FC Goa 2-0 NorthEast United FC: 3 reasons why the Gaurs beat the Highlanders | ISL 2019-20

#1 Mismanagement from NorthEast United FC

NorthEast United FC looked disjointed against FC Goa. (Image: ISL)

When the team list came out today, the first question that cropped up in my mind was who is going to play up front as the team list didn't have a proper striker included in it.

Playing Rupert Nongrum who has been out for more than a year as the striker was a choice that Robert Jarni had to make as he didn't have any other option available to him. NorthEast United FC let go off Argentine striker Maximiliano Fabian Barreiro in November and then in December, the Highlanders didn't renew star winger Panagiotis Triadis' contract which was over on 31st December.

With two foreign signings leaving the club the coach and fans expected the club to sign a replacement as soon as the transfer window opened but even after a week of the transfer window opening NorthEast United has failed to sign a striker. Now the team is in such a position that they have only one proper striker in Gyan who is out injured.

Robert Jarni is someone who has been vocal about his preferred tactics and his love for the 4-2-3-1 system. In the 4-2-3-1 system the way he plays he needs a proper striker typically a big physical striker who can score. He has also said if needed he could shift to a 4-3-3 but in both cases, he needs another striker to back up marquee man Asamoah Gyan who has been suffering from injury issues of late. As the situation stands, the only other striker available for NorthEast United could be their reserve team local Guwahati lad Deepu Mridha.

Robert Jarni has also failed to use the resources available to him properly as the likes of Puitea, Redeem, Mawia and Chaves along with Gallego were often seen out of ideas in the field.