ISL 2015: Kerala Blasters FC banking on English experience in hunt for glory

When your team owner is Sachin Tendulkar, a cricketing god to millions, and you come from a state that is ‘god’s own country’, a lot is riding on you. Yes, the pressure must be enormous on Kerala Blasters. But with a new head coach and a new-look attack, Kerala will be hoping to go the distance in the Indian Super League’s (ISL) sophomore season.

So close, yet so far

Last time around, the Blasters stumbled at the final hurdle. They entered the showdown for the inaugural season of the ISL as unlikely finalists against overwhelming favourites Atlético de Kolkata. In a final made for the papers, the ‘Sachin vs Sourav’ bout dominated the airwaves. Two cricketing legends, long-time friends, perhaps the greatest opening pair in ODI cricket, facing off for the ISL crown.

It was Dada’s night as Atlético won the tight encounter through a 95th minute goal by Mohammed Rafique. It was that close.

Kerala had a bad start to the tournament, waiting four matches to record their first win. They rode on Iain Hume’s goals and were solid in defence with Sandesh Jhingan at centre-back and head coach-cum-marquee player David James guarding the woodwork.

But it’s a different Kerala Blasters this time. They might have lost their highest scorer (Hume) to Kolkata and James to the world of punditry at BT Sport. But they’ve made considerable gains as well.

Strengths

Just like last season, Kerala’s strength lies in their defence. The solid back four coupled with James had given away just 11 goals in 14 games in the group stages of the first ISL. This time around, Kerala have their marquee player in Spaniard Carlos Marchena, a defensive powerhouse, to add to their already strong backbone.

Marchena will find an able partner in Jhingan. Following ISL’s inaugural season, Jhingan won the Emerging Player of the year award for keeping Kerala’s defence air-tight. Not too long ago, he was also named the Football Player Association of India’s (FPAI) Best Indian Player in the ISL.

Taking James’ place in goal is Stephen Bywater, an English goalkeeper with plenty of experience. He has played for Derby County and West Ham United among other notable clubs. They have also bagged Mohun Bagan captain Shilton Paul from Chennaiyin FC. Between them, the goalmouth looks safe.

Another addition to bolster the defence is Peter Ramage. The former Newcastle, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace defender will bring some English grit to Kerala’s defence. Marcus Williams, former Scunthorpe United left-back, is another new acquisition.

However, Kerala Blasters will be bothered about the fitness of marquee signing Carlos Marchena. In a major setback, Marchena was injured in a training session and flew back to Spain for treatment. He is likely to miss the opener against Northeast United.

Another man to watch out is 24-year-old Sanchez Watt, an English forward who operates primarily as a winger. Watt is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy and was a key member of the team that won the 2008-09 FA Youth Cup. He even scored a goal on his professional debut for Arsenal’s first team against West Bromwich Albion.

Arsene Wenger has praised his playing style in the past, calling him a player who “makes fantastic runs”, is an “aggressive striker” and one who “always finds resources to be dangerous”. Words of praise from one of the best managers in the world don’t come cheap. Watt is a much-needed addition to a team that often found itself sluggish in attack.

Weaknesses

Kerala conceded only 11 in 14 group games last year, but they managed to score only nine. A lack of free-flowing goals was a big concern as the team had a defensive attitude.

With Watt in their side now, and Indian forward Manandeep Singh signed from Delhi Dynamos, Kerala will be hoping for some relief in the scoring department. Kerala’s new acquisition, former Rochdale and Barnsley striker, Chris Dagnall, will also add to their goal threat.

The head-coach

Kerala Blasters’ new head coach might just be their best acquisition for ISL 2. Englishman Peter Taylor brings with him an abundance of coaching experience and has managed at club, as well as at international level. The former Bahrain head coach, who has also managed England U-21s, Leicester City, Hull City and Crystal Palace in the past, is an experienced player himself with more than a hundred appearances for Palace and Tottenham Hotspur under his belt. And he scored over 60 goals for the two clubs, so he knows a bit about goal-scoring too.

A winger himself, he might sharpen the attacking aspects of Kerala Blasters and give them a new approach.

Best XI

Stephen Bywater looks like their best bet as goalkeeper. Jhingan as right-back, Marchena and Ramage as centre-backs and Marcus Williams as left-back, rounding up the back four.

New signing Joao Coimbra should join Mehtab Hossain and Peter Carvalho in midfield with Sanchez Watt operating wide in a winger’s role.

Dagnall and Manandeep would hope to form a strike partnership to bring in the goals for Kerala Blasters.