'The Reds' go Wolf hunting @ Anfield

Liverpool vs Wolverhampton ( 26 Dec 2009)

Liverpool finished off their last match in 2009 in style when they beat the visitors (Wolves) by two goals to nil at Anfield. Liverpool's squad for the match on boxing day* was an interesting one. Aquillani, the 20 million pound buy started because Mascherano had received a straight red card last week against Portsmouth and will be missing the next three fixtures.

*- In the English Premier League the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day.

Dirk Kuyt was rested because Liverpool has its important fixture on Wednesday against Aston Villa which they cannot afford to lose.

The Wolves kept Liverpool at bay during the first half although Liverpool had more than 50% of the ball possession. Gerrard had a couple of shots on target but some superb goalkeeping by Marcus Hahnemann denied Captain Courageous any chances. Johnson also had his share of shots on target but of no avail. Liverpool though having a strong squad failed to exploit 'The Wolves'. This is because Liverpool were lacking in confidence, their seven defeats so far in the Premier League plus an early exit from Champions League was taking a toll on the player's mental strength as well as their boss Rafa Benitez.

Wolves threatened to score a couple of time but Reina's instincts and goal keeping skills denied them.

Both teams went into the first half with a score line of 0-0.

Liverpool had to find some inspiration from somewhere and who better to look up to other than their Captain Steve Gee. Some deft work by the left fullback Insua provided the perfect cross into the box for Gerrard,who pounced on it and got to it before the Wolf midfielder Milijas and heading the ball past the Wolf goalie. Anfield went beserk and so did the Liverpool players.

Wolves tried hard to salvage something from the game; Jarvis, Milijas and Ward giving their best shot and trying to take the game to Liverpool but Liverpool's defence was stunning and denied Wolves any chances.

Lucas was pulled down by Ward just before the penalty box. This earned him a second yellow card and Ward was sent off. The funny thing that happened here was that the referee by mistake yellow carded another defender instead of Ward, arousing the anger of the Scousers and the players alike. He then corrected his mistake and Ward was sent off the pitch.

Liverpool needed another goal to seal the game and this was provided by the Israeli playmaker Benayoun. Benayoun's shot on target was well crafted and was deflected by the Wolf defender before finding its way to the back of the net. Liverpool led at Anfield by two goals to nil.

Rafa made a couple of substitutions,bringing in Pacheko and Kuyt to replace Benayoun and Aquillani. Pacheko is a tiny, young and promising striker for Liverpool and Rafa wanted to give him some practice before infusing him in the main squad.

With the win over Wolves,Liverpool now sit with 30 points and are 7th in the table,12 points behind league leaders Chelsea. Rafa needs to make some strategic plans to revamp Liverpool and infuse confidence to his brilliant squad so that they come out on top at the end of the season.

Portsmouth stun Liverpool ( 19 Dec 2009)

Portsmouth took on Liverpool in their Premier League fixture this weekend. Liverpool's boss Rafa Benitez had put up a defensive side to take on Pompy. Liverpool's dismal performance this season gave a psychological edge to Portsmouth to go all guns firing against Liverpool and also with Avram Grant taking charge of Pompy,they looked bright with full confidence.

Liverpool had the lions share of the ball possession in the first half and also dominated the game for the first half hour. Torres came close to scoring when he swirled the ball over the goal post. The condition of the pitch was not in its best form, being frosty and many of the players had trouble controlling themselves leave alone controlling the ball. Dirk Kuyt especially had a tough time,slipping time and again and failing to keep the ball in control. Kuyt had to change his boots to cope better with the conditions.

Portsmouth started taking the game to Liverpool after the first 30 minutes. Their first real chance came when Yebda crossed the ball into the box for Piquionne but Agger spotted the danger and flicked the ball with his head for a corner. Just before half time Belhadj scored for Pompy, taking a shot from a close range and from a very tight angle. Reina,the Liverpool goalie was a mere spectator as he watched the ball swoosh past him to the back of the net. With one goal down Liverpool another defeat was looming large at their faces and they had to score to get back into the game.

Mascherano was sent off for a rash tackle on Ben Haim.Half time gone Pompy lead at Fratton park and Liverpool's woes doubled.

Liverpool's chances of a comeback were thwarted by a clever strategy adopted by Portsmouth. Pompy made sure that the ball stays away from key players like Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt. Pompy were in fact successful in doing that and kept Liverpool at bay. A momentary lapse in concentration cost Pompy almost a goal. Gerrard broke through the middle and struck the ball hard, the ball taking two deflections along its way almost reached the back of the net but some quick reactions from the young Pompy goalie denied Gerrad and Liverpool the goal. Torres too had his share of chances,dribbling past Pompy defenders to shoot the ball into the net but too many touches of the ball in fact spoiled his chances of taking a kick at the ball.

Pompy made life for Liverpool even more miserable when Piquionne scored the second goal and sealed Liverpool's chances of taking anything from the game. Liverpool's defence looked pretty ordinary and lacked the usual quality.

Liverpool have lost seven of their Premier League game so far and the threat of a top four spot is looming large. With Champions League out of their reach Liverpool's only chances of qualifying for next year's Champions League if they do not finish in the top four is if they win the Europa Cup. The pressure is certainly on the Merseysiders to perform.

As far as Portsmouth is concerned, the win over Liverpool has infused the team with confidence but more importantly it has given them solid three points. This means the other bottom teams have to play catch-catch before it gets decided who will get relegated this season.

Arshavin haunts Liverpool yet again

Liverpool-Arsenal (13 Dec 2009)

Liverpool hosted Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday for the Barclays Premier League fixture,this being one of the fixtures in which the top flight teams clash for glory and dominance. Liverpool's boss Rafa Benitez put out his strongest squad,Fernando Torres making comeback after a gap of six weeks. The midfield line up consisted of Steve Gee,Kuyt,Benayoun,Mascherano and Lucas. Arsenal's squad looked meek with Persie and Bendtnar missing and Asravin trotting as the lone striker upfront.

Liverpool started the match with 24 points in the bag and Arsenal with 28 points. A win would get Liverpool or Arsenal closer to the league leader Chelsea. Both teams had the advantage because both Chelsea and Manchester United dropped points this weekend.

Liverpool started the first half with much agression,attacking right from the first minute. Five minutes under the first half a superb partnership between Torres and Gerrard almost put Liverpool in front but the rustiness of not playing for a long time held Torres from finishing a lollylop chance,giving the ball straight into the hands of the Arsenal goalkeeper. Although Arsenal's midfield was impressive the lack of a talented striker upfront denied them any chances of taking a good shot at the goal. Walcott looked helpless against the solid Liverpool defense and Fabregas and Nasri weren't getting the balls into the right spot for Arshavin to take a clean shot.

Just before half time Liverpool got a freekick about 30 yards from the goal. Fabio Aurelio's freekick was not punched clear by Alumunia and it fell nicely for Kuyt who nudged the ball into the goal post. Lucas sensibly stepped out of the way,allowing the ball to drift into the net. Had he touched the ball Liverpool might have been denied the goal because Lucas was in an off-side position. Liverpool went into the first half with a 1-0 lead.

The second half was a much better one for Arsenal. Liverpool's right fullback Glen Johnson gifted Arsenal with an own goal and one powerful strike by the tiny Russian (Andrey Arshavin) turned the tables in Arsenal's favour. Liverpool fought hard for a comeback,making crucial substitutions like Aquillani and Ngog to increase their attacking force but of no avail. Arsenal had weathered the Liverpool storm at Anfield and emerged victorious. Arsenal now move into the third spot with 31 points,six points behind Chelsea. Arsenal also have the advantage of a game in hand.

Liverpool's run of bad luck in the months of November and December continued for the third season. Statistics show that Liverpool drops most of their points during these two crucial months. Rafa needs to rework his strategy and needs to make sure that Torres and Gerrard are fit for the rest of the games so that Liverpool can clinch the top four spot. Not doing so will eliminate them from next seasons UEFA champions league.

Liverpool still under pressure

Liverpool- Manchester City ( 21 Nov 2009)

Liverpool,who started as serious contenders for the Barclays Premier League this season,find themselves lingering at no. 7 in the Premier League table. Manchester City on the other hand spent big bucks this summer in getting top players into their squad but have not reaped the benefits of it 100%. Both teams went into the Saturday's fixture with all guns blazing,the Liverpool boss under tremendous pressure to change things around for Liverpool.

The first half started off well and 'The Reds' looked confident. Steven Gerrard was back in the squad although budding Torres was missing. Liverpool almost scored within the first 4 minutes when Steve Gee's freekick was headed towards goal by Skrtel. But a brilliant save by Shay Given denied Skrtel his first Liverpool goal and also preventing Liverpool from taking a lead early on. Liverpool had the lion's share of the possession and continued to dominate. Liverpool's misfortune continued as Agger was injured during a clash of heads with the City defender and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Babel injured his ankle during a clash with City player Di Jong. Babel was in pain and could not carry on further and was replaced by Yossi Benayoun.

Man City also had a couple of chances to score but failed to produce any quality from the shots. The first real chance they got was when the ball dropped to Barry but he neither powered the shot nor tried to head the ball into the goal, rather heading it towards the Liverpool keeper,who punched the ball away. The second chance came when Man City were on cruise mode and Stephen Ireland let the ball run to Shaun Wright Phillips,who hammered the shot but well away from its target. Both teams failed to break the deadlock and were stranded at 0-0.

Liverpool scored a goal within the first ten minutes of the second half. David Ngog was fouled just outside the penalty box and Steve Gee's free kick was nipped in by Skrtel. Liverpool were 1-0 up and hoped to grab all three points. Man City's boss knew that his tactics were not working at Anfield and substituted Barry for Tevez. Man City, now armed with three strikers were pushing forward to gain an equalizer. Liverpool were forced on their back heels and being 1-0 up they didn't wan to risk going forward. But this strategy of Liverpool proved fatal. Man City was building the pressure and it was just a matter of time before they scored. Two goals,one from Adebayor and the other from Ireland put Man City back on track. A tremendous comeback for a team who were a goal down. 

Liverpool's lack in defending from set pieces has time and again proved costly. 'The Reds' never keep a player protecting the posts when the opposite team takes a corner and this has given the opposition a chance to exploit 'The Red's' weakness.

Liverpool showed great character in getting the second equalizer and it was Benayoun who was at the right place at the right time to slot the ball in. It took Liverpool just 74 seconds to repond with an equalizer. Liverpool showed great chararcter as they always have but the match ended in a draw. Liverpool had a last chance in the final minute to snatch victory when Lucas had a free header from a Gerrard corner kick but didn't capitalize on it. The final score Liverpool 2 Man City 2. Neither team gained any advantage and are still in their respective 7th and 6th places.

Liverpool desperately need to rework their strategy this season. With the Premier League hopes fading away Liverpool needs to ensure that they finish in the top four so that the Champions League spot is not lost next season. Man City and Tottenham Hotspurs are hot on Liverpool's heals for grabbing that 4th spot and Champions League spot.  

Delhi Half Marathon (1 Nov 2009)

The joy of completing a long distance run is unique in its own way and the satisfaction that a runner gets after finishing the run is quite exotic. I am an established amateur half marathon runner and successfully completed my fifth half marathon recently by running the Delhi Half Marathon 2009.

I trained myself on 30 Oct 2009 by doing a 9 mile jog before leaving for Delhi the next day. In the process I stretched a few ligaments on my left knee and was experiencing some pain. I consulted my family doctor and he recommended a couple of pain killers and advised me not to run but seeing my determination and the eagerness to take part he told me to wear a knee cap while running. I had those pain killers the same night and felt a little better. I was determined to run the Delhi Half and there was no looking back at this point.

I packed my stuff the previous night and departed for Delhi the next day (31 Oct 2009) by the morning 7:40 SpiceJet flight. I had company on the same flight, a fellow Chennai runner ( Purushotam) was also taking part in the Delhi Half Marathon. He reserved a seat next to his,messaging me the details of the seat number and asking me to get the same seat. The flight took off on time and I relaxed myself completely during the journey. We landed at the IGI Delhi airport by 10:30 and drove off straight away along with Purushotam's friend (a veteran runner)to the DLF mall, where they were distributing BIB numbers and goodie bags.

All of us collected our stuff and on our way back we met Shankar and Narayan,two more runners from Chennai who had come to take part in the event. I greeted them,wished them luck for the run and left for my cousin sister's place at CR Park. I must tell you that CR Park is one of the posh areas in South Delhi and is predominantly a Bong (Bengali) place. CR Park hosts the biggest and the best 'Durga Puja' every year in Delhi.

I made sure that I took complete care of my leg on Saturday,having those pain killers as advised by my doc and massaging my knee gently. My brother in law,Sarath and my cousin sister both had also registered for the run by my cousin sister backed out in the last minute because of some personal commitments. They have a neighbour whom they called Bhutia and he was also to take part in the run. I had my early dinner and went off to bed early.

The D day finally arrived and we (myself , Sarath and Bhutia) got dropped at the start point by Bhutia's dad. This was even better because we didn't have to scout for an auto in the wee morning hours.We purposefully got off the car one Km ahead of the start line and did some warm up exercises. There was a huge crowd at GATE no. 4,the gate via which we had to get to the start point. By the time I started my run the digital clock was showing a time of 7:34:10. I began my race slow and steady,making sure that I do not stress my left knee too much.

By the time I completed 4 miles the Ethiopians and the Kenyans were on their way back,having completed 14 Km. I was simply stunned by their pace and kept wondering as to how do they maintain the same pace throughout the complete run. These guys are SIMPLY AMAZING! The climate was cold and pleasant,ideal conditions  for running and I did a 5.45 miles at one go before slowing down to a walk. I could do this because I was running with a lot a people and  the motivation to beat my own timing inspired me even more. It was good to see a lot of people take part in the run and the all the more there were more women running the half marathon.

My knee ached at times but my will to complete the race kept me going. My inner mind was constantly reminding me that I can do it and there should be no giving up now. I set myself little time-distance targets and tried to keep up with it but I could not abide by it 100%. I completed my entire run in 2:40:44 hrs and was quite thrilled by my accomplishment. My main goal was to finish the race well within the stipulated time limit and at the same time not straining my knee too much. I thank God for giving me the strength to complete the race.

The race was well organized and there were water stations at every 2 km so there was no paucity of fluids. It seems Sharukh Khan had come for the Great Delhi Run (which is a 7Km run) but I did not get a chance to see him. Shit man! missed the best opportunity to see him. My brother in law completed the race in 2:19:41 hrs. After the race we received our finisher's medal and walked out of the place to get back home. The funny part was we didn't get an auto for almost an hour, we were tired and the sight of seeing autos streaming past us with passengers in it added to our frustration. At last a noble man gave us a lift till Khan market and we got an auto from there. My cousin sister greeted us when we got back home and served us hot 'Peserette Dosas' for breakfast.

Liverpool slips down further

Sunderland vs Liverpool ( 17 Oct 2009)

Liverpool slipped further down the table in the Barclays Premier League this weekend. After consecutive losses, one to Fiorentina in the Champions League and the other one to Chelsea in EPL, Liverpool didn't look confident at all. Their weekend game was with Sunderland at 'The stadium of Light'. With Gerrard and Torres injured Liverpool's spine looked weak.

Sunderland (nick-named Black Cats) started off the first half quite impressively, Darren Bent drilling the ball past the Liverpool goalie, to give the Black Cats an early advantage in the game. The Liverpool goalkeeper had only himself to blame. The ball actually deflected off a balloon,completely taking Reina off guard and deceiving him. Reina should have busted the balloon before the start of the game but he didn't and Liverpool eventually paid for that mistake.

The Black Cats were the better team in the first half. They showed a lot of courage to take on one of the big four teams. The confidence exhibited by them and the aggression shown clearly proved that they were in no mood to let Liverpool snatch away points from them in their home soil. Liverpool's performance lacked the fire needed to come back from behind. Rafa had gone in with 3 centre backs ( Carragher,Skrtel and Agger),which back fired on him. Kuyt worked hard but without support from the midfield was found chasing the ball almost all the time. Babel and Benayoun, the only playmakers in the squad that took on the Black Cats weren't 100% effective with their tricks. The Sunderland defense on the other hand was strong, tactful and showed the determination to keep Liverpool at bay. Cattermole, Reid, McCartney and Malbranque were particularly impressive in their performance against Liverpool.

The second half was no better for Liverpool. They struggled to find the elusive equaliser, though they played a much better game in the second half. Liverpool attacked up front and had plenty of ball possession but couldn't find the back of the net. Things didn't change for Rafa even when he brought in Voronin, to supplement Kuyt and Babel. Sunderland's strategy to hold on Liverpool worked well and they never over did things. At the same time Sunderland didn't sit back and allow Liverpool to bombard them. The Black Cats got ample opportunities to write off Liverpool completely by scoring a second and even a probable third goal but Reina good goalkeeping kept Sunderland at the slender one goal lead.

It is sad that Liverpool couldn't capitalize on Chelsea's loss to Aston Villa earlier in the day and inch closer to them. Liverpool now sit 8th in the table below Sunderland and 7 points behind league leaders ManU. Liverpool needs to get some good players in the January transfer window, so that they don't lose matches when Gerrard and Torres are not playing. Summer buy Aquilani if completely fit could turn the tides in Liverpool's favour. Unless there is some ramp up in Liverpool's strategy the Barclays English Premier League Title could elude them yet for another year.

INDIA'S PUBLIC ROAD TRANSPORT

Public transport in India is largely viewed as poor man's way of travelling from one place to another. Every person wants to own his own vehicle for some reason or the other,some for the ease of travelling at will,some for the sake of pride and others just for pure fun. What  one does not understand is that we are a country of 1 billion people and just the thought of 1 billion vehicles on roads brings the worst fears to minds viz choked roads and streets,crowded parking lots and longer traffic jams.

Public transport if improved could solve many problems wrt vehicular traffic and vehicle management. For public transport to improve we must build our road infrastructure first. Clever design of urban landscape could alleviate most of the traffic problems faced by Indian cities. In short investing and planning out road infrastructure is the first prerequisite for a dedicated and neat public road transport system.

Imagine a city where the main arterial roads have lanes dedicated solely for buses, increased frequency of buses in almost all the routes, good and comfortable buses for the public to travel leisurely and last but the least cheap and affordable public transport. Now tell me who wouldn't want to travel by buses if the above said ideal conditions prevailed. Having dedicated bus lanes ( that means no cars and other vehicles in the bus lanes even when the lanes are empty) would mean that buses wouldn't get stuck in traffic jams, smooth flowing of buses to respective destinations and more importantly increased rider comfort. Only when the public feels comfortable and has an enjoyable experience while travelling in a public transport vehicle,would they continue using that service. In fact increased public transport comfort could lead to more ridership and in turn more revenues for the government.

A host of other services could also contribute to increased public transport ridership viz world class bus stops, which has facilities like real time information about when would the particular bus arrive, automatic ticket vending machine-so that tickets can be bought before boarding itself and one needn't wade through the crowd to get to the conductor to purchase the ticket, telephone booth, a kiosk for nitty gritty things and other services. Designing roads to ensure that every passenger reaches his/her destination or at least close to his destination in less time would lead to increased ridership.

Delhi government has ordered buses from India's top two leading commercial vehicle manufacturers to make public transport a real success. These buses are being made with the highest quality,with features and amenities compared to that of the buses plying in Europe and other developed nations. Delhi is all set for its first set of world class buses.

Under the JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission) various state transport units have been allocated funds to purchase buses of whatever kind they feel is most suitable for their city. This is a massive step by the central government to reduce the congestion of vehicles on its roads and would go a long way giving public transport a phenomenal boost. India is slowly being referred to as one of the world super powers but she is still a growing economy. This being so, many of world's leading automobile manufacturers and targeting India with their products,which includes cars,scooters,bikes,trucks and even buses. On one hand this would boost the Indian economy but on the other hand this would mean more vehicles on the road and that means more congestion.

Thus public transport will no doubt be the future of every city but only when infrastructure is simultaneously developed to supplement it. Also interconnectivity between road,rail and water public transport would only add to increased use of public transport by the masses. This would mean that people would use their personal vehicles only when urgently needed, therby reducing congestion on roads and helping their cities to be cleaner and greener.

Chennai Half Marathon (27 Sep 2009)

My home town Chennai organized its second half marathon last Sunday (27 Sep 2009) and I am proud to have run for Chennai. I am regular runner,doing a 10K or 12K on weekends. I was quite excited about running in the second edition of the Chennai Half Marathon because it is my city. This was my 4th official half marathon. This year the event required each and every participant running the half marathon to undergo a medical test,to test their capability to run such a long distance. This was because last year's event witnessed a couple of unfortunate deaths,participants pushing themselves beyond their capabilities and subsequently succumbing to exhaustion.

The BIB no. assigned to me was 4109 and decided to wear the new outfit,which I purchased last week from ADIDAS. I must say the new outfit was pretty cool and comfortable. I had a light dinner the previous night ( soup and oat meal ). My mom decided to drop me in the morning and also decided to stay there till I finished my race. We started at 5:10 from home and reached the starting point by 5:25. I did my usual warm up exercises and prepared to get going. I met my fellow Chennai Runners and it was really a boost to see them all. This cheered me even more.

The event was flagged off by Mrs. Kanimozhi (MLA) and I started my run in the usual relaxed manner. This year the event was organized in a better way. I carried my own 500ml bottle though water stations were available throughout the route. I completed the 12K mark in 1:23:00 hrs, wanting to finish the entire distance within 2:15:00 but I clocked 2:40:06. I didn't want to strain myself too hard and end up hurting myself. It was quite a journey and I  am pleased that I completed it successfully.

As it rained the other night the climate was cool and pleasant. This year many people came down from their homes to cheer the runners on the street. This was very encouraging and it gave me an added incentive to push harder towards the goal. One thing I noticed was the water bottles handed over at the water stations were too big and people were wasting water. It would have been good if smaller bottles were provided or water provided in paper cups. The latter option would have been wiser because firstly you don't waste water and secondly you don't degrade the environment with plastics. Anways kudos to all the volunteers and organizers to have conducted such a wonderful event and I look forward to the Chennai Marathon getting bigger and bigger every year.

HAPPY RUNNING

West Ham United vs Liverpool (19 Sep 2009)

'Hammers hammered down by Torres'

Liverpool took on West Ham United in a late kick off match yesterday. 'The Reds' travelled down to West London for their weekend's fixture. 'The Reds' were high on confidence after getting back on track in the EPL after a poor start and also a win in midweek in the Champions League bolstered their confidence even more. Liverpool's record against WHU has been impressive,with Liverpool winning over 80% of their games against WHU.

Liverpool's squad was quite strong,Mascherano coming back after completing international duties. Liverpool were strong favourites to win this game but WHU also had a decent line up to challenge Liverpool. The Liverpool defence looked shaky in the first half,completely unlikely of them. Carragher made a terrible mistake of giving the ball away to Hines who did everything right to put 'The Hammers' in front but was unlucky because the ball hit the post and bounced back into Reina's hands. Thus Liverpool survived a scare in the first 2 minutes.

Liverpool's dominance in the game was clearly visible albeit their poor defence. Gerrard,Torres,Kuyt and playmaker Benayoun were switching play beautifully. Liverpool had a couple of shots on target but couldn't find the ball past Green,also Tomkins,the WHU centre back was constantly marking Torres and not allowing him room to do his tricks. But in the 19th minute Torres' brilliance paid off,Tomkins was beaten for pace and Torres chipped the ball past Green into the net, Green was astound by this piece of brilliance and kept his hands up in the air for a couple of minutes as if to say to his defenders "Hey dude,don't blame me.If you give him (Torres) room and get beaten for pace this is what he'll do.

No doubt why Torres is the best striker in the Barclay's premier league. Liverpool's lethargic defending was exposed in the 23rd minute when young kid Hines beat Carragher for pace and made his way in to the box only to find the Liverpool defender shoving him off to the ground. Alas! WHU get a spot kick. Diamanti steps up and kicks the ball neatly inside but this penalty was a controversial one and needs debating. Diamanti slipped and might have slightly touched the ball with his right foot before kicking it in the back of the net with his left. Now this counts as double touch and the kick is nullified but WHU were still awarded the goal.

30 minutes gone both teams were 1-1,both the teams were raring to go and did not want to sit back and relax. In the 40th min Captain Courageous rises above the rest to head the ball into the net,Kuyt flicking it a little bit to make sure that the ball goes where it is intended to go. Bang! Liverpool had taken the lead back,only to find 'The Hammers' equalizing within minutes from a set piece in a penalty corner. Liverpool have always had problems with set pieces. If one has noticed there would be no Liverpool players guarding the posts and this is a bad practice because if you don't get to the ball first in the air then there is every possible chance that you opponent will find something from the penalty kick and ball could find its way back in the net.

Half time over the score read WHU1-1Liverpool.

Liverpool started the second half with over 60%ball possession,dominating territorially but couldn't find the elusive goal to take them into the lead. Babel was brought in for Kuyt and the Dutch man did his work in giving the cross to Torres who executed the job with sheer skill. Liverpool were back in the lead for the third time. The goal from Torres was indicative of the quality he possesses,shrugging off two defenders to head it past Green into the bottom corner,Oh boy that needs some skill.

Liverpool strengthened their defence in the second half,locking out the WHU forwards from making the run. Glen Johnson did a wonderful job in giving no room for the young kid Hines,who was brilliant on the pitch,no room to take WHU level with Liverpool for the third time. The full time whistle was blown and the score remained the same WHU 2 Liverpool 3. This takes Liverpool in the top four,placing them 3rd in the standings till Sunday's fixtures are played.

! Go Liverpool !

BIG Clubs, Rules & Football

The recent ban by FIFA on Chelsea FC from signing players till Jan 2011 comes down as a warning to all the big clubs around the world to show some respect for the rules and regulations prescribed in the FIFA rule book. Chelsea FC apparently lured young talent Gael Kakuta from French first division club Lens by offering him a huge sum of money,thereby making him break his contact with Lens.

The world has produced many great footballers and will keep producing them. Only when young talent is recognized early can it be nurtured and given the right platform to showcase it on the world stage. Of late many clubs (especially the BIG clubs) have started scouting for players as young as 9-11 years old with extraordinary talent and who if inducted and given a contract with the club would bring bigger and greater laurels to the club. This is good in one sense but this too has its own ramifications. First,the young footballer is unaware of the expectations from him and continues to train in the usual way with the club. Suppose he is not able to deliver the quality expected from him then he is put on the club’s reserve team, denying him to play in major matches and also not allowing him to leave the club because of his contract. This young chap could have easily secured a place in the main team of another first or second division club and would at least get to play in most of the matches rather than warm the bench.

Secondly if the young guy gets seriously injured,which could threaten his football career then his contract with the big club remains a big question mark because the big clubs want results and would never hesitate to scout for better talent to replace this poor chap. Many a time young talent is spotted by the lesser known clubs in the world and they take all the pains in bringing up the young player and wait for years for the fruit but all of a sudden this young player is lured away by the BIG clubs who tempt him with great career prospects and money. This is absolutely outrageous because in doing so the top clubs always remains at the top as all the great players want to play only in the top league and would not settle for anything less. But if that is the case when would the lesser known clubs make into the top flight? What happens to their investment in the young talent whom they manged to find with great difficulty? What happens to the hopes of thousands of fans of that small club? What happens to the dreams of the small clubs to win titles?.. All these questions remain unanswered and the domination of BIG clubs continues.

Of course all players are allowed to choose which club they want to play for but there are some rules by which they must abide. The same applies for the clubs too. A player under a contract with a club can move to another club only if the clauses mentioned in his contract are not satisfied or his present club mutually agrees for the transfer. Under no circumstances can the player or club take own decisions to terminate the contract before the stipulated contract period. Any breach in the contract would be subject to serious ramifications from the Football Governing Body. The same has happened to Kakuta,who has not been allowed to play for 4 months and Chelsea has been penalized from signing any new players. Now this could spell even greater disaster for Chelsea because the other players of the club could leave at the end of the season when their contract expires and leave Chelsea FC with even lesser man power.

FIFA has been right in imposing such a hard decision on Chelsea FC because they want football to be a clean game,fair for each and every club and not be dominated by the BIG clubs alone. This also serves as warning to all the clubs that rules and fair play come foremost before laurels and recognitions and money alone cannot make a club win trophies.

One way for clubs to increase young talent in their squad is to have their own local training academy, nurture young talent from their own area and community and cherry pick those who show a promising future for the club. Of course scouts are allowed to pick youngsters from other countries and regions but not at the cost of the lesser known clubs and in cases where they need a particular youngster from a lesser known club the BIG clubs must act according to rules and have the player transferred in an appropriate way rather than luring him away from the club that picked him.

Hyderabad half marathon (30 Aug 2009)

My passion for running has been growing over time and I take immense pleasure in covering long distances. I also got a GARMIN 305 about 4 months back with which I can check the distance covered,calories burnt,the speed of my run etc. It has also got a load of features which I still haven't explored. The best part is its got a GPS and works absolutely fine. The Hyderabad half marathon was to be held on 30th of Aug and I was quite excited about it. A consortium of about 20 runners from Chennai were going all the way to Hyderabad to take part in this special event.

I had booked my flight to Hyderabad on 29th Aug and was travelling with a fellow runner on the same Spicejet flight. Travelling alone is boring,though some might not agree. The flight took off on time,covering the stipulated distance in precisely 1 hour and 5 min. The Hyderabad airport is just awesome,the infrastructure is just too good. We took a taxi from the airport to Gachibowli,travelling along the new express way and reaching Gachibowli in about an hour.The runners from Chennai and Bangalore had asked for accommodation and we were all accommodated in the Gachibowli stadium dorms.

I had my breakfast that morning and was hungry by the time it was 13:00 hrs. We were also to collect our bib numbers from KBR park,which was the starting point of the race. But one of the organizing team member was kind enough to note down our order numbers and get the bib numbers and t'shirts delivered to our dorms. We had to kill time so we all went to Lingampally in a share auto and ended up watching a Telugu movie, "Magadheera". The movie was ok,the usual masala stuff and I must confess this was the first movie I have watched without knowing the language,trying to work out the story with my imagination and figuring out what the characters in the movie were conversing.

After the movie we had a quick and early dinner,bought some bananas,bread and crocin and got back to our dorms. We were told the bus would be here at 4:30am the next day to pick us up. I had a quick shower,ate a banana and went to bed early.

The D day arrived, I woke up from the sound of my cell-phone alarm,which sings "You've got to pick it up,oh yeah...",brushed my teeth,washed my face and got ready for the half marathon stint. This being my third half marathon I was quite thrilled and excited. My body was tuned to long distance running so I did not have to worry about cramps and back pain.

The half marathon started off at 5:30 and I started off with a slow pace. I had set a time target of 2:17:00 hrs to complete the 21.1 km run. The half marathon path had many ups and downs so the race was quite tiring. Having more stamina and endurance was the key to complete the race successfully. I did the first 6 km with ease before I stopped and started to walk,gulping down a little water to keep myself hydrated. The number of people taking part in the running event like this was huge, and I kept motivating myself that I have to overtake one person after another to complete my race. I completed half of the race in about 1:08:00 hrs and this was a pretty cool timing as far as I'm concerned.

Traffic was stopped on one side of the road for this event. Thanks to the Hyderabad traffic police for their wonderful support. As I was nearing the finish line I increased my tempo and pace, reaching an amazing max speed of 7.3mph. I entered the stadium premises with about 1.5 km to complete. I went round the stadium and entered the stadium via the second gate and completed my race in an impressive 2:39:44 hrs. I was cheered as I entered the stadium and was given a medal for completing the race successfully. I felt elated about what I had achieved and thanked God for his support in giving me the physical and mental stamina to complete the race.

Last but not the least I would like to thank the organizing team of the Hyderabad 10K foundation for having organized the event beautifully. Kudos to them for doing a wonderful job. I would like to thank Ganesh and his wife in particular for their wonderful support and the care which they took of us during our stay at Hyderabad.

"Keep running for a healthy body and soul"

Liverpool edge past Bolton (29 Aug 2009)

Liverpool,having lost two out of their three games this season were a bit rusty and needed to get some points in their bag to contend for the title. 'The Reds' travelled all the way to Lancashire to the Reebok stadium for their away game against 'The Wanderers'. Liverpool had to win this game to stay alive in the title race else their hopes for the English title could be laid to rest for another season.

The atmosphere at the Reebok was amazing and Gary Megson's side had the pressure on them selves for having lost the last 6 or 7 EPL games. Liverpool started with a decent line up,I would not say their strongest side but quite a competent one. Liverpool, this season has always struggled with set pieces, having conceded goals from cheeky penalty corners and free kicks. This has cost them two vital games and more importantly championship points. This game also was no different. In the 33rd minute Bolton got a penalty corner, which was not cleared away by Liverpool;thereby the ball landed right in front of the goal post for Kevin Davies, to push it inside the net. Bolton were up 1-0;leaving the Liverpool fans in jitters about the ability of their squad. Liverpool's best buy this season,Glen Johnson put Liverpool back in the game with a stunning strike which left the Bolton Goalkeeper a mere spectator,to watch the ball drift sweetly past the goal line. Liverpool were ecstatic but needed more out of the game. Half time gone both the teams were tied up at 1-1.

The second half resumed with Bolton making a comeback ,with Cohen scoring a goal and giving Bolton a 2-1 lead. The second goal was lolly pop to Cohen who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Reina. Liverpool's defence was called into question again for the second time in the match. This can be attributed to the lack of a solid partner to Carragher, with Agger injured and Skrtel injuring his jaw in the opening fixture Rafa probably was left with no choice but to experiment with his reserve players. Kyrgiakos filled in Skrtel's shoes and did quite a good job,keeping in mind that this was his first EPL game with Liverpool in the main team.

Liverpool once again finding themselves behind increased the pressure on Bolton,forcing Bolton to defend deep. The turning point in the game was when Sean Davies was sent off ( having received a second yellow card) and Bolton was reduced to ten men. Liverpool capitalised on this opportunity and equalised within 8 minutes,this time Torres doing a wonderful job in flipping the ball past the Bolton keeper. Kuyt's contribution to this goal must not go unrecognized as it was he who controlled the ball off his chest from a cross by Gerrard and made it available to Torres to complete the rest of the task. Once Liverpool had equalised the tempo was scaled up manifold and Bolton were under siege from 'The Reds'.

Gerrard had a couple of screamers kissing past the goal post, which on any other day would have gone down as a typical Gerrard goal. Liverpool also had a couple of penalty decisions turned down,the referee doing a wonderful job and not succumbing to pressure. With 80 minutes gone Bolton was just hoping to get something out of this match but one can never write off Captain Courageous. Steve Gee stepped in and fired one hell of shot at the left top corner,giving Jussi Jaskeleinen no chance to even get his fingers on the ball. Liverpool were up 3-2 and thanks to their ever inspiring captain.

Liverpool now with 6 points out of the possible 12 sit seventh in the table and have to keep their tempo going; no slip ups would be permitted if they want to have a taste of the Premier League Title, which has eluded them for over 20 years. Bolton on the other hand have yet to register a win and sit just one position above Portsmouth in the League table in the bottom half.

LIVERPOOL begin the 2009-10 season on a low note

The 2009-10 BARCLAYS Premier League has begun with full gusto with each team battling it out,some to stay alive in the most coveted league of England,some vying for silverware and the others playing for the sheer revenge and humiliation they suffered against the other teams last season. Liverpool travelled all the way down to London,to take on Tottenham Hotspurs in the first game. Liverpool's bench strength was weak compared to Spur's but the main team looked pretty strong. With Xabi Alonso leaving for Real Madrid this summer there was a big dent in Liverpool's midfield. Harry Redknapp started off with Keane and Defoe,leaving Crouch (former Liverpool) and Pavlyuchenko on the bench. Both teams payed homage to the late Sir Bobby Robson before kick starting the match.

The first 20 min of the game lacked lustre from both the teams,Liverpool playing in their typical defensive style. Spurs had a couple of chances to score in the first half,Keane failing to convert a lolly pop header from a superb cross by Luca Modric into the six yard box.Kudos to Pepe Reina for showing some goalkeeper instincts. Keane also had another chance of taking Spurs in to the lead but superb keeping skills from Reina kept Spurs at bay. Liverpool's lone striker Torres wasn't impressive at all,failing to control the ball leave alone put it at the back of the net. Liverpool's best chance in the first half came when Captain Courageous (Gerrard) tried to score from outside the box into the far corner of the post but the ball just went wide of the post. Tottenham had another chance from a corner when Jermaine Defoe was unmarked and headed in a powerful header which just went wide. With half time nearly approaching and both teams locked in at 0-0 it seemed as though the game was heading for a goalless draw. In the 43rd minute Spurs got a free-kick which taken by Huddlestone but he made a complete mess of it,rebounding off the Liverpool defensive wall but Ekotto took the return shot and slotted it BANG into the net,giving Reina no chance to stop the ball or rather get a hand to it. With half time gone Spurs were leading 1-0 at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool started the second half with more aggression and desire to equalize first and then then to score a couple of more goals. The pressure was on them because out of the 'Big Four' the other three had won their opening fixtures and to win the title this season no slip ups would be acceptable to them. Johnson made a timely run into the penalty box,going past the Spur's goalkeeper,Gomez only to be tripped by him and winning Liverpool a penalty kick. Steve Gee stepped up and slotted the ball neatly into the back of the net. Liverpool were now level , charged up, invigorated and stepping up the tempo and pushing forward for another goal. But Spurs responded positively with another goal from a free kick and this time it was Sebastian Bassong who headed the ball past Reina,into the net and giving Spurs the vital lead. Liverpool tried hard to equalize but of no avail, substitute Benayoun doing some amazing tricks and trying to score a few goals for Liverpool.

The match ended with Spurs winning their opening fixture comfortably. The guys from the back had won Spurs their opening game,doing an amazing job. Liverpool's hopes of the title, which has eluded them for nearly 20 years looks jittery but there is still lot more football to be played and I do hope that Liverpool would shed back this bad memory and start their next game on a positive note.

My 20Km run down the ECR (26 July 2009)

The 'Chennai Runners' organize 'The ECR' run every year sometime around July or August. This time a couple of people from my office (regular runners) got interested and roped me in too to participate. I was excited and gave my name for the 20Km category. I am regular runner(mostly long distance running) and doing a 20Km won't be cumbersome task for me. Of late I have been regularly doing 5km and 10 Km runs,building up my stamina and strength for the big ones like these. Just before the D day three people out of five back out and only myself and Mr. Saravanan (Special Director,Ashok Leyland) are left. The information bulletin sent by 'The Chennai Runners' said the run would start and end at MGM beach resorts. Quite excited about the ECR run I quickly do a google map search to get directions to MGM,not that I didn't know but just wanted to confirm that I don't miss it during my drive the next morning.

The D day finally arrived,I woke up at 3:30 am,freshened myself,packed water bottles and lime juice in my car and hit down the road by 4:00,driving at a leisure pace. This is the first time that I have done my running so early; normally I for a jog only at 6:30. Before jumping into my car I put on my GARMIN forerunner 305 and switch it on. The GPS in this watch is pretty cool,and its an excellent companion for training purposes. I drive past VGP golden beach,green coconut and many other restaurants before reaching the starting point (MGM beach resorts). I was there by 4:50 and collected my bib number which was 119. I take out my t-shirt ad pin the bib number carefully onto it,making sure that I don't prick myself in the process. The organizers set out with water packs and isotonic drinks to their respective places down the ECR to cater to the needs of the participants.

I do my usual warm up exercises,stretching my limbs and body, little bit of squats and knee bends. I tie my long kerchief across my forehead to prevent sweat from dripping on my face and also to make myself look cool. At 5:00 am sharp the 25Km & 30Km participants kicked off with their race, the others cheering and wishing them good luck. My run started a 5:30 and there were about 25 people totally taking part in it. I set my watch for the 12.42 miles so that I can keep track of how much distance I have covered and how much is left. I slowly begin my jog, the rest of the pack surging ahead,leaving myself and a couple of others behind. I knew that the 20 km would be a tough one to complete and that conserving as much energy as possible was vital so that I am not completely drained at the end of the run. At 2.5 km I see the first water point, but I didn't stop over there and continued with my run. My going was getting better, I could feel a factor motivating me from within,pushing me further towards my goal. I run non stop until I reach the second water point which was at 5Km. I quickly drink a little of water to keep myself hydrated and continue with my run. Let me tell you some facts here. One should not drink too much water at these water points because it would make your stomach heavy,fills it with water,causing discomfort while running. Secondly you might have to take a nature's break which might hamper your rhythm and lastly drinking more water while running would cause the hear to pump diluted blood to ones body thereby preventing the muscles from receiving a good amount of oxygen. So take a few small sips just to keep yourself hydrated.

After covering the 5Km mark I am slightly tired and i slow down my pace, continuing like that for a kilometer or so before picking up again. At the 7.5km mark I quickly grab a small portion of isotonic drink ( this is an electrolyte,so replenishes your lost nutrients) and march on to the 10Km mark. During the course of my run photographers were doing a wonderful job of capturing each and every runner in their cameras and I posed for the cameras with aplomb. I now reach the half way mark where Tiger was waiting with the drinks ( Tiger was one of the volunteers and member of the Chennai Runners). I grab some gatorade and turn back to complete the remaining half of the run. The good thing about this run was myself and another guy,Venkat from Bangalore kept running together. Though we didn't speak during the first half of the run we were kind of motivating the other silently, to keep up pace,push further beyond one's limits and complete the run with a decent timing.

The second half was getting tougher because the Sun had come up and traffic on the ECR was increasing. I completed 14 Km when I could feel the heat of the sun and stiffness of my shoulder muscles. I quickly slowed down myself and started walking at a brisk pace, stretching my shoulder and neck muscles so that my back doesn't get stiff and completing the run. I decide to stop at just one of the water stations on my way back,grabbing a small bottle of water,sipping and gargling water to keep my mouth and body hydrated all the time. My GARMIN forerunner ws one of my key motivators,telling me the distance left to cover. I completed my run in 2:43:00 , the organizers cheering at the finish line.

The feeling of completed the 20Km run gave me immense pleasure and satisfaction. We had breakfast at the beach resorts,munching on vadais,bread and idlys. I gulped down a couple of glasses of grape juice after breakfast and received my certificate for completing the run. I thanked the sponsors for organizing such a wonderful event and the amazing experience I had. I got behind the wheel and drove back to reach home at 9:30.

Great running and good experience indeed!

Automobile SUSPENSION of the future

We all have travelled around the world in various forms of transport viz cars,auto-rickshaws,cycle-rickshaws,trains,planes,buses etc. Humans have always sought for comfort, during their travel from one place to another. Various modes of transport have two dimensions which people take into account while they travel viz the comfort level and the cost factor. Unless there is a balance between the two the society would be divided into two segments: the affluent ones and the common ones. The affluent wouldn't mind spending on luxurious travel while the common man is cost conscious. So to provide comfortable travel and to make it available to the common man (aam aadmi) an optimum must be reached.

Automobile suspension systems constitute one of the items that affect comfort levels in a vehicle. The present suspension systems include leaf springs,bogey suspensions, spring type suspensions and air suspensions. While the former ones have been used for many years, the air suspension concept a recent one ( say about 10-15 years old). Air suspensions were invented so that the bumpiness on the roads would be absorbed in the air bellows and less vibrations would be transmitted up the vehicle to the passengers. Air suspensions have done quite a good job in improving the comfort level in automobiles though the concept of vibration less travel could not be met by them. Engineers have experimented with various combinations wrt suspension systems,developing hybrid suspensions (combination of two suspension systems) albeit with limited success to ensure 100% vibration free travel.

The concept of electromagnetic suspension holds a lot of promise to ensure 100% vibration free travel. The concept is very simple: A magnet has two pole ; the North pole and the South pole. Unlike poles attract each other while like poles repel each other. So if the North poles of two magnets were brought close to each other they would repel each other and same would be the case with South poles. The electromagnetic suspension uses this concept. There are two ways of doing this:

Option1: We could use plain magnets with like poles facing each other one above the other. In this case during a bump or a pothole the magnets would tend to squeeze in but like poles would repel,absorbing the shock of the vibration. This design has a couple of drawbacks although a good theoretical concept. First the size of the magnets has to be extremely large because we are talking of an automobile and the forces transmitted up the vehicle would be thousands of Newtons. Secondly if the like poles are not strong enough to repel force which tend to squeeze the magnets together then the whole concept of vibration free travel goes for a toss.

Option2: We could use electromagnets which come into action when electricity is passed through them. These magnets can be made to come into action whenever required or can be made active permanently (which need current to be passes through it at all times). Electromagnets tend to be more superior than permanent magnets because permanent magnets could lose their magnetism after a certain period of time. The magnetic flux could also be controlled by regulating the amount of current passing through the electromagnet. Thus the problem of the like poles of two magnets squeezing each other during a major bump could be avoided. But electromagnets also have their own drawbacks: first we would need a superior battery system to cater to the needs of the electromagnet,giving good performance without draining out quickly,secondly they tend to be more costly than permanent magnets.

We could improve on the electromagnetic suspension system by providing an electronic control unit which constantly monitors the road conditions,giving signals to the suspension magnets and controlling the amount of flux generated between them. The vehicle speed also needs to be regulated when the automobile encounters a bump or a pothole because the speed with which the vehicle hits the obstacle determines the amount of upward thrust on the vehicle suspension system.The suspension system is the key to passenger comfort and also a necessary element in the control mechanics of the vehicle. Electromagnetic suspensions are not used on a mass scale in automobiles because quite a lot of research needs to be done to make it commercially viable and effective rather than keeping it as a theoretical concept but they hold a bright future in ensuring 100% vibration free travel, giving passengers the feel of floating in the air.

My experience with 'The Yellow Man'

I was once again deputed to Alwar for the project I am working on ( this trip being my 5th this year) by my boss. Being at Alwar at this time of the year was no fun at all. First of all the Sun was burning down,pouring out all its heat and making Alwar one of the hottest places in North India (mind you 48 degree Celsius and hot dry wind). The second reason for it not being a fun trip is because I have already been to Alwar 7 times. But during this trip I found some good dinner companions. Let me take you through the happenings of what would happen during dinner time.

My dinner companions were Chinese (totally 3 of them). I had a good time because I usually used to have dinner all by myself which was quite boring. These guys would drive up to 'Big Bazaar' every other day after work and buy raw vegetables which includes: garlic,coriander,capsicum,green chillies and some more stuff. They would also buy bottles of beer outside,not from the hotel as the hotel was selling them at higher price( smart people aren't they?). I would go for dinner at say around 20:00 hrs and would find the three of them occupying the same dinner table every other day. I was pleased to join their company and as soon as I occupy my position at the dinner table I would be poured a glass of coca cola. The irony is that the guy would tell me that soft drink is bad for health but would keep pouring coca cola into my glass. When I refuse more he would say 'no problem' have more. These guys have bought some kind of pickle from China and would eat the vegetables I mentioned above along with this pickle. Mind you eating raw vegetables,weird isn't it? Out of the 3 guys only one fellow knew English to a decent extent. Whatever communication i had to do was with this man who would then translate my words to his pals. Also if I speak too fast he would not understand so I had to slow down my pace to the least possible. Many of the words which we take for granted is not understood by them. For example words like 'shy','global','architecture' and many more they would not understand. They would type these words into their Chinese-English dictionary and then shake their heads saying 'ooooo'.

After they finish off with their raw vegetables they would order 'veg chowmein' and gobble up the noodles by bending their heads low into the chowmein bowl,one noodle string after another. I would order my usual stuff- a soup first,followed by Naan and a side dish. Most of the days I wouldn't need a dessert because I would have coca cola with me. These guys would not try any Indian dish because they do not like to experiment so it was noodles everyday for them. I introduced them to Indian vegetable hot and sour soup which they liked and I am glad that they enjoyed it. They also enjoyed the 'Garlic naan' and now that would be their main course whenever they felt bored of noodles. It was quite interesting to get along with them, learning new things from them.

Our conversations would mostly linger about the Chinese and Indian economy, the different ways the Chinese do things and about how China is different from India. The guy who knew English to a decent extent would keep telling me that Chinese economy is 2nd in the world,only next to the American economy. I would be thinking in my mind " Buddy, wait and watch how India overtakes you in a decade". Frankly speaking we Indians have a edge over the Chinese because we speak quite good English, this is plain truth yet Indian students are asked for TOEFL and IELTS. We would then talk about how American economy is going down and how the third Asian countries are playing a major part in the world economy now. Once I stumbled upon the topic of Tibet and this guy got wild about it,cursing Dalai Lama for trying to snatch Tibet away from China. The guy is loyal to his country I tell you and who wouldn't be? But when we touched upon Kashmir he coolly tells me 40% belongs to India,30% to Pakistan and the rest to China. I was thinking " what the Hell did you just say Mister?" Kashmir belongs solely to India,you guys have infiltrated into its territory and now claim that its yours. Not fair Yellow Man, stick on to your virtues.

Our daily dinner conversations brought us closer and he invited me to Beijing. He said I could drop into his home any time I wanted and his daughter would take me round the city. Boy! this would be just amazing. Did you guys know that having a second child in China could mean you could lose your job? Yes its true. The population of China is so much that the government has imposed this law of having only one child for a couple. So my friend tells me that even though he wants to have a second child he is not allowed to have one. In a few years time would India too have certain laws to curb the population which is growing by millions everyday? Did you guys know that covering a distance of 2000 Km in China by train would mean that you have to sit only for 14 hours. Wow that's amazing, the kind of trains they have-the fast electric ones. Hats off you 'Yellow Men'. India would still take its time in getting such trains to revolutionize travel. This guy tells me that he has visited only 15 countries and I start wondering Buddy I haven't stepped out of India and you say ONLY 15!!!

We would finally break off after about one and half hours,wishing each other good night and getting ready for work the next day. Its amazing that we find different people from different cultures, interacting with them,learning new things and at the end of the day pack off as good friends. I must say 'The Chinese' are very hard working and intelligent people. If they could speak flawless English as we do there would be no race between China & India as they would have already reached the finish line. But every country has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Another season of EPL comes to a close...

The 2008-09 Barclay's English Premier League came to an end last weekend, bringing some shock news to the footballing world. Newcastle United, England's one of the biggest clubs;on par with the 'Big Four' was relegated. They now have to play in division 1 football, recoup their synergies,gather their strengths and come back strong next season. Having lost their last match to Aston Villa Newcastle had their worst nightmare come true. Their fans were shell-shocked and England stunned. Newcastle went into the match with 35 points,all they had to do was draw their last game to stay in the premier league but a shot from Barry took a wicked deflection off Damien duff and went past Harper into the Aston villa goal. Newcastle tried hard to get back into the game but of no avail. Their efforts were lackadaisical, there was no urgency to get forward, the crosses were not dropping into the 30 yard box,as a whole they didn't show the zest to stay afloat.

Newcastle would see different things happening to them because of the relegation. Funds could be problem next season as most sponsors would cut back on spending on a club that plays in division 1 football.Many of their senior players would be leaving the club,looking for greener pastures as a result of which the club's performance could further deteriorate. The other teams to be relegated along with Newcastle are Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion. Hull City managed to stay in the Premier league despite their loss because Newcastle couldn't manage a draw. The teams which have moved into the Premier League include Wolverhampton, Birmingham City and Burnley.

There wasn't much excitement in the top half of the table,the 'Big Four' winning their respective games and securing the UEFA champions league spot.The standings are as follows:
ManU 90 pts
Liverpool 86 pts
Chelsea 83pts
Arsenal 72 pts

The top 3 teams qualify directly for the champions league but Arsenal would have to play the qualifiers to secure their spot in the champions league. The next season could bring a host of surprises for the clubs,players and fans alike. Would some new clubs topple the 'Big Four'? Would Everton's quest for the Champions league spot be fulfilled ? Will Liverpool come out even stronger to emerge as title winners? Will the promoted clubs be a surprise package? Let's wait and watch for the drama to begin this August when the new season kicks-off.

Thrilling 2008-09 Barclays premier league

The Barclays Premier League 2008-09 season is coming to an end but it promises nail biting matches until all teams have played their share of38 games. Liverpool is still in the race for the title,keeping the pressure on defending champions ManU. Liverpool won their weekend game with ease,scoring 3 goals against a lively West Ham side. The way Liverpool played was pathetic,many passes going astray and players showing some lackadaisical attitude. Captain courageous as always was in the lime-light for having scored 2 goals. 'The Reds' regained the top spot but just for 20 hrs. ManU dominated the Manchester Derby game against ManCity,winning by a score line of 2 goals to nil. ManU move right to the top of the table with 83 points and Liverpool still scratching their backs with 80 points. If ManU manage to get 4 more points out of their three games then its season over for Liverpool and all the hard work goes for a toss. Liverpool lost vital points in Jan & Feb, losing crucial points at home against clubs like Fulham,Stoke city,West Ham. ManU have their midweek match against Wigan,weekend match against Arsenal and the final match against Hull City. Liverpool have got play West Brom who are lurking in the relegation zone and Spurs. The title race is well balanced this season,giving a chance for third place Chelsea to creep in if both the top 2 teams falter.

The clubs at the bottom of the table are West Brom, Newcastle United,Middlesbrough, Sunderland& Hull City. The battle to stay in the top flight would continue till the last match is played. Newcastle United going down the wire would be the biggest shock of the season. A club such as Newcastle which has got a rich history and fame would not want to disappoint its fans. The club's performance has been dismal this season. The club's manager was changed thrice, star players were sold without the consent of the manager and the players making individual errors has cost them dearly. Hull City started the season on a fairy tale note, being placed in the top half of the table till about 10 games were played. But now they find themselves lurking in deep waters and hoping to revive themselves to stay afloat.

If Manu win the Premier League and the UEFA champions league they would have 4 silver- wares in their bag this season, having won the Community Shield and Carling cup already. Liverpool would have to recoup again,build on strategies and work harder to win the Title next season if they lose out by a whisker this season. Liverpool have not won the Premier league since 1990, this season being their closest chance to clinch the eluding title.

Lets wait and watch for the drama to unfold. Will it be another dominant performance by ManU or will luck ride Liverpool's way? Will Chelsea creep up to clinch the title if the top 2 teams under perform in their last crucial matches? Will Newcastle United be relegated?
Folks this is the Barclays Premier League and the best league in the world where there is drama until the final whistle is blown.

The ultimate European night of football

Chelsea-Liverpool (UEFA 14 Mar 2009)

The clash between the 'Blues' and 'The Reds' has always given spectators full value for their money and Wednesday's match between thee two clubs was no exception. Liverpool were in Red hot form,scoring more than a couple of goals in recent matches with absolute ease. Chelsea with their new manager Guus Hiddink were upbeat, their key players Drogba and Ballack feeling a lot more comfortable under him. Liverpool went into the game with a lot of confidence, they faced an uphill task of scoring 3 or more goals at Stamford Bridge to survive the competition. Chelsea were sitting comfortably having scored 3 crucial away goals at Anfield last week.

The first half started with the usual rituals with both captains exchanging their respective club's flag and posing for the photo-shoot. Liverpool started off in the most aggressive manner, creating space for themselves and putting Chelsea in the backfoot. Rafa picked up a side which everyone thought was not good enough to compete with Chelsea but he (Rafa) once again proved that he was a tactical genius. Liverpool were without their local hero Steven Gerrard. The manner in which Liverpool were taking the game to Chelsea was commendable and it was only a matter of time when Liverpool would find the back of the net. Nineteen minutes had passed when Liverpool got a free-kick about 30-40 yards from goal. Fabio Aurelio stepped up to take the freekick, his teammates anxiously waiting at the far post to receive the ball and head it in. Aurelio has always thought of innovative ways to take a free-kick and this time he found the Chelsea goalie hovering near the far post and cheekily curled the ball into the near post and into the goal. Stamford bridge was stunned,Petr Cech puzzled and Aurelio celebrating. Liverpool were 1-0 up, one third of the task completed. Chelsea could still not find their rhythm and were struggling to get the ball anywhere near their goal. Ten minutes had passed since Aurelio had scored the first goal; Skrtel failing to slot the ball into the net from the six yard box but to everyones astonishment Liverpool were awarded a Spot kick. This time the culprit was Ivanovich, he wrapping his arms completely around Alonso and bringing him down inside the box. Alonso stepped up to take the penalty and sent Petr Cech the wrong way,giving Liverpool 2-0 lead before half time. The Scousers(Liverpool fans) were in cloud nine,celebrating their team's awesome two goals. Chelsea were shell shocked. Both teams went into half time with Liverpool brimming with confidence. Chelsea made a change just before half time,bringing inAnelka (former Liverpool) and taking out Kalou.

The second half began with Liverpool pressing for that vital third away goal, bringing their defenders too in the front. Chelsea must have received a dose of inspiration from their manager during the break,they scored the first goal of the second half within 10 minutes from the start,Anelka passing the ball to Drogba ;who got the faintest of the flicks and took Reina by surprise. Reina ultimately spilled the ball into the Chelsea goal. Chelsea were now revived but this didn't matter for Liverpool as they still had to score the third goal to move to the next stage of the competition. Liverpool pressed harder for the third goal but of no avail. Chelsea received a free kick and it was drilled in with force by the Brazilian Alex, taking Chelsea level with Liverpool on the score line. Things became worse for Liverpool when Lampard scored the third goal for Chelsea,completely turning the game in their favour and making Liverpool's task almost impossible. Stamford Bridge which remained silent in the first half were making one hellva a noise.

Football is a crazy game and things quickly turn either way. It requires just a couple of good passes,smart crossings,tactical switches between the players and some luck to win the game. Just when the fans were writing off Liverpool,they came back from the dead in the most amazing manner. Liverpool have scored late goals umteen number of times this season and this match was no exception. Lucas Lieva struck the ball hard, it scrapping Essien's arm before getting into the back of the net. Cech could do nothing as it was a wicked deflection. Couple of minutes after the goal from Lucas,Kuyt headed the ball in from a superb cross from the Spaniard Reira. Liverpool were now 4-3 up and needed just one goal to win the match. Seven minutes remained for Liverpool to complete the task and move to the next stage of the competition. But it was destined that Chelsea should go through,Lampard slotting the ball in for a fourth goal for Chelsea and the second for him. The score was tied at 4-4 and Chelsea move to the semis based on a 7-5 aggregate. Had Liverpool won the match 5-3 it would have been the most dramatic and enthralling comebacks in UEFA history. Never mind Liverpool did their best and entertained their fans to the fullest. They went down fighting and can be proud of themselves.

Liverpool, you are great!!!

Liverpool hammers down Villa ( 22 Mar 2009)

Both Manchester United and Chelsea dropped valuable points on Saturday, losing their respective fixtures and there by giving some room for Liverpool to take advantage of their loses and close the gap with ManU. Liverpool took on Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday and winning this match would heat up the race for the Premier League Trophy. Villa who are desperate to secure a Champions League spot this season had to take complete 3 points from the game because only a win would ensure that they close the gap on Arsenal.

Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez had put out a very strong Liverpool squad,with Torres leading upfront. Rafa Benitez had also signed a new 5 year contract with 'The Reds',saying that his heart was with Liverpool. Both teams emerged from the narrow tunnel at Anfield, the Liverpool players touching the "This is Anfield" logo posted just before the entrance. Gareth Barry led Villa,adorning the captains arm-band and the whole of Villa squad in their blue away kits. The first half was an absolute cracker. Liverpool got their first goal in the first 20 minutes. Steve Gee's free kick was flicked (by head)by Alonso, the ball then struck the woodwork and bounced in front of Kuyt,who smashed the ball right into the bottom corner of the net,giving Liverpool an early lead and affecting Villa psychologically. Villa threatened to equalise when Carew flicked the ball but Reina's reflexes were superb,thereby denying Carew the goal. Liverpool would have gone up 2-0 in the next couple of minutes when Reira's cross was put just wide by Steve Gee. Liverpool were hungry for more goals and after their recent successes with Real Madrid and ManU, scoring 4 goals in each match they were in no mood to settle for just one goal. Reina goal kick which bounced a couple of yards before the Villa goal box was superbly controlled by Reira and smashed into the top corner,giving Brad Friedel no chance to make a save. Kudos to Reira as he took the kick with great control even when he was under tremendous pressure from the Villa defender Luke Young. Liverpool now were 2-0 up, adding more salt to ManU's wounds. Just before half time Liverpool got an opportunity to make it 3-0 when Riera was fouled inside the box by Reo Coker who was playing the right back position for Villa,not the position he normally plays. Captain courageous stepped up to take the spot kick. Steve Gee had previously converted penalties successfully against Manu and Real Madrid. In this match also he made no mistake, putting aside any chances of Villa bouncing back into the game. Both the teams went into half time with Liverpool leading the way with 3 goals.

The second half started with Liverpool doing the kick-off. Liverpool were passing the ball with much ease and confidence and keeping the lion's share of the possession. Villa's Barry and Ashley Young tried hard to salvage something in the first ten minutes of the second half but of no avail. Liverpool got a free kick just outside the box, Captain courageous stepping up to take it. The pace with which the ball was drilled into the bottom corner was so much that Brad Friedel couldn't stop it. Liverpool now were leading Villa by 4 goals to nil. Steve Gee also had a great chance to get his hat-trick if Rafa didn't substitute him. Rafa could ahve easily substituted his top players after the first half and still could have won the match but he thought otherwise. The final nail in the coffin was drilled when Torres was thought to be pulled down by Brad Friedel inside the box but Torres actually tripped over Friedel's shoulder and fell. A penalty kick was awarded but to add to Villa's misery Friedel was shown a straight red card. Villa were shell shocked by this decision. This is an example when things go wrong for you through out the game. Gerrard stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball past the goal keeper, the goal keeper falling on the other side. Gerrard thus got his hat-trick this season. he has now scored 30 goals in all competitions this season.

The stadium was chanting the Liverpool Anthem, pumping spirit into the players and giving them confidence that this year they could go all the way to win the Premiere league. Liverpool won comprehensively and closed the gap on ManU to just 1 point but ManU still have a game in hand. The title race this season could go either way. Will Liverpool's wait for 18 years finally pay off? Only time will tell this.

Go Liverpool!!!