Saturday, December 05, 2009
ISL Preview
Going into this weekend’s Indonesia Super League games this is how the top of the table looks.
1 – Persiba 8 4 2 2 0 13-7 14
2 – Arema 6 4 2 0 6-1 14
3 – Persiwa 4 1 2 18-10 13
4 – Persela 5 4 1 0 5-1 13
The big match is undoubtedly 2nd against 3rd in Malang between Arema and Persiwa. They maybe 3rd but Persiwa have lost both their away games so far this season while Arema remain one of three unbeaten teams thus far.
The Crazy Lions welcome back Noh Alam Shah who had been suspended for the game against Pelita Jaya while former PSMS striker Rahmat Affandi will be hoping for a place in the starting XI after his sweet drive ended Pelita Jaya’s hopes on Wednesday.
Last season the corresponding game was won by Arema while there is a bit of history between the two sides. In the 2007/2008 play offs they met at Brawijaya Stadium, Kediri. Despite having three goals disallowed Arema were losing 2-0 when their fans rioted, one assaulting the ref. the game was abandoned and when they gathered again to finish the final 17 minutes or so Arema made it 2-2.
Persiwa will be seeing a lot of the city of Malang as it looks like they will be using the place for their AFC Cup home games in 2010. having lost their last two games in East Java, 5-4 against Persebaya and 3-0 against Persik, that may not be an altogether good thing.
Persiba have a slight edge over Arema at the top of the table and today they host Persitara hoping toe extend not just their unbeaten home record but also their run of clean sheets that dates back to when Noah was banging nails into a boat.
You’d think they’d have no problems against Persitara who really haven’t got going yet this season. Their 0-0 against Arema last week was their first, and only, point of the season thus far and without any creativity in the middle you struggle to see where their second point may come from.
Last season I saw Persiba win 2-0 against Persitara at Lebak Bulus in Jakarta. Back then the side from North Jakarta were the league’s great entertainers but they came unstuck against a strong Persiba side.
But the men from Balikpapan have lost a few big names. Robbie Gaspar, T A Mushafry, Adrian Trinidad and Gaston Caston are among those who have moved on. Julio Lopez has seen plenty of ISL action over the years while Park, the 32 year old Korean striker who scored twice in 10 minutes against Persija a couple of weeks back, will never have so much space as long as he plays the game.
Difficult to find anything to say about Persitara. Prince Kabir Bello impressed last season but is struggling this time round as his teams lacks any presence in midfield. Wawan in goal has impressed as has Amarzukih but that’s about it.
Persija currently sit 14th and despite dominating against Persik last time out ended up with just a point to show for their efforts while against Persebaya it took Aliyudin late on to get the three.
They are up against PSPS who are 5th but they should be looking at three points from the game that will be played tonight at Lebak Bulus. They welcome back Baihakki Khaizan to the centre of defence and there is talk that Mustafic Fahruddin may get some game time as well.
Champions Persipura are yet another big side that have yet to get going. Last time out against Sriwijaya they saw their 18 match unbeaten record end and they currently sit in an unlikely 9th spot with just two wins and nine goals from their seven games. I fear their reluctance to prepare for Boas Solossa absence, on SEA Games duty, and replace Ernest Jeremiah is starting to tell.
Persema are no mugs themselves. Thing is thay haven’t played for a few weeks so what do we get? Fresh or rusty? Certainly they will have no better opportunity to get three points from the Black Pearls.
With the supposed big names like Persija, Persipura, Persib and Sriwijaya yet to get any momentum going it has been left to some of the more unfancied sides to set the pace. Among them Persela and Persijap.
Persela travel to Soreang tomorrow to take on a Persib that have already lost four games this season and have yet to see Christian Gonzales ripple the back of the net. Persijap on the other hand take on Sriwijaya in Palembang.
Both Persela and Persijap have each only played one game on the road and remain unbeaten. But the season starts properly for them now and despite poor starts for Persib and Sriwijaya they will both prove stern tests for the upstarts.
Two other games this weekend. Struggling Pelita Jaya travel to PSM Makassar while there is an East Borneo derby this weekend when Bontang host Persisam.
1 – Persiba 8 4 2 2 0 13-7 14
2 – Arema 6 4 2 0 6-1 14
3 – Persiwa 4 1 2 18-10 13
4 – Persela 5 4 1 0 5-1 13
The big match is undoubtedly 2nd against 3rd in Malang between Arema and Persiwa. They maybe 3rd but Persiwa have lost both their away games so far this season while Arema remain one of three unbeaten teams thus far.
The Crazy Lions welcome back Noh Alam Shah who had been suspended for the game against Pelita Jaya while former PSMS striker Rahmat Affandi will be hoping for a place in the starting XI after his sweet drive ended Pelita Jaya’s hopes on Wednesday.
Last season the corresponding game was won by Arema while there is a bit of history between the two sides. In the 2007/2008 play offs they met at Brawijaya Stadium, Kediri. Despite having three goals disallowed Arema were losing 2-0 when their fans rioted, one assaulting the ref. the game was abandoned and when they gathered again to finish the final 17 minutes or so Arema made it 2-2.
Persiwa will be seeing a lot of the city of Malang as it looks like they will be using the place for their AFC Cup home games in 2010. having lost their last two games in East Java, 5-4 against Persebaya and 3-0 against Persik, that may not be an altogether good thing.
Persiba have a slight edge over Arema at the top of the table and today they host Persitara hoping toe extend not just their unbeaten home record but also their run of clean sheets that dates back to when Noah was banging nails into a boat.
You’d think they’d have no problems against Persitara who really haven’t got going yet this season. Their 0-0 against Arema last week was their first, and only, point of the season thus far and without any creativity in the middle you struggle to see where their second point may come from.
Last season I saw Persiba win 2-0 against Persitara at Lebak Bulus in Jakarta. Back then the side from North Jakarta were the league’s great entertainers but they came unstuck against a strong Persiba side.
But the men from Balikpapan have lost a few big names. Robbie Gaspar, T A Mushafry, Adrian Trinidad and Gaston Caston are among those who have moved on. Julio Lopez has seen plenty of ISL action over the years while Park, the 32 year old Korean striker who scored twice in 10 minutes against Persija a couple of weeks back, will never have so much space as long as he plays the game.
Difficult to find anything to say about Persitara. Prince Kabir Bello impressed last season but is struggling this time round as his teams lacks any presence in midfield. Wawan in goal has impressed as has Amarzukih but that’s about it.
Persija currently sit 14th and despite dominating against Persik last time out ended up with just a point to show for their efforts while against Persebaya it took Aliyudin late on to get the three.
They are up against PSPS who are 5th but they should be looking at three points from the game that will be played tonight at Lebak Bulus. They welcome back Baihakki Khaizan to the centre of defence and there is talk that Mustafic Fahruddin may get some game time as well.
Champions Persipura are yet another big side that have yet to get going. Last time out against Sriwijaya they saw their 18 match unbeaten record end and they currently sit in an unlikely 9th spot with just two wins and nine goals from their seven games. I fear their reluctance to prepare for Boas Solossa absence, on SEA Games duty, and replace Ernest Jeremiah is starting to tell.
Persema are no mugs themselves. Thing is thay haven’t played for a few weeks so what do we get? Fresh or rusty? Certainly they will have no better opportunity to get three points from the Black Pearls.
With the supposed big names like Persija, Persipura, Persib and Sriwijaya yet to get any momentum going it has been left to some of the more unfancied sides to set the pace. Among them Persela and Persijap.
Persela travel to Soreang tomorrow to take on a Persib that have already lost four games this season and have yet to see Christian Gonzales ripple the back of the net. Persijap on the other hand take on Sriwijaya in Palembang.
Both Persela and Persijap have each only played one game on the road and remain unbeaten. But the season starts properly for them now and despite poor starts for Persib and Sriwijaya they will both prove stern tests for the upstarts.
Two other games this weekend. Struggling Pelita Jaya travel to PSM Makassar while there is an East Borneo derby this weekend when Bontang host Persisam.
# posted by Me @ 7:12 AM 
