The Indian Super League, has attracted stars from distant and afar. While some have enjoyed stints with their respective franchisees, other have dished out impressive performances and been stalwarts for their respective teams. Surprisingly, marquee players, excluding Chennaiyin FC’s Elano and Atletico de Kolkata’s Luis Garcia, Ai??have not had a major role to play in their franchisee’s fortunes. With the country, baring witness to some alien and ‘not-heard-of-before’ names, foreigners in the Super League, often played a crucial part, and it was no doubt that some franchisees were built around a standout foreigner. We take a look at the Foreign Team of the Indian Super League season.
The silent guardian in between the sticks, is none other than FC Goa’s Jan Seda. Outstanding in his department, fused with the ability to pull ‘top draw’ saves, Seda had often saved the Zico masterminded franchisee’s blushes. His impressive form in front of goal, saw him bag the Golden Glove award. Out of 51 shots faced, Jan Seda saved a staggering 42, whilst kept seven clean sheets.
The man with the bicycle kick goal,Bernard Mendy, starts in as right back. The Frenchman, linked Chennaiyin FC’s resolute defense with attack, by his bombarding runs, forward. Mendy’s ability to do something extraordinary out of absolutely nothing, profited Chennaiyin FC. The former PSG player, was also deployed a center back and as a right forward, in crunch encounters. Proving his mettle, Mendy passed with shining numbers and impressed with his performances, in an alien position. The imposing figure of Gregory Arnolin, has been Zico’s saving grace. Arnolin, surprisingly was as decent in attack, as he was in defense. The tall figure of Arnolin, often thwarted opposing defenders by sheer body size and physicality. He also proved a hefty threat during set pieces and was FC Goa’s top scorer in the early stages of the competition. Former Liverpool player, Josemi, who starred for Atletico de Kolkata, proved a clog in Kolkata’s defense. Josemi, relied on his superior tactical knowledge to dispose off opposing forwards. His partnership with Arnab Mondal, was perhaps the most solid defensive pairing of the Indian Super League. Cedric Hengabrt, although operates as a center back, has been pushed to play as a left back in this team. With Mendy bombarding forward, the team would feature a three-man defensive structure with Hengbart as the left center back. Plying his trade for Kerala Blasters, Cedric Hengbart excelled in his position. Relying on his imposing frame to thwart opponents, Hengbart often dished out impressive performances and acted as a Kerala’s stalwart.
Ai??Although Delhi Dynamos, saved a spiraling downward campaign, by finishing fifth, one player stood out and could be easily attributed for Dynamos’ resurgence in the latter stage of the Super League. Operating as a defensive midfielder, Has Mulder, was Delhi’s driving force. The midfield enforcer impressed with his stints for the Dynamos. Often launching attacks through his long defense piercing balls, Mulder was Delhi’s link , which connected midfield to attack. The Dutchman, also impressed with his hard tackling and often disposed opposing players, with ease. It would be naive and moreover foolish to skip, FC Pune City’s Kostas Katsouranis, when talking about midfield enforcers. A Euro winner with Greece in 2004, Kostas Katsouranis was to FC Pune City, like Hans Mulder was to Delhi Dynamos. The Greek International, displayed his varied talents in the Super League and often like Mulder, connected midfield to attack. By unlike Mulder, who depended on his superior range of passing, Kostas relied on his ability to bombard ahead with the ball. The 34 year old, often pressed from the front and created chances for forwards like Dudu. Kerala Blasters’ Stephen Pearson, is probably as hard and as tough as midfielders come. The Scottish International, has easily been one of Kerala’s standout player. His tireless running and pressing often provided Kerala breakthroughs. Relying on his attributes, afore mentioned, Pearson also scored Kerala’s goal only goal in the semi final against Chennaiyin FC, which saw the Blasters edge out the Abhishek Bachchan co-owned franchisee, on aggregate.
Chennaiyin FC’s Elano, is probably one player, who has captured Super League audiences, with a single flick of the boot. The Brazilian, has been Chennaiyin FC’s standout player and was the sole carrier of Chennaiyin;s attack in the early stages of the Super League. If tricking opposing defenders, with his varied array of tricks was not enough, Elano often relied on his set-piece abilities, to provide goals for his franchisee. The Brazilian, quiet fittingly won the Golden Boot award and finished Super League’s top scorer with eight goal. Kerala Blasters’ Iain Hume, is as relentless as strikers come. The Canadian, who often relied on his tireless running abilities to thwart opposing defenders, carried Kerala’s attacking contingent on his back, on many occasions. In his sixteen appearances for Kerala Blasters, Hume scored five times, assisted thrice and registered a mammoth twenty one shots on goal. After testing strikers, in the opening phase of their Super League campaign, Zico found his favored number nine in Mirsolav Slepicka. In his ten appearances for FC Goa, Mirsolav Slepicka, boasts a ration of one goal every two games and has scored five times in the Super League. He has also assisted a massive four times and registered fifteen shots on goal.
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