Sunday, July 07, 2024
There Is Nothing As Shit As Second Place
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| There is nothing as shit as 2nd place |
As I contemplate the new Liga 1 season, I was checking through clubs and their new season and was struck by the comings and goings at Madura United.
Without doubt, they've just had the best season in their short history (well, since rebranding and moving to Madura). They led Liga 1 for a few weeks and finished in the top 4 which qualified them for a place in the Championship Series. Defeating Borneo in the semi-final they came up against a rampant Persib in the final, losing heavily over two legs and missing out on a first ever title. Their reward though is a place in the AFC Challenge League (formerly known as the AFC Cup).
After such a season, most clubs would seek to perhaps add a couple of players to strengthen a couple of key areas but essentially go forward with what they had. But not in Indonesia and not at Madura United. The coach who led them to runners up has returned to Brazil to be replaced by a familiar name, Widodo Cahyono Putro and the squad which arguably over achieved has been eviscerated.
The following players have been released or not had their contracts renewed according to Skor.
Malik Risaldi, Francisco Rivera, Anwar Rifai, Andrian Casvari, Iksan Lestaluhu, Salim Tuharea, Dodi Alexvan Djin, Guntur Ariyadi, Dalberto Luan, Cleberson Martins, Hugo Gomes, Lucas Frigeri, Satria Tama, Wawan Hendrawan, Novan Sasongko, Ricki Ariansah, Fachruddin Aryanto, Jacob Mahler, Riyatno Abiyoso, Lerby Eliandry, Raihan Febriana
That is quite the culling, isn't it? It's also par for the course in Indonesia. There are no 'projects' or long term goals or aims. Mikel Arteta with his single FA Cup would have been long gone in the pressure cooker of coaching hot seats, no matter the size of the club.
Obviously, from this distance it is hard to tell what goes on behind the scenes at a club and this isn't meant as digging the dirt on one particular football club. Madura has never been a football hotbed and what they have achieved since taking over from Pelita Jaya/Persipasi Bandung Raya back in 2016 has been nothing short of phenomenal, especially last season.
But, as someone brought up on English football and an Arsenal fan, the lack of stability either on the field or in the dug out continues to gnaw. For many, Wenger had lost his mojo following the 2005 FA Cup Final when they needed penalties to beat Manchester United. The fluidity and magic had gone. But Arsenal fans stuck with the manager and the team. It wasn't until 2008 and the Gallas hissey fit at Birmingham that I turned against him. That's three years. Indeed, until 2018 when we were finally put of our misery that he finally left. many felt he deserved a second chance, a third chance and so on.
But that patience doesn't exist across South East Asia, or Chelsea. Persipura had it under Jacksen F Thiago. SAFFC had it with Richard Bok. But they are the exceptions which prove the rule.
Everywhere, victory on Saturday means a coach and his players can prepare for the next game. Fail to win and, well, who knows?
Yes, second place is shit. But isn't it worth a second chance?
# posted by Me @ 3:50 AM 
