OCT 22 — I mean, seriously, does anyone really need to point out how Rafael Benitez is in trouble? Four defeats on the trot, Liverpool's worse run since 1987, is solid enough so there's no need to waste column inches saying, "Benitez really needs to work a miracle against Manchester United this weekend" or "The team relies too much on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres."
These are bloody obvious statements. Obvious and, in the case of the latter, dumb.
Also the fact that Liverpool have won all their games with Gerrard playing in centre-midfield and all their six losses were when Benitez played two defensive midfielders in the middle of the park instead. Nobody really needs to point that out cause it is not important and should have no bearing on any analysis of how Benitez should pick his team. If anyone tries to make this point, he's stupid, and it's a wrong analysis and there's no need to even explain why.
This is simply because Benitez is a miracle worker! He won the 2005 Champions League even though he had to use a team put together by Gerard Houllier! Who can even think of criticising him at all after that?
For that matter, who can criticise any of the managers who have won trophies? Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti, Arsene Wenger, etc., all beyond reproach. And if pundits refuse to praise them all, then we want none of them.
Especially those who "have never played at the top level." These pundits have no idea what it's like to be a professional footballer. And you have to be an experienced professional footballer to know what football management is like, even though the two are completely different jobs.
Because we all know, every film critic out there spent decades as film directors and producers, and the same with wine writers — they were weaned off milk and straight to the vine.
Probably worse than football pundits must be political pundits. I mean, we read all these analyses and op-eds from people who are known as "seasoned journalists". But have any of them been politicians at the highest level? How can any of them criticise the impeccable Datuk Seri Najib Razak if they've never spent a day being prime minister?
See, that's what sets Wenger apart from the riff-raff pundits. He has actually played a dozen professional games. And Rafa? He played over 400 games... so what if they were in the Spanish Second or Third division... that's top level, mate!
I mean, these pundits have never even met these managers in person to pick their brains. If only they met them in person, then they would also totally agree that every team selection for Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea is perfect.
Just like how when Liverpool came to Singapore, and the great Kenny Dalglish told some, ahem, fans, that Torres would definitely make an appearance for at least 15 minutes. And you know what? The club's ambassador was perfectly spot on! Now, that's the mark of an awesome manager who's had a glittering playing career.
But maybe we should let these pundits continue to clown around. It will be entertaining. After all, will any of these managers ever listen to them? Hah, of course not.
Everything you read in the media has no effect on real life. There's no point to all this. No matter how much you criticise Benitez or Najib or Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, they will not waver from their immaculate ways, God bless them all.
So, let's put an end to all punditry. As far as the Premiership is concerned, it is obvious that out of the Big Four, only Chelsea and Man U can win it. Why? Because only their managers have had successful trophy-winning playing careers.
There, simple logic saves us all a lot of time.
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