Probably first time in I-League / NFL History that Title has been decided so much in advance. Mohun Bagan will become champion with 4 games in hand. Relegation Battle will go on till last day between Aizawl FC and NEROCA.
I dont think so. 3 points separate 7 clubs- this is possible only in a competitive league. Competition is going to be there till the last match, clubs have to save themselves from Relegation.
Beitia and Papa has been standout signings, Naorem, Munoj and Sahil has had an outstanding run as well. I hope ATKMB retains Papa! Roy Krishna and David Williams may not stay back.
The league is as competitive as ever. Just look at the mid-table. Look at the bottom (fight for relegation). Only MB, with some key signings, are ahead by a margin. The team was already good with Beitia, Fran Gonzales and some good Indian signings. Even then the team was struggling, ground play was good but was failing to convert. What clicked were the late signings of Papa Diawara and to some extent of Tursunov.
Marcus Joseph for Gokulam, Plaza for Churchill Bros faded in the later stage. EB was underwhelming. Chennai City was not the team of last year. Same for Punjab FC. All these factors added up.
Also, we should give the credit where it is due. MB had a coach who did the near-impossible job of implement tiki taka with a bunch of just above-average players, foreign and local. We have seen a lot of coaches who pretended they could play tiki taka but for the players. And here's someone who didn't claim but got it done.
I wouldn't remember this season for MB winning the IL, but for that 23-passes goal, and many more like that one. I see those fluid movements whenever I close my eyes. Green and Maroon never shone brighter. Thank you, Kibu Vicuna!
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Kashmir vs EB goals and fight
Relegation Battle will go on till last day between Aizawl FC and NEROCA.
So, IL level has gone down?
Till last year, competition till the last match was used to support the high level of IL theory.
3 points separate 7 clubs- this is possible only in a competitive league.
Competition is going to be there till the last match, clubs have to save themselves from Relegation.