Yesterday,I was frustrated as hell. I got the same feeling as I got when we conceeded against Bahrain in the Asian Cup 2019 in the 90th minute and lost the match.
The Positive:-
One thing is for certain is that we have certainly improved as a Team(Credit to Constantine) for that. Our results and more importantly performance against genuine B Tier Teams (Oman,Thailand,Bahrain,UAE,China) etc have been consistent and decent. In the past,these teams used to beat us comprehensively(Scorewise) and convincingly(Performance wise) but not now. We now play almost evenly against these teams and it is not a one way traffic like in the past.
Yesterday, was no different. We were the better team in the first half and certainly controlled the game.
The Problem:-
Everybody is talking about the fitness including me but actually it is not the main cause for our loss yesterday or in the past. It is also a cause but not the main cause in my opinion.
The Main Cause:-(In my opinion is the Lack of Match Awareness from the players). I'll share it with three observations/ tactical points:-
1) Our guys were high pressing their defence in the first half. Now,our guys were high pressing their Centre Backs and wasting their energy because their Centre Backs were getting an outlet ball to their Midfielders and Left Backs and Right Backs. The tactical point is that when you do high press, you high press the second ball receiver(which is mostly the midfielder) and not the first ball receiver. This way you limit their passing options and you yourself have to cover lesser area of the field,so you save your Stamina.
2) Our players,mainly defenders hooping the ball clear in opponents half. The tactical point here is that whenever you clear the ball, you should try to try to clear it as far as possible (obviously) and you should try to clear it into touch. The reason for this is that opponent will have to reorganise themselves for throwing the the ball,then receiving it and start their build up again. This kills more time then you think. Meanwhile, you defence which is deep in your own half can gain few metres and get breathing space because opponents move will take some time to build again. Merely,hooping it in the opposition half doesn't do any good.
3) Our wingers(specially Ashique and Chhangte) lack composure and temperament. They have got zero match awareness. As a winger, one must know when to take your opponent on,when to look for a free kick,when to look for a corner,when you should slow down the momentum of the game and pass sidewards or backwards. Unfortunately, both of them are zero when it comes to match awareness.
There were many occasions in the last 15-20 minutes,when these two idiots were given outlet balls by our defenders. Instead of gaining the ground and looking for a foul, freekick,throw-in etc and try our defence to move up the field by maintaining possession, these idiots were trying to take on 4 defenders at a time(without actually dribbling and trying to run through them, as if they were hollow man or something ).
We have no doubt closed the gap, the reason why we are not winning is not that others are Superior Footballing Teams than us( Like even though Oman had the possession in the second half but we were looking in control before they actually scored).
The reason why we lost was that we are not able to see out and finish out games in the past as well. We don't play at our own momentum is the reason why we lose.
Playing, one odd match or 2 matches in 5 days once in a while shouldn't be a huge problem for any footballer.
The reason is that we overburn ourselves mentally and physically during the game by not doing simple things right.
Majority of your points actually indicates coach's fault. Moreover, why the hell no sahal who can hold the ball and nutmeg? why manvir for ashique? why brandon got out before ashique? I can go on and on. We have discussed these points before.
This moron Igor played Manvir as winger in one of the games. What more can you expect? Next he will play Gurpreet or Adil as forward as they are tall. so that they can head the ball for goal.
I have not seen a worse Indian NT coach than this. Even Wim was better.
In all Stimac's reign , I have observed india to be playing with pace set by opposition team.
You need to slow down when you are leading and tired.
"Gir Jaa" will help sometime,
Set-piece, taking yellow for the team, inviting foul from the opposition team - they are all tricks of the trade learnt in domestic league or Friendly matches.
If you dont realise the importance of this point, every team will smack us in last 15-20 minutes of the game.
One thing I really don't like about Anant Tyagi is his over reaction to us either scoring goal or playing better than the opposition. After the first goal he went as far as saying we can draw in Qatar and get 4 points out of the first 2 matches and what a birthday gift it will be for Stimac. I mean we all like to be optimist but being stupid is what comes back to bite us. I believe in commentator's curse and Anant Tyagi in every match does that.
Anant is just like any other new millennial Indian football fan who used to watch and still watch EPL, La Liga etc. but started watching Indian football believing FSDL gave birth to Indian football. So, such reactions are expected from him.
These guys are "BAD" and "STUPID" at the same time(no exaggeration).
In Kabaddi , there is something called as "EMPTY RAID" where you "purposely try not to take a point because if you'll try to take a point, you're chances of getting out will increase". Here,you intentionally try not to get out therefore you maintain distance from the opposition team. It is generally done when you are having a "substantial lead" or if the other team has a "Do-or-Die" as their next raid.
These idiots said that "Jasveer Singh is an Empty Raid Specialist".
Now,one should ask these idiots that "How can someone be a specialist at not trying?"
I can also go there and not try and stand at the midline. Noone will be able to catch me if I am standing at the mid line. Anyone will be able do it.
It is like say that a person is "No ball specialist".
I can understand a person being a "Do or Die raid Specialist" but no.
These guys will make someone at not trying.This is their level of understanding of the game and IQ.
None of these guys have actual knowledge about the game. I swear,I can be a better commentator then most of them(no exaggeration).
@goalkeepar: I do not completely agree with you. The guy is an encyclopedia on Indian football and was far better than these commentators but his tendency to reel off statistics and over-elaboration, especially in recent times, sometimes created a jarring effect. We had some discussion about commentary, regional, Hindi and English as well as cricket commentary some time back. You can find it here (you were a participant in those discussions)
Comments
The Positive:-
One thing is for certain is that we have certainly improved as a Team(Credit to Constantine) for that. Our results and more importantly performance against genuine B Tier Teams (Oman,Thailand,Bahrain,UAE,China) etc have been consistent and decent. In the past,these teams used to beat us comprehensively(Scorewise) and convincingly(Performance wise) but not now.
We now play almost evenly against these teams and it is not a one way traffic like in the past.
Yesterday, was no different. We were the better team in the first half and certainly controlled the game.
The Problem:-
Everybody is talking about the fitness including me but actually it is not the main cause for our loss yesterday or in the past. It is also a cause but not the main cause in my opinion.
The Main Cause:-(In my opinion is the Lack of Match Awareness from the players). I'll share it with three observations/ tactical points:-
1) Our guys were high pressing their defence in the first half. Now,our guys were high pressing their Centre Backs and wasting their energy because their Centre Backs were getting an outlet ball to their Midfielders and Left Backs and Right Backs.
The tactical point is that when you do high press, you high press the second ball receiver(which is mostly the midfielder) and not the first ball receiver. This way you limit their passing options and you yourself have to cover lesser area of the field,so you save your Stamina.
2) Our players,mainly defenders hooping the ball clear in opponents half.
The tactical point here is that whenever you clear the ball, you should try to try to clear it as far as possible (obviously) and you should try to clear it into touch. The reason for this is that opponent will have to reorganise themselves for throwing the the ball,then receiving it and start their build up again. This kills more time then you think. Meanwhile, you defence which is deep in your own half can gain few metres and get breathing space because opponents move will take some time to build again. Merely,hooping it in the opposition half doesn't do any good.
3) Our wingers(specially Ashique and Chhangte) lack composure and temperament. They have got zero match awareness. As a winger, one must know when to take your opponent on,when to look for a free kick,when to look for a corner,when you should slow down the momentum of the game and pass sidewards or backwards.
Unfortunately, both of them are zero when it comes to match awareness.
There were many occasions in the last 15-20 minutes,when these two idiots were given outlet balls by our defenders. Instead of gaining the ground and looking for a foul, freekick,throw-in etc and try our defence to move up the field by maintaining possession, these idiots were trying to take on 4 defenders at a time(without actually dribbling and trying to run through them, as if they were hollow man or something ).
We have no doubt closed the gap, the reason why we are not winning is not that others are Superior Footballing Teams than us( Like even though Oman had the possession in the second half but we were looking in control before they actually scored).
The reason why we lost was that we are not able to see out and finish out games in the past as well. We don't play at our own momentum is the reason why we lose.
Playing, one odd match or 2 matches in 5 days once in a while shouldn't be a huge problem for any footballer.
The reason is that we overburn ourselves mentally and physically during the game by not doing simple things right.
This moron Igor played Manvir as winger in one of the games. What more can you expect? Next he will play Gurpreet or Adil as forward as they are tall. so that they can head the ball for goal.
I have not seen a worse Indian NT coach than this. Even Wim was better.
These guys are "BAD" and "STUPID" at the same time(no exaggeration).
In Kabaddi , there is something called as "EMPTY RAID" where you "purposely try not to take a point because if you'll try to take a point, you're chances of getting out will increase". Here,you intentionally try not to get out therefore you maintain distance from the opposition team. It is generally done when you are having a "substantial lead" or if the other team has a "Do-or-Die" as their next raid.
These idiots said that "Jasveer Singh is an Empty Raid Specialist".
Now,one should ask these idiots that "How can someone be a specialist at not trying?"
I can also go there and not try and stand at the midline. Noone will be able to catch me if I am standing at the mid line. Anyone will be able do it.
It is like say that a person is "No ball specialist".
I can understand a person being a "Do or Die raid Specialist" but no.
These guys will make someone at not trying.This is their level of understanding of the game and IQ.
None of these guys have actual knowledge about the game. I swear,I can be a better commentator then most of them(no exaggeration).
http://forum.indianfootballnetwork.com/discussion/comment/224141#Comment_224141