With players like Thapa, Sahal in midfield we will never be able be around above average Asia teams. Someone like Yan Dhanda or Manprit Sarkaria would have finished the match with by now.
Not blaming our players but our midfield is very weak and simply not good enough
Even I agree that our midfield is light when compared with defense & wingers.
GK : Good. We have multiple options. But coach will start G.S.S in Asian Cup
Defense : Good. We have multiple options in almost all the positions. Players like Rahul, Pritam & Subhasish can play in C.B and/or 3-man defense with wing backs. With the addition of Sana, Roshan & Asish, we will be in much better position. Possible line-up : Akash, Sandesh, Anwar, Nikhil/Pritam
Midfield : Average. Our best player in midfield is Apuia followed by Thapa & Brandon. Defensive players like Jeakson & Rohit still needs to improve a lot. Though Suresh's work rate is good, he is not technically gifted player. We don't have many options in attacking midfield as Brandon injured. Even Sahal & Ashique needs to improve their passing & decision making. Sahal is mainly poor in long passes. Coach is using Udanta sometimes in right mid-field. Instead, he needs to try M.Yasir/Jerry. Possible line-up: Thapa, Apuia & Brandon/Sahal
Forward: Above Average. Though we are struggling to score goals, with proper support from midfield, I feel our forwards (Chhetri, Channgte, Mahesh, Nandakumar, Siva Sakthi) can score goals against 2nd tier teams like Oman, Jordan, China, Syria, Bahrain etc. Even Ashique, Udanta, M.Yasir, Jerry are wingers. Though Liston, Bipin & Manvir are low on confidence while playing for N.T, we have multiple options in forward line. Possible line-up: Mahesh/Ashique, Chhetri & Chhangte
Based on the opposition, team combination may change. If we are playing against Syria & Uzbekistan, coach might start with players like Brandon, Mahesh & Sahal. But against Australia, most likely Ashique will playin left mid-field & Jeakson/Suresh in defensive midfield.
Mostly G.S.S, Sandesh, Anwar, Apuia, Thapa, Chhetri & Chhangte will start all 3 group stage games. And somehow, Coach rates Ashique higher. Maybe due to his work-rate & defensive capabilities.
Disagree. Our mudfield of Apuia, Suresh, Thapa, Sahal, Brandon is a very decent bunch. Possible add ons can be Jeakson, Rohit Kumar. Now our players pass well, have composure to pause and look for options, they have good ball control and they like playing through balls (which I loved the most). And I don't know why ppl are after Sahal so much. Agai st Nepal he was the one driving most of the attacks through midfield. He is the sort of player who should be given complete freedom to roam around between the midfield and strikers and create link up play. He should be used as our chief playmaker who receives all the passes and creates chances for the forwards. His work rate is less and yet in the intercontinental Cup he ran the most distance 8n all our matches, showing that he is putting in the hard shift. Thapa again is technically gifted with good vision and work rate. He is an ideal box to box. And finally we need the likes of Suresh as he is good both defensively as well as technically. He wins the ball in the midfield and passes well. He is your typical ball winning midfielder. 8n the final Asian Cup games our midfield should be - Suresh (BWM)-Thapa/Apuia (BBM) - Sahal/Brandon (AMP).
And the likes of Udanta, Kotak and Bheke are not NT material. They are not good on the ball, their passing is abysmall and they mostly break down the team's attacking moves. Udanta only knows to run. He has no crossing or finishing skills. And his first touch and dribbling is horrendous. If we want speed, might as well recruit a sprinter 9n our right wing! We need better backup to Change 9n Right wing. Left wing is ok with Ashique and Mahesh doing well. And we weed a good Right Back to match Akash Mishra on the left. I hope Roshan is the answer to that. Poojary can be backup RB. And finally strikers - We urgently need a backup to Chettri. And I am sorry but Changte and Mahesh are NOT strikers. They are wingers. We need a good No. 9.
Even Sahal & Ashique needs to improve their passing & decision making. Sahal is mainly poor in long passes.
He is the sort of player who should be given complete freedom to roam around between the midfield and strikers and create link up play. He should be used as our chief playmaker who receives all the passes and creates chances for the forwards. His work rate is less and yet in the intercontinental Cup he ran the most distance 8n all our matches, showing that he is putting in the hard shift.
this is my same opinion too. everytime i see sahal for club and country he is so good at dribbling, passing, taking turns but at the very last moment makes a very poor decision which we think why the hell did he do that and all the beautiful skills is forgotten in an instant. for instance sometimes he goes solo when there were options to pass, sometimes takes a shot at goal with off target shots, sometimes tries to pass when he could have gone further solo.
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Thapa again is technically gifted with good vision and work rate. He is an ideal box to box. And finally we need the likes of Suresh as he is good both defensively as well as technically. He wins the ball in the midfield and passes well. He is your typical ball winning midfielder. 8n the final Asian Cup games our midfield should be - Suresh (BWM)-Thapa/Apuia (BBM) - Sahal/Brandon (AMP).
And the likes of Udanta, Kotak and Bheke are not NT material. They are not good on the ball, their passing is abysmall and they mostly break down the team's attacking moves. Udanta only knows to run. He has no crossing or finishing skills. And his first touch and dribbling is horrendous. If we want speed, might as well recruit a sprinter 9n our right wing! We need better backup to Change 9n Right wing. Left wing is ok with Ashique and Mahesh doing well. And we weed a good Right Back to match Akash Mishra on the left. I hope Roshan is the answer to that. Poojary can be backup RB.
And finally strikers - We urgently need a backup to Chettri. And I am sorry but Changte and Mahesh are NOT strikers. They are wingers. We need a good No. 9.
this is my same opinion too. everytime i see sahal for club and country he is so good at dribbling, passing, taking turns but at the very last moment makes a very poor decision which we think why the hell did he do that and all the beautiful skills is forgotten in an instant. for instance sometimes he goes solo when there were options to pass, sometimes takes a shot at goal with off target shots, sometimes tries to pass when he could have gone further solo.