Overview:
Kerala Blasters are undoubtedly one of the ISL (Indian Super League) teams which carry with them a huge weight of expectations. That is primarily because of their passionate supporter base in Kerala. These supporters, who have football ingrained in their culture, have found an outlet for their passion through Kerala Blasters.
Coaches/Formation:
There’s churn at Kerala Blasters year after year. The head coach changes every season, and often nearly the entire team. This time, six of the Kochi-based team’s seven foreign players are newcomers. They have a new head coach, spaniard Kibu Vicuna. I-League winner coach prefers 4-2-3-1. In this formation, at the top one lone forward finishes the job and at middle two pivots controls the game.
The Team:
Strikers: Our Rating 8.5/10
Gary Hooper has scored over 200 goals in his decade-long professional career. The Englishman comes alive in the box, and is one of those strikers who just know where the back of the net is placed. He has scored 21 goals in 54 games since 2017-18, out of which 16 goals have been one-touch finishes. With Naorem and Rahul KP on either side of him, expect the Englishman to flourish. Apart from Hooper, the Blasters don’t have a striker who is of great caliber, and who can come in if Hooper gets injured.
Midfielders: Our Rating 8.5/10
This midfield is very Versatile and balanced in this competition. Vicente Gomez is another player extremely crucial to the Kerala Blasters’ setup. The defensive midfielder from Spain who has played against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, has undoubted quality and is crucial to the Blasters’ chances this season. Jeakson Singh and Nongdamba Naorem has already impressed in pre-season. Finally we have Indian Maestro Sahal Abdul Samad, Due to the many attacking players that Kerala Blasters have for Sahal to be a regular starter, coach Vicuna will have to have enough faith in him to play with a two-man central midfield.
Goalkeepers/Defenders: Our Rating 9/10
They are also well stacked in the goalkeeping department, the dependable Bilal Khan and veteran Albino Gomes may do the needful for the team. Defense looks like it will take some getting past, an injury to either of Kone or Nhaimonesu could potentially derail them, as they don’t have too much depth in that position. Abdul Hakku is a third choice center-back, and in times of absolute necessity, Nishu Kumar can play in that position as well. The concerning bit however, is the sharp drop in quality in the center-back positions. This is one issue that Kerala Blasters may need to adapt to at some point in the season.
Kerala Blasters FC Score Card:
Total: 26.0/30
Foreigners: Bakary Kone, Costa Nhamoinesu (DF), Sergio Cidoncha, Vincente Gomez (MF), Gary Hooper, Facundo Pereyra, Jordan Murray (FW).
Notable Indian names: Bilal Khan, Albino Gomes (GK), Jessel Carneiro, Nishu Kumar (DF), Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul KP, Jeakson Singh (MF).
Probable Emerging Indian players: Shaiborlang Kharpan (FW), Abdul Hakku, Sandeep Singh (DF), Ayush Adhikari (MF).
Source: Kerala Blasters ISL Profile Page
