Archive for the 'Sports' Category

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EPL: Chelsea vs Liverpool – Nov 2011 – Post Match

Published on November 23, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

I do not want the jump the bandwagon and ask for AVBs head. People need to realize that he’s perhaps the best thing that has happened to Chelsea for a long time now. He is working hard to transform once static team to a dynamic one. It’s the players who are failing him. The players should pull up their socks and start performing the way he wants them to.

The game was played in 2 phases – the first and the second halves. Weighed down by all the criticisms, the Chelsea team that came out in the first half played a very boring and defensive game. It was so against the way AVB desired us to play. Our defenders were passing the ball among themselves and Mikel to Cech. Why the heck does Mikel play is a totally another subject. We were slow and without any purpose. Liverpool on the other hand were bight and eager. The team selection told the way we would play – battering ram Drogba would try and muscle his way to the goal, supported by the slow Malouda. Mikel sat deep. Ramires and Mata had almost nothing to do in this game play.

Then with the second half things changed. Mikel was taken off for Sturridge. And we went for that aggressive play. Mata became the creator. I feel Drogba should have made way for Torres. Torres links up better with Mata and Sturridge. Torres being quick is more suited to the fast game play. Once again we were pressing higher up the pitch and actually trying to create chances. Having leveled with the Sturridge strike and then missed a golden opportunity – which was actually amazing keeping by Reina – it was a bit unfortunate to end the game without any points.

I wish that our team continues to play the way they did in the second half. Chelsea does not deserve to win the premier league title any more. We’ve already lost to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. With that in mind, we should continue on the attacking philosophy of AVB and just try to become a better team. There’s still the Champions League to fight for, and we can fight for it in style.

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EPL: Chelsea vs Liverpool – Nov 2011

Published on November 19, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

It’s weekend! It’s the EPL weekend! It’s the Chelsea vs Liverpool weekend!

This is a changed Chelsea from the time we lost 0-1 to Liverpool in Feb – which was Torres’s first match. Now Torres is rediscovering some of his form, we have Meireles, Mata and Sturridge. Also Ramires run and run and runs and runs and runs and, oh well, runs. The big danger though would be Suarez. That guy is on fire – scoring 4 goals in Uruguays friendly game. He poses serious threat to our leaking backline.

I do not expect Chelsea to keep a clean sheet in this one. But I’m confident we’ll win the game. I would love Torres and Sturridge to get on the score sheet. Torres owes us fans at least this much for supporting him all through and through.

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Chelsea Stats Page

Published on November 19, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

I’ve  made my Chelsea Stats Spreadsheet public for anyone to view. The same has been shared as a page on this blog site. Following are the links if you are interested:

Link to the shared page on blog: http://blog.singhanuvrat.com/chelsea-stats

Link to the public view of spreadsheet: Docs Public View

I update the sheet manually after every match as soon as the information become available.

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FA Is Dumb And Stupid When It Comes To Referees

Published on November 12, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

I don’t care if FA were to accidently come across this article and charge me with improper conduct. I maintain my stance that they are dumb and stupid. It’s one thing to protect your employees and another to be indifferent to complains of your clients.

FA have this campaign running to honor the referees. And they punish anyone who seem to speak out against the referee. But this kind of creates a dictatorship – referee can do anything on the pitch and no one can question their decision. This I think goes against the principle of any sport.

A sport is meant to be a free and fair competition between competing sides. A referee or an umpire is supposed to be an unbiased person overlooking the game. But in the real world no one is unbiased. Every person has an ulterior motive. So there should be a committee you can get your complaints through to and have faith that the committee will take an unbiased decision.

It’s pathetic to see what happens in the English Football. The FA rule over everything. There’s absolutely no forum where a manager could go and complain about a referee being impartial. Every time that happens, it’s the club or the manager who gets fined for speaking their mind. So what the hell ever happened to free speech?

I think FA and UEFA have both adopted the wrong principles here. Instead of blatantly and unabashedly supporting their referees they must accept the fact that perhaps the referee can have a bad game sometime and look into the complaints with an open mind.  And if they cannot accept that their referee are only humans, they must stop opposing the introduction of technology and actually seek as much help as possible from the fast developing technology.

As a fan I just want to stress that it’s no fun watching your team being on the receiving end of all the dubious decisions. We expect a referee to take up a stance and stick to it throughout the game. Sad as it makes me, but this is not what happens right now. Often big matches are decided by incompetent referees. And since the FA and UEFA decide to turn a blind eye to these incidents and support their referee no-matter-what, it just spoils the fun of the game.

If we continue along the same path, I doubt it’ll be long before the clubs start pondering about setting up a system parallel to the FA and start a breakaway series. There’s only so much injustice that a club can bear!

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Castrol Rating EPL Final Table Prediction – 2011/10/01

Published on November 4, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

Here’s the Predicted Final Standings as simulated at the end of 1st October, 2011.

EPL Predicted Final Standings - 2011/10/01

EPL Predicted Final Standings - 2011/10/01

 Well, the current form of Manchester City is very well represented in this prediction. They have assembled an amazing squad. With Aguero and Dzeko at the front they have had the courage to drop Tevez, the guy who was so important in their previous season. Balotelli has started to make his presence felt. Assisting the strikers, ManCity has Silva and Nasri. Silva is pure class and Nasri is none lesser. ManCity is certainly the best squad on paper in the EPL.

About ManUtds chances I am slightly skeptical. Without Scholes their midfield has been inconsistent. They have a young keeper that everyone is so eager to test. ManUtd has had it easy so far. It was a second string Arsenal that they played. With Modric transfer saga, Spurs were not in the right frame of mind to take on ManUtd. Also Modric did not feature in that game at all. The only games with the top clubs in form that they have played have been Liverpool and ManCity. Liverpool they drew and ManCity they lost. They need to watch out else the bigger European teams will simply sweep them off their feet just like ManCity did.

Chelsea has had a mixed start to the season. Anyone who has followed Chelsea will point out that they are playing far more pleasing football than they have in the recent years. Cole and Bosingwa have been like wingers. Luiz meanders through to the midfield and tries a couple of long range shots himself. With Mata, Ramires and Sturridge the build up play has been frantic. There’s an eagerness to get the ball to the final third. But the finishing has been poor. Drogba is past his best. Torres still lacks the confidence to shoot for goals. He was just getting to his best when he got red carded. Now he is back to square 1. With the offensive approach and the high back line, Chelsea has been leaking goals. Even QPR and Genk have now managed to score against them. For this season, I wouldn’t consider Chelsea to be a title contender any more. They’ll happily finish 3rd and with a little fight 2nd.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs are all close calls. I am more inclined towards Spurs provided they manage to hold on to Modric this January transfer window. Arsenal are the most unpredictable team. When Van Persie is in form they score freely, otherwise they just struggle. And their defense is not great either.

My guess would be ManCity, Chelsea, ManUtd, Spurs, Arsenal and then Liverpool.

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F1 2011 Indian GP : The First Lap

Published on November 4, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

It was so exciting to finally see all the cars zoom past us on their first lap. The combined sound of those 20 cars was worth taking all the trouble to get there.

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F1 2011 Indian GP : Drivers Parade

Published on November 4, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

Drivers parade around the circuit in vintage cars before the inaugural Airtel India Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit.

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Castrol Rating EPL Final Table Prediction – 2011/08/30

Published on September 3, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

Here’s the Predicted Final Standings as simulated at the end of 30th August, 2011.

EPL Predicted Final Standings - 2011/08/30

EPL Predicted Final Standings - 2011/08/30

 

I like that Chelsea has been placed at the top, even if the margin of difference is less than 1 point. What this highlights is that any of Chelsea or Manchester United could end up as the Champions. That Arsenal has been placed above Manchester City is quite a surprise. I was expecting Manchester City to be 3rd, Liverpool 4th and Arsenal 5th. Also I do not see Everton getting the better of Spurs.

Well, this is what the predictor says after 3 round of matches. Let’s give it another month and compare the difference.

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When Messi Visited India – Argentina vs Venezuela

Published on September 3, 2011 in Sports. 4 Comments

Watched the Argentina vs. Venezuela game played at Kolkata on the 2nd of September, 2011. Here’s a 2 minute video that I recorded using my mobile.

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How I Would Line Up Chelsea Post Transfer Window

Published on September 1, 2011 in Sports. 0 Comments

Well, the transfer window is now closed and we know the teams for sure. Little disappointed that we couldn’t get Luka Modric, but the current group of players are good enough to have a great season. The star signing for me were Lukaku and Mata. Mata I will draft in immediately, but Lukaku will hve to fight for his place from bench.

Here’s my starting formation:

Chelsea Starting 11

Chelsea

 I have brought back Luiz, he’s injured for now. Also I prefer Ivanovich for the right back position. Now that Sturridge’s 3 match suspension is done,  would draft him in right wing instead of Kalou. And of course Mata in for Malouda. Meirless will start ahead of Mikel, but once Essien is back, he drops to the bench.

On the bench I’ll definitely have Lukaku. He’s a powerful guy who could be used as an effective substitute. Introduce Malouda at left wing, get Mata in the midfield and change the formation to 4-2-2. Anelka has been a really effective substitute of late.

But there’s one guy still missing from the picture – McEachren. I really want him to get some quality playtime. So I would definitely look to get him on the pitch whenever there is an opportunity.

I really hope we settle down quickly and start forming better. The Manchester clubs have started brightly but I am not reading too much into it. Remember Chelsea had 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 start the last season only to falter later. It’s a long season and we have depth and quality enough to push for the title.

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