In two of its four seasons, the Kerala Blasters had sacked its coach midway through the season. Though it finished runner-up twice, just the fact that the Kochi-based side has had to change its top man shows how unsettled the team must have been in the other two years. The club finished a disappointing sixth the last time around, but things are different this time.
State of play
When Blasters signed Rene Meulensteen last season, there was a feeling that the team had finally found the man. For the Dutchman had worked under the great Alex Ferguson during his days as Manchester United’s assistant coach. But the joy did not last long.
Though the team looked solid defensively, it struggled to create chances. And after parting ways with Meulensteen, in a desperate move, Blasters brought back Englishman David James, who had guided the team to the final in the inaugural season.
But things were not easy for the former World Cupper. Even the presence of former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, star defender Wes Brown and the return of Iain Hume did not help the team’s cause much. But, considering the circumstances, it would be unfair to blame James for the team’s mediocre show.
No big stars
The Kochi club does not have any big names this time and Berbatov leaving on a bitter note last season is probably one big reason for that. Hume, not being in his usual sparkling mode last year, could be another.
“We had quality players who, for one reason or another, opted to join other clubs. But we were also able to recruit players who showed ‘Kerala spirit’, something which was needed to represent a region with strong social and community values,” said James.
The coach looks at Malappuram-born defender Anas Edathodika, a man who was hungry to be back home, as a valuable asset.
Achilles heel
The Blasters could not create enough chances last season and one will have wait and see how much the team has improved on this front.
“We looked at covering aspects of the game and worked on them during pre-season (in Thailand), I’m happy that the team achieved the results I was hoping for,” said James.
Foreign recruits:
Slavisa Stojanovic (striker), Matej Poplatnik (striker), Nemanja Lakic-Pesic (defender), Nikola Krcmarevic (midfielder), Cyril Kali (centre-back).