Bengaluru FC, the toast of the town and the nation’s new darlings when it comes to football, kicked off the current season in style, sweeping aside Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 in their opening I-league encounter at the Kanteerava stadium.
They followed that up with two more impressive home wins against Chennai City and Mumbai FC, conceding none in the process. To quote the famous West Block Blues, the fortress was impregnable once again and all was well and normal.
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The defending champions have since been in a bit of trouble, though. A thrilling and feisty encounter at the Barasat stadium saw hosts East Bengal trump the Blues 2-1. If that was a setback, what followed was a shock – defeat at the hand of Churchill Brothers – again, on the road.
The AFC Cup finalists then journeyed to Jordan to play Al-Wehdat in their preliminary AFC Champions League qualifier but the visit ended in heartbreak following BFC’s 1-2 loss to the home team.
Their return to league fixtures has not been pleasant; the Blues went away to Pune but could only snatch a point after DSK Shivajians failed to hold on to a 2-0 lead.
While the recent run has been slightly concerning, no alarm bells are ringing yet; Bengaluru FC have enough ammunition and goodwill in credit amongst the fan base and have certainly earned some leeway.
However, there are raised eyebrows and whispers, debates and discussions trying to analyse the reasons for the slump in form and results.
Flying start but shortcomings were obvious
Three wins from the first three games and going top of the table – this is exactly what Bengaluru FC managed at the beginning of the league campaign and anyone would have forgiven them some pride and extra confidence.
However, manager Albert Roca is not new to the business and he voiced his thoughts clearly, ahead of the fixture against Mumbai FC, which Bengaluru went on to win 3-0 courtesy of a CK Vineeth hattrick.
“I am quite happy. Some new players have joined the squad, it is not easy for them to understand the philosophy from the first week. [....] We are always under construction, and always adjusting things. It’s my job to prepare the players for games, we have two wins, and the competition won’t wait for us. We need to keep learning and keep improving, and tomorrow it will be important for us to get three points.”
There is a reason why the BFC coach was intent on staying cautiously grounded; he knows the strengths and the weaknesses of his side the best.
The results may have been perfect but with all due respect to Shillong Lajong and Chennai City, both sides did not have enough fuel in the tank to trouble Bengaluru much. It may, therefore, be argued that their first serious challengers were Mumbai, who were also comprehensively beaten.
However, what many overlooked is the reason for this third win – CK Vineeth was on fire that evening and in registering the first ever hattrick by a BFC player, he had taken the wind out of Mumbai’s sails.
That does not change the fact that Bengaluru are overly dependent on the Kerala striker for goals; captain Sunil Chhetri’s influence from the left wing is diminishing his goal-scoring potency while Eugeneson Lyngdoh is not much of a threat from the flanks or as a number 10.
With both full-backs making attacking runs, the central defence was stretched and Cameron Watson had to slot in as an auxiliary defender. None of the three appeared comfortable enough in dealing with aerial balls or speedy runs. It does not help Roca’s cause that two key men in Sandesh Jhingan and Salim Ranjan are out injured, along with Rino Anto - one of the star campaigners during the AFC cup run-in.
Missing the leader and lynchpin: Alvaro Rubio
Albert Roca took over at the helm of Bengaluru FC from Ashley Westwood ahead of the final stretch of the AFC cup and the Spaniard did not shy away from making a few signings for the crucial challenge ahead.
One of the new faces was his countryman and former Real Valladolid captain Alvaro Rubio, who was brought in on a four-month deal.
The 37-year-old Spaniard became a crucial cog in the Blues’ midfield and thoroughly complemented Roca’s philosophy and style of play.
With short passes being the order of the day, the key was to maintain composure when under pressure while also having the vision to spot the opportunity to make key passes that could penetrate the opposition defence.
The veteran midfielder provided exactly this for Bengaluru FC; his passing range, ability to retain possession even while being hustled about and the sheer nature of his experience was worth its weight in gold for Roca’s bunch.
Not only did Rubio orchestrate attacks from deep, he also had a defensive bent of mind to break up opposition attacks and/or help out his team’s centre-backs if the need arose. He was vocal on the pitch and led by example – mannerisms which provide tremendous assurance to a youthful side.
All in all, he was a commanding, solid presence with a wealth of experience and despite his age, proved to be one of Roca’s most shrewd signings and integral to the AFC campaign.
While it is true that he was brought in only on a four-month deal, could the BFC hierarchy (including Roca) have probably done more to ensure he stayed on a bit longer? The answer is yes. More so because the Blues still haven’t managed to replace him or his influence in the centre of the park.
Dysfunctional pivot
Roca signed Cameron Watson in Aug 2016, with a view to shore up the midfield for the champions of India. While the Australian has an impressive passing range and is a willing worker in the centre of the pitch, he is no Alvaro Rubio.
Watson may have the ability to shut out opponents but initiating attacks from deep in his own half – playing the role of a deep-lying playmaker, so to say – is not exactly his cup of tea.
With Watson alongside Lenny Rodrigues who offers similar attributes – that of a destroyer (for the lack of a better term), Bengaluru have lacked the dynamism and creativity that is expected of a typical midfield pivot. This should ideally be akin to a combination such as Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez or Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin at Arsenal, but Watson and Lenny offer more or less the same things.
Add to it the fact that one of their best creative players - Eugeneson Lyngdoh - is playing in an advanced position as opposed to setting up attacks from deeper down, and we have a genuine conundrum for the Blues that transcends from defence to attack, covering the key central stretch.
Overrun midfield is central to the Blues’ defensive problems
There is absolutely no denying the fact that individual errors have cost the defending I-League champions dear, in their recent not-so-flattering trips on the road but at the same time, it has to be acknowledged that their spine is weak.
The visit to East Bengal exposed the problems in midfield as Watson and Lenny were bypassed in the middle as the Marigolds found an easy way to stretch and tire the Blues’ backline.
Robin Singh’s pace and directness were too much for Bengaluru to cope with their own half and most of them struggled to deal with the press and a high defensive line. Juanan and John Johnson are mighty men in the heart of BFC’s defence but speed is not their forte. In such a case, the overrun midfield duo of Watson and Lenny was as ineffective as it gets in stopping attacks.
Is it time to explore an alternative set-up?
Shankar Sampingiraj, back after an injury layoff and Malsawmzuala, the teenage sensation are the main options available to Roca if and when he does look out for alternatives in the system and/or personnel in the Blues’ midfield.
Both the Indian midfielders are capable of offering support to the defence when the need arises, but more importantly are comfortable enough on the ball to set off the team on an attack.
One of the two could also potentially play alongside Eugeneson, with Chhetri slotting in just behind Vineeth as the number 10.
This would free up captain marvel from working the flanks too much in order to help the defence, a luxury he could be afforded at the age of 32 in exchange for better performances on the other side of the pitch.
With just one point from the last three games, Bengaluru are in fifth place with 10 points, nine adrift of leaders East Bengal. The Blues have a game in hand, though, and take on Minerva FC – placed second from bottom – at the Kanteerava on Saturday evening.
A win would propel them to third place, behind only the stalwarts from Bengal but any other outcome could potentially have an adverse effect on their defence of the title.Will Albert Roca shuffle things up in the centre to optimise the potential of those at his disposal in order to stem the rot? We will have to wait and watch.
