Jakarta Casual

My first look at the 'new look' SLeague and to be honest I came away fairly impressed. It wasn't  a bad game, far from it, but perhaps for the first time since I have been watching the SLeague there was something approaching a proper atmosphere on the terraces. OK so the official attendance of 2,416 may be a tad on the high side, I couldn't see how many people were in the upper tier, but there were large numbers in the lower tier and both sets of fans were kicking up a percussion led racket. Not a fan of that kind of stuff myself but hey this is Singapore and it is a big improvement on recent seasons.

Geylang were comfortable winners and continued their unbeaten start to the season with goals in each half by new signing Branko Cubrilo and Fariz Abdul Hameed moving the Eagles into second place behind early leaders Albirex Niigata.

New Geylang coach Hasrin Jailani has built an impressive, strong squad at Bedok with the likes of Isa Halim, Gabriel Quak and Sahil Suhaimi starting last night's game on the bench while on the field another new addition Daniel Bennett, wearing an unfamiliar number eight shirt, put in a typical performance at the back, letting his work do the talking against a pacy Young Lions strike force.

All eyes have been on Tampines in the early days of the new season but it might be worth watching how the Eagles soar as they squad bed down and get used to each other.