Monday, October 18, 2010
ISL Look Back
I was away for the weekend hence no real coverage of the events in the Indonesia Super League. It's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
It's pointless reading anything into the ISL standings until at least four games have been played by most clubs. The reason is that teams play two games either at home/away and then two away/home. Good teams, teams like Arema and Persipura, don't have much trouble but for others, like Persiwa, while it looks good when they lose two home games and are at the bottom of the table it means zilch until they play some home games when they never drop points.
The big game at the weekend saw last season's 3rd and 4th placed teams do battle at the Siliwangi Stadium in Bandung. It was Bandung's 200th birthday, the jammed streets were reason enough for me not to make the journey, and its football team joined in the festivities thumping Persiba 5-1 in a game billed as a Singaporean Reunion.
After a stunning 4-1 defeat to the old men of Deltras it was vital to get three points in their first home game of the season. Coach Jovo Cuckovic would have been delighted with the margin of victory if not some careless defending that saw an unmarked Aldo Baretto squeeze between Nova Arianto and Markus Horison, Indonesian internationals both, to bring Persiba back into the game.
Persib very possibly have the best squad in the league. Certainly if the arrival of Hilton Moreira is confirmed they will boast an attack that is probably only matched by champions Arema. And, ironically, it was a former Arema bit part player, Rahmat Affandi, who scored one of the second half goals that blitzed a useful looking Persiba.
In midfield Hariono was at his Billy Bremner/Roy Keane best. Alongside the stylish, not to say iconic, Eka Ramdani, Persib have a perfectly balanced midfield that possesses both grit and style. For those who dismiss Hariono as a one trick pony witness his 25 yard drive that had the crossbar shaking for minutes after.
Persib's problems are Indonesia's. Defensively they close down at dead ball situations and the lack of communication between Nova and Markus at the corner that led to the goal with have coach Alfred Riedl shaking his head in disbelief. But for AFF Cup rivals it's nothing new as similar frailties had cost Indonesia dear against Singapore and Thailand in 2008.
Despite the 5-1 drubbing Persiba were no mere guests at someone else's party. First half especially they knocked the ball round well with Robertinho looking good.
Arema rattled four past Persibo to leave the newly promoted side bottom of the table with just one point from their opening games. Their coach has been pretty vocal lately accusing others of attempting to fix their recent game against Persema, a game they lost 1-0 to a pen in the last minute.
But three goals and one point from their opening four games suggest Persibo start looking to their future. Samsul Arif scored but he won't be enough to stop the newcomers from struggling and much will be expected from Eugene Dadi, a former Ivory Coast international, who has heaps of experience to steady the ship.
Arema, like Persib, added wisely to their squad pre season but new players like TA Mushafry and Yongki Aribowo weren't needed as the old guard had enough in their tank to get past Persibo.
An interesting game between Sriwijaya and PSM saw visiting coach Robert Alberts upset at a controversial penalty given to the home team and converted by Ponaryo Astaman on 20'. Expect a few more contentious decisions before the season is out.
Sriwijaya have already added the Inter Island Cup and Community Shield to their expanding trophy cabinet and have their eyes firmly set on the ISL. Thierry Gathussi made his debut and was promptly booked; how often does that happen? While Keith Kayamba returned from injury as a sub for Astaman.
For PSM not such a good day at the office despite having former Sriwijaya man Richard Obiora up front. New signing Mitrovic Srecko got a taste of Indonesian discipline with a second yellow in three games meaning he will sit out the game with Persib this coming weekend.
Just as worrying perhaps for coach Robert Alberts is goals. Or lack thereof. Three in three works well when you're not conceding and Persib looked rampant second half. That's going to be a fascinating game between two famous clubs long fallen on hard times.
# posted by Me @ 6:42 PM 
