ISL Season 8: It has been a tough season for NorthEast United with several injury concerns and absentees midseason. Head coach Khalid Jamil made history by becoming the first Indian coach to take up a coaching job full-time in the Indian Super League but since then things have not looked good for him. They are currently second from the bottom of the table with only two wins. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only on InsideSport.IN
ISL Season 8 : Five reasons why Marcelinho Pereira can be a great signing for NorthEast United
Their biggest turnaround this season has to be when Federico Gallego got injured and it was declared that he will miss the entirety of the season. Following that the Highlanders have struggled to replace the Uruguayan. Later Khassa Camara also left as he had national duties to feature for Mauritania at the Africa Cup of Nations. The misery did not stop there, Martinique based forward Mathias Coureur also was not happy with the proceedings and wrote about his displeasure on Twitter.
Marcelinho is now a Highlander! 🔴⚪⚫@marcelinholeite#StrongerAsOne #TogetherWeAreInfinite pic.twitter.com/Vu9PblTMoy
— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) January 14, 2022
So the team management decided to make some changes, they are bringing in some reinforcements to help Jamil’s cause so that they can at least finish strongly. NorthEast United have convinced ISL journeyman Marcelinho Leite to join their ranks. The Brazilian was with I-League club Rajasthan United but with the league getting postponed by six weeks, the Brazilian jumped ship to join the Highlanders.
Here are the top five reasons why Marcelinho’s signing can be a game-changer for NorthEast United:
Experience
The Brazilian forward has been one of the household names in Indian football in the last decade. Marcelinho has been a sensational talent in the ISL ever since he joined Delhi Dynamos back in 2015. He announced his arrival in India by winning the Golden Boot and guided the Dynamos to the playoffs in his first season in India. Marcelinho grew from strength to strength in the coming years and became a household name in the ISL.
Even last season he signed for ATK Mohun Bagan in January and did put in a great shift. He combined well with Roy Krishna and impressed former coach Antonio Habas in limited opportunities. The 34-year-old Brazilain has featured for five different ISL outfits and NorthEast United is all set to his sixth. So Khalid Jamil knows what he can expect from the veteran forward.
Creativity
While Marcelinho is a great goalscorer, he is equally exceptional in chance creation. The Brazilian brings is known for his ball progression and the panache that he brings to the final third. He has always been a handful for the defenders not only with his speed and trickery but also with his exemplary passing and vision.
Marcelinho can pair up with Deshorn Brown and those two can raise hell for any opposition. Both of them have the pace to burn coupled with Marcelinho’s brilliant ability to find teammates even in tight spaces near the final third. He has 18 assists in his ISL career and will look to push that tally even more for the Highlanders.
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Goalscoring threat
Probably Marcelinho’s primary attribute has to be his goalscoring. He is always a threat for any opposition team and that are enough encouraging sign for Khalid Jamil’s men who need goals to support the likes of Brown and VP Suhair by scoring more goals. Marcelinho is a perpetual goalscorer and his uncanny ability to sniff out danger makes him a cut above the rest. Apart from his positional sense in the final third, he can also pop out from long range.
The 34-year-old is also great from setpieces, he has scored some exceptional goals from freekicks in the past and will continue to do the same this season. He has recorded 33 goals in his ISL career and given the way the Northeast United play, that tally is ought to increase in the coming days.
Versatility
Apart from scoring and creating chances, Marcelinho’s biggest strength has to be his ability to slot in multiple positions in attack and also in midfield. He is a forward so he brings a lot of attacking midset which is something Northeast United needs right now. Naturally, he flourishes as a forward and that is where Khalid Jamil may use him especially on the left flank replacing Coureur.
He can also slot in on the hole behind Brown and act as the Gallego replacement until their new signing Marco Sahanek is available for selection. Marcelinho is well adept at even playing on the flanks and also upfront offering Khalid Jamil plenty of options to work with.
Leadership
Marcelinho is not only about great runs, goals and assists. Like Gallego, he is also a leader and someone who can have a positive influence on the team in the dressing room. NorthEast United are struggling to get going and they need some source of inspiration and veteran Brazilian can surely be the difference-maker in lifting their spirit as he has been in this situations time and again.
The 34-year-old will look to use his experience of playing in India and will guide the youngsters on the proper track. He will surely be an asset for NorthEast United and we can very well see why Khalid Jamil decided to go with Marcelinho despite having multiple options available.
ISL Season 8 : Five reasons why Marcelinho Pereira can be a great signing for NorthEast United
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