Thread by @MarcusMergulhao

Regardless of what happens in their concluding league clash against ATK Mohun Bagan, @JamshedpurFC coach Owen Coyle deserves huge credit for what he has done since coming to India. First he took Chennaiyin from the bottom to ISL final and has now worked his magic at Jamshedpur.

At both Chennaiyin and Jamshedpur, Coyle has thrived with less glamorous foreign players and hardly-known domestic signings. At Chennaiyin, Valskis ended with Golden Boot and hasn’t touched the same heights again. At Jamshedpur, Chima Chukwu has been a stunning revelation.

For Coyle to let go of Valskis and replace him with Chima was a huge gamble. You are replacing a Golden Boot winner with a player who was laughed at, ridiculed and vilified at SC East Bengal. But Coyle knows his football better than anyone else, and found the perfect striker.

Look at the foreign players at Jamshedpur – none of them glamorous or expensive, except for Alex Stewart who won the Scottish Premiership with Rangers last season. He’s been the star of this team and is the frontrunner for the Golden Ball award.

Coyle additionally improved the foreigners too. Hartley, Eli, Murray and Lima are all in their second season here and the coach got the best out of them in their respective roles.

Eli signing was a smart one, not just because he worked with Coyle at Chennaiyin, but it also provided Jamshedpur an alternative for Hartley. It also allowed them to eventually play two foreigners at the back, something which many couldn't do and possibly cost them.

Look at the domestic signings. Except for Farukh Chaudhary, they didn’t have a national team player and an injured Farukh himself hasn’t had any role to play in this season’s ISL. Yet, Coyle has kept them at the top.

Ritwik (Kerala), Pronay (ATKMB) and Len (Goa) were all not wanted at their previous clubs and now they are crucial to Coyle’s system. Rehenesh was prone to blunders, yet he kept faith. Dinliana and Ricky are not the best-known names in the country either.

Ishan Pandita may not have been able to latch on to a starting spot at Jamshedpur, but he’s had more game time than at Goa last season. And goals too. Ishan has already played 303 minutes, compared to the 131 at Goa last season.

Boris, Komal, Jitu and Narender are all better players this season than they have ever been, all thanks to the efforts of Coyle who seems to get the best out of them. Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Coyle is the big winner.

And, yes, lest it be forgotten, credit to @amoy_ghoshal for bringing Coyle to India, never mind the criticism he had to endure at the start.

#Indianfootball #ISL #JFC #JamKeKhelo