Managing the great Indian Mid - Field

There was a time when a striker use to get the ball on stick somewhere around the half, he would then dribble with shear pace and skill, crossing 2-3 defenders at a time and eventually beating the Goal Keeper with a top class finish.

Well, the time has changed and so has the game. The game is won over Mid - feild and how well you make your ball for the stirker and this is where Indian Men Hockey team is mis managed. All I could saw was blunt force hit from round the wings hoping to get either an Indian stick for defelection or some defenders leg to get a Penalty corner.

What I don't understand that when Europeans team can strategize and plan their penalty corners and how they should take it. India is very much dependent on the defenders making mistake.There is a serious lack of play making at the center. Especially the flanks.

Tushar Khandekar has been impressive on the left with he cutting in to the half and creating chances, and Sunil has been impressive with his pace all through the last year. The bigger concern is the position Sardara plays. Each and every attack made from the center is either lost on the flanks or gets killed after striking the first level of defense.

India is in a dire need of a Central Defender Midfeilder who can come in place of Sardara Singh when he moves up the pitch and attack so that he plays up and make more chances. Also defenders like Gurbaaj and Danish need to come up and support the likes of Sunil and Tushar.

The biggest problem that India will be facing in the near future will be finding somebody filling up the shoes of Sardara Singh. The most talented mid feilder in the Indian line up is taking up toll on his body in each and every match and on a longer run, this is dangerous for both the team and the game in particular.

Coach Nobbs and the selectors should now seriously look into getting in fresh legs in the mid - feild or provide somebody like Chaandi or Utthapa ample time to get into the attacking mid - feild position.

Rest, the things would unfold as the tournament progress, but after match1 odds could have been with India if they could have somehow produced new moves and strategies to score.

Flight of the Dutchman. Match report: India v/s Netherlands

Much before the game started, I had predicted a goal difference of 3-0 in favor of the Netherlands. Well, I was right to one extent, but much of my awe and surprise. India scored two field goals and statistically speaking created more chances against a team who are known for their attacks in every sport, which includes a ball and a team of men.

The first game for India at the London Olympics 2012 starts with a defeated from the hands of the men in orange. One of the most professional teams I have seen playing in the last 5 years and it was displayed on the blue turf yesterday. The Dutch had 5 penalty corner specialists in the team and the only thing they needed were penalty corners, which they did. Two in fact and both got converted gracefully.

But, the story of the day is not the Flying Dutchman; the story of the day is the Indian fight back. Two field goals, that too from counter attacks. One scored by Dharamveer when he was at a perfect position of a ball, which ricocheted from the far post and fell straight on to his stick, once again I am mentioning it here, team India has developed this habit of hitting the ball on to the far post rather than near post causing a second chance always. The another goal came from our golden boy Shivendra Singh who pushed the ball in after a brilliant stick work from Chandi and Sardara Singh who made the ball from him.

Talking about the lows now, I had big disappointment from Indian defense, especially Sandeep Singh. The lad was all over the place, tired and panicked. He was not willing at all to bend his back, which caused a big gap in the defense. Netherlands was given acres of space to run down the wings and plan their moves. The lone warrior in Indian defense was Ignase Turkey, who played like John Terry for Chelsa, he was literally everyplace and had blocked atleast 10 odd shots from the Dutch.

I would also add names of Sardara Singh and Sunil here, they both covered not only the flanks but made sure that they come back and defend when needed. The only thing team India now needs to improve is getting penalty corners to use Sandeep, taking half chances inside the area, and finding substitution for Saradara as it would be harsh for him to play all the matches for full 70 minutes.

As India takes on Germany next, in the quest for gold, I would only say that more than a billion people are behind them and they must play like champions.