After a few weeks busy staring at my 42” High Definition Television for the World Cup 2010 football matches in HD format, it is getting more interesting now on the quarterfinal matches. But one missing team that was supposed to be the winner of the World Cup 2010 as what everyone expecting is ENGLAND !!!

In my opinion, I thought that the current England team really does not deserve to win the World Cup. It seems like they were not a great team with strategy and tactics playing that can go all the way to the final match. First, they lacked a good potential experience goalkeeper that can help block every shoots from everyone shooting at their goal. I agreed with Oliver Kahn of Germany that he said England does not have an experience goalkeeper to choose from especially from the English Premier League because most of the best goalkeepers playing in the English Premier League are all from other countries such as Van der Sar of Manchester United, Petr Cech of Chelsea, Almunia of Arsenal etc. What they have are like David James of Portsmouth, Robert Green of West Ham which their clubs are always at the bottom of the league table. So, where can they get an experience goalkeeper for the country?

Secondly, from the match that I saw when England was playing Germany, it seemed that England’s defenders were not defending enough on their area. From the way the goals scored by Germany, most of their scorers were not marked at all by any of the England defenders or whoever that supposed to mark them. The Germany scorers were freely to receive the balls and just shot in as they wished. Was it because Rio Ferdinand was not playing and that’s was the reason they lacked on defending? I doubt it.

Thirdly, on the striker front, I still do not understand why Capello chose to play Heskey most of the time. If Heskey was not functioning well, he should have change to Defoe and what he did later or give to other such as Crouch to play. Well, that was his strategy. I am not a football coach, I might be wrong but at least everyone has a chance to voice out what they think about the current England World Cup 2010 team.

Lastly, if Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany was allowed, will they make any difference if the score was in 2-2 draw again? Will England able to come back when they tied the score during the second half? What I can say is that it was really a fantastic goal that was not allowed to stand. It was clearly a goal from all the angles of the camera when we saw it on television, but alas, the decision was still in the referees’ hands. As according to the FIFA rules if there is, the referees will have the final decision on the matches and no appeal will be entertained at all. But what if it is really a bad decision call by the referees and they have robbed the chances to the team that still have a chance to win, can they go on to apply for a court decision to reverse the referees’ decision with all the enough proofs taken? Let’s hope that FIFA will make a change quickly to put in additional linesmen on the goal lines or other methods for a fair decision making for the outcome of a “FAIR PLAY” match as what FIFA always wanted. You want to have a “FAIR PLAY”, you also need to be FAIR from their referees’ decisions.

Anyone has any other comment or suggestion, please post it here. Let’s have an exciting final match of the World Cup 2010 and may the best team wins.

Thanks.

Victor Wan
www.VictorWan.com

The World Cup 2010 football competition in South Africa is almost here. I have created a subleague competition for all of us to play to predict all the matches of the World Cup 2010 from group matches up to the FINAL match. The one with the highest points from all the predictions will win the World Cup league.

The subleage is known as “Victor World Cup 2010″ and it is free to enter. All you need to do is to submit your name and your email address below and after that you will receive an email for you to confirm your participation. Please make sure you found that email because that email MAY be in your spam mailbox or junk mailbox as according to the setup of your inbox mailbox.

After you confirm your participation, it will lead you to register first and then you select to join the the subleague called “Victor World Cup 2010″ and again, all is free to register and take part.

So, let’s have fun and may the best predictor wins.

Thank you and enjoy the World Cup 2010.

Victor Wan
www.VictorWan.com

For Your Information, this contest is closed. Thank you to all that have registered and predict the top four teams of English Premier League as at 30 September 2009. The result will be out on 1 October 2009.

Regards,

Victor Wan

Stay tune for another contest soon !!!

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The first month of the newly English Premier League 2009-2010 has just ended. In August, some teams have played up to four league matches and the current table standing of the top four teams as in 31 August 2009 are as below:

1. Chelsea
2. Tottenham Hotspurs
3. Manchester United
4. Manchester City

Out of the so-called original Top Four teams, Liverpool and Arsenal are not in Top four standing now. Of course, this is just the beginning and there are still long way to go until the final weeks in May next year 2010.

So far, have you predicted correctly of the current standing?  Is your favorite team one of the top four now? Who would think that Tottenham started so well with 100% winning record at this moment? Surely Chelsea is still the strongest team and therefore they are sitting at the top now. With so much money spent on new players, Manchester City would not want to lose out to be in Top Four. If not, surely Mark Hughes will lose his job by now.

However, Liverpool and Arsenal are not far behind and they are just below the surprise package, Stoke City which is at 5^th place now. Surely, Arsenal and Liverpool can catch up and they will be greatly challenge all the way to the top four.

Now, my challenge to you is, which teams will be the top four teams at the end of September 2009? Will the current top four teams still remain the same and at the same positions? Will you think that Liverpool and Arsenal will join back Chelsea and Manchester United to be the top four teams? Or will there be a surprise package such as Sunderland and Burnley to be among the top four at the end of September 2009?

Based on the league schedules, all teams are expected to play for another 3 to 4 league matches subject to any postponement due to their hectic busy schedule.

Here is my challenge contest for you. Predict the top four teams of the English Premier League for the league table as at 30 September 2009. The ending date for you to submit your prediction is by 20 September 2009.

Here are the terms and conditions of this contest:

1. All predictions must be submitted by 20 September 2009 with confirmation of e-mail from my system.
2. You can submit as many predictions as you like but each submission can only be submit with one e-mail address. The system will not accept any submission that has already submitted earlier. You have to submit additional predictions with different e-mail addresses. That’s mean ONE e-mail ONE submission (or ONE entry).
3. This contest is open to all around the world but must have a valid e-mail address.
4. The result of the contest will be determine by predicted correctly the English Premier League Table standing as at 30 September 2009. The prediction is the TOP FOUR TEAMS with the EXACT POSITIONS as at 30 September 2009.
5. The outcome of the results and winner are finalized by myself and any objection and complaint will not be entertained at all. No need to be so serious. This is just a small game and to have fun only. There is no need to object or complain anything.
6. The winner will be notified by e-mail from me.
7. There will ONLY be ONE winner. In case there are more than one submissions with the correct TOP FOUR TEAMS with POSITIONS EXACTLY as the English Premier League Table as at 30 September, there will be a TIE BREAKER match. Those eligible in the Tie Breaker contest will be notified by e-mail and the Tie Breaker match is to determine the score of a league match to be determined soon whenever there is a Tie Breaker contest.
8. What is the PRIZE? The prize with the exact top four positions predicted correctly will get a “Manchester United 2000 Football Card Album” worth US$50. This is a rare collection of football cards complete with an album of Manchester United football stars during the season 2000. It is a collector’s item to collect. You are NOT a Manchester United fan? Well, let me see if I have other Football Card Album of another Premier League team or not.

Manchester United 2000 Football Cards Collection Album

So, predict your Top Four Teams standing as at 30 September of the English Premier League and win the treasure prize.

All you need to do is to enter your name and your e-mail address and click submit. Wait for an e-mail in your mailbox for instructions to continue to predict the Top Four Teams with the Exact Positions of the English Premier League as at 30 September 2009.

Remember, only ONE e-mail address is accepted. If you want to submit more than ONE entry, you have to enter another valid e-mail address.

CONTEST CLOSED !!!

Also remember, the closing date for submission is 20 September 2009.

Result will be OUT at 1 October 2009.

If you have any problem to register for this contest and any problem to submit your prediction for this contest, please e-mail me at victor@victorwan.com.

Thanks and Good Luck!!!

This post is about one of my favourite sports, Football or Soccer.

Michael Owen is one of my favourite players. He was once very sharp in his skills and able to score fantastic goals. He is one of the best in my list.

1. Since Newcastle United was relegated, I foresee there is no point for Owen to remain there. To maintain his career and get back his opportunity to play for England, he should try his luck to go back to Premier League at least. And at least, there were some buyers interested on him, Hull City and Stoke City.

2. But suddenly, a breaking news came. Michael Owen is heading to Manchester United.

3. When I heard this news, I shouted “YES !!! YES !!!”. He is moving to Manchester United. He is going to play for Manchester United. Why? Because Manchester United is my favourite football club.

4. There he is………after completed the medical checkup and immediately signed and sealed the contract. Isn’t he great in the new Manchester United home kit?

5. Now the problem is, will Alex Ferguson play him all the time or just put him on the bench just as a backup striker? Or will he be rotated to play in the first team? Let’s see what and how Alex Ferguson is going to do with him.

6. WOW !!! Since Manchester United is coming to Malaysia for the off season summer tour, make sure Owen is in the tour as well. Well, he should be. Shouldn’t he? It will be great to see him in action right in front of my own eyes.

7. To Michael Owen, welcome to Manchester United and to Malaysia.

Thank you for reading.