Bagan Welcome Natty Nizams to a Ferocious VYBK
Just when we thought the Bumpy road of December had arrived to derail Mohun Bagan's ISL campaign, a rejuvenated and experienced core of the team showed character and took all three points from a foggy Delhi. This is the first preview of the new year 2025, so let's buckle up and pick up the pieces we left out last year.
Even though Bagan sit with a two-point lead, a healthy goal difference, and other teams still being inconsistent, Bagan still should proceed with humility and utmost concentration. Jose Molina and his boys have a long way to go for the ultimate glory of this league.
We may think Hyderabad FC is one of the league's minnows, but as one of Mohun Bagan's certain Talismans said in an interview with a renowned Bengali newspaper, "Every other team is the race for the ISL glory except one club..." We must respect and keep ourselves steady against every other ISL contender.
Determined to start 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ on a positive note 👊#MBSGHFC #TheNawabs 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/5LbdLWnmV7
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) January 2, 2025
Hyderabad FC, who did not have any steady investors last season, had no paychecks to their active players, staff bus drivers and even their Canteen workers things were not at all by their side until the 2023-24 season. Players leaving, transfer bans and at a point with only 12 active registered players in their name to play the league this club came back from the verge of non-existence to now a rise with Steel Company Jindal Group.
Enough of past dumping, returning to today's Hyderabad they still have a hall of problems to address with their long-standing manager Thangboi Singto things are going south ways. With interim manager Shameel Chembakath yet to crack his philosophy to this side it is going to be a tough task for him. None of the foreigners or key players of Hyderabad will be missing out on this clash against the Mariners.
Hyderabad FC: Players To Watch Out For
Alex Saji
It is criminal to start this section without the captain. With 12 appearances, Saji has been a reliable asset for this team and the age of 24 makes him one of the youngest ISL captains it is pretty going well for this lad from Kerala. With 9 interceptions (highest among HFC), ability to win duels like a champ and a healthy passing accuracy of 78% he is becoming THE guy for the inexperienced but jubilant HFC side.
💪 A captain's performance to get HFC off the mark!
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) October 2, 2024
💬 Alex Saji urges his side to keep pushing and get better ahead of the next game...#HFCCFC #TheNawabs 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/SpOpyExQ62
Edmilson Correia
Man needs no introduction since his breakout game against NEUFC. He is the player that HFC desperately needs right now for some hopes to score goals and give a real fighting chance. Correia can deliver if things are for Hyderabad as we have seen in his NEUFC game.
Andrei Alba
Alba has been catching my eye personally because he is becoming the heart of the midfield. Alba already scored two goals and an assist for his name has been creating a harmony between the midfield and the attack for HFC.
Hyderabad FC: Play Analysis
HFC needs to think beyond the 30-minute mark! Hyderabad may become lethal from the match's inception, but they cannot keep their heads up after the 30-minute mark. Due to inexperience new team building new managerial change, it has been quite difficult to hold consistency in the match, especially against the bigger teams and tend to slip up even after leading with a couple of goals.
They did salvage a point against East Bengal which happened due to their tendency to operate their attacks from the wings and be creative from the crosses to find Correia or someone in the box for scoring. EB ofcourse are far from perfect but Bagan need to take some lessons out of their match, if not tactics, atleast humility.
Hyderabad FC 1-1 East Bengal #ISL #HFCEBFC pic.twitter.com/JtVFS4iELZ
— Rohit Ghosh (@Rohit_Speaking) December 29, 2024
If we see this data Compiled by X user @Rohit_Speaking we see the majority of progressive passes of HFC come from the wings. Only relying on goals from the wing can become lethal or can become loose if it is not utilised properly, which is the case for HFC. Our backs need to have a field to neutralize their wingers and the rest should be fine.
Now coming to the defensive part, they go for a back four and a block of two by employing a double pivot with Alba and Issac Vanmalswana. They go for man marking or zonal marking to be precise. Sometimes things can go a bit physical because their defense has nothing to lose.
Their defence can be a tough nut to break before the 30-minute mark because they like to keep the opponent with their attack. Molina needs to keep their composure the whole match and play creative passes to break their markings in the second quarter for better goal opportunities.
The Situation for Mohun Bagan
From us to you, Happy 2025! 💚♥️#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/q3AQedRxhA
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) January 1, 2025
Well for starters, every league match for Molina and his team is like a knock-out tournament to win the League Shield. So every step they now take is for the ultimate glory, there is no in-between in that. The team as a whole has shown character when they had a hiccup against FC Goa but they bounced back in quite a fashion against Punjab FC.
There are key absentees in the team names like Apuia and Dimitri Petratos and major players like Manvir Singh and Greg Stewart will start from the bench as well. Matches like these are like an acid test for the reserve bench of this great club. The bench needs to show character for the sweet three points and a good goal margin which will be crucial late in the ISL season.
Big day ahead for Abhishek Suryavanshi as Apuia will be out for this match for a disciplinary clause. If things go well, Abhishek will start in the first eleven in an ISL game after quite some time. Personally, in the final third, Jason Cummings should start in this game as he has been having an overall good form for us.
Probable Lineups
Mohun Bagan
Kaith; Rai-Aldred-Alberto-Subhasish; Abhishek-Thapa; Sahal-Cummings-Liston; Jamie Maclaren.
Hyderabad FC
Arshdeep Singh; Abdul Rabeeh-Alex Saji-Sapic-Mohammed; Alba-Isak; Ramhlunchunga-Cy Godard-Correia; Sunny.
