Opinion The way forward with Walsh
The team still relies heavily on penalty corners and field goals have been a rare commodity.
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Either coincidentally or consciously,the recent coaches of the national hockey team either foreigners or Indians have all been defenders in their playing days. So the appointment of Terry Walsh,a talismanic striker of his time,comes as a refreshing change.
Defence has no doubt been one of the major problems plaguing Indian hockey over the last decade. Perhaps,that explains why the think-tank chose to employ five coaches who were defenders: Michael Nobbs,Jose Brasa,Harendra Singh,Joaquim Carvalho,Rajinder Singh Sr . But Walshs appointment will be crucial for the team that has struggled to score field goals and find a consistent goal-poacher.
Walshs compatriot and predecessor Michael Nobbs,also a defender during his playing days,insisted that Indians adopt an attacking style of hockey. While he managed that to a certain extent,its an area that still needs attention.
The attacking midfielders and strikers have had trouble unlocking well-organised defences,resulting in them gifting possession to the opposition at important junctures during a match.
The team still relies heavily on penalty corners and field goals have been a rare commodity.
As the chief coach,Walsh is certainly not expected to focus solely on the attackers. But his inputs would certainly do the Indian players a world of good. As the coach of Mumbai Magicians during the Hockey India League,Walshs former teammate Ric Charlesworth,also a striker during his days,passed on crucial tips to the young Indian players which proved beneficial.
Jurgen Klinsmann cajoled the German team into adopting a near-revolutionary attacking elan,upon his appointment as the coach in 2004. Klinsmann,an enterprising and prolific striker during his playing days,followed the same philosophy as a coach as well. It was a tactic that irritated many. But the style was keenly adopted by his young players,whove gone on to become some of the best attackers the modern game has seen.
Like Klinsmann,Walsh has a exciting bunch of young strikers to work with. The likes of Ramandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh among others,have shown enough potential. Whether he succeeds in turning them into world-class strikers is something that will be keenly observed.
Mihir is a senior correspondent based in Mumbai
mihir.vasavda@expressindia.com
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