ISL 2019-20 | Why Hyderabad FC bought these players

ISL 2019-20 | Why Hyderabad FC bought these players

no photo

|

SportsCafe

With the franchise changing hands months before the season, keeping a steady focus won't be easy for Phil Brown, who took over the reins of the club in the later stages of the last season. However, the Englishman still managed to bring together some exciting names to challenge for the title.

One should feel pity for Phil Brown given the sheer vicissitudes of FC Pune City, which has hardly allowed the manager to stem his place with the franchise. Given to manage only six league games not much was expected from the tactician, but he steered a struggling Pune side to three wins and two draws in those matches. 

And although Pune couldn’t go past the qualifying round in the Super Cup, the management looked quite impressed by the Englishman. However, the franchise hasn’t been able to give their man too much uniformity to prepare for the next season. While the club decided to part ways with Ashique Kuruniyan, who was in all probability their best player last season, the shifting of base has further unsettled things for the manager.

However, given the short-term specialist that Brown always has been, he has still brought in some interesting imports, who could really make a difference this season if used to their optimum potential.

Matthew Kilgallon

With the likes of Matt Mills and Martin Diaz leaving the backline after a semi-decent last season, Brown was given the responsibility to replace them with able enforcers. And the Englishman has got himself an import who would understand his philosophy to the core. In Kilgallon, Brown has the quintessential English centre half, who believes in no non-sense defending and wouldn’t mind putting his head in places other players tremble to put their foot.

Having played in sides like Leeds United, Sunderland, Middleborough, Blackburn Rovers, among other English clubs, the 35-year-old, despite the age, could be the defensive general that Hyderabad need at the moment. Fitting in beside a veteran like Adil Khan in the back four, the York-born lad, who excels in dribbling past players and reading the game, could give Hyderabad the solidity that they were missing last time.

Rafa Lopez Gomes

Yet another defender, but one having different attributes to that of Kilgallon, Rafa would be offering an extra option for Brown whenever he would want to push Adil Khan in the defensive midfield option. Despite playing as the defensive midfielder for Pune last season, Adil has come of age under Igor Stimac’s backline for the Indian team. And while Brown is more than expected to start Adil in the centre half position, the manager would surely ask the player to push up from time to time if an when needed.

Barring that, in Rafa, Brown has a very composed defender who could read the game excellently well and excels in holding on to the ball under pressure situation. Having played in a host of Spanish clubs previously like Real Valladolid, SD Eibar, Getafe, among others, Rafa would be bringing the flair at Pune’s defence.

Nestor Gordillo

A controversial start to his stint at the Indian Super League after the Spaniard forced his move into top-tier football illegally, Nestor Gordillo’s quality is indispensable. The midfielder had shown his individualism in the Super Cup last season where he pretty much single-handedly controlled the midfield against some of the top ISL sides. Getting him would definitely a bonus for any side in the ISL and Brown’s attacking intent could give wings to the midfielder, who just eats opponent if given spaces in the attacking third.

He would be coming at the back of a phenomenal season with Chennai City FC, where he scored eight times and assisted six times in 19 matches from the number 10 position. Though not a like for like replacement for Ashique Kuruniyan but Gordillo would be a better option to have an impact on the offence than the Indian star who departed for Bengaluru FC. However, with the player suspended for four months, Hyderabad would have to do without him for a major chunk of the season.

Deyvison Rogério da Silva

Finally, the biggest coup by Brown for the season, Deyvison Rogério da Silva would be bringing to the ISL something similar to their departed star Iain Hume. Though at 34, age might not be on the side of the Brazilian but Silva could be extremely handy with the likes of Marko Stankovic and Marcelinho flanking and providing him from time to time. 

Popularly known as Bobo, the forward has played for the likes of Besiktas, Sydney FC among other top clubs. And he has been fairly successful in those two big clubs, scoring a whopping 127 goals and assisting 37 assists in 269 games for both of them combined. Hence, scoring would be something that comes naturally to the forward and ISL isn’t really that intense a league yet. Robin Singh would be the only threat to his position in Hyderabad, and the lack of competition could give him time to settle under less pressure on the side. 

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all