Bouncebackability!!!

A term used by the Crystal Palace Manager Iain Dowie in the year 2005, when his team came back from behind against Arsenal. The word describes the ability of teams to comeback from behind in a game. We have all seen games where sportsmen do the incredulous. We have witnessed the Davids beat the Goliaths and players coming back from the dead. But you don't expect that to happen with the same team and the same set of players again and again.

But that's exactly what has happened at The FA Cup Finals in Cardiff yesterday. Liverpool beat West Ham in penalty shoot out.There is nothing surprising on the final result, Liverpool were the favorites to win, they were 2 goals down after first 30 minutes. They pulled back a goal before close of first half and equalized early in the second half. But then West Ham's Paul Konchesky scored with a curling shot from the left which went over the Pool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Then Steven Gerrard did what he has made a habit off. In the 89th minute, he scored a volley shot from the edge of the box which shot like a bullet in the goal.

With extra time and penalty due, I think everyone knew Liverpool would do it. May 25th 2005, Istanbul will haunt all teams facing Liverpool. If they can come for 3 goals down against AC Milan which, composed the likes of Shevchenko, Kaka, Stam, Maldini, Crespo, Cafu and Gattuso, and win in the penalty with a goalkeeper of the likes of Jerzy Dudek, then anything is possible. Earlier in that same Champions League season, they had to win against Olympiakos in the Round robin stage, and Steven Gerrard scored a scorcher in the second half extra time. Not that Liverpool have great individual players, but there belief in the team, that they can comeback from any adverse situation.

For me personally, the word bouncebackability has become a mantra for kicking myself out of a lull. Liverpool has become a symbol of the same. So whenever one is down and feel depressed, tell yourself if a team like Liverpool can do it so many times, you definitely can!