A season of under-achievements.

Saturday saw Chelsea getting knocked out of FA cup by a spirited Liverpool side. This meant that Chelsea will have to be content with only the EPL title this season. The way I see it, this is a huge under-achievement.

Before the start of the season I had thought that if there is any team who can win a quadruple then it has to be this Chelsea side. We had got Crespo back, Essien deal had gone through, Robben was fully fit, SWP was added etc etc. At the start of the season this Chelsea side was looking good to get the quadruple, but alas !!

First we were knocked out of Carling Cup. This was the biggest shock of the season for me. At that stage we were going great guns and no one would have predicted a Charlton side to oust us. But to everyone’s surprise and my rage, it happened and followed a mini slip of Chelsea which culminated in a defeat at Old Trafford in the league.

Then it was the Champions League. In the league stages, we had done nothing outstanding but were quite decent. We did face a defeat at hands of Real Betis and we were held by Liverpool to 2 goalless draws but in spite of that we qualified quite easily. But then when the draws were made I was left a bit anxious and scared. It was Barca again and this time they were looking better than the last season. And what I feared the most, happened! Barca were successful to take the revenge. However, I must say that Chelsea was very unfortunate the way the first leg had panned out. Some horrible refereeing decisions meant that they had to play Braca with 10 men for almost an hour. It proved to be a too difficult task even for the mighty Blues and the nightmare came true in Neu Camp where we were not able to get the 2 goals.

Then came the FA Cup disaster. It is quite staggering the way we thrash Liverpool in the league every time but when it comes to knock out tournaments, we end up second best. I attribute this defeat to Mr Mourinho’s arrogance. The kind of team he had put on field was inexplicable. 3 of our most creative players, Cole, Duff and Robben, were kept on the bench. Paulo Ferriera was playing as a right winger. We did not have any left winger.
I am a big fan Mourinho but I have no clue what he was trying to prove by starting with such a side. His mistake was highlighted by the way game changed when Cole, Duff and Robben were brought on. But Liverpool are a very good defensive side and its not easy to get back when u are 2 goals down.

Now it’s just the EPL. Though we are not in the best of forms right now, I expect us to get the one point required to become the England Champions again. But for the amount we spent, we have to win atleast 2 or 3 sliver wears. Also, I have one advice for Jose .... Mr Mourinho, you have to start accepting defeats more gracefully, sometimes it is we who don’t perform to the mark and not the referee.

Reservations reservations ….. May God save India!

Yesterday I was watching a TV show called 'We The People' on NDTV. The topic of debate was “Reservations in educational Institutes”. There were about 80% against the reservations and 20% for it (thank got there were no neutrals here). This percentage obviously cannot be generalized. In reality there may be around 50% opposing the “Reservations” and 50% for it. I belong to the former 50%.

Yes. I oppose any kinds of “Reservations” in any sector, leave alone the educational Institutes. I oppose the “Reservations” not just because I am from general category; not just because I have more than suffered the cruelties of it. Though these are small factors contributing to it, the reason why I am against “Reservations” is because I am a sensible human being; because I can see it crystal clear that “Reservations” are going to take India deeper into the hole it is trying to come out for last 50 odd years; because I can see that “Reservations” are going to bring anything but sense of equality in our society.

For me, the reason for the “Reservations” is as mind boggling as the reservations themselves. The reason why government is going to reserve even more seats is because n number of decades ago, people from so called Lower Caste were subject to atrocities committed by the people from so called Higher Caste. It seems now they are following the principle of “Injustice for injustice”. So, logically speaking, after some years the people from general category may get “Reservations” because they are subject to some serious injustice now. And the cycle will continue. What is going to suffer most in this is the development of India. In fact, I feel that “Reservations” one of the major reason why we are still a “developing nation”.

I just hope that people reading this are sane enough to understand that I am not against any particular Caste. What I am against is the whole principle of “Caste”. What I am against is way these politicians exploit this issue. I mean, the British invented the principle of Divide and Rule and our politicians are perfecting it. You don’t need to be a student of rocket science to understand that this is an ugly political game which is being played just before elections for obvious reasons. Guys, we have to be rational about this. There is a reason why so many big shots from industry are coming out and speaking against “Reservations”. Reservation in IITs and IIMs, 2 of the most prestigious institutions in India, is nothing but a crime.

If it is up to me then I will abolish this whole concept of “Caste”. In my society, there will be no BCs, no OBCs, no Bramhins ... there will be only Indians. In my society there will be only one category “Economically Disadvantaged”. These people will receive incentives like scholarships etc. But there will surely be no reservations of a single seat. But sadly we don’t live in ideal world :(

To end with I will say this ... I have heard that miracles do happen, and that is exactly what it will take for India to become a “developed” country if we don’t do away with this whole “Reservations” business.

Jai Hind.

Team to beat .....

Team to beat in One Day International Cricket (based entirely on current form).

1. Michael Hussey
2. Marcus Trescothick
3. Ricky Ponting(C)
4. Yuvraj Singh
5. Andrew Flintoff
6. Andrew Symonds
7. Irfan Pathan
8. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk)
9. Brett Lee's
10. Makaya Ntini
11. Muthai muralitharan

Coach: Greg Chappell

12th man: Hershall Gibbs


Team to beat in EPL (again, based entirely on current form).

1. Petr Cech (Gk)
2. Gary Neville (RB)
3. John Terry (LCB) (C)
4. Jamie Carragher (RCB)
5. Asier Del Horno (LB)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (RM)
7. Cesc Fabregas (CRM)
8. Frank Lampard (CLM)
9. Arjen Robben (LM)
10. Thierry Henry (Sk)
11. Wayne Rooney (Sk)

Manager : Jose Mourinho

Substitutes:
Edwin van der Sar
William Gallas
Steven Gerrard
Claude Makelele
Ruud Van Nistelrooy