Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Raging Bull
No-one can explain football. Where you have a relatively even playing field where a team's finances and quality cancel each other out then anything can happen. And that has to be a good thing surely? Or Shirley?
It's boring when the same teams dominate year after year. Teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, SAFFC. So when games become more uncertain, when the supposed big teams start losing more often, that has to be a good thing hasn't it? For the fans, for the neutrals?
Let's have a look at Gombak United in the SLeague. Coming into this season hopes were high that the steady team built by Darren Stewart over the last few years would finally start to achieve their potential.
They lost last night to Beijing Guoan 1-0. They lost their last game 1-0 against Young Lions. Before that they had won three straight games. In fact, have a gander at their record this season.
LWLDWWLWLWDLDWWWLL
Played 18, won 8, drawn 3, lost seven. Their 14 goals conceded is the second best in the league but it means nothing. Not when you have managed just 19. When they go one nil down you get the feeling the game is over, on five occassions they have lost 1-0.
They are the only team to have defeated Etoile this season yet they have lost to Woodlands Wellington and Balestier Khalsa!
How you view the Bulls this season probably depends on whether you are a half full or half empty kinda guy. Losing two of your top strikers, Kingsley Njokou and Gabriel Obotal, at the start of the season is always going to set you back. You don't just tear up your pre season plans and go out and sign strikers who can bring you 30 goals in a season overnight.
In that light coach Darren Stewart will be not too displeased at the way things are turning out. Frustrated yes and incredibly so given the margin of the defeats, and the flurry of red cards his team have attracted, but the in the big scheme of things he will be looking at the table and thinking things ain't so bad.
But if only...
# posted by Me @ 4:50 AM 
