ISL 2017/18: 5 star players who might miss out on playoffs

The fourth edition of ISL has reached its business end and quite a few teams are still engaged in a battle for playoff spots. While Bengaluru FC have confirmed their place in the top four, as many as six teams are fighting it out for the remaining three spots.

Football has always been a team game where individual efforts, on most occasions, aren’t enough to guarantee success to a team.

Same is the story of some players in this season. These footballers have performed well but their respective franchises have let them down and now they face the prospect of missing out on the knockout stages of the tournament.

#1 Marcinho

The Brazilian midfielder has been a revelation scoring four of NorthEast United’s 10 goals this edition. He featured in 15 games for the Highlanders and has dominated proceedings whenever he has found the ball at his feet. Marcinho also turned provider on one occasion which means he has had a hand in half of NorthEast’s goal tally in ISL 4.

However, the John Abraham-owned team lacked the edge in the attacking third and was also dismal in defence which has inadvertently knocked them out of the playoff race. Currently, they are 9th on the table with 11 points from 16 games.

#2 Courage Pekuson

The Ghanaian has simply been flawless for Kerala Blasters in the midfield. However, Blasters’ poor string of results in the initial phase of the tournament means they are hanging on the edge when it comes to securing a playoff berth.

Pekuson has used his physical advantage to great effect to dominate the opposition and has racked up five assists in addition to a well-taken strike.

Rene Meulensteen, the manager who parted ways with the team midseason was as fond of Pekuson as is David James, who took over from the former Manchester United assistant coach and it doesn’t need a rocket scienctist to understand why he is such a vital cog in the wheel for the Blasters.

#3 CK Vineeth

Vineeth is surely one of the most improved Indian forwards. In the last season, his individual efforts during the latter stages of the tournament had helped Kerala qualify for the last four. But this time around, the Blasters are in a dire situation having registered 24 points from 16 games. They are fifth in the table and victories in the last two matches of the league stage might not be enough to hand Kerala a playoff berth.

Having appeared in 12 games, Vineeth has found the back of the net on four occasions. In addition to that, the striker has time and again scooted back and helped out his defenders. However, his team needs a few results to go their way apart from winning their own games.

#4 Achille Emana

Mumbai City FC hired the services of the experienced Cameroon international to add solidity to their midfield. Emana did his best but Mumbai faltered as a team, mostly in home games, and are placed seventh in the table with 20 points from 15 games. The Alexandre Guimaraes-coached side has to win all their remaining matches and hope that the rub of the green goes their way when it comes to the results of games involving other teams.

Emana has been brilliant for the ‘Men in Blue’ scoring twice and providing four assists. He will have to keep up his good work to increase Mumbai’s chances of securing a playoff spot.

#5 Ferran Corominas

Corominas has simply been the best player in this edition. Having managed to score 13 goals and provide three assists, the Spaniard must be wondering why his team FC Goa is in the sixth spot with 20 points from 14 games.

One can argue that Goa have played two games less than all the teams that are placed ahead of them but what is worrying is the fact that the ‘Gaurs’ have lost three of their last four games while drawing one.

Coach Sergio Lobera needs to arrest this massive slump in form or else the Spaniard’s dazzling skills in front of goal might remain limited to the league stage.

Edited by Sagnik Kundu