A Cule's Words

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus                    In my opinion, it is one of the better books in recent years. This book really was a page flipper and the end, even though imminent for the last few chapters, was nicely built. Brilliant start, even better continuity and a slightly long end, it all falls perfectly.                Plot- A boy is found dead in middle of a detention with only four students in it. All of us have secrets, the question is how far will you go to protect them ? this is the information on the backside, and it got me kicking around. Actually, t he plot circles around the death (suicide) of a maniac college going boy, where he has planned to frame them with delicious perfectness. Yeah, it is delicious to me.                Characters- The characters are fairly well written, which is common with authors today. Plots te...

 Bayern have been the best team in Europe this season and play a very similar style to Barcelona. So, we can analyse where have we gone wrong.  1. Interceptions-               This type of play requires players to be athletic and high pressing. And Barca is constantly criticized for being too lazy. But, in reality the difference is not huge. Bayern average 10 interceptions every ninety minutes, while Barca is at 9.5. While in La liga it is low (9), it is even higher than Bayern in Champion's league, with 12.3, compared to 10.1 from Bayern. Also, dropping intensity is not a problem, In the last half an hour, Barca has much higher pressing. With 9.9 compared to 9.7 of Bayern. The main problem here is starting slow, we know many instances when Barca gave away an early goal. That is highlighted. With 9.1, compared to 9.4 of Bayern. #startstrong 2. Posession loss- In this statistic too, Barcelona is marginally behind in some and even ahead in...

          So, I got recommended this book by someone who told me it is very similar to the picture of Dorian gray. Honestly, though, they are very different books. The genre is similar, but the theme, plot, characters, style of writing, everything is distinct. You won't find many better novellas in this genre, but Wilde's masterclass is a step above. So, coming back to this book, this book is fantastically written, do not get me wrong, but the story's tagline itself states that Dr.Jekyll is fighting and discovering his inner self, so it was fairly obvious that both were the same. We needed more of how does he reacts, does he recover, but contrary to this, the author goes vague and describes some strange happenings. There is a reason this book is not as popular as Dorian Gray and this may well be it.                Plot- The plot is mysterious if you do not read the information on the back, but I do, and all the f...

What needs to change, in order to win the champions league this August ? So, I can'y really talk about mentality because I am not aware of the happenings in the dressing room, so, let's talk about tactics. Formations and player roles.  TYPE 1- 4-1-2-1-2 narrow Goalkeeper- Ter Stegen two center backs- Pique and Lenglet/ Pique and Araujo Right back- Semedo Left back- Jordi Alba Holding Midfielder- Sergio Busquets Two Central Midfielders- Riqui Puig and Vidal/De Jong /Rakitic Attacking Midfielder- Messi Two strikers- Suarez and Griezmann/ Fati ( He can definitely play there)               This formation was used in the last five games of league and it was evident that it worked fine only when the opposition was not ultra defensive. Napoli, sadly, is ultra defensive. In this formation, the defence has usual work. In the midfield, Busquets has to stay deep and think attacking. He needs to put ball forward after intercepting passes or gettiing ball...

No. 1. The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.               Not popularly liked, but this novel is a gem. Since I read this, no book has come close to binding me half as tightly as this. This is THE best work of fiction according to me. Maybe I am biased towards psychological thriller, but nobody could argue that this is not a great book.                Plot- " Basil Hallward is what I think I am ; Lord Henry what the WORLD thinks me and Dorian what I would LIKE to be-- in other ages, perhaps" And he made out a masterpiece out of this. The plot is literally the story of these three, according to me; contrary to popular belief it is just the soul selling of Dorian Gray.                Characters- The best character development I have read. We come to know of the most trivial things about the characters and the trifles are almost more interesting ! Was it n...

            It has not been an easy season for Barcelona. Injury for Messi, suarez, dembele, de jong, griezmann, and many more. Then sacking of Ernesto Valverde, boring football in many games, failed transfers. However, we must look forward. We must not forget what happened but we shall not dwell on it. The thing about Barcelona is that the fans, including me, want great football and great results. Also, great football does not mean we can move to the flanks, we have to build through the center, conserve possession, and play beautifully. For that, we need certain type of players. Technically sound players. So, according to me, these are the positions we have to cover and preferred signings- Center back- Yes, we have Clement lenglet and Araujo to help pique, but pique won't be here forever. He will get old and we have two center backs without him. So, we need another.  Players- We know we are after Eric Garcia and that is the best option accor...

No. 2. Harry Potter Series by Joanne Rowling               No matter how much we hate Rowling, we MUST love Harry Potter series. No matter how much we loathe Cursed Child, we MUST adore and respect the rest books. I was coincidentally ten years old when I read it for the first time and boy did I love it.                Plot- If there's anyone who hasn't read it, and is reading this blog, is wasting his/her time. Harry Potter, a young and famous wizard, tormented by his family and adored by his friends. He-who-must-not-be-named is a deadly and powerful wizard, arguably the most powerful in duelling and certainly an intimidating sight. It's basically a fight between them, spread across nearly two decades. But, it's so much than that.                Characters- Well, I am sure, no person who reads literature will find characters properly 'developed' in this seri...

THE PLAYERS- * There Are Many ! 1. Luis Suarez- The best out and out striker in Barca's ranks, we have Luis Suarez. And, he is 33 years old. Not a good sign, is it ? Maybe. But do we need Lautaro Martinez in a flash ? No. Luis suarez, when fit, can give us the best, but when not, should be used judiciously and the formation could be tweaked in order to fill in that gap. 2. Martin Braithwaite- An out and out striker, he is the perfect example of ' traditional number nine' he will stay in the opposition box, poach the easy chances and tuck in some good goals. But, he probably won't be staying next season and that *may* be a loss. 3. Lionel Messi- There's no defining his position. But a No.10 comes closest to describing it. Something between a striker and attacking midfielder, a false nine. Almost certainly the best player on the planet, he does not have to be described. 4.Antoine Griezmann- He may have been a 'flop' with double figure goals and a few assists, ...

No. 3. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Series by Mark Twain          The great American novels. The novels, set in and 'round Mississippi river, and the state of course, for all but one novel, are a jewel to read. They are humorous, rich and enjoyable. Truly one of the greatest American novels.          Plot- A painstakingly simple plot for each novel, woven around a million subplots, adding humor and there you have it. But, it is not that easy. To find the right subplot, to find the best position to add humor, even to decide on jokes, is hard. It's not that easy to satisfy neysayers and these novels have done just that.          Characters- I wasn't born in the U.S.A. and I do not know how the kids there are. But, if their lif can be this adventurous, count me in ! Mark Twain creates a bond so tight that I must believe whatever he writes. Tom steals a hot air balloon, of course he can do that.    ...

THE PLAYERS- I am not considering Coutinho and Griezmann Left Wingers. 1. Ansu Fati- An  astoundingly ridiculous revelation this season, Ansu Fati will surely be a major part any success we are * hoping * for. His speed and aggressiveness is always channeled and timed well. He can create something out of very little. This is the quality we were craving for, and we have got it in the form of Ansu.  2. Pedri- I know, he is not a first team member just yet, but that is not to say he won't recieve first time action. I think when Ansu needs rest, Pedri should get some starts against less physical sides like Villarreal. Conclusion- After two seasons after Neymar left, we finally have two very good wingers on both flanks. This is definitely good ! 

No. 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  Yeah, it is not in my top three. I am disappointed too, but I can assure you, I like this book very much, it is just that I like three books more. It is Paulo Coelho's best work by far and understandably. According to him, it is based on Wisdom. It is more about dreams and how to chase them. Plot- A boy has had a dream, there is a treasure below the pyramids in Egypt and he sets off to find it. Oh, how simple that seems and yet I have barely seen a novel more difficult to get the true essence. His journey is filled with extra-ordinary coincidences and incidents, making the journey adventurous and also giving a scope for some wisdom to be shared. A book like no other, This is the first book I'd recommend to instill a reading habit.  Characters- Santiago....Melchizedek....the alchemist....the shopkeeper.... all of these characters have a separate soul. A person we could identify, not one we could relate with the author in any way. This is a...

THE PLAYERS- I am not considering Messi a Right winger. 1. Ousmane Dembele- A joy to watch when he is healthy, but the problem is that he is never healthy. A grand total of fifty-one games in almost three seasons is not good. And even worse when he was signed to fill the boots of Neymar. We have not even considered his transfer fee yet. A huge 105 million Euros. Now, coming to when he does play, almost every-time he steps onto the field, he is one of the better and creative players. This the most painful thing. When you need a player who is least bothered and always injured.  2. Francesco Trincao- Again, a really good player, going to become Barcelona's, but this is different. He is young, very young. Twenty years. What's more, he is already delivering goal contributions, dribbles and consistency. With 20 direct goal contributions, he has been one of the best young players on the continent this season. Conclusion- According to me, we should have patience for Dembele. Because, a...

No. 5. The Canon Of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle               The hands down best detective novel and character, this had to be featured. This series gives the reader the thrill most novels do not. This thrill, accompanied by beautiful language, makes this an absolute classic.               Plot- There are many novels and stories revolving around Sherlock Holmes, but one thing is clear, every single one of them is different and every single one of them is so intelligently planned out that almost no plot-hole can be dug out. None. This is, and will remain, the best detective series forever.               Characters- There are three or four characters that appear in every story, Sherlock Holmes, his only true friend John Watson and the police officer Lestrade. The characters, I must say, are overdeveloped. This is a plot based novel and still the only novel...

THE PLAYERS- 1. Arturo Vidal- I do not know how, but he has become one of the mainstays in the starting lineup. He is aggressive, presses intensely and never gives up. What's more, he also scores vital goals. A good player ? certainly. However, what we need to take into consideration is that he is not the type of player Barca would have needed if they played well. For example, if the defense and attack do not loose the ball and midfielders add creativity to it, there will be no need for workaholic players.   2. Riqui Puig- In my opinion, the best midfielder we have, after busquets, is Riqui. And I am sure I share this with millions of cules. He is athletic, passing and vision is brilliant, presses smartly, never looses the ball. These are the characteristics Barca should look out for. He is simply brilliant.  3. Ivan Rakitic- After a bad start to season, due to which De Jong had to play as a central midfielder, he has had a good latter half, but partly in a defensive role...

No. 6. Alice's Adventures in the Wonderland by Lewis Carroll               This book is the epitome of children's literature. Every page carries that feel of inquisitiveness, curiosity and innocence. This book has a lot to offer, and not only to children, but to adults alike.                Plot- This plot revolves around a girl Alice who accidentally falls into  a rabbit hole and enters a strange world ( ...spoiler). She undergoes various adventures there and ALL OF THEM ARE INTERESTING. Every spooky subplot with a spooky character makes you giggle and the bad characters make you angry. Beautifully portrayed.               characters- Alice is everything a child is. Honest, innocent, kind, a little selfish and proud. Every character is ideal for the plot and nothing seems to be out of place, even though everything is actually out of place.    ...

THE PLAYERS- 1. Sergio Busquets- A starter until he ceases to play, Busquets still amazes with his touch of magic. Every match he plays, he brings that quickness in passing and determination to circulate the ball actively, towards the opposite goal. But he is old now (32 y/o) and no one can say him anything if his level drops. He has earned that, just like Iniesta and Xavi. And we may have a worthy successor. 2. Frenkie De Jong- Yes, he has had a difficult first season. His performance has dropped. But playing for Barcelona is different to playing for Ajax. Also, he has played well on various occasions, some ten on ten performances, so he is starting to advance and according to me, this position is done and dusted. When Busquets decides to hang up his boots, frenkie will automatically fill into them. By then, De Jong would have learned many tricks from Busquets. 3. Miralem Pjanic- He is going to be with Barcelona next season, and he plays at a position very important to Barcelona. So, ...

No. 7. The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint Exupery This book had to be in the list. Anyone who has read it, children, teens, adults, all have fallen in love with it, for different reasons. Some can see themselves in the little prince, some in the other characters, some relish the characters, some try to improve themselves. This book has been loved by many-a-generations and will continue to do so.          Characters- This novella is short. Very short. so it does not have that intricately bound together characters. It has some common people walking around on different planets with completely distinguishable traits. Then there is the little prince. He is as smart and innocent as one can get. He does not dwell on material things and keeps thinking of others, keeps his curiosity alive. Truly memorable.          Plot- This story has a plot with no big plot. It has various subplots but the main plot is not as important as one would like. The...

THE PLAYERS- 1. Gerard Pique- Still the most efficient center back in the team, he is a player with unimaginable technical abilities for a center back, while also being imposing in defense. With all of this, he also a thirty two year old player, with minimal speed and not many years in front of him.  2. Clement Lenglet- The Frenchman has been at the utmost top of his powers lately. He is powerful in the challenges, dominant in the air and above average with distribution. He is all that we need and certainly he is here to stay. 3. Samuel Umtiti- He is almost non-existent in the team and whenever he plays, he is known for not so great things. he has been Lethargic, slow and surprisingly not dominant. He has been far from his best and unless he manages to bring it back, he cannot be a part of this squad. 4. Ronald Araujo- The La Masia product has been nothing short of reveling. He is very well developed and enough strong to match a physical team. He is the ideal heir to Pique. Conclus...

NO. 8. The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz By Lyman Frank Baum An all time children's favorite, this book is almost as good as children's book gets in terms of language, plot, the wonder and excitement and most importantly, the innocence of a child's mind. It precisely carries  the  essence of a children's novel. Plot- An absolutely known plot when someone tells the plot, an absolute different world when one reads it. The plot enthralls even the most hardest of readers. A girl who makes her way through a strange land to get back to home, with the help of some strange people. Characters- A girl travelling on her own, joined by some people with strange characteristics, a powerful wizard who is not so powerful, a good witch, a bad witch. SO CLICHE. Still, it works as fine as any other. Conclusion- There is not much I could write to defend my decision, but when you read it, you love it. It's as simple as that. Nothing more to be said.

THE PLAYERS 1. Jordi Alba- There are no doubts about him as a player. He has established himself as one of the best full backs of his generation. However good he might have been, he is over thirty years old. He had a difficult start to season, and reestablished himself in the latter half of the season. This can not be acceptable at such a high level. But we had almost no other option. This is where the problem starts.  2. Junior Firpo- A young full back, he still needs to learn a few tricks from Jordi. He is highly inconsistent, lethargic going forward, pretty solid defending. But as I said, going forward is important for F.C. Barcelona full backs to move forward, to provide the missing width to the attack. Conclusion- Junior Firpo is a good player, with a good set of skills, but just not the right pick for Barcelona. We need to recruit someone, and fast. We will discuss it in the next topic. 

No. 9. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse I do not think there will be any outburst for the ones who have read it. It was one of those novels where we cannot help but notice the similarities between the character and us. This is a clear indication of an elite character based novel. Which, it is.               Plot- This is such a character based novel that the plot itself is the ( Holistic) evolution of the character, Siddhartha. Siddhartha travels, meets various people, only in the search for true enlightenment. But it has a lot more to it than that. The story is woven in a manner so that we end up right where we started, time and time again. This adds a little emotion to it. A perfect combination, I would say.               Characters- As I said, this is a character driven novel. This novel absolutely NAILS human nature in a way only Dickens was capable of. It is truly magical to watch them grow, saddening to see...

THE PLAYERS 1. Nelson Semedo- According to me, since the restart, he has been fantastic. If he continues to play like this, he will be the first preference. He is young, fast, commendably solid in defense and knows his surroundings well.  2. Sergi Roberto- Sergi Roberto is a player of many talents, he is confident and creative with the ball, intelligent off it. He is a perfect Barcelona player. But, full backs in this Barca team need to be fast, dynamic. Because the wingers do not add depth to the attack, we need it even more. Conclusion- I dot think any new signing or any change needs to be made, because both of them are doing job fantastically. There is no problem, right now, in the right back position.

No. 10. Robert Langdon Series by Dan Brown               Okay, first of all, do not unsubscribe, I am not anti literature. This may have even be higher, but the criticism made me doubt myself and I read it again. But, I still loved it. The justification will be made, do not worry.                Plot- This is a plot based novel, so the best thing should be plot, and it is! The plot is really a cliffhanger after every five chapters. That is fine by me. An almost perfect man, a girl with extra ordinary instincts to help him, a vicious villain and a theory on a sensitive topic. That is his formula and it works just fine when I read it. Not very much while analyzing. The people who criticize him for taking up the theories available on internet, never mention the name of the book with such a thorough research and even a mediocre language. So I searched and found none.          ...

The players- 1.  Marc-André ter Stegen- Probably the second most important player in the team, ter Stegen has been one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, along with being ridiculously composed with the ball at his feet. There are no problems with him and he will surely continue. 2. Neto- Neto is more than worthy replacement to ter Stegen, being a decent shot-stopper with pretty impressive distribution. No problem with him too, unless he chooses to play regularly for another team. In that case...... 3.  Iñaki Peña- This is where we should turn to, rather than a big money move. Inaki is too good to be overlooked. He is definitely good with his feet, and he is developing as a brilliant shot-stopper. Conclusion- Goalkeeping has been the strongest part for Barcelona this year, and there really are no complaints to be made. 

              This series will talk about my top ten fiction books and why I like them, in detail. The books can be novels or novellas, fantasy or contemporary or any other fiction and the word count does not matter. WARNING: Huge controversies upcoming....

                   A couple of days ago, Barca lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid. It has been a far from perfect season, and as a cule, I do not want hurt myself afterwards by thinking we will win the champion's league. So, an analysis is needed, so as to where the club went wrong. Of course, the board was to be blamed, but the positions where board could not fulfill the club is to be analysed and that is what this series will start off with. All possible positions on the pitch will be discussed in depth and the solutions be offered. 

              I am Mercier and this is the introduction to my blogs. I will blog about FC Barcelona, sometimes about football in general, and books. By books, I mean fiction. I do not want to lure subscribers who won't benefit from these blogs. Update- For this week, I will be uploading twice a day. I will inform about my uploads every Sunday  I hope you enjoy !