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Amidst the chaos of ISL, the clubs participating has managed to put up a decent show in this year I-League. The league leaders Minerva Punjab FC hailing from Punjab top the table with three points clear of second positioned East Bengal FC has been a revelation this year. The newbies like Neroca FC, Gokulam FC and the Indian U17 World Cup side Indian Arrows has produced some enthralling matches.
East Bengal FC have managed to score the maximum number of goals (12) whereas the old warhorse from Goa, Churchill Brothers had their worst start ever in the history of this campaign and had conceded the maximum number of goals (13).
Let's go through the teams based on their current position in the points table in I-League 2017-2018.
1. Minerva Punjab FC
Leading the table with 13 points from 5 matches the club from Punjab has already equalled their previous season's tally and have only lost one match in the competition so far. The team has evolved & surprised many with their performance on the field.
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Chencho Gyeltshen the Bhutanese sensation has already caught the eyes of everyone with his skill & scoring prowess combined with William Opoku Asiedu who has been instrumental in front scoring goals. Abhishek Ambekar has been one of the finds of the tournament so far.
The team has several talented youngsters & are playing with a vision. The Minerva Academy is currently ranked as one of the best in the country & has previously played a part in providing players to U17 World Cup team. They had certainly made life tougher for visiting teams in Gurunanak Stadium.With a spirited & passionate owner in Ranjit Bajaj, this team can go miles to challenge for the I-League title.
Key Players:- Chencho Gyeltshen, William Opoku Asiedu
Pros:- Unbeaten at home (Gurunanak Stadium).
Cons:- Still has to prove their mettle outside Punjab & clash against North East teams & Kolkata giants. Lacks squad depth.
Rating: 8/10
2. East Bengal FC
The Red & Gold giants are one of the favourites to lift the I-League title this year. After a rough start to their campaign comprising of a draw against defending champions, Aizawl FC & a loss to arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, Khalid Jamil & his boys have won four on the trot to turn the table around. The team looks to be back on the track now after early jolts & would look to carry on their form in the series of away games that they are to face post-Christmas break.
The Syrian wizard Mahmoud Al -Amna has produced some stellar performance & together with Katsumi Yusa who has switched side this year from arch-rivals Mohun Bagan AC the Red & Gold midfield has only grown crafty & stronger.Laldanmawia Ralte has added as an extra goal-scoring option for Khalid as his star hitman Willis Plaza has often misfired in several games.
The team is regarded as the strongest comparing with other nine participating teams in the league, the likes of Prakash Sarkar and Salam Ranjan Singh have adapted well in the first XI leaving experienced Gurwinder Singh on the bench.
Djair Miranda Garcia was another key recruitment by East Bengal FC as the fitness levels where they had suffered the most in the past seasons has improved a lot.star midfielder Cavin Lobo who has had his fitness issues in the past and failed to break into the first XI is up and running. Even the worst turf in Coimbatore saw players escape without any injury.
With youngest I-League winning coach Khalid Jamil at their helm the Red & Golds' squad can expect to end their 14years of I-League trophy drought this year, as they climbed to the top of the table.
Key Players:- Mahmoud Al-Amna, Katsumi Yusa, Laldanmahwaia Ralte.
Pros:- Team has a numerous number of goal scorers. Has a mix of youth & experience.Has majestic midfield players & dead ball specialists.
Cons:- Leaking goals at back has been a problem. Has failed to keep a clean sheet.
Rating: 8.5/10
3. Neroca FC
We have often witnessed the rise of regional domination and uprising in I-League history. National Football League has previously glimpsed teams from Bengal, Punjab and Goa dominating in various eras. After last years fairytale I-League journey of Aizawl FC, who from nowhere wet on to clinch the title & became the first team from the North East to achieve such a feat, further teams from the similar region are making inroads in the I-league this year.
This year Neroca FC who qualified after winning the second division 2016-2017 championship.Neroca FC is the only club from Northeast India to reach the final of the coveted Durand Cup.
This year the team started with a loss to league leaders Minerva FC. Since then they managed to stall Mohun Bagan away at Salt Lake stadium. Felix Chidi has played an instrumental role upfront combining with Singham Subhas Singh in Neroca's uprise.
Gift Raikhan has perfectly blended local lads with experienced players like Gourmangi Singh, Sushil Singh and Naoba Singh. This team on their day can wreak havoc as they did against Kolkata outfit Mohun Bagan. They mean serious business and can replicate Aizawl's feat from the previous season.
Key Players:- Aryn Williams, Felix Chidi, Akhlidnin Israilov.
Pros:-Sleek passing & pacy build up plays combined with breezy counter attacks. Strong performance in away matches against Mohun Bagan and Shillong Lojong FC.
Cons:- Lacks consistency and untested in pressure scenarios.
Rating: 7/10
4. Shillong Lajong FC.
The team hailing from Meghalaya have had their ups and downs in the I-League. After Thangboi Singto's departure to ISL franchisee Kerala Blasters Bobby Nongbet has taken up the charge at Shillong Lajong FC.
The team after having started strong in their campaign with two wins lost their impetus against the Red and Gold Kolkata giants when they were thrashed with five goals, further Neroca FC added to their woes back at Shillong.
In their last encounter with the Indian Arrows their defense was in shambles as they were thrashed 3-0 at the hands of the young turks. Nongdamba Naorem breezed past five non-existent defenders of Shillong Lajong to score the goal that can well end as to be the best in the league when it ends in March.
The team has a talisman captain in Samuel Lalmanpuia, but this year inclusion of 24-year-old Yemen international Aiman Saleh Abdullah Al-Hagri has boosted Shillong Lajong's chances upfront. Redeem Tlang is another young talent to watch out for.
Key Players:- Samuel Lalmanpuia, Aiman Saleh Abdullah Al-Hagri,Redeem Tlang.
Pros:- The team has shown the glimpse in the first two matches and can be a serious threat to the title challenging teams.
Cons:- Inconsistent in the league, failed to capitalize their strong start.
Rating: 6/10
5. Mohun Bagan
After their nervy start away against Minerva FC, the team triumphed in the Kolkata derby and thrashed five goals past Churchill Brothers. But due to injury setbacks to their key talisman Sony Norde and Yuta Kinowaki the Green and Maroon brigade drew their last two matches at home. The team has a good presence local young talents in the form of Sk.Faiaz, Azharuddin Mallick, Rana Gharami and can expect to add to their I-League tally this season.
After having narrowly missed clinching the title past two previous seasons the Green and Marron brigade would look to achieve their feat this season. The team management has decided to continue & keep faith on Sanjay Sen despite his health issues.
Sony Norde was retained along with new inclusions in the form of former Churchill man Kromah, last year I-League top scorer Dipanada Dicka from Shillong Lajong has joined the ranks and with inclusion of Kingsley & Yuta Kinowaki the team has grown stronger despite losing out to retain national recruits in the form of Jeje Lalpekhlua & Debjit Majumder to ISL teams.
Key Players: Sony Norde, Sk.Faiaz, Ghanefo Ansumana Kromah, Dipanda Dicka
Pros:- Experienced and skilled foreign recruits combined with the wits of Sanjay Sen can lead to the path to glory. The latest signing in the form of Aussie midfielder Cameron Watson can boost their lacklustre midfield performance.
Cons: Inconsistent performance, sole dependence on foreign to create & convert chances, injury woes to star players Sony Norde & Yuta Kinowaki.
Rating: 9/10
6.Indian Arrows
This year Indian Football added a new feather to its cap when they hosted the Fifa U17 World Cup. The world went on to witness one of the most successful World Cup tournament ever hosted by a nation as India earned praise and accolades from FIFA and attracted their interest as probable hosts for the future endeavours.
India U17 football team also had featured in the world cup and competed against the best in the world before bowing out from the group stages scoring the historic lone goal against Colombia. Luís Norton de Matos & AIFF decided to take part in the I-League.
The Indian Arrows team has some of the most talented players like Aniket Yadhav, Boris Singh, Sanjeev Stalin & Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem one of most praised talent in Fifa U17 World Cup.
After their marvellous goal fest and win in the opening fixture against Chennai City FC the team seemed to have lost its way a bit as they went on to lose three in a row. The absence of foreign recruits from the team & lack of physical prowess against older national players has been the sole reason.
In their last encounter, the young boys went onto hammer past 3 goals against Shillong Lajong FC, as records got shattered when Jitendra Singh, aged 16 years,6 months and 13 days old of Indian Arrows went on to become the youngest ever goalscorer in the I-League.Previously it was Baoringdao Bodo aged 17 years,3 months,18days.
But everyone was stunned by the beauty of a goal scored by Nongdamba Naorem when he breezed past 5 defenders cutting inside from the right flank to produce one of the best goals in the I-League history and probably the best of this year's edition.
With only two wins in the bag and placed at the bottom 9th position, Luís Norton de Matos believes this to be the best possible process to nurture & shape the young talent of Indian football for the future. The team will suffer no relegation as mentioned by AIFF earlier.
Key Players:- Boris Singh, Aniket Yadhav, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem.
Pros:- Has an immense number of homegrown young talents. Gameplay comprises of fast passing and skilful play build ups.
Cons:- Lacks physical strength and unable to match with foreign recruits of other I-league teams.The absence of quality forward and hold up play in midfield is also showing.
Rating: 7/10
7. Aizawl FC
The team that took most by surprise last year when they lifted the I-League proving all odds wrong has failed to live up to the expectations this season.
With the departure of Khalid Jamil along with various players who played a key role in their last years I-league triumph, the team has failed miserably this year.
With a dismantled squad and under the new Portuguese coach, the side from the northeast has failed to recreate their last year's impression. Only a miraculous turnaround can restore the side's title defence this season.
Key Players:- Alfred Kemah Jaryan, David Lalrinmuana, William Lalnunfela, Avilash Paul.
Pros:- The team still has a lot of games to play and can gel together to put up a fightback to their title defence.
Cons: Too weak, lacks bench strength and consistency in games.
Rating: 7.5/10
8. Gokulam Kerala FC -
In the past, we have seen teams like SBT (State Bank Of Travancore) and Viva Kerala representing "Gods Own Country" in NFL. But as the time has passed by the teams failed to qualify for the elite football tournament of the country.
A state that has one of the passionate fan bases was evident when Kerala Blasters made their mark in ISL. The Khozikhode-based Gokulam Kerala FC made their debut when local entrepreneur Shri Gokulam Gopalan decided to pitch a team for the I-League.
The newbies have notched up their first win against Indian Arrows and are looking to finish their I-league campaign on a stronger note.
The foreign recruits in the form of Daniel Addo and Khaled Al Saleh along with old warhorse and skipper Sushant Mathew can be a surprise package. The team can cause a few upsets in the I-league this year and has already shown their intent to wipe off the underdog tag.
Key Players:- Daniel Addo, Khaled Al Saleh, Sushant Mathew.
Pros:- Quality foreign recruits.Plays brisk passing football.
Cons:- Inexperienced & still to clash against the big boys in the league.
Rating: 6.5/10
9. Chennai City FC
The club established in 1946 pre-independence India has only managed to enter the top tier league in 2016. Last year they had produced some big upsets one being defeating East Bengal FC.
The club has produced some local talents like Alexander Romario, Alexander Romario Jesuraj, M Sosairaj etc. Among foreign recruits, Jean Michael Joachim currently tops the goal-scoring list.
The team is managed by V Soundararajan and has the potential to yield good results. Conceding goals at the back has been their main problem. They have conceded the second highest number of goals (10) in the league having played 4 matches.
Key Players:- Jean Michael Joachim, Alexander Romario Jesuraj, M Sosairaj.
Pros:- Fast passing, talented local young lads on the side, potent foreign goalscoring recruit.
Cons:- Has consistently drained goals at the back, lacks experience in midfield, failed to control the pace of the game.
Rating: 7/10
10 Churchill Brothers FC
The team that was solely raised to new heights in Indian and global football arena by Alemao Churchill are currently in deep waters. A team that has won almost every prestigious tournament and were treble winners in 2008-2009 when they lifted their maiden I-League, Durand & IFA Shield title has had their worst ever start in the league.
After losing five on the bounce Croatian manager Mykola Shevchenko was discharged from his duties only after two games, since then Alfred Fernandes has been in charge has failed to reverse the fortunes of the "Red Machines".
Local talents like Israel Gurung, Uttam Rai, and Suraj Singh are yet to step up to the plate while foreign recruits Emuejeraye Precious, Peter Oghenebrorhien Omoduemuke and Eric Obinna Nwaimo has failed to deliver when it mattered the most.
The team has failed to open its account in the I-League 2017-2018 and lies at the rock bottom of the table are facing a possibility of relegation for the very first time in the history of their I-League entourage.
Key Players:- Israel Gurung, Peter Oghenebrorhien Omoduemuke, Kalu Ogba, Emuejeraye Precious.
Pros:- Latest signing of Kalu Ogba has somewhat bolstered their midfield and can wipe off their defensive woes.
Cons:- Has conceded the maximum number of goals 13 in 5 matches. The team is yet to gel.
Rating: 4/10
