Conservative Mumbai City FC could be classy too

MUMBAI: Bhaichung Bhutia calls Mumbai City FC the favourites for the inaugural ISL title and going by their strength, at least on paper, you cannot disagree with the former India captain.
Even World Cup winner Marco Materazzi feels Mumbai City are the team to beat. But a team that is strong on paper does not necessarily produce the kind of results that are expected of them if history is to be believed.
But if you have Nicolas Anelka and Fredrik Ljungberg as your stars and work horses, and if the combination works, then you have a potential winner.
Going by what Mumbai City displayed in their game against ONGC, it won't be a surprise if they opt for a rather conservative approach. If you have to win, you cannot always play attractive football. Winning matters, the quality of the win may not always.
Mumbai City did soak in some of the pressure against ONGC, but the defence and the midfield kept pinching the pressure upwards every minute and finally the game was virtually played in ONGC's half.
As far as the men for the job go, Mumbai City have an array of players who can deliver. The core team appears good with Subrata Paul likely to start under the bar as against Portuguese Andres Matios dias Pereira, who should be the second-choice.
Mumbai will perhaps be the only team to opt for an Indian goalkeeper. Up in defence, the central roles are well laid out for the likes of Manuel Friedrich and Pavel Cmovs. The experience of captain Syed Rahim Nabi should come in handy as a side back. In midfield, there is Fredrick Ljungberg, Lalrindike Ralte, Jan Stohanzl and in the forward line, can you look beyond the class of Nicolas Anelka.
Trying to create a winning combination is always a task and manager Peter Reid looks to be building a team that pinches its way forward and gives very little elbow room to the rivals.
FIRST GAME: vs Atletico de Kolkata on October 12
TRAINING GROUND: Cooperage and Fr Agnels', Vashi
HOME STADIUM: DY Patil Stadium, Nerul
CAPACITY: 30,000
2008: Year the stadium was built. Basically a cricket stadium, the ground will be hosting football.
FRIENDLY RESULTS: Beat Union Bank 6-0; beat Air India 3-2, beat DSK Shivajians 6- 1, beat ONGC 2-1
X-FACTOR: It has to be Nicolas Anelka. If he can combine his magical touch with the results that Mumbai City desires, then the team has a potential match-winner in this dynamite. Though he will miss the first three games, Anelka, if he can combine with Fredrik Ljungberg, can perform miracles for the franchise.
MARQUEE PLAYER: Fredrik Ljungberg
WATCH OUT FOR:
Nicolas Anelka: The mercurial Frenchman can turn the game around on its head with a few moments of magic. His touch has sent the Mumbai crowd that sneaked into Cooperage to watch practice games, into raptures.
Fredrik Ljungberg: The Swede will be the points man when the going gets tough. Though not in the best of shape, he is likely to prove his mettle as the league progresses.
Manuel Friedrich: The German defender, who till last season was up against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, has endeared himself well and will be the mainstay in the MCFC defence. He played three practice games and was rested for the fourth.
Subrata Paul: Easily the best goalkeeper in the country, he could be the only Indian as a first choice under the bar for any team. He is already in good touch having played the friendly against Palestine which India lost 3-2.
Lalrindke Ralte: Fondly known as 'Dika', this midfielder could supersede a few foreigners with his performance. Peter Reid has already described him as a phenomenal player.
THE TEAM:
Domestic: Subrata Paul, Syed Rahim Nabi, Deepak Mondal, Lalrin Fela, Lalrindika Ralte, Subash Singh, Sushil Singh, Ishan Debnath, Peter Costa, Raju Gaikwad, Asif Kottayil, Ram Mallik, Rohit Mirza, Abhishek Yadav, Nadong Bhutia.
Foreign: Fredrik Ljungberg, Nicolas Anelka, Manuel Friedrich, Pavel Cmvos, Andres Matos, Illias Pollalis, Johan Letzelter, Javier Fernandez Luque, Jan Stohanzl, Thiago, Ribeiro, Diego Nadaya.
NABI NAMED MUMBAI CITY FC CAPTAIN
MUMBAI: Syed Rahim Nabi was named skipper of Mumbai City FC ahead of the tournament opener. Former Germany international Manuel Friedrich will be the vice-captain of the team co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh.