UNITED STILL LONG WAY OFF PODIUM GLORY

Following Lous Van Gaal's moving and thoroughly entertaining end-of-season speech, many United faithfull supporters were left in upbeat spirits about future prospects under the Dutchman, but has the team's performance all season long been enough to rattle nerves?

After 13 games, United were wallowing in unfamiliar territories with a meagre return of 10 points, despite a formidable outfit that included record signing and the previous season's Champions League winner Angel Di Maria, the prolific Robin Van Persie and the industrious Wayne Rooney.

Despite this shaky start, United picked up pace to go on a seven consecutive winning streak that restored some much needed belief in a place bereft of it. But there was a tiny problem, just a pinch-in-the- ass problem- United's performance in these games was wanting, so much so that it even left some fans displeased and visibly agitated. Sure they were winning but there felt something missing- that conviction of a United team seemed lost. The performance against Arsenal, if not for Arsenal's profligacy and recurring naivety, was a certain loss, same with the 2-0 win against Southampton, which defined luck to whole new heights for the Red Devils.

After the new year there was some improvements in performance and this was evident in the 2-1 win over liverpool. The 4-2 drubbing of city rivals Man City then sent out a statement-United were back! But were they, really?

Three succesive losses that were offset by the 1-0 loss at Chelsea showed that no, United are far from the finished article. The barren draw against Hull on the final day of the season shows that even next season could be too soon for United fans to fantasize about the Premiership let alone the Champions League.

For lengths this season, much to the boredom of even their fans,United's game has been pretty predictable- languid passing as they guide the ball to blind alleys, back pass galore, then launching a long ball to Fellaini's hair. Instead of a Barcelona-esque clockwork mysticism, United are playing a dull, pointless passing game with constant lateral harmless movements.

Their loss to Chelsea should be a reminder that they don't need so many passes to win. Leave Barcelona characteristics to Barcelona, unless of course United relocate to the Catalan city.

The likes of Fellaini and Ashley Young have shown just what they are capable of, but for United to offer some imposing presence, Van Gaal should hit the market big time for some world class talent.

Meanwhile the likes of Januzaj need maturity injected into them before they can even sniff the bench at Old Trafford. Falcao, while only a fool would doubt his talents, just need new beginnings that don't involve Manchester United. Van Persie has been declining faster than a rolling stone on free fall and he shoul also seek an alternative team.

However there is reason to believe in the future just as there is a need to be patient.

courtesy of 
BBC Sport

CHELSEA WORTH OF THE TITLE

Call them boring. Call them unlovable. Call them gruff and ugly. Call them the bus. Hurl at them a tirade of insults from the darkest murks of human thoughts. Then after that, call them EPL champions.
There was a presage to all this, and its amazing how we either totally missed it or blatantly ignored the signs. The writing was on the wall when Chelsea went fourteen games unbeaten, an exploit that helped them solidate their place at the top despite some lethargic showing in 2015. Marquee signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa quickly settled in, running rings around helpless and countless defenders and its obvious that they, alongside the mercurial Eden Hazard were and will be in coming times the vertabral point of Chelsea's success. All this happened while teams like Manchster United and Liverpool still tried to come to cognizant with this thing called winning. 

Following the implosion of Man City in 2015, the only team that had shown glimpses of matching Chelsea, it was rather obvious that it would take a miracle then one more to upset The Blues.

To be truthful, save for their early season run off-the-block, Chelsea have barely been pleasing. They haven't been eye-catching. Some have labelled them boring. Yet in the same breath, they have simply been outstanding. Breathtaking on some instances. Devastating on others. Consistent through out. That they have only lost twice by the time of writing goes a long way to prove that they are a formidable outfit and it could take a few more years before Chelsea face some serious competition.

Arsenal lacked the fortitude and only showed some seriousness when there was nothing to be serious about. United still appear hanged over. Manchester City still seem not to know what to do with all that money. Liverpool meanwhile, are still trying to shrug off the mid-table stench that's fast becoming their identity. That leaves Chelsea as the only complete team.

They may not be everyone's cup of tea but Chelsea need not even worry what sort of tea the others enjoy so as to suit their taste. They have shown qualities of true champions-grit, consistency, defiance and using your opponents weaknessess as much as your own strengths. Mourinho has always been a tactical coach and he has proven that Chelsea are a team that embrace his philosophy more than any other.

It is his genius use of Chelsea's good defensive opacity that has led to them being labelled boring, but most importantly, being crowned EPL Champions for a fifth time.

Boring? Boring would be Chelsea winning the title for the next few years as the other teams look on and sulk in silent rage.


photo: courtesy

LONG TERM SOLUTION KEY TO CURBING INSECURITY

Tit- for- tat should not be looked at as the solution to our insecurity malaise.

In the wake of Garissa attack, a lot was said.Following the Mandera quarry attack, yet more was said.Before that, a lot was said following the Lamu attacks and long before that, the Westgate attack drew scathing and tough utterances.Beneath these harsh words were what seemed like assuring statements but barely assuring.

The Westgate attack was heartbreaking for lack of a better word.Never had our vulnerability and mortality been put to perspective in such brutality and cold savagery.We were exposed as a soft spot.It would never happen again, we promised ourselves and the government assured us of the death of the attackers.The Mandera bus attack brought the statement from our Deputy President that 100 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in retaliatory attacks.After Lamu, several suspects were rounded up only to be released later.Following the Garissa attacks, we were informed of KDF bombing two Al-Shabaab bases.This should be reassuring, but is it? Should it be that we are only reactive, acting tough only after being hit? Are we supposed to feel safe when 100 al-shabaab militants are killed soon after four or five of their own lay to waste our own?

We should react first more so after issuance of travel advisories.As it has come to be, travel advisories have preceeded the recent major attacks, acting as a presage yet we choose to ignore them.Instead of dismissing these advisories  we should consider them a warning.One was issued before Garissa attacks, another during the series of Lamu attacks.That's no fluke.Sure some foreign embassies tend to overreact but we ought to take this as a warning sign, the dark clouds before our storm.Our knee-jerk reaction to terror only works against us.

Our reaction to such emergencies too is at fault.It is not reassuring that in the Garissa University attacks, some of the victims were killed as late as noon in an attack that started at dawn.And our security officers were even yet to make any foray as late as 2 pm.Fatalities will always happen in any attack but our reaction soon after receiving the news is paramount to preventing a bloodbath of the scale of Garissa, Westgate or Lamu attacks.To reach triple digits in a single attack of sporadic shooting is a travesty of our security.

However it is reassuring that we are striving to curb this menace from its roots- radicalisation and it is important that teachers of Muslim religious classes and Muslim leaders in general do more than just tell us that Muslim religion does not condone violence following an attack.It is important that whatever is taught in madrassas is monitored as the Garissa attack mastermind Mohamed Mohamud was a teacher of these classes. Many more are hidden amongst us and we should name them no matter the affiliation.

THE COLLOSUS HAS FALLEN

The sun is scarred,
The moon injured,
And in the dead of night,
The collosus has fallen.

Grief knows no bounds,
Sorrow and melancholy abound,
As dreams morph to nightmares,
The collosus has fallen.

Woods a shade of death,
Black promises thus evil uncouth,
And when life shifts to grey from mirth,
The collosus has fallen.

Broken glass,dull brass,
Soiled trophies,ugly hats,
White skin,pale shadows,
The collosus has fallen.

Eyes that see in darkness,
Darkness guides the eyes,
Light submits to the blank stare,
The collosus has fallen.

Illness and health,
Penury and wealth,
The shade and the light,
Like days of night,
Of shadows and their masters,
The dry lands and deep blue seas,
The earth and the sky,
Frowned upon by the moon and the sun,
The collosus has fallen.

Fat wallets,empty pockets,
Misery and its contrasting equivalent,
Of the mysteries of life,
And the joy of belief,
A lack of faith,
And fulfillment of achievement,
The making of a legacy,
The collosus has fallen.

By the words of the mute,
And the sight of the blind,
By the ears of the deaf,
And the life of the dead,
By the embrace of the knife,
The collosus has fallen.

Tongues of fire,
And the heat of hatred,
The pull of love,
And the fulfillment of loving,
By the words of the beloved,
The collosus has fallen.

Through the tears and the laughter,
Smiles and frowns,
Believe,
Be and live,
The collosus has spoken.

From THE WRITINGS OF THE COLLOSUS: A POEM ANTHOLOGY

BARCELONA FAR FROM VINTAGE SELF

The Catalans looked set for a 2-1win over Sevilla only for a late Kevin Grameiro goal to throw a spanner in the works for Barcelona.

Deflation prevailed following the final whistle at Sanchez Pizjuan stadium and from the looks on the Barcelona players faces,it was evident that their implosion had cost them dear.It was't a defeat, yet it felt like one in impact and magnitide,all Barca players rueful of the chances that they lost.Barcelona had started in lively style and it was Lionel Messi (who else?)who put Barca infront with a trademark curl from the right.It was domination from then on and Neymar stamped Barca's authority in the game with a peach of a free kick that sailed over the Sevilla defensive wall for the second.Sudddenly it looked like Barcelona would upset all odds and become the first team to beat Sevilla on their own backyard this season.They ought to have,they were supposed to and with a 2-0 lead in the opening half hour,they were destined to.Yet once more they showed that vulnerability that has become all too common this season as they allowed the hosts back into the game.Bravo would have only himself to blame as he allowed Banega's 30 yarder to fly through his fingers and half the deficit before a Pique error allowed sub Gameiro to make good his calling with a well taken goal to restore parity.At that,it was difficult to imagine that once upon a time,when Barca took the lead,the game was as good as done.Now,not anymore.As with all good things,that peak had its time,served its purpose and had retired to a holiday home with a pension,leaving behind a bland taste of normalcy.Yet it still didn't feel right.It shouldn't.

Following the end of the golden era-2009 to2012-under Pep Guardiola(now at Bayern Munich) Barcelona have found it hard to to equal,let alone better the heights of their best ever period.It was bound as  all glitters fade with time,but it is appalling as to how abysmally ordinary Barcelona have become.Wherever there was brilliance now there's only good.Where there was exceptional now rests  usual.Even Messi seems to have been dethroned as the best and looks contended to nip at the gate of the palace he once occupied.Plainly put,this is the most ordinary Barcelona team of recent times,one that couldn't even put its foot down against Sevilla.It was poor to blow up a lead like that and expect to be labelled worthy champions.For a team looking to win a first trophy in over a year,that was a shoddy display.

While it would be ridiculous to expect a match of Guardiola-era outrageousness,the manner in which Barcelona now labour in matches hardly elicit much positivity.Awe has turned to meh.There shows glimpses of the class of the old,but hardly consistent enough to satisfy the thirst for the usual unusual Barecelona trademark.Where there was crisp passing now there is just passing.Enrique is doing a good job of varyiny Barcelona's style of play but does it have to come at the expence of class and brilliance?Barcelona blow up when it matters most.They did it at Sociedad on january 5th.Then they were at it against Malaga a few weeks later.It could have happened at the clasico but Suarez spared them the blushes.It happened against Sevilla.Barcelona had a chance to stamp authority,they didnt.Folllowing the draw,nowhere were the celebrations louder than at the Santiago Bernabeu where Real Madrid faithfuls roared at the virtual shot at glory following the oops! moment of their great rivals.This blip could turn out to be a full blown gaffe come season's end and it would be a case of a strangely familiar déjá vu,where it was so close yet still as far as Madrid.The air of invincibility has deserted Barcelona,leaving them vulnerable to frequent falls.While far from mediocre,they are still way off their best ,a sign that much task lay in  wait for Luis Enrique and his charges.