Juan Roman Riquelme was a treat to watch on the football pitch. The way he held the ball at his feet looked as if he was not kicking, but caressing it. Finding little spaces in wall-like defences was always his forte, and we don’t find any such players these days. With the advent of deep-lying midfielders taking over and them pulling the strings from deeper positions, the playmaking has seen a radical change in recent times.
In the ongoing ISL, teams have seen players from various positions pulling the strings and controlling the proceedings for their team. While playmaking has always been seen as an art, it’s easier said than done. With immaculate reading and diversified studies on the opposition’s game, coaches have, more often than not, been able to nullify the effect of the playmaker.
Here, we take a look at the most exciting playmakers in the league, who have affected the proceedings well for their side.
#1 Helder Postiga
If you’re ever making a list of creative players and Postiga is in the league, he walks into it carelessly. The former Portugal striker has lost his extra yard of pace due to nagging injuries, but his game has been brilliant in the centre of the park, just behind Iain Hume and Juan Belencoso.
The former Tottenham star doesn’t take much of the workload these days but is a treat to watch with the ball at his feet. Any pass to this man excites audiences, who know his quality well. With speedy players like Hume and Doutie around him, Postiga can easily replicate his ideas on the pitch.
The No.9 has already scored two goals and made 2 assists, in just 8 appearances. His hold-up game is still one of the best in the league and his passing is of top order as well. As the final stages of the league approaches, Postiga looks to be more and more dangerous in the attacking third for Atletico de Kolkata.
#2 Raphael Augusto
Chennaiyin FC’s main man deserves a mention here. The Brazilian who won the Polish League with Legia Warsaw in 2013-14 came to Chennaiyin FC for the second season and created a massive impact, taking the Machans to the title.
With Elano Blumer usually on the bench and Bruno Pelissari firing in patches, it was the guile and creativity of this man which supported the strike pair of Stiven Mendoza and Jeje Lalpekhlua incredibly well.
Capable of playing anywhere in the central midfield, Augusto began the 2016 season as one of the two defensive midfielders, alongside Hans Mulder. With Chennaiyin’s inefficiency in front of the goal increasing with every game, Materazzi had to push his game-maker forward, and the side has seen commendable improvement since then.
Italian Davide Succi has scored goals, the team is playing at a much higher tempo and all the credit must be given to the Brazilian. With his powerful presence, Augusto ensures two defenders are always kept busy and away from his forwards, who get that little extra space to operate in and around the box.
While statistics tell a different story, Augusto’s presence in the deep lying playmaker role has seen him win the ball an astonishing 50 times, the highest among midfielders this season.
Breaking up opposition play and switching the game from defensive to offensive is one of the rare assets this burly Brazilian possesses. If the defending champions hope to reach the semi-finals, it will be down to the wizardry of this player.
#3 Jonatan Lucca
Adding a little more samba magic to the list, Jonatan Lucca was touted to put the league on fire after his heroics with FC Goa last season. Forming a brilliant partnership with Leo Moura and Jofre Mateu, Lucca was a beauty with the ball who caressed it skillfully. While the player was successful in taking his team to the finals last season, he shifted bases to FC Pune City to take up new challenges.
At a new club under a new manager, things took time to evolve. While Lucca was not able to find his rhythm in the opening phases, the former AS Roma youth player looks to be returning to his creative best. His free-kicks have that sting on them, very rarely seen in the ISL. Having played 12 matches this season, the Brazilian has already made 5 assists, showcasing his abilities to be the chief provider for his team.
If FC Pune City are standing at the fourth position now with 15 points from 12 games, a lot of the credit must be given to this man. Lucca, who is playing as the deep-lying playmaker for the Stallions, has grown into his new role with time and as good players do, is starting to be effective.
If the Stallions reach the knockout stages, it would be hard for opposition teams to stop this man, who knows how to lead his team in big matches.
#4 Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan makes this list at the penultimate position. Did anyone have doubts in his creativity? Forlan has come and he’s winning hearts already. Playing in the attacking third has never been a problem for the Uruguayan, who has plied his trade for Manchester United and Atletico Madrid in the past.
Forlan came with a huge reputation, his 2010 World Cup feats heavily contributing to it. The Golden Ball winner is known to be a mean free-kick specialist and also possesses a good eye for link-up play. Showcasing his full repertoire of skills on top of the pivot, Forlan has actually dropped behind every game to take the playmaking role.
While Mumbai City FC are sitting at the top of the table with 22 points from 13 games, a lot of credit must be given to the magician. Forlan has scored the only hat-trick in Hero Indian Super League 2016, against the Kerala Blasters, a side known to be defensively sound. Scoring on two other occasions, Forlan has taken his tally to a league high of 5, alongside Iain Hume, Alfaro and Marcelinho.
The goal-scoring heroics, though, do not sum up Forlan’s capabilities. In just 10 appearances, the 37-year-old has also made 2 assists, while taking 16 shots on target. Being directly involved in 7 out of the 16 goals the team has scored shows the level of quality the team has when Forlan is on the pitch.
With Mumbai City FC almost certain of a place in the knock-outs, opposition defenders must be worried as to how to control this pacey player.
#5 Florent Malouda
The former Chelsea and Lyon winger has been nothing short of breath-taking this season. Flipping into the playmaker’s role with consummate ease, Malouda has shown flashes of brilliance for the Delhi Dynamos on the pitch. Captaining the side and being their marquee player, Malouda is expected to make it big this season with a creative Delhi side.
While the Frenchman was capable of pulling his team to the semi-finals last season, with Gianluca Zambrotta in charge this season, bigger things are being expected from the Lions. Easily the most exciting team in the league attacking-wise, the Lions have scored 21 goals in 11 matches, scoring three goals or more on three different occasions. Much of the credit must be given to this midfielder, who has teamed up with his attacking players quite well.
Malouda played the last season brilliantly, supporting his team with 8 assists, a league high. This season, though, has been of utter dominance. While the creativity not reducing, Malouda has backed that up with crucial goals, which has seen him bail out the side in times of need. The former Chelsea winger has notched up another 4 assists in 11 appearances and has been a permanent name in the ever-changing Zambrotta’s starting XI.
With Marcelinho, Kean Lewis and Richard Gadze, Malouda has created a great understanding on the pitch, which is easily evident from their gameplay. Playing at a much higher tempo than any other side in the league, the Lions look threatening every time these players get the ball at their feet.
Malouda, along with the four assists, has also scored thrice, being involved in 7 goals himself. The 37-year-old has also completed an impressive 392 passes till date, one of the highest in the league. Out of 16, his 10 shots have been on target, which shows Malouda has not been wasteful.
If the Dynamos want to get back to their threatening best soon, they would want this man to keep firing and delivering the goods, just like he has always done. The Champions League winner would be hoping he can take the side to a better position than he did, last season.
