Kerala Blasters boasts of an immensely passionate and loyal fanbase with supporters packing stadiums and creating an electrifying atmosphere that is perhaps unmatched in the ISL.
Despite this unwavering support, the club has consistently fallen short of delivering results and performances that such a dedicated following deserves.
A team with such a strong connection to its fans should be aiming for trophy-moments but poor decision-making and a lack of clear direction has left the fans disillusioned.
Kerala Blasters recently sacked their head coach Mikael Stahre after a string of poor performances and disappointing results in the Indian Super League (ISL).
While it’s easy to lay the blame solely on the coach, a closer look reveals that the problems at the club run much deeper.
From poor recruitment decisions to questionable player management, Kerala Blasters have systemic issues that a coach alone is unlikely to solve.
A disconnect between management and fans
The recent comments by Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee have sparked frustration among the club’s passionate fanbase, as they reveal a striking disconnect between the management’s vision and the fans’ expectations.
Chatterjee’s remarks about avoiding an “obsession” with winning trophies comes across as dismissive, especially for a club that has failed to lift a single title in its 11-year history.
While he argues that focusing solely on trophies can lead to neglecting foundational aspects, it raises a fundamental question: if not for winning, what is the purpose of a football club?
World-class clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are prime examples of how an obsession with titles drives ambition, sustains fan loyalty, and builds legacies.
Their fans demand silverware every season, and the clubs relentlessly pursue success while balancing player development and long-term planning.
This is the standard to which football clubs around the world aspire.
On the contrary, Kerala Blasters, a club with one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in Indian football, the bar being set to vague promises of “small tweaks” and patience translates to an unambitious pursuit.
After all, history will remember how many trophies a club has won and not how many local players it promoted or how “patient” the management was.
In a 100 years, the records that endure will be the championships and titles that a club has secured—tangible proof of greatness.
While promoting young talent and financial prudence are important, they cannot come at the cost of sustained mediocrity.
Fans have every right to expect their club to compete for trophies, especially when they have supported it so fervently through years of underachievement.
Adding to the discontent, Chatterjee’s justification for selling top players like Jeakson Singh and Dimitrios Diamantakos without signing adequate replacements has only deepened the disconnect.
If the club is willing to sell its best players for financial gains, it must also show equal willingness to reinvest in high-quality signings to remain competitive.
Clubs with large fanbases, like Kerala Blasters, are not just football teams—they are institutions that represent pride, passion, and hope for millions.
Dismissing this emotional connection by downplaying the importance of trophies risks alienating those who have kept the club alive through thick and thin.
Recruitment woes
One of the most glaring issues has been the club’s recruitment strategy.
Poor decisions have plagued both foreign and domestic signings.
For instance, the Blasters sold their first-choice defensive midfielder, Jeakson Singh, for a hefty transfer fee but failed to sign an adequate replacement.
This has left a gaping hole in the midfield, impacting the team’s defensive stability.
Last season, when their star goalkeeper Sachin Suresh suffered a shoulder injury, the club chose not to bring in a quality replacement.
At that time, a highly-rated free agent, Gurmeet Singh, was available but refused to join because the Blasters weren’t willing to offer him a long-term contract.
NorthEast United FC capitalized on this, signing the player on a long-term deal, and Singh is now excelling for them.
Sachin, although in top form before his injury, has struggled since returning, a common issue for goalkeepers recovering from such setbacks.
The backup, Som Kumar, is talented but too young and inexperienced, and naturally, recurring mistakes are an outcome.
A strong goalkeeper is a necessity, but the Blasters’ inability to address this highlights deeper issues within their planning.
The Blasters’ defensive struggles this season underline poor recruitment and retention decisions.
Last season, they let go of their star foreign centre-back Marko Lesković and extended Miloš Drinčić’s contract, presumably to replace Lesković.
However, Miloš lacks the pace and reliability to fill that void, and the team has paid the price.
This defensive instability has been exacerbated by individual errors, with many goals conceded this season coming from avoidable mistakes.
A lack of structure and discipline in defense further exposes the team’s frailties, for which the blame must go to the coach.
The Stahre experiment
Mikael Stahre’s tenure as head coach was undoubtedly disappointing.
Despite managing the team for the Durand Cup and 12 ISL matches, the Swedish coach failed to establish a defensive structure or implement clear tactics.
His reliance on technically skilled players clashed with the squad’s limitations.
The Blasters’ inability to adapt to his methods further highlights deeper recruitment flaws, as the team lacks players suited to his philosophy.
Although Mikael Stahre was signed to replace Ivan Vukomanović, the best coach in Kerala Blasters’ history, the transition has been anything but smooth.
Vukomanović, despite failing to win a title, significantly elevated the team’s standings over his three seasons, consistently making them competitive and instilling a sense of identity.
Replacing a coach of such stature requires careful consideration and bold decision making. The call to action is the onboarding of a proven, top-quality coach who can build on that foundation.
Instead, opting for a coach like Stahre has only disrupted the progress, leaving the team in a worse position than it was before.
Over-dependence on academy talent
While nurturing academy talent is commendable, Kerala Blasters seem to be relying too heavily on young, inexperienced players.
Selling key players in their prime to make way for academy graduates is a flawed strategy.
While the long-term integration of academy players is essential, it cannot come at the cost of immediate team performance.
Experienced players are vital for maintaining balance and consistency, especially for a club with a passionate and loyal fan base like Kerala Blasters.
Kerala Blasters need to address these issues urgently to turn their season around.
The January transfer window offers an opportunity to correct some of their mistakes. Signing a top-quality defensive midfielder and an experienced goalkeeper should be top priorities.
These additions can provide the team with much-needed stability and balance.
However, the club must also take a hard look at its long-term strategy.
To compete at the highest level, Kerala Blasters need informed recruitment, a better balance between experienced and young players.
If not for anything else, they owe it to the fans, who continue to support the club through thick and thin. Clearly, they deserve much more than what they have been served.
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