ISL 2015: Four reasons why last year's table-toppers Chennaiyin FC are stuck at the bottom of the pile

After 10 games were completed in the inaugural Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC were top of the table. This year, at the same stage, they are bottom. Their current win-less run extended to four games after a 2-1 loss to Atletico de Kolkata on 18 November, and even though reaching the semifinals is mathematically possible, it will need a herculean effort from Marco Materazzi’s men. Here are four factors that have left last year’s most entertaining team propping up the table this year: Rickety defence: It has been Chennaiyin’s old Achilles heel and it has proved costly again this season. In the ten matches played so far, they have already conceded 14 goals in spite of two clean sheets. What has hurt Chennaiyin the most is that they have let the opposition back into the game on more than one occasion. [caption id=“attachment_2447396” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Marco Materazzi. ISL[/caption] In the preview to this year’s ISL, _Firstpost_ already underlined how Chennaiyin needed to buck up defensively to replicate success. Though the organisation of the defence has been much better this year, eight penalties conceded and a slew of individual errors has left them languishing at the bottom of the league table. Inconsistent Attack: John Stiven Mendoza and Elano Blumer have shared the bulk of the scoring with 10 goals (four of them in a single game) between them out of the 13 scored by Chennaiyin. Elano has gone missing in many a game, while Mendoza could have had many more than six, but for his profligacy. The rest of the attack has simply lacked the cutting edge. Fikru Teferra has disappointed so far. Thoi Singh runs a lot but still needs to work on his final ball. The promising Jayesh Rane never returned after getting injured. Bruno Pelissari has had minimal impact with just a single assist to his name. Jeje Lalpekhlua and Balwant Singh still lack the confidence of the manager. Raphael Augusto has been the sole consistent performer holding the ball well at the center of the park and thrusting forward as and when possible. That your best performer is a central defensive midfielder says a lot about your attack. Mental Ineptitude: Last year, Chennaiyin were always dangerous going forward, even when chasing games. The defence was leaking, but the attack still dragged them to the top of the table. This year the three wins so far have come after taking a two goal lead. Chennaiyin have lost two and drawn one after taking a lead by a solitary goal. Only in one of the four other losses did Chennaiyin even score. The team has lost the mental fortitude and the seemingly endless intent to kill or chase games. Instead, the players have let frustration creep in and that has been evident in the 31 yellow cards and two red cards received by the players. Rotation Policy: Chennaiyin have not had a settled defence as yet this season. The rotation policy in force has kept the centre backs, the fullbacks and the goalkeeper constantly through revolving doors. Multiple suspensions earned by Harmanjot Khabra also did not help matters. Attack is no less different. The four games that Rane started seemed to settle the attack finally. His absence since then has thrown the attack into a toss. Balwant starting against Northeast United and seemed to restore a semblance of balance and that was lost again against Atletico. Losing Elano to injury last time around for crucial games was critical. But Chennaiyin were already on top and his replacement Bruno Pelissari was brilliant. It makes sense to make sure you qualify first and then rotate your players to preserve them rather than preserve them while you are still trying to qualify for the play offs.