round 14-part 1
League 2011-12 Preview and Predictions – Round 14
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 | Posted by Sachin Madaan
PAILAN ARROWS
V
SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA
Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Kickoff: 14:00 IST, 13th January, 2012
***
Pailan Arrows will be hoping to kick off their campaign in the New Year with a win after their match on 2nd January against Churchill Brothers was postponed. Desperate for their first win of the season, the youngsters from Kolkata will play host to the Goan outfit in the first match of the 14th round of the season. The fact that they have only lost one of their previous seven home encounters will give some heart to Sukhwinder Singh’s boys ahead of their clash on Friday. The biggest cause of concern for them has been their inability to score and with only five goals they have the worst offensive record in the league. It is high time for their forwards to step up their game, especially CS Sabeeth, if they don’t want to finish at the bottom of the table. Five goals in twelve matches is just not good enough.
Pailan Arrows expected line-up: Naveen Kumar (GK), Rajib, Gurtej Sr., Souvhik, Milan, Gurtej Jr., Abhinava, Lalrozama, Jibon Singh, Holicharan, CS Sabeeth.
Sporting Clube de Goa must be kicking themselves, after they were made to share points with the last placed HAL SC Bangalore in the last round. The side from Goa has to come up with a much better performance on Friday in order to break into the top half of the table. A brace from Anthony D’Souza saved the Flaming Oranje from the blues last time around but Arrows have a much better defensive record then the Bangalore-based outfit. With only three points separating them from the drop zone, the Goan side really has to make this match count. James Moga has been far from impressive over the past few weeks and this is the prefect occasion for the striker from South Sudan to unleash his prowess. Despite picking up a draw against the weakest side in the league, Ekendra Singh’s men will be favourites for their upcoming match. Whether they are able to do justice to the tag of favourites is hard to tell.
SC Goa expected line-up: Gerrad’D Mello(GK), Dowson, Rojen, Prajot, Jovel, Kalu, Boboi, Anthony D’Souza, Moga, Joseph, Piexoto.
TheHardTackle’s Men To Watch Out For:
CS Sabeeth (Pailan Arrows)
Victorino (SC Goa)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Pailan Arrows 0 -1 SC Goa
-
PRAYAG UNITED
V
HAL BANGALORE
Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Kickoff: 14:00 IST, 14th January, 2012
***
The surprise package of the season, Prayag United, would be hoping to increase their goal count as they take on the bottom placed HAL Bangalore. Fresh from an impressive victory over the leaders Dempo SC, the Kolkata based side should not have much difficulty against the Bangalore-based outfit. Currently placed at sixth spot, Sanjoy Sen’s side would be hoping for a win in order to keep up the pressure on Pune FC and Mohun Bagan as both these sides have tough fixture on their hands this week with Pune hosting East Bengal and Bagan taking on Churchill Brothers in an away fixture. They seem to have come out of their recent shoddy form especially with a win over Dempo, and would be looking to carry forward the same form when they take on HAL. Prayag has been good at the back and Bello and Arnab won’t lose much sleep over the attacking line-up of the Bangalore institutional team. Presence of Yakubu in itself is enough to set the chills down the spine of any defensive lineup and with the current form of HAL’s backline, don’t be surprised if the match ends up with a tennis like scoreline in favour of the hosts.
Prayag United expected line up: Abhijit Mondal (GK), Chinta, Bello Rasaq, Arnab Mondal, Deepak, Denson, Francis, Subhash, Gouranga , Joshimar, Yakubu.
The beginning of the year saw HAL Bangalore picking up only their second point for the season with a draw against Sporting Clube de Goa. A goal difference of negative twenty six speaks for itself, the pathetic state of form Thyagaraj’s team is in. An impressive performance against Dempo meant they ended the yar on a high despite the loss. A point against SC Goa in the last round proves they have made a genuine effort to improve as we reach the second half of season. Still it doesn’t take a genius to make out that they have be outright poor this season and only a miracle can prevent them from getting relegated. Thehardtackle predicts that this miracle will have to wait for at least one more week as the line up against a highly impressive Prayag side.
Prayag have not lost a home fixture this season while HAL have managed to secure just a single point from all their away games. We leave the math to you now.
HAL expected line-up: Pramod (GK), Adeola , Kenneth, Goutam, Sudesh, Meiti, James, Biju Kumrar, R.C.Prakash, Vinod, Abdulla Hamza.
TheHardTackle’s Men To Watch Out For:
Yusif Yakubu (Prayag United FC)
Pramod (HAL SC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Prayag United 3 – 0 HAL
-
AIR INDIA
V
SHILLONG LAJONG FC
Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
Kickoff: 15:30 IST, 14th January, 2012
***
The giant killers of the season Air India failed to live up to their billing last time around after they suffered a defeat at the hands to East Bengal but this week the Pilots face a comparatively easier opponents in Shillong Lajong. AirIndia’s defense was severely tested by East Bengaland was eventually penetrated successfully twice, something which will keep Mr. Santosh Kashyap a little busy ahead of their clash against the Shillong side. They are tied on points with the defending champions Salgaocar and would love to go past them in order to assert some pressure over the champions who play Mumbai FC a day later. Captain Tamba must be aware that Shillong have the third worst offensive record in the league and with this match they have a golden opportunity to improve upon their goal difference.
Air India expected line-up: Pawan Kumar (GK), Tamba, Oken Singh, Omi, Prem Kumar, Napoleon, Thomte, Manandeep, Samson Singh, Henry Ezeh
Shillong did not have an impressive start to the year as they suffered a defeat from the hands of the defending champions Salgaocar who are having a horrible season to say the least. With sixteen points they are breathing down the neck of the Airmen and on Saturday they will have a golden chance to come to level terms with them, which is bound to boost their morale. They have failed to notch up a win in an away match till now and an out of form Air India could be an ideal team for them to break this jinx. Their Nigerian striker Christopher was highly impressive against Salgaocar but midfield and backline has been their biggest weakness. Lyngdoh picked up his second caution against Salgaocar on 4th and is set to miss this match.
Shillong Lajong expected line-up: Poirei (GK), Subhas, Lalhlimthara, Ralte, Wailadmi, John Menyonger, Lalramluaha , Lalchhuanmawia, James, Cristopher, Tuboi.
TheHardTackle’s Men To Watch Out For:
Henry Ezeh (Air India)
Chris Chizoba (Shillong Lajong FC)
TheHardTackle’s Prediction:
Air India 1 – 0 Shillong Lajong
DEMPO SC
V
CHIRAG UNITED CLUB KERELA
Fatorda Stadium, Goa
Kickoff: 15:45 IST, 14th January, 2012
***
After starting the new year with a shocker, Dempo would be edging to go out against Chirag United and open up the gap to four points from chasing East Bengal, before the Red and Gold step on the pitch on Sunday afternoon. Dempo have had a horrid time since December but have somehow still managed to stay at the top the table. In Chirag United they face relatively easier opponents and Armando Colaco would only settle for a win against them. Arrival of Samir Naik, who had missed their tie against Prayag, will go a long way in strengthening their backline as he will pair up with his former national team partner Mahesh Gawli. Miranda and Pereira would be marshalling the troops in the middle of the park while Ranti Martins will be their target man up ahead of the field. Subhasish Roy Chowdhury had an excellent second half against the mighty Bayern Munich and would be taking all that confidence into this match against the lowly placed Chirag United.
Dempo expected line-up: Subhasish (GK), Antao, Naik, Gawli, Rebello , Godwin, Climax, Ranty, Anthony, Clifford, Koko.
With only eleven points from thirteen matches, Chirag United find themselves hanging in and around the relegation zone before the start of the 14th round. They did pick up a win over Mumbai FC in the last encounter but facing Dempo, should we add a wounded Dempo, at home is an altogether different ball game. With three teams sitting on the edge of the last relegation spot, the battle to survive in the I-league is really reaching its peak. Chirag find themselves in a rather uncomfortable position and would go all out against the leaders, knowing that a win over them will place them on equal points with Mumbai FC and SC Goa. Strikes from Sunday and Asif helped them in picking up a much needed win over Mumbai FC. Both these strikers will have to be on their toes on Saturday if they wish to make even a match out of this fixture.
Chirag United expected line-up: Sharath (GK), Sherin, Isaac, Sajesh, Charles, Jamshid, Asif, Sukhwinder, Usman, Anil, Sunday.
TheHardTackle’s Men To Watch Out For:
Ranti Martins (Dempo SC)
Sharath K (Chirag United Kerala)
http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/i-league-2011-12-preview-and-predictions-–-round-14/