Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
The battle lines have been drawn, and the defence shield should be resolute. After some encouraging signs in their recent games, cracks have again appeared in FC Goa's porous defence. Alarmingly for the Gaurs, it's their captain Lucio and more recently Grégory Arnolin, both primarily centre-backs and defense mainstays, who have not been able to do their assigned job.
It appears a herculean task to go northwards here on, given their resources at disposal and an uncertain line-up. To shape their upward climb from the basement, the Gaurs should make the most of their opportunities in the attacking third and their defence needs to stabilize.
Robin Singh has been given his opportunities but he has not justified his role in the starting XI. He needs to hit his straps pronto if FC Goa is to deliver on repeated promises. He has been a weak link and his spot is under the scanner. Though the India international may be available again for Sunday's crucial home game against Delhi Dynamos, Brazilian forward Júlio César is proving himself a better option in the absence of compatriot Rafael Coelho, who has been sidelined with an injury. But César would be expected to contribute more to the team than just from set-pieces. Blessed with a powerful left foot, he has to find a way to find the back of the net from long rangers and not shoot for the stars.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Balmuchu is expected to return for midfield duties and home-grown wingers, Mandar Rao Desai and Romeo Fernandes, are expected to get starts with Richarlyson holding his place. Lucio is likely to play a similar role as in the last game with Raju Gaikwad, Rafael Dumas and Arnolin in defence. While there's still a question mark over Jofre's fitness, Robin will again start upfront along with César while Keenan Almeida and Trindade Goncalves are expected to find their names among the substitutes for the game.
Zico has been handicapped for personnel for designated roles. We saw what happened to their last game at home. An enforced substitution of their lone creative midfielder, Jofre for the second half, created disarray in their ranks. His replacement, Lúcio, playing in front of defence with Richarlyson advancing farther up from his normal midfield role, gave an indicator that the resources available to their Brazilian gaffer does not hint at a good narrative.
The Gaurs were unable to adapt to circumstantial change in positions and they were blasted with two telling strikes in the latter session to lose the game after leading by a solitary at the breather against Kerala Blasters. They cannot keep cringing game after game they are sorely missing the services of talismanic attacking midfielder Léo Moura, and get on with what they have.
But what makes things stiffer this time for Zico is that he has been stunted by personnel at his disposal from the outset. After he could not build a squad to his liking with team management doing major gaffes with player signings, the Brazilian tactician has been forced to repose faith in ageing players and wear-out signs have begun to show.
But all is not over for the Goan giants yet. With eight matches still to play, the Gaurs have enough chances to make a turnaround. It is high time the ebb subsides for the interests of the ISL. The Gaurs are trading their hooves on quicksand and without full points against Delhi Dynamos FC on Sunday, they won't have a semblance of a chance to stay competitive in this edition.
Interestingly, at the end of the first leg of competition last season, they were on seven points, and a win against Delhi will take them to as many points before the second phase commences. Also, FC Goa will have fresh legs after more rest days than a weary Dynamos side. While FC Goa played their last game at home against Kerala Blasters on October 24, Delhi played host to FC Pune City on Thursday.
While the Gaurs will look to tame the Lions to avoid the third successive loss at home, the draw masters from the north will be out shred the hosts' hides for those vital three points. We have a cracker on our hands.
