Mohun Bagan currently sit at the top of the ISL table.
Mohun Bagan have failed to really strengthen their lead on top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table over the last few weeks. The Mariners have played out two back-to-back draws in recent games, being held by both Jamshedpur FC and Chennaiyin FC in away matches.
It’s not that they couldn’t really create much either. Mohun Bagan managed to produce some entertaining attacking football against both teams, but a lack of finishing held them back. The Mariners have now only scored two goals in their last three matches, something that is not good enough for the prime ISL title contenders.
Jose Molina recently revealed that he hasn’t worked on finishing off chances as rigorously in any previous managerial appointment as he’s done at Mohun Bagan. The Kolkata giants need to rediscover their ruthlessness in terms of scoring goals and be more prolific to comfortably win the ISL shield title. Here we look at how the Mariners can solve their goal-scoring problems.
3. Drive the full-backs forward
Mohun Bagan’s last two ISL goals have directly involved their full-backs, with Subhasish Bose scoring against Jamshedpur and Asish Rai assisting Jamie Maclaren’s winner against East Bengal. It’s clear that both full-backs can deliver in the opposition half and it’s time for Molina to allow them to be a bit more adventure.
For the Mariners to create more clear-cut chances for their forwards and wingers, they need their full-backs to go forward more often to help create chances.
Rai and Bose both boast the ability to carry the ball forward and they just need a bit more training on nailing their final passes or crosses into the box. For the Mariners to start really crowding their opposition’s box with more individuals and put extra pressure on the defenders, they need to pile more bodies forward and help set up more ‘big’ chances that should normally be finished off from inside the area.
2. Focus on regaining set-piece brilliance
The Mariners have the second-best goal record in the ISL so far this season with 31 goals scored from 17 games. Out of that, they have scored more goals from set-piece situations (16) than they have from open play situations this season. But the Mariners’ spark in set-pieces seem to have withered in the last few games. They have one goal from a set-piece in the last three games, despite having 15 corners.
The Mariners probably need to switch up their routines on in-direct freekicks and corners a bit going forward to keep the opposition players guessing and stop themselves from becoming predictable. Mohun Bagan boasts impressive players like Alberto Rodriguez, Tom Aldred, and Subhasish to score from set-pieces, but they need to be accurate with the delivery into the box in these situations.
If Molina can get his side to become that daunting threat on set-pieces again, they could start scoring multiple goals at a regular basis and power their way to victories.
1. Get better delivery into Jamie Maclaren
Jamie Maclaren has struggled to maintain the kind of goal-scoring consistency many expected from him after he joined Mohun Bagan. He’s scored six goals in 16 ISL games, which is perhaps a bit under par for a player of his qualities. However, a major reason for that is that Maclaren is not getting the kind of service he’d require to tap into his ultimate goal machine personality.
The 31-year-old has only had 15 shot attempts in 16 matches so far, which means he’s averaging just under one shot per game. He’s scored from nine shot attempts that have been on target. The writing is on the wall and Maclaren just needs the ball in the key areas he demands for him to really explode.
Molina has to urge his players to be more aware of the Australian forward’s positioning and allow him to be a box striker rather than roam around in deeper positions looking to create chances. Once Maclaren can start scoring goals freely, he should easily be able to solve Mohun Bagan’s goal troubles and get them atop of the goal-scoring charts in the ISL.
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