After narrowly missing out on a playoff spot last campaign, Jamshedpur FC will be hoping to put in a better challenge in the new 2019-20 Indian Super League season. Last season, the Red Miners could only register 27 points, packed with six wins, nine draws and three losses. New head coach Antonio Iriondo will be hoping to put in his attacking philosophy into a squad, which failed to wrap up matches last season.
Home Ground: JRD Tata Sports Complex
Highlights Over The Years
2017-18: Making its debut in this season, the Men of Steel finished at fifth position, narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
2018-19: Under Cesar Ferrando, the team once again finished at fifth spot, with NorthEast United edging past for fourth place.
Transfers
The biggest arrival this season has been Spaniard Piti, who arrived from PAS Lamia. A highly experienced attacker, who can play as a winger or forward, he has represented the likes of Rayo Vallecano, Granada, Hercules, Zaragoza.
The other acquisitions are Joyner Lourenco (from Mumbai City), Jitendra Singh (from Indian Arrows), CK Vineeth (from Kerala Blasters), Niraj Kumar (from Ozone FC), Narender Gahlot (from Indian Arrows), Aitor Monroy (from Inter de Madrid), Keegan Pereira (from NorthEast United), Noe Acosta (AE Larisa), Issac Vanmalsawma (from Chennaiyin FC), Sergio Castel (from Atletico Madrid B).
The players who departed the outfit are Michael Soosairaj (to ATK), Pablo Morgado (to CF La Nucia), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (to NorthEast United), Sergio Cidoncha (to Kerala Blasters), Raju Gaikwad (to Kerala Blasters), Mario Arques (to Kerala Blasters), Dhanachandra Singh (to Mohun Bagan), Asifullah Khan (to Real Kashmir), Jerry Mawihmingthanga (to Odisha F), Pratik Chowdhary (to Mumbai City), Sanjay Balamuchu.
Current Roster
Goalkeepers: Amrit Gope, Rafique Ali, Niraj Kumar, Subrata Kumar
Defenders: Augustin Fernandes, Jitendra Singh, Tiri, Joyner Lourenco, Karan Amin, Keegan Pereira, Narendra Gahlot, Robin Gurung
Midfielders: Aitor Monroy, Amarjit Singh, Bikash Jairu, Memo Moura, Piti, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Mobashit Rahman, Noe Acosta
Forwards: Aniket Jadhav, CK Vineethm Farukh Choudhary, Sergio Castel, Sumeet Passi
Head Coach: Antonio Iriondo
Antonio Iriondo succeeds Cesar Ferrando, and will be aiming to integrate his attacking philosophy in the squad. An experienced gaffer, he has managed the likes of Rayo Majadahonda, Rayo Vallecano and SS Reyes. We can expect him to use a direct 4-2-3-1 formation, with Piti proving to be attacking talisman from either flank. Jamshedpur will also try to keep the ball more, with sharp counter-attacks which could catch the opposition with surprise.
Strengths And Weaknesses
The best thing about Jamshedpur is that the club has retained many of its core players like Tiri and Subrata Paul. The squad also has good depth, which will be an advantage for the Red Miners during the grueling second half of the season.
The arrival of plenty of new players adds to the depth but also has a negative affect. New players take time to adapt, and the team could have quite a few of them in their starting XI. Tiri will have to carry the backline singlehandedly once again with young defender Narender Gahlot expected to partner him.
What To Expect
Jamshedpur FC is the underdog for this season once again. Due to a heavy influx of new arrivals, it is hard to predict the team's impact on the points table, but a challenge for the playoffs can be expected for sure from the team.
