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Saturday, January 23, 2010

 

ISL Preview 23/1

Sriwijaya v Persik

Copa Indonesia winners have yet to impose themselves on this ISL season and find themselves sitting 10th with 15 games gone. Just a single win in their last seven games, and that a narrow 1-0 against struggling PSPS, shows Rahmad Darmawan's men aren't having the best of times when you consider next weekend they travel to Singapore to take on Singapore Armed Forces in an AFC Champions League Play Off.

For a team brimming with internationals and big names it just ain't good enough and while they showed glimpese of good form against Persija recently they know that they will need to ba at the top of their game against a resolute Persik who are also mid table following one win in their last four.

The 2006 Champions will be without Saktiawan Sinaga but they will be hoping young striker Yongki Aribowo continues the fine form he has been in since returning from the SEA Games.

Persema v PSM

Persema have gone off the boil somewhat, nost recently losing to a controversial penalty away to Persebaya midweek. But home wins against Persib and Sriwijaya show their true mettle. Don't be surprised if coach Subangkit spends the transfer window looking for a striker as goals have proved hard to come by for Jairon Feliciano and Bepito Brima.

The first choice striker do have a nuisance value which has allowed midfielders with an eye for goal like Robbie Gaspar and Bima Sakti to have a pop from range but you do rely on your strikers to work the keeper.

PSM have just sacked their coach Hanafing who says it ain't his fault the side have failed to score in any of their away games yet, blaming interference from those ablove him. He has been replaced by Tumpak Sihite who has previously worked at PSDS, Barito Putra and Persid Jember. It remains to be seen whether he is a stop gap until the transfer window.

Persib v Persebaya

Danurwindo has done a good job working on his leaky old defence with the result they have now conceded four goals in their last eight game and now sit 5th.

Their fans, known as Bonek, have just been banned from travelling to away games. Again. Disturbances away to Pelita Jaya, while already under a travelling embargo, didn't go down to well with the powers that be.

Unfortunately the decision was taken too late to stop numbers of Persebaya fans, estimated at between 500 and 1,500, from travelling to Bandung and while some were already in the West Java city yesterday, others got caught up in a punch up in Solo while one fan also dide after falling from a train. Sadly an all too common occurance.

Oh yeah, the game. Suchao Nuchnum will probably play his last game for Persib at the Jalak Harupat tonight as his team will look for a third win in eight games. Scant return for a heavy pre season investment on players.

Coach Jaya Hartono has used international Budi Sudarsono sparingly this season, as did Sriwijaya during the second half of last season which quite franly confuses the hell out of me. Gonzales has been struggling to make a mark this season, just three goals, yet when the two of them lined up for Persik they were like poetry with bandy legs and buck teeth.

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