A lot has happened since I’ve written about watching football in Dar. This hiatus saw drastic changes in the football world with Chelsea showing their worth by beating Barcelona, Real Madrid being beaten by Bayern Munich, Manchester City righting their drama ship and dominating Manchester United and Arsenal solidifying and un-solidifying its 3rd place lock in the EPL. Let’s just say A LOT HAPPENED! This weekend is what I would like to call the home stretch weekend. Most of the European leagues are coming to a close, Real Madrid reestablished itself as a force to be reckoned with in La Liga and Ronaldo has made his case of being one of the best players in the world…again. I think he’s been pretty pissed about all the praise Lionel Messi has received over the past three seasons, just like Pele.
Saying this EPL season has been a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement. As I am writing this piece, Arsenal are playing around with their number 3 spot by letting Norwich City draw with them. This game was entertaining, too bad I missed it but between the 70’ and 85’ three goals were scored that included a 3-2 edge to Arsenal. Its too bad, these guys were on fire but they have not won a League game since April 11 and Roben Van Persie just hasn’t been the same although he did have a brace. He’s been run to the ground, can’t blame Arsene Wenger though because as Van Persie goes, so does Arsenal. You know who has been on fire these past few weeks? This guy. If you recall, I wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago on Newcastle and Cisse, they are a fun team to watch and have been playing extraordinary football, let’s just pretend that 4-0 blowout by Wigan Athletic did not happen. The question is how long will Cisse stick around?
Anyway, just like last time I recorded a running diary with a cousin of mine, Ali, who is a huge Manchester United fan and hates Chelsea. I’m a Chelsea fan and hate Liverpool, so it all works out. I had to watch at home this week but will definitely check out a final spot next week as the EPL season concludes.
FYI: Ali may or may not be a person I made up simply for this piece.
Let’s Go…
Pre-Match
Ahmed: Look at John Terry introducing his team. I could totally see him coach.
Ali: Ha, he will definitely get suspended for some games because of yelling obscenities to opposing teams or maybe sleep with a wife of a player.
Ahmed: That hurts.
Ahmed: Before we get started on talking football, lets have a moment of silence for the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony as a top-10 player.
Ali: Knicks have had some bad luck in the playoffs but surely Melo is due a scoring outburst that wins a game.
Ali: Ah, Drogba. Mr. Wembley.
Ahmed: LIGHTS OUT. HA, power just went off at my house, so now we are watching pitch black.
Ali: Did you forget to pay the Luku bill?
Ahmed: What’s Luku?
Ali: Ala, no Andy Carroll?
Ahmed: Now Watching: DSTV NO SIGNAL SIGNS.
Ali: Dude why did you invite me to come to your house when we can’t even watch anything?
Kickoff
Ahmed: Man, Luis Suarez really just upsets me every time I see him.
Ali: Stop hating on the guy man, he’s a great player, the only asset Liverpool have aside from Lebron James.
Ahmed: Man, I forgot about that, why on Earth would he invest/buy shares in Liverpool? Who does he surround himself with, he’s just made a bunch of bad PR decisions…pun intended.
Ali: I’m seeing a lot more Red than Blue here, its like Liverpool have home court advantage.
Ahmed: I’m liking how Mata is getting involved in this game. He needs to be assertive and involved. He just hasn’t been the same since Di Matteo has taken over.
Ali: LIGHTS OUT, again, haha man this is kind of funny. Is this Luku or TANESCO?
Ahmed: TANESCO lights up my life every day.
Ali: Are you purposely turning off the lights because your scared Liverpool will score a game?
Ahmed: I think we don’t have enough power
Goals Ramires 11’
Ahmed: RAMIRES!! Man this guy is fantastic.
Ali: That was a great feed by Mata.
Ahmed: Doesn’t look like Liverpool’s goalie knew what he was doing.
Ali: Wow that was close, Bellamy could have leveled. This game is far from over.
Ahmed: Honestly though, whose decision is it to have Budweiser sponsor this game. They have the same color as Liverpool. That is definitely home-court advantage.
Ali: Reina is making me nervous. What is he doing?
Ahmed: I kind of want Steven Gerrard to at least level in this game, he’s had such a great career but has really fallen off these past 18 months.
Ali: Age and father time as they say, he’s overstayed his welcome.
Ahmed: Speaking of overstaying your welcome what happens to Daglish?
Ali: This season has to be the nail in the coffin right? He’s had a terrible year both as a manager and representative of English football.
Ahmed: Just realized we are playing Liverpool again on Tuesday. Man these fixtures have killed us this past month!
Ali: Gotta keep up man, this is the EPL where the big boys play.
Ahmed: Its amazing how much the defense respects Drogba even at this age.
Ali: Liverpool are playing decently, not out of this game at all.
Ahmed: Yeah anyone that is excited and clapping ferociously over a goal on the 11th minute is an idiot (self-reference).
Ali: This game has to be excruciatingly painful for Liverpool fans.
Ahmed: It’s only the 32’ I don’t want to jinx my team but we aren’t experts in keeping a clean sheet.
Ali: I don’t know man, somewhere Patrice Evra is smiling and grinning.
Ahmed: I keep saying this, he single handedly killed Liverpool’s season.
Ali: To be fair at least they have one trophy, that’s more than Arsenal by a long shot. ZING!
Ahmed: Freaking Mikel, not sure I’d be missing him next season.
Ali: Mata is really playing well today.
Ahmed: I agree, not sure if Drogba is playing the Drogba way though. I think he’s just serving as a decoy today.
Ali: Liverpool putting the pressure on…ok maybe not.
Ahmed: Amazing how this game turned into an actual match in the second half. I guess this is why you never count people out.
Ali: You have to admire the resilience by Liverpool especially after that awful first half
Ahmed: Torres getting warmed up. Let’s hope he has another dagger goal. I’m scared of his defense though.
Ali: Liverpool are missing a lot of chances here. I’d be worried if I were a Chelsea fan.
Goal-Drogba 52’
Ahmed: My streak continues of always criticizing Drogba and eventually being silenced by a goal. This reverse-jinx deal has been working well for us.
Goal-Carroll 64′
Ali: That was inevitable, Carroll was really making Chelsea’s defense pay.
Ahmed: I honestly cannot believe we allowed Andy Carroll to have a hand in this game.
Ali: This doesn’t bode too well for you guys against Bayern, if you cannot handle someone with that physicality then you might as well give Bayern the title.
Ali: Ramires off, great player, great day for him.
Ahmed: Drogba always gets hit in the balls…Or pretends to get hit in the balls, or just falls down and starts grabbing his balls.
Ali: WOOOOW, what a save!!!
Ahmed: GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY!!!
Ahmed: Suarez continues his streak of a classless player, look at him running to the ref.
Ali: Chelsea need to close this out with another goal and go for the kill in case people start claiming this should have been tied. Nevertheless, Czech has had an absolutely brilliant month.
Ahmed: Daglish has terrible teeth…that slow motion clip was not flattering.
Ahmed: My head is going to explode. Where is our defense? We are acting like we just won the FA Cup. The minute mark is 86’
Ali: The pressure is on. Would be sad if Czech concedes a goal now.
Ahmed: These corner kicks are freaking me out.
Ali: Di Matteo has this love affair with Kalou, why does he keep playing him?
Ahmed: FIVE minutes extra time, that’s some Ferguson shit.
Ali: Andy Carrol is really pressing and giving Chelsea the fits. Read that sentence again.
Ahmed: Just keep the ball Chelsea and park that damn bus.
Ali: Free kick for Chelsea given by Drogba.
Ahmed: Wow Reina is an awful goalie.
Ali: This is some serious extra time.
Final Whistle
Ahmed: GAME BLUE BLOUSES!
Ali: Good win for Chelsea but challenges remain, they barely escaped Liverpool that second half. I’m sure Bayern were watching attentively.
Ahmed: Yes, but tonight the Blues are champions, hard to believe just six weeks ago.
Love it Ahmed!