Mohun Bagan’s early departure from Federation Cup has raised some serious questions. The first question that was raised was against the attitudes of the Bagan officials – which, fans and members of Mohun Bagan Club feel to be totally unprofessional. It is surprising that no senior member of the management was present in Pune during the Federation Cup. They could have played important roles in motivating the players – but alas they preferred to stay away from the team. Mohun Bagan fans and members are unhappy for the early departure from the Federation Cup – particularly when arch-rivals East Bengal move into the semi-final (even if they continues getting favours from the referees like the previous year’s Federation Cup) – but this does not answer the queries fans and members are having in their minds. Moreover they have decided not to participate in Durand Cup – which is a very poor decision. This means less match practice for Bagan – leading to poor preparation in iLeague!

Some of the questions that keep haunting fans and followers are as follows –

a) There is a question about Simon Storey – what is his condition ? Once Subrata Bhattacharya told that foreign players come to Indian particularly when they are nursing injuries- hence a proper fitness test should have been performed. This was not done and now there is a big question about Storey. Is he fit? Is he worth being our defender? We are yet to come out of the debacle we had last year for recruitment of "Diamondstar" –  is Storey worst than him?

b) Was coach happy with Hudson Lima? mohunbaganclub.com has learnt that coach was not in favour of recruiting him – however Lima was a recruit suggested by Jose Barreto – and hence Bagan had to recruit him. We have no doubts in Barreto’s abilities and commitments- but is Lima’s recruitment worth ?

c) Shilton Pal is our number one goalkeeper for last few seasons – particularly after Sangram has lost his touch. But when will Shilton gain the football sense of when to step out and when not to ? He has made serious mistakes in last 4-5 years – that includes gallery shows that led to conceding goals! He conceded a goal in the first minute of a match (in the second half) against East Bengal – just because he was not in his right position. Once he concedes a goal – he loses his focus and ends up conceding more goals.How many matches did he win for Bagan in last 4-5 years ? We are still relying on him while good goalkeepers were not given chances. This is simply because our goalkeeping coach does not rectify Shilton – and still remains our goalkeeping coach simply because he brings in "co-sponsors!"

A renowned Sport Journalist – a chief sports Editor of Bengal’s leading vernacular newspaper, and a person who covered at least 5 world cups, and a known Mohun Bagan supporter – has always criticised Mohun Bagan’s selection of the defenders. Officials have tried to stop his journalists entering into the club tent – but instead had they listened to his suggestions – Bagan could have got more trophies – and played AFC!

Mohun Bagan officials must reconsider their decisions and should participate in Durand Cup if they want the team to run for the iLeague title – as it is very much clear that the team requires more first class competitive matches to settle down.

 

Gourav Roy, an ardent Mohun Bagan fan – writes an open letter to Mohun Bagan officials.

Dear MOHUNBAGAN Officials,
First of all if it is read by Prince-da please it’s a request that you please put this forward to the addressed officials.
I know you guys must be busy now with some important personal or business works but if you take out five valuable minutes from your time and please read this letter I will be more than obliged. After every unwanted incident you send a letter to FIFA/AIFF so I hope you guys will take care of this letter and will give it a thought.
Hope you have seen the inaugural tournament of the season of Mohunbagan. The same story of last season has started to repeat itself. I knew only this is to be expected from this team. Because Last year also our main concern was our defence line where you recruited only two players (STOREY and Sourav Chakraborty) and left out the most dependable of the lot Deepak Mondol. I don’t know who selected Storey but his heading quality is just awful and other qualities are better not to say. HE acted like a kid when opponents were putting on pressure. You should have checked him thoroughly before handing him a two year contract. Then we have our goal keeper. After the goal Shilton conceded in the last year Kolkata league match against East Bengal I don’t think he should deserve a Mohunbagan jersey in any match afterwards. But he is the main goalkeeper of our team and the recruiters have failed to sign any good goalkeeper also.
You guys recruited all the players of your choice and then one fine day hired a coach named Steve Darby seeing his C.V. In the whole world if you can show me another example where a coach manages a team selected by officials (not even scout or recruiters) your point of doing this is justified. The coach doesn’t even know the players’ strengths and weaknesses. So there is no point blaming the coach
Each and every year two or three persons make the Mohunbagan team taking the full responsibility. They are neither professional football scouts nor football recruiters. They are busy whole year in their own work. Suddenly prior to the recruitment season they wake up and try to recruit some heavy names from the other clubs. But while doing it they don’t take the team balance in calculation. Could you please let me know the name of an Indian player who has shined while playing in Mohunbagan?? Or a foreigner whom you guys have scouted??
You guys think that only by scoring goals we can win every match. But first of all we need to protect our own goal otherwise every time we will face the same problem. So please recruit some football minded people as scout and recruiters. Club officials should only look at the monetary aspect of a recruit and those people should examine the player’s skill or football abilities. Just see at Pune FC they are just some year’s old club and they are now days beating giants like DEMPO just by including professional approach to the team. So, please be professional and make Mohunbagan fans all over the globe proud and happy once again.
Thank you for your precious time. Hope for the best in the rest of the season. Joy Mohunbagan.

Gourav Roy
A Heartbroken Well-wisher of Mohunbagan Athletic Club

Source: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/d6angi

Steve Darby may wish to seek the guidance of his most recent conqueror on how to quell a gathering storm. Pradhyum Reddy’s team lost 3-1 against Churchill Brothers – came back well and won 3-1 against Mohun Bagan -a team with costliest forward line in India. Steve Darby meanwhile has lot to explain to the fans and followers of Mohun Bagan and should be ready to be grilled by the fans of Mohun Bagan when his team is back in Kolkata. Not simply because Mohun Bagan lost, this is the second consecutive defeat in the season (with only 2 matches so far), this was first ever a deal of two consecutive losses for Bagan in a Federation Cup history. That too – against two minnows from North East -who play Second division iLeague.

But – a more important point – what is wrong with Bagan ? A simple answer – lack of leadership in defense – lack of leadership in midfield and poor show by the costly forward line.

Some questions –

1. It is no more the Shilton we knew in 2008. Has his focus been lost? Or is there a phychological problem ? the killer in him is gone. One can recall the goal he gifted Robin singh last year. Today’s third goal was worst than that.

2. Sunil Chettry is considered as  "best Indian forward" in current Indian football. He has failed to score at least 5 goals in 1-to-1 situations. Is he losing his cool when he is inside the box?

3. Odafa is not even 50% match fit. Why didn’t he openly said the same  ? He failed to deliver.

4. When will Rakesh Mahis be matured?

5. Why is Simon Storey in Mohun Bagan jersey?

6. When will Darby be able to get his defenders to concentrate for an entire match ?

Lastly why spend 13 Crored for this team ? What guarantee do we have that Bagan will win a single Trophy this year? When?

The worry, of course is that defeat at the Fed Cup against the lesser known teams could become routine in this season.

God save Mohun Bagan.