit a transfer request, shall enshrine him in the company of Wu San Gui. Yes, if you don't know who he is, look him up. I think the comparison is apt in the world of football.

But, seeing the torment you've suffered and how helpless MU has become without Rooney and Van Persie, it brings me no satisfaction to see MU lose any more. Sure, I don't want MU to be able to compete with Everton, given how strong they are in recent history, but I like close matches. Put up a fight, fight fair, and even the loser goes away heads held high. It is this that even before hearing Bobby's interview that I have decided on a ceasefire. Not on both sides, since no one is attacking me or Everton, but on me gaining additional pleasure of your failure. And neither will you ever gain pleasure because we have recovered our positive mentality.

Additionally, as part of my sympathy that the man managing my friends' team, January signings will not solve MU's problem:

• Everyone knows MU is desperate and rich, hence will gorge money
• MU players are losing faith, as is the fans, and any player who ever wanted to play for MU will think twice, meaning you'll be paying ridiculous fees and wages
• Suppose you get around the first two problems with money, how are you going to handle FFP?
• You need an upgrade in several area, namely:
• Central Midfield, which you need 2 players, 1 ball winner and 1 play maker
• Some might think Carrick is enough but without someone to ease his workload both on winning and spreading the ball, wait till you get two men on him!
• Forwards, which you need at least 1 target man
• Even with Rooney and Van Persie, they have to work so hard to get forward and get a shot on goal. Class no doubt, but wear and tear will set in easily given their age
• Central Defence or Full Back, someone with speed to cover partially flanks yet control the center
• Basically a replacement of Vidic and Ferdinand to complement the aging Evra and Vidic. I know, I mentioned him twice but you don't get 2 great defenders that easily. Ferdinand is done so your defence will crumble without Vidic
• Wingers, or anyone who can put in decent crosses for at least 45 minutes
• Need I say more? If they don't fear your forwards, why would they commit people to defend your strikers? Therefore, they can press on your wings and midfield buildup. As an alternative, you need to give them more things to worry about.
• If the above list doesn't daunt you, how much of 200M will you have left after this? And did I mention FFP?
• The only break you have is that Moyes does have a good eye for talent, just not great in developing one

Personally, I hate SAF, no doubt a great manager but a cheat in my eyes forever. Having read how he told Lee Sharpe to report and injury and back out of England games, similar to accusations by Paul Ince. He might have completed his last and best heist yet! Stealing the championship (with help from all corners including imploding opponents) and passing the empty chest to Moyes! Yes, at this point, I kind of pity Moyes' circumstance. 

Who knows, when Everton loses a few games, MU might be proud again, but I feel the positive nature at the club right now will hoist us right back fighting. Indeed, if Bobby gave us one thing, it is Hope. And yes, it can be a poison, it will be the poison we so wishfully rejoice in. The one thing that might have actually prevented Moyes from achieving greatness with us. It is not what you do to prevent a loss that helps you grow, but how you walk away from one.

Quote : Win with Grace, Lose with Dignity

Background:


Well, as everyone might have heard, Singapore had their Presidential Election on Saturday. The quote is spurred by the reactions of the people I know on all sides of the election. I find it disturbingly similar to my childhood, not the fun part of me running around trees back in my grandfather's farm, but that of the later years of my elementary school. I came to knew first of malice at around 10-12, thankfully for my parents to protect me all the years before.


There is this group of kids, very smart and very athletic, growing up alongside me. Yet, despite my innocence, they disliked me, and I can't remember what I ever did to deserve that. What they relate to the quote though is that they ganged up on me. When they won, they sneered, without grace, without humility. When they lost, they cried, without dignity, without repentance. They seldom lost, but they did often change the rules to win.


Now, I grew up, much in sync with life. My family is still blessedly moving along well. I thank everyone for that. And through the years, I learnt to seek things with my heart. And it is more often right and good for me than not. That is where I learnt to share, even when I win. That is where I learnt to grow, even when I lost. That is why, I feel I outgrew what is expected of me. And I still want to grow. I still want to share. And I hope the same too for the people around me.


To be fair, I will condone a bit of partying, but I do need people to be aware that since I'm not a party animal, I am not going to join the festivities and I will always maintain a clear mind of what I need to do. And because of that, I do encourage everyone to live responsibly.

Motto : Live Like You Are Going To Die Tomorrow, Plan Like You Are Going To Live Forever

Background:

It comes after some deliberating how to write this motto. Steve Job's speech at Stanford, the other so common sayings. I chose to use Jobs'speech at the center piece of this motto instead of the standard planner's motto "Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst".

The real reason in my posting this is that I was talking to my boss today and he was telling me about my performance dipping. Perhaps he read my last motto and aimed to put my bar back up at the high level it should be. Either way, I'm thankful. The only problem now is to get my lazy butt off the bed in time. And as much as I have bad sleep hygiene, I can get around it by planning and executing correctly. And I seldom make the same mistake again.

Weirdest National Day

As of this post, Singapore is already halfway through National Day. It is almost too funny this year compared to previous.

1. General Election and Post Election Trauma, noted as GE and PET and together as GEPET
   First, they have TPL, which in  my opinion is not a good candidate from one look, but she boarded GCT's gravy train so, what can you do? Vote bad politicians out la!
2. Presidential Election, which is the current hot topic since it could be another walkover
   Not that I care, its SGD 4M down the drain as he must listen to the Cabinet's advice
   But to have candidate like TKL giving silly quotes to inspire voters really makes my back hurt from falling off the couch laughing
   Oh, and TT's open thumb handshake
3. As part of the election, my ex classmate decided to rip my kind efforts apart as it "threatens" the political project this classmate embarked on
   How would anyone know what's in someone else's head?
   Oh, because I'm able to commune with God I guess, but God keeps reminding me, live and let live, and don't keep reading people like a book...
   Plus I got sick of reading this person's thoughts after the many contradictory things, such as throwing another person under the bus while pretending to be just and upright...
4. Everyone's screaming about how PAP is unfair
   Well, we let them grow arrogant, so we should not blame anyone
   If you want to convince someone else, DO THE RIGHT THING
5. Speaking of doing the right thing, everyone likes to pick on my lack of action as inaction
   So, do you see like the amount of brain activity in my head while giving ideas?
   Oh, right, you were not listening, of course, that's the very reason why things are not going your way because you did not want to listen to the signs people tell you
6. And since people aren't listening, I'm going to ignore all complaints of DJIA crashing
   Of course it crashed, USA's GDP is not really growing for some time and we told you that when we did QE!
   Oh I forgot, you were not listening because you preferred to listen to Cramer or the Singapore replica in Singapore...eh...who huh?

Anyway, as always, I have no opinion over who should be President. You can be sure of someone's ability and promise but to actually see them is another thing. I believe that putting the right people at the right places is key, which is why my "Lazy Bone Project" is underway. Speaking of which, where did I put that manuscript for the plan overview...

Quote : If you can't measure up against people who care about you, you don't stand a chance against people who don't

Background:


I was discussing with my friend, Yannis, about my little emotional journey over the weekend since he was quite concerned and knew about it.
We chat about politics a lot because he is from Greece.
The above quote is a slightly reworded version of this line when finishing up the conversation.


It was pertaining to "the incident", dubbed as a symbolic effort to walk away from it.
While I was not a competitor in the incident, I tried to state valid points and ideas for fun.
I pointed out flaws while admitting that my views come from equally incomplete information.
The lack of rebuttal shows was unassuring but if arguments are kept logical, all is fine.
However, when one cuts off communication in a losing debate, what is the trophy for then?
The fact that the reasons don't tally makes it so much harder to accept.


What inspired this quote is that throughout the incident, I did not hold a single intent to hurt.
That showed how non existent my defense is.
Even now, it is not up.
I wonder what can inspire one to focus so much on winning without deploying the right strategies and surrounding oneself with the right people. 


It is a harsh world out there and we should help each other to survive, not bite each other.
This quote was simply an extension to a view where, like raising a child, we pamper them as much as we provide them the most realistic view of life without shocking it.
So, when you have good friends who point out your mistakes, it is a good sign.
I am still learning how to take criticism in public, but I have learnt to reason in public.
I guess my only problem is derogatory comments in public that hold little truth.
Fortunately, I have a lot of friends that will offer their hand to help me learn.


I am an eternal student of the world.
I will continue learning.