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ISL Clubs Preview: FC Goa

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By Enoch Ezekiel
07 November 2021


FC Goa is one of the consistent team in ISL. Out of the seven ISL seasons, they managed to qualify for the Playoffs for six times and also managed to win the Super Cup 2019, Durand Cup 2021 and ISL shield of 2019-20 and thereby managing to represent India at the AFC Champions League. Even though, they were only supposed to dream about winning the ISL. Last season (2020-21) too, they continued their form and finished 4th in the league in ISL season with 7 wins, 10 draws and 3 defeats and ended up with 31 points. It was a decent performance considering the fact that it was the first season for Juan Ferrando. Continuing with most of their last season players and adding two more foreigners and a bunch of youth, domestic players, they plan to secure their first Cup this time. Now let's have a preview on the team for the coming edition.

COACH AND PREFERRED FORMATION

FCJuan Ferrando's preferred formation is 4-2-3-1. His first season with the club was quite decent and FC Goa scored their first goal in AFC champions league under him. He has also won the first ever Durand Cup for FC Goa in 2021. He managed to have the least number of losses (3) in the ISL 2020-21 along with NorthEast United and Hyderabad with 3 defeats. FC Goa is a club to watch out for under him as 2021-22 season is his second season.

STRENGTHS

FC Goa is one of the most ambitious and well organized club in ISL. We have already seen that Juan is using a possession based style of play with heavy attacking department. They are very settled and we can only see very few changes in their team. In goalkeepeing department they have Dheeraj Singh who will be their first choice. He have experience playing in ISL, U-17 World Cup, AFC Champions League. We have also seen Naveen Kumar's performance during last season who can also be a second choice for Juan. So they having nothing to fear of in Goalkeepeing department. With speedy players on the flanks and experienced foreign CB's their defence have a good depth. Seriton, Ivan and Fox have good experience and it will impact a lot in Goa's play. Young Saviour Gama's speed will ruin opposition for sure. Sanson's experience in ISL will be beneficial for them. Adding to them, their youth defenders can create huge surprise. With a very good Midfield department who wins majority of the games for Goa they will be unbeaten. We can see a combination of youngsters and experienced Foreign and Indian players who can help both their defence and attack well. Players like Glan, Edu Bedia, Brandon, Noguera etc will be a headache for the opponents. In Attack, they have a newly added Airam Cabrera who will take up the role of last year top scorer Igor Angulo. Sudden attacks from Ortiz is also a danger for the opponents. With youngsters like Nemil, Christy, Princeton, Devendra etc their attack is also quite scary. Nemil's experience in Spain will also be a plus point for them. Another plus point is that many of the players have experience that they gathered from playing the AFC Champions League against the heavy weights of Asia. We can also see a bunch of ambitious youths who play a pivotal role in Juan's Tactics. Some examples are Papuia, Leander, Saviour, Nemil etc. They also had a good pre-season too.

WEAKNESS

They have no much weakness though they are missing an experienced Indian CB which was mainly played by Adil Khan last season. As we seen in the last season, they lack players in the wings. With Nongdamba joining along with Redeem Tlang and Makan Chote, Goa is expecting to fill that void place. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT

Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem (GK)
Dylan Fox (CB)
Jorge Ortiz (RW)
Muhammed Nemil (MF)

PROBABLE FINISH

FC Goa is one of the top contenders for the Legue Title and Shield and thereby secure a place in the ACL and AFC Cup. FC Goa is a team that can finish in the top 4. I am also expecting the same. 

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS 

Dheeraj Singh
Naveen Kumar
Hrithik Tiwari

DEFENDERS

Aiban Dohling
Dylan Fox
Ivan Gonzalez
L Sanga
Leander D'Cunha
Mohamed Ali
Sanson Pereira
Saviour Gama
Seriton Fernandes

MIDFIELDERS

Alberto Noguera
Alexander Jesuraj
Brandon Fernandes
Christy Davis
Edu Bedia
Glan Martines
Danstan Fernandes
Flan Gomes
Makan Chothe
Muhammed Nemil
Nongdamba Naorem
Princeton Rebello
Redeem Tlang

FORWARDS

Airam Cabrera
Devendra Murgaokar
Jorge Ortiz


FOREIGN CONTINGENT

Airam Cabrera will be the replacement for Igor Angulo in the front, Alberto Noguera, Edu Bedia and Jorge Ortiz will be the midfielders with Ortiz as an attacking player, Dylan Fox - Ivan Gonzalez combo will create problems for the opponents. We can expect great things from the foreigners of Goa. 





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