The Red Shirt Theory

I have a confession to make, I didn't watch the Chelsea match last night. I fell asleep after a terrifying day at the gym (I have a trainer from hell) and didn't hear the alarm go off at KO. Okay, you caught me! Geeez! I did hear the alarm but switched it off.  There, I admit it. I just wish that, that had been my only stupid mistake of the day but sadly I was on a roll. I wore a red shirt. I never ever ever wear a red shirt on a day when Chelsea are playing. But yesterday, keeping in tune with my over-confident, non-superstitious persona, I wore a red shirt after my work-out and fell asleep wearing it. This whole thing about not wearing red when Chelsea are playing came from years of analysing Chelsea's results. I realised long back that Chelsea lost every single game they played when I as wearing a red shirt, and not just tough games. All bizarre match results that they got, games no one expected them to lose were all explained by the dreaded red shirt. 'The Red Shirt Theory" was born.

Never again!

I don't  want to sound too self-important but this red shirt thing, really is freakishly accurate. I admit I have been a bad, bad, bad fan and so, after a long, guilt racked night and a good portion of the day,  I finally managed to catch the replay of the game. Having seen the entire match, I have got to admit, I am still gutted about the loss but also somewhat relieved! I know we lost... We are no longer unbeaten in the league and our magical run has come to an end... it sucks. I mean it wasn't supposed to happen.Wigan Athletic weren't supposed to win(we are the best of the big four goddammit!.. bow down to us NOW!). Wigan were supposed to like they always do, against the big four, drop points. Too bad they've ended their own record (not a magical one by any standards) and they created a moment of magic which I am sure their fans are still celebrating (or dealing with the massive hangover from the all the celebrations).
Fair play to the Wigan Athletic, I think they played their game, weren't very scared of us (boo hoo!) and managed to get a historical result. Well done, you guys. Hope you keep up this great 'big four bashing' form up for your game against ManU (see, how I resisted calling them a specific form of cow dung... taking the high road.. oh yessiree!). Wigan played well, but I can't help but look at the Petr Cech incident as being very instrumental in the Chelsea loss.  I definitely don't think there was   any intent to go for Rodallega,  in Cech's dash forward for the ball. He  was just unlucky and awfully clumsy in that challenge. While I understand that there was contact and it was in the box, the referee really had no choice but to give a penalty. What I have a problem understanding is, why the referee gave Petr Cech, a straight red card?  Rodallega wasn't injured, the referee couldn't have been sure of Petr Cech intent to foul play, so why the horrible red card?  I guess, it wasn't entirely my fault that Chelsea lost the game but a bad judgment call on the part of the referee that crippled Chelsea. A shout-out to Drogba for the 100th goal, yo da main man, man!

PS: I hereby, solemnly promise to never ridicule the god of superstitions and stick to not wearing red on Chelsea match days.

Manchester City Draw Manchester Derby

Ok, first things first, Chelsea won and we're still top of the table baby! If you are a Chelsea fan, chances are you haven't stopped smiling this season. We are still unbeaten in the league (God, be praised!) and I hope this phenomenal run of the Blues continues. It was all about two shades of  Blue this week, Chelsea blue and light Blue, hoping for a Manchester City win in the Manchester Derby. The Manchester derby this season had been one of the most eagerly anticipated matches and always seemed like it would be a thrilling game. People couldn't help talking about it from the moment Carlos Tevez had signed on the dotted line for Manchester City till Sunday Kick Off and it looks like they will never stop talking about it. It truly was one of the most thrilling and unforgettable of derby matches. Manchester United came in all guns blazing and were one goal up in the first 5 mins of the game. I thought, that was the end and that Manchester City were going to retreat and it would turn out to be one of those humiliating nights for 'the Citizens' who had dared to question Manchester United 's superiority in Manchester. I was forgetting that they had Carlos Tevez, who looked absolutely thrilled to be back and eager to remind his former club exactly what they had foolishly let go. He had said before the match, in an interview that according to him Ben Foster, was the weakest link in United's team and he proved he was right by poaching the football off of the United keeper for Barry to score the equalizer. City almost took the lead, after Tevez's shot had hit the post and flew out. It was a good pass from Kolo Toure and really should have been converted. It definitely announced to the hosts that City weren't going to go down without a fight, they were there to win. Both teams were a goal apiece at half-time but  Fletcher changed all that with his header off Ryan Giggs curved pass, giving United the lead in the second half. United were in it to win too. This is when I think, the true desire of a team really starts to show, when they are losing 2-1, 50 minutes into the game against a team like United. They either retreat and somewhere give up often beating themselves in their head or they attack and they push harder and try and get that equalizing goal. So, I felt this was the time to truly judge how far Manchester City had come as a team. They did me proud when Bellamy scored a scorcher of a goal and City were back in the game. Manchester United were amazingly good in the second half and that made Bellamy's equalizer even more admirable. Neither team was settling for a draw, it was really 'Game on' after this point and Shay Given, once again proved why he is considered among the best goal keepers in  the league by saving 3 almost unstoppable Berbatov shots. At one point, I thought Berbatov gave Given the 'What you got against me?' look. It just wasn't to be Berbatov's day, as Fletcher, once again scored a goal off of Ryan Giggs pass. Everyone now seemed to believe that Manchester United were going to win after all -everyone, that is except the Manchester City players. Rio Ferdinand, was definitely of the lot that thought  that the game was in the bag and allowed himself to be lazy. Craig Bellamy made him pay. At 90 minutes the game was tied at 3-3, which seemed like the most fair result for a very well played match by both teams. Manchester City had shown everyone, that they were title contenders and you had to  beat them to win. They weren't going to let big names and club histories and brilliant managers scare them. They were there to play and to win. Sir Alex, decided on an added-time substitution brought Michael Owen on. I love Michael Owen and think he is an incredible footballer and really do wish this hard-on-luck player to do well and score loads of goals. This was till he joined United and I no longer wish him to 'score loads of goals'. Now, anyone who had seen the game, would bet good money that no more than a couple of minutes would be added on. The game was played in very good spirit with no bad challenges and hardly any yellow cards. The referee, however held up 4 minutes which was puzzling.

Exclusive, Exquisite, Luxurious, Precise... A perfect Christmas buy for Sir Alex

This however, was just the beginning of the entire jigsaw puzzle which was on its way. The game finally went on into the 97th minute. For a minute I thought maybe the referee had passed out from all the excitement. According to Martin Atkinson the referee, he had added 1 minuted into the added time because of the Owen substitution and 45 seconds (which should actually have been no more than 26 seconds) because Bellamy's celebration had been too long - something that anyone who has seen the match and is not a United fan or Sir Alex will disagree with. So that makes it 5 minutes 35 seconds. The game went into the 97th minutes plus and the winning goal from Michael Owen came in the 96th minute, a full 5 minutes 26 seconds into the 4 minutes added time. Manchester City haven't got the 1 point that rightfully was theirs but they have come out winners.They should write-off the one point as a friendly gift to an annoying neighbour. The good news for United fans is that Fergie's Mythical Magic Watch is alive and ticking. Moral of the story for anyone playing Manchester United and leading or drawing the match, is to remember that  the added time at Old Trafford is always 'as long as it takes.' According to me, Manchester City drew the match they were playing against Manchester United and lost to Sir Alex's Watch.

Sinfully Scrumptious Sunday

"Chocolate Brownie!",  that is the thought I woke up with. I am a 'weekend dieter' which basically means that I try to undo the harm done to my body by junk food over the week by going on something of a detox diet of fruit, beer (for those additional anti-oxidants) and to add delusions of a spa-like experience to it all, Wine!  So, I  was mortified to be thinking about a hot, straight out of the oven, really chocolaty chocolate brownie even before I had gotten out of bed.

It didn't take long, after the brownie scored from the penalty spot and a very cuddly lion rejoiced, for me to realise that I was not having a chocolate brownie craving from hell.  It was the mouth-watering Chelsea - Tottenham Hotspur game which my silly sleepy brain had got mixed up with a chocolate brownie! The London derby, Frank Lampard being pitted against his Uncle, a chance to beat Tottenham, who have had a very good season minus the match against Manchester United, a chance to stay top of the table....Yes sirree, it definitely  is a delicious fixture!

Now, the world is full of inventive geniuses like the person who invented the 'hot chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream,  topped with chocolate sauce and cookies sundae'. That is what the Manchester Derby does to the Chelsea-Tottenham game. It adds that dressing, the finishing touches, and that extra bit of magic to a perfect treat. Also, I am thrilled that the Chelsea game follows the Manchester Derby 'coz I always like last bite of my sundae to be the brownie. It promises to be a sinfully scrumptious Sunday with no calories... woop woop!

Splendid Saturday

Wow! What a phenomenal day of football it was today. I am so glad I skipped watching 'District Nine' because nothing could have compared... nothing!  I saw Sunderland-Burnley, Arsenal-Wigan Athletic and the West Ham - Liverpool games and can't pick my favourite. I loved that all the teams I was predicting would win .. won. The Burnley match was particularly satisfying because all the pundits and the bums on the street had written off Burnley. They thought Burnley had had their time in the spotlight and were now going to simply fade away. A 'pundit' actually went as far as to say that Burnley would find it very tough to win any games till after Christmas, a little unfair I thought for a team that beat Manchester United and well well well.... they beat Sunderland 3-1. So as is fair, I took my revenge and teased my friends who had ridiculed me when I had predicted a Burnley win... Oh victory is sweet! 


Saturday evening was being very good to me. I wasn't expecting much of a match at the Emirates. I thought it was an easy enough game for Arsenal but was looking forward to seeing the goals, of which I was positive there'd be plenty and as is the trend today I was right. A stunning goal by Vermaelen (and the fact that I might just have a teeny-tiny crush on him) made me wish he was a Chelsea player. Arsenal played their beautiful brand of football which like always was a pleasure to watch (Inter-Milan - Barcelona take note). Strange club Arsenal are and I am not talking about the very obvious body part fixation that they seem to have. I mean,  they have a great squad  of very talented players, a super manager, yet they almost always just fall short of that something required to win the league. Also, their highest goal scorers this season are their defenders and they hardly have a defense. Yep, they are queer but also absolutely lovable.


The saturday football excitement was now at it's peak and I was praying that the last match lived up to the expectations and that Liverpool won. I think the Stevie G and Toress partnership is an absolute joy to watch. Also I admire Liverpool FC for its history and its wonderful fans. They are infectious and before you know it, you are supporting Liverpool (except of course when they are playing Chelsea, when miraculously the same fans become quite irritating). I had predicted that West Ham would probably score a goal but never had I imagined that they would put up such a fight. The first half was like watching highlights and it left me breathless and impatient for more. It was the kind of match that makes you wish there was no half-time interval.  The Toress goals especially the one in the first half was brilliant and my favourite goal for the day and perhaps the best goal of the season(right behind the Drogba goal against Stoke City). Poor Jamie Carragher had one of his rare off days at the office but the penalty was uncalled for and according to me Diamanti did touch the ball twice. Even though West Ham played very well, I felt Liverpool deserved to be leading. The game sorta evened itself out and  a Liverpool win by one goal was a fair result of an incredibly entertaining well- fought match. I really wish Fernando(Isn't Fernando a real fun name, it simply transports you to the middle of a narrow street, with flamenco music playing in the background as you run from a charging bull and for some bizzarre reason refuse to let go of the extremely ripe red tomato! sigh... Where was I? Oh yes, I really wish Toress (no more calling him by his first name, barely survived the bull, the last time) had gotten his hatrick for old times' sake. 


It's days like today, when Chelsea aren't playing and are comfortably (and rightfully) top of the table that I realize that football is in fact relaxing. If today was any indicator, then I guess everyone should cancel everything they are doing tomorrow because missing the Manchester and the London Derbys surely can't be risked. Sunday promises to be quite a treat. I can't wait!!!

The Alex Factor

There is something about Manchester United. It's like the whole world conspires to help them win. A lot of people would argue (the sort that has read ‘The Alchemist’), that the whole world helps when you want something bad enough. I won't argue with that and Manchester United players certainly want to win every match, every time, but so does every other team in the Premier League. Agreed some, don't have the luxury of having gifted footballers like Rooney, on their teams but the top five or six English Premier League clubs certainly have top quality players. So how it then, that Manchester United have been winning the premier league for the past 3 seasons despite having lost more games than second place Liverpool last season? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Manchester United aren’t a great team. They are or rather were, the perfect mix of talent, youth and experience and had till the last season perhaps the best player in the world at the time in Cristiano Ronaldo who hit unbelievable form. His magic seemed to rub off on the team and they were unbeatable on their day. On their off-days however, they like any other team always had a touch of green. But on such days luck was with them. It was like Lady Luck favoured them above all the rest. Understandable, because ‘Luck’ wouldn’t be called ‘Lady’ if it remained unaffected by the charm of the talented Cristiano Ronaldo! But now that Cristiano has finally moved to Real, I was hoping Lady Luck would follow him there, going by the ill-fated Derby match which looked like it's already doomed, it seems like Manchester United are still the favourites with ‘her’.
I can't help but feel bad for Manchester City, who spent so much money on bringing in top (may be slightly overpaid) players with the one of the aims being to beat Manchester United in the derby matches. Carlos Tevez, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz, very talented players, capable of beating Manchester United are all injured and unavailable for the ‘doomed derby’. Like, things weren't bad enough for Manchester City, their in-form striker Adebayor did what he did last week and now has to serve out a well deserved 3 match ban. Does this sound like the world conspiring to help Manchester United to win? Manchester United have evened out the odds already and they haven't even played City yet. It’s like the curse of the Red Devils!
Surely, there has got to be more to this than just luck. Luck can't always work. I have a feeling; maybe it has something to do with the aura around Manchester United. Their ‘never-say-die’ spirit; try-till-the-end reputation and push-the-limits image that they have worked very hard to acquire and maintain, definitely has something to do with their incredible record. No one, goes to Old Trafford to play 11 men in red, they go there to play Manchester United - the Champions, the Legends, the unspoken Kings of the Premier League headed by the best manager in the world Sir Alex Fergusson. This image and spirit of Manchester United has remained at the core of the team’s self esteem even when individual player have come and gone. Sir Alex really is a genius. He has managed to create a Loch Ness monster of sorts in Manchester. It exists because you buy into the hype, or else it’s just a myth. If you believe the hype, even for a second, it takes control of your psyche. Too bad, most teams buy into the whole 'Nessie' of Manchester and, either get too over-awed or too pumped up about playing Manchester United. Sir Alex knows how to use the rival club's fear as well as their enthusiasm to beat them. It's not Lady Luck, its Sir Alex. I hope Manchester City go to Old Trafford to play 11 men (some of them past their prime) in Red and not the 'Champions', 'The Red Devils', Manchester United.

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Good News - Bad News

Wow! It's turning out to be quite a month for me. First it gets me in the dumps and then something extremely pleasant and wonderful happens. Almost starting to 'want' something not so pleasant to happen, so I can get to the pleasant stuff quick. Started off with FIFA being dumb, and then Chelsea went and played that exciting game at Stoke,winning all 5 of their matches so far and being top of table. Then there was the Drogba ban from the past that came back to haunt me last night, but it was followed by the news of Joe Cole being back and on the bench for the match and then Chelsea won against Porto. So there you go, bad news...good news. I thought we were doomed for a few minutes (seemed like an eternity) when John Terry went down in the first half, but he saved me from turning a scary shade of blue (the Chelsea blue isn't a very flattering colour for the face), when he got up and in true JT spirit got back to business. It was raining so heavily at the ground, that the 'non-believer' in me thought, that some silly error was going to cost Chelsea the game. It was crazy rain and Chelsea, lets face it aren't the luckiest of teams, like say Manchester United. A shout-out to the grounds men at Stamford Bridge! Thanks to them, what a field we've got, absolutely top class. Speaking of top class, the Anelka goal was just that. We had so many scoring opportunities but it had  to be a top class goal for Chelsea (guys, seriously, your fans love the excitement and the unpredictability of your matches, but we don't mind predictablity once in a while).They played so well, if only the finishing had been a little better, I reckon we would have won by 10 goals. Petr Cech, you are the ultimate and I hereby, promise to look a little more kindly to your occasional faux pas (as long as  you promise to keep them occasional and limited to exhibition matches that don't really matter). No offence to Porto supporters, their team played very well too(see how nice I am, provided my team wins). All in all, a top class pitch, a top class goal, a top class save, and a top class result for a top class club. Go Blueees! Just got the news about Peter Kenyon leaving the club. Thank you for what you've done for our club and we'll miss you Peter. I guess pleasant news is on it's way.... can't wait for the Tottenham match on Saturday.

The Cutest Mascot ... Yeah?

I have often had the whole, premier-league-being-better-than-the-Spanish League' debate with my friends and always reminded them quite smugly how when we take the quality on display of all the clubs in the EPL and then compare it to the La Liga, we are far superior. The number of English clubs making the semi-finals and finals of the Champions League has been my key weapon for silencing the critics of the English League who think that the premier league is not as exciting. (oh lord, forgive them for the know no better!). But the other day I found something where, the Spanish clubs have quite clearly outdone their English counterparts. Watch the video to see Real Valladolid's new recruit. They desperately wanted to beat Valencia and took the old saying that, ' if you want to beat Valencia, recruit a circus bear,' quite literally. Too bad, it didn't work, but you gotta give it to the Spanish for knowing how to have a 'bear of a time'!


Stamford the Lion, you are still the cutest but this bear puts up quite a fight... yeah?

Del Potro's Dream Run

My tummy hurts, but boy! was it worth it. Didn't notice when I got so involved in the US Open Men's Singles Final between Roger Federer  and Juan Martin Del Potro. The first set was quite a disappointment for all Del Potro fans as easy smugness crept into the  Federer camp. Their man was in sublime form. He had, it seemed, studied Del Potro's game to the T and was completely out playing the ridiculously handsome big Argentinean. It looked like one of those 'no match' matches and I was starting to get so very disheartened by what I thought was going to  be a completely humiliating game loss for the 20-year old. I just didn't have the heart to watch it, but when Federer is at his best like he was in the first set, it's mesmerizing and impossible to look away from the T.V. screen. To distract myself from the game (which I had waited for, for over 5 hours) I decided to chop beans thinking it was already in the bag for arguably the best player on the planet. I don't like one-sided matches (except  when Chelsea are playing and winning), so getting dinner ready side by side, seemed like a bright idea at the time. It wasn't, and not just because I now have a big gash on my index finger which makes typing quite painful. Well, that ought to teach me for not giving my full attention to a match which was destined to end the reign of the 'king' of New York. Anyway, I was one of those rare people, apart from the Argentinians, who was rooting for Del Potro. Federer has won everything out there (and most of them more than once!) so I wanted someone new, someone younger, (someone as gorgeous as Del Potro) to win. You can't claim to be a Tennis fan, if you aren't a Roger Federer fan, so I had made my peace with the Del Potro's chances of winning being a distant dream (even if it was an incredibly wonderful one). Del Potro's early nerves got the better of him, but boy, did he get into another gear towards the middle of the second set when Federer looked like he will romp home with consummate ease.  Coming from behind Delpo forced the tie break and well, somewhere in the game, when the going got tough, Federer got mad. He said a nasty thing or two using the 'f-word' to the chair umpire. This made me support Delpo even more, (I just don't understand unsporting behaviour), and according to me, the more successful a player, the more it becomes his duty to be gracious and sporty (at all times) because they are the people, we all look up to. Reminds me of what Spiderman's uncle said to him in the movie, "with great power, comes great responsibility."
Federer who is a master psychologist had his tactics and his mind-games all figured out in the first set but they started to fall apart later in the game. (Federer, you don't need no games.... you got the sport). Del Potro showed incredible character, skill, attitude and immense talent to win a very entertaining, nerve-wrecking final and we had a new US Open Champion. A Star is born... the new US Open Champion, only the second- Argentinian to win the US Open, the 6'6 20-year old, the incredibly handsome... Juan Martin Del Potro! 
The closing shot of the TV coverage, showed the Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the lights shinning bright and the chairs all empty. It was hard to believe that this was place where such heroic drama had unfolded minutes ago,where hope and despair were separated by only a net, where a twenty year old came in with a dream and made it come true giving hope to millions of youngsters not only in Argentina but all over the world; inspiring them to think big and do something about it. Del Potro was gracious in his moment of victory and praised Federer, calling him the better player. Sport truly is remarkable.
PS: Delpo, does your tummy hurt too?

Of Brats and Gentlemen

I guess no one living in India can escape Cricket and if you are Indian, chances are you wouldn't want to escape it. So, its no wonder, that when there was no Football match and while I waited for the US Open Mens Final (woohoo!), I started to watch the incredible Sri Lanka-India one day (50 over) Compaq Cup Final. Just realised, while I was typing the last sentence, that cricket is complicated and not just because of its many rules and funny sounding positions (the silly point!); but also in terms of the various formats of the game... 5-day Test cricket for the people who consider themselves 'real' connoisseurs of the game, the 50-over one-day match (my favourite form of cricket) and now the most recent 20-20 game (the circus!) . But what's considered complicated by some (no game can make you feel dumb, faster than cricket), is considered great variety by others. I am glad to be from a cricketing nation 'coz I took to the game like fish to water and its always been easy for me to understand it. I tried explaining it to a friend of mine from the Sweden and well, he was convinced that it was boring and people who liked it were boring too. This reminded me of what Richard Gere said about Opera in Pretty Woman "People's reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul". 
Cricket is like that too. So I am glad I was born in a country where Cricket comes with the territory.
India won the match and the Compaq trophy. Their performance was faultless. Sachin Tendulkar's batting was super and the ballers performed wonderfully, bowling out Sri Lanka in just 47 overs and everyone was happy. There were handshakes and smiles and hugs and cheer after they had won. I was glad they won but I really didn't like the way they behaved on the field with each other. They didn't look like a team when the going was (somewhat) tough. Pouting, blaming, cribbing, frowning, saying nasty things to each other when they were fielding. It was like watching spoilt heiresses rather than world class sportsmen! In contrast the Sri Lankans were composed, classy and together even when they lost the game and the tournament. C'mon you guys, what is the point of  winning matches being bratty, someday, its going to catch up with you. Probably explained why India has gotten to so many finals (twenty at least) in the last few years  but only won a handful of them (three-this being the third). It probably would have been better if the classier team had won.  After all cricket is supposed to be a 'gentleman's game'. Or may be it's time to introduce the gentleman to yellow and red cards.     

A Gift for Chelsea Supporters

On my way out for a cup of coffee and a session of weekend football review with my mates. And since, most of my friends are guys and don't spend hours styling their hair, don't understand how important putting together the perfect outfit complete with accessories is, and how, if you change one thing everything else has to be re-thought-out ... they are never late! It was no surprise then, when my phone started ringing 20 minutes before the time we'd set-up to meet (they think it helps!... Guys it doesn't). As my phone got lyrical with 'Blue is the colour', it reminded me of my favourite readers ... the Chelsea Fans... nah, I love all of you and promise to put up a special gift for all of you soon but this one is for the Chelsea fans....

Click here and download 'Blue is the Colour' ringtone for free and show your True Blue spirit

PS: Ironic how its been uploaded by someone who quite obviously is a Liverpool supporter. :)

Gosh! I better run, am incredibly late and the phone's been ringing non-stop (it so nice, with this ringtone, I almost don't mind being hounded to hurry up!) . Enjoy the ringtone and have a great evening everyone.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

5 games, 5 wins! Top of the table and the only team in the Premier League this season not to have dropped points so far. I am so proud to be a Chelsea fan, especially after seeing last night's match. Just love the new and improved 'boys in blue' under Coach Carlos, who never give up and keep trying to get the win until the very last minute (would be kinder to your fans guys, if you kinda didn't leave it sooo till the end). But then it wouldn't be my Chelsea, if they didn't keep the excitement up in their matches. That would be another club something United, I think they call themselves. They come in, score a few goals in the first half and usually kill the match. Pity their supporters who almost never get their share of excitement!(yep, those guys can do nothing right by me!).
I have a little ritual after Chelsea win a match (have one after they lose as well, but don't think I'll talk about that here)... I watch for the results/discussion shows to hear the pundits (even the ones who were betting against them) sing praises about my team and see the goals all over again. Its easier to watch the opposition score and even admire the goal when you know that your team has already won... much less stressful and very enjoyable. Also, sometimes I like to feel like I am the kind of person who is always calm and composed and that a silly 'game' couldn't make her scream and jump about like a cat on a hot tin roof.
So, imagine my horror when all the shows weren't focusing on Chelsea, the 'table leaders'!
Every show was discussing Manchester City's Adebayor and not because he had scored a hatrick like Yossi Benayoun did for Liverpool and not because of Manchester City's 4-2 win over Arsenal! It was because Emmanuel Adebayor had managed to get his head on a ball and 'unfortunately' scored for his new club. So in all humbleness, he felt he should celebrate right in front of the Arsenal (his former club) fans to get some 'love'. Arsenal Fans,according to him, had not 'loved' him enough, when he played for them. Fans whom he felt it was okay to begrudge, now that he was at another club.
I really enjoy Arsenal's style of football and used to count Adebayor as one of the better footballers in the league and as a very nice, good person. With this one gesture of his last night, he has managed to convince me that he is neither. And I am not even a real Arsenal supporter! I can only imagine, how hurt the Arsenal supporters must have been and I can understand (not saying it was right) why they started to hurtle bottles and other stuff at him.
Was such incitement really necessary? If he really wanted to teach his former club a lesson for not recognising his talents enough, why didn't he simply try scoring a hatrick. Guess that is tougher to do than, say running across the field to celebrate! He was shown a yellow card and will probably get a ban/fine. I guess he lost his temper and he's only human and probably (read definitely) not very bright and fans will (like fans always do) forgive him and the incident will be forgotten. But if it's true that he went in with intent to hurt Robin Van Persie when he caught his cheek with his studs (and one cannot not think of the very public fight the two had last season),the game is definitely better off without Mr.Adebayor. All in all, this certainly isn't the kind of thing that is going to get him 'love' that he so desperately seeks.

Its so sad when such a disgraceful incident makes all the headlines and all the wonderful positives and highs of the games get lost in the mess. In all, an incredible 32 goals were scored in the premier league last night. That is how we should remember it. Or maybe as the day that Chelsea retained top spot (just the way it should be), Yossi Benayoun scored a hatrick for Liverpool, Manchester United came from behind with only 10 men to beat Tottenham, 32 goals scored in all in the premier league and the day that Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-2.

Make football happy .... Make fans happy.

Chelsea, Yeah?

Oh what a beautiful day! Innit? Something about a weekend that fills you with positivity, even a person like me who doesn't have a regular job, looks forward to it and I have a sneaky feeling football has got everything to do with it. But today, I  think will be an exceptionally good day for I found something stellar....and God knows we, 'the mighty fans of the mighty blues', could use some positive news after that nightmare of a ban . Also, we lost Deco to injury for a week or probably more, I just couldn't take any more of the bad news so didn't read the news about his injury... only the headline and I was ready for some chocolate! (Oh boy, could I blame FIFA for the pound I put on?)
I went on a quest for positivity, and like always when you go looking for positives (or trouble), you find them. It was right there on my desktop- the fixtures list. The common perception of all the 'haters' (read people who are rooting for Chelsea to slip-up) is that Chelsea will have a tough time coping in January when our African players are off to play the 2010 African Cup of Nations. Hah! (and my sincere apologies for dashing your hopes... Not!). Here are our fixtures for January: Hull City (A), Sunderland (H), Birmingham City (H) and Burnley (A). Blimey! Surely the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard,Michael Ballack Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Deco, Joe Cole, Nicholas Anelka must be terrified of Burnley!  Another feel-good factor in this fixture list...imagine how it must be bugging Sir Alex. Also, we are going to send Stoke packing today. Chin-up all ye Chelsea fans for its a beautiful day.

This video never fails to amuse... positivity, yeah?

Derby Derailed

I am absolutely gutted. Carlos Tevez is injured and is almost certain to miss next week's Manchester derby. I mean did nothing good come out of the Argentina-Brazil match? Ever since, Tevez signed for City, I have been the relishing the prospect of the derby (had the date circled out on my calender, the 'do not disturb' sign handy, put champagne on my shopping list, the works!)! I don't know what the details of Tevez contract were and why Manchester United didn't or couldn't hold  on to such a wonderful, hard-working, absolute dynamo of a player. But I did feel the pain when Tevez who I think is a rare footballer and is respected, loved not only by his club fans but by all football fans regardless of their club loyalties. Fans who are lucky enough to have him play for his club 'love' him and those who don't have him (fans like me), are terrified of him but still love him. Carlos is also one of those footballer who tells the press exactly how he feels, call it naivety, lack of media savviness, insanity but its admirable all the same. He made it amply clear in interviews, time and again with tears in his eyes how badly he wanted to stay at United and how much he loved it there. He didn't want to leave England and how he wanted his kids to grow up there. He contributed to the United cause from the day he was signed till his last game as a United player. He kept hoping, I think till the very last day that United would renew his contract but  Manchester United were mean to him.  I was happy that he signed up for Manchester City (would have been happier if he was a Chelsea player though), and really wanted Tevez to make United pay for letting him go. To make them lose some more points. I think a lot of City fans will be feeling as disappointed and some United fans letting out a sigh of relief for they know what a Carlos Tevez (in a good mood) can do to the opposition let alone a revenge seeking Carlos Tevez. The silver lining is that there is always a next time and may be that will be an even worst time for United to slip up (can't help but think how nice a 6-point slip up will be). Oh well, shouldn't get so greedy but Carlos, you owe me 3 points off United (and may be you could take it a little easy on the 5th of December). Get well quick.

Sleepyhead Managers and Star Teams

The shocks just keep coming in. Having calmed my nerves with caffeine (oh yes, it works...thought I'd missed that raised eyebrow, did you?) My 'roving' eye went to the group standings table and my heart rate went up (wasn't the caffeine). I blinked a couple of times (would you get off the caffeine theory already!) but there it was... Denmark were 5 points ahead of Portugal. Portugal have got the likes of Carvalho (had to be a Chelsea players first), Bosingwa (and second), Deco (and third!), Simao, Nuno Gomez, Nani, Ronaldo, Maniche. Players absolutely bursting with football magic. How can they be in danger of not qualifying, they should be top of the group! 

So, what is coach Carloz not doing right? I would think he knew everything, having learnt from the very best Sir Alex. Also, in my naievity I assumed that the country coaches didn't really need to be as good as the club coaches because, they got to pick from players with so much experience. I have changed my view since Fabio Cappello worked miracles with the England National Team. To lead such accomplished players has to be even harder because you have to win their respect and boy, it don't come cheap. Also, I think since players all their lives have been told what to do; they like it that way. They like a coach who tells them what to do ahead of each game and during the half-time break. A coach who has a plan he is convinced will work and asks them to play their part in executing it. The bottom line is that the players appreciate and respect being directed like other proffessionals in any other profession. Take actors for example. 'Good' actors always appreciate a director who knows what he is doing and tells them exactly what he wants them to do. Fabio Cappello has definitely achieved that with the England squad, which in my opinion, is the hardest lot of players to win over. May be Queroz is taking too laid-back an approach to management, expecting his phenomemally talented lot of players to just do what comes naturally to them. But talent also needs direction. May be he is being too lazy or may be he is one of those who just doesn't get it. 

He needs to take a feather out of the cap of  managers of countries like Ireland and Denmark and Norway who don't have such talent-loaded teams but manage to get super performances out of average players.  Another manager who could really sit up and pay attention is France's no.1 romantic... no, not President Sarkozy, okay no.2 romantic Raymond Domenech, who if it's possible, has an even stronger team than Queiroz, a 'super-star-studded' team as compared to Queiroz's mere 'star-studded' team. But, on a serious note, come on you guys, do whatever it is, fix whatever needs to be fixed, because you got some players that deserve to be in South Africa and they got fans who deserve the pleasure of seeing their favorites battle it out for their countries. South Africa is simmering up and getting ready to sparkle! 

Messi, Ronaldo may miss WC - Bane, Bliss or Blah?

Isn't football wonderful? Players with incredible talent, clubs with fanatical fans, rivalries and histories, and some truly inspirational stories. There never really is a dull moment in the footballing world, so I shouldn't have been surprised when what I was considering to be a dull, dull week with only a handful of 'International Friendlies' and 'World Cup Qualifiers' to look forward to turned out to be quite a dramatic, thought provoking, intriguing and dare I say - entertaining week. I guess I was living in the past when football was only a weekend thing and not the 7 day, 24 hour entertainment fest and way of life for many around the world, that it has become today. While I missed seeing players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Kaka play over the weekend, a menacing headline jumped out at me "Messi, Ronaldo may miss WC".... A zillion questions raced through my head as I stared dumbfounded at that terrible headline that refused to go away, despite my insanely rapid blinking... What kind of a horrible, mean person would write such a thing? What would the World Cup be without the 'Sultan of Stepovers' Ronaldo or the infamous 'Winker' if that is how you choose to remember him? Would it still be as exciting? Wouldn't this undervalue the World Cup? Would it effect the tickets beings sold? Did I still want to go?

The last of the questions was the easiest to answer. Hell yea! I was going. So I guess if most people are like me and just love football, they were going too. And that answered the tickets question and the other hidden question... nope, the tickets weren't going to get cheaper. Oh well, I'd rather have packed stadiums with screaming supporters around me than a cheap ticket with the echo of my own screams scaring me and making me jump! 

However would it undervalue the World Cup if they greatest player in the world right now, Lionel Messi and the official greatest player in the world weren't on show? I still remember how excited I was to see 'em play against each other in the Champions League, Manchester United - Barcelona was probably the most anticipated game of all. Of course, now that Ronaldo has moved to the 'La Liga' we get to see them pitted against each other more often (oh thank you Mr. Perez). But what about Ronaldo against Kaka? Not having such a well-know team as Portugal who almost always have reached the quarter-finals in the last few campaigns would be very disappointing indeed. But when a team can't even 'qualify' to play, do we really need them where all the big boys are? I mean, doesn't not qualifying imply that they simply weren't good enough at that time to compete on the big stage? Remember, how much we missed England at the Euros? As England fan I was heartbroken, miserable, irritable, mean, 'on the brink of rage and tears' every time the 

'E-word' was uttered but in all honesty, when the competition got underway, I was hooked and didn't really miss them all that much. So I guess if Portugal and France don't make it to the world cup, it will be disappointing and yes, we'll miss some of the phenomenal players (sincerely hope that they do qualify) but thats about it. The competition will still be exciting, entertaining, nail-biting, intense, and memorable... and the show will go on.  

The New Bug in Town

I am no longer scared of Swine Flu. There is a new flu in town called 'FIFA-trying-to-do-the-right-thing-itis' and yep, you are right if you thought the longer the name of the disease, the harder it is to treat and hence the scarier it is. It started of with a mild case of banning Eduardo for diving which apparently never happens in the game and a certain recently ex-Manchester United player, never ever did it. He was fouled every single time that he claimed he was and, like his magical talent he has magical powers of avoiding injury as well.
What started of as a mild case of delusion is now growing into a full-blown case of blindness with the Chelsea verdict. FIFA in it's all knowing power has decided that the London club, will not be allowed to sign any new players till 2011, a two transfer window ban. The crime? ... 'Tapping up' or 'Tampering' as the Americans call it. I didn't know anything about tapping up except that it had cost our beloved Ashley Cole £100,000 when he signed up from Arsenal. Being a Chelsea fan through and through and therefore, being thrilled about the then new signing of Ashley, I hadn't really paid attention and had simply concluded that Arsenal were being cry babies lead by Papa Arsene Wenger. I respect Arsene Wenger but when Chelsea are concerned my judgement does get cloudy.
So anyway, the ghost from the past has come back to haunt us at Chelsea and I thought it was time I read up on the mysterious term 'tapping up', and what I got completely shocked me by how archaic the whole thing was. What it basically means is an attempt to persuade a player contracted to one team to transfer to another team, without the knowledge or permission of the player's current team. Fair enough. So the team that wants to sign a player must get in touch with the current team of the player and not contact the player directly, makes a lot of sense and would work perfectly... if we lived in isolation.
Does the football governing body truly believe that a club would dish out the kind of money that the sport these days commands without talking to the player and getting to know exactly what they are paying so much for?

studs-up

I know there is a very fine line here, like there always is between right and wrong and I see how the decision by FIFA is in good spirit (see I can be impartial) to keep the game of football exciting by avoiding a situation where all the young talent is at the few top big money clubs while the smaller clubs are left to select from the limited talent, talentless and past-their-prime groups of players. But is the decision to ban Chelsea from signing new players till 2011, the right one? Is it really going to benefit the game and the English Premier League to sabotage a top club in such a blatant manner? Does it in the long run make sense for Chelsea to be made an example of? Is the decision not unfair and too harsh on the club?
Tapping up is not a new thing, its been around for a long long time in football. Nottingham manager Brian Clough famously boasted "we tapped more players than the Severn-Trent Water board!" So what can be done? A solution thought up by FIFA, is to ban the movement of players below 18 years from the clubs that developed them. In this way, the team that developed the player will be able to make good money on the player when he signs up for a new, bigger club. So, a player under the age of 18 has a professional contract with the club that developed him till he is 18. Sounds good? Yes, maybe if you own the club. But I can't help but wonder, if it any good for the individual player? Is it in his best interest? Someone who started playing at 12 being held to a commitment till he is 18? What if he doesn't like being at that club, has a sour relationship with them, is far better than the club he is at, the club doesn't meet his needs? Too bad... just play! That is what the new currently being mulled over, FIFA solution seems to be. Is it fair? I won't bother asking. Will it work?Yes, because FIFA do rule with an iron fist.

Also one can't help but wonder, why young players chose to break their contracts and move if they really thought that they were better off at their original clubs? Some very tough questions for a blind, head-stuck-in-the-sand approached FIFA to answer. But ones that need to be sorted out. As for me,a Chelsea and a football fan, I am heart broken, disappointed, hurt and can't help but feel victimized. At the same time, I take immense pleasure at the decisions that FIFA and UEFA need to make. Where someone, somewhere is bound be be very angry no matter what and FIFA and Michel Platini are going to get their dues for hurting our mighty blues. Karma baby!

'Oudin it?

It's been a while since I wrote here, don't really have anyone or anything to blame. I am just lazy and take the short, faster way out (read twitter). Not only was I being lazy, I recently realized I was being a little too smug and almost considering myself, a pundit of sorts. I was challenging all my friends about predicting correctly all the high profile football and tennis matches since The Champions League Final. So as you can well imagine my head was getting a little too big for my puny body and I was almost on the verge of a 'lift-off', which I definitely didn't want since I don't know if there is any sport out in space! Might have been good riddance for my friends I am guessing, since I was ruining most of their games by predicting so accurately the results. Oh well, thank God, all that is behind us now, and its all thanks to the 'US Open' where absolutely wonderful things are now happening. It started off as the dullest of US Opens, since it was the first time all the top 16 seeded players made it to the round of 32, and me with my big 'predict all' head thought it would be an easy tournament to call. I was wrong, there was a wonderful upset with Andy Roddick (who I absolutely adore and desperately want winning another title) got taken by John Isner in one of the best matches since the Federer-Roddick Wimbledon final this year and the Federer-Nadal Final the year before. I was just about beginning to buy the whole women's tennis not being as interesting as men's tennis when Kim Clijsters came back and I was hooked again. Despite Kim being back, I thought Venus would probably win and Serena would probably be in the Finals playing her sister or in the semis playing well but not as well as I feel she can play. And then it happened, Venus Williams taken out by 'Kim Possible' in the 4th round. It was interesting. I had never heard of Melanie Oudin and I would have bet good money on either of Pavluchenkova or Dementieva easily beating her, a 17 year old from Georgia. And if the 2 Russians couldn't get her, I knew compatriot Sharapova would make quick business of her. Boy! Was I wrong and am I glad that I didn't start putting money where my mouth is as I watch Oudin beat her fourth Russian Petrova and on her way to her first slam quarterfinals. A fairytale and here's hoping it has a wonderful ending. If only this unpredictability of sport can continue and Croatia can go on to beat England on Wednesday and make it tough for England to qualify for the World Cup. No wait, hasn't that kinda thing happened before?