Matchweek eight of the Indian Super League concluded with the now-familiar sight of Bengaluru FC at the top, although the gap to the chasing pack has been reduced. With an international break putting a pause on the ISL until 23rd November, there's plenty for the managers of all teams in the league to ponder on.
We muse, after another matchweek that proved how unpredictable the ISL has become:
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Ajaraie is set for the best-ever individual ISL season
Alaeddine Ajaraie and his magic feet seem straight out of a Disney fairy-tale - the forward's previous seasons were nothing to write home about, and he'd scored thrice in 26 games last year in the Moroccan league. He's found his magic lamp in Juan Pedro Benali's NorthEast United this season and seemingly blessed by a genie, now has 11 goals in just 8 games.
The scoring records keep tumbling as he equalled Kalu Uche's record of scoring in eight consecutive games, and he's the quickest ever to reach the 10-goal mark in the league. With 15 goal involvements so far (11G, 4A), he's also the first to begin a season in such a manner. 79% of NEUFC's goals have involved him, but even if you put the numbers aside, he's such a 'fun' watch. His combination of technical prowess, pace and power is unstoppable at times, and he was head and shoulders above the other players on the pitch against Bengaluru FC. The stands caught their collective breath in anticipation every time he had the ball at his feet, and he provided the travelling fans with two brilliantly taken goals.
The ISL has witnessed some certified ballers over the years, and if Ajaraie keeps up this form, we could witness one of the best individual ISL seasons ever. He's outperformed his xG+xA rate (0.94) by 1.18 (G+A) every game so far this year, and should he continue, he's looking at 51 goal involvements for the season. Coro's record for goal involvements stands at 23 goal contributions, and even if Ajaraie regresses to his xG+xA mean, he will finish the season with 30 goal involvements.
Mohammedan SC aren't ISL quality - and that's an indictment on AIFF
630 minutes (plus injury time) of ISL football this season, and Mohammedan SC have scored one goal from open play all season long. Even if Andrey Chernyshov is a defence-first coach, and they won the I-League title last year despite being the fifth-highest scorers, that is an appalling scoring record. The only reason they're not bottom of the league is because there is a team who are even more appalling.
Said worst-in-the-league team even went down to nine men, and for an hour, Mohammedan impersonated (poorly) a football team interested in scoring goals. It was frankly shocking how inept they were at creating chances with a two-man advantage, so much so that nine-man East Bengal were even bold enough to finish the game with two strikers on the pitch as they chased an unlikely win. This was mid-table I-League football, and up against a quality (ish) defence, it was simply not good enough. Aimless crosses, pedestrian football ruled the roost, and the only entertainment Mohammedan offered was their players fighting with each other.
The club entered the ISL with much fanfare this season, but their displays place into sharp focus the lack of quality in India's player pool beyond the other 12 ISL clubs. There is a genuine gap to the Indian players in the I-League, and promoted clubs find it hard to catch up to other ISL clubs. Punjab FC were an exception, but even the next promoted club from the I-League will have the same issue Mohammedan have. The AIFF cannot get away with another year of giving the I-League the bare minimum in support, because eventually that will be folded into their premier product.
East Bengal's AFC form and a battling point offer hope
Two wins and a draw saw East Bengal sit atop their AFC Challenge League group, which was a far cry away from their six-game losing streak to start the season that saw Carles Cuadrat sacked. Oscar Bruzon had finally begun to wrestle a tune from his players, and a fixture against Mohammedan SC would have been the perfect setup for a first win of the ISL season.
But a Kolkata derby went straight to the heads of two of his best Indian players - Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh. The duo's indiscipline saw them sent off, and Bruzon was clear after the game that it was unacceptable. Whatever chance East Bengal had in that game was obliterated in two minutes, which was a pity given the positive vibes surrounding the club after their AFC break.
And yet, there was plenty to be positive about for Bruzon, since a collapse could have so easily happened. Instead, Hijazi Maher, Anwar Ali and Lalchungnunga were brilliant in defence, setting up a rearguard action that saw the nine men grab a 0-0 draw. It's their first point of the season, and with 17 games to go, a late run for the playoff spots isn't out of the question - a 12-point swing has happened in the ISL before.
Overseas players are the difference makers this season
The six games in this matchweek provided 14 goals - with only two Indian goalscorers. Aside from Manvir Singh and Nathan Rodrigues' point-earning goals, the other major contributions from Indian players were two red cards and the concession of a penalty that lost Kerala Blasters a game.
This is especially disappointing given that young Indian players were the backbone of Mumbai City's title last season, and it was a trend that spread throughout the league. Incredibly, Sunil Chhetri and Subhasish Bose (!) with 3 goals are the highest-scoring Indians in the league. 30 of the 149 goals scored this season have come from Indians - just a bit more than 20%. Only 22 of the 71 players to have scored this season are Indian - with only 6 of those 22 having scored multiple goals.
It's a bit of a misnomer to call it the 'Indian' Super League, when it's the foreigners who are doing all the 'super' work. Thangboi Singto, champion of young Indian talent tried to play mostly domestic players for Hyderabad initially but came to the conclusion that he needed quality foreigners to win games - as was the case against Kerala Blasters (ironically, Mikael Stahre's side were only good when 17-year-old Korou Singh was on the pitch).
A tight league where every game is a toss-up
Just as it seemed as though Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan were about to pull away at the top of the league, they were held to draws by NEUFC and Odisha FC and could also have conceivably lost. Punjab FC threatened to be two points shy of the leaders with two games in hand when they took the lead against FC Goa but were pegged back by an Iker Guarrotxena special (Incidentally, Manolo Marquez finally seems to have figured out his best XI).
There are three teams with an identical 3-3-2 (W-D-L) record (NEUFC, Chennaiyin and Goa), with Punjab and Jamshedpur also level with the trio on 12 points. We also have the hitherto underperforming Mumbai City, Odisha, Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC showing signs of revival. Any of the top eleven teams can beat each other, and if East Bengal get their act together it could be a 12-team race for six playoff spots.
This is the ISL at its best - when one has no idea who will win before kickoff. 23rd November can't come soon enough.
P.S. - The refs had their customary weekly blunder (and more), but when Chief Referee Officer Trevor Kettle is adamant that 'standards have improved'... things will stay the same.