Pune will need to work on their attack if they are to win the win the league, at least convincingly. Amrinder Singh in goal and the PFC defense has been amazing so far but I am not so much of a fan of the attack.
Riga Mustapha is a great signing so far. He is quick, skillful, and has a good footballing brain so far. Plus he already seems adjusted to Indian football. However James Meyer and Douhou Pierre are worrying for me. Meyer started out so well but he has been a bit off in November and today. Hopefully this is just a phase and he can rediscover his October form. Douhou Pierre is good if you want a guy who can hold the ball but unless he has space he dos not do much. He barely challenges defenders and when he does he loses the ball or quickly passes it.
In terms of their Indians. Arata Izumi is done as a starter. He looks good for the opening half but he then looks tired in the 2nd half and really becomes invisable. Izumi should just be used as a sub now. He is not good enough to start for a side aiming for the Champions League and I-League trophy. Ganesh is slow. Akhtar is also not good enough. Good sub but not good enough to start. And if he is not going to play Vellington Rocha then he should go. He is 22 and honestly if they still see him as a part of the team then they should loan him out.
Fanai Lalrempuia and Nikhil Kadam are fine. Kadam has proven that he is good enough to be a regular while Fanai is only 17.
Then you have their attacking Indians. Haokip is young and has done well when he plays of the bench but Thorat needs to go. He never plays. Why keep him if you cant play him?
Overall, unless Pune make moves to shore up their attack I do not see them winning the I-League or playing in the Champions League.
Recently in Kolkata the UEFA Champions League Trophy was showcased and later this month the such a thing would be done with the FIFA World Cup trophy too. Why not such a thing be done with the I-League Trophy as it can do a world of good in promoting I-League. (Till last year even hardcore fans didn't knew what the trophy looked like)
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What do you guys say @arsenalfan700 @joyptan @rudra da @namewtheld da @domnic @7negi @hadfadkar @ashindia @gaffertape and others...
P.S. Sorry if i missed someone