ISL 2015: Mumbai City FC desperately need Anelka to get fit, leave the dugout and put on his boots

Mumbai City FC have attempted 37 shots in three matches. That is at par with two other teams (Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United) and better than Atletico de Kolkata. But only 17 of these have been on target. That’s the worst among the eight Indian Super League teams. Their best attacker, Sony Norde, is third on the list of players who have attempted the most number of shots (13). The two players above him - Stiven Mendoza and Reinaldo - have played a game more. Elano is at par with Norde, but has played one more game too. However, Norde hasn’t scored a single goal or laid on an assist. Mendoza, Reinaldo and Elano have nine goals and four assists between them. Mumbai City are also the second best team when it comes to successful passes made, with 72 percent of their total passes finding their mark. Only Delhi Dynamos, who they are playing on 21 October, are better with a success rate of 74 percent. [caption id=“attachment_2475962” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Anelka needs to get out of the dugout and play, as soon as possible. ISL[/caption] Clearly, everything with the team is fine but the scoring. And this is where Nicolas Anelka, player-manager of the team, needs to step in and give them an edge at the top of the park. He won’t be playing against Delhi Dynamos with a groin strain and his unavailability is what Mumbai City are paying for in terms of the lack of goals. Once Anelka is back, it’s easy to see it happening on paper: Sunil Chhetri playing off Anelka on top and the exciting Norde and Gabriel Fernandes on either side. That’s a combination that would strike fear into the hearts of any defence line in the ISL. Mumbai City’s assistant coach Oscar Bruzon said after their loss against Chennaiyin FC that the ‘pressure was on’. He said in the pre-match conference on Tuesday that there will be a ‘modification’ to the attack. While there was no clarity on what exactly will change, Bruzon made it clear that the approach in terms of attack needs to be better. “We have good passing, good possession and we create a lot of chances. But we are not converting,” he said, before specifically talking about Norde’s influence on the team: “He is creating a lot of chances but not scoring and has been too far from goal since he cuts in from the left. We need to help him (get into scoring areas).” So will Mumbai put Norde in the middle with Chhetri out wide? Bruzon was clear after their previous loss that Chhetri on the wings was something that did not work. That means we could see India’s top goalscorer play as striker, with Frederic Piquionne left out. It will allow Anelka to keep midfielders Salim Benachour and Cristian Bustos, who were both solid and creative. Pratesh Shirodkar, who was culpable of the mistake that allowed the Mendoza to open the scoring at DY Patil, could be replaced by Spanish long-ball expert Juan Aguilera. This certainly sounds better than the side which played on 16 October, and is the only viable solution to Mumbai’s issues. But despite the wealth of attacking options up front, Anelka is vital in terms of adding confidence and a lethal presence up top. It’s likely that the Frenchman wants to manage more than play, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and an overhaul is required tactically and in terms of personnel. It would be a major surprise if Anelka didn’t come off the dugout and put on his boots when fit – because that is exactly what Mumbai City need.