"I'm very proud of my players. Normally when a team has a lot of success and loses a championship it's lack of motivation, not the same spirit or ambition, but it was exactly the opposite. My team was brilliant.'' - Jose Mourinho




Over the past couple of days on the back of man yoo gaining back the EPL title, I've developed a grudging respect for Jose Mourinho, stemming from his public display of recognition, approval and solidarity towards his team at the end of the match against Arsenal. Chin up, his body language intoned. It may have been wonderful PR or a subtle attempt to keep his job, but his reaction to failure and adversity is, sigh admittedly admirable, I alliterate.


So then I wonder, what defines failure? Inability to obtain set objectives or aspirations? Loss of self belief? Wrong ideas? Wrong methods? Being unable to adapt or change circumstance? I don't know, ask wiki lor.We can recognize the feeling of failure, the gnawing dull pang in the stomach and chest, but it's hard to distinctinly describe. I have an idea though, that failure is not judged, or decided by the end result, but rather by the processes and attitudes that were invested and like, the lousy test score, absence of a championship medal, the gold award in syf are all but mere manifestations of the knowledge that more effort, more work could have been put in and change the status quo.

Sigh, on a weak where I'm so physically and emotionally drained that they should name a reservoir after me, and stab me after for cracking stupid jokes, I've realized how closely linked failure and regret is. In fact, the feeling of failure's but another word for regret. We say we fail because we could have, we should have, we would have done better if we only...etc etc etc. It's a very simtia feeling because you know you could have got what you desired, you know you had the potential, but the lack of propensity to work for what you want ruined everything.


Mourinho dosen't think Chelsea failed. Sure, he goes on to state excuses such as "We had a big problem only to play all season only with (Ricardo) Carvalho at centre-half", but strikingly goes on to say "but now is not the moment to talk about that." soon after. Hell this dude realized that his team had gave 100%. Their 100% may not have been enough this season, but does it mean Chelsea has to wallow in not only wades of cash and oil, but self pity as well?

Niet! (warning: bandie gone wild)

If we gave our all during practice, watched Dr Lee microscopically, for a lack of a better term, perfected our intonation by never forgetting to bring a tuner or to listen out for each other, came for every practice punctually, refrained from saying dumb shit during combined, gave Dr Lee that utter, unadulterated concentration he so fully deserves...if we did ALL of this and More, and only got a dull, faded, and heart wrenching gold. I'll be disappointed, yes. I would scream refree kayu, yes. But I'd have no regrets. I wouldn't say we 'failed'. We would have done a Chelsea, who arguably fought to the end, all biasedness as a staunch Arsenal fan aside. If we did everything we could.

I think we're more like the Gunners though. On our day, our 100 % is better than anyone's 110. I sincerely believe with all my heart that if we actually took more shots outside the box, actually tried the hard and direct route of working the long and arduous ball and used our heads more often, we'd be world champions. We play beautifully, but our commitment and focus have to be present, or else all we have at the end is a souffle, to quote the great Mr. See, all form and no substance.


Gold With Honours

ain't coming to you on a silver platter. You can't simply pass your way into the top. 2 more days. Let's get our hands and mouths dirty and bloody do this. I sure as hell bid you stand, men of the west.

The Best Is Yet To Be.