The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 6 — The shock defeats of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal provided the FA Cup with drama and headlines this season. However, they came at a cost to the glamour of the “most prestigious and oldest domestic Cup competition”.

Attention-grabbing defeats for the elite surely provide the spice for the Cup but not when three of the big four are knocked out so early on. What the Cup ultimately needs is what the Carling Cup had this season, with blockbusters in the quarter-finals and semis, too.

FEB 28 — For the past year, and especially during the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, England were looking in fantastic condition. Don Fabio Capello had done wonders, one imagined.

Glen Johnson performed admirably for Portsmouth and got a big money transfer to a Big Four club, Rio Ferdinand  and John Terry seemed like the best central defenders in Europe, Ashley Cole was showing why he is regarded as one of the best left backs in the world, Frank Lampard had just completed one of his best seasons, Steven Gerrard was creating havoc alongside Fernando Torres and nearly caught Manchester United for the league and Aaron Lennon was showing cracking form which seemed to be forcing him into England’s first 11.

FEB 27 — It is the highest order of irony that on the same day that the two richest clubs in English football play each other in the English Premier League (EPL), a fellow Premiership side could possibly be playing their last game . . . ever!

The Arab-owned Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge to play Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea in an early kick-off (8.45pm Malaysian time) tonight. These two founding members of the Billionaire Blues Club will, however, be playing under the shadow of the financial calamity that has befallen another ‘blues’ team, Portsmouth.

FEB 20 — While the English media give all the limelight to a certain Manchester United (MU) player, who I must admit has been in terrific form, there seems to be a nonchalant attitude towards news of the £25,000 fine that the English Premier League (EPL) had imposed on Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week for fielding an under-strength team against MU a couple of months back.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has not spoken much of the matter, however, I do feel some sympathy for him. The ten changes he made for Wolves’ December trip to Old Trafford, to rest players for the six-pointer against Burnley, brought him three points, he would argue, but also the wrath of the Premier League and some managers of MU’s title rivals.

FEB 7 — It is not hard to imagine what must be going through the minds of Chelsea players these days.

My guess is that they must be contributing a small portion of their huge salary to a “follow the captain” fund that pays for private investigators to tail the captain wherever he goes.

Honestly, it’s really quite difficult not to laugh at the predicament that John Terry has put himself in. No matter what he does in life henceforth, he will be known as the man who slept with a teammate’s wife.