Indian hockey, coming back from the dumps...

I have been extrememly satisfied with the performances the Indian team has put in after former player Joaquim Carvalho has taken over the responsibilities of the Indian team coach. I think he has really united the team again into one cohesive unit and his mantra of agrressive running and quick hockey seems to be paying off. With a 3rd place finish in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia recently , and now some decent performances against Belgium and Argentina although the latter was a defeat in the Champions Challenge, we look to be covering back some lost ground.

Suddenly, it doesnt feel like we are caught up in David and Goliath style encouters. Our hockey is now aggressive. One key development is the approach to win more penalty corners which is very satisfying. This is an approach adopted by the many european nations and has worked satisfactorily for them time and again. Although, a penalty corner specialist, is really required to complete our puzzle. I see a champion penalty corner specialist in Len Ayyappa who has repeatedly performed well in PHL and being one of the top scorers, deserved a berth in the national unit, which quite unfairly got lost to politics as usual.

This is also a time, when the Indian media should become more proactive in supporting the developments in Indian hockey by giving it the attention it deserves. So far, as usual, they have been sluggish, and have shown their ignorance and incompetence to really do anything good for the country; which is something we have come to expect of our media over the years. Ahh well... lets hope repeated good performances will finally pull the attention of the media.

The Indian Media...

Very frankly, in one sentence, the indian media is one of the most corrupt and irresponsible organisations in the already very corrupt framework of our country; that relishes on funds form politicians; has an extreme obsession with romanticising and talking about local murders and thefts; calling religious pundits to perform rituals on various occassions; discussing average everyday saas-bahu sagas; loves people who disrepute the media and even those who praise it because in the end, the viewers dont really mind a few opinions, and finally represents the pseudo-secularist cosmos that stems form governmental policies that ofocurse fund them to brainwash our minds.

Or in precise words of my alter ego... a fucking pain in the ass.

Take for instance, the recent issue of one Mrs. Sunita Williams, an American astronaut of Indian origin, an American thoroughbred with an Indian father and a Slovakian mother. The media has been going bonkers over her arrival back to earth, citing her as the Indian pride, calling pundits to do puja for her safe arrival, such a farce. All this, to make some viewing time, and disregarding the fact that it is undoubtedly wrong to make India take credits for she has done when she hasnt even smelt this Indian earth. Kalpana Chawla, was truely a product of India, and made us proud.

Also, this media runs along the lines of our government that has taken an unprecedented taste for the old English ways of divide and rule to keep the vote bank. This nation is burning in caste issues. Not only that, there is a pseudo-secularist angle to this formula. Anything said in favour of a Hindu that is the majority of the population is being communalist, and that said to support a minority is precisely termed secular. Politicians asking for muslim vote is not an issue. But, if they even dare to ask for Hindu vote, its an act that defies the secular nature of the country; pseudo -secularism at its best.

Comments welcome, thats all for now.

Liverpool : A False Dawn?

Just like last post-season summer passed away with loads of speculations and transfer rumours but no end-product, it seems that these summers are also passing by. Although its just been 6 days into the 3 month long transfer season, its been difficult lately to keep up the spirits. While Gerrard and Carragher re-signings have given a boost to the moral, it was very much expected and what really can help is a top target being signed. Agreed, the Spanish season is yet to end, and our primary targets lie in Spain, but the low-key being kept at Anfield is a little disturbing.

One huge problem that I think in the Liverpool side now is the defensive central midfield. Many-a-times we find oursleves only able to lob a high pass directly to Kuyt who chests it down for Gerrard, who hasnt been in very good form this season or we have have wingers taking the ball into the corner and the ball into the center is a poor one, or Kuyt misses. We need to give our strikers better scoring chances if we want them to score.

Anyway, like everybody, I have an opinion on who should be signed and so I’ll list down my choices that I believe will bring a revolution at Anfield.

Daniel Alves(16m)- The signing of this player is a must, if we even want to think about being Premiership winners side next season. He is a quality right back and right winger who has time and again shown his quality playing with Sevilla.

Motren Gamst Pedersen( 9m) - Quality left winger and cheapest of all. Great volley technique and heading ability; gets into positions and does the job, and also sends in good quality crosses; Premiership proven.

Simao Sabrosa(10m/Cisse exchange)- Good Quality, can play on both sides on the field. Would fit in perfectly in Rafa's plans.

Diego Ribas De Cunha(dont know!)- Voted best player in the Bundesliga season 06-07, he looks to be a great attacking midfielder.

Lukas Podolski (18m)- I think he would be a better solution to a striking option than Eto’o and would play well alongside Kuyt.

Gabriel Milito (10m)- To strengthen our defense when it seems to fail. Setpieces have been a problem throughout the season.

This is roughly about 80m pounds. Together with the summer clearout of Bellmay, Cisse, Zenden , Gonzalez, Fowler, of 20m pounds, we would spending a net amount of 60 million pounds. This will surely see us giving a major Premiership title challenge to ManU and Chelshit. (If you’re wondering why I didn’t write manure, its an old thing.)

And for gods’ sake, Rafa, will you quit goofing around and give players to settle down rather then rotating every weekend.

Please comment on what ur summer buys would be in the comments page.