A look ahead to the NBI Round 11

We reach one third of the way through the season this weekend. Only 6 more rounds until the winter break… The table is shaping up nicely (unless you are a Lilák supporter!) and it has to be said that it’s good to see a different name topping the table. I mean no offence to Fradi fans but when 1 team is clearly a cut above the rest, as Fradi are, it can diminish the competition somewhat because there is no-one to actually challenge them. Seeing a little unfashionable team up there having the absolute time of their lives is awesome & I’m loving it. Hajrá Kisvárda. Of course Fradi are only 1 point adrift and have a game in hand but I’m ignoring that for the moment! 😉

Fehérvár come into this game on the back of a defeat to Újpest – 10 man Újpest as well – that’s certainly nothing to be proud of! Although this is 7th v 4th – both teams have the same number of points, Paks have an extra win and Fehérvár more draws, that’s the difference between them. Paks drew with table toppers Kisvárda in the last round. Paks are a joy to watch this season it has to be said. Great mentality within the team.

10 man Mezőkövesd had a hard fought 3-2 win over Honvéd last time out, the winner coming at 90+3, Honvéd also having a an injury time goal ruled out for offside. Pillár Róbert will be missing this week, he has a 1 match ban following his red card in round 10. Lilák finally recorded a win – hajrá! Things looked to be going against them when Branko Pauljevic was sent off in the 13th minute but a goal from Csongvai in the 50th min was enough for Lilák to register their first win of the season. Branko Pauljevic has a 1 match ban this week, may I suggest Lilák just start the game with 10 men… 4 of their 7 points have come when playing with just 10 men!

From a viewing perspective MTK were not the best to watch to be honest. There was no shape to them at all, watching them defend was akin to watching an U10 team with all 10 outfield players swarming to whichever Fradi player had the ball. Whilst pitiful to watch, it worked, they kept a clean sheet and earned a draw with Fradi. They are capable of playing much more cohesively though. Debrecen will be disappointed with their last outing, a 3-0 home defeat to 3rd placed Felcsút. They currently sit 10th and need to find a way to start winning soon.

Gyirmót continue to struggle, they’re in 11th spot currently despite 2 wins in rounds 8 & 9. It’s hard to see them being anywhere other than in or around the relegation spots. Fradi will not be happy with their 0-0 draw with MTK. They dominated most of the game but didn’t really get out of neutral. They’ll be looking to push Kisvárda & Felcsút this week with a win.

Kisváda come into the game on the back of a very entertaining 2-2 draw with Paks. The 2 surprise teams of the season, for me at least. The point enough to keep them top of the table – just. Fradi & Felcsút are hot on their heels though, just 1 point separating them. This round they face a team who blow hot & cold in ZTE. ZTE are in a good spell right now, 3 wins on the bounce. Since Waltner Róbert finally cleaned up his act in the technical area, the team have been playing better and performing well on the pitch – a coincidence? I think not. An ill disciplined coach throwing toddler tantrums constantly affects the team in a negative way. Credit to him for changing his behaviour, the rewards for doing so are obvious on the pitch.

Felcsüt are enjoying a good spell right now, 3 wins on the trot and sitting comfortably in 3rd with the same number of points as Fradi. Love them (does anyone?) or loathe them (me!) they are a decent team to watch and I do really like Zsolt Hornyák as a coach. Honvéd are a really mixed bag so far this season, they were unlucky in round 10 BUT they were playing v 10 men for the majority of the game and never once dominated, that is not good enough. Horváth Ferenc is another coach who has been on the wrong side in disciplinary terms this season but has also cleaned up his act. Looking & behaving more professionally in the tech area has been followed by Kispest no longer languishing in the relegation spots and rising to mid table. It makes a difference.