Lions on one day ... Rats on the other ...

...that is the way to define Liverpool ... the most successful club in the English Premier League with 18 League titles and 5 European Cups.

Liverpool, in the Benitez era, have been one of the most dangerous teams to play against. Over the times, they have shown the skill to beat far superior sides with their quite mediocre team ... relying just on their grit and determination, and on Benitez's tactical shrewdness. Their never say die attitude which culminated on that wonderful night at Istanbul was also on display in many European ties like the ones with Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Olympiakos, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and the list goes on and on ...

Having said all this ... Liverpool still haven't been able to win the League for the past 18 years!!!!

That is entirely because they are "Lions on one day ... Rats on the other ... " The defeat Manchester United playing some great football and then capitulate tamely to Fulham right in the next match. They defeat Hull 5-0 on one day and lose 2-0 to Chelsea the next week.

Clearly, Liverpool still doesn't posses that persistent killer instinct that is visible in almost every team of Alex Ferguson possesses and that Jose Mourinho's Chelsea portrayed. Many reasons have been pointed out to portray the weaknesses of the current Liverpool side.

Over-reliance on Gerrard and Torres (Liverpool defeated Man U last year without both of them), Benitez's tactical ability in a league (Benitez won the Spanish League with Valencia), absence of good strikers (barring Torres, of course), absence of great midfielders (barring Gerrard) and absence of great defenders (barring Caragher)!!!!

It is very difficult to point the exact reason for this. There may be endless number of hypotheses ... but then, in my opinion, it is that urge, that zeal, that excitement and that slight element of luck too which is missing with Liverpool which has turned them from a marauding lion to a meek rat in just a matter of week!

Galacticos ... huh?

Real Madrid's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Spanish Segunda B club Alcorcon in the Copa Del Rey has brought to the limelight the chinks in the armour of the Spanish powerhouse. Did I say "chinks" in the armour of the richest club in the world? Of course. Or else how can one explain that the Madrid team on the fateful night which started with names like Raul, Benzema, Granero, Guti, Diarra,Van der Vaart ( a team worth €110m) fall so tamely to a side which costs less than €1m!!!

These chinks were always there. Although the era of neo galacticos started well with the arrival of two Ballon d'Or winners in Ronaldo and Kaka, and former Liverpool pass-master Alonso, things were destined to go wrong because Real failed to address the spine of this super costly team. In Ronaldo and Kaka, Real has accquired two match winners. Albiol is a good defender. Similarly, Alonso is class. But what happens when they are injured or rested? Real just doesnt have a back up for all these players. The back up players are those who were partly responsible for the dismal season last year and who have been clearly labelled as "not part of the Madrid dream"!

Madrid's performances over the course of the season has been far from convincing. Although they have been scoring goals, their game play has been far from being perfect. Luck had been on their side till the time they played Sevilla. That started the poor run which doesnt seem like ending till probably the return of Christiano Ronaldo. I wonder if this galactico regime is moving towards an early demise ... but ... one this is for sure ... Real would not be crowned the Champions of Europe at the Santiago Bernabeu!

Color Conundrum!

The TAPMI new campus is magnificent. It is a 42 acre lush green campus studded with pink buildings. Wait a minute! Did I say pink? Oh!!! Forgive me ... but it is actually "baby pink". At least that is what one my dear friend says. And I dare not question her. After all ... since when did a man become qualified to debate on colors and that too with a woman!

One of the many weaknesses that The Almighty has bestowed upon us (read "men") is the inability to differentiate colors. We have always lacked the sensitivity towards color when compared to our fairer counterpart. Probably due to this we have been eternally accused of having "boring" and "stereotype" wardrobes. We may never know the exact reason behind this kind of difference. Scientists say that it is all in the genes. But whatever may be the case, I have a strong belief that this is a very special skill which can be developed over time, by practice and perseverance. And so, in order to prove my point, I have decided to put in a serious effort and dedication to learn this skill (or art).

Considering that my current skill set level prevents me from clearly distinguishing between baby pink, pink, fuchsia pink and mauve, or between purple, violet and lavender, I understand that the path is not easy. But then I am trying! Believe me, I have already started!

And by God's grace, it wont be long before I "truly" start enjoying the colors of life!

Baby, I want you to me mine - Forever!

The 1987 classic Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, is a film which has helped me greatly in understanding "ethics".

Ethics, in my opinion is all about the "right" choice and I strongly believe that every human being should strive to make this "right" choice. Ironically though, I am a person who is eternally confused about what is right and what is wrong. For example, many a times I find myself trapped between "duty" and "welfare"; I don't understand whether I should do my duty even when the end is not good or whether I should sacrifice my duty for the sake of "welfare"; for "the greater good". I cant figure out what is right - "duty" or "greater good".

These are the moments when I remember Baby (Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing). I remember Baby ... for what she is ... for what I have always wanted to be. I remember her compassion and dutifulness to help Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) with abortion. I remember her steadfastness and defiance when her father wrongly forbids her to meet Johnny (Patrick Swayze) and his friends. I remember her selfless act of courage when she confesses to have spent a night with Johnny in order to clear him of charges of theft. I revel in the climactic elation of hearing the most famous lines - "Nobody puts Baby in a corner"; a reward for Baby's devotion towards the "right" choice, towards "duty". These reminiscences of a memorable heroine show me light in dark places. They reinforce my faith in "duty". They help me finding what is "right".

Baby has been the deus ex machina of my life till now. I just hope she continues to be so -Forever!

Real Madrid - the next European Champions?

The humiliation of 6-2 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Barcelona in early May and the pain of watching the L'equip blaugrana triumph at the Stadio Olimpico was a clear signal as to what was going to happen at the Bernabeu - a complete overhaul.

Led by the mercurial Florentino Perez, Real Madrid seem to be taking not just the right steps, but giant leaps towards fulfilling their ambition of European glory which has eluded them since 2001-02. Real Madrid now posses arguably the most "offensive" attacking line-up in club football with magical Kaka and charismatic Christiano paired up with evergreen Raul and the young powerhouses Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema. They have a very solid defense in the form of Spanish internationals Ramos and new signing Albiol, the impressive Pepe and the promising Torres (of the Miguel fame). And then they have, in my opinion the best goalie in the world -Iker. But the actual area of concern is MIDFIELD - the area where matches are won.

The Los Galacticos of the triumphant 2001-02 season were packed with midfield geniuses in the form of Zidane, Figo and Makélélé. The guile of Zidane and Figo and the defense of Makélélé were one of key reasons for the success of the Los Blancos. But that is not the case right now. The current midfield comprises of the 'expendable' quartet of Dutchmen (Sneijder, van der Vaart, Robben & Drenthe) along with the hugely impressive Gago and disappointing Diarra (Lass). Is this the midfield which is going to stop the terror wreaked by Xavi & Iniesta, Carrick & Anderson, Lampard & Ballack and Alonso & Mascherano? Definitely not. At least that is what it seemed from the performance of the midfield in the high profile matches against Barca, Juventus and Liverpool in last season. Perhaps...Perez has learnt from his past mistakes (remember ... Makélélé's flight to Chelsea and the fall of The Galacticos) and that is why his efforts to sign one of all amongst Fabregas, Alonso and Mascherano.

Real Madrid may be in the driver's seat to boast about the riches which are bound to pour into the clubs due to the second wave of Galacticos, but European glory is still far away.