Chennai: Tamil Nadu coach C.M. Ranjith has given Deccan Chronicle a hint about his starting XI against Kerala on Sunday in the Santosh Trophy south zone qualifiers.
Here is the lowdown on the players in as few words as possible.
A. Arun Pradeep (goalkeeper): The Customs player has experience on his side. He is a steady goalie but should guard against getting carried away. Kerala use the wings effectively, so Arun will have plenty of work to cut down crosses.
D. Edison (right back): The lanky full back joins attacks regularly. His height should be useful during set pieces from danger areas at both ends.
K. Sathish (central defender): A lot will ride on the seasoned player’s shoulders and there is no question about his commitment. Sathish is no spring chicken, so must be careful against speedy forwards.
Wayne D’Silva (central defender): He must overcome the nervousness of playing his first Santosh Trophy match. Wayne’s interventions are generally decisive but he must remember that over enthusiasm can cost his team.
S. Santhosh Kumar (left back): The Railway player possesses a fine left foot and a cannon of a shot. Santhosh doesn’t hesitate to overlap during attacking moves and the Santosh Trophy is a fine opportunity to showcase his talent.
S. Karthik (right MF): He is one of the exciting talents in the Tamil Nadu squad. The ebony-hued player is whippet quick on the wing and can also dribble. His crossing would be crucial to TN’s fortunes. Ranjith would also want Karthik to cut inside occasionally to surprise opponents.
Vikram Patil and L. Charles Anandaraj (central midfielders): Fighting spirit defines both central men. Charles, who will have more defensive work than Patil, must use his height to meet crosses inside the box.
S. Santha Kumar (left MF): He isn’t the Santha of the old, but the only player with I-League experience in the whole squad still has enough in his legs to outsprint opponents and whip in crosses.
P. Sudhakar (withdrawn forward): The captain will be playing in the hole and he is also the heartbeat of the team. Sudhakar must let creative juice flow from his able feet to ensure that Tamil Nadu get goal-scoring opportunities.
A. Raegan (forward): Tamil Nadu will win only if he does his job properly. No doubt, Raegan has all the ingredients to supply goals. It remains to be seen how he copes with the pressure of playing as the lone forward.
