Eww, It's Indian Football!

Indian Football. Two words that are looked upon with such discomfort and an appalling sense of naivety.  Our nation has always been a cricket playing, watching, eating and sleeping one. Football is merely that Sunday afternoon stroll. Truth is, no one cares.

We are proud to be ignorant. That is the most disgusting part of it. We put on this tag of ‘Oh we’re so poor’ and “We don’t have the money’ even when we have some of the richest men in the world living in the same country as we do. Why is it so? The AIFF needs to really be given a hiding. We have such tremendous potential and yet we are still ranked at 139! (I doubt there are even more than 150 countries on this planet!)

And if money really is a problem, then why are African nations doing so well? Their GDP’s are nowhere close to ours and yet they are the ones playing this year’s World Cup. As for India, we are ‘ecstatic’ simply being in the Asian Cup. We must be eager for more. Not content with what we have! Because then we're content with nothing.

Start attracting sponsors for god’s sake. I know it is not an easy task but then improve your marketing skills. Our country has some of the best institutions in the world. Start recruiting better from now on. Get rid of these ‘Babus’ who are still sitting on top treating the sport like it still belongs to the British era.

Make us ‘want’ to watch the I-League. Right now, we just simply do not. For starters ESPN, if you are listening, please save us from the Zee Sports broadcasters. The commentary and presentation of the ‘I-League’ is extremely shabby and truth be told, plain boring. This may sound utterly ridiculous and stupid but bring in Mr. Harsha Bhogle. His voice is one that every Indian can relate to and after all, he did host the World Cup 2006 now didn’t he.

Why do we pick Arsenal & Man United over Mohun Bagan & Dempo!

We support the Arsenal’s, Chelsea’s and Manchester United’s only because we like what we see. It is not because we hate Indian football. The quality of football, the media circus, the pitches, the aura surrounding it – bring that to India.

Bring in the passion. Bring in the excitement. In the English Premier League when a goal is scored, the commentators go absolutely ballistic. In the Spanish League you must hear the trance some of these commentators get into when their side scores. We need precisely that.

As for the infrastructure. My oh my. Where do I even begin! And forget about the AIFF now. Why aren’t private companies coming up and supporting more clubs. Indian Football needs more Sesa’s, NISA’s and Lajong's to make it look pretty. Did you know, that a certain I-League club Shillong Lajong FC actually attracts a whopping 30,000 spectators every game. That’s more than a host of English, Spanish and Italian based clubs even manage to pullout. ‘That’ is the way forward.

After all, if we are to talk about India making it to the World Cup Finals, and reach the same level that cricket is at, get the country to give a damn first!

The Future Is Now.

Wayne Rooney In The Write The Future Nike Advertisement

This new Nike World Cup advertisement - Write The Future, really got me thinking on how big this World Cupreally is, not just for the fans but for so many players as well. we are in that era of the modern game where just one flash of brilliance is enough to set you up for a lifetime. One upset is all it takes for a country likeHonduras or Algeria to be elevated onto a global platform with the whole world applauding them. Their future, is now.

Now let us flash back a little. Germany 2006, the venue for the Fifa World Cup had a lot of stars in the making. Back then, who was Franck Ribery? Who would have imagined a random pick by Domenech would go on to become such a big superstar. The same goes for a lot of other players too. For them, they were playing back then to be the stars of today. 

The Future Is Now, we are living the promises of the last world cup. 

Quite simply, its Make or Break. In that Nike ad (write the future), I enjoyed the Rooney bit in it. Yes, from being Knighted by the Queen to becoming a groundsman living in a trailer might seem a little far-fetched but it sends the message across dosen't it? I even love the way Cannavaro was 're-invented'! From being brandished a 'has been' with no club willing to sign him, El Capitano (in the ad) literally transforms back into the superstar he was in the years gone by. His future too depends on now.  

What is also very interesting is that the World Cup is finally becoming a 'global' event. Not that it wasn't in terms of viewership but now its in the form of the team rosters as well. Asian and African nations were always 'making up the numbers' in every major World Tournamnet so far. Not anymore. They are only getting stronger and stronger. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Japan, USA, South Korea, South Africa will more than just be filling in slots in this year's tournament, amd I firmly believe that the future of the many World Cups that will be held over time is in their hands only. 

Moving into specific players, unlike the '06 World Cup, this one has the potential to transform existing superstars into world class legends.  The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Wesley Sneijder aren't yet at the same level as Maradona, Pele and Zidane. The future, that is 'Estadio Cristiano Ronaldo'and 'Sir Wayne Rooney' relies completely on them being able to deliver now.

As for the upcoming 'potentials', it's time to make money son! With the inflated transfer market and ridiculous wages that players are being pampered with, one decent tournament is enough to set you up for a life time. 

Flashing lights, red carpets, luxury cars, etc all await you at the end of this long tunnel called the 'World Cup'. Marek Hamsik, Carlos Vela, Yoaan Gourcoff (check spelling) and Milos Krasic are all set to be driving Bentley's to their million pound homes in the future. 

This is me being an obedient fan of Nike and literally 'Writing The Future'as I see it. 
Predicting the future should not be too tough these next two months. It is time now for the stars of the 2014/18/22 World Cup to show us their faces. Will Ghana be World Champions? Will Messi retire a legend? Will Carlos Vela make his dream move to Barcelona?   


Well, stay tuned. For the Future...is NOW.

England's Arrogance Must Be Smashed By Capello

England are arrogant. Every game they go into, they exude this sense of superiority and naivety which has always worked against them in the past. Take a look at Brazil. When they play football, they are very humble. They ‘respect’ their opponents. The English are more likely to be spitting on their opponents and dishing out the choicest slang at the referee. It is this arrogant attitude that I feel is costing them big time.

Let me remind you all, that it is ‘only’ their league that is doing so well. Not the national team. And there does not have to be any link to either. Reason being that the English Premier League is flourishing only because of the massive influx of foreigners who are really lighting it up.

 Individually, England are a group of stars. But as a team, they are no more than a Russian Circus. Capello has done well so far to shatter all dressing room hierarchy’s and bring everyone down to the same level. Gary Neville is not the dressing room boss anymore. Chelsea & Liverpool players do not sit separately at the mess anymore.  It is a blessing really that an Englishman isn’t running (or ruining) that team anymore. Your place in the side depends purely on form. No past achievements or boardroom strings. Oh and what beats it all is the recent Capello ruling of ‘No WAGS’. Brillante Signore Capello!



Do Not Mess With Me!

Now moving on to England’s chances for the World Cup let me put things straight. England are by absolutely no means the ‘Favorite’s’ to win the cup. It is absolutely ridiculous that they are being called so. Spain are European champions, Brazil are South American champions and, Italy are former World Champions. What are England? Well, quite frankly (no pun intended) they are a side that did not even make it to the Euro’s.

England do have hope though. I will not completely rule out their chances as they yet have certain players who I believe can make the difference. And these players are all going to get their chance this time around due to Capello’s smart selection policies. 

The players I am talking about are not your Terry’s or Gerrard’s or Ferdinand’s. I am talking about Aaron Lennon, Darrent Bent, Joe Hart and James Milner. They will shine this summer. They have been amazing this season and if they are able to carry their form to the World Cup, England might just have a chance in there somewhere. Wayne Rooney will perform no doubt. But I still have my doubts on Frank Lampard who does seem to be found missing when it comes to national duty. 

So Mr. Capello, go ahead and play the so called ‘B-grade’ players this summer. They will take you places. 


Watch Out For The Mighty Dutch!

After an entertaining cameo in the Euro’s, Holland will look to shake off their ‘inconsistency’ tag this summer at the World Cup. They are a side with incredible potential and yet they somehow manage to consistently be inconsistent.

A good thing for the Dutch side this time is the fact that a good number of players are in top form coming into the World Cup. Wesley Sneijder as well as Arjen Robben have been awesome to watch this season. And to be fair, they were awesome even at the Euro’s in 2008. But it’s not just the two of them. 

Dirk Kuyt has probably been Liverpool’s only consistent performer this term. His hard work may not have paid off much for Liverpool but the Dutch could use a few more Kuyt’s. One more revelation this year has been Nigel de Jong. He has been the spinal cord for Manchester City this season, absorbing every attack with his fine defending and been an attacking threat with his excellent sense of positioning. With him in the centre along with Wesley Sneijder, opposing teams are going to have to cut through steel to get past them.



Beware The Mighty Dutch!

 A small mention for Robin Van Persie who has been on the doctor’s table for a good part of this season for Arsenal but has yet impressed when given the chance to. After all, you might be rooting for the Brazil’s, Spain’s, Italy’s and Argentina’s but in all this just remember to spare a thought for the Mighty Dutch!
 

Super Mario Can Be Played In Germany Too!

A German Reprieve For Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli. Two words that have made for such interesting reading this past week. To be fair, he has been making headlines since the start of the year.

"Hijo de Puta" or “Son of a Whore” aren’t quite the words you want coming out of your manager’s mouth, even after a 3-1 win against Barcelona. But if sources are to be believed, Jose Mourinho has been accused of doing exactly that. Added to which, it is alleged that fellow teammate Marco Materazzi had even kicked Balotelli after the game. Now this is surely no way to treat a fellow soldier, but in all fairness, I think Balotelli deserves it.

His child-like antics and constant whining could be the reason for this. Hurling your club’s jersey on the floor in disgust is, in fact a disgusting act all together. If you do not respect your shirt, do not wear it! I’m sure Mourinho and his men have had enough of this and I will not be surprised if he is the first player to be registered on the transfer list.

Now, in Balotelli’s defence, we must remember he is still indeed a young boy. He is all of 19, is yet to mature, both personally and professionally and I do not think Mourinho is the right man to raise him. You need someone a lot sterner. And this may come as a surprise to some of you but I think the right man for this is Bayern Munich’s Louis Van Gaal. He seems the kind who can really get your disciplinary issues straight and could even re-invent the Balotelli that we all once feared.

Plus, Bayern could really do with another frontman to support Olic and if given time, Super Mario could indeed fight his dragons in Munich (no pun intended).

India Will Shut The Bloody World Up!

The draws for the AFC 2011 competition took place earlier today and for the first time in 24 years, India have made it to the finals.  The AFC is like the Asian equivalent to the FIFA World Cup itself and what a tournament this is going to be for our country! Winning the FIFA World Cup is probably not on India's agenda this year at least but now that we're in the AFC Cup, I say, Lets Kill It!  Up against the likes of Australia, South Korea and Bahrain, here is our chance to show the world exactly what we’re really capable of.

132 in the current FIFA rankings, it is no surprise that we are often labeled as flukes or unknowns in the world’s most popular sport. In fact even Edgar Davids was shocked when he learnt recently that India actually played football. We must change this. Its time to shut them up! This Asian Cup is going to bring about amazing changes in our country.
God has been extremely kind to us by drawing the likes of Australia, South Korea and Bahrain in the same group that we are in. Yes, a lot of people out there aren’t too pleased with it and have already written us off but how wrong could they be!

Just imagine the kind of exposure our country will be getting. Australia and South Korea have huge stars playing for big European clubs. Park Ji Sung of Manchester United, Tim Cahill of Everton, Harry Kewell (formerly Liverpool) to name a few are the kind of players our boys in blue will be up against. The whole world will be watching, taking note of who these ‘min’nows in blue really are.

One good performance is all we need. We do not necessarily need to win the Cup or even qualify from the Group stages. The expectations are very low as it is and how advantageous that could be! Any result whatsoever will be treated as a hit. We need that.


But, my brothers and sisters, what our country really needs is YOU. India wants you to be heard on the big stage. The whole world is looking at us now. Let’s make them go deaf. The fiery passion that we are capable of exhibiting should inject tremors of psychitude that can rock their bodies like a seizure. And just imagine the kind of boost our players will be feeling. We have it in us to silence the Kop and the Stretford end. Now’s our chance to prove it.

Our country needs us. It’s war. To all you critics out there, Beware!

The sleeping giant has awakened.







The Asian Cup begins in Jan' 2011. Be There.

Joe Cole Is Only Chelsea’s To Lose

I wonder why a lot is not being made on the slight possibility of Joe Cole leaving Chelsea this summer. The English winger’s contract runs out at the end of this season and thus he becomes a free agent if no new deal is negotiated. This piece of news is massive!
   He is an exceptional talent and has in the past, haunted the sides of many pitches with his excellent dribbling and crossing skills. He has however been injured for majority of this season’s campaign and added to that, a dip in form too could be some of the reasons why Chelsea are not willing to give in to his massive wage demands. In Cole’s defence, his wife has just given birth to a baby girl and so he is a young dad now! He will now want to be at a secure place where he is sure of his future and financial commitments.
And Joe is smart. He knows very well that there are several clubs out there who are more than willing to happily fork out his salary week in- week out. Tottenham Hotspur & Manchester United are some of the clubs that he has been linked with and I honestly wouldn’t rule out the former. Harry could do with another Englishman bombing the flanks. And given his Champions League experience, he might indeed come in handy next term.
All in all, its more of Chelsea’s to lose than Joe Cole’s to gain.

C'mon Spurs, Seal The Deal!

English football needs a new superhero. And Tottenham Hotspur are on the verge of breaking in. So it's time for Harry to 'Seal the Deal'! Champions League football deserves a new home. And this time its on the white side of North London.
What a season it has been for Harry and his men! Having flattered to deceive for many years now, Spurs have finally stepped up to the plate. And how!
Fabulous performances against Wigan, Chelsea and Arsenal have made Spurs favorites to clinch that highly coveted 4^th place in the league and Champions League football might finally be coming to White Hart Lane.
And it is going to be awesome! I love the way Tottenham play. It’s an amazing mix of flair, balance and the good old British muscle. They have one of the best squads in England and I find this key for a good European campaign next season. Powered by England hot rod Jermain Defoe, Croatian wonder kid Luka Modric & co; Tottenham are definitely ‘suited’ for the Champions League in the way they play and the kind of strategies that Harry is capable of pulling off.
C’mon, re-inventing Gareth Bale on the left wing! Master class.
Of course, it is still a little tricky considering that they are yet to play Bolton at home and Burnley and Manchester United away. Manchester United away! How juicy a tie is that! Over the years it has made for some of the craziest games the sport has ever seen. Take last year’s 5-2 for instance! (With Spurs leading 0-2 at one stage!)
However, this year Spurs will HAVE to beat United, and United will HAVE to beat Spurs. Manchester City are just two points behind the Lilywhites and slipping up now could kill off their European dream, while United need to keep up the pressure on league-leaders Chelsea.
The last time Spurs got this close was under Martin Jol in the 05/06 and 06/07 season when they finished 5^th on both occasions. And this season, they have every chance of making it to the Top 4. And as a fan of the Premier League, I want change!
It’s time now for the Pretenders to stand up and be counted. Liverpool have failed miserably this season and if they still manage to bag 4^th place, it will be a shame! Manchester has seen the rise of a new power. It’s North London’s time now to rise.
And I don’t mean Arsenal.

All you Gooners out there, Watch Out!

Oh Barcelona, Please Stop Crying!

I am so disappointed with FC Barcelona. Not because they lost to Inter on Tuesday night but because of what followed. They went overboard with their accusations at the referee and Xavi’s Portuguese comment was just too much.

You got beaten by a better side on the night. Accept it.

The Barca that I believed in would have brushed their knees, dusted their shirts and said - ‘Well boys, they’re yet to come home’. But that attitude went missing last night.

Pedro and Pique made it seem like they were already out of the Champions League. In all honesty, the referee didn’t have a bad game at all. In fact my only criticism of him would be the way he dished out those two early yellow cards to Eto’o and Busquets when he could have, really, given them a warning. Yes, the Alves incident was controversial, but pick one game in this modern era that has been perfect as per refereeing standards. Exactly, you just won’t be able to do that.

None the less, in Barcelona’s defense, they’re not used to it. It has been ages since a side last managed to toy with them the way Inter did. But then again, who can forget last year’s Tom Henning Ovrebo incident. So in a way, Justice has been served. What goes around, comes around.

In all, Barca were beaten by tactical genius and heart. If they manage to replicate that, 3-1 may not seem that bad after all.

Oh Wenger, Please Go Shopping!

They say 'money saved is money earned'. But in football, you don’t spend money. You invest it. Arsene Wenger has always been one to save. Barring a certain Nicolas Anelka (whose returns would've put the smartest stock broker to shame), Wenger has only been a ‘saver’ and not an ‘investor’ in the transfer market. Arsenal fans have been very patient for more than three years now. but what they witnessed on Wednesday night against Spurs might have been the final straw.

You can say that the night's happenings were ‘Typical Arsenal’. Everything seemed to be going for them. United had slipped up at the weekend, Chelsea just about managed to get past Bolton in a volleyball, erm, I mean football game and all Arsenal really had to do was beat Tottenham to jump into second place. But then again, what happened was that Spurs took the game 2-1 in probably the only time in the last four seasons where this fixture’s result actually mattered. 

Wenger, if you’re out there listening, it is time to loosen those strings. Spend! And I don’t mean spend on unknown commodities who no doubt will become ‘future’ superstars, but I mean spend on those stars who you call over-priced and over-hyped for at least they will deliver those trophies before you are on your way. The current generation of Arsenal fans too deserve to see success, so stop building for the future and start focusing on the present.

It’s good to hear that Chamakh is heading to London. Word from the Arsenal camp is also that a certain Wojciech Szczesny is the next big thing to hit the Emirates faithful. Wenger needs to also go out and look for an out and out striker. Something that Arsenal have never really had, which in my findings seem crucial for a club’s success. 

Just look at the number of goals Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored forManchester United during his term there. Look at the way Drogba has been banging in goals consistently over the past three seasons. An out and out machine-like robotic striker who would just put the ball in the back of the net regardless of the class, touch or skill, and would kill all those claims of Arsenal being shy in front of goal and lacking the edge to kill the game off. Bendtner, im sorry, but you are just not the one for this. 

Defensively too, Wenger needs to add more Vermaelen’s to his squad. Get rid of Silvestre! Bring in a high profile signing. On the flipside, if we really now think about it, apart from injuries there has been no other reason why they have failed yet again this season. It hasn’t been because their squad isn’t good enough or any such thing. On their day, Fabregas, Arshavin, RVP & co. can destroy pretty much any defensive line up in the world, but how many games have the three of them actually played together?

So how about this Mr. Wenger, go out and buy a good physio and fitness coach! Revamp the medical staff you have at the Emirates. Bring in the very best. If you’re saving on the outside then at least invest it inside! Give those poor Arsenal fans one major injury free season!
That’s all they’re really asking for.


Of Rooney, Real And Other Such Fantasies!
If reports are to believed, Rooney could very well be on his way to the Spanish capital this summer with Real reportedly willing to part with a whopping 90m. Adding to that, personal terms with the former Evertonian could see him pocket a mind boggling 60m in wages over the next five years.

Rubbish. Absolute rubbish. As long as Sir Alex Ferguson remains in charge at Old Trafford, no such deal can or will ever take place. Unlike Ronaldo, who only left to cherish his childhood dream of playing for the club he loved, Rooney is already at that club.

My belief is that no amount of money will be enough to sway his thoughts and if anything, the clubs' 800m debt could be the only factor that they may take into consideration. What I like most is that, since his move, Ronaldo has always talked about how he misses playing with Rooney and how he would love the oppurtunity to link up with him again. But not once has Rooney said anything similar about Ronaldo. Clearly, he wants nothing to do with Madrid and does not want to give the media any chance to write anything whatsoever on him being unhappy or unsettled at the club.

That is Mr.Manchester United for you. 

Go Ahead Shilpa, Indian Football Needs The Glamour

The Media. Flashing Lights. Cocktail Parties. Celebrities. Oh, and a little bit of cricket as well. This is The IndianPremier League or the IPL as it is commonly referred to, that has taken our country by storm. 

The brainchild of a certain Lalit Modi, it is one of the biggest sporting ventures in the world and is touted by the organizers to even topple the English Premier Leaguein no time. It has it all – money, drama, action, cheerleaders, everything to make this cricketing affair a lot more for the non-cricket enthusiasts. 
 
Now imagine this. It's the East Bengal Tigers vs Mahindra United Rhinos (Or something). The venue - the Salt Lake Stadium, with a packed crowd of over a hundred thousand people shouting incessantly at every blow of the referees whistle as the cheerleaders light up the various makeshift stages with their sexy curves and groovy moves. 

The game is pegged at 1-1 with just three minutes to go. East Bengal Tigers get a free kick. Their star man steps up. He places the ball delicately on the wonderful new pitches provided by the owners. He measures his run, lines up the shot, and BANG! DAVID BECKHAM has won it for the East Bengal Tigers in the dying minutes of the game! 
 
Sounds like a fantasy right? 

Well, if recent sources are to be believed this, or something similar to it, could very soon turn into reality. NRI Business tycoon Raj Kundra and his Bollywood actress wife Shilpa Shetty are apparently keen to kick-start (no pun intended) an ‘Indian Football League’ of sorts, parallel to the IPL, to take the sport in our country to even greater heights.  

In a cricket-crazy nation, one might wonder whether such a venture can really catch on big time. But my count is, it most definitely will! Why? Simply because once glamour and entertainment is attached to football, it gives it that ‘X-Factor’ of sorts, that can really make it work.  

Let me give you an ideal example. Ranji Trophy Cricket in India has been in existence for more than 50 years now. The Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between different city and state sides, much similar to the IPL. Yet, the IPL has garnered far more attention from all of us in its three years than the Ranji Trophy probably ever has!

The format of the competitions are similar. Both involve one state playing another. Then why such a huge difference?  Its simple, refer to the opening lines. 

The I-league in India is the football equivalent of the Ranji Trophy. You have various sides from different parts of the country playing against one another to determine the ultimate winner.

However, the infrastructure is very poor. The playing conditions at some places are not fit for a national league. The training methods are not in sync with the rest of the world, and in all, it’s a tad boring to a majority of our population, who refuse to watch it.

With the introduction of an IPL-style league, everything could change. For starters, money will begin to flow in, and team owners will make sure that their franchises have access to better infrastructure. And with better infrastructure, comes better talent, and far more attractive football. It’s a positive loop.

And with the kind of influence our nations’ big shots have acquired, big name footballers like David Villa, David Beckham, Fernando Torres, etc might just be tempted to come down to India for a while to play in the league, and become some of the names that we start associating our local clubs with. 

Indian Football deserves that boost. Why must a nation of more than a billion people have just one sport to be crazy about? The whole world watches football! The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on our planet. Yet our country has not featured in it for light years now.

What Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty are doing is also potentially setting up the country for greater things in the future. As India Football Coach Bob Houghton recently mentioned in an interview, India have vast potential but zero resources. Now imagine providing that vast potential with maximum resources. It surely will make an impact now, wouldn’t it? 

After all, even if we don’t like the sport, we still like the hundred odd things that surround it. 

Hope the BCCI is listening!


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DIVING IS AN ART

Play hard. Get into every tackle. Pull their shirts. Make them scream. This is today’s 'lesser' sides' approach to a game against The Big 4. If you cannot match them on quality, you certainly have a chance at physicality. So push them off the pitch and break their superior style of play. Let them keep possession...but make them pay for it.

Now the question is...."Is this fair"?

Of course it is.

Arsene Wenger will most certainly beg to differ, but that is the modern game! English football as compared to the other leagues of Europe does allow that little extra sense of physicality. So if you don't have the quality, bulk up your quantity. Now by no means am I defending Shawcross for his tackle on Ramsey. That was a one-off (well, for the league) and although it is more likely to happen in the Premiership (with flying tackles and kung-fu bouts), it is not something that is really well endorsed.

British Football has and always will be about playing hard. The Spaniards are well known for their silky smooth style, and in Spain, the referees are a lot stricter when it comes to physicality. Shirt pulling – a norm in the Premiership usually ignored by referees, is a ‘serious crime’ according to their Spanish counterparts who do not hesitate in pointing to the spot for even the slightest of tugs. Most Spaniards who come to England to play are the biggest victims of crass English defending. In the United Liverpool game last Sunday, Maxi Rodriguez looked like he had been put through three stages of hell by Gary Neville. Every time he would touch the ball, Neville’s man-marking instincts would take over and he would immediately go right through the Spaniard. Eventually Maxi was taken off, bruised, battered and bandaged!

THIS Is the main reason why “Diving” is so common in the premiership now. A phenomenon that I believe is a foreign import has come up as a sly counter to hard tackles and challenges. Although it may be an immoral and cowardly act, ‘Diving’ according to me is an art.

An art of deception, that takes a magician to master. The rewards are excellent and the punishment is just. Either you get booked, abused and left there lying to incur your own abhorrence, or you are perceived to have been ‘brought down’ by the defender who is duly sent off just before you score that ‘well earned’ winning penalty. It’s a gamble that most strikers today are willing to take. 

My favorite example is Didier Drogba. Undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world, in every game that he plays, he is easily the biggest man on the pitch. Yet, at the slightest tug, pull or tackle, this giant of a man comes crashing to the ground as though he was steamrolled by a twenty tonne engine and lays there simulating a pain sequence that would easily be deserving of an Oscar.

But that is what the modern game has evolved to. With results becoming a matter of life and death – “if that’s what you gotta do, then just do it”. (Nike would endorse that!).

 One might wonder where the morals have gone, but the stark truth is, they were thrown out the window the day sliding tackles came into effect. ‘Diving’ is just a reminder that Football’s underbelly can get very ugly and yet remain seductive.

Its a classic case of Big vs. Small and Right vs. Wrong. It may not always work. And only makes things worse.

But when it is your only tactic, go ahead, create magic.  

THE ROONITED EFFECT

It was a tie worthy of a Champions League final. But the Round of 16 was where they met. Two great sides. Sides with history, tradition & ambition.
Amusing as it may seem, both sides are recovering from massive breakups. One with Kaka and the other, Ronaldo. Hence, the fight was on to see who had moved on first.

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza or The 'San Siro' as we know it was the venue and hosts AC Milan took on 'favorites' Manchester United. Both teams fielded their strongest lineups with Milan adopting a 4-3-3 of sorts and Manchester United playing their newly acquired 4-3-2-1. The game was touted to be a Rooney vs Ronaldinho affair. A lot was made of the Beckham saga too. Would he play? Will he start? Can he play? In all fairness, he did ok in the night. His cross set up the first goal and he displayed some master class defending as well.

At the very beginning of the game it was Milan who struck first blood. And who else, but Ronaldinho with a beautifully timed volley that deflected past Carrick into the back of the net. Pure class! It baffles me how a player like Ronaldinho manages to get himself omitted from his national side.  He showed great skill with the ball and played the kind of football that would have broken into smiles even the stubbornest of souls. For a lot of us, he was reborn last night. The bucktoothed wizard was arguably the best player on the pitch for the whole of 90 minutes. With the stylish flip flaps, to his intricate Joga Bonito style of play, he was the master performer of the night. Matched against his fellow Brazilian Rafael, he made the latter look half his age.

Milan dominated the first half despite a scrappy goal from veteran Paul Scholes that drew the visitor’s level. The attacking triplet of Pato, Huntelaar and Ronaldinho tormented the United defense that somehow managed to let loose only one goal despite their shabby performance. In all fairness, had Milan converted their chances, the game could have ended very differently. But they didn’t. And they paid for it.

Man of the night Wayne Rooney was virtually absent for the opening Thirty minutes of the game. The Nesta-Silva pairing, dubbed as Seria A's very best were given an easy first half with Milan's midfield enjoying majority of the possession. United's midfield in contrast were dismal and allowed the likes of Pirlo and Beckham to take a touch too many, too often. This was apparent when Thiago Silva marched nearly 20 yards within goal without being challenged for the ball.

Much was expected out of United's young wing wizard Nani, who not too long ago was out destroying world class defenses on his own. But he, like the rest of his teammates, had a very poor start and a majority of his crosses ended up in the stands leaving behind a very irate Rooney.

But, enter second half! The game transformed. Nani Out, Valencia In. And that made the difference! Scholes latched onto a misplaced pass by Silva and immediately drilled it towards the United substitute who then took on Favalli head on and after feigning an extra touch delivered a beautiful high cross which Rooney duly met with his head. As the ball rose from Rooney's head towards the top right corner, rose with it a million red devils from the edge of their seats. And as the ball sunk into the side net of Dida's goal, sunk with it the 'heady' hopes (no pun intended) of the Rossoneri.

Suddenly, there was a shift in possession. Fletcher and Carrick finally got into the game. United were creating chances after chances. Nesta and Silva were being unsettled by the quick pace of Valencia, Park and Rooney. And then came United's third of the night. The Game Breaker. Another wonderful header from Rooney, and the dream fixture was put to a premature end.

Or so we thought.

One criticism I have of AC Milan is them not starting with Clarence Seedorf, the man who proved to be the very same opposition’s nemesis 3 years ago. Nonetheless, the substitution was made and almost immediately you could see the difference. Within 5 minutes of full time, the ball was played to Ronaldinho who in a flash, played a dazzling low cross to Seedorf who's classy finish United fans will find hard to forget. To add to their woes, Carrick was shown Red for time wasting.
Milan's final chance came in injury time, when once again Ronaldinho sliced open United's defense with a slick through ball to Inzaghi only for him to shoot high and wide. The referee blew his whistle soon after, much to the relief of the United entourage.

Final Score - AC Milan 2-3 Manchester United

One thing to note is that despite the result, the tie is by no means over. Old Trafford may not be the kindest; when it comes to travelling teams but, Milan have done it in the past. The return leg will be won by the team that wants it more. Heart will play a big factor. Sir Alex Ferguson's men have been exposed too many times this season and with all the melodrama surrounding Beckham’s return and with Ronaldinho and co. out to prove a point, anything can happen.

After all, persistence is not just key.

It’s everything!

DON'T SACK RAFA!

He had the dream start didn't he? Champions League glory in his first season (04/05), FA Cup in his second (05/06) the Champions League final in the third (06/07). Everything seemed right and the red half of merseyside were happy with their Spanish leader. 

However, the last two years haven't quite been as good as the initial three but this season, they've been terrible. Having come so close to wining the league last season, a lot was expected out of Liverpool and Rafa this year. But an early exit from the Champions League and a poor string of results in the premier league is hardly what the fans had bargained for.

 To be honest, Liverpool have been punching over their weight for quite some time now. They've got a very average squad that relies too heavily on Gerrard and Torres. An injury to either and the team struggles to replace them. Their victory against Manchester United earlier this season, did them more harm than good. "The Comback was on",  "Liverpool will rise again", "Bring on the season now", were major headlines that circulated the papers the next day. The expectations were high once again. But Liverpool really were never back in it. 

Players like Lucas, Insua, Babel, N'gog, etc aren't quite top four class and their inability to bring in quality players is what is costing them this season. Their 'flukes' are being highly exposed and to add to that, their board room problems aren't helping either. 

I see a way out though. And its quite ironic too. For it involves someone not going out who already seems to be on his way out. Confused? Im talking about Rafa Benitez.

Now's the best time to keep the Spaniard at the club. Give him a new contract. Make him feel secure. Lift his spirits first and you will definitely see a positive change. He knows how the league functions and we saw how close he came to domestic supremacy last season and bloody hell, the man even knows how to win The Champions League. 

Let this season be treated as a 'detox' period for him and the club. Let the board trouble settle, give Aquilani and Rodriguez time to adapt, get rid of the unwanted players and build the youth system. Bringing in a new manager will not only be a very costly affair but will also further unsettle the existing players and the staff. Now is the time for the players and the fans at the very least to unite and believe in their manager. Rafa's saying he can do it. So why not trust him. 

Also, its the only way Torres and maybe even Gerard will stay at the club. Yes, some of you may argue with that but think of it this way -  Assuming Liverpool finish 6th/7th, Rafa is sacked, Manchester City come in with a 100mn pounds for Torres and Madrid come in with 60mn pounds for Gerard. Who's to say the board wont sell!

And if they sell, Liverpool will burn. It's that simple.

WE ARE THE ARSENAL

Being a United fan, I had this big dark secret which I only kept to myself. I'm going to let it out now. "Thierry Henry" was my idol. It was THAT squad - Pires, Henry, Bergkamp that really lit up the Premier League those days.

And then, one by one they left. Bergkamp was no more. Henry was no more. I began to wonder whether the mighty Arsenal would fall too. But today, I feel they'v come a long way. Their quality of football is excellent, the talent coming through is remarkable and finally, the mighty Gunners - after 3 years of false hope and under -achievement are finally stepping up. Cesc Fabregas has come of age and how! Their on field class is matched by an equally amazing youth academy/scouting system thats been put in place. When Wenger signs an unknown kid, its not too long before that kid's name is being chanted by the Emirates faithful.

But, they are still unproven. The kids have grown up and its time for them now to repay the faith put in them. And this season will be a very important one for them. The media, the fans are all getting impatient  and Arsenal must deliver.

And deliver they will! They have the squad (at least the starting 11). Arshavin and Vermaelen have been outstanding recruits and the team look a lot more composed now. Sure, its still an injury ravaged squad but its not a disadvantage when the other teams are also suffering from that. Look at Man United's defensive woes for instance. Carrick at centre-half!

As a United fan, 3 years of battling Chelsea and Liverpool have made me realize how much i miss the Arsenal rivalry. The Keane and Viera bust ups, the media wars between SAF and Wenger, etc.
In a way, I would love to see the Wenger-Ferguson relationship turn sour again. For the good of the rivalry, the truce needs to be called off and the mutual respect be thrown out of the window. Let the game's get feisty.

Having said all this, Arsenal could do with some 'cover'. Sol Campbell's been a shrewd signing but he needs to prove himself again. They desperately need a striker to partner Eduardo up front and an attacking midfielder to complement Fabregas. Abou Diaby is overrated and I feel he would do a lot better playing for a lesser side. So too would Bendtner and Eboue. This could be Arsenal's season. Having gone top of the table last night, the pressure is on now.

So failure once more - and Barca have a new midfielder!

DAWN OF AN ERA

We are now entering a new world of football, aren’t we? No more can a six year old child predict a scoreline at ease. The playing field has finally been leveled. I sit up a little more these days when I see the big four play the lesser sides. The gap has narrowed.

Birmingham have been on fire this season! Having gone on a 13 game unbeaten streak, that includes draws against Liverpool Chelsea and Man United. Clearly they’re one to watch out for. Bankrolled by their new Honk Kong owners, the club is finally seeing success after years of relegation dog-fights and championship stints.

But what really is making an impact on clubs like Tottenham, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Fulham etc. is the excellent management system in place. Harry Redknapp, Martin O’Neill, Alex Mcleish and Roy Hodgson have been outstanding managers thus far.

A lot of us also believe that its just the top 4 that’s getting weaker and weaker. Arsenal losing Hleb and Flamini, Liverpool losing Xabi Alonso, Manchester United losing Ronaldo. Well that’s not entirely the case. What’s really happening is, that the lesser sides are only getting stronger and stronger. A maverick like attitude is being adopted by the ‘pretenders’ as I like to call them. Theres no more respect for the elite. Every game is worth 3 points now. And look at the Big 4 squads. They still have at least 2 world class players playing in every position.

But the real winner here is Football. That dominating era is no more. We’re witnessing the dawn of an era where the term ‘The Big 4’ is history and the term ‘The Big 8’ may be in the rising.

English Football is getting more and more interesting. Sure, you may still bet your life savings on either Chelsea United or Arsenal winning the league this season.
But how about you bet on that happening 3-4 seasons later.

Exactly! I didn’t think you would.

QUIZ TIME

Test your football knowledge. Lets see what you got.

1.Which English team were the first to do the 'Double', i.e winning the Premier League title and the FA cup in the same season?

2. Which team made its first appearance in The Premier League in the 08/09 season?

3. Who is the Chief-Executive of the FA?

4. Which player won the 'Golden Boot' for the 2006/07 campaign?


5. Who is the current manager of the England U-21 team?  


6. Which team has the words "Arte Et Labore" on its crest?


7. Who succeeded Roy Keane as Sunderland's manager?


8. Who scored the first ever goal at the Emirates stadium?


9. Whom did Martin O'Neill succeed as Villa manager in 2006?


Post your answers below and try not to cheat.

Get 4 or more right and you know your football.

Bring Home the CUP!

Ive been a die hard fan of Manchester United since I first watched them play on screen one blissful night in my hotel in Kuala Lampur. This was i think back in 2003 when Beckham played his last for the club. Henry at the time was 'The Man to Watch' and Arsenal were pretty much the league dominators back then.

One Cup final that was actually prized in those days was The FA Cup. I remember that game against Milwall that ended with Manchester United winning 3-0. It was an awesome feeling. The season had been mediocre really, with Arsenal running away with the title unbeaten. A sick feeling for a United fan, but hats off to them. That FA cup semi-final was a special one. It was against Arsenal, with Scholes netting home the only goal of the game to make it 1-0 in the 32nd minute.

THAT, was the last time Manchester United lifted the FA cup. Its a shame really. 7 years have gone by, and the charm is now missing. The prestige of it has been junked off by top club managers who now only see this as part of a learning curve to blood their youngsters. The Cup still holds dear to a lot of fans, who still see this as the decider for domestic supremacy.

As a United fan, Ive seen it all in the last few years. The Champions League, Premier League, etc. But what i really want to see the club winning now is the FA cup. Dumped yet again at an early stage (by a lowly Leeds side), I probably will have to wait another year. But i hope SAF learns from this, and plays a full strength team next season. Bring Home the Cup - i say! For silverware is what we're all about.

RISE OF THE PRETENDER - MANCHESTER CITY

And then came the season of the pretenders. Breaking into the glorified “big Four”, could we really see the rise of a new regime? Some say so, some rubbish its acclaim but my count is…Watch Out.

For nearly seven years now the English League has been dominated by mainly four clubs (more like three), Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Be it the financial edge, passion ridden fans or the pure on-field class, a separate strata has taken ruling which looks to stay for many -many years to come. Or so one would say after all these years of pretty much observing the same round up of the top 4.

But then,   there was light. Enter – Manchester City. Bankrolled by an Arab Billionaire with a vision (probably Gucci), people started talking. Ambition was finally injected into the ‘lower’ strata of the ‘society’ and signings like Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry etc. showed exactly what they were aiming for.

Watch out for them. On their day, they seem to destroy opposing teams, and have indeed proved their mettle with fabulous performances against Liverpool and Manchester United.

The reason why I see them emerging as a force is primarily down to their desire to win. When I watch City play, I see the hunger in the players (best described by Adebayor’s Arsenal celebration) and their quality of football is excellent. Mark Hughes has adopted an intricate sense of play which seems to baffle even the grandmasters of the stubbornest of defences. 

Sadly, he too is a fallen prey of the imaginary "Instant Success" attitude that blots football today. Speaking of which, they have come under some criticism regarding their own defence, which has indeed been a problem, but trust Roberto Mancini to sort that out.

Another revelation, Stephen Ireland has been absolutely sensational. With Elano being shipped off to Turkey, Ireland has provided that attacking flair to maximum degree which made him City’s ‘Player of the Year’ last year.

Robinho’s goal against Arsenal last season was one I will never forget. Chipping the ball past Almunia, it was rightly prized as “Audacity of the highest quality”.  It is this ’audacity’ to disrupt life at the top 4, that I see key in City’s progression.

Currently 5^th in the standings (with a game in hand), the future looks bright for the Blue half of Manchester. And u never know….Premier League glory? WATCH OUT!

 My prediction: 4^th place


P.S - Looking forward to Patrick Viera's visit to Arsenal!