'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Much like the previous editions of the Indian Super League, the 2019-20 season was stacked to the top with brilliant individual performances. The goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and strikers gave their everything to help their team in their ambitions and put up an exhilarating show for the fans.
While the likes of Hugo Boumous, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Anirudh Thapa, and others took their game to an all-new dimension, others faltered and couldn't keep track of the hard work they did in the previous season.
From flashy wingers struggling to make goal contributions to out-of-position players facing difficulty in adapting to new roles given by their managers, a multitude of factors was responsible for the downfall of these players' performance.
Without any further ado, here are top 5 players who were a huge disappointment with their performances in ISL 2019-20.
#5 Udanta Singh (Bengaluru FC)
Udanta Singh produced a stellar performance in the 2017-18 season for Bengaluru FC which saw him bag 7 assists and 1 goal, the highest in the league. The youngster was burdened with high expectations on his shoulders but passed with flying colours in the next season, registering 5 goals and 3 assists.
While he never let his guard down while representing his country, the same cannot be said about his club duties. This season, for instance, the 23-year-old only has only 1 goal and zero assist to his name.
Much of this can be blamed on Udanta's poor finishing skills. As a matter of fact, the Tata Football Academy graduate has taken more shots this season, 29 as compared to the previous 24 and 18 respectively. However, apart from one occasion against FC Goa, he has failed to convert his chances.
His chemistry with Sunil Chhetri has also taken a dip as he couldn't register a single assist this season. Udanta's contract is getting over this season but he is likely to continue with Bengaluru FC.
But, he might not have a guaranteed claim in the playing eleven. Bengaluru FC B's Leon Augustine proved himself to be a livewire in the right-wing position in their match against ATK, having proved his calibre before in the Durand Cup.
In the next season, we might see a healthy tussle between the two for the right-wing slot in the starting line-up.
#4 Modou Sougou (Mumbai City FC)
Modou Sougou was one of last season's finds as the Senegalese international scored 12 goals in 18 competitions, second only to FC Goa's Ferran Corominas. The West Coast Brigade faithful expected him to increase his tally but could muster only a quarter of goals he produced the previous time.
Mumbai City FC's head coach Jorge Costa deployed Sougou in the right flank rather than centrally and that can be attributed as a major reason why he stumbled. Last season, Arnold Issoko played in that position for the Islanders and the Congolese international bagged 8 assists. Sougou, on the other hand, could come up with only two this time.
Sougou likes to hang at the shoulders of the defenders and use his first touch and pace to outrun them and smash the ball into the back of the net. Playing wide didn't give him enough opportunities to do that this season.
With City Football Group becoming majority shareholders of Mumbai City FC and the conglomerate known for his long-term vision, Sougou's time in the royal blue colours might be up.
#3 Sahal Abdul Samad (Kerala Blasters)
Another instance of a player being stationed at an unfamiliar position and deviating himself from the usual-self is Kerala Blasters' Sahal Abdul Samad. On the back of his innate dribbling skills, the 22-year-old even went on to make it to the senior national side of India and played an integral part in the midfield against Qatar.
But, international duties meant Sahal missed roughly 40 training sessions for his club and was surprisingly excluded in Kerala Blasters' first game against ATK. The head coach Eelco Schattorie promised him to make one of the best midfielders of India but he is still far from it.
Sahal played as a #10 last season and won critical fouls in crucial positions of the field. But, this season, the Dutchman played him in the right flank, left flank, as well as in the double pivot. The Keralite's chances to showcase his attacking skills reduced whereas his defensive frailties became vulnerable.
The good part is that Sahal has age on his hand. Given that this was only his second full season in ISL, he can learn a lot.
#2 Ashique Kuruniyan (Bengaluru FC)
With Bengaluru FC unable to hold on to Miku's exorbitant demands, the club decided to let him go. The question which naturally came to everyone's minds was that who would take over the burden of goalscoring and create spaces for their captain Sunil Chhetri.
While Manuel Onwu, and later Deshorn Brown, was brought on for the former cause, Ashique Kuruniyan was supposed to be a focal point in the wings in their three-pronged attack.
Ashique totally failed to live up to his promise. While in the previous season, he came up with 2 goals and 3 assists, he mustered only one assist this season while blanking in front of goal.
Bengaluru FC's head coach Carles Cuadrat even deployed him at the left-back position on numerous occasions. While he did end the league stages with 43 tackles, 13 interceptions, 33 clearances, and 18 blocks, some of the vital traits in a defender like aerial superiority were missing in his arsenal.
Ashique is, generally, not a goalscorer. But, his pace and ability to hoodwink the defenders and cut in can be a valuable asset for the club and country.
#1 Jose Leudo (NorthEast United FC)
One of the biggest foreigner to flop in the sixth edition of ISL was Jose Leudo. The Colombian was a rock in the NorthEast United FC midfield last season and his partnership with Rowllin Borges proved to be a big hurdle for the opposition to cross in the previous season.
While Borges changed his loyalty to Mumbai City FC, Leudo was entrusted with the captain's armband until Gallego returned to full fitness. To the surprise of many, he gained weight and wasn't quick enough to make timely recoveries of the ball.
His passing accuracy fell from 85.33% last season to 80.71% this season. His game time was cut short and the hard-tackling defender was also sent off once this season for incessant fouling.
With either one of Kai Heerings or Mislav Komorski injured, Leudo was also forced to play out of position as a centre-back on a couple of occasions but couldn't stay up to the challenge.
