Pune City vs. Delhi Dynamos Preview

By Mr ISLBlog in Match Preview

Cross Pollination of Players between the Pride and the Stallions

It is refreshing to have a break of three days in between Indian Super League games. The break was well utilised I can assure you with loads of food, drinks and merrymaking. I kid you. My break was full of diapers and baby food. Equally exciting, though, I assure you. Today’s matchup is a very interesting one. There are multiple variables at play between FC Pune City and Delhi Dynamos. There is no way in hell that I will be predicting this game. What I will do is try to point out key points. Here we go. Continue reading

Chennaiyin FC vs. FC Goa Preview

By Mr ISLBlog in Match Preview

Possession Based Tiki-Taka Visits English Counterattacking

Two draws in the first two games of the season… I thought that kind of thing only happened in Serie A. It seems like we Indians like our pizzas far too much. With Materazzi gone, the upcoming game will not have any Italian influence whatsoever. We’ll see English counterattacking from Chennaiyin FC against the Spanish tiki-taka in this game.

John Gregory and Sergio Lobera couldn’t be from more different footballing schools. Lobera has worked with managerial legends from the very beginning at Barcelona while Gregory has come up the ranks in English football. The schooling is different, the style of play is different, but the refrain will most probably be the same as what Indian football fans have all been arguing about since forever – Barcelona vs. Manchester United/City, Real Madrid vs. Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid vs. Chelsea. Continue reading

Kerala Blasters vs. ATK Preview

By Mr ISLBlog in Match Preview

Best Chance in 3 Years for KBFC to Beat ATK

This is a big one, folks. It’s important for many reasons. The obvious is that it is the first match of this season. The next is that it is a repeat of the last year’s final in terms of teams and venue both. It is also important for Teddy and Meulee to start the season on the front foot. The most crucial reason though is the rivalry. Oh, the rivalry…

These two teams are possibly the most successful in the history of Indian Super League in terms of consistency. They’ve contested two of the three finals. However, the rivalry really came to a boil last season when ATK beat KBFC fifth time in 8 meetings at, you guessed it, the Tuskers’ home ground. That must’ve burned and KBFC fans must be itching for revenge. Continue reading

ISL 2016 Final Preview: The Tuskers vs. Indian Rojiblancos

By Mr ISLBlog in Match Preview

What is the Script of The ISL 2016 Final?

Two out of three finals since the Indian Super League’s inception have been contested by the same teams. As The Tuskers and the Indian Rojiblancos face off at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi for the ISL 2016 final, they will be replaying the 2014 season finale that was won by Atletico De Kolkata.

As if that wasn’t interesting enough, there will be one player in this game who played for one team last time out and will play for the other team this time out. Iain Hume started the 2014-final in the canary colours of Kerala Blasters FC but this time, in the ISL 2016 final, he’ll be donning the red and white of Atletico De Kolkata. Continue reading

The Pride vs. The Tuskers Preview

By Mr ISLBlog in Match Preview

The Pride Will Attack Like Lions While The Tuskers Will Defend Like Elephants

The Tuskers will travel to the capital of the country to face the most offensive team in the league, The Pride, in their own backyard. The game will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and should be thoroughly entertaining since the Delhi Dynamos FC need to beat Kerala Blasters FC to progress to the finals, after their 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the semi-final. Continue reading