4-0. Does it really matter for Mohun Bagan, statistically?

In the world, where number rules now a days, with a sad heart I still do feel that does the scoreline of 4-0 really matters? 

Here is a small data:

EB: 135 times winning 20 trophies. Since 1920.... 2015: 1.42 trophies per year. (http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/trophy.php)

MB: 246 times winning 54 trophies. Since 1889...2015: 1.95 tropies per year. (http://www.mohunbaganac.com/history#trophies)

Still my fellow frnds shall say... talk after 1920.... so, I am talking after 1920 for Mohun Bagan....
MB: Since 1920...2015: 213 times winning 42 trophies (*IFA 1911 is also excluded): 2.24 trophies per year.

So, with so much at stake, the defeat of Mohun Bagan can be only for the day. In the long run though, statistically, Mohun Bagan is still 1.58 times ahead in  trophy win per year, considering data from 1920 to 2015 till date.

Bigger than Ever.

The battle for the crown will never be bigger than ever. It was never like this since the inception of the tournament in the history of Indian football. Previously termed National Football League (NFL), the second edition of I-League (Indian League). The tournament started like a fairy tale for many teams, having dream runs, nightmare matches and some did up their tempo to fight for survival. As it always had been, Bengal and Goan teams made the most impact with some other regional teams making their impression in the tournament.

At present,
Churchill Brothers --- 43 points.
Mohun Bagan --- 43 points.
Sporting De Goa --- 40 points.
Dempo SC --- 30 points.
Mahindra United --- 28 points.
Mumbai FC --- 28 points.
East Bengal --- 27 points.
Air India --- 24 points.
Chirag United SC --- 23 points.
JCT --- 22 points.
Mohammedan Sporting --- 22 points.*
Vasco Sporting --- 10 points.*

*Relegation Zone as on 12/4/09

The points are following all the penultimate matches of the league are over.

The Scenario: Mohun Bagan came from behind the table and a time came when they were placed seventh in the table. It was after sixth round, that they scripted a turn a round and after beating Dempo in an away match, Mohun Bagan AC created history in I-League/NFL in carrying on a ten match winning streak which ended when they faced their arch rivals East Bengal in the 16th Round, where they lost 3:0. At that time Mohun Bagan was on top and over took Sporting Clube de Goa two matches ago, defeating them! After that defeat, Churchill tanks to breath taking performances by O. Okolie, the Nigerian who at present is the League's top scorer with a dozen braces. (24 goals).

At the end of the 21 rounds, with a flabbergasting finish by Manju Pradhan for Mohun Bagan, against Dempo, who scored the winner after a 1-1 dead lock since 55th minute. The score came with 37 seconds left for the stipulated injury time!

The fixture of the Final Round:

	ROUND 22 16.04.09 Churchill Brothers SC -:- Mohammedan Sporting Club 16.04.09 Air-India -:- Sporting Clube de Goa . 16.04.09 East Bengal Club -:- Dempo SC 16.04.09 Mahindra United -:- Mohun Bagan AC 16.04.09 JCT -:- Mumbai FC 16.04.09 Vasco SC -:- Chirag United SC

Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers are head on with 43 points each. (12/4/09) CB faces the Relegation candidate Mohammedan Sporting, another Calcutta outfit, the home town of Mohun Bagan. Mohammedan has a chance to skip relegation provided they defeat CB and JCT manages nothing a draw! If JCT makes a draw and Chirag United loses to Vasco, then Chirag gets relegated! That would result in loss of another Calcutta team. Since Mohammedan has the proffessionalism and the urge to win, they will be facing one of the most prolific goal scoring machine in the league, Okolie. Hence the match will be important. If Mohun Bagan manages to draw with CB going down to MS, then Mohun wins the title and MS saves relegation, provided JCT/Chirag loses! On the other hand the fight for the 4th to 7th position will be on between Dempo, Mahindra, Mumbai SC and East Bengal who are closely placed and Mohun Bagan faces one of them, Mahindra United in an away fixture! Hence, for the first time, since all the matches are important, every match will be played accordingly and simultaenously! April 16th will be a big day for Indian Football Fans and I will be supporting My Mohun Bagan. For the I-League title will complete the garland for 2008-09 where in almost all the major soccer tournaments in variuos levels would be won by MB. The dream started with the Kolkata League, continued with the Federation Cup and now I-League. MB didnt play the IFA Shield this time, or else it would have been ours as well!!!

Another Fight.

The table for the I-League, which is the EPL version in India is now on it's hind legs, as the teams gear up to fight for the title. Bhaichung Bhutia, the India captain has promised that the title is going to come in Calcutta, with the Calcutta Giants, Mohun Bagan will win it. The team along with the coach, Bencharifa are quite confident about this, but at the moment, they are a point behind the table leaders after the thirteenth round. On 6th February, 2009, Yuva Bharati will boil with emotions from the Mohun Bagan fans, as they face the table toppers, Sporting Club de Goa, a Goan outfit who has been convincing this season. But Bagan who at the moment has the local Calcutta League and the Federation Cup already under theior belts look forward to make their fame by recreating history of holding titles at all levels. Only if the IFA Shield came back home, it would have been the best deal. Mohun Bagan has won the league (formerly known as National Football League) three times since 1997 opening. This year is I-League's second edition as a new name. This is the present standing between the tournament teams teams:

#	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GDIF	PTS
1	Sporting Clube de Goa - Goa	13	9	1	3	15-09	+6	28
2	Mohun Bagan AC - Calcutta	13	8	3	2	18-09	+9	27
3	Churchill Brothers SC - Goa	13	6	6	1	23-13	+10	24
4	Mumbai Football Club - Mumbai [P]	13	6	4	3	16-14	+2	22
5	Dempo Sports Club - Goa [C]	13	5	3	5	19-15	+4	18
6	Air-India - Mumbai	13	4	5	4	14-13	+1	17
7	JCT - Phagwara	13	4	4	4	12-13	-1	16
8	Mahindra United - Mumbai	13	4	3	6	13-14	-1	15
9	East Bengal Club - Calcutta	13	3	4	6	12-13	-1	13
10	Chirag United Sports Club - Calcutta [P]	13	3	4	6	09-16	-7	13
11	Mohammedan Sporting Club - Calcutta [P]	13	2	4	7	05-16	-11	10
12	Vasco Sports Club - Goa [P]	13	2	3	8	08-19	-11	09

The values are Matches, win, loss, draw, GF-GA, GD and Points. This match will seal the fate for Bagan, for if they carry on winning, they would simply be invincible. The only team that looks quite strong is JCT, who has theor home match agains Bagan.

I Pray for Mohun Bagan...

30th Federation Cup.

POST # 212.

18th Dec 2008, was a day when we saw one of the best soccer matches in recent times between two arch rivals, Mohun Bagan (The Mariners) and East Bengal (The Burning Torch). The oldest Arch Rivals in the history of Asian football, started since 1925.
In the Semi Finals, the latters were over frustated to have a win against the formers, as Mohun Bagan was riding a 8 consecutive winning streak against East Bengal, with 6 wins and two draws. This time, The Federation Cup semis was a place to prove, and every team in whatever mind set regarding the recent past, had the full focus and pressure on. The initial minutes were when Mohun Bagan showed their poweress, prowling over the opposition from both the flanks. Marcos while Lalkamal Bhowmick made the perfect horns with the center forwards J. R. Barreto and B. Bhutia (Indian Football team Captain) made inroads. Isfaq played the sudden torrents, tearing past the East Bengal left flank with shear pace and good passes. But after the initial 15 minutes, East Bengal began to take momentum. The stats, in the first 15 minutes read MB: 3 EB: 0 (shots on goal). In all the three instances, the ball recociated from the post. One of Marcos Free Kick, two from Isfaq. All of a sudden, EB took control of the midfield.
The first half ended 0-0.
Eats Bengal had made way to the semis beating all the teams, and conceding goals. In contrast, as framed by EB, MB made their limpings into the Semis.
With the second half, the Bencharifa Magic started to weave its way through. Mohun Bagan were much more composed. The 8 great shots on target by EB in the first half were no where to be seen. Hadnt it for the MB Goalie, Sangram Mukherjee, MB would have been trailing by 3 goals, leaving aside MB's bad luck. Mohun Bagan made waves of attacks when suddenly in a cross from the midfielder, they scored with a brilliant volley. It occured in the 63rd minute. In the 68th minute, Jose Ramirez Barreto made a diving header from the free kick cross of Marcos to bring the equalizer.
The game went upto half time with lots of midfield tension. Barreto got a Yellow Card, while East Bengal earned four yellows!
The tie breaker, EB missed their all important 3rd kick, taken by their Sunil Chettri. Sangram made a clever dive to stop it as he has done in many shots taken by Chettri. For MB, it was 5, EB made 3. The Final score read MB(1) 6-4 (1)EB. For MB, Barreto, James Singh (jr), Lalan Puia, Marcos, Lalkamal Bhomick passed their goalie, Subrata Pal.
Anyways, it was an action packed 120 minutes + tie breaker.

Now the next target is DEMPO SC, an outfit from Goa. We will win the CUP, after 2006. It is the record 17th time Mohun Bagan has advanced to the Finals of the Federation Cup, winning it for record 12 times, with the 13th time to go this year.

Whispers of The Heart.

POST # 207.

The December has already expanded it's wings to cover up the whole world, with its chilling spells. And today, Mr. Diego Maradona makes his first step in India, and that too in Calcutta / Kolkata. His two days stay in India, the God of Soccer, would grace his fans from what has been one of the best year end extravaganza that the Kolkata Crowd has ever witnessed. Back in the 60s, The Black Diamond, Pele of Brazil graced the Yuva Bharati Krirangan playing against Mohun Bagan, the Oldest Soccer Club in Asia and today, Maradona, the God of Soccer would let his footfall on this same turf, of YBK... and when he does so, the one lakh strong crowd would surely felicitate the great. Although an year ago, it was Oliver Kahn, the legendary Goalkeeper of Germany, played his last career match against Mohun Bagan, in YBK, as part of Bayern Munich... but this is totally different.

Due to lack of tickets, I will not make it, but would not miss the program on air, directly from YBK! For me Maradona is better than Pele, and I am a die hard fan of Argentina as well as Mohun Bagan.