What The Stats Say: Lack of goalscorers a cause of concern for Eelco Schattorie

The Dutch tactician's side are currently third in the league with 17 points from 8 games.

For NorthEast United, the 2018-19 ISL season has been a revolutionary one. The Highlanders have impressed with their fluid passing and execution and they look all set to make the playoffs for the first time since the inception of the Indian Super League.

Eelco Schattorie has revived the dormant side and they now sit comfortably in second position in the league table, behind Bengaluru FC. With their brand of football, the side from Guwahati will be hoping to make their fans proud by qualifying and putting up a stellar show in the playoffs. For that to happen, NorthEast need to address one of their biggest problems, the lack of goalscorers in their side.

.@FCPuneCity fall to their sixth defeat of the season as @NEUtdFC scored 2⃣past the Stallions to pick up 3⃣ crisp points away from home. More videos: https://t.co/8jtqJIjojH#ISLRecap #LetsFootball #HeroISL #FanBannaPadega #PUNNEU pic.twitter.com/rpbQO9H9nr

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 27, 2018

Watch: Bartholomew Ogbeche has been NEUFC's primary goal getter

Schattorie’s men have been a solid side this campaign, putting in their best efforts in both attack and defence. They have scored 14 goals in eight matches while letting in only eight, keeping three clean-sheets in the process. However, all the 14 goals they have scored have come from only four goalscorers. Bartholomew Ogbeche, Federico Gallego, Rowlin Borges and Juan Cruz Mascia have found the net for the Highlanders, but the lack of contributions from others could pose a real headache for Schattorie when the playoffs approach.

NorthEast United rank joint last for goal contributions across the team

In terms of goalscorers in the league, NorthEast United is tied with Mumbai City at the bottom of the list and the situation looks direr on closer inspection.  When shots are taken into account, the rest of the team are playing catch-up. The four goalscorers have registered 75 shots out of a total 107 attempted by the Highlanders, a whopping 70.09%. The likes of Redeem Tlang (5 shots), Nikhil Kadam (4 shots), Jose Leudo (1 shot) and Lalthathanga Khawlhring (2 shots) have failed to step up offensively and make a mark.

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Redeem Tlang has been very disappointing in this front. The 23-year-old has started all 8 games for Northeast but has failed to contribute with a goal or an assist during his 643 minutes. The Meghalayan lad has had a below par 5 shots in the league, with just one on target. Bar their four goal-scorers, the Highlanders have only mustered 4 shots on target out of 28, a meagre 14.3% from the rest of the team. Regular starters Nikhil Kadam and Jose Leudo have also been invisible offensively with the latter registering only one off-target shot in 691 minutes of playing time.

Only Bartholomew Ogbeche has registered more than five shots on target for NorthEast United

Till Northeast’s 7th game of the season, even Juan Mascia had failed to register a single shot on target, let alone find the net. But, a recent surge in form has seen him and score two goals, including the late match-winner against Kerala Blasters in Guwahati. With his performance, the Uruguayan has given his side more options in the attack, but the remaining players need to pick up the slack too.

The current scenario within the Guwahati-based side has the potential to be highlighted if Ogbeche or Gallego gets injured or suspended. If that happens, players like Redeem and Nikhil need to take the initiative and break their duck in the league this season, taking the load of their star-studded foreign attack. Moreover, a goal at this point of the season, could go a long way in motivating the players.

Bartholomew Ogbeche led from the front and inspired @NEUtdFC to an incredible come-from-behind victory over @ChennaiyinFC tonight.More videos: https://t.co/mrtZlxvu6i #ISLRecap #LetsFootball #CHENEU #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/acZOaprLDE

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 18, 2018

Watch: Chennaiyin 3-4 NEUFC highlights

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The other teams in the top four currently, have managed to distribute the goalscoring burden. Jamshedpur have a league-high 11 goalscorers within their ranks, while FC Goa and Bengaluru have had eight and six different players on the score-sheet respectively. With the current form the team is enjoying, the issue does not pose any immediate concern.

However, it is something that Schattorie needs to address over the course of the second half of the season. If they qualify for the playoffs for the first time, the Highlanders will require all their players to be in hot form, especially if they want to make a mark. If they do, the title is well within striking distance.