Friday, November 27, 2009
ISL Preview
After the break for the Kuwait Asian Cup qualifiers the ISL returns this weekend with some interesting looking games.
First up on Saturday afternoon we have Persitara against Arema. Both sides have 100% records, Persitara pointless at home, Arema two in two wins away.
Despite some high profile signings pre season including Singaporean duo Noh Alam Shah and Muhamed Ridwan Arema have struggled to find the net with just four goals in their opening four games.
Still, Robert Albert's men should have too much for a Persitara side that have struggled to find any fluency this season. Talking Albert, the rumours suggest he is being considered for the soon to be vacant position in charge of the Indonesian national team. A deal with him being appointed Technical Director may be acceptable to Arema as it would mean they could keep the Dutch man in charge of day to day affairs there.
The other game tomorrow sees Pelita Jaya Karawang host Persema. Malang's second side have the best away record so far in the ISL, an honour they share with Arema and Persipura but they will be wary against Fandi Ahmad's men who have struggled so far this season but for whom Edison Fonseca has started the season in fine form. Persema currently sit 6th in the table while Pelita Jaya are second bottom.
Tow big games on Sunday. Persiwa hott Sriwijaya with both sides currently nestled in the bottom half of the table. The Papuans have lost their last two games, to Persebaya 5-4 and Persik 3-0, but at home in Wamena they are a different proposition. Either the cool mountain air effects visitors or...jetlag. Yep, jetlag.
Persipura go head to head with Persib in a game that offers the champions to extend their unbeaten run to 18 games. And these guys don't lose at home often. Except home is now, temporarily at least, Makassar.
That both teams are in the bottom half of the table is more an indication of a skew whiff start to the season rather than signs of the future.
Persib won their last two home games and in Suchao Nuchnum they have a player in form. Persib will also hope to welcome back Christian Gonzales, Hilton Moreira and Eka Ramdani.
Persipura have looked getatable so far this season. Against a weakened Persebaya they really got out of jail while they then proceeded to lose the lead twice against Persik before holding on for a draw.
Persija's embarrassing start to the season both on and off the field looks set to continue against Persebaya on Sunday. Finally, after much dithering, they will use Bung Karno Stadium. But. And it's a huge but. The ISL are making all the arrangements I understand and footing the bill. So even if 40,000 go through the gate Persija won't get a cent.
It will be the Kemayoran Tigers first home game of the season and sitting in the opposition dugout, in his trade mark baseball cap, will be their former coach Danurwindo. He still has players missing but against a Persija side that has returned pointless from Persiba and PSM he will be looking at pressuring a defence that has looked unable to communicate this season.
Persisam were in theheadlines for the wrong reasons earlier in the week when it was disclosed played had not been paid yet and there was talk of a strike. Welcome to Indonesia Pipat! Sunday they play PSM with both teams on eight points but PSM having won last time out.
Persik, who asked so many questions of Persipura midweek travel to Pekanbaru to take on PSPS who find themselves seventh. They also boast the top scorer in the ISL, Herman Dzumafo who has hit six of their eight goals.
Whatever happens Persiba will remain top of the pile for the weekend. But teams like Persik, Persipura, Sriwijaya, Persib and Persija will be looking for maximum points to climb away from the bottom half of the table.
First up on Saturday afternoon we have Persitara against Arema. Both sides have 100% records, Persitara pointless at home, Arema two in two wins away.
Despite some high profile signings pre season including Singaporean duo Noh Alam Shah and Muhamed Ridwan Arema have struggled to find the net with just four goals in their opening four games.
Still, Robert Albert's men should have too much for a Persitara side that have struggled to find any fluency this season. Talking Albert, the rumours suggest he is being considered for the soon to be vacant position in charge of the Indonesian national team. A deal with him being appointed Technical Director may be acceptable to Arema as it would mean they could keep the Dutch man in charge of day to day affairs there.
The other game tomorrow sees Pelita Jaya Karawang host Persema. Malang's second side have the best away record so far in the ISL, an honour they share with Arema and Persipura but they will be wary against Fandi Ahmad's men who have struggled so far this season but for whom Edison Fonseca has started the season in fine form. Persema currently sit 6th in the table while Pelita Jaya are second bottom.
Tow big games on Sunday. Persiwa hott Sriwijaya with both sides currently nestled in the bottom half of the table. The Papuans have lost their last two games, to Persebaya 5-4 and Persik 3-0, but at home in Wamena they are a different proposition. Either the cool mountain air effects visitors or...jetlag. Yep, jetlag.
Persipura go head to head with Persib in a game that offers the champions to extend their unbeaten run to 18 games. And these guys don't lose at home often. Except home is now, temporarily at least, Makassar.
That both teams are in the bottom half of the table is more an indication of a skew whiff start to the season rather than signs of the future.
Persib won their last two home games and in Suchao Nuchnum they have a player in form. Persib will also hope to welcome back Christian Gonzales, Hilton Moreira and Eka Ramdani.
Persipura have looked getatable so far this season. Against a weakened Persebaya they really got out of jail while they then proceeded to lose the lead twice against Persik before holding on for a draw.
Persija's embarrassing start to the season both on and off the field looks set to continue against Persebaya on Sunday. Finally, after much dithering, they will use Bung Karno Stadium. But. And it's a huge but. The ISL are making all the arrangements I understand and footing the bill. So even if 40,000 go through the gate Persija won't get a cent.
It will be the Kemayoran Tigers first home game of the season and sitting in the opposition dugout, in his trade mark baseball cap, will be their former coach Danurwindo. He still has players missing but against a Persija side that has returned pointless from Persiba and PSM he will be looking at pressuring a defence that has looked unable to communicate this season.
Persisam were in theheadlines for the wrong reasons earlier in the week when it was disclosed played had not been paid yet and there was talk of a strike. Welcome to Indonesia Pipat! Sunday they play PSM with both teams on eight points but PSM having won last time out.
Persik, who asked so many questions of Persipura midweek travel to Pekanbaru to take on PSPS who find themselves seventh. They also boast the top scorer in the ISL, Herman Dzumafo who has hit six of their eight goals.
Whatever happens Persiba will remain top of the pile for the weekend. But teams like Persik, Persipura, Sriwijaya, Persib and Persija will be looking for maximum points to climb away from the bottom half of the table.
# posted by Me @ 7:56 AM 
