The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) is a platform that has seen the advent of quite a few good footballing teams. There is one team, though, that has not reaped the rewards the league offers despite being on par with or better than some of the top-notch ones. NorthEast United FC has failed to qualify for the knock-out phase of the ISL on each of the three occasions, having come tantalizingly close in the last two. A team that has had some good players plying their trade, the Highlanders somehow failed to break this particular jinx.The inaugural season was one full of woes. Despite having veteran Spaniard Joan Capdevila in their ranks, the team was rooted rock-bottom at the end of the league phase. They started off with a victory in their very first ISL match, but that would be one of only three such successes they would go on to acquire that year. At that time, although the team boasted the likes of Halicharan Narzary and Robin Gurung, the players were relatively inexperienced and only rose to prominence later.Season two saw a vast improvement for the Highlanders. They had a terrible start though, losing their first three fixtures. Former Portuguese winger Simao Sabrosa had been signed up that year and he combined well with Argentine striker Nicolas Velez. That was also the season where Seityasen Singh grew into the league, becoming an important contributor from midfield. Velez and Simao combined with Frenchman and former Premier League player Diomansy Kamara to score 11 goals and bring the team within touching distance of a semi-final berth. NorthEast managed to double their victories tally from the previous season, but lost out to Delhi Dynamos FC for the battle of the fourth place by a couple of points nevertheless.Last season NorthEast came the closest, and consequently it was the most painful. Velez was once again at his best, and he was joined in the goal-scoring spree by the Uruguayan Emiliano Alfaro. Katsumi Yusa in the midfield and the experienced Didier Zokora playing a holding role provided good balance to the squad. This time, the qualification for the last spot in the knock-out phase went down the wire. The final encounter in the league was between the Highlanders and Kerala Blasters FC. The equation was simple: a NorthEast win would qualify them for the semifinals, while a draw or a win for Kerala would see them through instead. The match was played in Kochi, and a sole CK Vineeth strike ensured another heartbreak for the visitors.However, a new season beckons and the Highlanders are all set to start afresh. Most of their strength lies in a creative midfield, where they have enough talent that can assist and score with gusto. Rowllin Borges, Lalrindika Ralte and Narzary will power the midfield, and have the potential to make all the difference in a game. The defence will be looked over by the likes of Nirmal Chettri, Reagan Singh and Robert Lalthlamuana, the latter along with Ralte having made the switch from defending champions ATK.NorthEast have also recruited some decent foreign contingent. Guinea-Bissau’s Sambinha, Portugal’s Jose Goncalves and Uruguay’s Martin Diaz have been roped in to help out in defence. Brazilians Marcio and Adilson Goiano add more depth to the midfield and Colombian Luis Alfonso Paez, Cape Verdean Odair Fortes along with two other Brazilians - Danilo and Wellington Alves - will fuel the attack.#Highlanders you have waited. Here are the men who will represent #NEUFC. Presenting our #InternationalSqaud for #ISL 4... pic.twitter.com/lRRt8kQ1bJ— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) September 13, 2017TP Rehenesh has been a long-standing custodian for the team and he will be safeguarding the NorthEast goal once more. The team will also see a managerial change as former Portuguese left back Joao Carlos Pires de Deus will be taking up the role of head coach.While the team looks promising for the Highlanders, their first priority would be to break their qualifying voodoo. A long, testing and more competitive season challenges their journey now, but if consistency over a longer period is attained, it shouldn’t be a problem to a NorthEast side that has immense potential.NorthEast United FC will host Jamshedpur FC in their first match of the 2017-18 ISL on November 18th at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati. Click here for the complete schedule.