Life @SIMSR

                         My life at SIMSR started with the Roobaroo event which was pretty chilled out and fun filled event. As the new batch, most of us were excited to know the various details about the college and the event served as a kind of ice breaker between the juniors and the seniors. The day finally arrived when I had to leave my family after 25 years. I was excited about the new experiences and the new life I would have at SIMSR. During the induction programme, we had an outbound trip which helped each person of the batch to know about each other in a fun oriented manner. During the course of the event, we were even taught about the basic management skills in an informal manner. Then we had the "DJ Night" which was organised by the seniors to welcome the new batch and it was one of the best experiences I ever had. Then came the turn of "All izz Well", an absolute entertainer for four days where we had fun and frolic throughout the evenings. To summarize it up, I experienced a lot of ups and downs but its all about how I handle myself through thick and thin and be a better person and have a wonderful two years at SIMSR.


Adios Amigos!!

No 10 shirt downsized

Once a clear pointer to a side’s best player, the No 10 shirt is starting to lose its magic in Serie A.



The No 10 was once a sacred jersey in Italian football. A second skin for the game’s most gifted and creative players, an instant indication of a team’s source of inspiration, today it continues its sliding transition from the shirt kids dreamed about wearing to just another squad number.

In a country where players of the calibre of Gianni Rivera, GiancarloAntognoni, Michel Platini, Roberto Mancini, Giuseppe Giannini, Roberto Baggio, Francesco Totti and Alex Del Piero have had their fantasy, class and geniusrecognised by a number on their back, the majority of today’s 17 Serie A players who have been given that mythical 10 by their club have little in common with its tradition.

Juventus are one of three top-flight clubs, along with Napoli and Cagliari, where the numeral remains unassigned. While Napoli’s has been withdrawn in honour of the great Diego Maradona, the Turin giants opted to keep the number free following the departure of previous owner Alessandro Del Piero– who was against its retiring – this summer.

“Del Piero is missed a lot, but I would not put on his No 10 shirt,” stated Claudio Marchisio. “Whilst it was an ambition of mine when I was younger, I was an attacker back then and now I am a midfielder. I am not Platini, Baggioor Del Piero. I’m not one who can decide a game, so I do not deserve to ever wear that shirt.”

Not everyone, unfortunately, holds the jersey and its historical significance in such high regard. Fiorentina goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli did the previously unthinkable while at Chievo and asked for the 10. The club, unbelievably, gave it to him. “The value of numbers in football is changing,” the custodian noted. “The No 10 is not as special as it once was.”

That was further highlighted by the events at Genoa this summer when a dispute between Alexander Merkel and Cristobal Jorquera over who would get the jersey ended up in a blind auction. Although the money ended up going to charity and Merkel is a promising player, he’s not your archetypal – or what we once perceived as a typical – No 10.

So what’s changed? There is no doubt that a combination of factors have seen the jersey lose its uniqueness. The introduction of stable squad numbers in the 1990s worked wonders for merchandising, but allowed players worthy of the 10 to go and pick other digits. Antonio Cassano, for example, has opted for the 99 in recent years.

The evolution of tactics in Serie A may also be a factor given the downturn in true trequartisti, whereas the economic crisis has also had a part to play, given that the peninsula has lost more than one high class player with the ability to shine in a No 10. Take Milan, for example. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was all set to inherit the 10 from Clarence Seedorf until he was sold to Paris SG this summer. Kevin-Prince Boateng subsequently filled the void.

Boateng can be a great player on his day, but he’s no Wesley Sneijder or Francesco Totti when it comes to being a natural fit. But the Ghanaian isn’t the only man on the Serie A landscape whose ability and squad number don’t add up.

Alberto Aquilani, a mezz’ala, was handed the status symbol at Fiorentina this summer despite being half a player on the evidence of his last two seasons on the peninsula. While it seems bombers now have a right to the combination of the one and the zero after Maxi Lopez and Alberto Gilardinotook up the number following moves to Sampdoria and Bologna respectively.

“I’ve come here to score goals, not set them up,” admitted Gilardino, perhaps with a hint of embarrassment, after attacking schemer Gaston Ramirez opted for a switch to Southampton. “I admit that it’s a bit weird to have the No 10 jersey with my name on it, but it was one of the only shirts left.”

And for those who’ll no doubt question what all the fuss is about, that the 10 is only a number, well, that’s now the point…

Serie A’s present No 10s: Giacomo Bonaventura (Atalanta), Alberto Gilardino(Bologna), Francesco Lodi (Catania), Luciano (Chievo), Alberto Aquilani(Fiorentina), Alexander Merkel (Genoa), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), MauroZarate (Lazio), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Milan), Fabrizio Miccoli (Palermo), JaimeValdes (Parma), Mervan Celik (Pescara), Francesco Totti (Roma), Maxi Lopez (Sampdoria), Gaetano D’Agostino (Siena), Alessandro Sgrigna (Torino), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese).

The festival is here!

10 days of tumult and pandemonium is here. Ganesh Chaturthi. Celebrated gloriously at a cost of environment. Bored because of an off day amidst week days, I was truly jobless & spent all day stuck to bed.


With continuous prompting of my mom, I went out in the evening to breath in some fresh air. The city is now well decorated, flashing with glittering lights and plaster finished idols, standing majestically as the epitomes of Hinduism & its popularity in the country.


I was wondering how much would it cost to erect thousands of such idols, so much of gala for 10 whole days and finally immerse the 10 days of celebrated investment in waters. I even wondered how many reforms or ideas can be efficiently implemented with that amount. A lot of 'em right? How many home(pe)less can be fed with clothing, food and shelter?


Not any of these thoughts come into our minds as we keep ourselves super busy & engaged decorating the idols with countless, grand garlands in the name of devotion.



A sweet offering to God is usually auctioned at the end of the gala & it gets sold off for whooping prices, say INR 300,000, if not 600,000. Where does this archaic behaviour take us? To a pretentious state of satisfaction? To a fake shore of accomplishment?



If He exists, He must exist in hearts, thoughts and actions. Not necessarily in idols & celebrations.

Serving mankind is serving God.

Juventus’ guide to the summer transfers

Juventus 2011/12 etched their place in history by completing an extraordinary 38-game unbeaten season and ending their nine-year long wait for the Scudetto. They also boasted the best defensive record of any team across the top leagues in Europe. With the return of Champions League football, Juventus will need to strengthen their squad to remain competitive and Venkat Akella takes a look at a few players who might help Juve’s cause in the 2012/13 season.



Martín Cáceres (Central Defender/ Right back, Aged 25) – Let’s begin with one that’s been wrapped up. The Italian giants confirmed that they’ve take the option to sign Martin Caceres from Sevilla after he impressed the Bianconeri faithful while on loan during the second half of the campaign and the Uruguayan international has put pen to paper on a four-year deal that’ll tie him to the Serie A champions until 2016.


Courtesy of Paul Blank

Luis Suarez (Striker at Liverpool, Aged 25) - Juventus are also now widening their net and that could be a worry for Liverpool as Suarez is on their hit list despite him publicly announcing his intention to remain at Anfield. The Uruguayan striker has had a troubled campaign at Liverpool following controversy both on and off the pitch and a move to the Turin giants might allow him to rebuild his shattered reputation. Meanwhile, Uruguayan defender Caceres recently admitted that Suarez had been in touch regarding a possible move to the Old Lady.

Paul Pogba (Midfielder at Manchester United, Aged 19) – Considered by many as one of the brightest stars in United’s academy, Pogba is a tall, long-legged midfielder with wonderful ability on the ball and a fine range of passing. He has been described by his club as a powerful and creative player with an eye for a goal. Reports from The Guardian indicate that Pogba has turned down a lucrative contract at Old Trafford to join the Italian outfit, his head seemingly turned by his agent and money on offer.

Stevan Jovetic (Second Striker at Fiorentina, Aged 22) – Jovetic plays as a Second striker and his impressive dribbling, close control and hair have drawn comparisons to the legendary Roberto Baggio. Scoring 14 goals in what was dubbed as the worst season for Fiorentina in their recent campaigns, a move away from Viola might just be another step forward in his career. Juventus are thought to be thinking about Jovetic as their heir to Del Piero.


Courtesy of Tutto Sport

Sebastian Giovinco (Attacking Midfielder at Parma, Aged 25) – A product of the Juventus youth system, Giovinco is currently co-owned by Juventus and Parma. He struck rich form at Parma this season, leading the scoring charts with 15 goals and providing 11 assists in the Serie A. With Conte rumoured to be keen admirer of the 25 year old, Juventus look determined to acquire the midfielder’s full economic rights and a move back to Juventus could well be on the cards.

Robin van Persie (Striker at Arsenal, Aged 28) – Robin van Persie turned heads around in Europe after topping the scoring charts in England with 30 league goals in 38 appearances. Juventus are looking to reinforce their forward line with Del Piero departing after spending close to two decades with the club and on-loan Marco Borriello returning to Roma. The Mirror suggests that Arsenal will find it difficult to turn down a bid in excess of £25M.

Serdar Tasci (Defender at VFB Stuttgart, Aged 25) - One of the bright spots in VfB Stuttgart’s Bundesliga campaign, the defender is on the radar of the power houses of Italian football – Juventus. The defender is rumored to have a €15 release clause in his contract and with Juventus keen to bolster their defence; this might just be the perfect match.


Courtesy of Funky Opti

Edin Džeko (Striker at Manchester City, Aged 26) – Dzeko, who cost Manchester City £27M in 2011, has fallen down the pecking order following the return of Carlos Tevez from his self-imposed exile. However, he wrote his name large in Manchester City’s history by equalizing in the second minute of stoppage time in the season defining game against Queens Park Rangers, which was crucial in the title win. With the win, and Mancini now in the market looking for established stars that can help City defend their Premiership crown, Dzeko might be surplus to Mancini’s requirements. A move to the Italian giants Juventus, where he’ll be a regular feature in the starting lineup whilst being involved in the Champions League might be too good a proposition to turn down, but it remains to be seen if Juventus can afford the expensive striker.

Leandro Damião (Striker at Internacional, Aged 22) – Brazilian football is on the rise with a host of young players making a name for themselves both at club level and on the international stage and Leandro is one among them. Already capped at International level, Leandro looks to continue in his predecessor’s steps by making a big money move to Europe. Juventus could be in pole position to sign him for a fee believed to be in the region of €15M. They might face unlikely competition from Tottenham Hotspur, but the chances of rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite might be too good an opportunity to turn down for the Brazilian.

Edinson Cavani (Striker at Napoli, Aged 25) – Juventus might have one of the best defensive records in leagues across Europe, but their strike force was often found wanting with Matri losing form and focus mid-season. The lack of a top striker among their ranks is a concern with Juve’s midfielders outscoring their strikers this season. Rumours suggest that Juventus are preparing a bid of almost €50M to prize away the Uruguayan star.

United’s Guide to Summer Transfers

After losing out the BPL title in the last minute of the match, United have endured a trophy less season after 2004/05. This won’t stop Sir Alex Ferguson to take a dig in the market and sign some crucial signings. Here are a few possible players who can make a significant impact on the proceedings at Old Trafford.

 

Leighton Baines ( Left back at Everton, aged 27) – After a dip in Evra’s performance, Ferguson is contemplating to make a bid for Baines. Daily Mail suggests that a bid of 10 million GBP is good enough to test Everton’s resolve. It is highly unlikely that he would come to Old Trafford as an understudy to Evra but his arrival would mean an end to illustrious career of Evra.



Nathaniel Clyne ( Right back at Crystal Palace, aged 21) – A hugely talented youngster who rose through the ranks at Crystal Palace, has been tracked for years by Ferguson. Should he reject contract extension, Ferguson will get his man. At 21, he’s already displayed a lot of maturity, playing with the big boys and even made it to the PFA team of the year (Championship). According to Daily Mail reports, If United sign Clyne, they would have to pay training compensation to Eagles.




Jan Verthogen (Centre back at Ajax Amsterdam, aged 25) – Arguably the best defender in Netherlands at the moment. According to Daily Mail, United are pondering of a move to the 8 million GBP defender who’s into his last year at Ajax. Could be an ideal replacement for Rio Ferdinand, who’s on the wrong side of 30’s. His signing would enhance the fight for the coveted place in the starting lineup among Jones, Evans and Smalling.




Robert Lewandowski ( Striker at Borussia Dortmund, aged 23) – The Pole has been terrific in front of the goal, scoring 30 goals in 46 appearances. Sir Alex Ferguson and his assistant Mike Phelan made a check on Lewandowski at DFB Pokal final in Berlin. And if the reports from Metro are to be believed, a bid in excess of 15 million GBP is enough to convince Dortmund to sell their prized marksman, who’s agent has revealed that the contract offered by Dortmund was in sufficient and United are interested in his services.



                                         

Nicolás Gaitán (Attacking Midfielder / Winger at S.L.Benfica, aged 24) - The talented Argentine who has caught everyone’s attention with exceptional performances against the likes of United and Chelsea. It will be interesting to see where he would play under Ferguson’s team. An attacking midfielder who can slide down the left wing with ease and also has a great eye for goal. According to Telegraph, United are plotting a 20 Million GBP plus Fabio Da Silva and Federico Macheda, who’s days at Old Trafford are numbered.


Christian Eriksen (Attacking Midfielder at Ajax Amsterdam, aged 20) - Despite not being English (or even Spanish) Ajax's Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen is wanted by both Manchester United and Manchester City. According to Guardian, Sir Alex Ferguson has put the 19-year-old at the top of his wanted list, which is probably precisely why Roberto Mancini wants him too. It will take £20m to prize the 19-year-old from Ajax's grasp

                             
Shinji Kagawa (Attacking Midfielder / Winger at Borussia Dortmund, aged 23) – Shinji Kagawa heads the potential list of recruits at Old Trafford as Red Devils seek to strengthen their side and wrestle the premiership title away from neighbors City. Kagawa scored 13 goals in 31 league games as Dortmund won the Bundesliga from Bayern by eight points. He would fit the profile currently adhered to by United of a young player who would improve and not cost a premium price – with him costing between £15m to £20m.


Lucas Moura (Attacking Midfielder at Sao Paolo, aged 19) - Sao Paolo have set a hefty price tag believed to be in the region of €50 million on their top talent Lucas Moura, Metro reveals. Lucas Moura is, after Neymar, the hottest up-and-coming player in world football at the moment. Lucas has a contract that runs until 2015 and has a release clause of €80 million, Sao Paolo are in no rush to sell the youngster.



Javi Martinez (Defensive Midfielder at Athletic Bilbao, aged 23) – Sir Alex Ferguson had a first check on the Basque player when both the sides met in Europa League. So impressed was Ferguson that he feels that a £24 million is enough to do business. Recently, the player had suggested that he’s not worth the £ 34 million that the club values him. A top priority for Ferguson in the midfield, given his brilliant performances this season where Bilbao reached the finals of Copa Del Rey as well as Europa League.



Moussa Dembélé (Central Midfielder at Fulham, aged 24) – The Belgian attacking midfielder who has been deployed as a deep lying midfielder by Martin Jol, has found consistency and helped Fulham finish as high as 9th in EPL. Considered as many as a ready made replacement for Paul Scholes who just prolonged his career another year, after abandoning retirement. Reports from Dailymail suggest that a bid of £10 M is good enough to make Jol sell his prized asset. United need to sign him as a cover for Darren Fletcher who has been out for most of the season due to long-term illness and Tom Cleverley, who had been prone to injury problems through out the current season.

The Long Lost Link Between FIAT and Bianconeri

Well, First of FIAT (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) or (Italian Automobile factory of Turin) is an automobile giant based in Turin. Yes, the same place where the Bianconeri ply their trade in Serie-A.
FIAT was founded in 1899 by Giovanni Agnelli along with a group of investors. His stake in FIAT which he bought for 400 US $ is worth Billions now. History apart, the Agnelli family have taken over the presidency of the Bianconeri in 1923, which constitutes the oldest sporting partnership in Italy, thus making Juventus the first professional club in the country.

Over time, the club has become a symbol of the nation's culture due to their tradition of success, some of which have had a significant impact in Italian society, especially in the 1930s and the first postwar decade and the ideological politics and socio-economic origin of the club's sympathizers. This is reflected, among others, in the club's contribution to the national team, uninterrupted since the second half of 1920s and recognised as one of the most influential in international football, having performed a decisive role in the World Cup triumphs ​​of 1934, 1982 and 2006. The club's fan base is larger than any other Italian football club and is one of the largest world-wide. Support for Juventus is widespread throughout the country and abroad, mainly in countries with a significant presence of Italian immigrants.


The club seems to be progressing well under Andrea Agnelli, the last Agnelli male. Ever since their promotion back to Serie-A, the club has always found the backing of Agnelli family, be it the funds required to build their new stadium or acquisition of new talent. This season, they have financed the deals of Vidal and Vučinić who are quite proving to be decisive in the title chase. Hope Juve win their 30th Scudetto and the 3rd STAR is in the way :D

FORZA JUVENTUS \m/ 

TAKNEV

Avengers : Review

Marvel has given us Two Iron Man movies, two Hulk movies with two different Hulks, plus a Thor and a Captain America flick. Finally, we now have all those characters together in one place in “The Avengers.”



                              The action begins as Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his cohorts at S.H.I.E.L.D. are protecting and harnessing the energy of the Tesseract. A holdover from the “Captain America” movie, it’s a small cube of unimaginable and never-ending energy which also serves as a gateway between different universes and dimensions. The Tesseract seems to be destabilizing, but turns out that’s only the fallen Asgardian demigod Loki (Tom Hiddleston, about which more later) traversing time and space to take over the planet. Within seconds he flips Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Professor Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) to his side and steals the Tesseract. It’s an impressive scene.

That’s followed by another impressive scene, when Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson calls Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow to tell her Hawkeye’s been “compromised.” She’s tied to a chair and being interrogated — actually, she’s interrogating her captors — and performs a well-choreographed ballet of violence to free herself in seconds. Call it a cliché, but Johansson does look good doing it.

Now it’s time to assemble the rest of The Avengers. Nick Fury personally asks the newly-defrosted Captain America (Chris Evans) for help. Coulson, Fury’s right-hand man, recruits Tony Stark, aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) at his penthouse apartment where he’s about to canoodle with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Black Widow finds Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, hiding in Calcutta. Mark Ruffalo, by the way, the third actor to play The Hulk after Eric Bana and Edward Norton, probably should’ve been playing the role from the start. His angsty everyman persona and quiet rage scream for a new Hulk movie starring him.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) literally swoops in after Iron Man, Captain America and Black Widow rather easily capture Loki, who’s Thor’s Asgardian half-brother, which leads to a rather nasty yet fantastic confrontation between Iron Man and Thor. When Captain America joins in, it’s on! Fanboys will need a cold shower after that threesome is through.

“The Avengers” by design is a big flashy movie, but some of its best moments involve Downey Jr. and Ruffalo, who have the type of chemistry you can’t teach. Iconoclast Stark playfully needles Banner in hopes of getting him turn into that “other” guy, but to no avail. Instead, Stark relates to Banner in such a way that you almost can’t picture any other actors playing that scene. There’s a good reason why those “Iron Man” movies do so well: because Downey was born to play that role, and in “The Avengers” he’s consistently funny throughout. Much of that credit also must go to writer-director Joss Whedon, whose gift for characterization and crackling dialogue is well-known to fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly.” He gives every “Avengers ”character their moment, and none disappoint.

It must also be said that sometimes, a super hero movie is only as good as its bad guy, and Loki, played by the otherworldly scary-good Tom Hiddleston, is anything but low-key (ha!). If you thought he showed flashes of brilliance in “Thor,” wait until you see him here, wrapped in a rapturous sheen of evil, preening like the cocky yet petulant denizen of Asgard that he is.

So — was “The Avengers” worth the hype, and the wait? Hell yes! As a super hero movie about familiar characters many have been waiting years to see assembled like this, “The Avengers” is a cathartic, wildly entertaining and imaginative experience that speaks to all generations of comic book fans and then some.

Four-and-a-half out of five stars from my perspective.