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ShareMumbai: I have lived a bit of a nomadic life. Transfer, packing and trucks were part of my lingo even before chocolates and ice-creams. My father's work was such that sometimes it meant a transfer even in mid-term of school. That's why we were packed off to boarding school very early. Even then, the nomadic existence continued. Going home for holidays was so much more exciting, because 'home' was in a different city every other year.
It's that year again. However, this time my displacement is only from my 'home' to a
rented place about 5 kms away, while the family is moving almost 2000 kms north.
Exciting as this constant change is, it has often left me feeling lost. It's probably the reason why I've been a little more empathetic, than my friends think necessary, to footballers struggling at a new club.
If it can be disconcerting moving to a new city, imagine moving to a foreign country every couple of years -- with no knowledge of the language -- and trying to adapt to the cuisine, culture, and sometimes, hostile people. If the player happens to be a big buy, then there's the added burden of high expectations. He may be from sunny Brazil but is expected to perform brilliantly from the first touch even in cold and rainy Newcastle. It can be tough.
But of course, these are world class athletes. We'd like to assume they are blessed with
superhuman abilities, with very little emotional needs except the overwhelming love they feel for their new club.
Another new season of the Premier League is upon us. The transfer window, though, doesn't close till August 31. Some big names have left the league; some have moved clubs within the league while a few have come from beyond English shores. The frantic pace of the transfers has slowed down, maybe to pick up closer to the deadline.
The new faces will mean more expectations, more disappointments, dreams realised, abuses hurled not just in English, more tackles, bruises and more broken bones.
The English League is, by far, the most challenging physically. Even a strongly-built Russian like Roman Pavlyuchenko found it hard soon after he signed for Tottenham Hotspurs in December last year. "I realised in my first practice session that I would have to restructure my game totally because English football is a lot faster and more physically demanding," Pavlyuchenko had said in a television interview, speaking in Russian. The only time he used English was when he said with a wry smile, "I hate English food."
As a rule, I never judge a player by his first season in the League. It's cruel. Just like it's cruel to expect a chaat lover from Delhi to eat a vada pav with relish in Mumbai. It takes time. And even then, the transition may not take place. What you then might have is a potpourri of flavours, sometimes delectable, sometimes just plain nasty.
Thus, to all the new movers in the Premier League, I wish a happy stay.
