What does Kerala Blasters need to do in January transfer window?

Kerala Blasters are the only ISL side yet to win any major title.

Kerala Blasters FC’s 2024-25 ISL campaign has been nothing short of a struggle. Having started the season looking to build upon the lessons of last year, the team has faltered. The Blasters remain the only club in the Indian Super League that have never won any major title, although coming close three times and failing to overcome that final hurdle.

This season, things are worse, with the club languishing in 10th place after 13 matches, with just four wins, two draws, and seven losses, with 14 points. It led to the sacking of Head Coach Mikael Stahre. The loss of favourite coach Ivan Vukomanović in the off-season was a huge loss.

Swedish coach Mikael Stahre, who took over with much promise, was unable to find the rhythm needed to push the team ahead. Defensive instability has been with the team, conceding 24 goals – second-highest in the league. If that was not all, they have managed only one clean sheet so far.

Individual errors cost them dearly, as six goals that were conceded directly from mistakes, were the most in this league. Players like Sachin Suresh, Som Kumar, Pritam Kotal, and Sandeep Singh have all contributed to these lapses so far, exposing the back four.

Kerala Blasters’s season so far: A Rough Path

The Blasters began the season under Swedish coach Mikael Stahre, who took over from fan-favorite Ivan Vukomanović. The tenure of Stahre began on a very promising note but soon in no time the team just failed to get any rhythm.

Under his guard, the Blasters have been able to keep only one clean sheet and have mostly been dependent on individual brilliance rather than cohesive team performances. Individual errors have been a big concern and have directly led to six goals conceded, the highest in the league. Goalkeeper Sachin Suresh accounted for three such errors before his injury, while defenders like Pritam Kotal and Sandeep Singh have also been culpable.

Over reliance on foreign players, especially Noah Sadaoui, has been another factor that has further compounded the woes of Stahre. On days when Noah underperforms or is tightly marked, there is no Plan B, and often, the team loses games by narrow margins.

Analysis of Summer Signings

Kerala Blasters had a really tepid summer transfer window. It failed to sign any big Indians and did not replace most of the key players who left the side. Lack of foresight has made this squad thin and struggling for depth.

Among the retained foreigners, Adrian Luna and Milos Drinic have flashed brilliance in bits and pieces but were largely inconsistent. But, team captain Luna does look like he is getting back into his form, which is a good thing. The forward line has been the only bright spot this season, where Jesús Jiménez, with nine goals from 12 appearances, is the second leading scorer in the league.

Noah Sadaoui also comes next with five goals so far. Both of them, on different occasions, single-handedly carried the load on their shoulders in those difficult times. On other aspects, Kwame Peprah has had a good impact coming from the bench, and youth talent Korou Singh Thingujam emerged as one of the core members of the squad.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Kerala Blasters

The main strength of the Kerala Blasters is upfront. Jesús Jiménez and Noah Sadaoui have been among the goals, and at times, the two turning games around with their touches. With Adrian Luna getting into his groove slowly and Kwame Peprah adding depth, the Blasters possess an attack capable of testing any backline. The emergence of Korou Singh has also injected much-needed energy into the side, which well could be a bright ray of hope for the future.

Defensive frailty continues to remain one’s Achilles heel, one reason for the debacle surrounding Kerala Blasters. Poor coordination by its backline, along with many an error, inability, or character to bear with increased levels of pressure, speaks to how this team has played without one particular defensive partnership standing out in prominence from its other defenders, backed well enough by midfielders thrust towards decent cover up on the defensive front. Whoever comes to play gets thrown about without rhyme or rhythm leading to a further exposed defensive lineup. The team’s inconsistency, lack of form, and over-reliance on foreign players have also hindered their progress.

What Kerala Blasters Need in the Winter Transfer Window?

Kerala Blasters must prioritize finding a replacement for their head coach, as the assistant coaches are currently serving in an interim. The new coach should bring a winning mentality, experience in securing titles, and the ability to implement tactical strategies that align with the team’s strengths while enhancing overall coordination.

Strengthening their leaky defence should be out of the question in a winter window for the Blasters. The team needs an experienced centre-back who can organize the back line, lead by example, and bring much-needed stability, while a reliable goalkeeper is required rather urgently, considering the number of errors so far from the options which have been tried. A strong defensive midfielder who could shield the backline, break up opposition attacks, and distribute the ball effectively is of prime importance. The Blasters have always lacked a player in that role, which has mostly made their defence vulnerable.

Investing in promising Indian players should be a priority. The club has relied heavily on foreign players in their set-up, while the absence of impactful Indian signings has been quite prominent.

The depth, versatility, and strong bench could come from the young and hungry Indian talents. Some ring of tactical changes the new coach has to make, given how easily predictable this team has been. Also, over-reliance on individual brilliance especially on Jesús and Noah has made Blasters easily counterable; the balanced approach – the forwards to the defence should contribute more evenly.

Opinion: Finding the Way Back

The faithful fanbase of Kerala Blasters has been in wait for an ISL title since the inception of the league. While the club have come close on three occasions, luck and execution have often deserted them. This season has been another reminder of how far the team still needs to go.

The winter transfer window is a very important period for the Blasters, and management should plug those defensive loopholes, backed by a coach with all ammunition to turn the season around. Failure to do so will disappoint not only another season but also alienate their passionate fanbase, too.

While Kerala Blasters are capable of competing with any team on the attacking front, their defensive instability and lack of depth have been major drawbacks for them. Still, there is a second chance available in the winter transfer window to rewrite the story of this season and put a strong base up for the remainder of the season. If Kerala Blasters work on their weaknesses and improve their strengths, they could still rescue this season and keep their dreams of lifting an ISL title alive.

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