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Post by rogue on Aug 7, 2011 16:07:28 GMT 8
I hope they win the cup here Just on hindsight: Most Pinoys (in the Philippines) are normally used to watching stuff with "happy endings", whether be it in sports (e.g. Pacquiao winning) or in TV/movies. So in the last game vs Kuwait, I was very glad to see people in Rizal staying throughout the game & still showing support to the Azkals. That's a big feat - to get that amount of support in spite of not winning. I fervently hope that this kind of support continuous (win or lose) in the coming games like this Long Teng Cup.
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Post by rpbenchwarmer on Aug 8, 2011 18:29:56 GMT 8
SEA GAMES 2011: LONG TENG CUP TO GIVE FILI EXPERIENCEAUGUST 07, 2011 MANILA (7 Aug 2011) – The Long Teng Cup in Taiwan in October will give the Philippines Under-23 team the exposure they need as they aspire to win their first ever medal at the SEA Games in Indonesia at the end of the year. “The intention is finally for the team to bag their first medal at the SEA Games. And of course, we need to meet a weaker team in the semis so that we’ll have a (chance for that) medal,” said Dan Palami, the team manager of the Philippines. “We will also bring them (Under-23 team) to the Long Teng Cup (in October) so that they will gain experience from an international competition.” Among the players which have been shortlisted from a list of 30 players are 21-year-old goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and also 20-year-old midfielder Jason de Jong. The team will start training on 24 August 2011. Link: www.aseanfootball.org/?p=5678
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Post by atlienace on Aug 8, 2011 18:36:03 GMT 8
I hope they win the cup here Just on hindsight: Most Pinoys (in the Philippines) are normally used to watching stuff with "happy endings", whether be it in sports (e.g. Pacquiao winning) or in TV/movies. So in the last game vs Kuwait, I was very glad to see people in Rizal staying throughout the game & still showing support to the Azkals. That's a big feat - to get that amount of support in spite of not winning. I fervently hope that this kind of support continuous (win or lose) in the coming games like this Long Teng Cup. You're right about that. It was good that people saw it as great effort despite of the loss. It might mean that there are new fans to the sport but they know a real fighting team when they see one. That was really nice to see.
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Post by xclentoy on Aug 8, 2011 20:55:12 GMT 8
I hope they win the cup here Just on hindsight: Most Pinoys (in the Philippines) are normally used to watching stuff with "happy endings", whether be it in sports (e.g. Pacquiao winning) or in TV/movies. So in the last game vs Kuwait, I was very glad to see people in Rizal staying throughout the game & still showing support to the Azkals. That's a big feat - to get that amount of support in spite of not winning. I fervently hope that this kind of support continuous (win or lose) in the coming games like this Long Teng Cup. i disagree to some extent, but Pinoys tend to side with the underDOGZ!
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Post by mayfel on Aug 9, 2011 11:02:48 GMT 8
Azkals prepare for hectic scheduleBy FRANCIS SANTIAGOAugust 5, 2011, 9:43
MANILA, Philippines — In an effort to improve the Philippine football team’s world ranking, team manager Dan Palami said they plan to play four superior teams in friendly matches beginning next month.
The International Football Federation (FIFA) has set aside dates from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11 for international friendly matches, and Palami said they will take advantage of it by playing three senior national teams from the Gulf region before hosting a game against either India or Pakistan at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
The Manila game is tentatively set Oct. 11.
“Our intention right now is to play as many friendlies as possible so our rankings can go up,” said Palami who hosted a dinner for the newly-formed Azkals Press Corps on Thursday.
The Azkals are ranked 162nd while India is at 153rd and Pakistan 171st.
Palami said a selection from the Under-23 pool preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in the Indonesia in November will join the Azkals during the friendly matches “so that they will have more international exposures.”
Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta Jr. had earlier said the Azkals will be at full strength during these international exhibition matches since Filipino-foreign players will be released by their professional clubs in Europe.
Before the friendly matches, the Azkals, alongside a selection from the SEA Games pool, are set to compete in the Long Teng Cup, a four-nation competition set Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 in Taiwan.
based on article above, the international break is on sept. 27 to oct 11. and the long teng cup is slated on sept 28-oct 4. now they proposed to have a friendlies againts 3 gulf nation and a home game againts india or pakistan on the 11th of oct. if this plan pushes through i can say that the men's senior team to skip the long teng cup and focus on their friendlies against the gulf nations. it is very hard for the seniors for them to play in long teng cup and the friendlies and it will take them 7 games in 14 days.. 3 in the long teng cup and 4 friendlies.
so it must be a win-win situation for us to let the under 23 team to play in the long teng cup for them to gain experience playing international football and to test their cohesiveness which is very vital for their preparation for the sea games. and focus the the senior members in their friendlies against the gulf nations. im hoping in our friendlies all europe based players we have will come and play for our friendlies with likes of etheridge, mulders, schroeck as well as lucena and the much anticipated debut of cagara for our team. it will also serves as their preparation for the afc challenge cup if we win this cup it take us on the 2015 afc asian cup in australia. and last i preferred india than pakistan in our home game because they already won the afc challenge cup in 2008 and participated in 2011 asian cup and they already beat qatar and they will also in the afc challenge cup next year
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Post by turnmyswagon10 on Aug 9, 2011 15:04:03 GMT 8
are they gonna televise this games?
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Post by stellarboy on Aug 9, 2011 15:43:40 GMT 8
are they gonna televise this games? It will depend on how the interested network (probably ABS-CBN) will request their rights to cover the games via the CTFA and the Taiwanese media network who will cover it (probably Taiwan TV, according to sources). If so, they must be able to constantly update during the fixtures with the PH team.
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Post by stellarboy on Aug 9, 2011 15:58:44 GMT 8
So... We are expecting the U23 team instead of the senior NT this edition of the Cup.
Therefore we'll be seeing the likes of Simon Greatwich (the rumoured skipper according to local sources), Paolo Pascual (the rumoured 1st GK), Patrick Hinrichsen, Jason de Jong and Yannick Tuason. If we are to see a lineup like this, I'll be happy that they can gain experience through this in preparation for their SEA Games stint.
But, if Palami would include members of the senior NT in the starting XI (if circumstances arise), probably he'd put Misagh Bahadoran or Jason Sabio there, and it won't be a problem for me.
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Post by Wiking on Aug 9, 2011 20:54:00 GMT 8
Kill 2 birds with 1 stone: Play U23 players with stiffening from the senior subs who also need playing time, like stellarboy said and that Ive been saying all along, the Bahadoran's, Sabio's, even Gener etc, to keep their playing edge. And most of all play to win, not just as a tune up for bigger events. I cant wait for the LT cup! Go Azkals!
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Post by Caz on Aug 10, 2011 0:37:02 GMT 8
If we send a purely U-23 team, that wouldn't affect our FIFA rank, right? Nevertheless, I'd like to see the U-23 do well in the LT Cup.
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Post by hollywoodazkal on Aug 10, 2011 13:45:53 GMT 8
In an effort to improve the Philippine football team’s world ranking, team manager Dan Palami said they plan to play four superior teams in friendly matches beginning next month. The International Football Federation (FIFA) has set aside dates from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11 for international friendly matches, and Palami said they will take advantage of it by playing three senior national teams from the Gulf region before hosting a game against either India or Pakistan at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. “Our intention right now is to play as many friendlies as possible so our rankings can go up,” said Palami who hosted a dinner for the newly-formed Azkals Press Corps on Thursday. The Azkals are ranked 162nd while India is at 153rd and Pakistan 171st. Obviously the only certain way of moving up in the rankings is by winning. However, I share the confusion of other football fans in regards to how FIFA determines the rankings. I read an article that some coaches from football powerhouses don't even understand the formula of ranking themselves. On the other hand, FIFA rankings for women's football is more (for a lack of better words) true and accurate because they factor in both the outcome and strength of opponents. Also, they include the ELO method as one of the determining factors for rankings. Whilst the men's football still omit using ELO. So, what is the best formula for us to climb up the rankings? Are we aiming too high by playing three yet-to-be-determined Gulf teams on the road and hosting a not-so-strong South Asian team at home? Although we're currently ranked 162, I don't think it is a very accurate ranking because it doesn't reflect what the Azkals has achieved, especially considering the outcomes of the games we've played and the "quality" of teams we've faced. Just looking at the teams ranked from 140-161, I cannot imagine those teams are actually better than us. In my humble opinion, to ensure that we make a steady climb in the rankings, we should first play a team ranked between 140-150 like Burundi (143) or Puerto Rico (141). We can skip the teams from 151-161 because personally, none of those teams appeal to me. Then schedule a team ranked between 130-139 like Dominican Republic (132) or Yemen (135). Thirdly, play a team ranked between 120-129 such as Togo (123) or Luxembourg (128). And for the finale, a team ranked between 105-119 such as Iraq (108) or Haiti (117). Notice that with the exception of Dominican Rep, which climbed the rankings by 40 spots and Luxembourg which didn't move, all the other teams's rankings moved down. These teams are ranked higher than us so let's catch them while they're on their way down so we can increase our chances of moving up.
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Post by Wiking on Aug 10, 2011 14:34:00 GMT 8
I too dont quite understand why we are playing middle eastern teams that are waaaay ahead of us in skills and rankings. What do we learn in receiving a good drubbing, not once but thrice? That wont help in continuing to grow a fan base from as yet very casual fans. The only thing I can think of is that these countries offered a good deal to the Azkals in terms of training area/camp. Some monetary compensation perhaps? etc etc. Im just guessing though.
Id personally want to see us play teams that we can play competatively with any day. On a more serious level though, I think Im getting an Azkal soccer withdrawal! I keep looking at the tv and internet for any news about the boys! Cmon LT cup, I need a soccer fix!!
Go Azkals!
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Post by stellarboy on Aug 10, 2011 16:00:22 GMT 8
A local football forum in Hong Kong is speculating rumours that the HK Football Association is considering releasing the U-21 team instead of the U-23 team for the Long Teng Cup this year. What I'm worried about is that these players will be very young, but take this as an advantage over our PHL U-23. I'm just not too sure if they perform at the same level as the senior Taiwan and Macau teams. We'll just hope for the best. Source: goalgoalgoal.com.hk/thread-302278-1-1.html (in Chinese)
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Post by Wiking on Aug 10, 2011 19:36:18 GMT 8
A local football forum in Hong Kong is speculating rumours that the HK Football Association is considering releasing the U-21 team instead of the U-23 team for the Long Teng Cup this year. What I'm worried about is that these players will be very young, but take this as an advantage over our PHL U-23. I'm just not too sure if they perform at the same level as the senior Taiwan and Macau teams. We'll just hope for the best. Source: goalgoalgoal.com.hk/thread-302278-1-1.html (in Chinese) Well as you said its just a rumor at this time. As for age, Hong Kong obviously is using the LT cup for training its younger players. If we should field a U23 with senior mix, the difference in skill level should be minimized more and should come out as a competative and entertaining game. Hope for the best, yes!
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Post by stellarboy on Aug 10, 2011 22:05:40 GMT 8
Hmmm, while we are still waiting for the final line-up of the U-23 team, I have a lot of things to speculate.
According to Wikipedia article, the organizers of the tournament is inviting Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia to join the cup since they're planning to increase the number of teams from 4 to 6.
If this speculation comes true, and the senior teams are allowed to be sent in, then the PHL U-23 will face Vietnam or Singapore like it was the AFF Suzuki Cup once again. This will be quite exciting IMHO.
And with the increasing fan base in the Philippines, we are also hoping OFWs in Taiwan would be able to watch the games given they might already know that football is now rising in the country because of the Azkals. I expect a large Filipino crowd in the Kaohsiung National Stadium during a fixture with the U-23 team.
So, great things are about to happen this edition of the Cup. I'm excited. Really excited.
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