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Post by buddha on Feb 23, 2011 9:20:40 GMT 8
@al luz812 I believe you did not notice the fact that Rob Gier IS deployed as a CENTER BACK and not as a rightback. Anton used to play centerback until coach Macca moved him to rightback where his attacking tendency and stamina (not to mention those monster throw-ins!) could be maximized. Here's the current Azkal set up as posted by [Caz]: soccercentral.ph/feature/weiss-man-new-coach%E2%80%99s-winning-startCurrently, Anton is untouchable at rightback. He's made it his territory and I think he is just brilliant. But Jason Sabio has shown that he has the quality to unseat Anton should he be given the chance (Jason's got the pace, stamina AND the monster throw-ins too!). That's why it provides very good competition for Anton as it will keep him on his toes and avoid complacency. Unfortunately, we do not have the same situation throughout the squad. Take for example, our defensive midfield position. I'm a huge fan of Jason de Jong. He is often underrated as he's not a flair player but he's the most indispensable player in the squad and plays a crucial role as a ball winner and destroyer (one who breaks up the opponents plays). He's got the aggression and the bite we need in the midfield. But should something happen to him we don't have anyone of the SAME quality who can play his role. (I suppose in the absence of de Jong you could delegate a good ball-playing defender to the defensive midfield role. Ali Borromeo would do very well as he sometimes plays midfield for his club, Kaya FC, but to do so would seriously weaken our defense. That's why it's crucial that we get players like Stephen Schrock who is a defensive player but with good ball handling skills and vision.)
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Post by buddha on Feb 22, 2011 19:48:25 GMT 8
cjeagle: By substitutions I believe you are referring to TACTICAL SUBSTITUTIONS as a means of influencing the outcome of the match. The reason why coach Macca wasn't able to make any TACTICAL SUBSTITUTIONS during the Suzuki Cup is simply because he simply lacked quality in his bench. He had a very strong starting 11 but a very lightweight bench. He simply didn't have the luxury of making dramatic changes. If there had been injuries to two or more of his first team players his campaign would have taken a nosedive. Coach Weiss now has more foreign-based players to call on. I'm sure you're impressed with how he switch Sabio for del Rosario but if this was still pre-Suzuki Cup it would be unthinkable to sub del Rosario because he's the best we've got (or WAS the best... depending on your opinion). Sabio looked a bit shaky out in Panaad but he sure looks quality and he's going to give Anton some much needed competition! (Now if only we had a striker of real quality who could compete for places with Phil and Ian.)
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Post by buddha on Feb 22, 2011 9:32:32 GMT 8
SLOPPY, SLOPPY, SLOPPY. What bothers me about the Mongolia game in Panaad was that the Azkals were very sloppy in possession and seemed devoid of ideas. (They were even more sloppy in finishing off the game but then that's stating the obvious.) There was a false sense of urgency in the way they tried to force open the opposition when patient, thoughtful passing could have done the job. It's not right to claim that these occasions of sloppy handling, sloppy possession, and moments of poor concentration was because our players were not threatened by the poor quality of the opposition. Others say that it shouldn't matter because the Azkals will step up their game when facing bigger opposition. What bull. Hear me now: When you're playing for your country every game is BIG. There should be no room for complacency even in a home game against lowly opposition who refuse to come out and play. If this is the new "attacking" Azkals that coach Weiss is building then I'd rather go back to the pragmatic, albeit boring, "counter-attacking" Azkals of the Mcmenemy mold. Don't get me wrong, I think having Weiss at the helm is great but I think Mcmenemy was correct in playing to our strengths. We are a big, passionate, hard-tackling team but we don't have enough creativity in midfield or upfront that can support the type of attacking football Weiss promises us. I fear we would be undone by a strong defensive team who would hit us quickly and intelligently on the counter-attack... just like the Azkals used to do. Here are my two centavos (and we all know two centavos are worthless): 1. Continue with the counter-attacking mindset, 2. Wait until we have the players that can support a creative, attacking playing style BEFORE attempting an attacking playing style and 3. Nourish our young Azkals puppies on a diet of good attacking football at the U-23, U-19, U-16, (and younger) levels so that by the time they step up to the Senior Squad it has already become a strength and a trademark. If we want to play like Spain does then we've got to learn from the Spaniards. Their playing style and formation stems from the fact it is ingrained at the youngest levels of the national football setup. (see www.the-afc.com/en/football-development/education/31577-spains-melendez-reveals-secrets)
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Post by buddha on Dec 18, 2010 23:58:18 GMT 8
samhain13... hehehe! you're right. cheers, mate!
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Post by buddha on Dec 18, 2010 23:47:10 GMT 8
That's true, what Indonesia coach Reidl says about Indonesia abandoning their short passing game.
I know Indonesia are very good in playing short passes through the middle and so I was very surprised to find Indonesia beating the Azkals on the counter-attack! It's like they're playing our style at times.
Whenever they were playing on the defense, Indonesia would get numbers down and become more compact in the middle effectively shutting down our attack. They were beating us at our own game.
It'll be very interesting to see how coach Macca will deal with this tactically.
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Post by buddha on Dec 18, 2010 13:15:23 GMT 8
... that the administrator of pinoysoccer was threatened with a lawsuit because of his website?
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Post by buddha on Dec 17, 2010 7:20:24 GMT 8
1-0 AND ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
Fantastic match. The lads really stepped up and played with heart. In a loss the only thing you can do is to take the POSITIVES.
Here are a few and please feel free to add:
1. The defensive mix-up was because the noise inside the stadium interfered with communication. (This is according to Coach Macca.) This means that come Sunday our players will no longer have any apprehensions on crowd reaction and the noise level. They'll be past the jittery stage and will be looking forward to the atmosphere on the stadium.
2. Indonesia looks beatable! This is the team that's beaten Malaysia and Thailand after all... and we held them at 1-0!
3. If we looked tired out there, so did Indonesia. Those bad passes on our side is down to fatigue. Our players need rest, not more stamina training.
4. The Azkal coaches will by now have more insight into the Indonesian game play and will have time to work out a tactical plan.
5. Our lads are tough! They didn't give any quarter. I loved how Anton got into Gonzales face. They can't push us around anymore.
WE ARE NO LONGER THE WHIPPING BOYS OF ASIA!
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Post by buddha on Dec 17, 2010 6:58:53 GMT 8
coach Macca says the defensive mix-up was due to the sheer volume of noise in the stadium. Our lads couldn't hear each other!
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 18:47:11 GMT 8
What/Who is David Bunevacz?
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 17:41:26 GMT 8
Is this the ceburoo of old? Isn't it amazing how far the Azkals have come since those dark days of philfootball and pinoysoccer.
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 17:33:48 GMT 8
was the story of lawsuits true?
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 16:59:20 GMT 8
The college team I coach will be having a party while watching the Azkals play Indonesia. My own foreign players will be wondering why we're so worked up and jittery!
Up the Azkals!
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 16:51:13 GMT 8
Hi Caz! Don't worry... if I spent more time reading medical books rather than football books I'd probably be a doctor like you. Cheers, mate! --------------- MIND GAMES Tonight's match will largely be psychological; the result of the match will be decided in the dressing room and in the tunnel rather than on the pitch. It'll be interesting to see how the Manager, the Head Coach, and the rest of the coaching staff approach the mental aspect of the game. I'm sure that Coach Macca will be hammering home the point that we are the UNDERDOGS and that there is absolutely no pressure on us. He will tell his players that reaching this stage of the tournament is enough of an accomplishment (implying that a loss would not matter). He will remind his players of how far they've come and how much they've achieved as a team. He will ask his team to place the burden of the win on the Indonesians... it is THEY who need to win as they are playing in front of a packed house with non less than their President present. Coach Macca will point out the massive psychological pressure on the Indonesian players and that they, The Azkals, should feel as if the load is lifted off their shoulders. ------------------- WALL OF SOUND The hostilities will begin as they step out to warm out and continue to build up. When they finally walk out of the tunnel before kick-off they will be met by a wall of sound unlike anything they will have experienced... even for our professional players. The wall of sound will be a very physical feeling. Have you felt your penis invert? It will be akin to that. Adrenaline will oozing out of their skin and their hearts will be pounding, their mouths dry. As the game goes on the massive noise will slowly move into the background and the next abuses they will have to face will be from the players themselves. You can be sure the Indonesian players will be bad-mouthing our lads in order to throw them off their game... or to provoke them into a red card foul. I pray our lads will stand up to this test with courage and dignity. Will our lads continue to keep up the intensity even if we're trailing behind 1-0? 2-0? 3-0? Will they still play with the same determination? That's when the character of our Azkals will need to shine out. I DON'T CARE ABOUT WINNING... we need to show them what Filipino courage is all about.
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 9:55:39 GMT 8
Kaligo, you speak the truth.
My greatest fear, too, is that after the Suzuki Cup fever dies down so will media attention. Let's keep the snowball rolling after the Suzuki Cup by supporting the LBC United Football League. This has got to be one of the best leagues in the country... it's well organized, is building a fan base, and has marketing potential.
The day the UFL will figure out a viable way to involve provincial clubs (from Luzon to Mindanao) will be the day when football in our country will really take off.
AZKALS ASTIG!
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Post by buddha on Dec 16, 2010 9:42:16 GMT 8
I'm for Azkaleros. (Please do away with the "United." Keep it simple.)
When we get a home stadium we could call it "The Dog Pound."
Azkaleros from The Dog Pound!
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