Champions, League Winners, Golden Boot and more: Hero ISL experts predict the 2022-23 season
As we inch closer to kick-off in Hero ISL 2022-23, discussions and debates are in full flow regarding the eventual winners, the potential top six, the Emerging Player, and the Golden Boot and Golden Glove winners.
The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) will return with another new season this time in much more familiar surroundings – among the fans.
After two seasons inside the bio-bubble due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hero ISL will open its gates to the fans as it shifts back to the home-away format.
The fans are expected to give the games an edge as the teams gear up to fight for the title in a slightly tweaked format.
Unlike previous campaigns, the top six teams will get a shot at winning the trophy in a restructured knockout stage, adding to the drama of the league phase which in the current format is almost sure to go down to the wire.
As we inch closer to kick-off in Hero ISL 2022-23, discussions and debates are in full flow regarding the eventual winners, the potential top six, the Emerging Player, and the Golden Boot and Golden Glove winners.
Plunging into the big debate are our esteemed experts who know it all about the teams, the players and the leagues as they throw their hats in the ring and give their predictions for the season.
The team of experts include Indian legend Jo Paul Ancheri, Indian women’s football team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, former ATK FC and Kerala Blasters FC player Darren Caldeira, former Hyderabad FC head coach Phil Brown, former Bengaluru FC midfielder Erik Paartalu, former FC Pune City coach Pradhyum Reddy and Hero ISL expert Paul Masefield.
Here is how they see Hero ISL 2022-23 panning out:
Who will win the League Winners’ Shield?
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Bengaluru FC |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Hyderabad FC |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Bengaluru FC |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Kerala Blasters FC |
|
Paul Masefield |
Kerala Blasters FC |
|
Phil Brown |
Bengaluru FC |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Hyderabad FC |
Summary: Bengaluru FC top the charts and are seen favourites to win the League Winners’ Shield this season with three experts voting for them. Last season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters FC are close second along with Hyderabad FC.
.@SuyashU talks about @HydFCOfficial's performance last season as @2014_manel's side went on to claim the #HeroISL trophy and their squad for the upcoming campaign! 💪#LetsFootball #HyderabadFC pic.twitter.com/lrPUX8VpQj
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 3, 2022
Who will be the champions?
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
ATK Mohun Bagan |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Mumbai City FC |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Mumbai City FC |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Kerala Blasters FC |
|
Paul Masefield |
Bengaluru FC |
|
Phil Brown |
Hyderabad FC |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Hyderabad FC |
Summary: We have a split house here with two experts each picking defending champions Hyderabad FC to retain their crown and former champions Mumbai City FC. Bengaluru FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters FC are the other teams that are tipped for glory.
Which teams will finish in the top six?
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Bengaluru FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC |
|
Darren Caldeira (in no particular order) |
Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC, FC Goa |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Kerala Blasters FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, East Bengal FC |
|
Paul Masefield (in no particular order) |
Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, FC Goa |
|
Phil Brown |
Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Hyderabad FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC |
Summary: This is extremely hard to predict given the intense competition this season. All the experts have picked Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan to finish in the top six. Six experts have tipped Mumbai City FC to finish in the top six while five of the experts have Hyderabad FC and FC Goa in their potential top six.
Last year’s league winners Jamshedpur FC are in four of the expert’s predicted top six while Odisha FC are tipped by two experts to make the top six this season.
Who will win the Golden Boot award?
The Golden Boot award is given to the players that scored the most number of goals in the season. In case of a tie, the player who has the best goals per minute ratio wins the prize.
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Alvaro Vazquez (FC Goa) |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Paul Masefield |
Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Phil Brown |
Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC) |
Summary: It’s a two-way split with three experts each going for Bartholomew Ogbeche and Roy Krishna. Aditi Chauhan has stuck her neck out and picked FC Goa’s Alvaro Vazquez.
Who will win the Golden Glove award?
The Golden Glove award is won by the goalkeeper that has kept the most clean sheets in the season. In case of a tie, the goalkeeper that has conceded the fewest amount of goals wins. If the tie continues to exist, the goalkeeper with a higher minutes per goal conceded ratio wins the prize.
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC) |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Erik Paartalu |
TP Rehenesh (Jamshedpur FC) |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC) |
|
Paul Masefield |
Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC) |
|
Phil Brown |
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC) |
Summary: Once again it’s an equal split between Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Jamshedpur FC’s TP Rehenesh is Erik Paartalu’s predicted pick for the Golden Glove award.
Join us as @TheFalseNo9 and @Shaiju_official join the legendary John Helm to build up to the 2022-23 #HeroISL season, along with host @SuyashU! https:/t.co/KFY78dCBK4
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 2, 2022
Who will be the Hero of the League?
The Hero of the League is the award given to the best player in the league. Greg Stewart who played for Jamshedpur FC last season won the prize in Hero ISL 2021-22 season.
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC) |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Greg Stewart (Mumbai City FC) |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC) |
|
Paul Masefield |
Greg Stewart (Mumbai City FC) |
|
Phil Brown |
Joel Chianese (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Dimitri Petratos (ATK Mohun Bagan) |
Summary: Adrian Luna and Greg Stewart are seen as frontrunners for the prize by the experts but some interesting picks in Joel Chianese and ATK Mohun Bagan's new signing Dimitri Petratos make this list very interesting.
Who will be Emerging Player of the Season?
The Emerging Player of the season award is given to the best young player in the league. Bengaluru FC’s Roshan Naorem won the prize in the Hero ISL 2021-22 campaign.
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Faisal Ali (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
Sivasakthi Narayanan (Bengaluru FC) |
|
Paul Masefield |
Vincy Barretto (Chennaiyin FC) |
|
Phil Brown |
Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Sivasakthi Narayanan (BFC) or Ayush Chhetri (FCG) |
Summary: Sivasakthi Narayanan who scored five goals in the Durand Cup and Lalchungnunga Chhangte of Hyderabad FC are the favoured picks.
Who will be the surprise package of the season?
In this category, experts pick a team or a player or any other metric that could surprise us come the end of the season.
|
Expert |
Prediction |
|
Aditi Chauhan |
Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Darren Caldeira |
Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC) |
|
Erik Paartalu |
Romain Philippoteaux (NorthEast United FC) |
|
Jo Paul Ancheri |
East Bengal FC |
|
Paul Masefield |
Odisha FC |
|
Phil Brown |
Odisha FC |
|
Pradhyum Reddy |
Odisha FC, Iker Guarrotxena, Ashique Kuruniyan |
Summary: Three experts expect Odisha FC to upset the pecking order this season. Two experts have put their bet on young Chhangte to emerge as the surprise package with NorthEast United FC’s Romain Philippoteaux also making the list.
Jo Paul Ancheri believes East Bengal FC could make a real impact this season and who would want to doubt the legend.
What do you think about the Hero ISL 2022-23 season? Send in your prediction on our Twitter and Instagram handles.
