Honestly speaking it was quite a predictable game. Stoke had 5 across their midfield with one up front. The attempt to stiffle our play worked quite well until Giggs came on. As always we are going to meet teams like this. But always we are not going to leave with all 3 points.

Defence was decent today. Stoke never really posed any problems.

1. But I feel Rio has lost some of his calmness. He was a little jittery today..hesitated a few times. At times, he simply kicked the ball out of play.

2. Vidic and Evra were solid as always.

3. Oshea played it simple and got a good goal.

Midfield was a not really spectacular. We had lots of possession but lacked the killer ball.

1. Scholes was his usual..spraying passes all around but he still cant tackle. Might have been sent off even.

2. Fletcher was steady.

3. Valencia should have finished well when clean through. He has pace and does cross well but needs to be more consistent. And hopefully he should realize that his game is very predictable. He needs to add to his game.

4. Nani was a disappointment..totally. He has to take these chances.

5. Giggs = God

Attack looked a little jaded.

1. Rooney worked his socks off.

2. But Berbatov was again a disappointment. He hardly was in the game..never linked up with Rooney..hopefully he has scored and goes on to score some more.

3. I would really like to see Owen start with Rooney.

A decent outing and a good win against a tough side but we need to score more. Goal difference may be very vital this season.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Anderson to leave OT

Anderson statistics for the last two seasons:

1) 2007-08: 37 games played...2 assists and no goals

2) 2008-09: 36 games played...5 assists and no goals

The only thing I remember about his 2 seasons are his dominance of Gerrard and Fabregas and his wonderful penalty in the Moscow final. Time and again, most of us remember his "no senior team goals", games where he has been completely ineffective. It was widely rumoured that with the arrival of Anderson, Fletcher would probably leave. Now, look where Fletcher is and what has Ando achieved in these two seasons.

There is no doubt he has potential to be world class and OT is the ideal stage to achieve that. But will he achieve that potential? Does he have the temperament? As fas, I dont think we can comment on this. He has the potential...the rest will be taken care by SAF and the coaching team.

Now, the main question. Should he leave the club? In my opinion, no. But if he has had a bust-up with SAF then best would be to release him and get another good midfielder. We have a good midfielder in Darren Gibson and Ljajic shows promise as well. But that leaves us short of midfielders because even Hargreaves is out.

If Anderson leaves, then we can get maybe £15 million. A creative midfielder should be our priority. I really want us to go for Sneijder. Van der vaart would be good but my pick would be Sneijder.

All said and done..I really wish Ando does not leave and goes on to realise his potential at OT.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

A flattering result for us. Frankly, not a commanding performance..we have to really pull up our game if we have to get something out of the Arsenal game next week.

Star performers were Rooney, Vidic and Fletcher. Vidic was strong and robust as always. Fletcher was there all around the park and could have got us a goal as well. Rooney was simply amazing and always looked likely to be our scorer. I like his first goal..it was a true strikers goal. Hope he maintains this streak.

Michael Owen took his goal really well. If he remains fit then he can surely hit 15-20 for us this season. But the point is will he get the service.

Nani and Valencia were aweful in the first half..Valencia hardly saw anything of the ball. Nani as always dribbles a shade too much. Berbatov was good..had some good chances..some few good touches as well and if he performs like this every week, then nothing like it.

Honestly, if Berbatov, Nani and Valencia play the way they played in the 2nd half today, then Michael Owen could win his first English league title after 13 years in top-flight football..

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

FA Community Shield: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

It was a game of two halves...United was the better team in the first and Chelsea was simply too good in the second. Defensively we were good just that Oshea allowed Malouda a lot of freedom. Foster was nervous at times but made a couple of good saves.

In the midfield, Fletcher was good while Carrick was decent. Nani scored a good goal but otherwise was pretty much ineffective. Park was again his industrious self. Valencia was a disappointment but he will slowly get better.

Berbatov showed some good touches but otherwise I think he does slow down the game a lot. I hope SAF plays him purely as a centre-forward. Rooney was our best player. Kept running all through and took his goal well. Owen made a few good runs as well.

Penalties...well as always they are a lottery. But Giggs should have taken it better. Evra was harrowed I think but still not an excuse for such a sloppy penalty. I dont understand why Rooney, Owen and Scholes dont take penalties.

On the whole, I think we will have to really step up our game if we have to retain the EPL and win the UCL.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Step-by-step Algorithm to apply for Library Deposit and Caution Money Deposit

The following algorithm should help students of MMS 2009 batch to apply for Library Deposit and Caution Money Deposit refunds.

Step 1: Carry Library Deposit and Caution Money receipts. Library Deposit receipt is green and Caution Money receipt is yellow in color. This is a very essential step; else, you feel like a fool and have to make one more trip. Also, carry your library cards (there are two in number).

Step 2: Go to college (pretty much an obvious step).

Step 3: Go to college office on the ground floor. Wait for the clerks to take notice of you (speaking in Marathi helps). Avoid the time between 1 pm and 2 pm as it is lunch time.

Step 4: The fat man behind the desk will ask you to make an application in the name of Director requesting for a refund of the Caution Money. Form for Library Deposit refund is available in the library.

Step 5: Prepare an application in the name of the Director. It should mention your name, course details, receipt number and date, address and contact details.

Step 6: Attach the Caution Money deposit receipt to this application and submit to the fat man.

Step 7: Go to the library on the 1st floor. Again avoid the lunch time. (The lift does not go to the 1st floor.)

Step 8: Ask for the deposit refund form. Fill up the form and attach the receipt to it alongwith the library cards. If there are any fines outstanding, then you will have to pay them (you can negotiate).

Step 9: Taking a Xerox of the receipts and applications is advisable.

Manchester United: 2009-10 fixture list

The fixture list for 2009-10 season has been announced. United play the newly promoted clubs up front and entertain the Gunners in August itself. The entire fixture list is as below:

August
Sat Aug 15 Birmingham City H
Tue Aug 18 Burnley A
Sat Aug 22 Wigan Athletic A
Sat Aug 29 Arsenal H

September
Sat Sep 12 Tottenham Hotspur A
Sat Sep 19 Manchester City H
Sat Sep 26 Stoke City A

October
Sat Oct 3 Sunderland H
Sat Oct 17 Bolton Wanderers H
Sat Oct 24 Liverpool A
Sat Oct 31 Blackburn Rovers H

November
Sat Nov 7 Chelsea A
Sat Nov 21 Everton H
Sat Nov 28 Portsmouth A

December
Sat Dec 5 West Ham A
Sat Dec 12 Aston Villa H
Tue Dec 15 Wolverhampton Wanderers H
Sat Dec 19 Fulham A
Sat Dec 26 Hull City A
Mon Dec 28 Wigan Athletic H

January
Sat Jan 9 Birmingham City A
Sat Jan 16 Burnley H
Tue Jan 26 Hull City H
Sat Jan 30 Arsenal A

February
Sat Feb 6 Portsmouth H
Wed Feb 10 Aston Villa A
Sat Feb 20 Everton A
Sat Feb 27 West Ham H

March
Sat Mar 6 Wolverhampton Wanderers A
Sat Mar 13 Fulham H
Sat Mar 20 Liverpool H
Sat Mar 27 Bolton Wanderers A

April
Sat Apr 3 Chelsea H
Sat Apr 10 Blackburn Rovers A
Sat Apr 17 Manchester City A
Sat Apr 24 Tottenham Hotspur H

May
Sat May 1 Sunderland A
Sun May 9 Stoke City H

The fixture list could obviously change because of Carling Cup, FA Cup and UCL matches.

Am glad the drama is finally over...thanks a lot for everything Christiano. Hope you have success in La Liga.

Now for the £80 million that we get for him: we need to buy a winger and a striker.

Ronaldo's stats for the last 3 seasons:

1. 23 goals and 20 assists
2. 42 goals and 8 assists
3. 26 goals and 8 assists

So in 3 seasons, he hit 91 goals and gave 36 assists. He accounted for some 27% of the goals we scored in these 3 seasons and was a major factor in winning us some crucial games and trophies. To replace him by one player is impossible. In the EPL, only one player can guarantee around 25 goals every season and that is Torres and he is at Liverpool.

We need atleast two players who together can provide us with 30 goals and 20 assists. I expect more from Berbatov (in terms of goals) and from Nani. Also the midfield will be expected to get more goals. Antonio Valencia is a done deal I guess. He should cost us around £20 million.

We can expect SAF to now go for Ribery or Benzema. Both should together cost around £80-90 million because both Bayern and Lyon are extremely good negotiatiors. I am not quite sure about Tevez being signed as well since he has expressed his desire to leave.

Also, we have to see the economic considerations of Ronaldo's move. Ronaldo was also earning us tremendous revenue in terms of shirt sales and other stuff. Tevez can't get us that much. Benzema as the new face of United would be more suitable to our sponsors.

So we can expect Ribery and Benzema to come. If we are priced out of them, then expect a move for Ashley Young and even Samuel Eto. Both can come for a combined cost of £40 million and then we can splash cash for Tevez as well.

Best of luck Ronaldo...thanks for the memories.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Three fish-eaters (two all-seasons and one selective)

One of my very good friends, Amey Athavale, is leaving for Bangalore on the 14th to sell bread, milk, cheese, butter, and whatever else the portfolio of Britannia offers. He has this desire to eat fish. So we decide to meet up. Another dear friend of ours, Anay Dhoraje, fresh from giving the CFA exam, also joins us.

We meet up at college and immediately start our ritual. Whenever we are with Anay, we inevitably pick on him. I and Athav immediately start on him, his hairstyle, on why he chose not to vote, why he thinks Turkey is a better country than India (Anay, that sucked coming from you) and so on.

We walk till Marine Drive and admire the glorious sunset, the healthy ladies out for their evening walks, and talk in general about our future plans. Athavale declares that he is not the kind of guy made out for relationships or commitments. He boldly declares that he will not marry. I second that…I mean not that I don’t want to marry but I can’t see some girl agreeing to waste her life on me.

We all decide to send our children once they turn 18 on world trips to further their carnal education. Boys will be sent to Pataya and Amsterdam, while girls will be sent to Manali or London at best. By the way, all this comes from Amey.

Then, we make the train trip to Bandra during which most of the talk is centered at TCS bashing – an inevitable topic once two TCSites get together.

The hotel chosen for dinner is Highway Gomantak. It is a very well known hotel amongst Maharashtrians for fish. We let Anay choose the dishes for us. The sad part is that he has to eat a Special Veg Thali. Why? Because today is Tuesday and he does not eat non-veg on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

We question him on his logic and wisely he chooses not to spar with us. He simply does so because his mom told him to do so. We have a hearty dinner and then sit outside on the kattha to do some idle chit-chat.

The parting is symbolic. At the signal outside the hotel, we all go separate ways. The image still lives in my mind…three friends parting, each going their own way to fulfill their own destiny.

But we shall meet again…after all not partings are forever.

Federer does the Grand Slam

I finally saw what I had thought was beyond Roger Federer. I saw him lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy on the Philip Chatrier Court and complete his Grand Slam. He now joins a select group of people who have won all four Slams. Quite an achievement considering the fact that Rafael Nadal was hell bent on denying him that Grand Slam.

There is no doubt he deserved this. For the last 6-7 years he has been the best player in tennis. Some would debate if he is better than Sampras as well. I would reserve judgment on that but now that he has conquered the French Open as well (something which eluded Sampras all through his illustrious career), I think he is better.

Roger Federer is no doubt the best tennis player ever. His icy calmness and impeccable shot selection, the ease with which he outwits his opponents is just way too amazing. I remember seeing him play Andy Roddick once. Roddick was hammering his serves at over 200 kmph while Federer was simply defending them with ease and then proceeding to outplay him totally. I remember seeing the look of total disbelief on Roddick’s face…he was frankly shocked at being so surgically torn apart. And Roddick has never been the same after that.

But the main question is – would he have won the French Open had Nadal been in the final? Now, this is an intriguing question. Against Soderling, Nadal was totally outplayed. But he looked tired and was probably nursing an ankle injury (which might rule him out of Wimbledon as well). Soderling, like many others, was simply a one-tournament wonder. I can bet with certainty that he won’t make it to another Slam final ever again. Against Federer, he just gave up. First set was a farce and he woke up in the second set but then Federer was in total control.

But had Federer faced a fully fit Nadal, he may have struggled to impose himself on the Spaniard. Quite simply, the result would have been different. Maybe Federer would never have completed the Grand Slam. And I firmly believe that this is Federer’s first and only French Open (provided Nadal does not lose again).

Roger Federer will never beat Rafael Nadal in the French Open…

Tummy Ache

I wake up today early morning clutching my tummy in pain…there is a piercing pain that I just won’t let me sleep.

Now, if one thing that really scares me the most of all ailments is tummy ache. I remember when in school, a tummy ache would mean no school and a trip to the doctor. He would prescribe white pills and pink syrup and lots of rest, which meant skipping homework as well.

Rewind to today, I try to throw back my mind to the last time I had a tummy ache. But my memory fails me…maybe 5-6th standard. I can’t care less…I have more painful matters to attend to right now.

I wake up my mom whose first question is what I had eaten the previous night. I put the answer on hold and wake up my sister. I tell her that my tummy is aching and her answer is quite original.

“Go to the doctor.”

Now that is exactly what I have done. I mean my sister is a doctor. But I guess she knows I must have eaten something wrong and in due course the pain would subside.

I try and sleep but visions of appendicitis enter my mind. I see myself being wheeled into the operating theatre and being cut up by a beautiful doctor (this beautiful doctor part was the best part of the vision). I can see myself being advised complete bed rest for 3 weeks. That would mean missing the football every evening. I tell my mom so and she just pooh poohs my worries.

Finally my sister wakes up. Two glasses of hot water and I am alright.

The culprit was identified as jackfruit. Now, this is my favorite fruit, even above mangoes. And you are not supposed to drink water over this fruit and I had done exactly the same. Hence, the tummy ache.

So now I have to go light on food for the day...sad but better than 3 weeks bed rest.

Football days are here again...

Well, not club football but I get to play daily for an hour or so. There is this Parsi colony that neighbours my building. They have a decent sized ground and the players who turn up are also decent. Some have played national level and a few play for local Parsi clubs.

I am slowly rediscoverng my scoring touch. Since it is not a full ground, we don't play a proper Defence-Midfield-Attack formation. The defence and the midfield are one and the same. Now as for me, long spells of not having played have slowed me down. I had also lost my scoring touch. Normally, I am pretty much reliable in the box but of late even simple tap-ins eluded me. The only thing that remained was my positional and game sense.

Hence, for the last year or so, whenever I took to the field I would play as a sweeper. Taking the ball out of the defense and initiating attacks was what I did. There is a sweetness in seeing your through ball or slide rule pass being matched by the striker's run and the cool finish past the keeper. However, being a sweeper means that I could no longer play up as I had to put in my fair share of defensive work as well. Hence, the goals dried up but the assists kept racking up.

However, for the last few days that I have resumed playing, I have started making direct runs into the box and also trying to get at the end of a move that I start myself. It does leave my team a bit vulnerable at the back but what the hell...

I want to feel that long forgotten joy of sliding the ball past the keeper and wheeling away in celebration.

Manchester United Transfer Season 2009-10

As Sir Alex Ferguson takes his yearly vacation, he already must have asked David Gill to start drawing up a blueprint for what acquisitions to make for the next season. United’s campaign this season has been completely based on a strong squad with quality as well as quantity. SAF would definitely look to strengthen the squad further, weed out certain deadwood, and some loan deals as well.

So who will come in and who will go out. Let me highlight the areas where I feel United need to strengthen.

1. Goalkeeper:

Edwin van der sar is 40 now. He had a pretty good season setting records along the way but much of that was down to Vidic and Rio ahead of him. I can’t remember him making any match-saving saves but he was good between the sticks. He still is dicey when it comes to collecting crosses and corners but his distribution has been good and he does have the awareness of a top class keeper.

Ben Foster has been tipped to be the No. 1 for both club and country but his chances have been restricted to Cup and easy games in the league. He has been good whenever called upon but has had a lot of injuries as well.

Thomas Kuszczak will leave this season or maybe get loaned out. He has not featured much this season and is clearly behind the above two.

I feel we need a good world class keeper, someone in the mould of Smeichel. Obviously they don’t make keepers like that nowadays. The only keepers who come close are Iker Casillas and Gigi Buffon. Casillas won’t leave Madrid but Buffon would. However, he would definitely come expensive but he has a good 9-10 seasons ahead of him. Seems a fruitful investment.

Outcome: A world class goalkeeper needed.

2. Defence:

No problems in the centre of the defense. Both Vidic and Rio are perfect and Evans is a good understudy. Wes Brown can chip in as the fourth choice central defender.

There are four right-backs and three left-backs. The problem is with the LB position. If Evra gets injured or suspended, then Oshea gets shifted there or Fabio gets a game. So far, Fabio has shown potential but he has not completed a single game for us. And Oshea is versatile, gets the job done but can’t attack at all. Ritchie De Laet has shown potential and I think he will get more first-team chances next season.

Outcome: No buying required but injuries should be kept in check.

3. Wingers:

At present the wingers that we have are: Ronaldo, Park, Giggs, Nani, and Tosic. This will be the last season for Giggs and even then SAF prefers to use him centrally and not on the wings. And he really is not as fast as he was. Ronaldo is quite often used as a striker. So we have Park and Nani as genuine wingers with Tosic to slowly get blooded into the team.

Park we all know is creative and can run up and down his flank whole day. He puts in a shift equal to two players at times. But he is not a goal-scorer and neither that much of a creator. SAF primarily uses him as a defensive winger. Nani is a waste actually. He has honestly not justified his price tag. He creates very little and can only score some really spectacular goals. He does provide a lot of crosses but otherwise has done little. I think he is out of Old Trafford this season.
Hence, we need a genuine winger, someone who can replace Giggs. Tough ask and very few such wingers around. The first name that springs to my mind is Aaron Lennon but then again he is a right-sided winger and we have Ronaldo there. So we need a genuine left-sided winger. Stewart Downing fits the bill perfectly I think. There is also talk of us signing Antonio Valencia but again he is a right-sided player.

Outcome: Left-sided winger needed. Stewart Downing is the only candidate I think.

4. Central Midfield:

Here is where the major problem lies. We have the following midfielders: Carrick, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Anderson, Scholes, Gibson, and Possebon. Lots of midfielders infact.

However, Scholes, Gibson and Possebon will make very few appearances and Scholes may even leave. Hargreaves seems to be perennially injured and might not be fit before January. So that means we have three fit central midfielders with Giggs used as well.

Now, Carrick and Fletcher are typically the defensive midfielders who shield the back four and have done so superbly this season. Fletcher was solely missed in the Champions League final where Xavi and Iniesta were left totally free to do what they do best. Anderson is the only attacking central midfielder that we have. He has shown glimpses of his talent but is nowhere close to Scholes. True he has age on his side but then Scholes showed what he was capable of at quite a young age itself.

More than someone creative, we need someone who has character in the midfield. Someone like Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, someone who would have tackled into Xavi and Iniesta and showed some direction. United looked out of depth in Rome. Had Keane been there he would have hauled up United by their shoe-laces. Sadly Giggs or Carrick are not in that mould.

Outcome: I was hoping United would go for Kaka. He is the perfect attacking midfielder that we needed but it seems Madrid will have snapped him up by the weekend. I don’t see any signings in this area. SAF will allow for Anderson to be developed as our creative and driving force.

5. Strike force:

Our present strike force is composed of the following: Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck, Macheda, and Manucho.

Tevez is definitely leaving. Rooney is automatically the first choice striker and I sincerely hope that SAF stops playing him in that defensive role of a winger. There is no more creative and with exceptional vision in the United team than Rooney and I hope he is allowed to exercise that to the fullest.

The problem is Rooney and Berbatov both are the same. Both like to drop deep, get the ball and create attacks. Neither is in the mould of Andy Cole or Ruud van Nistelrooy that is, neither is a poacher. And we desperately need a poacher. Someone who can score out of nothing. Of the remaining three, I think Manucho fits the bill as a poacher. He is a strong lad and good in the air as well. I expect SAF to give him more first team games. Macheda and Welbeck will also feature prominently.

The biggest lost is that of Tevez. Rooney is susceptible to injury so we need a back up for Berbatov. The immediate name that springs to mind is Karim Benzema but he would come very expensive, upwards of £35 million. But he would be a good acquisition.

Outcome: A striker will definitely come. Benzema seems to be the only option but I would love a shock move for Samuel Eto.

Football transfer season: Part II

Continuing with the transfer sagas. Here goes the next part.

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Barcelona, Real Madrid:

This is funny one. Ibrahimovic has been touted by his coach (Jose Mourinho, who else) as the world’s best player. Yeah, right. There is no doubting his talent. He is quick, strong in the air, can score outrageous goals but is still a big game bottler. He hardly turns up for Inter’s big European games. Against United, he was simply outclassed by Vidic and Rio.

His club president says he is worth some 60 million euros. Honestly, for someone who has never contributed in Europe, he is not worth that much. But it seems Barcelona and Madrid are both interested in his signature. Madrid I can understand. They are interested in all the big players. I honestly can’t understand Barcelona going for him unless they dispose of Samuel Eto, which I think would be a big mistake. He no doubt would fare well in the La Liga but I think Madrid is where he will land up.

Likely Outcome: Won’t leave

2. Cesc Fabregas and Barcelona, Real Madrid:

I hope Cesc leaves. He is my favorite player in the Arsenal side. And at Arsenal, he is not going to win anything unless Wenger gives up his project and injects some much needed experience into the side.

Cesc is a true delight to watch. He is not physically the biggest but as a passer of the ball, there is only Xavi and Iniesta for company. He reminds me of Paul Scholes in his younger days - someone who would play simple one-touch and then make the run into the box. And he is still young, just 21. He has a long way to go. I have this fantasy of seeing him at United but that will remain a fantasy only.

He is a Barcelona youth product. Wenger poached him from there and turned him into the superb midfielder that he is. But he still remains a cule by birth. Unless Arsenal beef up in the summer, he is potentially staring at another season without anything. Arsenal play really pretty football but there is no end product. Cesc is their captain and driving force but I think he should realize that this current Wenger project won’t take him anywhere. On the other hand he does have age on his side. So he can wait for another season or two.

In case he does move, then it will always be Barcelona. To go to Madrid would be a betrayal and he would never do so.

Likely Outcome: Won’t go, atleast not this season.

3. Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid:

He has been for me Liverpool’s player of the season. He and Mascherano. Without these two playing ahead of the back four, I don’t think Gerrard, Kuyt and Riera would have got so much freedom to move ahead. He has an incredible passing range and a good shot.

Last season he was almost sold to Juventus. But then Aston Villa did not give up on Barry and so Liverpool were stuck with Xabi. But he has put in a wonderful performance this season and now Benitez is saying that he is going nowhere. If he does go, then it is to Madrid. Some reports say a £25 million deal has been sealed but I doubt it.

If he leaves then Liverpool have to find someone to replace him. And at present there is no one like him who is available. Even Gareth Barry can’t replace him (he might sign up for Manchester City).

Likely Outcome: Won’t go.

4. David Villa and Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona:

He is an exceptional striker. Not a poacher but he does have his fair share of poached goals as well. He is fast and has an exceptional touch and vision. He has consistently hit the 20 goal mark in La Liga and is pretty good in Europe as well.

The financial crisis at Valencia is very well documented. They are a club who are direly in need of finances to keep them functioning. Hence, it is natural that other clubs will circle around like vultures. Their prize jewels are Villa, Silva, and defender Albiol. Also, Valencia have not qualified for the Champions League.

Villa himself has denied that he wants a move away from the Mestalla. But Valencia may have to cash on him now and I think he should move. He won’t be winning much there. As again, Madrid are interested. Barcelona have shown fleeting interest. Chelsea have courted him for 2 seasons as Abramovich thinks he is the kind of player who will add flair to them. Liverpool are also a shoe-in as Benitez might just try and replicate the Torres and Villa partnership at the club level. But again, Liverpool playing with two strikers is very rare.

Likely Outcome: Will go. Valencia will cash-in. Most likely destination is Chelsea or Madrid.

More to come later. And as I post this, it appears Manchester City have completed the signing of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa for £12 million. Nevertheless, City won’t be burning up the Premier League. Another mid-table finish for the Citizens.

Football transfer season: Part I

The football season is over. I have to wait till August for my weekend dose of football. In the meantime, it is that time of the football season when huge, and sometimes, obscene amounts of money exchange hands. Yes sir…it is the transfer season.

Every year we have these transfer sagas. They stretch on and on. Even after the transfer window shuts they refuse to go away. So let us have a look at some of the sagas that could take place (or are already in place) this year.

1. Christiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid:

Madrid we all know is in dire straits. They lost their last 5 games of the season, were humiliated by Barcelona at the Bernabeu, and were whitewashed by Liverpool in the UCL. They are no longer the power houses that they were in Europe. They still remain Europe and Spain’s most successful team but for the last 5 seasons have looked completely out of sorts.

Now that Florentino Perez is back at the helm, we can expect a new galactico era. He wants big names at the White House. Ronaldo’s desire to play for Real is well-documented. Does he want to go? Does he want to stay at United? Is there an agreement already in place with him and United? No one knows. Honestly, I would want him to go. All this transfer drama is simply not the worth it. Sell him and get the £70 million.

Likely Outcome: Won’t go

2. Carlos Tevez and Manchester City, Liverpool, Totenham, Inter Milan, Real Madrid:

This is a transfer saga that United could have done without. Tevez has been one of the best performers over the last 2 seasons. His dedication and effort for United cannot be debated. But as Sir Alex Ferguson put it, United is dealing with a company and not a club.

Tevez’s economic rights are owned by a company. They are asking United to cough up some £25 million for him, which is an obscene amount. Negotiations are on and so on. But Tevez himself does not want to stay. He has not featured in the big games this season and has mostly warmed the bench. Some of his press conferences must have surely not gone down well with Ferguson.

City lead the chase for his signature. They have all the money in the world but can’t give him Champions League football. Liverpool also look a likely destination but Tevez would be wary of going there. At Liverpool, he will be second to Torres and Benitez never plays with two strikers. Totenham would be a step down. Inter Milan look like an ideal destination as they have a lot of Argentine players. Real Madrid is the last choice I would think. If Madrid fail to get Ronaldo or any other striker, then they could move for Tevez.

Likely Outcome: Will go. Knowing Ferguson, Tevez will definitely go abroad.

3. Kaka and Real Madrid, Chelsea:

One of my favorite players. I still don’t understand what he is doing at AC Milan. It is time he understood that Milan is an ageing behemoth. Their entire squad needs overhauling, from back to front. How long can you depend on Inzhagi (he still does score a lot but he can’t last an entire season) and an ageing defense (now even Maldini is gone)?

Kaka can still light up the Serie A. He can create and score. But he needs to win things as well and should move on. Madrid (again) and Chelsea lead the chase. Madrid because, well, they are Madrid and Chelsea because they can afford his transfer fee and his wages and also, Carlo Ancelotti is now at the Bridge.

In the winter transfer window, Manchester City almost pulled off an audacious move by signing Kaka but better sense prevailed. However, I hope he moves this time round. I would love to see him at United. He is the perfect attacking midfielder that we need right now. But wishful thinking. Unless Ronaldo goes, we won’t have the required funds.

Likely Outcome: Will go. It is 51-49 to Madrid.

4. Ribery and Barcelona, United, Madrid:

Ribery is one of my favorite players today. He is skillful, tricky, has got explosive pace and most of all, he does create a lot. He is a simple player unlike the prima donna called Ronaldo. Sadly he is at a club that won’t do him much good. Bayern Munich did not win the German league this year and were destroyed by Barcelona in the UCL. I can’t see Ribery winning anything in Europe with the Bavarian giants.

Barcelona are the best suited to get him this summer. He will seamlessly fit into their style of play. But then he would also fit into United as well. This is provided Ronaldo goes. Madrid stand a chance as well because Zidane has been appointed as an adviser now. I somehow feel Barcelona would be the best for him.

Likely Outcome: Will go. Barcelona.

More to come later…

Favorite 25 Hindi movies

And very predictably, I come up with this one.

1. Sholay
2. Guide
3. Pyaasa
4. Jab We Met
5. Andaz Apna Apna
6. Deewar (old one)
7. Amar Akbar Anthony
8. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge
9. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
10. Abhimaan
11. Jewel Thief
12. Golmaal (the original one)
13. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron
14. Swades
15. Lagaan
16. Rang De Basanti
17. Dil Chahta Hain
18. Chak De! India
19. Anand
20. Roja
21. Ghayal
22. Dil Hain Ki Maanta Nahi
23. Satya
24. Vaastav
25. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Heights of vela-giri I must say…

Favorite 25 English movies

Another random post with a random order.

1. The Godfather – Part 1
2. Casablanca
3. Roman Holiday
4. Gladiator
5. A Beautiful Mind
6. Sleepless in Seattle
7. Notting Hill
8. A Few Good Men
9. Black Hawk Down
10. Blood Diamond
11. Forrest Gump
12. French Kiss
13. LA Confidential
14. Munich
15. Rocky I
16. Serendipity
17. The Truman Show
18. Remember The Titans
19. Departed
20. North By Northwest
21. Goodfellas
22. Raging Bull
23. Taxi Driver
24. An Officer and a Gentleman
25. Saving Private Ryan

I think I am aping Facebook…God knows what will I come up with next.

Favorite 25 books

I could not think of any other post…I started to write about why United so horribly lost yesterday but then I have had umpteen discussions over the phone and other social forums. And since I just got done reading a book (Anything for you, ma’am by Tushar Raheja), I decided to put this one up.

I have been an avid reader since childhood. I love fiction and mostly spy thrillers. So this list will definitely be dominated by those kinds. The order is random.

1. HMS Ulysses – Alistair Mclean
2. The Godfather – Mario Puzo
3. Five Point Someone – Chetan Bhagat
4. Day of the Jackal – Frederick Forsythe
5. Kane and Abel – Jeffrey Archer
6. The Class – Jeffrey Archer
7. Anything by P.G. Wodehouse, especially the Jeeves and Wooster series
8. Love Story – Erich Segal
9. The Day After Tomorrow - Allan Folsom
10. Bourne Identity – Robert Ludlum
11. Harry Potter series
12. Maximum City – Suketu Mehta
13. Three Men In A Boat – Jerome K. Jerome
14. The Last Frontier – Alistair Mclean
15. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – Agatha Christie
16. Thirteen at Dinner – Agatha Christie
17. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
18. Count of Monte Christo – Alexandre Dumas
19. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
20. The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
21. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold – John le Carre
22. Talkative Man – R.K. Narayan
23. The World of Nagaraj – R.K. Narayan
24. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea – Jules Verne
25. Tell Me Your Dreams – Sidney Sheldon

Manchester United vs. Barcelona

25 minutes to kick off...a battle between two footballing institutions...two clubs who play football the way it should be played...

I pray it turns out to be a great game...with lots of goals and attacking play.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Over and out...

25 Year Timeline: Part II

Sleep as usual evades me...so much so that now I am afraid of even trying to sleep. Nevertheless, part II of the timeline of my life...

1. August 2000: Joined Ruia College for FYJC…it was a seamless move from school to college. Frankly seemed like an extension of school life minus the uniforms...
2. April 2001: Got 62.5% in 11th standard….my lowest percentage ever (well, till that point it was the lowest…later on I became adept at just nudging the 60% barrier). Hardly remember anything of these 2 years in junior college...spent most of the time away from college and made some great friends for life.
3. May 2002: Got a good enough PCM score and secured admission to DJ Sanghvi COE in the Electronics stream. It was the best choice I ever made. I had intended to take up Chemical engineering but don’t know why on the day of the admissions, I selected Electronics ahead of it…wise choice indeed as time would prove.
4. January 2003: Easily made it to the college football team and was soon a regular starter…won zilch in the first year but then was played out of position (not making an excuse here but still…).
5. March 2003: Secured 53% in Semester I…lowest ever but was simply happy with the score of 41, 42, and 41 in some dreaded subjects (although never have I ever needed grace marks to get through in any subject).
6. September 2004: Was selected as the Sports Secretary of the college for the year 2004-05 and was made a member of the Students Council.
7. April 2005: Won the Intra-Class Football tournament with my class - DJ Elex. It was a tournament that we deserved to win. After all we had the best players and played the best football…some of our scorelines were simply amazing…I remember drubbing a team 13-1 or something.
8. August 2005- May 2006: My final year in engineering college. It was my best football season with the college team…we made it 6 finals but converted just one…my performance throughout was decent…lots of assists and every penalty converted.

I aim not to sleep today...seems like a pretty good thing to do...I mean atleast I have something to do

25 Year Timeline: Part I

As said before, here is the first part of my 25 Year timeline...covers my schooling days.

1. 16th May 1984: Born on an extremely wet and rainy Wednesday dawn. Second child to proud parents and a brother to a wonderful sister.
2. May 1988: Gave my first viva at the age of four…answered almost all questions and got admitted to Christ Church School.
3. 1992: First crush - my Scriptures teacher…she was 24, I was 8. She wore minis and I wore shorts…we shall leave it at that.
4. April 1993: Finished top of my class in 3rd standard…never gave up a podium finish till the 10th standard. It is all so meaningless now…
5. 1993-2000: Some of the best years of my life…from hating girls to discovering teenage love to doing crazy things…school was the best.
6. June 1997-April 1998: 8th standard…best year in school. Realized that biology was not all about mucous membrane, liver and kidneys…an interesting subject in more than one ways. Also, went below 90% for the first time but it was worth for all the fun I had…
7. December 1998: Made the move from Pepsi to alcohol…I think it was Kingfishers…not really sure on that but it was great fun. I remember being shit scared when returning home.
8. June 1999-April 2000: Final year in school…some really good times but all good things come to an end and so did this one.
9. May 2000: Secured 90.5% in ICSE Boards…I had slogged for a month and had been written off by most people…but frankly was amazed at these marks. Also, last time I ever crossed the 90% barrier.

Next parts should follow soon...

Sunday boring Sunday

Sporty Sunday turns to Boring Sunday…I can’t watch TV because mom has to watch the French Open (Ana Ivanovic does have beautiful legs…but how long can I keep staring at them?). The game of football that I expected did not materialize. And so I am let with nothing to do but surf aimlessly, play Crazy Taxi, read football sites.

My remedy over boredom is to eat…but after two rounds of paani-puri and mango milkshake I still am bored. I have this really killer craving to have some home-made bhurji but I also have a feeling that this craving of mine will only remain that…an aimless craving.

After endless trips to the kitchen, my mom has now banned me from entering it. My sister has taken up battle-stations near the fridge in case I manage to escape mom. But now I am bored to even go to the kitchen.

So I contemplate sleeping but no sooner does the thought enter my mind, I discard it. I can’t sleep now because if I do, then I shall stay awake the whole night…and it really is not pretty to stay awake till 4 A.M. counting sheep, goats, donkeys, ants till you fall asleep.

Boredom is a slow killer…and right now I feel like I am slowly sinking in quicksand (people will argue that me being featherweight, I would not sink…but I feel like I am sinking and that’s that). I just don’t know what to do…I can see myself, over the next few hours, losing what little semblance of sanity is left in me.

I am now too bored to even continue this post…so I shall cease and desist. Ya, and by the way was nice to see Kimi Raikonnen back on the podium after a long time…Go Kimi go…

Over and out…

Sporty Sunday

Monte Carlo GP, French Open, Survival Sunday in EPL, IPL 20-20 Finals…seems an overload of sports for most but not for me. It is the perfect Sunday to beat away the blues of the week gone. Also, today morning I finally managed to wake up on time to go down and play cricket in my colony (not an easy task considering the fact I was up till 4 A.M. waiting for a message).

However, let’s get back to the cricket. I have never been a fan of the game…simply because football is my raison d’être. I have never played cricket that well…though in school I was a pretty good player of the rubber and tennis ball. The season ball still leaves me cold and scared…

Today after something like a couple of years I went down to play cricket. Two years because on a Sunday I can never wake up before 1 P.M. Most of the crowd was new, enthuastic kids who were eager to please us seniors who had consented to play with them. We seniors meanwhile were just not interested in the game…we had come simply to relive some of our childhood memories, once again go back to being kids.

And so it was great to be back…I played 4 matches in all. My personal scores: 0, 0, 1, and 0. Each time I got out in my usual fashion…a wild and reckless swing of the bat with no eye for the ball…timing all haywire. When playing football, my feet can move with all the grace of a ballerina in her prime but the footwork required for cricket beats me…no wonder I am called the Sadagopan Ramesh of Finlay Towers.

My major contribution, and this is where I really excel, was to sledge opposition batsmen, slowly break down their concentrate, rib them on every false shot, every mishit. No wonder we won all 4 matches on the trot…

Now I await a nice game of football in the evening…when I will be in my own elements, feeling that rush of blood when you have breezed past your marker and have only the keeper to beat…the beauty of seeing the ball nestling in the back of the net...

However, the day does not seem complete without a game of badminton...but then you can't have everything, can you?

A 25 year timeline

I turned 25 a few days back. Hmmm...I have been around for 25 years on this planet. They say you can see your entire life in a second before you die…and that second seems an eternity. I am not dying but nevertheless a few hours after I turned 25, I suddenly felt the need to go through my life…from childhood to adulthood…from wetting bed sheets to falling in love. Surprisingly it was a very pleasant journey…trying to remember some memorable incidents in your life…and trying to put away the memories of the not so good ones…

Life as someone rightly said…is a rollercoaster…it goes up and down…what makes it worth it is how you ride the troughs and the crests (a pretty positive statement coming from someone who is ever the pessimist)...

It is a pretty long timeline and hence am dividing it in parts…should be up anytime soon…

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Manchester United: Champions again

And while I was busy walking around the streets of Bombay and helping out with a bit of shopping, back in Manchester, an expensively assembled team of superstars battled Arsenal for a solitary point that confirmed Manchester United as Champions of England for the 18th time.

We are level now on league titles with Liverpool though they have more European Cups (2 more…) and now I believe this will be Sir Alex Ferguson’s next aim (we have the potential to bring in a 4th European Cup come the 27th of May…just that we have to nullify the a team of Total Footballers in Rome).

I heard Rafa Benitez crib that United were not the best team…I can see Liverpool supporters arguing that they had already won the league when they did the double over us. Strangely none of them want to agree that they were not consistent enough or that they were too dependent on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres (some Liverpool fan told me that Yossi Benayoun will get more better next season…ya right).

So the United juggernaut roles on…three titles back to back. I’ll like to highlight a few contributions here:

1. Sir Alex Ferguson: For mastering the art of rotation and for taking mind games to another level

2. Nemanja Vidic: Simple attitude towards any opposition player…stay out of my f****** box (though Torres owned him at Old Trafford but every good player is allowed a blip or two).

3. John Oshea: Ohh ya some might be surprised to see him at No. 3 but for me he has played a massive role…he has been employed right across the back four and would even play as a goal keeper if needed. If he wants he can leave United for any team and can be guaranteed first team football but he loves the club…and I love him for that.

4. Darren Fletcher and Park Ji Sung: Will sorely miss Fletcher in Rome but Park should be capable of shutting down either Iniesta or Messi.

5. Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra: Carrick for being an excellent shield ahead of our back four and Evra for those marauding runs forward.

6. Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez: Nothing to say here…their actions on the field say it all. Just the sour note of Tevez not wanting to stay anymore at OT.

7. Rest of the team: So many players here actually …Giggs, Scholes, Edwin, Dimi, Ronaldo, Rafael, Anderson, that boy Macheda, Neville.

8. Red Devils: For being the most awesome supporters ever…

Over to Rome, bring us the 4th European Cup...

Glory Glory Manchester United...

Change of name...

Well...I changed the name of my blog. I was tinkering around with the settings and found out that there was no need to be stuck with the earlier name (agentgsn...God, what was I thinking when I came up with that...).

So, I changed the name to: sleepyreddevil

The "sleepy" because I perennially am in sleep mode (trust me, I only appear sleepy and washed out...it actually is not so). The "reddevil" simply because I am die-hard Manchester United fan...will eternally be so.

So, please do note the change in name...

Child of the night...

The bells ring twice. It is a strange, hypnotic sound...a reminder of how deep is the night.

It is 2 AM. I walk to my kitchen window...and stare into nothingness. Outside it is dark and deliciously warm. I can see the workers from a nearby construction site sleeping on the pavement...the taxi-men sleeping with their feet up. It was a long day...and is a long night for me.

Why am I awake at this unearthly hour? Ya, sure, they say Mumbai never sleeps but from my window I can see the city smothered by darkness, enveloped in slumber. Surely people must be sleeping...but sleep will elude me.

I try and listen to the sounds of the night...it is a very silent night. An occasional car goes screeching past, the hoot of an owl and the shuffling of the feet of the night watchman...slowly these sounds blend into the silence. Then, a calmness descends that I can never feel during the day.

They say insomnia is an oasis in which those who have to think or suffer darkly take refuge...but I don't fall in this category (not entirely true but more of this some other time). I believe I simply am at peace during the long hours of the night...a true child of the night.

I think what I have written is crap...Diamond would surely agree (but she would also agree that it is refreshing change from all those Manchester United posts...won't you Diamond??)

A week after the music died

A week has passed since I finished B-school. How fast time flies?

The moment I handed over the answer sheet with the carefully stapled supplement to the invigilator and walked out of the room, I felt a void, a sense of having lost something. The last time I felt like this was 9 years back, when I left school to enter college, when I stepped out from the protectiveness of teachers to get into the groove of bunking lectures en masse.

And now here I was, all of 24 years old, stepping out from a B-school to the real school. God knows what lies in store for me; going by my track…it surely is not going to be pretty.

Well, this last one week has been horrendous for me. Obscene amounts of sleeping (off late even that has come down) followed by an equally obscene amount of watching television or playing idiotic games on Facebook. And yes…those Facebook quizzes. The stupidity of these quizzes is beyond question…I mean one quiz decided on the basis of some answers to some stupid questions that I am Albus Dumbledore. It went on to describe some traits of my nature:

“You are wise, kind and still ready to fight for what you think is right…so just don’t keep too many secrets so when you're gone, people won’t think that you were shady…”

As a good friend of mine would say: "Watevr!!"

The only sense of calm in this oasis of madness has been this friend of mine who is striving hard to maintain my sanity (not that I have any left but atleast I won’t get certified for sure).

Cheers to you Diamond!!! The music is gone and the silence remains…but maybe in this silence I might hear your voice.

Should United sign Tevez?

"Argentina....Argentina"...such chants can be heard from the terraces of Old Trafford quite often. Fans waving the blue Argentina flag can be seen in hordes...the player they cheer - Carlitos Tevez.

Tevez joined United from WHU on a 2 year loan deal. And he was an instant hit with the fans. A bundle of energy, he is never averse from getting stuck in. He always wears his heart on his sleeve...will chase back everything...even if it is a lost cause. He is not a typical No. 9 that is, he really is not your Ruud van Nistelrooy or Didier Drogba but he is something different. He can't play as a target man but can very easily play behind the target-man.

His goal return has been steady...not spectacular but he has got us some really crucial goals. What he brings in is his dynamism...his love for the game...his passion...his endless running around and the fans love him for that. They all want him at Old Trafford...he himself wants to stay.

But the main hitch is...his buying price is £22 million and simply put...he does not get that many goals. Yes, he does put in a tremendous shift everytime he pulls on the red shirt...but is that worth £22 million. Not in my book...no. We have Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to do that dirty job....we dont need a £32 million striker for that!!!

So should he be signed? In my opinion, no...let him leave and knowing Fergie, Tevez will leave for Italy or Spain. He wont be going to an EPL club. I'd love to see him stay...would love to see him give his 200% everytime...would love to see the professional behaviour that Cristiano Ronaldo can learn from...

"Argentina.....Argentina"

The Manchester Derby

It is the Manchester Derby again...the world's most famous club versus the world's richest club do battle at Old Trafford.

Last season City did the double over us...worst was they beat us on the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster. So this is revenge time...

The line-ups are out. United have made several changes from the line-up that massacred Arsenal midweek. Tevez gets a rare start...feel really sad for him. He is such an absolutely joy to watch...chases everything down...even lost causes...scores some vital goals and does not feel scared of getting stuck in. Too bad if we lose him and worst if he goes to another club in the Premiership itself. Sad.

Anyways KO is minutes away...laters.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Steel vs Poetry

I am right now watching Barcelona trying to glide their way through Chelsea's defence....for all their exquisite passing, non-stop one-touch football, good movement off the ball....thay can't muster one shot at Petr Cech's goal...sad.

Barcelona simply does not have a Plan B....whenever Xavi, Iniesta, Messi get the ball, there are 5 blue shirts ahead....tactically Guus Hiddink got it right over both legs and Pep Guardiola for all his philosophy of Total Football, failed to break down these tactics. But he will learn...he has a lot of time.

Both the Chelsea-Barcelona legs were dead football...absolutely dead. Not a single moment of excitement...it was all Barca trying to pass their way through the a wall...Chelsea just kept defending....maintained their shape...but alas to no avail.

As I said before...Barca could not get a single shot at Petr Cech. But they did get one shot and that too on target...Andries Iniesta in the 93rd minute cracks the ball past Cech to put Barca through on away goals.

The end of the match was not pretty with all Chelsea players confronting the referee who did not really have a good game....he gave quite a few decisions against Chelsea and a silly red card.

Anyways....Manchester United meet Barcelona in Rome, May 27th. Hopefully should be a good game.

Manchester United go to Rome...Arsenal go Home

Well...I predicted a 2-0 win for Arsenal but United were 2-0 up in the first 11 minutes itself and added a third in the 61st. Arsenal got one back via a penalty (an absolutely dreadful decision by the referee, I must say) but it was game over by then. So, all United fans...book your tickets for Rome...27th May.

SAF got the tactics correct....played Ronaldo up front to stretch the Arsenal defence. But the goals were from absolute howlers. I wont blame Gibbs, he slipped and there is nothing to do about that but what was Almunia doing there. And some say he should be England's No. 1. Crap!!!

United got the third on a blistering counter...it took 13 seconds for the ball to travel from United's penalty area to the Arsenal goal. Unselfish play by Rooney...he was subdued today but understandable...was one booking away from suspension.

Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher joins 11 players who have missed the UCL finals because of picking up cards in the semis. Scholes and Keane are also part of this unlucky group. Why did he just not let Fabregas go and score...why did he have to make that tackle...why, why, why??

And the answer is that this is how United play....this is what is our philosophy....we wont let anyone score if we can prevent it....and we dont mind picking a card for that

Anyways....we go to Rome...Arsenal go home....all Arsenal fans - "Next year will be our year..."

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Manchester United vs Arsenal: UCL Semi-final

Tonight United and Arsenal do battle at the Emirates for a place in the final of the UEFA Champions League. United are looking to defend the title they won last year after a heart-breaking penalty shootout in Moscow, while Arsenal are looking to win this competition for the first time. United will have a slender lead of 1-0 (thanks to Almunia....he saved the day for the Gunners) to protect.

What makes this game fun for the neutrals is the fact that these are two good footballing sides who really look to play football. Both are going to go for it...Arsenal a little more as they have to score. This will definitely allow United to attack on the counter. Hence, we can expect an open game.

Key players:

United: Wayne Rooney

Arsenal: Fabregas

Looking forward to a superb match. My prediction 2-0 to Arsenal and 2-1 on aggregate.

Glory Glory Manchester United!!!

Year Long Project Viva or is it?

I have my Year-Long Project (affectionately called YLP/DLP/WLP and probably many more variations...) viva scheduled today. To begin with, I must give an accurate description of what is a Year-Long Project.

University of Mumbai states the following objective of the YLP:

"The objectives of the project would be to see that a student does research work in any “Area of Management” related to the field of specialisation."

Basically, we are required to sign up under a guide, select a topic, carry out primary research, come to certain conclusions and then proceed to take viva-voce. All this has to be carried out over a period of two semesters. Right.

Students of MMS-II JBIMS define YLP/DLP/WLP as:

"The objectives of the project would be to see that a student cuts-copies-pastes someone elses acknowledged work in any “Area of Management” even if it is vaguely related to their field of specialisation."

The objectives that we need to follow are:

1. The topic should have enough material to make a 50 page report.
2. There should be enough gas or management terminology to dazzle the interviewer into believing that a fantastic piece of research work sits before him.
3. Revision of the entire topic should not take more than 30 min prior to the viva (for some, the requirement maybe that no revision is even needed).
4. Maximum marks must be guaranteed.

A comprehensive list of requirements is pretty much difficult to compile as they vary from student to student but these 4 form the gist.

As I open my report, I feel proud that my YLP is actually my original work. I have worked for a full 6 months on it. The work done is rudimentary and might not stand a full-fledged viva but should get me through.

Enough said...let me get back to a last game of Crazy Taxi before I dive into the world of "Selection of a Daily Settlement Pricing Methodology for the Clearing & Settlement of Options Contracts".

Till then...

Last exam of my life...

Very funnily I have decided to start posting when I am in the midst of the last exams of my life...through the last 2 years, I never bothered to even check my blog. But somehow while preparing for MCS (Management Control Systems to those who would not know), I feel the need to start posting.

MCS...a subject designed to terrify us innocent students who are just desperate to get our MMS degrees and leave the institute. This subject is a bloody nightmare I tell you.

After 2 years of gassing, I have run out of gas for this subject. Almost all the terms seem alien to me...

I'll try and get back to studying...will keep posting (can't guarantee this but not that anyone will be queuing to read my blog).

I have created this blog a couple of years back...2007 i guess. Never posted anything but now that I am free (well almost free), I think I shall make it a point to keep posting regularly. I define what regularly is.

Something about me. I am an absolute wasted human being. Currently am doing my MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj, Mumbai and searching for a job. Considering the current economic scenario where jobs are at a premium and companies are trying to weed out deadwood, my job hunt seems a tough task.

I have graduated as an engineer from DJ Sanghvi CoE, the best engineering college in Mumbai. Born and brought up completely in Mumbai, I have never been away from here except 2 months at Gurgaon for my internship with American Express (how I still hate Gurgaon!!!).

It is pretty difficult to talk about oneself as I have often found out. I shall skip that part and let my posts do the talking.