Bengaluru FC vs Mohammeden Sporting : The Key Battle that Won the Match

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Guest column by by Yogesh Maurya (Football coach). Today he deconstructs Bengaluru FC’s match against Mohammedan Sporting and talks about the key battle that won the match for the home team

Bengaluru FC, I-leagueThis match was largely about 10 players: 4 Mohammedan Sporting players attacking 6 Bengaluru FC players throughout the match.  The front 4 attacking players for Sporting included the midfielders #8 Penn Orji, #26 Jerry Zirsanaga, and their forwards #9 Josimar D’Silva and #10 Tolgey Ozbey…against the back 4 of Bengaluru FC which included centre halves #6 John Johnson and #4 Curtis Osano, right back #3 Vishal Kumar and left back #20 Keegan Pereira, plus Bengaluru FC midfielders #10 John Menyongar, and at times either #15 Darren Caldeira or #12 Thoi Singh.  Count them up and it was often these 10 players involved in the play as 4v6 and individually as 1v1, 1v2, 2v2, 2v3 and 3v3 battles that decided the game.  When it was all done, Bengaluru FC prevailed, and the reasons reinforce some fairly consistent aspects of this team while revealing some exciting new qualities.

The centre halves:

The obvious first…Johnson and Osano maintain extremely high levels of concentration throughout matches.  It is their intelligent reading of the game with and without the ball, combined with their confidence and effort that leads to them getting to balls first and winning almost all 50:50 battles or tackles.  They rarely make mistakes.  Josimar  and Tolgay were both dangerous and to their credit continued pushing until the last whistle, but lacked any kind of industrious or creative partnership and more importantly, without numbers in support, one always had the feeling it would only be a momentary lapse as happened on the goal by Josimar, that could undo Bengaluru FC.  Josimar’s goal was a well taken header off an excellent cross as he managed to slip between Johnson and Osano with Johnson just misjudging the flight of the ball. No reason to lose sleep over it because really the dynamic duo had an excellent game yet again against a crafty strike force.

The full backs:

In the first half, Mohammedan Sporting attacked primarily down the left flank with success. Vishal Kumar put in a shift but was repeatedly unsuccessful in containing attackers 1v1 leading to several scoring opportunities which Mohammedan Sporting was unable to finish.  Kumar was replaced by #13 Rino Anto in the second half who performed very well, as Mohammedan Sporting found slightly more success in attacking down the right flank against Keegan Pereira who was duly supported by midfielder Darren Caldeira as they attempted to thwart MS attacks which were at times very threatening despite being numbers down due mainly to the 1v1 attacking maturity of Tolgay and the busy buzzing of the playmaker Zirsanga who would eventually be substituted to little effect.

The holding midfielder:

In the first half there was some confusion between Menyongar and Singh in picking Orji up as he positioned himself fairly high up the pitch and was getting the ball in between the lines too easily.  Once the communication was sorted, both players were able to defend Orji as required and took the same understanding into the second half as Orji was forced to drop even deeper to receive the ball. Menyongar did what he usually does…filled the hole in front of the centre halves, kept from over committing himself, and was excellent in finding the free man in transition.

The Man of the Match

For me it was without doubt Thoi Singh who started the match in place of Siam Hangal.  Singh was the busiest player on the pitch, constantly showing for the ball with his team in possession, attacking with pace, making excellent decisions with the ball and doing the dogged defensive work as required.  His intelligently timed runs off the ball often saw him receiving the ball in dangerous areas in between the lines, and he attacked with confidence.  His pace, assembly line work rate, and attacking flare had a massive impact on the match, and I am looking forward to seeing him play more.

Post Scripts:

Counter Attack:

Bengaluru FC continues to show that it is most dangerous on the break. Makes for plenty of excitement.

Indian Strikers:

Sunil Chhetri : Something there sees him slightly out of his usual fine form turning the ball over somewhat cheaply and not yet having the right harmony with Pereira on the left.  Only one way to get out of it…keep working extremely hard and stay positive. He has the class.

Robin Singh : Crowd favourite is improving for sure and hard done not get a penalty after such wonderful defensive work and a great individual run into the box.
Beikhokhei Beingaicho : Has somewhat quietly been one of BFC’s best performers this season…attacking with pace and creativity, and always doing the defensive work asked of him.

Bengaluru FC Seeking to Collaborate with Inter Milan

According to a report that has appeared on Inter Milan website. Bengaluru FC is seeking to collaborate with the Italian football club.

Here is the translation of the article that appeared on the Inter’s website.

Image Courtesy : http://www.inter.it/it/news/63742

Image Courtesy : http://www.inter.it/it/news/63742

Friday, October 4, Kunal Agarwal Director General of Bengaluru FC, ​​professional football club that plays in the Indian I-League, owned by the JSW Group, met at the headquarters in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, some leaders Inter. In particular, Agarwal has spent some time with the staff of the commercial sector and the Inter Campus, staying then at length with the project’s technical leader Inter Academy, Marco Monti, to evaluate possible future collaborations techniques.

Why Ashley Westwood Got It Right against United Sports Club

Guest column by by Yogesh Maurya (Football coach). Today he deconstructs Bengaluru FC’s match against United SC and talks about Why Ashley Westwood Got It Right!

United SC enjoyed majority of the possession in the second half and Bengaluru FC continued to fall back and get numbers behind the ball much to the frustration of many in the crowd, as BFC’s hard work defensively was often wasted with rapid turnovers in transition. Someone in the crowd asked inquisitively, as if there was no explanation, “what the !)(#%} is wrong with them?” The answer in football is not as complicated as many tactical pundits would like fans to believe. “They are tired” I let him know.

And herein lies the difference between a smart manager and a casual fan.  When you have a 1-0 lead at home with the top of the table on the line, your central striker has had an off day missing two fairly easy chances by his standards which could have made the game a 3-0 washout, and the team is still getting into peak physical condition, you dig in, get numbers back and grind out a victory. Job well done.

Match on

Match on

One never had the feeling that United SC had that little bit of creativity, momentary brilliance, or cold blooded finishing prowess to ever really threaten.  Even late in the game, they managed a free header after some impressive build-up play but again, their lack of killer instinct was all too obvious on a soft header hit to the goalkeeper.

The first half was a tell tale sign of how BFC would triumph despite on what could be termed an off day for quite a few of the players.  United SC had lost their attacking lines, with the play-making “false 9” Eric Brown dropping very deep to receive the ball.  The issue was no midfielders pushed forward leaving deep space between United SC’s midfield line and forward line…instead of checking back, the forwards (now 2 against 4) pushed the line, hence, the end of the false 9 and the emergence of playing right into BFC’s hands…long balls against Johnson and Osano…need we say more!

The second half saw a much more effective United SC as they played through the industrious, gifted No. 7 Jayanta Sen. Sen did what he was unable to do in the first half, showing his comfort on the ball while maintaining possession and playing others into space.  Eric Brown finally pushed further up the pitch and began playing much more as a false 9 but without a strike force that could capitalize on his play-making abilities. He was left trying to create his own shots, settling many times for strikes from distance.  Had BFC pressed further up the pitch with the way Sen was playing, United SC would most certainly have broken BFC down and been given far easier chances at goal.

Bengaluru FC is a start-up. Building a team takes time and is a process.  And this process already has them at the top of the table.

Man of the Match BFC – John Jhonson

John Johnson receiving his MOTM

John Johnson receiving his MOTM

 

For my ticket, John Johnson and not because of the goal, but because of everything he did after the goal. The organiser, the leader, the courageous defender who along with Osano took everything United SC threw at them.

Man of the Match United SC

Jayanta Sen. Clearly a player to watch…terrific on the ball technically, has that photographic lens that the best playmakers have to see all of their options, and often chooses the best option

Indian strikers – Sunil Chhetri & Robin Singh

Robin.. all set!!

Robin.. all set!!

 

Robin – A player with a lot of pace that is quite anxious to show his worth and in that anxiousness, we see a player that is slightly off in knocking balls without lifting his head, losing the off-side line too easily. Just needs to relax so that his pace becomes an advantage and not a detriment

 

Sunil Chhetri returning from pre-match warm up

Sunil Chhetri

Sunil – Chhetri showed his class with the volley from the top of the 18 yard box late in the game that was on target.  He is a player that thrives on the ball on the counter. Out on the wing, it is challenging at times to await the ball, and I would expect him somewhere down the line to start pinching inside more.  There will come a time where he will get a freer role and can play more interchangeably with Hangal and Beingaicho when the team has matured enough to handle it.

Yogesh Maurya :

Football Yogi- Article 1-edited (1)

Was a United States High School All-American football player and represented the State of New Jersey as a player in the US Olympic Development Program throughout his teenage years. He has worked with some of the top coaches in US football like former US National Coach Bob Bradley, former US International Dieter Ficken and corever youth coach Tom Reilly

Pictures from the Bengaluru FC vs United SC match

Enjoy some pictures from the Bengaluru FC vs United SC match…..

Todays win against United SC has propelled Bengaluru FC to the top of the I-league table. See the latest I-league Standings.

Four things to be excited about Bengaluru F.C.

Bengaluru_FC_LogoThis is a guest column by by Yogesh Maurya (Football coach), where he does a tactical analysis of the Bengaluru FC team.

Numbers up!  :

Given the outstanding qualities of centre halves John Johnson and Curtis Osano, BFC can push the current 4:3:3 and morph when beneficial into a 3:5:2 or 3:4:3 during phases of a match.  As the wing backs develop their confidence and tactical instincts further, they can push deeper into the middle and attacking thirds allowing for better build-up play and pressing in transition.  And even more dangerous at times, in a 3:4:3 we could see one of the wing  backs pushing up further inside and allowing the very talented wingers in Chhetri and Beingaichho to push further forward.

Kiss…the carpet that is..Keep It Simple Stupid! :

[ Though some would bet the Gaffer likes to substitute the final word! 🙂 ] There are some very talented players in the group, and none more so than current holding midfielder Johnny Menyongar. When BFC play through him on the ground, five to ten meters, we see composure, class and a gutsy risk taker in action. A perfect example was the second goal against Rangdajied United, when he struck a wonderful ball nearly 40 meters to the equally prepared Beingaichho who took it down in stride and took on his defender with conviction and swagger.

Counter attack!  :

The third goal against Rangdajied United demonstrated why BFC is going to be a lot to handle on the break.  Sunil Chhetri’s speed and clear comfort attacking with his shoulders square to the goal combined with Rooney’s rare gift of playing with his back to the goal on the wonderful turf pitch suits the guile this team has shown to play counter at will.

Pressing please! :

(Not the kit laundry man!) With classy center halves and Menyongar’s ability to play the first or second ball on the carpet in transition, BFC will press higher closing the gaps between the defensive unit and midfield much faster, and they can take that risk given the speed they have in midfield and the confidence with which the center halves are organized. Obviously the team will also get fitter as the games move forward. As one could see at pitch level, it was still quite warm. Let’s give the players credit for fighting through what is some heavy air…for all of Bangalore’s much celebrated greenery and great weather, the stadium is in the center of town and whether we like it or not, the players are coping with pollution just like the rest of us!

Looking forward to the next run of matches.

Yogesh Maurya  :

Football Yogi- Article 1-edited (1)

Was a United States High School All-American football player and represented the State of New Jersey as a player in the US Olympic Development Program throughout his teenage years. He has worked with some of the top coaches in US football like former US National Coach Bob Bradley, former US International Dieter Ficken and corever youth coach Tom Reilly

IMG – Reliance league auctions to be held by October end

Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Image Courtesy : http://www.sportzpower.com/

Reports suggest that the auctions for the IMG – Reliance IPL style league would be held by October end. The tournament modeled on Indian Premier League, will have eight franchises across the country.

Two auctions, one for the franchisees and the other for players will be held at the end of October. The tournament will be held between January 18 and March 30 of the next year. Supposedly 20 corporates have expressed their interest in franchises.

Every franchise will have 10 foreign players including a marquee player, 7 Indians and 4 U-21 players in their roster. IMG – Reliance have shortlisted nine cities across India – Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi, out of which one will be dropped later.

Reports also suggest that after numerous rounds of discussion with the I-league clubs, both parties have agreed upon a middle ground.

Read more : Indian football auctions to be held soon

Karnataka State Football Association to issue fresh passes

250X250_20417127725180ddfa13b5eSupposedly club members affiliated to KSFA, officers of KSFA and BDFA could not enter the stadium for the last I-league match between Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan because of a gaffe on match-day passes.

KSFA held a meeting with JSW officials and will be issuing fresh passes to all 128 affiliated clubs to sort out the entry issue.

Read more : KSFA acts to sort out entry issue

Pictures from the Bengaluru FC Vs Mohun Bagan match

We were at the Bengaluru Football stadium watching Bengaluru FC taking on Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in their opening fixture of Airtel I-league. There was a good buzz about this match, fans turned up in good numbers and Bengaluru FC did not disappoint by putting a good performance. It was unlucky for them that the match ended up in a stalemate.

An average camera and my pathetic photography skills means the pictures aren’t that great. As the season progress, i should get better at clicking pictures. However this time around you will have to settle with this.

A personal experience of watching my first ever I-league match at a stadium + a match report will be up tomorrow. Till then enjoy the clicks.

 

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