I quite agree with @Ashlesh regarding the selection. It has improved over previous selections especially in defence. Though there are still players that should not have been selected like Saumik Dey.
I quite like the way Stephen is exerting his authority without ruffling any feather. He got his way in selecting his coaching team quite soothly. And he has a clear long term vision as well (his comment on short- and long- term goals are intelligent). This man has resolve, tact and forthrightness; and he is not confrontational.
Hope he can wriggle past the labyrinthine paths of Indian football to success.
Agree with Stephen here and I am sure everyone else here agrees. The top federations should set the examples. West Bengal, Goa, Mizoram etc have the more active state federations and if we can get these states working with football than that would be a massive improvement in itself.
It is nothing new, lot of coaches, officials, players, IFN members have mentioned almost similar lines to what he has said but how to get it implemented? Who will take the initiative? If the states don't do that then what is the use. Anyways, this guy knows how football works here, which is good for us, I hope he takes us to a new height.
It is too early to say but I am scared about one thing, Stefan always ignored inform Alvito and Mama (both were fantastic that time) during his last tenure, is Mandar going to be the victim this time?
And god please send us a striker before Sunil becomes too old. It always happened in Indian football, Bhaichung arrived when IM Vijayan past his prime, Sunil arrived when Bhaichung past his prime
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I am dying to see these replacements -
Romeo and Mandar (Right wing and left wing)
Narayan Das (Left Back, has he started training?)
Vikramjit / Pranoy Halder (CM /CDM, replacing Leny)
And god please send us a striker before Sunil becomes too old. It always happened in Indian football, Bhaichung arrived when IM Vijayan past his prime, Sunil arrived when Bhaichung past his prime