Matchweek 10 of the ISL has come and gone, and we've had a change at the top of the table, with Mohun Bagan replacing Bengaluru FC at the top. We're at that point in the season where we could see the title contenders pull away, but the ISL remains a tightly contested affair.
We muse, on the matchweek gone by.
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What is up with Bengaluru FC?
Gerard Zaragoza's side started the season with six wins from seven and looked all set to steamroll sides through the league. There was nary a weakness to be found in their side, with a balanced starting XI and superb options from the bench. Since then, they've lost to FC Goa 0-3, were lucky in their 2-2 draw against NorthEast United FC, needed Sunil Chhetri to bail them out against Mohammedan SC -- a game they should have lost, and suffered 4-2 loss against Odisha FC.
Zaragoza's penchant for unnecessary rotations meant they had a horrific start against Odisha and looked bereft of ideas when going down 0-3 at half-time. Four half-time changes were made, and though BFC 'won' the second half 2-1, but the damage was done. Why Zaragoza saw fit to mess with a winning formula, especially against a side like Odisha at the Kalinga stadium is baffling, and it's meant BFC are no longer favourites for the title.
There's no major cause for concern for BFC though, the answer is staring them in the face. Play their best XI in every game -- the ISL isn't as intense that it requires such heavy rotation.
Odisha FC's dark horses shine bright
As much as Bengaluru were poor in their first half against Odisha, it was compounded by the fact that Sergio Lobera's side continued where they left off against Hyderabad FC. Ten goals in the last two games has made the rest of the league sit up and take notice -- Odisha are here to vie for some silverware.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ games, 1️⃣ goal, and a lifetime of memories ��
�� Watch #ISL 2024-25 live on @JioCinema & @Sports18-3 �� https://t.co/L5O7X7CEiN#OdishaFC #AmaTeamAmaGame #KalingaWarriors #OFCBFC | @JerryMawia10 pic.twitter.com/53IlsH1QJ6
- Odisha FC (@OdishaFC) December 2, 2024
While a Lobera side beginning to purr is always good news for the purists, it's made doubly special by the involvement of Indian players. Their first goals against BFC were a symphony -- and it involved three Indian players. Puitea's left foot sending in a peach of a cross, little Isak Ralte somehow finding the strength to hold off Rahul Bheke and lay a perfectly weighted touch into space in the box, and Jerry Mawihmingthanga finding the deftest of finishes from a narrow angle. Manolo Marquez ought to be watching -- his fellow Spaniard can help with the national team.
Odisha's goal-scoring is unquestionably of the caliber to win the title (they top the league with 2.3 goals per game), but they remain porous at the back. Only Jamshedpur, Hyderabad and the Blasters have conceded more -- which could undermine their push for silverware.
Sanan's goal of the season contender emblematic of a youngster ready to explode
Actually, scratch the word 'contender' off the list. Give him the award now. Mohammed Sanan's strike was so good, it bears re-watching, not words. Seriously, go have a look, I'll wait.
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Keep watching #JFCMSC on #JioCinema & #Sports18-3! ��#ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #JioCinemaSports #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/N6ZWHbui1r
- JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 2, 2024
Perhaps the hyperbole had much to do with the fact that for the previous 52 minutes, Jamshedpur vs Mohammedan SC was a torturous watch, with those of a certain age suffering PTSD flashbacks of Khalid Jamil's Mumbai FC teams in the I-League. Thankfully, Jamil is a changed man now, able to nurture young Indian talents and let them bloom. And Sanan has certainly bloomed.
The 20-year-old was a constant thorn in Mohammedan's side, and while these pages have been less than complimentary about the Kolkata side's quality, Sanan displayed all the qualities of a youngster ready to explode. Scoring the goal -- a curled/powered shot from the edge of the box that cannoned off the upright into the top corner -- aside, Sanan's quest to run behind the backline and at defenders makes him a nightmare. Yet, his age shone through in the choices he made in the box -- which can always be polished.
Sanan has all the raw materials to become a big, big player and it'll be a big disappointment if he doesn't. Thankfully he's at a club and under a manager who will guide him well.
East Bengal's first win of the season offers hope
It's ironic that East Bengal's first win of the season came in the manner everyone expected Carles Cuadrat to win. Madih Talal, top assister of last season, providing Dimitrios Diamantakos, top-scorer of last season. Shut up shop, ride your luck, and coast to a 1-0 win. Oscar Bruzon is in charge now, and that was pretty much the tale of the Kolkata giant's 1-0 win over NorthEast United,
Oscar Bruzon is in charge now, and that was pretty much the tale of the Kolkata giant's 1-0 win over NorthEast United, although East Bengal did ride their luck trying to keep Alaaeddine Ajaraie from scoring. The ill-discipline aside, this ought to be East Bengal's route back up the table.
They still have 16 games left to play this season, and strangely have the fourth-best defence in the league. All is not lost, and making up a 11-point gap to the playoff spots isn't as outlandish as it sounds. Bruzon has the template now, and simply has to follow it -- this is a formula that could work even against the best teams in the league.
Advantage Bagan in the title race
As always Mohun Bagan defy analysis, and even when their new manager Jose Molina was struggling early in the season, there was always the nagging feeling that the team would eventually come good.
Even as Chennaiyin FC held on for 85 minutes, there was an air of inevitability about the result -- Jason Cummings eventually scored for Bagan with a piece of individual magic. They now are top of the table with a game in hand, and given only BFC were able to beat them this season, the omens are good for Bagan.
Four 1-0s in six games point to some rare caution
The previous matchweek saw 3.5 goals per game, and it seemed like all the ISL managers had an existential crisis with the next four games being 1-0 wins. Before the knives come out for defensive football, it's that time of the season where team's patterns are set and the opposition is able to cancel them out better, given there's roughly 900 minutes of football to ponder over.
It's also that time of the year where clubs can still change managers and expect to turn their season around, so there's an element of jeopardy in play as managers look to safeguard results.
However, it's the managers that are able to produce new ideas, new patterns of play who will eventually thrive and compete for silverware, so we can expect the trend of 1-0s to end within the next few weeks.