FOODBALLER ON THE HIGHWAY

A BIG Liverpool FC fan that comes knocking at the door of every wildlife sanctuary there is, in the quest for pristine natural beauty. I’m a wanderer who loves to cruise along green pastures, snowy mountain tops, lakes and rivers, with a handy sketch book.

[shantanukarnad]

Time To Dump Defenders.

Our previous fixture against Spurs does have Kopites from all over the world stamping an assurance of these players being kicked out of the team. Red fans aren’t just the ones you’d find talking about it, but also the former footballers and experts who are.

In the entire Liverpool squad, we find only 3 experienced centre-backs. Out of those 3, Joel Matip is the only one who you would probably rely on. If you’re on the look out for others at this very moment, you’d only have players like Emre Can or Joe Gomez who come is as makeshift centre-backs. 

In the middle of the post, we have Mignolet and Karius competing for their positions in the starting XI. It seems as though they lock horns against each, trying to be the player who’s able to let in most number of goals. 

Let the players train at Melwood, for their upcoming fixture against Huddersfield on Saturday.  Till then, we could focus on what Klopp is up to. Do we really need to? 

Klopp’s team setup raises questions from all ends of the field. From his uncalled for team selections & rotations in the squad to his last-ditch, eleventh-hour substitutions. Most of the experts their fingers boldly pointed at him. Many want him to take the armband off Henderson, who with his 6 yard passes just walks around the park like a Barbie doll. And most importantly, to make timely & appropriate substitutions. 

After all of this, masterful Carlo Ancelotti has been brought into the picture. Most  Liverpool fans are seen scratching their heads over these frightful fixtures that have gone by, leaving the team with 13 points in 9th position.

Hope we climb up the ladder against Huddersfield on Saturday. Walk on!

*images from Google

[shantanukarnad]

‘Klavan!’ for us Kopites - 15/16

Decorously defended with all the drive & desire, while keeping a bucket of ice on his head. Truly, the best play on the field last night, Ragnar Klavan.

The Merseyside Derby began with the much needed flair, which did go on till the very last minute of the match. The first half saw Everton grab hold of the ball, but without a final-third finish. But that lack of finish, we must be courteous to Estonian Red wall, Ragnar Klavan.

Image: Klavan bullying Lukaku away from the goal.

As we all saw, Klavan built up a wonderful partnership with Lovern, throughout the 98-minute long fixture at Goodison Park. Both defenders did elicit utmost flair, something we all look forward to in the Merseyside derby.

Now, if we turn our heads away from the defensive aspect, Klavan was a player who built up the game in quite a spectacular fashion from the back. He wasn’t found clearing the ball in a cowering manner in the game. He showcased his calm, cool-headed style of play at the back, something that Liverpool truly required in defence.

Here, we put forth his stats that leave our eyes wide open out of astonishment. 

100% tackles won, 7 clearances, 3 interceptions & 1 block. He did stir in a well-deserved remedy for a clean-sheet in a derby.

On a whole, he’d surely be paired with Mane as the man of the match. Wonderfully clean tackles, interceptions, deep-lying playmaking & more.

If we look forward to all the other upcoming fixtures, each Kopite would fancy having Klavan paired up with Joel Matip at the back. This would set alight the sturdiest defensive wall in the Premier League. And with Lovren on the bench, we’d have the much needed depth in the squad.

We now look forward to seeing the same level of drive & determination, not only out of Klavan, but from each player in the squad.

Let us ‘Walk On’ with utmost mastery, vigour & flair.

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’

[shantanukarnad]

India’s Junior Hockey World Cup Victory

Youngsters strike open a flourishing future on the field of hockey.

What we all noticed today was quite spectacular, especially for all us Indians in the stands & in front of the television. The match struck off in quite a propulsive manner on both the ends, but India were the ones who got the penalty corners inside the first few minutes. But poor trapping of the ball got the better of the opportunity that they received, and gave Belgians the much needed time to breathe away the pressure.

After 8 minutes of passing, interceptions & tackles came the moment that got each one of us off our seats. Yes, India scored the opener just after 8 minutes. A wonderful long ball created it all, after which Gurjant Singh made the most of his presence in the circle with a wondrous strike from the acutest of angles. This one sure rises on top, as the goal of the tournament.

Indian players were on the field, holding on to their possession on the ball as the minutes flew by coming close to the half of the game.

And just 5 minutes before the referee blew his whistle for the half, all the fans in the stadium blew out their support & passion for the 2nd goal of the match. It was Simranjeet Singh who netted it in on the 30th minute of the match. That goal was one that truly defied tactical passing & technique.

The Indians stood tall as they walked into the dressing room at the half.

The second half started with a menacing drive on each of the Belgian players’ faces.  But the Indians too were up for it, & never leaving themselves on the back foot in the match. The Belgians did barge in on the other end, but the Indians managed to keep the ball out of the circle. And as they defended, they did sprint forward on the break, with a handful of counters. This was the scenario each one enjoyed till the last minute.

But in the last few minutes, the Belgians put in all the effort for a goal. All the way till the last few seconds in the match. That ultimately led to a penalty corner in the last half minute of the match.  And as we looked at the other end, celebrations had already begun in the Indian side of the technical area well before they even took the penalty corner.

The first penalty corner was blocked, which led to another one that brought them a consolation on the score sheet.  A 2-1 was the final score that got the Indians their moment of glory, one they were working hard for since the year 2001. The Junior Hockey World Cup Champions they are.

Each of the players from both the teams got their medals on the stands in the middle of the field. And the Indians held the trophy high with all the passion & pride, a sight for all us Indians to cherish forever.

(But there was a scene that had question marks & exclamations hovering over our heads. Why were the ministers only the ones on the stage? Where were India’s former hockey stars or other sportsmen? And why were the set of players with the ‘man of the match’, ‘top goal scorer’, ‘best goalkeeper’, etc., given light-pocketing cheques. We sure do look at cricketers on the field walking back home with heavy pockets. So why not the hockey stars in our nation? These questions have never been answered, nor have they ever been worked upon.)

Let us all wish for a flourishing future for all the young stars.  Jai Hind!

[shantanukarnad]

A RED led story of Success

A tantalising Thursday in Manchester ended as Liverpool defeat United on an aggregate 3-1 score line, being the first English team to do so on a European night.

Liverpool with a 2 goal lead, the referee blew the whistle to start the match. The game kicked off with an action-packed aura that brought about immense pace & physicality among all the players on the field, not to leave the technical area behind that had a similar semblance.

As time ticked on, Man Utd took the lead around the half an hour mark as Nathaniel Clyne brought down Martial in the penalty area. The one who was brought down stood up straight for the spot-kick that got United the lead. A goal that had both teams toiling in for a higher aggregate score line. But it wasn’t long before Philippe Coutinho’s magic had Liverpool leap higher up the ladder. He scored the goal on the 45th minute of the match, with the Red team walking down the tunnel with satiated spirits.

Moving on, the spotlight was not only shed upon Coutinho, the player whose goal & creativity had all Red fans off their seat in the stadium and on the sofas back home. In this fixture, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren stood high as a defensive wall. Sakho’s presence inspired not only the fans across the globe, but also other footballers and experts who saw the match. Kopites would only wish for such kind of a performance in every fixture.

James Milner stood strong at left-back. Although it might not have been his favourite position, he certainly did work his socks off in a splendid manner.

The midfield had Emre Can, Adam Lallana and Henderson in the park. Emre Can’s defensive attributes were clearly visible during the match. Numerous tackles, clearances and other deeds in front of the defence brought about an array of appreciations. And supporting the forward was Adam Lallana, who had the ball stuck upon his foot. Forsaking his ability in the final third of a situation, he did bring about a handful of crosses and crucial through balls.  

As we’re about to blow the final whistle here, Divock Origi, who replaced Sturridge, was among the substitutes who stepped in and made his presence felt with a few shots on target and other attacking runs. The other two were Joe Allen and Benteke who replaced Henderson & Firmino respectively.

And with 2 minutes added on beyond the 90, the referee blew the final whistle that saw Liverpool progress into the quarter-finals of the Europa League and being the English team to beat Manchester United in a European tournament.  

~ You’ll Never Walk Alone ~

[shantanukarnad]

A Crowning Comeback with a 6-0 goal win! Aston Villa Vs. Liverpool, 14th Feb 2016.

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 6-0 at Villa Park as Coutinho, Sturridge and Origi marked their presence with goals & assists. A staggering comeback! 

A Sunday shone its way in England with a handful of EPL fixtures that left eyes wide open across countries & continents. And this certainly was one of those. Liverpool, in all white, walked out the tunnel alongside an Aston Villa squad who had left their fans with cleanly bitten nails.

As time ticked its way forward, the Reds showcased class with clean passes and good movement off the ball. Stars like Sturridge and Coutinho were back on the field and did blend in well with the rest of the squad. Sturridge had his dancing shoes on as the first celebration started in the 16th minute. Coutinho forged in a spectacular pass for Sturridge to head in the first goal of the match. 

In the 25th minute, Coutinho won a free-kick. After a few discussions, James Milner was the man who struck the ball with absolute precision. The ball flew straight into the net without touching any head or foot along the way. The scoreboard had 2 goals for Liverpool as confidence levels kept climbing higher & higher by every passing minute.

The referee then blew the whistle for half-time as a durable defence, a steady midfield and an attentive attack brought about a full-fledged team performance by the Reds. A tactical up & down must have run off the minds of the managers and into the players’ minds during ten minute breather down the tunnel.

The second half then kicked off. The same teams stepped onto the field, passing the ball around and attacking both sides of the field. Well, Aston Villa did pull their socks up but weren’t able to tie their laces tight enough & in adroit fashion. It only gave way for Liverpool to pile up a lot more pressure & to pin up goals on the scoreboard. And that’s exactly what they did.

In the 58th minute, Emre Can shot in a screamer from outside the box to add the third one. And just before we could look back into our watch, Coutinho’s through ball had Origi sprint out for another one from just outside the box and in the centre of the goal, in the 63rd minute.

The stands did flash about contrasting fans. As we spoke about biting nails earlier, there was nothing left to bite on. Villa fans were frustrated to a great degree, as most of them marched their way out with teases and taunts. At the other end, travelling Kopites were excited and jumping off their seats with claps & shouts of joy.

Their shouts only got louder in a couple of minutes as right back Nathaniel Clyne bagged in another for Liverpool. A fifth goal it was for Liverpool in the 65th minute. In a cluttered box outside the goal, he shot in with his left foot. We then welcomed the 6th goal in the next six minutes. Current captain, Jordan Henderson struck in a corner that was headed in by Kolo Touré.

And then came in Benteke, as a substitute. His presence, as always, was sloppy unlike that of the other two, Kevin Stewart and Divock Origi. And just like Mignolet at the other end, had and could do nothing on the field.

And Liverpool then played around the park in a fairly pleasing manner, knocking the ball around for the remainder of the match. The referee blew the whistle four minutes after the 90, signalling a sparkling 6 goal victory for Liverpool. They are now ranked 8th with 38 points, just behind West Ham.

Liverpool will now face Augsberg in Germany on Thursday, for their Europa League knockout tie. Let’s just wait ‘n’ watch!

[shantanukarnad]

Adolescent Ascendancy at Anfield. Liverpool Vs. Exeter City, 21st Jan 2016.

Jurgen Klopp had his young, tinkered Liverpool side trot out the tunnel to wind up the Wednesday night at Anfield in victorious fashion. A heavily-changed Liverpool side hosted Exeter City for the 4th round replay of the FA Cup. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was the only player off the last fixture who held his place in the team. Brannagan, Stewart, Illori, Texeira, Randall and Smith, joined other youngsters along with Benteke and Jose Enrique.

Joe Allen had his named pinned up on the score sheet, ten minutes after kick-off. Scoring from close range, the unlikely scorer did raise eyebrows. The first-half ended with the Reds leading by a goal, as the players flew around the field with passes, tackles & shots on goal.

The second-half saw Liverpool march on towards the Kop end. The first substitution saw all the fans up loud & on their feet as they welcomed Jon Flanagan in. This young star had been off the field for a colossal 619-day period, due to an injury.

Time ticked on with lots of action as Jordan Ibe hit the crossbar with a stunning left-foot strike coming in off the wing. Sheyi Ojo then came off the bench for Liverpool, showcasing his presence with a scintillating left-footed strike, straight in the back of the net. This beautiful goal made him the youngest scorer in the FA Cup, for Liverpool.

Moving on, Benteke’s conversion rates did coin in numerous questions over fans & experts. But he did make his presence felt with a clinical pass for Joao Teixeira, the one who struck in the 3rd & final goal.

This fruitful fourth round finish only puts forth one clear fact. This young squad does give rise to a blend of flair and technicality. Having them framed up with regular first-team starters in weekly fixtures would flare up options for tactics in every field & sphere.

Now, we only wish to see the Reds’ players & manager pull their socks up higher to achieve similar results in the league & other tournaments.

[shantanukarnad]

City Stumble over RED Rumble. Man City Vs. Liverpool, Nov 2015

Showboating Sambas and a Skrtel stunner ended Saturday night football with flair, allowing Merseyside Reds to go back home from Manchester with 3 huge points.

After paying tribute to the community in Paris, the match between Manchester City & Liverpool FC kicked off by the 17:30 hours mark. Both sides step onto the field without a 100% fit squad. Both teams had their first team players back home, but each of them had their share of good news.

The match started with Sergio Aguero on his toes up front, backed up by a decently sturdy squad. A similar scenario was mirrored by the Reds, but with a squad that had no out-and-out striker.

A few minutes passed by as City supporters had their hands whacking upon their foreheads, thanks to an own goal scored by City defender, Eliaquim Mangala. But Liverpool stood up higher only to scrub salt upon their injury by scoring another, off a counter-attack. New signing Roberto Firmino was the man to assist with the scorer, to the supporters’ excitement but not surprise, being Phillipe Coutinho. 

We then witnessed vice-versa at the half an hour mark, with the scorer turning provider & new boy Firmino adding into his directory, his first goal for the club.

Flair then flew around the field till the 45th minute. And just before the referee could blow his whistle to end the first-half, Sergio Aguero showcased sheer class with a spectacular strike in the back of the net, leaving the crowd up on their feet & with hope in their heart.

Back after a breather in the second half, Liverpool kicked-off toward the other end of the field. And at the very beginning of the half, Manchester City brought in a couple of players in the form of Fabian Delph & Fernandinho, who replaced Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure respectively.  

Well, that didn’t have the boat rowing any faster for the Blues. As the game went on, Sergio Aguero also signalled for a change due to an injury that looked like a sprain around the sole. Players then passed, crossed, tackled and dribbled around. In the midst of it all, James Milner did seem like he wanted to go bat his former team, with a miss pass that had the ball at the feet of former Red Raheem Sterling. The team somehow did manage to clear the danger.

In the last ten minutes of the match, Skrtel showed his substance with a stunner in the back of City’s net. Very rarely do we see defenders smack in such volleys. This was the last eye-opening action of the fixture. The final whistle was then blown by the referee, which was followed by shouts & flying scarves.

This match clearly showcases the difference in Liverpool’s style of play, courtesy of Klopp’s appointment as the manager. The smooth passing style of football brewed alongside pressing play, and drenched in with sheer confidence only brings about positive results.

[shantanukarnad]

Reds left Red-faced at Old Trafford. Man United Vs. Liverpool, Sept 2015

Another week goes by where the Reds go back into the tunnel with their heads down. Losing to Man Utd at Old Trafford brings about a woeful weekend, and with Rodgers still managing the team is an insult to injury.

As we focus onto the action on field, the Liverpool line-up drew in millions of question marks. Why was Sakho left on the bench? How on earth could Lovren & Lucas start? And why was Danny Ings placed on the wing? He should have started up front alongside Benteke, with Jordan Ibe on the wing.

Moving on, the 3-1 scoreline has Kopites wish for only one thing. For Rodgers to be sacked. How much longer would we have to wait for this to take place? What are the American owners waiting for?

[shantanukarnad]

Scaled school days saving snakes!

Scouring the greener parts of the city and admiring every element of nature has always been my passion. 

 Here’s sharing my story with our slithery neighbours. My father, Nikhil and my uncle, Niranjan have been rescuing snakes for more than 30 years now. And they open the doors to freedom not only for serpents, but for all creatures in our neighbourhood. From bats to owls, lizards, mongooses and more, our phone started to ring the minute one saw someone yell at the sight of these.

Saving snakes & other furry friends did become a responsibility that came knocking at our door in a customary fashion. Instances like saving the Indian python from the Aarey Colony saw us being helped by the stablemen to pull the creature out of the wood stack. Similarly, being bitten by a Dhaman (rat snake) while rescuing it has its own charm. After being rescued, most of them are released in their natural habitat at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Some are released in their habituated surroundings i.e. the greener areas of the society. This helps them with their quest for prey which makes survival much easier.  

Peeping back into my school days. During the vacations, I was awaiting my friends’ arrival when a watchman came running my way yelling, “Naag aaya, Naag aaya. Tere baapu ko bula.” A wide smile sprung up on my face since my dad had zoomed off on the motorcycle to the other side of the city. And this reptilian moment had me slip into my slippers to save the cobra. I sprung up on the site with my snake hook. And there was a ten year old trifling with the binoccelate cobra. After a few jumps and laughs, caught him by the tail and put him into the capturing bottle. I was then welcomed home by a furious mother who seemed more venomous than the little cobra in the pouch.

Turning pages, we moved forward splashing into local streams saving keelbacks to their venomous cousins in the seas, the kraits and many more. And our efforts gave both, our neighbours in the society and in the wild, a push of pacification.

Nurturing nature to glorify greenery is what we look forward to and is what we will do till the very end. Let us light up our living planet, making the Earth a sphere of solidarity. Here’s sharing a photo of me (10 years old)  with my father & fellow wildlife rescuers releasing a Russell’s viper at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. 

[shantanukarnad]

Hammered at Home, by Rogers. LFC vs West Ham AUG 2015 - Match Review.

Last night was a Saturday for all Scousers to forget as Liverpool suffered a disastrous 3 nil home defeat to a travelling West Ham. An impressive performance against Arsenal last week was totally overshadowed at Anfield by the Hammers. 

Numerous defensive bloopers led to the goals, with Dejan Lovren on top of the error ladder. And the referee was on field to sprinkle a bit of salt on the injury by incorrectly sending off Coutinho. Another red was again flashed inappropriately at West ham captain Mark Noble. 

But it was the sidelines that were stared at by all the Scousers at the final whistle, having all their fingers pointed at Rodgers. His tactics had question marks hovering all over. From the team selections to the formation and his style of play, every bit of it was capsuled by the Hammers on the field of play. The substitute bench had Sakho and Moreno, who were fitting candidates for the starting 11 in the team. And the desultory Rodgers started the team with the likes of Lovren and Lucas, while placing Coutinho and Firmino out wide and Jordan Ibe on the bench once again. 

The manner in which Liverpool passed the ball around didn't showcase any sharpness. And Benteke was upfront without any off the ball movement. To get the ball in the back of the net, one would have to start the game with strikers like Danny Ings or keep hold of pacey wide forwards like Lazar Markovic. Peeping ahead into the upcoming fixture,  Liverpool will be without Coutinho against Manchester United, thanks to the referee. And a couple more fixtures in this fashion for Liverpool should see  Rodgers counting his days at Anfield on his fingers.

[shantanukarnad]

Goalkeeping Galore at the Emirates. Arsenal Vs Liverpool, AUG 2015 - Match Review.

Monday night football saw Gunners' fans and Liverpudlians holding on the their seats at the Emirates as Arsenal hosted Liverpool to a match that ended a goalless draw. And this time it was the goalkeepers who took all the credit by pulling off a host of wonderful saves. 

But it was Petr Cech who stole majority of the spotlight with his commanding presence on goal and in the 16 yard box. The first half of the match saw Cech save numerous attempts that were shot at the goal. Christian Benteke was quite off-colour last night but his compatriots like Coutinho, Milner, Firmino and other midfielders did have the Arsenal defense on their back-foot. But Cech never did lose his footing, coming up with amazing saves that kept the ball out of the net. And Coutinho's curler would surely come in as the headline in the news. 

Heading into the second half, Wenger did tinker with his tactics that saw Arsenal dominate possession and add to their attacking game that saw the Liverpool defence storm back into position. This is where Simon Mignolet had to tighten his laces as shots and crosses kept coming in from all angles. He wasn't as troubled in the first half. Here he did make a few stunning saves that would quite rightly answer his critics by the goal. But an all-attacking Arsenal did, on numerous occasions, have to face the  counter-attacking Reds. But Petr Cech always had his antennas pointed upwards and was ready for every attack. The second half of the game kept both the keepers on their feet and ready for action, ultimately watching the referee blow the whistle at 90 mins for a 0-0. This fixture at the Emirates certainly was a draw that drew in viewers from around the world. 

Well then, keeping hold of a world class goalkeeper is a lesson to be learnt by all. Now let's gear up for the upcoming fixtures that'd see Arsenal visit St.James' Park and Liverpool roll out the Red carpet for West Ham.

[shantanukarnad]

Roger claims 7th Cincinnati Open Title

Roger Federer conquered the courts at Cincinnati by beating world no.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

The first of the two sets saw each of the stars holding on to their service, taking it to a tie-breaker which saw Federer win the set 7-6. And this match brought back the best of Roger Federer that showcased an array of unbelievable shots on the court by the champion. From services to down the line shots, cross-courts, volleys and more, he had every viewer with their eyes open out of astonishment. The end of the first set gave the players and their fans a bit of a breather.

Federer smashed in a sparkling start to the second set that saw break Djokovic's serve in the following game. Moving on, Federer added to the list of aces in the match and broke other services by the world number 1. And speaking of world number 1, Federer for the first time beat a world number 1 to win a tournament. He then broke 2 games with a host of stunning winners while strongly holding on to his serves. This saw the set end at 6-3, making Federer the 7 time champion.

Federer waved up a very friendly goodbye with Djokovic, and stepped onto the stage for the trophy along with a speech that sparked up a million smiles.

Image source: Google

[shantanukarnad]

Saina Sweeps Silver:  Badminton World Championship 2015

Today's final saw Saina Nehwal take on world no.1 Carolina Marin in the Badminton World Championships in Jakarta. And this match saw Saina become the first Indian ever to reach the finals of the tournament. But the final day frenzy saw TV screens being turned off in India as Saina Nehwal was smashed off to secure second spot in the tournament, making Marin a consecutive gold medalist.

Turning our attention to the action on court, we saw Marin claim victory in straight games. From killer smashes to precise drops, and murmuring madness, her positivity was what got her on top. The other end of the court saw Saina play on the backfoot. With most of her shots being pointed right at her opponent and just a handful of smashes in the entire match, she did look out of form and did not pose much of a threat for her opposition.

Keeping racquets and shuttles at a distance, Saina certainly was at her behavioural best as the match umpire had her eyes on the Spaniard as Marin did create a bit of a racket. But that commotion only showcased a positive spirit.

Well, we conclude by stating that Carolina Marin was a worthy winner world champion. But, as we look back, Saina should have locked horns in a fierce yet strategic fashion. Congratulations Carolina, and better luck next time Saina.

P.s. I do not claim to own these images. They are sourced from Google.

[shantanukarnad]

Stoke City vs Liverpool FC,  AUG 2015 - Match Review

The start to a new season saw Liverpool travel to the Britannia Stadium with their set of new players. But the sight of the players walking their way out of the tunnel was what got all Scousers with gloomy eyebrows. Yes, it was Jordan Henderson who led the team out onto the field. The Reds’ iconic captain Steven Gerrard was gearing up for his match in the US. Gerrard’s absence is something that’d pinch the heart of every viewer before kick-off, and would certainly intensify after the final whistle.

Turning our heads to the action on field, Liverpool and their fans certainly are happy to have taken the three points in glorious fashion. Phillip Coutinho was the star of the match as he dictated play throughout the 90 minutes of the game and pulled the curtains down with a sensational screamer into the back of the net. Looking away, Brendan Rodgers would still have a bit of answering to do. From the line-up to the style of play, and the substitutions, today’s match saw quite a few ups & downs in the game.

Glancing at the game play, Benteke looked sluggish as he didn’t anticipate passes or look up and play. At the back, Lovren and Skrtel didn’t look settled as partners. Watching Emre Can in the second half, I would have wanted him to start the match. Also, Robert Firmino’s presence in the second half did sprout about a bit of positivity in play, which could see him claim a starting spot in the upcoming matches.

  To conclude, Liverpool did showcase a decent style of play, considering it’s their first match of the season. But according to me, Brendan Rodgers should place players in the starting line-up in their preferred positions to bring out the best in the players and three points. Also, tinkering with the formations should be avoided and a steady one should be placed for the upcoming fixtures to maintain & ascend the good run of form.

Image Courtesy: LFC Fan page.

[shantanukarnad]

Feeble Federer Final

The Sun set with Djokovic claiming his successive Wimbledon Title, claiming it for the third time in his career. And to add the icing on the cake, he conquered the court by beating Wimbledon wizard Roger Federerin a 4-set thriller that left every fan in the stand and in front of the television with open eyes and mouths.

But the question that sprung up in every viewer’s mind is, ‘what happened to the Federer who was packed with a positive grunt for the past two weeks of the tournament?’ The finals showcased a shadowy performance from the former world no1. From weak shots to services that lacked slice, Federer tried slicing through his own shield with an array of unforced errors.

But the Swiss legend still stands tall with 7 Wimbledon titles to his name. And aged 33, his performance at the All England was nothing short of spectacular, and we could still expect to see him conquer courts for a couple of more years, with the US Open just over a fortnight away. Signing tennis balls, diaries with photos and pages on his way out, Roger did have the stands sharing smiles and waving odes of luck.

Well, opening my personal diary, I’d mark him in the semis of each of the grand slams considering his fitness levels at present. How far do you think he’d rally his reign in forthcoming grandslam? Come on, smash in your predictions!

P.s. Image Courtesy: theguardian.com

[shantanukarnad]

Mornings at Merwans

4 am on a misty Saturday morning is when I pull up my socks in the blink of an eye and take off for a tongue-tingling journey to Grant Road.

I, along with a couple of friends, Akash & Neeraj, stand by the bogey door stirring up an appetite for Merwans. “What’d we have last time? What’s new? Let’s not leave the place till our tummies pop out!” Conversations start drooling by every passing station, till the time we step foot upon the Grant Road station. 

Ah, there it is. The B. Merwans Bakery, right in front of the platform and a sight to sink into for every passenger passing by. A vintage aura enveloping the heart of every onlooker, the ambiance here sets the mood right for monumental mornings on a plate. From old-fashioned marble floors to well-polished classic furniture that give the attic the cold shoulder, B. Merwans is a spectacle to savour.    

Marching our way into Merwans, we subtly pick our spot on the table.  Glancing at each other and then at the waiters, we put forth our choices off the menu. With tea being a quotidian sipper, we start our day with a towering glass of Bournvita. We then pair up this chocolaty classic with an array of morning munchies. From omelettes to bread ‘n’ butter to piquant Parsi delights, B Merwans never ceases to satisfy us. Panning away from these delights, we turn our heads to the staff that make mornings delicious for us. From the owners to the cooks, waiters and other breadwinners, each pedestrian who walks in is welcomed with the widest of smiles.

Well, biting our way back onto our plates, we just cannot brush aside the element that makes B. Merwans a favourite in the city. Yes, the utterly delicious Mawa Cakes. Nobody books the tickets back home without devouring these delights. Oh, and they don’t wave goodbye off the table. We board the train back home with a luscious luggage. Bags overloaded with these baked delights, members at home sit tight with a massive appetite.

And here comes the icing on the cake! The taste of today with an outlay of yesterday! All of this while keeping your pockets full.

[shantanukarnad]

Scintillating Sikkim, Feb 2015

With the sun’s rays shimmering off the pristine layer of clouds by the snowy mountains and a shed in the frosty woods that comes right off a story book, the escalating East never ceases to enthral.

Honking through the market place and onto wide green pastures along the misty slopes, every curve and corner in perky bogeyed toy trains will have you adjusting your camera lenses for the perfect shot. 

So what are you waiting for? Go book your tickets! I did, and boy was I left spellbound. This is Sikkim at its best.