ISL 2017/18: 5 reasons why Kerala Blasters can still make it to the playoffs
It has been a bemusing season so far for the Kerala Blasters. After a solid Indian player's draft and acquiring some fine foreign signings, the Blasters were predicted by many to be the trendsetters in the 2017/18 edition of the Indian Super League. But the exact opposite happened when the action actually began.
Manager Rene Muelensteen was sacked only after seven games into the league. He had won just one game in charge of the two-time finalists. His successor David James has so far steadied the sinking ship with the Blasters still having a chance of making the playoffs. With 21 points from 15 matches, Kerala are currently at fifth spot in the league table.
There are three games to play for the Blasters. A home game against Chennaiyin FC is sandwiched between two tricky away matches against the likes of NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC. They need to win all three in order to avoid relying on other permutations and combinations to go their way. In this segment, let us take a look at five reasons why Kerala Blasters can still make it to the playoffs.
#5 Other contenders can drop points
Looking at the performances so far, the likes of FC Pune City and Chennaiyin FC are expected to join Bengaluru FC into the playoffs. This leaves one place remaining with as many as four teams still in the race to make up the four best teams. Blasters will have to outclass the likes of FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City - the three playoff contenders to make a place for themselves.
Jamshedpur and Goa are set to clash in the final game-week of the league with the new entrants having a tough fixture list on their hands. Mumbai City have three away games remaining out of their four with the Islanders not being at their decent on their travels this season.
The Blasters do not have a game against any of the mentioned contenders which gives them a chance of going up the table with their rivals probably dropping valuable points.