What does Punjab FC need to do in winter transfer window?

Punjab FC will look to finish in the top six.

Punjab FC, the first club to progress into the Indian Super League (ISL) by winning the I-League, the second-division professional football competition in India, has made history. It is the first and only professional club from North India to win the I-League.

The club played their I-League matches at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium but declared the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi their home venue for the ISL.

Under Greek football manager Staikos Vergetis, who guided them to the I-League title, Punjab FC ended their debut ISL season in eighth place with 24 points, six wins, six draws, and 10 losses.

Their first win of the season came in their 11th game against Chennaiyin FC, marking the beginning of their ISL journey. From that point, the club performed decently and notably finished ahead of heavyweights like East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Hyderabad FC.

ISL 2024-25: How the Season is Going?

For the ongoing 2024-25 ISL season, Punjab FC parted ways with Staikos Vergetis and appointed Panagiotis Dilmperis as their head coach. The club started the ISL season strong, defeating Kerala Blasters FC 1-2 in Blasters home, in their opening game.

They defeated Odisha FC and Hyderabad FC in the following two games, remaining undefeated for three matches. However, their streak was broken by Bengaluru FC on 18th October 2024, with a 1-0 loss.

Currently, the team has six wins and six losses, placing them in the eighth position. They still have high hopes of securing a playoff spot in the ISL.

How are summer signings performing?

In the summer transfer window, Punjab FC signed Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak, Argentine forward Ezequiel Vidal, Norwegian striker Mushaga Bakenga, defender Ivan Novoselec, and Indian players Vinit Rai, Nihal Sudeesh, Ninthoi Meetei, Princeton Rebello, and goalkeeper Muheet Shabir.

It was a big blow for Punjab FC when Mushaga Bakenga parted ways with the club last December. The striker, who promised to emulate Erling Haaland’s tactics, failed to perform as expected, missing several chances in front of goal. In thirteen games, he managed only one goal and one assist.

Filip Mrzljak has been solid in defensive midfield, contributing three goals and two assists. Another foreigner, Ezequiel Vidal, has scored four goals and provided two assists but was sent off against the Mohun Bagan Super Giants last December. So far, Vidal has created the highest number of goal-scoring chances for Punjab FC.

Nihal Sudeesh, on loan from Kerala Blasters, has risen to the occasion. In twelve games, he has scored one goal and assisted another.

Vinit Rai, playing in central midfield, has been average. Ninthoi Meetei has played six games and registered one assist. Goalkeeper Muheet Shabir appears to be the second-choice keeper, having played two games. He kept a clean sheet against Mohammedan SC but conceded two goals against Jamshedpur FC.

Princeton Rebello is yet to make an appearance due to injury but has reportedly recovered.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The team’s main strength lies in its collective effort. Luka Majcen is considered the backbone of the team. Despite his injury against Kerala Blasters, Punjab FC managed to win two of their next three games. In addition, nine different goal scorers have contributed to the team’s scoring in twelve of the thirteen games played thus far.

However, the main weakness is their defense. They have conceded 18 goals, largely due to an inexperienced backline.

In the game against East Bengal FC, the team lost despite leading 2-0 at halftime, conceding four goals in the second half. Out of 18 goals conceded, 12 came in the second half, raising questions about their defensive structure and stamina. The injury to Croatian center-back Ivan Novoselec has further compounded their problems.

Currently, the team is on a three-match losing streak and must bounce back quickly to keep their playoff hopes alive.

What does the Punjab FC need?

As the winter transfer window is open, the club urgently needs replacements for Mushaga Bakenga and Ivan Novoselec. They should prioritize strengthening the defence, and to stabilize the backline, they might want to sign an experienced Indian defender.

The Punjab FC needs a player who can start playing the following day. They do not have the time to wait for someone to arrive during the ongoing transfer window.

Reorganize the team and rebuild it.

Punjab FC started their ISL 2024-25 journey as one of the strongest teams and were considered favorites. However, as the league progressed, they struggled to maintain their form. Head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis must reorganize the team quickly, especially after the disheartening loss to East Bengal FC, where they squandered a two-goal lead. The impact of that loss was evident in their subsequent 3-1 defeat against Mohun Bagan SG.

The defense, although full of potential, needs to step up, particularly in the second half of matches. The coach must restructure the team as the league picks up pace, with every game becoming more critical. Addressing their defensive frailties and overcoming injury setbacks will be key to ensuring Punjab FC’s hopes for a playoff spot remain alive.

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