Kochi: Poor finishing cost Jamshedpur FC a play-off place in their debut season in the Indian Super League (ISL) last year. Despite having a formidable midfield, resolute defence, and above all, a shrewd tactician like Steve Coppell at the helm, lack of quality strikers in their ranks undermined JFC’s season and their ambitions to finish in the top four.
The team has been rebuilt from scratch after a disappointing campaign last year which saw them finish fifth despite maintaining a remarkable level of consistency and even beating the mighty Bengaluru FC in an away encounter. Obviously, a major overhaul was inevitable after such a frustrating season.
Fresh Approach
With a new gaffer to guide and a fresh approach, ‘the men of steel' believe that they can redeem themselves this season.
Spaniard Cesar Ferrando Jimenez who replaced Coppell, has a vast experience in managing, having coached several Spanish clubs. He was the manager when Atletico Madrid reached the semifinals of the prestigious Copa del Rey in the 2003-04 season. The 59-year-old also had coaching stints with Spanish sides Elche, Albacete and the reserve squad of Valencia.
The Cahill factor
In a bid to plug the chink in their armour, Jamshedpur have bolstered their attack with a number of high quality additions.
If the team in their debut season was known as ‘Team Coppell’, they are ‘Team Cahill’ this time around. The signing of Australia's all-time leading goal scorer Tim Cahill is expected to make an impact on a side which finished the previous season with the second least number of goals. The 38-year-old hard-working forward could be the only star player to ply his trade in the cash-rich league after the organisers did away with the marquee player-cum-manager rule in the fourth season.
Cahill, who scored 50 goals for Australia in a career spanning 14 years, retired from international duty after playing in his fourth World Cup in Russia earlier this year.
Riding on foreign power
Going into the new season, Jamshedpur are banking on a strategy that has been put to good use by the Chennaiyin FC over the years. The leadership position in each department will be assigned to a foreign player specific to that role.
Their attacks will be orchestrated by the mercurial Australian and Spaniard Sergio Cidoncha. The midfield, featuring three former Spanish players Carlos Calvo Sobrado, Mario Arques, and Pablo Morgado, is certainly strong enough to set their sights higher.
Sobrado came up through the youth ranks of his hometown club Atletico Madrid, while Arques and Morgado were part of youth teams of Villareal and Valencia respectively.
Another Spaniard, Tiri, who made a total of 18 appearances for them last season while also netting a goal, will continue to be the pillar of strength in JFC’s defense. He will be joined by Brazilian Memo, who also appeared in all matches played by Jamshedpur last season.
Indian flavour
The Indians in JFC’s ranks are no pretenders either. They have picked up some experienced and young Indian talents in the form of Sumeet Passi, who spearheaded India’s attack in the recently held South Asian Football Federation Cup, and star shot-stopper Subrata Paul.
JFC have also secured the services of defenders Dhanachandra Singh and Tata Football Academy product Sanjay Balmuchu, who played for Chennaiyin FC last season. Pratik Chowdhary and Raju Gaikwad, who were part of Delhi Dynamos and Mumbai City FC in the previous seasons, will add Indian flavour to their defence packed with foreign players.
