Robbie Fowler’s Indian journey, within the phrases of Robbie Fowler

Performed 15, gained 2, drawn 7, misplaced 6.

Twelve objectives scored, 20 conceded, Three purple playing cards, and now, a four-match ban plus a Rs. 5-lakh (~US$6,860) high quality for the supervisor.

With SC East Bengal sitting 10th within the desk with 5 video games to go, Robbie Fowler’s Indian Tremendous League (ISL) profession, as head coach of one of many nation’s oldest golf equipment, has been… vibrant.

The ban, which successfully ends his match-day appearances for the season, concludes a collection of frank and sometimes controversial feedback the Englishman has made all by means of the season, proper from day one. We glance again at SCEB’s 2020-21 marketing campaign by means of the phrases of the person himself.

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“We weren’t overawed in opposition to the workforce who have been champions final yr. It is robust with the squad we acquired and we have been the final workforce to place a squad collectively.”

What occurred: EB began per week after ATKMB’s first sport. It was a hastily-put-together squad below a coach who was the final to reach in India in opposition to one which gained the match the earlier season below the coach who had gained it for them. It confirmed.

“We’re nonetheless teaching gamers; some Indian gamers appear to be they have not been coached earlier than…”

“I believe a couple of of them have in all probability by no means been coached earlier than, and that is what we’re doing…”

“We’re right here to make the Indian gamers higher and that takes good teaching. I do not assume they’ve had that within the years passed by”

What occurred: Totally outclassed by an costly, carefully-assembled workforce, Fowler was fast to elucidate whose fault it was.

“Tonight was our worst efficiency… [But] we undoubtedly deserved extra from this sport. If not a win, no less than a draw. We deserved two penalties. I am not saying we rely solely on these selections however think about us scoring these. I do know the referees have a tough job within the center. However the consistency of the unhealthy selections is just too laborious to digest.”

What occurred: What appeared like correct fouls on Jacques Maghoma and Anthony Pilkington went unheeded, which Fowler didn’t hesitate to level out. Defensive lapses, in the meantime, price all of them three factors on the different finish, as Fowler defined.

Dec. 10: SC East Bengal 0-Zero Jamshedpur FC

“We lastly acquired a degree so we’ll accept that. Each sport we have performed up to now the comfortable selections have by no means gone our approach. And as we speak’s referee was no totally different. We won’t even have correct conversations with the fourth official. The usual of refereeing has to enhance.”

What occurred: Eugeneson Lyngdoh was despatched off early on (24′) after two wild lunges within the area of 5 minutes. Lyngdoh appeared to get the ball with one boot, however with the opposite connecting with Alex Lima’s knees, the referee’s choice was comprehensible. Jamshedpur additionally had a participant (Laldinliana Renthlei) despatched off in second half stoppage time.

Dec. 15: Hyderabad FC 3-2 SC East Bengal

“We had two and a half weeks with a workforce that was gauged for the I-League. A variety of our gamers are struggling now within the ISL. I do not actually know what else to do. We give them all the things and we’re right here for them however efficiency sensible in video games it hasn’t been ok. Finally the recruitment has not been type to us… The efficiency of some gamers is just not ok, it isn’t ISL commonplace.”

What occurred: Hyderabad dominated the primary half, but conceded two objectives to neatly-worked counterattacks from EB. Hyderabad dominated the second half as nicely and, having introduced on Liston Colaco, scored three objectives. As soon as once more, Fowler pivoted to the dearth of high quality within the squad, and the truth that they have been picked for the I-League.

On an unrelated notice, Colaco had spent most of final season on the fringes of a struggling Hyderabad workforce, and the season earlier than that with the FC Goa developmental workforce in I-League II.

“We have been superb as we speak… However the man within the center (referee) retains spoiling our video games and we’ll complain about him once more. Numerous selections went in opposition to us. Each one in every of their gamers goes round kicking everybody and he [referee] doesn’t say something to them.”

What occurred: East Bengal completely dominated the sport, however conceded an injury-time equaliser in opposition to fellow strugglers Kerala Blasters.

Dec. 26: SC East Bengal 2-2 Chennaiyin FC

“I need to win each sport. We’re taking part in with what we acquired. Our gamers are giving all the things. It is wealthy coming from you sitting there. There are constructive indicators there… It is easy to sit down and criticise… Let’s begin with positives right here.”

(Fowler, responding to feedback from ISL pundit Eelco Schattorie on the poor nature of their first half show)

What occurred: Chennaiyin dominated huge swathes of the sport, created a bucketload of possibilities, however did not convert most of them. EB stayed within the sport, and acquired again by means of two well-executed set-piece objectives.

Jan. 3: SC East Bengal 3-1 Odisha FC

“It is all the time good to get a win [his first as EB coach]. It was an excellent, skilled efficiency. We’ve a approach of taking part in and we need to maintain it easy. We wish the gamers to get comfy in possession and attempt to win the sport that approach.”

What occurred: EB performed bottom-dwellers Odisha off the park. Fowler was understandably happy and expounded on his footballing philosophy post-match.

Jan. 6: SC East Bengal 1-1 FC Goa

“[I am] delighted, I believe we did nicely. However each sport we’re up in opposition to the referee. And we’ve to dwell with that. I do not know why [Danny Fox] was despatched off. The angle, intention and need was sensible from the workforce after being diminished to 10.”

What occurred: Fox was despatched off for what the referee adjudged to be an out-of-control lunge simply earlier than the hour mark. Which appeared an inexpensive take. Vivid Enobakhare then scored probably the greatest objectives the match has ever seen, earlier than 11-men Goa equalised two minutes later. East Bengal additionally had what appeared like a superbly official objective disallowed.

Fowler was booked for his conduct. In the meantime, EB lodged an official grievance with the AIFF. The federation’s Disciplinary Committee (made totally of members from exterior the soccer business) dominated that the sending off was ‘an error obvious on the a part of the referee and requires rectifying the identical within the pursuits of honest play.’ The cardboard, and ban, have been overturned.

Jan. 9: Bengaluru FC 0-1 SC East Bengal

Fowler was suspended for the match.

What occurred: EB have been comfortably the higher workforce, and infrequently appeared prone to drop factors. Fox performed.

Jan. 15: SC East Bengal 1-1 Kerala Blasters FC

“We weren’t on top of things. The objective we conceded was a foolish one. We need to play free-flowing soccer with fast touches. We have to minimise our errors and play additional aggressive.”

What occurred: Precisely what occurred within the reverse fixture, besides in, er, reverse. Kerala Blasters completely dominated the sport, however EB managed an injury-time equaliser.

Jan. 18: Chennaiyin FC 0-Zero East Bengal

“I’m massively dissatisfied with the referee’s efficiency once more. We have had a whole lot of injustice once more… our gamers have been getting kicked left, proper and centre and the referee did not [book them]. It is bordering on disgraceful generally [the refereeing decisions]. I’m mentally exhausted as a result of I’m combating battles with the referees each single sport. It is an absolute joke. We won’t maintain doing this.”

“Just a few gamers persistently foul our gamers and as quickly as our gamers go close to the opposition gamers, the referee is unbelievably fast to get a yellow card out. It is fairly horrifying. I am not calling them cheats, I am not saying that, I believe it is bordering on the dishonest for us. It is not proper and cannot be happening. We aren’t getting any assist from referees.”

When ISL analyst Pradhyum Reddy requested if he was embarrassed about his bench’s behaviour in-game, Fowler responded quite vehemently.

“Why ought to we be embarrassed? We really feel we’ve to assist them get the choices, as a result of they’ve been appalling… [The question is] completely disgraceful and ridiculous. It is wealthy from you to say that ‘you need to be appalled’. I’ll have a look at the file and see a few of your historical past to see you probably have taken it on board and I guess you have not! I need to take care of my workforce and gamers, and if they don’t seem to be sorted by the referees, then it is as much as us to do one thing… I apologise to folks again dwelling in the event that they heard us swear however what, it is a man’s sport and we’re taking part in at a degree the place folks do swear.”

What occurred: Ajay Chhetri was despatched off simply previous the half-hour mark for 2 fast yellows, one a blatant pull again on Anirudh Thapa, the opposite a late swipe of a problem on Rahim Ali. Chennaiyin had 14 photographs on objective to EB’s 4.

Jan. 22: SC East Bengal 0-1 Mumbai Metropolis FC

“We have been sensible within the second half. This was a much-improved efficiency and I used to be pleased for my gamers… It took a bit lengthy for gamers to adapt to the sport. A few of them weren’t on top of things. So I made tweaks within the last 45 minutes.”

What occurred: EB performed arguably their finest soccer of the season but, passing Mumbai Metropolis off the park within the second half. They out-shot, out-passed and out-possessed the league’s finest workforce.

Jan. 29: FC Goa 1-1 SC East Bengal

“We must always have beat them twice this season. Pissed off with the referee’s efficiency, thought it was terrible. Each time the gamers went close to our gamers, he was getting conned. I’m not certain if it is an anti-English or anti-East Bengal factor, we get no assist in any way. Our gamers are getting swiped on a regular basis.”

When an analyst identified EB had been fortunate to get an early penalty (no discernible contact, however Pilkington missed the kick).

“What about all the opposite penalties [EB didn’t get]?… We’re on the finish of the season, how a lot can [the referees] study? They cannot maintain making errors each time. I’ve been vocal on this. Whoever makes the loudest noise, the referee rapidly will get the cardboard out. Possibly I ought to ask my gamers to do the identical. I do consider they’re making an attempt however they need assistance as a result of there’s lots at stake. There are a whole lot of eyes watching them and this does not look good on the league.”

What occurred: — A participant was despatched off, but it surely was FC Goa captain Edu Bedia, within the 66th minute. EB dominated thereafter, with most stats of their favour, besides the all-important one. As was evident within the post-match feedback. The AIFF would pull up Fowler for these feedback and he must face a listening to in entrance of the disciplinary committee.

Feb. 2: SC East Bengal 0-2 Bengaluru FC

“That is in all probability our worst efficiency of the yr. Bengaluru was the one workforce combating as we speak. A few of our gamers had a really unhealthy sport. In case you are given alternatives it’s essential to take them. It was extraordinarily disappointing to see us fail on the sphere.”

What occurred: EB completely dominated the ball (72% possession, greater than 2.5 instances the passes), but BFC completely managed the sport. This was the primary match of the season the place EB did not register a shot on course. Fowler’s feedback made it fairly clear who was at fault.

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Put up this match, Fowler was banned for 4 video games by the AIFF disciplinary Committee for his feedback after the match in opposition to FC Goa. They dominated that his feedback forged ‘gross inconceivable derogatory and contemptuous aspersions’ and confirmed ‘blatant malice’ on Fowler’s half.

Fowler issued an apology for his behaviour and mentioned his “intentions had been to guard his gamers and the workforce”.

The ban additionally implies that he’ll solely take the touchline for the final league-stage match of the season, in opposition to Odisha FC, on February 27.