Saturday, November 08, 2008

Arsene Wenger

I remember when i was giving the mock interviews for my B-School entrance tests...a favourite question for the interviewer..was "Whom do you idolize" ..or "Which business person do you most respect?". Try as I might i could never really identify with that one single person who possessed qualities that were worth aspiring for. So at each practice interview I chose a new person and tried to justify why I chose him.

Today if i am asked that same question...i know that there is one person with whom i really identify with ...and for those of you who know about my love for football...the answer will come as no surprise :) ...that one person is Arsene Wenger.

And no i am not being biased because of Arsenal being my favorite team....if you take football out of the equation completly..i would still be able to identify with Wenger.In a football world where money is being poured in and players are being sold to the highest bidder ...Wenger is one person who still plays by the rules.

From a purely business standpoint..his philosophy of scouting for the best youth talent and giving them a chance in the Arsenal first team..and ensuring that Arsenal are still able to compete inspite of the financial constraints is simply brilliant.

He's had chances to manage bigger clubs having much bigger budgets and possibly bigger salaries as well..but he's opted to stay..honour every contract he has signed and grow with a relatively smaller team like Arsenal..and that speaks volumes of where values reside on his list of priorities.

True he's not a perfect..and does have his weaknesses....as some Man Utd fans will be only too willing to testify...but that does nothing to diminish the respect I have for the man.

The picture below from yesterday's match against Man Utd typifies what Wenger is all about...the previous 3 games when Arsenal were playing poorly and the entire world were criticising the lack of 'commitment' from the players...he was the only one who stood behind the players ..encouraging them and telling the press that they should judge the team only in May and not after every single match. And boy did they respond when it was more required ..well played Gunners! :)




Saturday, September 06, 2008

Country Music

Have become a big fan of country music these days...and keep listening to some of the classic country songs of yesteryears.

George Strait is one of my personal favourites ....i think the ballad "I Cross My Heart" is absolutely brilliant ....lovely lyrics and beautiful melody. Truly what music should be.

Linking to a music video of this song ..and lyrics below :)



I cross my heart

Our love is unconditional
We knew it from the start
I can see it in your eyes
You can feel it from my heart>from here on after
Lets stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow


I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all Ive got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
Youll never find
A love as true as mine

You will always be the miracle
That makes my life complete
And as long as theres still breath in me
Ill make yours just as sweet
As we look into the future
Its as far as we can see
So lets make each tomorrow
Be the best that it can be

And if along the way we find a day
It starts to storm
Youve got the promise of my love
To keep you warm

Friday, July 18, 2008

Farewell Gilberto





Coming back from a long hiatus from blogging. Just wanted to put up a farewell post to one of my all time favorite Gunners .. Gilberto 'Invisible Wall' Silva.

The personal tribute on Arsenal.Com sums up what Gilberto was all about. In particular the below lines...fitting tribute to one of the last true professionals in the game of football

"In a football world awash with ego, hype and sensationalism, Gilberto was a breath of fresh air.

The Brazilian never courted controversy and never spoke out of turn. He arrived quietly, he left quietly and, in between, he was quietly efficient. While emptier vessels made more noise, Gilberto just got the job done."

Gilberto- Personal Tribute on Arsenal.com

Cheers,

Wayne