Indian cricket is back in the stage where it needs a good hard look at itself and introspect very self-critically. Even though, the debacle seems very hard to accept since India has played World Cup Semi Finals in the previous two of three world cups and boasts of a line up of some of the best batsmen of the world, it can prove as a blessing in disguise.
I guess Indians should not be rattled with this. This is a part of game and every now and then there has to be a reality check. It is occasions like these that should be used for reality check instead of finding scape goats.
Almost every quarter of the critic lobby is calling for ouster of Greg Chappell. And yet again, I feel totally differently about it. Greg was there only for strategy and preparation, which was totally perfect. What went wrong was the execution, the responsibility of which lies with the playing eleven. Moreover, none of his three proteges played in any of the matches.
Rahul Dravid should take the responsibility of persisting with the same eleven, when there have been options with him in form of Dinesh Karthik in batting line up. There was Irfan Pathan also, who could have come out well as an all-rounder. His captaincy on-field has been acceptable, if not bad. But his dressing room decisions have been pretty dull.
I think the people most responsible are Sachin Tendulkar and Dhoni. Upto some extent, the blame lies with Robin Uthappa, for failing repeatedly. He seemed in good touch in the practice games and Indian did well in all of the practice matches. Tendulkar and Dhoni played almost lazy and totally over-confident shots on both occasions.
Bowlers did well, I expect all of them to do well. I am interested in seeing more all round performance from bowlers, especially Irfan, VRV Singh and SreeSanth (I think all three have good potential, it is a question of developing it).
My verdict, Greg and Rahul stay. Tendulkar, Dhoni should out (at least for some time). Dinesh Karthik can come in for Dhoni. And I am sure there are good players for their slots in Indian team.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Only midfield wins matches
I was looking at the spanish team playing in the Euro. There was no reason why this team cannot win the EURO. And this is not the only time I have thought this way. Everytime the spanish team is just like Brazilian team, full of big names and players who can turn the match single handedly. Look at names like Morientes, Raul, David Silva, David Villa, Iniesta, Xabi, Luis Garcia, Cesc Fabregas,Joaquín Sánchez, Puyol, Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Carlos Marchena, Iker Casillas.
That is possible 15 starters fighting for only 11 positions. And everyone of them deserves to start. And their clubs feels that it is a big loss if any dont start. Look at Liverpool suffer when Luis Garcia doesnt start, or how Real suffers when Raul is injured.
However, the football crazy fans are always disappointed by their team's performance.
Back, since the days of Fernando Hierro, to now, the days of Cesc Fabregas, I find one similiarity that strikes this side, lack of teamwork/combination.
Everytime I watch a match, I see how the midfield never understands what the defenders are looking at, and the forwards dont know what the midfield is expecting. Most of the spanish football is planned along the lines of forwards (no wonder, considering that spanish are emotional artistic people who like flamboyance), but I feel that planning needs to be done based on midfield or defenders. There are only two forwards, and their combination is only a part of the game. They are only sidekicks. The most crucial combination comes from the midfield, where there is scope for real teamwork.
If Luis Aragones wants his team to win, then he should start planning his teamwork, he should start planning his midfield. I dont care what formation he fields, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-2-2-2 or 4-3-2-1 or for that matter 5-5-0. As long as he has an eye on proper combination and teamwork, he can fancy his chances of winning the worldcup. Till, then you cannot expect fancy silverware at the level that they are playing.
That is possible 15 starters fighting for only 11 positions. And everyone of them deserves to start. And their clubs feels that it is a big loss if any dont start. Look at Liverpool suffer when Luis Garcia doesnt start, or how Real suffers when Raul is injured.
However, the football crazy fans are always disappointed by their team's performance.
Back, since the days of Fernando Hierro, to now, the days of Cesc Fabregas, I find one similiarity that strikes this side, lack of teamwork/combination.
Everytime I watch a match, I see how the midfield never understands what the defenders are looking at, and the forwards dont know what the midfield is expecting. Most of the spanish football is planned along the lines of forwards (no wonder, considering that spanish are emotional artistic people who like flamboyance), but I feel that planning needs to be done based on midfield or defenders. There are only two forwards, and their combination is only a part of the game. They are only sidekicks. The most crucial combination comes from the midfield, where there is scope for real teamwork.
If Luis Aragones wants his team to win, then he should start planning his teamwork, he should start planning his midfield. I dont care what formation he fields, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-2-2-2 or 4-3-2-1 or for that matter 5-5-0. As long as he has an eye on proper combination and teamwork, he can fancy his chances of winning the worldcup. Till, then you cannot expect fancy silverware at the level that they are playing.
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