Kerala Blasters Vs North East United Review Thread. #YennumYellow #ISL

As with Kibus blasters. We were more intended to maintain possession and build from the back. North East was set up to make it difficult for us. Their tactics was typically to defend deep and counter on KBFC. #YennumYellow #ISL

Have to say until the first goal Blasters were in control. Even though some build up play can be improved. That comes with players playing more game with each other. Remember this is the second game of the season. And unlike ATKMB, BFC and CFC we are playing with new players. Kibu was aware of this counter threat from NEU. He setup Nishu and Jessel not to bomb forward that much. Nishu was playing good balls from deep for Hopper to run into. Nishu played well but lack of game time was evident. He will improve. #YennumYellow #ISL

One other thing is Gomes dropping deeper when in possession, Kone and Costa drifting to a wide CB. This makes Rohit Kumar as a DM. And Costa has the license to step out of the defense into midfield. This is a good tactics to dominate midfield. #YennumYellow #ISL

The momentum shifted to NEU after the first goal though. They are a well drilled unit. Khalid Jamil may not be part of the coaching staff, but his imprint is there in this team. And Nus probably is working on their attacking side. #YennumYellow #ISL

They were getting purchase through their right wing, as puieta was not so tracking back much. He was tucking inside to be a another 10 in the attack. Jessel and Costa dealt with it well. Rohit Kumar helped out a lot in that. #YennumYellow #ISL

Rohit Kumar what a game he had. If not for the yellow I think he would have played the whole 90 mins. He was brilliant. I don't think we would have conceded that last goal of Rohit was on the pitch. #YennumYellow #ISL

Then the penalty. I would talk about Ref later. Got the penalty went 2-0. Most dangerous score line in a football match. You are in a fall sense of security which is never good. Second half Nus told their wingers to push up the pitch and create more. #YennumYellow #ISL

From KBFC perspective I don't think their intention was to sit off. But they were forced to and they accepted that bcoz they were 2-0 up. That the coaching staff has to get rid of if you are a poseession based team. #YennumYellow #isl

After last match I said they haven't worked in set pieces at all. But it was clearly evident they worked on attacking set pieces, both goal came from that. They were trying to create through throw ins also. Which is a leaf out of BFC and am all for that. #YennumYellow

But defending set pieces they haven't it's all over the place. If we want to improve on results they have to work on that. Albino has to come out for few. If he is not confident then they have to add more height into the team. Also develop a clear system. #YennumYellow

Their first goal it came from a set piece. It was bound to happen sooner or later with our defending on set pieces and the amount of set pieces we were conceding. Whether it was a goal is another matter. #YennumYellow #ISL

We never really got going in the second half. That's a credit to NEU also. They played in a higher tempo, where blasters wants to slow down the play and control. Which they failed to do so emphatically in the second half. #YennumYellow #ISL

Kibu tired to regain the control with his subs and all. But no one got going. He got Prashant for puieta. Shifted seityassen to left. And played Prashant as RW to protect nishu who was fading because of lack of match fitness. Which worked even though we lost some attacking intent. However our left wing was option as Jeakson didn't provide the same industrial performance as Rohit provided. Most disappointing part is we tried to sit on the lead which is never good for a possession team. Seeing the game out is an art. Which this players needs to learn. Kone seems to be not match fit to play. He started struggling in the second half onwards. He was subbed in the last game. Struggled whole through in the second half yesterday. Maybe bench him until he is fit enough to start for 90 min. #YennumYellow #ISL

Him being not there in second half put too much strain on others. Combined with that nishu is also struggling. We were too open in second half. And we played into their hand in the second half. And they were superb and deserved the draw. #YennumYellow #ISL

From NEU perspective, Appiah, Kamara and Gallego was great in the second half. Gallego seems to be back to his best. They went for it in the second half outplayed KBFC and got the point. One thing for sure this side is not a pushover like last season. #YennumYellow #ISL

Now the referee. This should be game won 1-0 by KBFC. Both NEU goals should be ruled out. Handball and offside. The pen awarded to KBFC not a pen. The pen awarded to NEU is not a pen. The pen not given to NEU the Kone incident was a pen. #YennumYellow #ISL

It's not only these main decisions. There were lot of other decisions which I was baffled why he gave. KBFC got some and NEU got some. But in the second half most of them went NEU way. Because we never had the ball for a set period of time. Ref completely lost the plot. Now Malayalee's not getting playing time. There are 5 Malayalee's in squad. All are there on merit. They will start if they are contributing to the team. This is not a charity. This is the top league in the country if more are not featuring we should look at more areas than a club

Sahal 5 year contract, Rahul 5 year contract, Hakku 3 year contract. Prashant got extension. Arjun is there. That's long term commitment to local lads. All the people criticize because the goal was conceded last min. And they have their own agenda. Time is right to get traction. Now next game. Am really afraid for the game. Because Chennai play a system that counters our system perfectly. And they have some good players that fits their system perfectly. Anyone watching to see a dominating performance, I would suggest not. #YennumYellow #ISL

Again I said in my preview thread this is a process. And TRUST THE PROCESS. You have to go through all this pain when you are building a squad. This team will get better and may not reach their full potential until next season #YennumYellow #ISL

I would also say that Draw was a fair result considering the game. We feel we gained a point because of NEU dominant performance in second half. Don't forget we played well in the first half. 3 points to us would have been lucky. But you need some luck to go your way.