www.Go To The Mountain - Musings of a Potential Guru

1966 was a long time ago but the legendary names of Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Alan Ball, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst remain etched in our memory. While Brazil was famed for their attacking play, the English were masters of defence. I am writing this article because many of us in Singapore and other Asian countries were brought on English soccer since the good old days of "Star Soccer" from the old First Division and even more so now the huge following of the EPL. Besides, being a former colony, the love of the game and the familiarity of the names of players and how they play comes in a natural bias. England have just recorded one of their worst World Cup results in 2014. What went wrong? Was Roy Hodgson the best coach? England were not wrong here but were wrong in many other areas and for a very long time now and in Roy Hodgson they have the right coach but not necessary the best one. Roy has been to many places and coached and managed success...

I am writing this after being declared medically unfit for work for a week. An enforced rest that made me realise that we are just mere mortals not Superman and time for more reflection. When you are eating normally, often times you take things for granted or you get tired of the same old food. It's when you can't eat that you find any food a joy. I went for a surgery, a dental one to remove a wisdom tooth and simultaneously a cracked one. Of all days,I have to have a congested nose prior to the appointment, something that happens once in a while due to allergic rhinitis. Was it the body's reaction to the forthcoming stress? Of fear and trepidation? Remember Brazil's buck-toothed hero Ronaldo suffered a fit just before Brazil met France in the World Cup Final and got thrashed 3-0? The last time I had one was eons ago where in those days dentists don't even have X-Rays to check you before the operation.  The dentist even had a short half-time break explain...

The Goalkeepers Goalkeepers are really the very last line of defence. Some are commanding in coming off the line or smothering aerial threats while others are know for their acrobatics, cat-like reflexes and shot-stopping abilities. While Gordan Banks made the greatest save ever, Russian great Lev Yashin was arguably the best ever? An outstanding one gives his team especially defence great confidence and launch quick attacks. What about Dino Zoff, Sepp Maier, Pat Jennings, Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn, Rinat Dasaev or Jose Luis Chivalert (the latter scored many great goals from free-kicks). These are some who may shine in South Africa. Gianluca Buffon (Italy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBSCghfoAm4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhUJydUAkH0 Julio Cesar (Brazil) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ATPDfxE8ok Hugo Lloris (France) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tThs4oipxXg Iker Casillas (Spain) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6ssVPu8uBs D...