ISL 2017: Top 5 meanest defences this season

#1 Kerala Blasters

Ex-Manchester United defender Wes Brown will be the Blasters' key defender

2016 runners-up Kerala Blasters have the best defensive squad this season. The Rene Meluensteen-coached side have secured the services of versatile defenders for the upcoming edition.

The team's Indian defenders comprise the likes of Sandesh Jhingan, India's best defender at the moment, alongside experienced Rino Anto, Samuel Shadap, Pritam Kumar Soraisem and budding talents like Lalruatthara and Lalthakima.

Former Manchester United defensive wall Wes Brown will also ply his trade for the Kochi-based ISL outfit. 24-year-old Serbian defender Nemanja Lakic-Pesic, a strong, young defender, is another good addition to the club's defence.

Should Meulensteen opt for a defensive 5-4-1 flat formation, the team have their three central defenders' combination ready. Wes Brown, Lakic-Pesic and Jhingan will be the first choices if that setup is picked. The experience of Brown, the height and aerial ability of Lakic-Pesic and the indispensable Jhingan make the Blasters central defence the strongest on paper.

Add to that the likes of Anto and Ruatthara and Kerala Blasters could prove to be more than equipped at the back than front despite their lavish outlay for foreign forwards.

In short, Kerala Blasters are one of the hottest contenders for the coveted ISL title this time out, yet again. Their irresistible attack, coupled with an immovable defence could well be the recipe for success in ISL-4.