Chelsea-Premier-League-Title-Celebrations

The Year of the Blue – Why 2010 is Chelsea FC Greatest Season Ever!  

 There is a difference between Mourinho’s Chelsea and Ancelotti’s Chelsea. The difference lies in the fact that this team goes in for the kill! Never before has Chelsea Football Club scored 7 goals in one match three times and 8 on the final day. The difference does not end there, while Jose Mourinho loved the limelight, Carlo Ancelotti is the Real Deal! Chelsea FC win their fourth title and are on the verge of a historic Double. Something Chelsea Football Club has never done before.  

It is time to open the bottle of Chianti and, loosen the tie and take a look at the top three reasons why Chelsea FC won the English Premier League season which was also the first season of Carlo Ancelotti as manager of the Chelsea Football Club.  

 The Champions of England – Chelsea Football Club 

John-Terry-Captain Chelsea Football Club

In the years after Jose Mourinho, Chelsea FC agonizingly watched Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United become champions of the Barclay’s Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. There was always something thing missing up front – a hungry, aggressive and creative striker. The midfield was packed with the likes of Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. But they needed a new strategy, they needed goal scoring maneuvers on the pitch that had been missing for some time. And after 2009 FA Cup triumph, in walked Carlo Ancelotti. The former AC Milan manager who spoke less but is considered one of the most brilliant minds in the business. The Chelsea FC supporters and the Chelsea FC players welcomed the great manager and embraced him immediately.  

It is under Ancelotti’s diamond formation that Chelsea FC players dominated the first half of the English Premier League season. The performance saw Chelsea FC tickets being sold out for every game at the Chelsea FC ground – Stamford Bridge. The formation was perfect for Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole. It unleashed a new strike formation which was perfect for Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka. No previous coach could get the two play lovers on the pitch before. Ancelotti found the perfect trick. And Chelsea FC fans loved it.  

Chelsea FC Reason 1 for English Premier League Triumph  

The 30 goals from Didier Drogba, the 20+ goals from Frank Lampard and able support from Nicholas Anelka and Joe Cole up front. Didier Drogba’s devastating form and some crucial goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford, two amazing solo efforts against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal Football Club and of course the Liverpool snatch at Anfield football ground It is his unpredictable but match-winning performances which won us the title.  

Chelsea FC beats Manchester United - The Epic Clash

Chelsea FC Reason 2 for English Premier League Triumph  

The 2009/10 English Premier League season saw John Terry’s personal life splashed all across the tabloids. However the Chelsea FC players rallied around him and even won a match without him. It showed the Chelsea Football Club’s strength in character and their belief in themselves. The ability bounce back after defeats against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge and against Inter Milan at the Champions League saw a resurgent Chelsea FC players.  

The Chelsea FC players smashed 20+ goals in a matter of few matches and won all the important away games. 

Chelsea FC stand at the cusp of a historic double which the club has never achieved. They are facing Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup Final 2010. They won the FA Cup last year

David Cameron could not quite nail the Obama trick of change. As United Kingdom wakes up to a hung parliament for the first time since 1974. In 1974 a Conservative government failed to win a majority in the UK General Elections which lead to a second UK Election in October ’74. A second UK General Election 2010 is impossible to think of under the current circumstances. The recession recovery has just started in the UK and with Greece debt collapse barely a few weeks ago, the Conservative Party will be hoping for a national reconciliation and support from either Nick Clegg Liberal Democrats or other independents.

David Cameron - Is he the next British Prime Minister

The latest UK General Election news clearly suggests a hung parliament and no clear winners. That was not the case a month ago where David Cameron and the Conservative Party looked as comfortable winners of the UK General Elections. So before we get into what happened – Lord Ashcroft influence,

Gordon Brown’s likeability factors, Nick Clegg’s debate performance or was it something more? Something that has been overlooked.

The UK General Elections Results are still coming but the indications are that the Conservative Party will hold just over 305 seats in the British Parliament. They would surely fall short of the 326 majority needed to win the UK General Elections. There have been several high profile Labour election candidates that have lost their seat including Jacqui Smith who was the most face of the controversial of expenses claims scandal. Mr. David Cameron appeared for the camera with his wife looking quite satisfied but it hides his disappointment over not securing a majority.

The Liberal Democrats – Nick Clegg disappointment!

After the hoopla of the first UK 2010 General Election debate where Nick Clegg seemed to have confirmed his place as a rising star of British Politics. The results of the party have been very disappointing. People really don’t know too much about him in the national stage and therefore he has not succeeded in making a huge impact in the UK 2010 General Elections Nick Clegg has admitted disappointment and has said that David Cameron must form the new British government.

Gordon Brown – The End of Labour Era

The beginning of the end for Gordon Brown and the Labour Party started when British politics was hit with most humiliating political crisis for a century. The politicians expenses claims hit the Labour Party most and led to resignations of prominent Parliament MPs and cabinet reshuffling. He knew that the odds were against him in the British 2010 General Elections. However, Labour has managed to control the damage which had predicted political candidates losing over 150 seats from previous UK General Elections. The next few hours Gordon Brown will refuse to step down as the British Prime Minister and will try to forge an alliance with others. But his end is near and it is time for him to give up his clout and make way for new Labour leadership like – Ed Ball or David Miliband maybe?

Gordon Brown - The outgoing Prime Minister

What about David Cameron?

The reason why David Cameron has lost his control over the 2010 British General Elections is that he does not have a concrete answer to serious issues like the pull-out of British troops from Afghanistan and the British Economy recession recovery, It is quite obvious that Cameron’s rhetoric and flamboyant speeches have fallen short on delivery. The British people are not convinced that he is ready to be the Prime Minister.

Does Barack Obama want David Cameron or Gordon Brown. In politics a status quo is better than change. And Barack Obama would prefer Gordon Brown as he knows Gordon Brown.

Chelsea conquers Old Trafford

“It is only the dead who have seen the end of war.” – Plato

Drogba drives the nail into the coffin of Manchester United

The battle is won, wounds are healed, the sand is dusted, faith in leadership is restored, and the Red Devils are defeated as their fortress is captured! But now the War begins. For too long we have been denied victory, living in the shadows of the Red! The glorious years under the Special One haunt our memory ever since he returned to our Bridge and broke our hearts. For too long our enemies have walked free, for too long we have looked up to the heavens to seek answers for our lost victories.

But now after waiting for 5 years, five long years that brought us glory at Wembley and heartbreaking despair in Moscow; our moment has come. The healing starts now! If the Blues make it a “Double” it would finally released our captured souls.

Chelsea 'Till I Die - TRUE BLUES!

The last time we beat the Reds it was a flick by our leader and it seems we have come full circle when our brilliant little foot soldier’s immaculate touch created a moment of magic. The two men between him and the white chalk did not even move. The world had slipped in between their legs.

So when our General, Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea Manager sent in the Dark Evil Prince striker Didier Drogba, victory was only a matter of time. The swift legs forward and the cut to the right, created the space for his ferocious blow that tore through their final defenses.

Even though the Red monster deceived us with a violation of the rules; as the final hours came to an end, The Blue army held on to deservedly emerge victorious

We have five more battles before we reach our destiny. We have to win every single one of them. Only then can we win the war!

Chelsea Glory - Our Time Has Come!

We’ve paid our dues, Time after time; we’ve done our sentence, but committed no crime. And bad mistakes - We’ve made a few. We’ve had our share of sand kicked in our face - But the time has come to “Go” through

(With due apologies to Freddie)

I think we should take a moment and think about that night in Moscow. The night Terry slipped and the Van Der Sar went the other way.  It took us a long time to get over that. Even after the penalty shoot out at Wembley to win the Community Shield and the Terry flick inspired 1-0 at The Bridge – somehow the victory today means a lot more.

Let’s just forget that Wayne Rooney is not playing! It makes a difference to them not to us. Rooney or no Rooney, we are playing Old Trafford in a match that decides the EPL season. Carlo Ancelotti has beaten Fergie when he managed AC Milan. The victory at San Siro in 2007 was achieved in just 35 minutes of fiercely attacking football. Ancelotti had Kaka and an in-form Clarence Seedorf. Today he has an unpredictable Didier Drogba whose last few embers are burning enough to take him over the summer transfer market.  Somehow Nicholas Anelka has learnt to complain in vain like Drogba, but unlike the star from Ivory Coast the Frenchman lacks vision and accuracy at the box. There in lies our biggest problem.

It is time to give Joe Cole 90 minutes with our player of the year Florent Malouda whose pace and creativity produces scoring opportunities.

Come On John! Lets Rock Old Trafford Tonight!

This brings me to our El Capitan, John Terry stands alone. He stands not as a wounded lion roaring for blood but as a shadow of a man who used to be the king. Tonight he can change all that as he protects and guides our back line. He needs his powers back. One man who could win it for us is Frank! Frank can prove that he is ready to take over from his mate come next season. He is ready to be the lead actor and not just the winner of many supporting acts.

So for all you Blues fans –

We Roll Tonight to the Guitar Bite

Stand Up and be counted for what we are about to receive

As the Blues are about to Rock – we salute You!

Priyo’s Take:

We will WIN tonight. We deserve to win the EPL title! God Bless Chelsea!

Impossible is Nothing!

So today we celebrate the coronation of our beloved King!

At age 37, after 21 years in international cricket, scoring an astonishing 30,000 runs in both forms of the game, Sachin has achieved what many thought was impossible.

The double century against South Africa at the Gwalior One Day International was a masterclass. He was conducting the symphony orchestra and the South African bowlers were his musicians. He has created cricket history and a world record; as he is the first man to have ever scored a double hundred in a one day international.

Sachin Tendulkar has played some legendary innings in his career. The two centuries against Australia in Sharjah, the double hundred at Sydney, the 96 against Pakistan in South Africa, the Chennai hundreds against England and Australia to name a few; but today is his crowning glory. His amazing ability to play critical innings at difficult and important times for his team is what makes him a class of his own. Bowlers all across the world have spent many evenings and nights licking their wounds after a Sachin thrashing. Legendary Aussie spinner Shane Warne even had nightmares of Sachin dancing down the wicket to hit him for a six. We saw the look on Shoaibh Akhtar when he was hit for six in the very first over during an unforgettable day in South Africa.

Sachin has conquered the world. But he has conquered it with humility and respect. To watch him play is one of the great privileges of life. I have watched him get a hundred in a test match in Chennai against the all mighty Australians; I will never forget what I felt that night. I thought of my life before that day and how his batting lifted my spirits like it does for everyone, how scared I was when he was in his nineties like everyone else, how much I prayed for him to reach the century and how I shared that moment with the rest of 42,000 people at Chinnaswamy stadium when he hit a six to reach his hundred. It was both nervous excitement and a pure joy, like being kissed for the first time, like being free.

Sachin bats for us, he bats for the people of India, he bats for the working classes, he bats for the children who look up to him, he bats for the memory and teachings of Ramakant Achrekar, he bats for his family, he bats to give us hope, a hope for a better life, a hope where anything is possible if you work hard and remain true to yourself, he relieves us from our daily lives as we pray to a television set for his success, more importantly he bats for his captain, his team and his country; but Sachin never bats for himself.

Feb 24, 2010 is the day when he has again made us feel proud to be an Indian. Tonight as we celebrate the first man to achieve a double century in one day internationals lets again pray that our little master carries on for many years to come.

We Love You - Long Live the King!

Belly of the beast!

We need intelligence on the ground. We need money and a complete infrastructure to deal with this problem. It’s not the foot soldiers who we are after, it’s the big boys.

Its Hafeez Sayeed, Maulana Masood Azhar, Dawood Abrahim, Memon brothers and any ISI top brass who supports this anti-India terrorism.

I don’t have anything against the people of Pakistan; its civilians are also the target of many terrorist attacks in the last few years. The snake which they fed, trained and radicalized is now an uncontrollable monster within. But that’s not our problem. We want the terrorism to end. And it can only end if we take it their backyard! No more peaceful protests, no more tears on TV, no more 24/7 news channels giving breaking news of an attack, no more the victim. Our peaceful dialogue approach is taken as a sign of weakness. Our patience has run out.

Taj Aftermath

The Solution:

Going to Pakistan and kidnapping these people and bringing them back to India for a trial is next to impossible. But just imagine the reaction, the fear in these people that the next time they attack us, India will respond. They should fear our reprisal, our wrath! If we cannot kidnap them then assignation is the only choice. But we need strong leadership and infrastructure to do something like this. No body in the Congress government strikes to me as someone who can do be this leader. Narendra Modi in Gujarat might be too extreme but he is the best we have got. Problem is that he is not a national leader and only a regional player enjoying his own celebrity status. We need an ex- army or maybe JK Dutt the person leading the NSG at the time of Mumbai attacks. See if they can do it, so can we. It will take time and we have to sacrifice but it will make us strong. They don’t fear us. This will make them tremble. We have on ground support in Balochistan, something which we can take advantage of. This is not about religion, this is not about Hindu vs. Islam, and this is about protecting our people, our citizens, and our children.

PRIYO TAKE:

If we need peace in India we need to start the war on terror in Pakistan!

Lower - thank you!

Why do men cheat! No one has any idea – maybe because sometimes the wife forgives easily. Look at English Footballer and Chelsea superstar John Terry, after so many discretions in the past his wife Toni Poole has forgiven him again for his latest affair. 

So the news is that Toni Poole has taken John Terry back!  Lucky for John, he just mind end up the captain again for the world cup. I mean anything can happen right? 

Here is my take on the entire “much ado”  

Toni Poole: I think you are making a BIG mistake! Firstly you are allowing JT to humiliate you publicly, the world now judges you as the ideal WAG! A gullible, money grabbing dependent fool! You have never worked in your life and fear taking on the world on your own. I understand there are kids involved but please for God sake wake up! You can get a good divorce lawyer and carve up JT’s wealth and live pretty well. After all you are legally his wife. But you are too dependent on being a silly little WAG. You love that title, don’t you? I mean the recent pictures from the pool side in the fancy Dubai hotel canoodling up with JT is making the tabloids laugh at themselves. Its like nothing ever happened and the family values are intact. He got Vanessa Perroncel  to do an ABORTION! Do you realize what that means. He was selfish enough not to use protection which could lead to God knows what! He of course never thought about you when he started the affair and do you know why- because he has done it before and you have let him off the hook. He knows you are just a stupid doormat! I am sorry to say this but you make women look stupid. I am happy to say that than God all women are not like you! And by the way your family- is probably telling you that this is the right decision, don’t you get it why? Why because JT earns 175,000 pounds a week; 

One for the tabloids! JT and Toni

John Terry: Well mate! I truly respect you as a Chelsea FC football player. You are a Stamford Bridge legend! Your talent and leadership abilities is one of the reasons why Chelsea is one of the worlds top clubs. But judging your personal life is well – like some people say not our business. If  football players were judged according to their personal life I a pretty sure there would be no English team! Right from George Best to the 70s Chelsea, everyone has had the “jack the lad” lifestyle. But this brings me to a very important question – is a leadership position as much about your character or is infidelity overrated. It is acceptable when it comes to actors or musicians, it is even acceptable when it comes to sports stars – case in point Kobe Bryant; but not acceptable when it comes to politicians! 

So in the end – JT get back to London soon and ensure Chelsea wins silver wear – maybe then the affair would be forgotten but never forgives. 

Ok so maybe he had an affair, or maybe he didn’t. But that is something for him and his wife Toni Poole to work out. In terms of tabloid prosecution, well here in lies the danger for the team. We are on top of the League,  we are staring Inter at San Siro in a few weeks; all this stuff will not only be a distraction for John Terry but for the rest of the team and Carlos Ancelotti as well. Chelsea took out a statement saying they will support him. But if this becomes an issue, I am afraid John has let his team down and of course himself. Come on John, not now! not ever!

Anyways, lets just wait for a few weeks. This is not the first time and it won’t be the last time. But our boss Ancelotti has a real problem in his hands. This is Terry we are talking about, he is our Leader, our inspiration. I think the team better have a frank talk with him. He should apologise and just put it behind him. His personal life – well that is upto his wife.

Now about the game, frankly we were awful. So much possession but no real venom. Joe Cole did well for the ball to Molouda who did exceptionally well to keep it at play and Anelka was good enough to slot it in. We could have killed the game off, but we were complacent. The equalizer, Alex at fault, was our wake up call. Joe Cole netted but was offside and then some good saves by the Burnley goal keeper. In the 82nd min John head home from a corner. His body language during the celebration said it all. It was down and subdued.

Hope it all works out

PriyoTake: I am really worried, I pray this does not affect the team. We have bigger thing to worry about. If John Terry has to stay away and solve his personal life, well then he better go away now. We need to plan ahead of time. This is crunch time in the season. If not which is what I am hoping for well then – a few million Chelsea fans ask his wife to forgive him!

The AIDS/HIV virus was first discovered in the early eighties among the gay community in New York and California. Prompting it to be called as the Gay Cancer and therefore provoking a lot of prejudice against the gay community. Perfectly healthy men were falling ill suddenly with a acute virus which the doctors were having a tough time to deduce.

In 1983, researches in France’s Pasteur Institute were able to isolate the virus which was then confirmed upon detailed investigation that in fact it does relate to the outbreak of the AIDS Virus. And by the end of that year nearly 35 countries confirmed to have the virus which was only believed to be in New York and California

In 1984 a French Canadian flight attendant by the name of Gaëtan Dugas dies of AIDS related disease. He is considered by many as Patient Zero.  He is allegedly responsible for single handedly spreading the disease among the gay community to an estimated nearly 2,500 people.

By 1990, more than 1 million people had been affected and now the world is waking up to this monster. The Western countries start to use a triple cocktail of vaccine hoping to contain the virus, but in a few years it is clear the AIDS virus has the ability to mutate or “hide” in the body and therefore it can never be completely terminated. By the beginning of 2000 nearly 31 million people have been affected.  The US Food and Drug Administration in 2004 approve the first generation of HIV medicine. India surpasses South Africa as the world’s largest HIV population.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, after 28 years and billions of dollars in research, we are as close to finding a cure as we were back in 1981. This is a global pandemic which can effect anyone, anywhere in the world and no one is safe. Data shows that even wearing a condom only gives a 80% safety if the partner is effected with HIV. Therefore, prevention is the only way to go. If you love your partner, get yourself tested for HIV/Aids before taking the relationship forward.

Elton John: The Last Song

Barack Obama: The promises of a lifetime

After the global euphoria over Barack Obama’s rise to the most powerful job in the world, the perfect inauguration and the now famous dance with the First Lady Michelle Obama over Etta James eternal longing love song “At Last”, it seemed the world had fallen in love with the First Black President of America. The world believed in his words, his love for equality and peace, that charismatic smile and of course the good looks! The legendary “Yes We Can” speech which still lives fresh in memory, Obama was quickly becoming the new JFK of Internet generation.

From Day 1, the unparallel global media attention over his every move, political pundits predicting the dawn of a new world, everything seemed to be going well. Even people like Bill O’ Reilly, the right-wing Fox commentator, was impressed and gave him a cautious thumbs up!  His inner circle – Robert Gibbs became White House spokesman, Rahm Emmanuel – the White House Chief of Staff, his best friend and “soul mate” David Axelrod becomes his Chief Advisor. The former First Lady and his main rival for the democratic ticket Hillary Clinton becomes the Secretary of State.

And let’s not forget Mr. Vice President – Joe Biden whose gaffe prone image was the perfect foil for the straight talking Obama! So what happened?

The first glimpse of a rookie administration started when there were goof ups on appointing a Treasure Secretary. Senator from South Dakota – Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination because of not paying taxes. He then roped in Timothy Geithner, who again was investigated due not paying taxes. But the polls forgave him after he appeared on Anderson Copper 360 and said he was sorry. I have never heard a head of state say “sorry”. Public support was vaguely back. The Obama spin machine’s constant drive for media attention drove him to Jay Leno and David Letterman; notwithstanding the “Special Olympics” comment. He again challenged the media by appearing on Al-Jazeera which was seen more as a deliberate media photo-op! Barack Obama’s one trip to Iraq after a day in Turkey was to shore up the support in the arm forces low on morale. His campaign promise of pulling out of Iraq seemed to go nowhere during the first six months. Obama’s defining moments during his election campaign was Universal Healthcare; it had run into road blocks in the Congress from his own democratic party. And then it was “the economy stupid”! Recovery from the recession as expected was very slow. The AIG bonus payout made a huge dent on his “control Wall Street” credentials.  The final blow came last week when the Democratic Party lost the coveted and previously assured Massachusetts senate seat to Scoot Brown. Robert Gibb during the White House briefing had to quickly douse the fire and blame Martha Coakley for being “dull” and uninspiring.

So here we are, a year later, it seems Joe Biden gaffes were the least of Obama’s problems. In fact he just might be the good guy! Did Barack Obama show us hope and change in a way that the cynical world had not seen before. The expectations were obviously so high that it took the President less than a year to make the “I don’t have a magic wand” statement.

Priyo’s Take: Barack Obama needs some measurable successes. Here are some of them:

• Catching a major terrorist in Afghanistan, perhaps Osama Bin Laden or Ayman Al Zawarhi
• Pushing the Healthcare reform through the congress and the senate before the mid-term elections
• Removing Robert Gates and Ben Bernanke, the two prominent relics of the Bush administration
• Spend less time with the MSNBC Brian Williams crowd playing the President
• During his “Real Time” show on HBO, Bill Maher said that Barack Obama should be a little like Bush when it comes to getting his agenda. He is the President; he can push the Congress on signing the Healthcare reform bill. He does not need to try and get support from both sides of aisle.

Or maybe just maybe, all of his moves, trying to resolve so many issues at once, will pay rich dividends in the time to come. But if he wants to win in 2012 he should hope the GOP make a certain “amazingly stupid” woman from Alaska their candidate.

Oh and one last thing, no more talk shows!