ISL 2017/18: ATK and Kerala Blasters' performance proves that big bucks don't translate into results

The Indian Super League's (ISL) fourth season has just crossed the half-way mark and season 2 champions, Chennaiyin FC sit atop the table with some other teams keeping up the pressure on the leaders.

We decided to take stock of things in terms of the 10 teams' success in the season taking into account the investments they have made to build the squad for the four-month-long league.

The ISL draft was conducted in July last year where a total of 205 Indian players went through the selection process of 15 rounds as the 10 franchises assembled their squad. But, this was not all, each team was allowed to sign up to eight foreigners.

The franchises were given a salary cap of Rs 18 crore from which a minimum of Rs 5.5 crore was available for purchasing Indian players. It's important to note that marquee players were not considered a part of the salary cap. Every franchise in the ISL stocked up their squads with young as well as experienced foreign players in their bid to win the title.

As the season has reached a mid-point, some franchises have benefited by spending their big bucks whereas some have failed to impress which is reflected by their poor standing on the league table.

According to Sportskeeda sources, ATK, the two-time ISL champions were the highest spenders overall in the league with a mammoth budget of Rs 21 crore. ATK signed Irish World Cupper Robbie Keane as their marquee signing who reportedly cost them in the range of Rs 6.6 crore.The Indian contingent of ATK also was a cost-heavy one that included Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Rs 1.1 crore) and others like Jayesh Rane, Robin Singh, and Ashutosh Mehta who further added Rs 1.59 crore to their payroll. Despite the money spent, ATK have struggled to replicate their form from past seasons and are currently struggling at the seventh spot with just 12 points from nine matches.

Kerala Blasters FC are another franchise which have been an embodiment of the phenomenon that big bucks don't guarantee success. They have spent a total of Rs 19 crore on their acquisition of players this season which includes the marquee signing of former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs striker Dimitar Berbatov who reportedly cost them Rs 7.5 crore. Kerala Blasters are two-time losing finalists in the three seasons so far but have been dismal this season, which has seen a coaching change after Rene Meulensteen was sacked for poor performances. David James, former Kerala Blasters player has taken over the charge and has done well with two wins but the Blasters still lie in the bottom half of the table in the sixth spot with 14 points from 10 matches.

On a contrasting note, Chennaiyin FC, FC Pune City, and FC Goa, who all spent less money than Kerala Blasters and ATK have been flying high with their performances and currently, all the teams occupy the playoffs spots.

FC Pune City signed three proven ISL players - Marcelo Leite Perreira (Marcelinho), Emiliano Alfaro and Marcos Tebar. The appointment of Ranko Popovic at the helm has seen the Maharashtrian outfit rise high with their exciting performances and currently, they are third on the table with 16 points from 10 matches and are the joint second highest scoring side in the league.

FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC are also examples of sides that have spent comparatively less than ATK and the Blasters, but their investments have paid dividends. FC Goa signed a Spanish contingent which includes Adrian Colunga, Edu Bedia, Ferran Corominas and Manuel Lanzarote. The Gaurs are probably one of the most exciting sides in the ISL and have scored the most number of goals. They are fourth in the standings and are being touted as serious title contenders.

Chennaiyin FC have displayed that smart financial outlays are more necessary than just big-name signings. John Gregory, the Chennaiyin FC manager signed Brazilian Raphael Augusto, Slovenian Rene Mihelic, Dutch Gregory Nelson and top Indian talents like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Thoi Singh, Bikramjit Singh and Karanjit Singh. They have also invested in young talent like Anirudh Thapa, Baoringdao Bodo and Jerry Lalrinzuala who have shone for the Abhishek Bachchan co-owned side.

In comparison to the big spenders of the league, Delhi Dynamos FC and Northeast United FC spent just Rs 9 crore on their squad this season.The two sides occupy the last two positions of the table with Northeast United FC in ninth and the Dynamos at the last position.

The performances from the franchises at the turn of the second half of the season are an indication of the fact that though big investments are sometimes needed, they need to be backed up by proper strategy and vision to achieve the requisite success.