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Crystal Ball Series: Mahindra United
As each year goes by, there is a craving for most to look back and take stock of things. Everyone is seen staring at the crystal balls (no pun intended!) and decoding their future.
14-Jan-2009 6:37:22 AM
Probably this is how we evolve as individuals and society as a whole by learning from the past or to put in a better way, making sense of it.
The media has picked this up and hence you have the best and worst series at the turn of the year in each field and genre. Thankfully, I didn’t have to do it and didn’t read much while on vacation!
With the second phase of the I-League about to kick-off in a few days time, we look back as to what has happened with each of the teams and what can possibly happen. Maybe this quote of Will Smith in popular sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air would help.
“…to know where you are going, you’ve got to know where you’re coming from…“
I am picking teams randomly and to start with, I have Mahindra United on my desk.
The Mumbai club hasn’t had a great season and find themselves placed in the 10th spot, level on points with the 11th placed Mohammedan Sporting. Surprising isn’t it?
None of the astrologers would have predicted that the Red Devils would be, so to say, fighting the relegation blues. They won the Durand Cup convincingly by thwarting the likes of JCT and Churchill Brothers in the semi-finals and finals. They were labelled as the one of the top favourites to win the I-League. But things haven’t gone their way.
They started their league campaign away from home against Churchill Brothers and despite putting on a brave front; they fell to Odafa Okolie’s brilliance. Playing their first home game of the season against the promoted Chirag United side, Mahindra allowed their opposition to comeback and score three goals after leading 1-0 at half-time. That was the start of the things to come.
They lost the Mumbai derby to Mumbai FC and didn’t take their chances. Credit must be given to Derrick Pereira’s boys for managing to eke out a victory in Punjab against JCT, a place which has always been a nightmare for visiting sides.
This was followed by a disappointing loss to Mohammedan Sporting. It was Mike Okoro’s day but some of the players helped him to excel by their poor showing. Mahindra did manage to defeat Vasco which would be remembered for Chidi Edeh finally managing to score a goal for them.
Thereafter, began a short love affair with draws against East Bengal, Air India and Sporting Clube De Goa. Not bad for a team struggling for form.
In their tenth game of the league, they lost to Mohun Bagan and thus ended the first phase disappointingly. They would have thanked that their game against defending champions Dempo SC was postponed due to the terror attacks in Mumbai as in that form, they would have surely gone lost another few points.
Then came the Federation Cup and based on the group games, Mahindra United were one of the most lethal sides. They looked a completely different outfit with the likes of Pradeep, Steven Dias, Sukhwinder Singh and Manjit Singh putting on a much better performance. They went out of the tournament on goal difference and were undone by some refereeing errors.
Last season, Mahindra snapped 18 points from their home games out of their total of 28 at the end of the league. This season, they have failed to win any of their home games and interestingly, they have more matches at the Cooperage Stadium in the second phase.
Their defence has been shaky and have let in silly goals, even in the Federation Cup. D. Ravanan does tend to make occasional mistakes, while Justin Stephen is too inexperienced. The addition of Lamine Tamba has been them the much needed steel at the back but there is much more to be done. Subashish Chowdhury needs to raise his performance between the sticks.
Scoring seven goals in 10 games isn’t enough and Coach Derrick Pereira would hope that his team could build on some of the positives from the Federation Cup where they scored nine in three outings.
Steven Dias’ latest comment of his agent speaking to his current club on a prospective move to Major League Soccer (MLS) wouldn’t go well with the team. Would this affect them, who knows? If this would happen in any other part of the world, the player would be questioned about his actions and words and if need be, even reprimanded. Don’t expect any such behaviour from Indian clubs as they are to meek to even think of this for whatever reasons.
If Mahindra United do show the desire and hunger they had in the Federation Cup, then they can change the tide and end up in the top half of the table. But to expect them to win the title would be going overboard unless other clubs help their course. The going isn’t easy for them either as they straight away host Dempo at home.
They won one home game against East Bengal last season and didn’t lose any of their home matches which followed. Mahindra need to find their rhythm and combination.
I expect them to perform better than they did in the first phase and gradually move up on the table. If they do manage to enter the top five at the end of the season, that would be an achievement considering the present situation.
What do you think? How would Mahindra United perform in the second phase of the I-League? Do you expect them to come up or glide further down?
Rahul Bali.
The media has picked this up and hence you have the best and worst series at the turn of the year in each field and genre. Thankfully, I didn’t have to do it and didn’t read much while on vacation!
With the second phase of the I-League about to kick-off in a few days time, we look back as to what has happened with each of the teams and what can possibly happen. Maybe this quote of Will Smith in popular sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air would help.
“…to know where you are going, you’ve got to know where you’re coming from…“
I am picking teams randomly and to start with, I have Mahindra United on my desk.
The Mumbai club hasn’t had a great season and find themselves placed in the 10th spot, level on points with the 11th placed Mohammedan Sporting. Surprising isn’t it?
None of the astrologers would have predicted that the Red Devils would be, so to say, fighting the relegation blues. They won the Durand Cup convincingly by thwarting the likes of JCT and Churchill Brothers in the semi-finals and finals. They were labelled as the one of the top favourites to win the I-League. But things haven’t gone their way.
They started their league campaign away from home against Churchill Brothers and despite putting on a brave front; they fell to Odafa Okolie’s brilliance. Playing their first home game of the season against the promoted Chirag United side, Mahindra allowed their opposition to comeback and score three goals after leading 1-0 at half-time. That was the start of the things to come.
They lost the Mumbai derby to Mumbai FC and didn’t take their chances. Credit must be given to Derrick Pereira’s boys for managing to eke out a victory in Punjab against JCT, a place which has always been a nightmare for visiting sides.
This was followed by a disappointing loss to Mohammedan Sporting. It was Mike Okoro’s day but some of the players helped him to excel by their poor showing. Mahindra did manage to defeat Vasco which would be remembered for Chidi Edeh finally managing to score a goal for them.
Thereafter, began a short love affair with draws against East Bengal, Air India and Sporting Clube De Goa. Not bad for a team struggling for form.
In their tenth game of the league, they lost to Mohun Bagan and thus ended the first phase disappointingly. They would have thanked that their game against defending champions Dempo SC was postponed due to the terror attacks in Mumbai as in that form, they would have surely gone lost another few points.
Then came the Federation Cup and based on the group games, Mahindra United were one of the most lethal sides. They looked a completely different outfit with the likes of Pradeep, Steven Dias, Sukhwinder Singh and Manjit Singh putting on a much better performance. They went out of the tournament on goal difference and were undone by some refereeing errors.
Last season, Mahindra snapped 18 points from their home games out of their total of 28 at the end of the league. This season, they have failed to win any of their home games and interestingly, they have more matches at the Cooperage Stadium in the second phase.
Their defence has been shaky and have let in silly goals, even in the Federation Cup. D. Ravanan does tend to make occasional mistakes, while Justin Stephen is too inexperienced. The addition of Lamine Tamba has been them the much needed steel at the back but there is much more to be done. Subashish Chowdhury needs to raise his performance between the sticks.
Scoring seven goals in 10 games isn’t enough and Coach Derrick Pereira would hope that his team could build on some of the positives from the Federation Cup where they scored nine in three outings.
Steven Dias’ latest comment of his agent speaking to his current club on a prospective move to Major League Soccer (MLS) wouldn’t go well with the team. Would this affect them, who knows? If this would happen in any other part of the world, the player would be questioned about his actions and words and if need be, even reprimanded. Don’t expect any such behaviour from Indian clubs as they are to meek to even think of this for whatever reasons.
If Mahindra United do show the desire and hunger they had in the Federation Cup, then they can change the tide and end up in the top half of the table. But to expect them to win the title would be going overboard unless other clubs help their course. The going isn’t easy for them either as they straight away host Dempo at home.
They won one home game against East Bengal last season and didn’t lose any of their home matches which followed. Mahindra need to find their rhythm and combination.
I expect them to perform better than they did in the first phase and gradually move up on the table. If they do manage to enter the top five at the end of the season, that would be an achievement considering the present situation.
What do you think? How would Mahindra United perform in the second phase of the I-League? Do you expect them to come up or glide further down?
Rahul Bali.
Inside Goal.Com
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