Indian Super League (ISL) Shield Winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant have announced the signing of Jamie Maclaren, the A-League’s all-time top scorer, through their social media channels on Monday (July 22). The Australian striker has joined the Kolkata club on a four-year contract.
After spending six successful seasons with Melbourne City, where he won the A-League Men’s Premiership three times in a row (2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23) and set the record as the league’s all-time top scorer with 149 goals and five Golden Boots, Maclaren is now ready to embark on a new chapter in his career.
He has also played for Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar, and while his international career began with Scotland through his father, he later represented Australia at various youth levels before making his senior debut in 2016. With 30 appearances and eight goals for the Socceroos, including two hat-tricks, Maclaren brings a wealth of experience.
Maclaren will be added to the esteemed lineup of foreign players at the Mariners, which features Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings, and Greg Stewart—teammates or opponents he has previously encountered in his career.
Upon signing his contract Maclaren said, “I watched a lot of Indian football, dating back to the Iain Hume days. It was broadcast on Australian sports channels, and some world-class players played in the ISL. But I chose Mohun Bagan Super Giant because of the incredible history, and secondly, their trophy ambitions match mine. Having won a lot in Australia, I’m looking forward to adding to an already decorated group of staff and players.”
“The Kolkata derby is a fixture that I have watched before, and to see over 60,000 inside our stadium is incredible and like always derbies are extra special for the fans who create the goose bump atmosphere,” he added.
“Dimitri Petratos and Jason Cummings. Well, I’ve had the luxury of playing alongside and against both. Dimi is a creator, a player who is very brave on the ball and chooses the right pass for his strikers. I know he will provide a lot of assists for me but also score a lot of goals himself. Jase, well, he’s a left-footed version of myself.“
“We have a similar history—both our heritages go back to Edinburgh, we both played for Hibernian, and we love being inside the penalty box like any number 9, waiting to finish off chances that come our way. Greg, also another attacking threat, has already shown his qualities in India, but I know of him through my time in the SPL. We won’t have a problem creating and exciting our fans, I can assure you of that.”
“To our fans, I cannot wait to represent this badge, this city and fight every game! The first goal will be a nice feeling, I know the standards that have been set on and off the pitch, and I will be doing my best and hardest every day so that in the end we can celebrate more trophies!”
How old is Jason Cummings?
28
Jamie Maclaren is a prolific goalscorer, renowned for his clinical finishing. His reputation as a cold-blooded striker is well-earned, given his title as the top scorer of the A-League.
His career has seen him play in domestic leagues across Scotland, Germany, and Australia, following his time with Rovers. Currently, Maclaren has been making waves with Melbourne City, where he has consistently accumulated goals and golden boots.
As he leaves Australia, he’s recognized as one of the league’s finest. At 30, Jamie is now heading to India after shattering numerous scoring records in Australia. Given the success of previous A-League players in the ISL, he’s expected to make a significant impact here as well.
As Mohun Bagan prepares to integrate Maclaren into their squad, it’s essential to analyze how his playing style and strengths will mesh with the team’s tactical approach.
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Jamie Maclaren: A Clinical Finisher with Tactical Acumen and Impressive Positioning
In the 2019/20 season, Jamie led Melbourne’s scoring charts with 22 goals.
The second-highest scorer that year was Adrian Luna, the Uruguayan who now plays as the Kerala Blasters’ striker and captain.
Last season, Jamie was also under the guidance of Petr Kratky, who was then the Melbourne assistant coach and is now the head coach of Mumbai City FC.
While Jamie consistently finds the back of the net, he has struggled to meet his expected goals (xG) in recent years, a rare trait for top strikers. Despite occasional off performances, he has not aligned his goals with his xG ratio for the past four seasons.
Although Jamie’s difficulty in meeting his expected goals (xG) in recent years isn’t necessarily a negative—especially given his exceptional scoring rate—it does suggest that he occasionally misses some easy chances. However, his xG is frequently surpassed by his xGOT (expected goals on target), highlighting his finishing skill.
It’s worth noting, though, that he has struggled to convert this into goals consistently. This shortfall may also be partly due to the improved shot-stopping abilities of goalkeepers in the A-League.
He’s a quintessential box striker, and that’s a high compliment because he’s exceptionally skilled at his role. Provide him with chances, and he’ll handle the finishing. He has a natural affinity for goals, and they seem to have a natural affinity for him.
To excel as a top box striker, exceptional positioning is key. While physique can be an advantage, Jamie isn’t a towering presence meant for mere tap-ins. Instead, his outstanding positioning compensates for this.
Constantly on the move, Jamie is both shrewd and instinctive. By keeping defenders at a distance, he creates the space needed for quick, decisive movements that put him ahead of his opponents and first to the ball. He’s a persistent challenge for defenders.
Notice how Jamie changes direction the moment the defender looks away for a split second. This brief lapse in attention causes the defender to lose track of Maclaren.
Attacking the far post first to draw the defender in, then swiftly shifting to the near post, is a signature move of Maclaren’s. His wingers at Melbourne were well aware of this tactic and used it effectively to score goals.
Perhaps due to his age or the tactics employed against low-block defenses, Maclaren rarely makes runs in behind. He tends to position himself on the last line, keeping defenders on edge but not actively breaking the defensive line. Despite this, his reactive style has proven successful, so it’s hard to fault his approach.
His positioning and movement stand out as his most impressive qualities. At times, his movements create space that others can exploit.
His game intelligence is also exceptional. Maclaren adapts to the situations presented to him in each match.
In the same game (as mentioned above), Maclaren deviated from his usual runs, instead holding back for a cut-back opportunity, which allowed him to create a chance to score.
Maclaren Is An Aerial Threat and Finisher with Limited Passing and Dribbling
Regarding his passing, Jamie isn’t known for frequently getting on the ball, averaging around 9 passes per 90 minutes.
(Examining the graph reveals that at least 1 in every 9 of those passes per 90 minutes is a kick-off, reinforcing this observation.)
With just 4 assists in the past two seasons, it’s clear he’s primarily a finisher rather than a creator.
However, when he’s in a scoring position and lacks confidence to take a shot on target, he may opt to pass the ball instead.
Aerially, Maclaren poses a subtle threat. Despite not being the tallest, he has a knack for positioning himself effectively to capitalize on aerial balls.
However, he lacks the dominance to function as a traditional target man.
He’s also not particularly adept at taking on defenders. While the frequent use of low-block defenses might impact his numbers, it’s not one of his standout skills.
Most of his contributions come from within the box.
Jamie Maclaren: Elite Shooter and Poacher with a Key Role in Set Pieces
Finally, let’s discuss his primary strength—shooting.
Jamie excels at attacking the box. With around 50% of his shots on target and averaging at least 3 attempts per game, his shooting statistics are impressive.
He’s proficient with both feet, taking more right-footed shots from the right side and more left-footed shots from the left. He often aims to shoot across the goalkeeper when approaching from an angle.
His aerial ability, previously mentioned, is also evident in his set-piece shots. Out of 11 attempts from corners, he scored 4 goals, including two headers. While these headers weren’t towering, they were skillfully positioned to bundle the ball into the net, highlighting his strong positional play.
Defensively, he’s not particularly active. However, his propensity for high turnovers demonstrates his ability to capitalize on loose balls, such as a poor back pass. One-quarter of his assists have come from such turnovers.
In conclusion, Jamie Maclaren is a top-tier striker who can score goals effortlessly, making him a valuable asset since goals are crucial for winning games.
However, his effectiveness depends on the opportunities provided to him. It’s up to the club and coach to create those chances so he can deliver the goals.
