East Bengal: Review of the season till now

I always said on my blog last year, I am worried about the stage when Mr. Morgan will leave East Bengal, and this season proved me right. This is most complete squad of East Bengal, but not the right man in the start of season. For me personally, bringing Coach like Flapo was always a danger and it proved right. He got the expectation of East Bengal, who are expected to win every game there fan, and even more so spoilt by Mr. Morgan in last few years. He was never given the time to settle in the Indian football by media, He was always compare to Mr. Morgan, in which he failed but it was not his fault, it is fault of club. I will come to that point later.

Let me first say, The AFC cup performance of East Bengal was the highlight of the season. I think tactical genius of flapo won the Quarterfinal for us, but in semi we were outplayed by the superior club. But I was satisfied by the performance of the team. I hope this year they can get in AFC cup, because now the player is better equipped to play away from home as they are now used to it. I hope they can get better this season.

Getting rid of Flapo was not the smart move, but appointing him at first place was the wrong more for me. If you have seen in last few years, Morgan has developed him team by choosing player for his team, but flapo was never given that chance. I think that led to his downfall. He might be great coach, sometime it doesn’t work out as we want. East Bengal has to be patient with their next coach, because it will take time to get used to team and player. That is why I think it was smart move to appoint Almando, he know Indian football better than anyone, he is just a great coach and also he has won I league, a missing piece from east Bengal jewel from few years. I hope he win it for east Bengal, win against Mohan Began has kicked start the season for east Bengal.

What impressed me about east Bengal in last few season has been how they have handled the transfer window, Inflow and outflow of player. They have maintain the core of squad same for last few years, and also the young player in squad are quite good. They will do better as the season will progress, but one player which impressed me most is Lalrindika Ralte, he has been star in East Bengal. The goal he has scored this season is class apart. I think he is just 21 year old; he is one of brightest start of India not for east Bengal. The core of east Bengal squad remain same, they have just made the squad better. I hope they don’t chop and change next season also.

I am east Bengal fan, but I hate when east Bengal chop and change too much in a season. But being Chelsea fc and EBFC you realize that loosing in that club, means end of word. So the expectation is to win every match.

Mumbai Fc: The moneyball of Indian football

Every year before start of Indian football season there is always a question mark on one team Mumbai Fc. They don’t have team yet ready, there star player left the club, they can’t sign any big star player but still somehow before start of season they put a team on the pitch. It somehow sounds to me like a moneyball movie, the Coach here Khalid Jamil has done tremendous job with the little back up he has. He is proving to be one of the best upcoming coaches in India especially if you look at the work he has done with youngster.

Every season they are the one the primarily candidate for the relegation, but for last 3 season they have proved prediction wrong. They have somehow survived each season with kind of fight back that you always love to see from an underdog them. But how long they can keep this doing this; I am not too sure about that. They can do it till Khalid Jamil is there coach for sure. He is really grown on his own, every season new players, new problem but yet he produces a team which love to play and fight as a team. Only Abhishek Yadav has been there longer than Khaid, He has produced a team of performing youngster year after year. In my opinion he deserves to be an assistant coach of Indian football team, so he can learn and we can develop coach for the future.

Personally I am an East Bengal fan but the recent run of Mumbai Fc has caught my eye. Look at this team, they have drawn with Mohan bagan, which they should have won and again they defeated prayad united. The Galaticos of Indian football, they deserve applaud for that. If I would have been a team owner or say a football reporter I would have run stories how Khaild is doing it time and time again. Defying the odds, getting the youngster and player past their prime perform as a team. 

This is only team from Mumbai, a city which has lost its love for sports. In last few years I have not heard any extra ordinary talent has come out from Mumbai in any sports. Well Mumbai needs its last hope for the city in sports; Mumbai Fc is one of them. They keep youth engaged and also there youth team is quite good. They promote their youth into first team rather than purchasing players from other club. I can see lots of youngster play there heart out, but when they go to other club they seems to be lost.

I know Mumbai has its own rich cricket team, but this a team which need real Mumbai supports. I hope Mumbai people come to watch their match like Pune Fc club supporter. They might not win the league but there are winning many hearts in the process of their quest of stability. If this team can be together 3 years they can do wonders. 

P.S.: Mumbai might lose itself from football map of Indian if they don’t do enough to support the teams in term of ground and other backing.