Very good article. This marquee rule should be scrapped asap. Its not like we are signing big names at present as well. We should be targetting Players from 50-100 in FIFA with some experience in international leagues/competitions. Guys like Duckens Nazon, Kervens Belfort can be signed as marquees. They will be effective on field and is not a random foriegner . It all depends on the scouting team the clubs have in place. Its not like Eidur Gudjonsen will bring fans to the stadium and a complete waste of money..he is not even a household name... so whats the point in signing him ? At the same time there should be a check on the age and quality of foriegners that are being signed....so that teams dont end up signing random rubbish like Dudu and El hadji ndoye. A league have signed a Brasilian called Bobo (31) as marquee in a 1 million $ deal who doesnt fulfill any marquee criteria, but the guy has scored close to 150 goals in Turkey . These are the type of signings we should search for.
Looks like ISL teams might have approached Wes Brown, Drogba, Miroslav Klose this year. Dont know which liverpool player they are talking about....
Panaji: Atletico de Kolkata and FC Goa can hardly see eye-to-eye in the Indian Super League. The fierce rivalry that kicked off the day coach Antonio Lopez Habas allegedly punched FC Goa marquee player Robert Pires at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, has simply grown, yet there is something strikingly similar between these two warring sides.
Both franchises have retained a majority of their international players from last season and, despite initial hiccups in finalising the squad, appear to be well equipped for this season. Atletico de Kolkata, for instance, have retained seven players from last season, including marquee Helder Postiga, while FC Goa have also retained their marquee player, former Brazil captain Lucio, besides five other internationals.
FC Goa, of course, have been able to hold on to their players because of chief coach Zico's star appeal. The Brazilian has received wholesome praise from his contingent for his ability to inspire them and nobody really wants to look elsewhere.
At ATK, however, it's the opposite: coach Habas has left for FC Pune City after two seasons at the helm of affairs and is now replaced by another Spaniard, Jose Francisco Molina. What has remained constant and helped the franchise is their partner, Atletico Madrid, who has helped the club build an identity.
Besides former Portugal striker Helder Postiga, ATK have retained Iain Hume, Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo (Tiri), Sameehg Doutie, Ofentse Nato, Borja Fernandez and Javi Lara.
"A lot of these guys were players who performed very well for us and helped FC Goa reach the position that we got to. So I always look at these factors, and I think that the players that were chosen this year can repeat everything they did last year," said FC Goa chief coach Zico, who has retained six players which includes Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Rafael Coelho, Luciano Sabrosa, Reinaldo Oliveira and Joffre Gonzalez.
Some of FC Goa's players missed out on competitive football after the conclusion of the ISL last December. There will surely be rough edges but Zico hopes to get all of them in fine fettle before the ISL opener.
"Yes, there is concern that some of these players may not be playing football competitively throughout the year but fortunately for us, most of our players have been playing in various leagues and have been active.
"The important thing is that we have the opportunity of a great pre-season ahead of us. It will allow us to analyse the players well. Our pre- season is here in Rio where we are playing friendly matches against some strong teams. This will immensely benefit our Indian and foreign players. Our thinking is that if our pre-season this year is as good as it was last year, the chances of success will increase significantly," said Zico.
Foreign players retained by ISL franchises
Atletico de Kolkata: Iain Hume, Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo (Tiri), Sameehg Doutie and Ofentse Nato. Helder Postiga, Borja Fernandes, Javi Lara
FC Goa: Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Rafael Coelho, Luciano Sabrosa, Reinaldo Oliveira, Joffre Gonzalez
Chennaiyin FC: Bernard Mendy, Eder Monteiro, Manuele Blasi, Raphael Augusto
Delhi Dynamos: Florent Malouda, Toni Doblas Kerala Blasters: Josue Prieto, Antonio German
The kind of marquee players we're getting, only hard-core football lovers would fully appreciate them," reckons Modwell. "With the (limited) knowledge of football in India, football flirts or casual fans may not know the incoming player anyway."
This point scores a lot. With marquee players not sure why or how its relavant to Indian football. Marquee would be good if u have a lot of fans who are religious and love to have a touch of nostalgic
Our fanbase is just only growing. Hardcore fans although available here too would not represent the majority of the fans who just love the sport and will support it with city based affinity.
They wont really understand or fully appreciate the marquee player's history.
If at all, the teams signed marquees just to fulfill the criteria ,they could have simply signed someone like
Jonathan Bolingi or Merveille Bokadi from the Congo top division who are Congo DR internationals, has won the CAF CL in 2015 . They would have been better marquee signings than the likes of Zokora, Riise, Eidur, Lucio etc.
Marquee is something else brother,who are these guys Jonathan Bolingi or Merveille Bokadi,you get so many these guys everywhere ,you can sign them for 10 slots in each team if they ready to come . Big players bring reputation , spread it as well , and there are ppls ready to listen to them . There are ppls ready to play under there eyes, their experience on field and off field is unmatched .There are so many things 1 marquee slot bring . They can help bring better players to league,better coaches to league . Can be a good advertisers to league . Don't underestimate the experience they bringing with them. This is my view on ISL's Marquee. I am sure ISL did lot of thought on that and tweaking it .
This author and other forum members just look at marquees as superstar players only. Bradley Wright-Phillips, a former Championship and League One striker, is a marquee for my New York Red Bulls. Xavier Kouassi in New England. Brazilian striker Bobo is a marquee for Sydney FC in the A-League as well as Thomas Broich. These guys would either be normal players or marginal marquees in ISL.
Marquee names don't always have to be Ronaldinho types... would be nice but not needed. Marquees are supposed to raise the level of the game while also helping commercially but does not have to be from Liverpool, Madrid etc.
@TeamChennain do you really think 95% of Indians who will be follwowing ISL this year even know who the hell Aaron Hughes or Didier Zokora or Riise or Eidur is? I doubt. In fact, guys like Mendoza , Hume , velez, Josu who are not even marquee stuff are more famous in India and are fan favourites now than the so called marquees here. As Modwell said, only hardcore football fans will credit the history of the existing marquees. The rest of the world is laughing at these "marquees". Quality of the game shouldnt be compromised by signing marquees for the heck of it. I dont think a signing like Eidur will in anyway draw more crowds to Pune and will be less effective on field. Instead they should have retained Tuncay, maybe made him a marquee.
and the names I mentioned Bolingi and Bokadi are not some random players. They are 22-24 yrs old , part of Congo DR nationla team, currently ranked 53 in FIFA...have won the CAF Champions League in 2015. Can anyone please tell me why such a player cant be called a marquee? If you think that these arent household names, then neither are the current set of marquees. I would love to see guys playing in ISL and then playing for some better leagues, if not the world cup !
Comments
Indian Super League's struggles to cope with its own brainchild - the marquee player
http://www.espn.in/football/indian-super-league/story/2945964/isl-struggles-to-cope-with-marquee-player-rules
Opinions?
Looks like ISL teams might have approached Wes Brown, Drogba, Miroslav Klose this year. Dont know which liverpool player they are talking about....
FC Goa, Athletico de Kolkata keep faith in the tried and tested in ISL
Marcus Mergulhao| Sep 8, 2016, 11.54 PM ISTBoth franchises have retained a majority of their international players from last season and, despite initial hiccups in finalising the squad, appear to be well equipped for this season. Atletico de Kolkata, for instance, have retained seven players from last season, including marquee Helder Postiga, while FC Goa have also retained their marquee player, former Brazil captain Lucio, besides five other internationals.
FC Goa, of course, have been able to hold on to their players because of chief coach Zico's star appeal. The Brazilian has received wholesome praise from his contingent for his ability to inspire them and nobody really wants to look elsewhere.
At ATK, however, it's the opposite: coach Habas has left for FC Pune City after two seasons at the helm of affairs and is now replaced by another Spaniard, Jose Francisco Molina. What has remained constant and helped the franchise is their partner, Atletico Madrid, who has helped the club build an identity.
Besides former Portugal striker Helder Postiga, ATK have retained Iain Hume, Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo (Tiri), Sameehg Doutie, Ofentse Nato, Borja Fernandez and Javi Lara.
"A lot of these guys were players who performed very well for us and helped FC Goa reach the position that we got to. So I always look at these factors, and I think that the players that were chosen this year can repeat everything they did last year," said FC Goa chief coach Zico, who has retained six players which includes Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Rafael Coelho, Luciano Sabrosa, Reinaldo Oliveira and Joffre Gonzalez.
Some of FC Goa's players missed out on competitive football after the conclusion of the ISL last December. There will surely be rough edges but Zico hopes to get all of them in fine fettle before the ISL opener.
"Yes, there is concern that some of these players may not be playing football competitively throughout the year but fortunately for us, most of our players have been playing in various leagues and have been active.
"The important thing is that we have the opportunity of a great pre-season ahead of us. It will allow us to analyse the players well. Our pre- season is here in Rio where we are playing friendly matches against some strong teams. This will immensely benefit our Indian and foreign players. Our thinking is that if our pre-season this year is as good as it was last year, the chances of success will increase significantly," said Zico.
Foreign players retained by ISL franchises
Atletico de Kolkata: Iain Hume, Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo (Tiri), Sameehg Doutie and Ofentse Nato. Helder Postiga, Borja Fernandes, Javi Lara
FC Goa: Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Rafael Coelho, Luciano Sabrosa, Reinaldo Oliveira, Joffre Gonzalez
Chennaiyin FC: Bernard Mendy, Eder Monteiro, Manuele Blasi, Raphael Augusto
Delhi Dynamos: Florent Malouda, Toni Doblas
Kerala Blasters: Josue Prieto, Antonio German
Mumbai City: Sony Norde
This point scores a lot. With marquee players not sure why or how its relavant to Indian football. Marquee would be good if u have a lot of fans who are religious and love to have a touch of nostalgic
Our fanbase is just only growing. Hardcore fans although available here too would not represent the majority of the fans who just love the sport and will support it with city based affinity.
They wont really understand or fully appreciate the marquee player's history.
So why spend so much?
CL in 2015 . They would have been better marquee signings than the likes of Zokora, Riise, Eidur, Lucio etc.
Marquee names don't always have to be Ronaldinho types... would be nice but not needed. Marquees are supposed to raise the level of the game while also helping commercially but does not have to be from Liverpool, Madrid etc.
and the names I mentioned Bolingi and Bokadi are not some random players. They are 22-24 yrs old , part of Congo DR nationla team, currently ranked 53 in FIFA...have won the CAF Champions League in 2015. Can anyone please tell me why such a player cant be called a marquee? If you think that these arent household names, then neither are the current set of marquees. I would love to see guys playing in ISL and then playing for some better leagues, if not the world cup !