#ThankYouSachin

Someone someday will break the records but none can match the creator. When I started watching cricket, every one day match started with the first ball you faced and ended with your back to the pavilion. There are so many memories - when I switched off the idiot box when you have got out, shouted when team India has ruined your efforts and slumped to defeats, felt angry when you have been wrongly given out (including the 199th test) and cheered with joy at each four, six, fifty or century and at all the important wickets you took whenever you rolled your arm and bowled leg breaks, off breaks, medium pace, etc. On 18th November, all these memories are the ones which will be left when the God stops playing the game and I might stop watching test matches because cricket for me was never wham-bam; it was always about your exquisite straight drives, cover drives, lofted six and the paddle sweep. Will miss you every time I watch the Men in Blue play the game you made your own. #ThankYouSachin

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The curious case of Shinji Kagawa

My heart skipped a beat when I read this - "Man United Ready to Use Shinji Kagawa as Bait In Pursuit of Borussia Dortmund Center-Back". A constant attacking menace at Borussia, Kagawa had scored 29 goals in back to back successful Bundesliga campaigns which led to Sir Alex Ferguson parting with £17 million for the attacking midfielder. Since then he has played only 30 matches and scored 6 goals, in the process becoming the first Asian to score a hattrick in the EPL and has been named Asian Football Confederation International Player of the Year in 2012.

So, when I read that David Moyes was ready to offload him to get Mats Hummels, I was perplexed for a number of reasons. First, Kagawa is the only creative attacking midfielder in the United side. Second, he has never been given his favored no.10 role in which he had excelled at Dortmund and even Moyes agrees his best position may be number 10. Third, he has played just one league match till now against West Brom where he was fielded in a wide left position and was strangely substituted at half-time. Fourth, why get a center back instead of Kagawa when you can develop Smalling (who was brilliant in the win against Liverpool), Jones and Evans.

To conclude, he is an immensely talented player who brings a level of creativity and flair that is lacking in the likes of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia. His attacking prowess was there for all to see when he rattled the crossbar from 20 yards against Liverpool in the 1-0 victory in the Capital One Cup. It might be that Moyes has to change a few things in order to make it work or Kagawa will have to adapt to a less favorable position on the left wing but either ways, United are better off with Shinji on the field than on the bench as was evident in both the wins over Bayer and Liverpool in which he had started because he adds a new dimension to the attack whenever he drifts inside.

An open letter to Wazza (a.k.a. Wayne Rooney)

Hi Wazza,

It was 61'; United were leading Swansea 2-0 but for me the match had just begun. You came on the field as a sub for the evergreen Ryan Giggs. And I was not disappointed because you provided the assists for the last two goals as we eventually would win 4-1. The second one especially was a masterpiece as you provided the perfect ball for Welbeck to chip it over Vorm. Then, I saw you not celebrating the goal and I was hurt because this meant the poster boy of United, the center of my United universe might actually leave.

I know being number two is not your cup of tea and that is where the problem lies. You don't want to leave but you can't bear to be overshadowed by a Ronaldo or a Berbatov or a RVP because you are someone who wants to be the best at whatever you do and you want to be the fans' no. 1 too. But Wazza, you are the best because even from a position which is not yours, you scored 12 premier league goals and provided the assists for even more. You put in all those hard hours in training, score important goals, provide the assists which help RVP become the leading scorer in the league, selflessly run up and down the pitch to help the defence and yet, when you are labelled the bad boy for asking to leave United, I'm hurt because the people don't understand it's tough being Wayne Rooney. Ever since you made your debut, the onus has been on you to carry the legacy forward. The Ronaldos have come, made a mark and have left but you have hung in there showing your loyalty to the club. You have been United's golden boy but all of a sudden when RVP became the no.1 and Moyes said that you are the backup option, I understood that you were bound to get hurt.

Just wanted to say we have always loved you, Wayne. Give us fans a chance, give the club a chance, and give yourself a last chance at United because there is no place better for you. You belong at the Theatre of Dreams and I hope Moyes finds a way to play both RVP and you upfront. If you leave this summer, I would know the reason but I'd wonder all that you could have achieved at United and thank you for all the memories including the stunning overhead kick against the noisy neighbors.

Thank you Wazza.

Sincerely,
A fan

The End of an Era

The 20th league title won, with 4 games to spare
the man never knew the meaning of fear
the chewing gum and the affable face
the fans love his style and grace
the season is over, and his time is done
but we will always be proud of the laurels he won
he leaves Old Trafford with a void too big to fill
for he is the one who taught Manchester United to go for the kill
next season, when the crowd returns
there will be a new coach and it will be a new dawn 
but more than that, it will mark the end of an era,
The era of Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson.

A new beginning...

A new journey was embarked upon 2 months back. 11th February will never be forgotten. I doubt anyone would have felt so happy after putting in his papers. Anyways let bygones be bygones. This is ‘my new beginning’ as I have moved to a new city, a new job, a new life 

The new city is cool though the weather is nothing like what people boasted about - ya, Bangalore is hot during summers, have not been to many places but loved Bak Bak Bar (the LIT is superb) and Fenny's Lounge (the ambience, the music and the crowd rocks), but the 11.30 p.m. shut down is not happening. 
The new house is too big for a person like me cos i never leave my room, the kitchen is useless when you don't cook, and without a maid, cleaning is a pain but I love Airtel for the awesome mobile plan and the broadband plan (8 mbps is heaven for a social media and TV series addict like me)
The new workplace is kinda cool - flexible timings, creative work, some cool sports and fun loving colleagues (and some not so cool ones too), a refrigerator with lots of coke and no dress code.
For now, my world is immersed in a melange of social media, seo, sem, ppc, adwords, newsletters, designs and so on and so forth as I move forward towards my goal of becoming a new age digital marketing specialist – a digital media whiz.
Ciao till the next post :-)

Follow me @nileshsurana for regular updates on Manchester United, sports and marketing