What does NorthEast United FC need to do in winter transfer window?

NorthEast United have performed well and placed in the top six.

We are halfway through the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season and the race for the top six is heating up like never before. It’s been a season of surprises, ups and downs, hits and misses and so much more. One of the most impressive sides of the season has undoubtedly been Juan Pedro Benali’s NorthEast United FC.

The Highlanders are off to their second-best start in the league and currently find themselves in the upper half of the table at the time of writing. They have built upon their 2024 Durand Cup triumph, but still need to sort out many issues to become an unstoppable force. As we head into the winter transfer window, we look at what the Highlanders can do to improve their squad.

How is the season going?

As mentioned earlier, NorthEast United FC have been one of the best teams in the league this season. They have put together a series of good performances, but have struggled a bit with consistency. The Highlanders have also dropped a lot of points from winning positions.

They have scored first in nine of their fourteen games, but have managed to win just five of those games. Juan Pedro Benali’s side have found it tough to convert their draws into wins and have even ended up on the losing side twice despite scoring the first goal. 

In short, they have dropped 12 points from winning positions and we are just halfway through the season. However, despite all the ifs and buts, the Highlanders occupy one of the playoff positions which itself is a big step forward in comparison to last season. They are one of the favourites to finish in the top six but will need to be on their toes if they are to go the distance this time around.

How are summer signings performing

The Guwahati-based outfit did not change a lot in their squad ahead of the season with Juan Pedro Benali retaining his core group of players from last season. The Highlanders had the least number of incomings over the summer across all ISL clubs. The Spanish head coach has bought just five new players into his squad while keeping the majority of the squad from last season unchanged. 

All the signings have given a great account of themselves and have not disappointed by any means. A special mention goes to NorthEast United’s star man and the league’s current top scorer Alaeddine Ajaraie. The Moroccan forward has taken the league by storm and has shattered a lot of goalscoring records. His consistency and winning mentality have helped NorthEast United turn their fortunes around.

Ajaraie has netted 14 goals in as many games and was also the driving force behind NorthEast United’s Durand Cup triumph. Spanish striker Guillermo Fernandes has also been a treat to watch. Guillermo has formed a solid partnership with his teammates and has scored four goals in the process. 

Muthu Irulandi Mayakkannan has been a revelation in the middle of the park and has established himself as one of the best Indian players this season. Mayakkannan has played every minute of football in the league this season. Robin Yadav and Ankith P are the other two domestic signings who have given a decent account of themselves in the limited opportunities that they have got. 

Strengths and weaknesses

NorthEast United FC’s biggest strength has been their free-flowing attacking line led by Alaeddine Ajaraie. The striker has not only brought the best version of himself to the table but has also brought out the best in his teammates. They have found the back of the net on 29 occasions, the joint-highest in the league alongside Mohun Bagan.

They have been firing on all cylinders up front, but things have been very disappointing and messy at the back. It’s more like scoring is their cup of tea, but they have found it hard to keep things tight at the back. They have struggled to keep clean sheets, thanks to their fragile and exposed backline. While scoring goals is their forte, they are too good at leaking goals too. 

The players tend to concede silly fools and bookings leading to an advantage to the opposition. They lose the ball in key areas which helps the opponent initiate an attack and put the ball in the back of their net on most occasions. Benali’s men have conceded 3 red cards, the second-highest in the league along with 25 yellow cards. Defensive stability and rigidity have been a big point of concern alongside a lack of discipline.

What does NorthEast United FC need in the winter transfer window?

As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, ‘Attack wins you games, defense wins you titles’. 

NorthEast United should straight up follow this ideology and make notable additions to their backline if they are to become a title contender this season. Their attack is sorted, but the defense demands some reinforcements. A quality right-back should be one of their top priorities over the winter.

They should look for a right back who is composed, disciplined and can contribute in both attack and defense. The John Abraham-owned side are too dependent on Alaeddine Ajaraie to bring them the goals. In the games where Ajaraie has struggled to find the back of the net, NorthEast United have struggled to win. That is certainly one of the areas they should work on. Moreover, they don’t have many players on the bench who can come in and change the game.

The Highlanders’ sixth foreign player Hamza Regragui is mostly unavailable for selection and has not played a lot of football this season. His absence leaves Benali with only five overseas players to choose from. In a league where foreign players make such a big difference, NorthEast United have had just five players available at their disposal in the majority of the games. They should look to replace Regragui with a box-to-box midfielder who can come off the bench and turn the game on its head.

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