Burnley 0 Manchester United 0

Three games in and still no win. I'm sure the fans are getting restless but or me I'm not hitting the panic button yet. Still there is alot of blame to dole out.

1) Defence Is Weak But Improving

Evans, Jones and Blackett. Only one player was worth commending and that's Tyler Blackett. So many mistakes kept being made unnecessarily. Nonetheless it is improving and already you can see the shape of this 3-5-2 formation and philosophy at the back. DDG imperious as usual.

2) Angel di Maria Debut

A good debut even though there was no goal. The guy has speed, can dribble past his man, and has the strength to hold off challenges. What's not to like? At this rate he will surely justify his transfer fees. Reminds me of a certain CR7.

3) Rest Of Midfield Is Weak

Fletcher is at best a bench player. I love him for coming through the United academy and being United through and through but I'll admit he's just not good enough to start. Mata playing attacking midfield had such a quiet game he wasn't a threat at all. Valencia was just clueless. He's strong but his powerful runs have disappeared and now he can't beat a tree on the dribble anymore. Only Young had probably a good game but surprisingly as the game wore on the ball kept being played to Tony V.

4) Wayne Rooney Could Be The Weakest Link

It seems unnoticeable to many but he may escape from being the worst player on the field merely by way of his reputation. As captain he has failed to lead the team. Again there was barely any fire in him, and his first touch was horrible. Suffice to say many chances were ruined by him. Giving him that stupid bumper contract was David Moyes' mistake, and making him captain might end up being LVG's undoing. The guy just comes off as a moneyface to this fan.

5) The LVG Philosophy

Honestly, the tactics are very sound and already you see that the team is adjusting already in terms of discipline and movement. This is a good sign of things to come. However with performances like today, will LVG be given time? Oh and bringing on Ando was just bizarre.

Anyway I'm already looking forward to next weekend's home game against QPR. Looking forward to a lineup that's got AdM, Rojo, Herrera and Blind!

GGMU!!!

Sunderland 1 Manchester United 1

Gosh. Things just seem to be getting from bad to worse.

1. So Much For Preseason Hype

Yeah, just when we all got carried away with LVG winning the International Champions Cup in the USA during preseason, we were all brought back down to earth by this 2nd game. Somehow the entire play was sluggish and the magic seemed lost, regardless of who was on the pitch. No one could put in a good shift.

2. Rooney The Non Captain

I'm not a fan of Rooney after how he's held the club to ransom. Twice. So LVG making him captain this season didn't leave a very good taste in the mouth. Last night he really showed why he SHOULD NOT be captain. Unable to lead by example, unable to play properly, unable to play with any fire in him. Very sad. He looked like just any regular Joe putting a normal shift at work and looking forward to go home to his family right at full time. I'm not sure that why we paid him 300,000/week.

3. Defence Is Too Porous

Say what you want but everytime Sunderland broke forward, they looked like they could score. Same with the Swansea game last week. Somehow, this 3-5-2 formation is making the 3 defenders very nervy. It also doesn't help that Smalling and Jones are the most senior of the lot marshalling the defence. Kudos to Tyler Blackett and Michael Keane doing a passable job. At least they can get away with a few greenhorn mistakes.

4. Poor Midfield, Poor Wings

The pair of Fletcher and Cleverly was absolutely horrendous. Without any other midfielders, this pairing is probably the worst passable pairing we could put out and boy did they justify that tag. The wings were no better. Valencia, much as I love him, is just not the same since his leg break. Nice of him to get an assist though. Ashley Young, I just have no idea why he's still with the club. He honestly surprised me in preseason, but from last week, he's reverted back to his old self. Terrible.

5. What Now LVG?

The one silver lining of it all is that I don't blame LVG for this mess. You can see the man has a good football philisophy and discipline. His tactics are usually sound as well. It feels like the players are the ones letting the whole team down in the last two games, starting with captain Rooney. If we don't improve on this, I'm afraid we are in for a very long season. Hopefully we can get one or two more players in before the transfer window closes.

Sigh.

GGMU!!!

ACL Rehab Day #54

Quicker than usual progress update primarily because there has been a knee flare-up. There is large swelling above the knee but there is no pain whatsoever. Feeling is of tightness and pulling of skin.

It's quite disappointing because I felt really good just a few days before.

Tuesday I had a strenuous physio that worked on several new exercises especially for the hamstring. Afterthat everything was alright.

Wednesday I felt the aches around my thighs and calf muscles which was really good because I haven't felt them for months. However, at night the swelling began. ROM reduced drastically to around 60deg.

Thursday I had an early 2hr flight and I think that made it bad. Turned into a watermelon the rest of the day. Spent a lot of time icing and elevating. At night the swelling gets worse. ROM was almost a bad 90deg.

Friday was all of the same. Periodically ice and elevate plus extend rest on bed, coupled with early night rest.

Today the swelling has gone down somewhat. ROM still restricted to around 60deg. Flight to catch in evening.

Hope to get well soon and continue with my exercise progress. Mindful not to work knee too hard.

Sleepless In Surabaya

This might be my last time here. Or maybe not.

I will miss the quaintness of this city. 

Didn't help with a knee flare-up.

ACL Rehab Day #50

I'm walking normally now.

I hardly feel any pain in my joints unless I stand or walk for too long. That's when there will be abit of tightness feeling in the knee. Otherwise it all feels pretty good.

The lumps forming underneath the scars are still there. They don't seem to go away and they hurt when I kneel even on the bed or a soft surface.

Physio has been very good. I'm progressing very well and my exercises are getting more and more demanding, which is what I like. I can get on the cross-trainer and various other machines now.

Skipped the Orthopaedist's appointment because it feels like such a waste of money to go and see him just to tell me everything's ok. Even the physio says the only important ones to go for are the ones on the 6th week and the other at 3mths.

I dreamt that I was playing football with my friends again. It was a very nice feeling to be on the pitch once more. Hopefully I do get to see that.

Here's to a good recovery!

Manchester United 1 Swansea 2

Who do we blame now? Ed Woodward of course!

1) LVG Is Not A Magician

It's true that he can perform wonders, but with a squad so thin that Jesse Lingard started and Nani and Fellaini both played means we are really Hirt on players. Isit not time to whip out the chequebook, Ed?

2) Rooney And Young Disappointed

Suddenly all that preseason magic is gone. Rooney our new captain was lumbering and his touches were awful. Young looked more like last season's version than this preseason version. Very disappointing. 

3) Three At The Back Exposé

Playing 3-5-2 means the wingbacks have to track back to help or risk the back three overly exposed. Ashley Young and Januzaj (even if he was a most creative up front) did little to help the back 3. Heck Swansea had so few chances and they still could win. Special mention to Tyler Blackett's debut which was composed and steady.

4) Questionable Substitutions

Of course hindsight is 20/20. Our three substitutions were used so early in the game. Lingard got hurt and replaced by Januzaj on 20', and the most creative force up front also helped little in defence. Nani came on for Chicharito on 46' which was rather early and weird when he was putting in a lot of effort running all through the first half. Fellaini then came on for Herrera on 64' which was bizarre because he was having such a good game. Even still Kagawa would've been a better choice. Thereafter the team stopped playing like a team. This part I have to fault LVG.

5) All Is Not Loss

The one positive takeaway from this opening game loss is the obvious fact that all the players played liked they really cared. This is significantly different from last season where after the first game the mood was already nonchalant. I hope we strengthen with a few more players, and if we don't we won't make top four definitely. Yet I will not begrudge the squad nor the coach yet because we can all see them trying hard. 

I'm already looking forward to the next game! Bring it on!

GGMU!!!

Arty Farty

The boy really can draw. And he's only four!

7 Management Strategies From Historic Generals

Picked this up from here and found it very useful.

1) Unite people around a cause

2) Keep them busy

3) Keep them satisfied

4) Lead from the front

5) Appeal to their emotions

6) Balance punishment and reward

7) Build a group myth

Mambo Jumbo @ Zouk - National Day Special

Was at the final Mambo night at Zouk last night, before they close down for good.

Truly such a waste that such a national icon has to go because of it's expiring occupancy lease.

Zouk was so crowded. The queue to enter Zouk and Phuture was so long that it stretched all the way to the bridge (the regular goers of yore will know how long that is!).

Anyway it was such a throwback to listen and sing to all my favourite songs once more. They even had a dance rendition of 'Home', 'Stand Up For Singapore' and '一百万' during the whole set that lasted till 4am.

I had such a blast.

Wish it didn't have to close down.

Rock Of Ages The Musical

Caught it at RWS with the wifey.

Pretty awesome!

Kids Talk II

At two and a half, my girl is exhibiting her smarts at will.

Knowing she does not like her milk warm, I still kept it up, because cold milk just isn't right for kids.

The first time I gave it to her, she cried and insisted on cold milk. I told her she had to drink her warm milk, otherwise there was nothing for her to drink. After abit of whinging she changed her tone and accepted the decision in return for warm milk for supper.

Last night I gave the warm milk to her again. This time, her smarts came out. "Papa, next time if can, make cold milk for Yixin ok?", she said, in her cutesiest tone. It really melted my heart, then papa said "No! You will drink warm milk."

Stone cold beat down! Hoowah!!!