The international break is almost upon us, and for those vested in Indian football that means just one thing: the return to action of the national team.
With India scheduled to play against Maldives in a friendly on the 19th, and an Asian Cup qualification match against Bangladesh on the 25th, Manolo Marquez will shift focus slowly to his second job.
But what must he focus on? After a pretty average start to life as coach of India, we list out few ideas that Marquez ought to consider for the two matches.
Start Brison Fernandes
We know Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh are nailed on as forwards (usually wide) in the squad, and they’ve had very solid individual seasons for the Mohun Bagan winning machine this Indian Super League season. But who else is in the frame?
Lallianzuala Chhangte is as out of form as we’ve ever seen him, Mahesh Singh seems a bit lost, Bipin Singh is a shadow of his usually confident self, and let’s not even mention what has happened to the big hopes that are Kiyan Nassiri and Gurkirat Singh (the last two struggling for minutes in a team that’s struggling for goals… Nassiri started one game and that was at wingback, Gurkirat has gotten 169 minutes across 11 matches).
Besides, the top scoring Indian is… well, not available for selection. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (unless you want to bring India fans to tears) is the joint-second highest scorer in the league this season (11) and only one of two Indians in the top 10.
The other, then, ought to be an automatic contender to start for the team in the upcoming window. Brison Fernandes has impressed with his finishing (7 goals) in a season where Indians have been horribly goal shy. He’s got all sorts of finishes in his locker too – long-range curlers, headers from inside the six-yard box – and it should help that Marquez, as Brison’s coach at FC Goa, knows exactly what he is and isn’t capable of. For a team that’s scored two goals in four games under new management, the need for Brison’s ability to sniff out a goal is rather self-explanatory.
A call-up, and a start, will also be a sign to others that consistent league form will be rewarded by the national team setup.
Mix in the old and the new
For instance, as an option, Udanta Singh. As good as the theoretical construct that Udanta Singh as a footballer has always been – fast, direct, runs all day (and both ways), has a decent shot on him – it’s rarely translated to tangible action on the football field. Which is where Marquez has come in, again.
Deployed as fullback and winger alternatingly, Udanta has been very consistent down the Goa right – creating chances, providing solidity and just doing the basics right. As an option off the bench, Marquez could do far worse.
There are others too who may be worth a punt. While inconsistent, Isak Vanlalruatfela’s running from deep, Mohamed Sanan’s brutal directness, Nikhil Prabhu’s calmness at the back and MS Jithin’s chance creation ability on the counter are all useful traits that Marquez could use off the bench. Besides, injecting new (even newish) blood into the matchday squad would urge the more established squad members to shrug off complacency.
Make Vishal Kaith the #1
This has to be the least controversial, most non-debatable opinion in world football. Vishal Kaith should be India #1. Period.
Why Vishal Kaith should be India’s no.1 goalkeeper
Start Sande… well, Marquez knows this
This is third FC Goa player we are mentioning here, but this one is more of a coincidence than anything to do with Manolo Marquez. When Sandesh Jhingan’s in, both India and Goa are better teams: his leadership is unparalleled, and his presence in the backline exudes a sense of security no one else in the national team provides as of now.
Marquez knows this better than anyone: without Jhingan, Goa looked a leaky, sub-par outfit. With him, they look the only team capable of challenging Mohun Bagan at the top. The effect he’s had on the team is remarkable, really, and there are no doubts he’ll start for India now that he’s properly fit again.
Maximise the offensive threat of Subhasish Bose
HWMNBN and Brison are in fact two of only three Indians in the top 25(!) of the ISL goalscoring charts. The other is… Subhasish Bose. And it’s not in the way you’d expect a left back to be an offensive threat.
Bose has, this season, been a consistent threat on set pieces, scoring six goals – including ones that came in tight, tight matches. It’s not just him winning headers first-time but what he does on the second ball, pouncing on chances inside the six-yard box like a first-rate centre forward.
Set pieces have been a traditional strength for India, and using Bose’s ability to introduce chaos from them could be a key element of India’s set piece planning.
