Five things Odisha FC must do to convert good start into a successful season

Odisha FC is currently second on the league table with nine points from four games.

Odisha FC began their journey in ISL in 2019-20. Till date, all of their campaigns have been disappointing as the club never reached the playoffs. This season, however, the club has made a very good start by winning three out of their four games. They are currently second on the points table, just below Hyderabad FC. Only one point separates them from the pole position.

Hence, the side, under coach Josep Gombau, will look to maintain their momentum for the rest of the season and finish on the points table as high as possible. In light of this, let us take a look at five things that the club should do to convert their good start into a successful season.

5. Keep the players fit

The first and the foremost thing that the club should do is to ensure that their players stay fit for the majority of the season. Gombau should stay extra vigilante in this respect, especially with older players like Diego Mauricio. Any good run by a team can get hampered by missing personnel, which makes it paramount for Odisha to look after their players. The fitness team should work in tandem with the coach and the medical staff to provide attention to individual fitness needs and take collective measures for the entire squad.

4. Try to make the Kalinga Stadium a fortress

We all know how home games can be an advantage for a football club, especially in European leagues where top European clubs rarely lose on home turf. Odisha FC should also look to create a similar vibe at the Kalinga Stadium. A large number of fans came to cheer for the Juggernauts in their first two home games. Combined with such loud support, good quality on-field football will make it very difficult for away sides to score points on their turf.

This was indeed the case with Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters, who both lost at the Kalinga Stadium. Hence, Gombau should focus on winning all their home games. This will convert the Kalinga Stadium into a fortress for them where away teams shall find it difficult to play.

3. Earn points against opponents that are at the bottom half of the table

A champion team should always try to earn all three points whenever they play against a team that is placed below them on the table. With their current form, Odisha should emphasise on this aspect with increased importance. As the quality of the ISL teams is very close, it becomes more important to not lose points in relatively easy games. Moreover, in their away games against bottom-half teams, Odisha should always strive for three points or at least eye for a draw in case they concede first. However, they know how to 'comeback'! So winning those games should neither be an uphill task.

They should target teams which are in disarray, e.g., East Bengal and NorthEast United, to earn as much points as possible. If they fail to earn these points, teams like Hyderabad FC and Mumbai City will take advantage and surpass them on the table.

2. Prevent teams that are at the top half of the table from scoring points against them

A very important aspect for any winning team is to perform well against strong opponents. While it is a sin to lose points against a relatively weaker opponent, it is also equally important to not give away easy points to stronger sides. In this regard, it is imperative for Odisha to beat Hyderabad whenever they meet in order to go to the top of the table.

As per current league standings, the top-five teams are very close to each other. This makes it even more important for the Juggernauts to win against these teams or at least earn one point against each of them, especially in away games.

1. Find the right combination for each game and show consistency

With the way Odisha have played so far, it seems that Gombau has found the right combination for their side. The team looks fluid in all thirds of the pitch. Hence, the most important thing for them is to continue with this momentum in a consistent manner. As is obvious, Gombau cannot field the same team for every game. Hence, he needs to tweak his playing XI as per requirements and as per their opponents. He needs to be spot on in this respect. Any mistake in fielding the right XI might turn out to be ominous for the side, especially against opponents belonging to the top half of the table.

Apart from fielding the right combination, the team also needs to be consistent till the end of the league. As we have seen in the previous two editions, the competition to reach playoffs is very cut-throat. Furthermore, the winner of the coveted League Winners' Shield had been decided by small margins. Hence, any lapse of concentration or consistency in the upcoming days might prove to be very costly for the Juggernauts. They need to be wary of such problems creeping into the side, especially if they are eyeing a table-top finish in March.