AFC Cup Quarter-final First Leg: East Bengal 1-0 Semen Padang – Five Talking Points

East Bengal lack options in central midfield

Falopa lacks options in central midfield

Even under Trevor Morgan in the second half of last season, East Bengal didn’t have too many natural central midfielders in the squad. With Harmanjot Singh Khabra also being used in full back positions, the Englishman compensated by using a diamond in midfield which saw the likes of Lalrindika Ralte, Sanju Pradhan or Ishfaq Ahmed play close to defensive midfielder Mehtab Hossain while playmaker Penn Orji was the furthest forward just behind the two strikers.

Falopa opted for a traditional 4-4-2 against Semen Padang and if he intends to play that way for the rest of the season, the Brazilian could struggle as he doesn’t have enough natural central midfielders in the squad. Cavin Lobo was Mehtab’s partner on Tuesday but that isn’t his natural position. The Goan struggled in the first half and only had an impact when East Bengal switched to a 4-1-4-1 in the final half hour.

With Khabra still far from full fitness and Subodh Kumar not convincing Falopa to be even in the match squad, the former Myanmar coach might have to play a different system or maybe hope that the deadlock between IMG-Reliance and I-League clubs’ gets resolved so that he can loan one midfielder from IMG-R. Because, as of now, Falopa doesn’t have a fit player who can partner Mehtab in the central midfield of a 4-4-2 system. Perhaps, Falopa might have to play just one striker with Sueoka just behind in a 4-4-1-1.