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The 2018-19 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) has been an all-inclusive one, to say the least. From breath-taking goals to cringe-worthy misses, from sensational games to drab fixtures, the past two months or so has given us almost everything that one could hope for from Indian football.
While a lot has been written and spoken out the stars and breakthrough performances, many established and recognised stars have gone unnoticed too. And that’s primarily down their shoddy performances so far. Here’s a list of players who have disappointed their teams and fans alike in the fifth edition of the ISL.
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#5 Jeje Lalpekhlua (Chennaiyin FC)
Coming into the new season, a lot was expected from the Mizo snipper. On the back of a successful campaign that saw him lead his side Chennaiyin FC to the ISL title, Jeje Lalpekhlua was expected to be the main target man for the champions. But, unfortunately, things haven’t panned out the way he was expected.
In the 11 games he’s played, the Mizo is yet to find the back of the net and has not even turned provider for his team-mates. He’s had a total of seven shots in the season so far.
This poor run has seen him lose his place in Chennaiyin’s starting XI and with the AFC Asian Cup just weeks away, the Indian national team too looks in deep trouble with one of their primary forwards struggling to find his feet.
#4 Robin Singh (FC Pune City)
Where should one even start when one’s talking about Robin Singh. A man who showed immense potential, but little desire to come true on it, the FC Pune City player has had another poor run in the ISL this time.
The 28-year-old has no goals to his name so far but has done well to set up his teammate twice in what has been an underwhelming season for Pune. Though he barely started any games under Miguel Angel Portugal, their interim coach Pradhyum Reddy seems to have shown immense confidence in him. It’s time that Robin repays this faith soon.
#3 Karanjit Singh (Chennaiyin FC)
He was one of the trustworthy fellows between the sticks last season. With a save percentage in the 70s, Karanjeet Singh provided the sense of assurance to the Chennaiyin FC backline that saw them win the title. But this season, things have been very different.
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In the nine matches he’s played, the 32-year-old has already conceded 19 goals, keeping just a solitary clean sheet. Moreover, with his save percentage in the 40s, the Punjab man’s confidence too seems to have taken a hit.
#2 Anas Edathodika (Kerala Blasters)
Starting the season, a bit late than the other, primarily due to a suspension handed out for his antics in last season’s Super Cup, Anas Edathodika would have hoped for a fine run in what was his first-ever season at home. The Kerala man though has been playing for over a decade, has never turned out for a local team in Kerala. But with what we have seen so far, Edathodika would be hoping to forget these few months in a hurry.
The 31-year-old has been terrible, to say the least on the Blasters backline. Having pushed Sandesh Jhingan to a full-back’s role to accommodate Edathodika, the change has barely helped Kerala arrest their poor run. The David James-coached side sits eighth on the table and have conceded 20 goals in their 12 games so far. Well, that’s not something to be proud of if you are a centre-back.
#1 CK Vineeth (Kerala Blasters)
Remember the time CK Vineeth with twist his body mid-air and pull out a sweet connect to send the Kerala Blasters FC’s faithful into raptures? Or the time the man would pull out a blinder from a distance to salvage a point for his side? Well, all of this is a thing of the past, for if you were one among the many to throng the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi with a hope of seeing the local hero show his magic, you would have returned home disappointed.
Vineeth, who enjoys a cult status in Kerala, has done absolutely nothing to justify the faith the team and the fans have shown in him. The Kannur-born has scored two goals in 10 games and has proven more of a liability to the side than otherwise.
