u/Big_Share9988

Who actually are the best small sided players in india from like Khep tournuments and stuff like that, r there any that you lot think would actually be ISL quality.

I lived in India at one point and I live in England now and one MASSIVE difference I realised ab the football culture in both countries is that small sided football has a WAY bigger culture in India than England.

For example I made one of the best upcoming 5/7 aside teams in the countries and we have smacked teams that were top 3 in England 4-1, or teams with multiple professional players (incl league 1 players).

And the players in these tournuments r high level like academy, semi pro and professional players yet the most ppl ive ever seen watch these is maybe 40.

Yet on the other hand india I have seen 7 aside games online with hundreds if not thousands of ppl watching.

In England there r ab 3 players who have technically turned small sided football into a full time job (part time small sided, part time 11 aside semi pro, brand deals).

Yet india apparantly there r a good am and many 11 aside players ditched it for more money in 7 aside.

So this made me wonder:

Who actually are the best small sided players in india from like Khep tournuments and stuff like that, r there any that you lot think would actually be ISL quality.

I wouldnt be surprised Joby justin is Diamond Harbours starting striker and they r an ISL level team and he was playing small sided football not long ago inbetween his CFC and return to I league. And I heard the guy who did the Bayern thing is playing small sided too.

I dont think anyone is going to agree with me here but I genuinely think Ifran Yadwad, can be Indias next big striker.

I know this sounds mental

But most indian fans have only seen him on the international stage where a 22 year old with 0 international experience got shoved into the starting 11 for the NT in an important game (most sucessful players were eased in, like first given 10 mins in a friendly then 20 in an important game then maybe a half and only then a full game)

At a club level I think he genuinely is one of the best strikers/wingers in the country.

He is rapid, and also tall (which is a very rare combo in Indian strikers you usually only get one or the other). And knows how to use his body and outphysical players. (not as a Hold up striker or target man but definitely enough for an Advanced Forward).

He makes good passes and can dribble well and has flair.

He can use his head well and arms very well.

Ik this was not the case at ALL in the national team but in the ISL he is very composed (again struggle could be caused by instantly being shoved in)

He is also very good at low driven shots and low curled shots and crosses but there is his main weakness.

Idk why but although he was stong in every other aspect the man has no clue how to effectively get the ball in the air, I have seen him make many good shots and crosses, but never a good shot at least halfway up the goal, or a good cross in the air. Which is VERY poor for a professional striker. If anything that shows how much potential he has.

If he manages to be a sucessful striker at a relitavely young age with such an important part of his game missing, surely the coaches can see how good his other aspects are. Owen Coyle is really good at bringing out the good parts of Indian players and he definetely saw something in Ifran (hence why he picked him up from the 3rd division which is unheard of in the ISL).

If he can simply work on putting accurate shots and crosses in the air I promise u, him and Lalrinzua would be a deadly combo (im sorry but this might be controversial but I think David Lalsangha and Bhat are both overrated)