Saturday, September 11, 2010
Who's the best team in SLeague?
The post heading was a familiar chant from the massed ranks of SAFFC cheerleaders, about 12 of them, as they won SLeague after SLeague in recent years. But not this year. Instead we are looking at a three horse race with five games remaining and the possibility of a foreign team winning the trophy for the first time in the history of the SLeague.
| Etoile FC | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 43 | 18 | 25 | 58 |
| Tampines Rovers FC | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 55 | 22 | 33 | 57 |
| Home United FC | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 56 |
Tampines stunning defeat at home to Etoile the other night has not ruled the Stags out of the race. It has just given the Frenchies, who started the season full of PR bravado but have since just let their football do the talking, an advantage till the next round of fixtures.
Etoile v Balestier Khalsa
Gombak United v Etoile
Etoile v SAFFC
Etoile v Young Lions
Albirex Niigata v Etoile
As the cliche says there are no easy games in football and that is certainly true for Etoile. In any usual season the only time Balestier Khalsa are within eight points of SAFFC is after three games have been played and they managed a 0-0 at home to Woodlands. But this is a different, more doughty, team strengthened at the back by Daniel Hammond and Paul Cunningham.
Up front Rivaldo Costa has netted nine of their 21 league goals and has been the undoing of many a team this campaign. If the Frenchies get complacent it's worth pointing out that back in 2007, or was it 08, surprise away wins by the Tigers helped end Tampines and Home United's title charges.
Gombak United are a pain in the arse it has to be said. Just look at their record in their last eight games. WLWLDDWL. Darren Stewart's lads have the second best defence in the league efficiently marshalled by the experienced Mahmadou Bah, the highly impressive Obadin and with Goran Subara playing just in front. Who knows which Gombak will turn up against the Frenchies.
Woodlands v Tampines
Tampines v Home United
Tampines v Geylang
Sengkang Punggol v Tampines
Tampines v Balestier
That game against Home United will not make or break either team's season. The league is so tight that victory for either side will just be a temporary advantage though I imagine alarm bells will be ringing at Tampines Stadium should the Stags fail to collect three points. Following on from the defeat against Etoile a loss would initiate a lot of soul searching among the squad.
Home United v Geylang United
Tampines v Home United
Home United v Balestier Khalsa
Gombak United v Home United
Home United v SAFFC
You don't need me to tell you that Home have got one right bastard of a run in if they are to win the league. They were my tip at the start of the season and a run of 13 games unbeaten suggests they have the momentum and if they are to win the league then they have gotta beat the big boys.
Etoile shouldn't be allowed to win the league. They would not be allowed to enter the Asian Champions League and the team coming second would enter anyway. Etoile are an e-Bay with legs, the players are looking for fresh starts in the region and they have no real attachment to Singapore. They have been a breath of fresh air in the league, especially in the first few months, but it is in the interests of Singapore football they don't win the SLeague.
Instead I hope we get to see either Home or Tampines break up the monotony of the SAFFC dominated league. Both teams have won it twice, Home in '99 & '03, Tampines in '04 & '05.
I went for Home at the start of the season because I thought their young local players would be hungry for success and recognition after the exodus of big name players to Indonesia a year back. But Tampines have the 'feel' of a real football club. Plus when you're drunk you can write Tampenis by mistake and that's funny.
Whoever wins it has been an exciting SLeague campaign with teams and players filling gaps of more established names who have staggered or fallen by the wayside.
# posted by Me @ 9:12 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
..... you'll know just how much I chuckled, then, when I travelled down Jalan Tampinis in KL. Amazing, but True.
Phnar, Phnar, Chortle, chortle, Guffaw, Guffaw ...
Phnar, Phnar, Chortle, chortle, Guffaw, Guffaw ...
# posted by 
: 6:16 PM
: 6:16 PM
apparently during the japanese occupation that's how tampines was spelt.
wonder what they did to phuket?
Post a Comment
wonder what they did to phuket?
<< Home
