ISL 2019 | Squad analysis of NorthEast United FC for Season 5

ISL 2019 | Squad analysis of NorthEast United FC for Season 5

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After missing the playoffs on every occasion in the four-year history of the ISL, NorthEast United FC will be hoping for a change in fortunes in the fifth edition of the league. Dutchman Eelco Schattorie has now been handed charge of the side as the new coach for the 2018-19 edition.

After finishing dead last on the points table last year, NorthEast has made a plethora of changes to their side for the upcoming season in which they will play their first game against FC Goa at home. Despite the region being a hotbed of talent as far as Indian football is concerned, the team has not able to bear the fruits of the same. Schattorie, who joined as the assistant coach last season, has now been handed the reigns of the side this year. With as many as 14 new Indian and 7 new foreign recruits coming in for the fifth season, the Highlanders have made a statement of intent that they want to turn their fortunes around.

Defence

One of the few players who can still call Guwahati home is goalkeeper TP Rehenesh, whose services have been retained in spite of him conceding 25 goals in 17 matches last season. The NE management, however, did decide to change his deputy by bringing in Chennaiyin FCā€™s Pawan Kumar as a back-up.

With the addition of Croatian centre-backs Mato Grgic and Mislav Komorsk, NorthEast will be hoping for a stable partnership from the get-go, owing to the fact that the duo have played together for Croatian club - Nogometni Klub Inter Zapresic. The Croatians will be joined by experienced India international Gurwinder Singh, who has come in from East Bengal, and Keegan Pereira - an ISL winner with ATK. They also have retained local Indian defenders like Robert Lalthlamuana and Reagan Singh in their strong defence line-up. Pawan Kumar from Pune City and Provat Lakra from Gokulam Kerala have also been added to a squad that appears to have the depth required for a tournament like the ISL.Ā 

Midfield

The midfield looks strong for the Highlanders with defensive midfielder Rowlin Borges being retained by the franchise. To partner the Indian international, NE have added Jose Leudo from Spain. The other two signings Federico Gallego from Uruguay and Augustine Okrah from Ghana will operate in front of the the Indo-Spanish pairing as the attacking midfielders with more creative responsibility on them.

Their Indian midfielders mostly include some of the local talent from the North Eastern states as per the policy of the club since the inaugural edition of the league. Fanai Lalrempuia has been retained by them while they have brought in the likes of Lalthathanga Khawlhring from Aizwal, Simranjit Singh and Seityasen Singh from Delhi Dynamos, Rupert Nongrum from ATK and Girik Khosla from Minerva Punjab. Adding former Mohun Bagan winger Nikhil Kadam and Redeem Tlang from Shillong Lajong FC to the squad will help the team strengthen their flanks.

Ā Forward

As coach Schattorie prefers to go with a 4-3-3 formation, the forward line will be crucial with three quality forwards in the starting XI. To make their attack stronger, the franchise has added Nigerian centre-forward Bartholomew Ogbeche which is certainly their marquee signing for the season. His experience with the Paris-Saint Germain and the Nigerian national team will be an added advantage for the club.

Uruguayan striker Juan Cruz Mascia, who has played for the national team at the junior level, has also been added to the team to compliment the Nigerian. The presence of these two in the NorthEast attack is expected to be make it a strong attacking unit. Young Kivi Zhimomi who has been brought in from Gokulam Kerala will only be a back-up for the two foreign recruits in the forward line.

Ā Strength and weaknesses

Goalkeeping is certainly the major concern for the North East United side with TP Rehenesh not having anything to show with his performance in the previous edition. The team doesnā€™t have a proper back-up for him as well with Pawan Kumar as the second custodian in the side. Pawan played only one game for the Chennaiyin FC side in the previous season which will be a headache for head coach Schattorie.

The Highlanders have a strong forward line and midfield which might trouble other teams in the league. They could only score 12 goals in the previous edition of the league which was one of the major reasons of their failure to make it into the playoffs. The presence of the two foreign centre-forwards in the form of Ogbeche and Juan have now strengthened NorthEastā€™s attack and the duo is expected to yield positive results in favour of the Guwahati-based franchise. The midfield comprises of a good mixture of Indian and foreign footballers which can turn out to be effective and the coach will have to choose from them for the starting XI.

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