Amrinder Singh has been Mumbai City's best player over the last fortnight. Arjun Singh / ISL / SPORTZPICSAs we head into this fortnight's international break, we welcome you to round 3 of ESPN's ISL Power Rankings.
(Round 2 of the Power Rankings)
#10 Amrinder Singh - 108.3 points (new)
Goalkeeper, Mumbai City
After a sluggish start to the season, Mumbai City have gathered up a head of steam on the back of three consecutive wins (1-0, 1-0 and 2-0). Coming after that 5-0 hammering at the Fatorda, this shows immense strength of character from the Islanders -- especially from their best player over the last fortnight, Amrinder Singh.
He's doing his all to show he can compete with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for India's No. 1 spot. Keep this up, and his claims will become harder to ignore.
#9 Federico Gallego - 110.8 points (new)
Forward, NorthEast United
The NorthEast United attack has benefited greatly from the understanding Federico Gallego (right) has developed with Bart Ogbeche and Rowllin Borges. Deepak Malik /SPORTZPICS for ISLFederico Gallego started this season with a bang -- his quick-thinking free kick against Goa setting the tone -- and he has continued in that vein. The understanding he has developed with Bart Ogbeche, and to an extent with Rowllin Borges, has completely transformed the NorthEast United attack.
#8 Michael Soosairaj - 111.7 points (new)
Midfielder, Jamshedpur
There was plenty of furore over Michael Soosairaj's exclusion from the India squad for the friendly against Jordan -- and for good reason. Soosairaj has seamlessly gone from being the best midfielder in the I-League to one of the best in the ISL.
His goal against Kerala (a superb curler from a difficult angle) was the cherry on top of what has been an excellent start to the season for the Tamilian.
.@JamshedpurFC's Michael Soosairaj opened his #HeroISL account with this peach of a strike against @KeralaBlasters!
Can this be the Fans' Goal of the Week?
Vote here: https://t.co/TJNkaHqnVh #LetsFootball #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/32MGYGzRUB
â Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) 6 November 2018
#7 Sunil Chhetri - 112 points (-3)
Forward, Bengaluru
Sunil Chhetri is back at his best for Bengaluru again. Faheem Hussain /SPORTZPICS for ISLNow that Sunil Chhetri is firing on all cylinders again, Bengaluru look the most complete outfit in Indian football. His goal against Kerala showcased all his best qualities -- calmness, unerring accuracy and an uncanny knack for ignoring bone-crunching challenges while he's pulling the trigger.
And it really was bone crunching. The Sandesh Jhingan tackle that he brushed aside whilst scoring appears to have done his ankle in. He will miss India's friendly vs Jordan -- and could be out for two weeks.
#6 Rowllin Borges - 113.3 points (-1)
Midfielder, NorthEast United
The in-form Rowllin Borges should be getting a starting berth when India take on Jordan on Saturday. Deepak Malik /SPORTZPICS for ISLThe highest-ranked Indian on our list, Borges has revelled in the box-to-box role that Eelco Schattorie has entrusted him with. He's a dependable presence near his box and an underrated goal threat in the opposition's -- just the kind of player most managers would kill to have.
On current form, it will be hard for Stephen Constantine to ignore his claims for a starting berth when the Indian national team lines up against Jordan on November 17.
#5 Erik Paartalu - 117 points (new)
Midfielder, Bengaluru
For all the talk of philosophy and attacking football, Bengaluru have played some of the most pragmatic football in the ISL this season -- which is why they've conceded just four goals in five games (no one's got a better record). A large part of this is due to the solidity offered by the pure strength and underrated footballing intelligence of big Erik Paartalu in the middle, a layer of protection that few teams in the league have.
And as if that's not enough... he's scoring absolute screamers for fun.
Tonight's Hero of the Match @ErikPaartalu was a dominant force in the @bengalurufc midfield and went on to score the winner for his club. #HeroISL #LetsFootball #KOLBEN #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/88brVSfNoc
â Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) 31 October 2018
#4 Sergio Cidoncha - 124.3 points (-1)
Forward, Jamshedpur
Sergio Cidoncha has been the fulcrum of Jamshedpur's attack. Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS for ISLSergio Cidoncha is Jamshedpur's most effective forward. He has scored three goals, assisted three more and taken it upon himself to become the fulcrum of the team's attack. But the stat that tells the complete tale of his contribution? Tackles. Twenty-four. That's higher than anyone else on this list.
By putting in a shift and a half every time he takes the field, Cidoncha has enabled the entire team to defend on the front foot, higher up, becoming a much greater offensive threat as a collective in the process.
#3 Edu Bedia - 128.3 points (+6)
Midfielder, Goa
You've seen no-look finishes, but when was the last time you saw a no-look header? Edu Bedia is in special form this season, the kind that's allowing him to pull of things like this:
.@edubedia never ceases to surprise! The @FCGoaOfficial midfielder caught @DelhiDynamos off-guard with a no-look header and slotted home the winner.
Should he be your Fans' Goal of the Week winner?
Vote here