#4 Nicolai Adam may not have erred in opting to drop Aman and Aniket from the starting XI
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There was a clear pattern to how India fared in the U-16 AFC Championship last month – the Colts started ever game on fire, taking the lead, before fading badly in the second half, leading to two winning positions ending up as a 3-2 loss and a last-gasp 3-3 draw. Thus, there was some merit to Nicolai Adam opting to start conservatively, keeping his powder dry.
Aman Chetri and Aniket Anil Jadhav are the two best talents of this group of boys, but frequently run out of steam. Had it not been for the early defensive error, India could have walked away with a point or better. Nicolai Adam's gamble nearly paid off, as Umairov Nail’s red card left India in the advantageous postion of playing against 10 men at the end.
Aniket immediately showed his talent when he came on, using his physique and quick feet to repeatedly get past his markers and send in a couple of tempting crosses. Aman Chetri came on late in the half, but also ensured that his talents were on display, working the channels and not letting the Russian defenders rest. However, just as they were getting into their stride, the final whistle blew.
Nicolai Adam may have worked out a good tactical system, and only needs to iron out the kinks.
