As I have aimed, I regained my top position after a shock loss to initially 2nd ranked (and now 3rd) De Rouches. De Rouches... a few seasons ago was actually not as good as my team, then my managerial problems with team spirit allowed a cople of teams, including them, to overtake me. De Rouches was promoted the season before I did, then they got relegated the season before I did.
So apparently we are back on even ground and may both be promoted, but currently 2nd placed FC Prozna is worrying even me.
I have some youth players coming through, with LF Shameer As'at already near maxing his skills and looking a really good player, 2 RFs, the latter one which is promoted being extremely great in his primary skills shooting and heading. A CF is promoted too. Too early to see whether he has sufficient quality.
I await the promotion of players in CM and CB position. CM needs better young players, while I only have 2 CBs, allowing me only to play 343 as formation so as to keep their fitness up.
Generally I didn't make many transfers. Sold a few players. Will sell more, 1 CF and 1 CM (when 1 is promoted) is likely. Hopefully before end of the season, because my team spirit will be affected next season if I am promoted, because matches are tougher and wins are tougher to get.
Target is simple: 1st in league
And I did well in the cup for the first time, reaching the 5th round (never reached even the 4th round before) and exiting only on penalties. Overcome higher division teams twice before losing in the 5th round.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Soccerproject latest updates
4W 1D 0L.
A pretty decent start to make my way to the top of the Division G.5, after a dismaying season ended in relegation the season before.
However, the position has a lot of strengthening to do. There are 6 teams hot on Walcott United's heels, with Valencia, whom we drew against in the first match of the season, on equal points, and the other 5 just a point behind.
The top 2 gets promoted. But my target is winning the championship, to repeat my feat 2 seasons ago.
I still remember languishing in mid table mediocrity for a couple of seasons in Division G. 8th, 8th, 9th. Then the squad started to improve, thanks to new players and a better team spirit, Walcott United finished 5th the following season, and won the title for promotion in the 5th season in Div G, and 7th season in the game.
Currently my jobs are to start replenishing players. Players coming out of the youth ranks are doing that pretty well. Shameer As'at may prove to be the best forward the club has seen. Asrit Ramadani is performing very well, to expectations, though he should be plundering more goals. Both are Left Forwards.
Thomas Lenko is a very good CB, but at age 29, it is better to get some money by selling him as his form starts to drop, and invest in a younger CB. So far, CM Saiful is sold for a higher price than expected. I made a bad transfer, but I still have 3 good Central Midfielders.
And I had bought an LM Lubomir Dvorak very good in his primary skills to replace retiring Muhd Akbar Rahim, who has been my best player from the initial batch.
And I have 2 youth RFs coming out of the youth ranks, and hopefully they can be the best RFs the club has seen.
That's all.
A pretty decent start to make my way to the top of the Division G.5, after a dismaying season ended in relegation the season before.
However, the position has a lot of strengthening to do. There are 6 teams hot on Walcott United's heels, with Valencia, whom we drew against in the first match of the season, on equal points, and the other 5 just a point behind.
The top 2 gets promoted. But my target is winning the championship, to repeat my feat 2 seasons ago.
I still remember languishing in mid table mediocrity for a couple of seasons in Division G. 8th, 8th, 9th. Then the squad started to improve, thanks to new players and a better team spirit, Walcott United finished 5th the following season, and won the title for promotion in the 5th season in Div G, and 7th season in the game.
Currently my jobs are to start replenishing players. Players coming out of the youth ranks are doing that pretty well. Shameer As'at may prove to be the best forward the club has seen. Asrit Ramadani is performing very well, to expectations, though he should be plundering more goals. Both are Left Forwards.
Thomas Lenko is a very good CB, but at age 29, it is better to get some money by selling him as his form starts to drop, and invest in a younger CB. So far, CM Saiful is sold for a higher price than expected. I made a bad transfer, but I still have 3 good Central Midfielders.
And I had bought an LM Lubomir Dvorak very good in his primary skills to replace retiring Muhd Akbar Rahim, who has been my best player from the initial batch.
And I have 2 youth RFs coming out of the youth ranks, and hopefully they can be the best RFs the club has seen.
That's all.
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Failure, But We Can Bounce Back
Singapore dominated proceedings almost the entire match against Vietnam. But an error cost us dear.
But wait.
This is one of the greatest performances I have seen from the national team since Raddy took charge years ago.
Our finishing touch needs to be improved. This is a problem that is slowly finding its solution, but not just yet.
In this 0-1 reverse, a few players shone out.
1) Sharil Ishak
He made most of his return, and was fascinating in the first half, with smart and unexpected moves, good coordination with Agu Casmir, and his work should have been rewarded with more than a goal. Staked a strong claim to return to the starting lineup.
2) Noh Alam Shah
Although he did not score, missing more than a good opportunity, his commitment was there for all of us to see. He went in too aggressively at the start, but it underlined his desire, which showed even before the match, when he posted on Facebook he wanted to thrash Vietnam. Perhaps luck wasn't shining on him.
3) Ismail Yunos
Despite it being his error that cost the Singapore Lions, I was surprised we actually had our own Rory Delap. His long throws were surprising for me, and two of those throws nearly resulted in goals. If Duric, being such a tall presence in the box, was available, he would be able to direct them into the net.
I look forward to them facing stiffer opposition next month, as the Asian Cup qualifying campaign starts. Tough opponents in Iran and Jordan.
But Singapore football is worth believing in now. The quality is improving. The football is more pleasant to see now. With consolidation, we can compete with the big guns of Asia soon. This team would have matched Uzbekistan.
But wait.
This is one of the greatest performances I have seen from the national team since Raddy took charge years ago.
Our finishing touch needs to be improved. This is a problem that is slowly finding its solution, but not just yet.
In this 0-1 reverse, a few players shone out.
1) Sharil Ishak
He made most of his return, and was fascinating in the first half, with smart and unexpected moves, good coordination with Agu Casmir, and his work should have been rewarded with more than a goal. Staked a strong claim to return to the starting lineup.
2) Noh Alam Shah
Although he did not score, missing more than a good opportunity, his commitment was there for all of us to see. He went in too aggressively at the start, but it underlined his desire, which showed even before the match, when he posted on Facebook he wanted to thrash Vietnam. Perhaps luck wasn't shining on him.
3) Ismail Yunos
Despite it being his error that cost the Singapore Lions, I was surprised we actually had our own Rory Delap. His long throws were surprising for me, and two of those throws nearly resulted in goals. If Duric, being such a tall presence in the box, was available, he would be able to direct them into the net.
I look forward to them facing stiffer opposition next month, as the Asian Cup qualifying campaign starts. Tough opponents in Iran and Jordan.
But Singapore football is worth believing in now. The quality is improving. The football is more pleasant to see now. With consolidation, we can compete with the big guns of Asia soon. This team would have matched Uzbekistan.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Woah
Woah. The Singapore football team is really much better than years ago.
Against Cambodia, despite the opponents' bus strategy, Singapore struggled to get goals in the first half. It took till a first half injury time goal that was one of the most unglamorous ones I have seen. Like kampong football. Duric didn't score, when he should have scored at least 2. One unlucky, one miss. They won 5-0 nonetheless.
Then against Myanmar, I start to see the organization within the team, with good cohesiveness, and they won 3-1.
Against Indonesia, the same things, Indonesia is stronger than the previous teams, but they are really dangerous when they Attack On Wings, and I believe the right backs did well. Here are some opinions and impressions of players:
Agu: He positions himself pretty well, and he actually does have speed! But a little sluggish acceleration, he compensates with quick static movements then the speed takes him through. Could again be his tournament.
Alam Shah & Duric: Good aerial ability in both. Duric is really ageing, so Alam Shah is more useful as a tool for dribbling. Duric holds the ball well, but his age shows in him often being a box striker.
Precious & Baihakki: The central defensive pair for all 3 matches. Pretty consistent. Though susceptible to pacy and quick-footed opponents, Baihakki compensates with good tackling, and Precious good physical opposition.
Noh Rahman & Daniel Bennett: I thought Noh Rahman was, unlike what the commentators said, pretty inadequate in defending. Especially against Myanmar. But he showed his capabilities against Indonesia, when needed most. Bennett has good tackling, and attentive of the game.
Shi Jiayi & Mustafic: The North Korean (Oops, Chinese) born Shi, in my opinion, cannot hold the ball well, but he stays in the team because he has good speed and very good free kicking skills. Mustafic is of course a very good holding midfielder, and I have only appreciation for his good shielding of the central defence and powerful penalty kick.
Lionel Lewis: Lionel has not been at his best. He is punching a lot more balls instead of catching. And that is risky because while a good punch allows a quick counter attack, a mistimed punch would result in a precarious position. A pity Raddy didn't put Hassan Sunny on, so that I can compare.
Against Cambodia, despite the opponents' bus strategy, Singapore struggled to get goals in the first half. It took till a first half injury time goal that was one of the most unglamorous ones I have seen. Like kampong football. Duric didn't score, when he should have scored at least 2. One unlucky, one miss. They won 5-0 nonetheless.
Then against Myanmar, I start to see the organization within the team, with good cohesiveness, and they won 3-1.
Against Indonesia, the same things, Indonesia is stronger than the previous teams, but they are really dangerous when they Attack On Wings, and I believe the right backs did well. Here are some opinions and impressions of players:
Agu: He positions himself pretty well, and he actually does have speed! But a little sluggish acceleration, he compensates with quick static movements then the speed takes him through. Could again be his tournament.
Alam Shah & Duric: Good aerial ability in both. Duric is really ageing, so Alam Shah is more useful as a tool for dribbling. Duric holds the ball well, but his age shows in him often being a box striker.
Precious & Baihakki: The central defensive pair for all 3 matches. Pretty consistent. Though susceptible to pacy and quick-footed opponents, Baihakki compensates with good tackling, and Precious good physical opposition.
Noh Rahman & Daniel Bennett: I thought Noh Rahman was, unlike what the commentators said, pretty inadequate in defending. Especially against Myanmar. But he showed his capabilities against Indonesia, when needed most. Bennett has good tackling, and attentive of the game.
Shi Jiayi & Mustafic: The North Korean (Oops, Chinese) born Shi, in my opinion, cannot hold the ball well, but he stays in the team because he has good speed and very good free kicking skills. Mustafic is of course a very good holding midfielder, and I have only appreciation for his good shielding of the central defence and powerful penalty kick.
Lionel Lewis: Lionel has not been at his best. He is punching a lot more balls instead of catching. And that is risky because while a good punch allows a quick counter attack, a mistimed punch would result in a precarious position. A pity Raddy didn't put Hassan Sunny on, so that I can compare.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Woah
How long was that!?
Okay.
Singapore is starting the defence of their Asean Football Championship crown today against Cambodia. Then comes Myanmar on Sunday, and Indonesia on Tuesday to round up the group stage of this biennial (NOT BIANNUAL) competition.
A few things about this competition:
This is a competition full of change.
2004: Tiger Cup
2007: ASEAN Football Championship
2008: AFF Suzuki Cup
Must be swept up in the change cycle.
Another thing:
There is a qualifying phase, if you don't know (most probably). Since the only change from this year's edition to the previous one is Philippines (single L double P) being replaced by Cambodia. The inexperienced (maybe naive) Laos outfit comes back again.
But you may not know, there are basically 6 seeded teams, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar (not necessarily by order of merit). And 2 slots to fight for 5 teams.
Quite an acceptable situation, if you are qualifying for the World Cup. Or the Asian Cup. Not this. This, I feel dissuades football in these weaker nations. If Laos maintain their level of football, or improve (most probably since last time round they had a really young team), then there is little chance for the remaining 4, who fight out for the last slot.
Cambodia, Philippines are clearly better than Brunei and Timor Leste. How then?? These 2 nations shall never come back from the ashes??
I remember the surprise element in 2004 when we could see Timor playing. Thye played positive football, not the "Wall strategy" or "Bus effect", where you play ultra defensively for a draw. But that may not work, since you have seen the Wall Street crash despite John McCain referring to it as having 'strong foundation'.
So, well good luck to Singapore, and Raddy's Lions will achieve a cool feat.
Okay.
Singapore is starting the defence of their Asean Football Championship crown today against Cambodia. Then comes Myanmar on Sunday, and Indonesia on Tuesday to round up the group stage of this biennial (NOT BIANNUAL) competition.
A few things about this competition:
This is a competition full of change.
2004: Tiger Cup
2007: ASEAN Football Championship
2008: AFF Suzuki Cup
Must be swept up in the change cycle.
Another thing:
There is a qualifying phase, if you don't know (most probably). Since the only change from this year's edition to the previous one is Philippines (single L double P) being replaced by Cambodia. The inexperienced (maybe naive) Laos outfit comes back again.
But you may not know, there are basically 6 seeded teams, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar (not necessarily by order of merit). And 2 slots to fight for 5 teams.
Quite an acceptable situation, if you are qualifying for the World Cup. Or the Asian Cup. Not this. This, I feel dissuades football in these weaker nations. If Laos maintain their level of football, or improve (most probably since last time round they had a really young team), then there is little chance for the remaining 4, who fight out for the last slot.
Cambodia, Philippines are clearly better than Brunei and Timor Leste. How then?? These 2 nations shall never come back from the ashes??
I remember the surprise element in 2004 when we could see Timor playing. Thye played positive football, not the "Wall strategy" or "Bus effect", where you play ultra defensively for a draw. But that may not work, since you have seen the Wall Street crash despite John McCain referring to it as having 'strong foundation'.
So, well good luck to Singapore, and Raddy's Lions will achieve a cool feat.
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