It would seem easy to pinpoint the
reason for the Philippines awful first-half performance against
Singapore in their semi-final clash last Saturday. The 'reason' was
consequently withdrawn at half-time for a more even tempered,
possession-minded player which led to a marked improvement in the
second half. Contrary to popular belief however, this was no eureka
moment despite what the TV pundits say, and should be no case for
optimism. What this “improved” second half performance was
successful at doing was mask the squad's on-field troubles.
It is time to dispel some perceptions
on a game which, bias aside, was really rather dull.
---
1.) Singapore did not dominate the
Philippines in the first half
If the Azkals kept busy messing up for
most of the first half, the Red Lions were just as terrific at being
largely unspectacular. They were wary of the Philippines' tendency to
dink-it-to-win-it so they kept a deep, solid line unbreachable by
cheap balls over the top. They were also aware of the Azkals' ability
on the break so they were reluctant to get numbers on the other half
of the field. Singapore's primary mode of attack was to launch the
ball from the back and hope a Red boot finds the ball behind Rob
Gier's heavy legs. It almost happened for them, but the shot was
rather tame and Sacapano dealt with it accordingly. If Weiss thought
his team were cautious, the Lions had their hides insured and locked
in a deposit box in a Swiss bank. This turned the first half into an
unforgiving bore for the neutral.
2.) Angel Guirado is not a
trequartista/playmaker
The Azkals attempted to play a
dynamic 4-4-1-1 formation with Phil YB up top and Angel Guirado
behind him. The flanks were occupied by an eager Reichelt and a
tireless workman in James YB. It seems a worthy and relentless
attacking force but considering the two holding midfielders' lack of
creativity, the burden of ensuring possession and unlocking the
opponent's half was unsuitably Guirado's to bear. He is
capable of making an inventive pass from time-to-time as shown by his
neat pass to play in PYB for the Azkals' only memorable (half) chance
in the game, but he is not a
playmaker. He is a tireless bull, a less-refined and larger version
of Carlos Tevez, who bullies defenders into submission; not bring the
wingers in, or dazzle with sublime touch and composure before finding
a pass to an open teammate.
Still, Angel was
arguably the best player that night but the team failed to capitalize
on his strengths. His forward instincts drove the Azkals to play a
bastard 4-4-1.5-0.5 formation, creating a massive void behind the two
attacking players, and restricting PYB's movement. Once the ball was
with JYB, Reichelt, or any of the holding midfielders, ready forward
options were difficult to find so keeping possession definitely
became a challenge. Guirado's advanced positioning was an open
invitation for the Lions to simply mark the safe options and swarm
the ball carrier. Result: the Azkals lost the ball easily and more
often than they should've.
3.) What improved
second half?
What Barcelona FC
exemplifies and always emphasizes is to control ball possession is to
control the game, so much so that the whole world is starting to
believe it. This myth, reinforced by Barca's success, is particularly
the reason why everyone's been harping about the Azkals second half
performance and upbeat about the second leg. Marwin Angeles'
introduction changed the face of the game totally. Fine. But to call
it an improved performance only shows how horrible they were in the
first half. Controlling possession doesn't qualify as a good
performance. Just ask any Arsenal or Liverpool fan. Barca are just
simply that good. After all, only King Arthur was able to pull the
sword from the stone. To use possession as a criterion to judge that
bore-draw is like using shots-off-target as a tool for positive
analysis. It's pointless. The Philippines lacked incisive passing and
sharpness in the final third. They knocked the ball around in a
rather jittery manner as if they were 1-0 up and were waiting for the
whistle. Spoiler alert: they weren't.
4.) Singapore is a
dangerous, if limited side
I think someone
forgot to remind the Azkals that they should be a superior squad to
the Lions. For a squad composed of some players of European
second-league caliber, they do make it awfully difficult for
themselves against South-east Asian competition. Individual skill,
however, is usually secondary to team organization and Singapore was
a very, very disciplined side in contrast. They were tactically
astute and deserved to win this game away from home. They neutralized
the Azkals' attack and were more composed, almost making the Azkals
pay for their lapses. They also have Aleksander Duric who is
absolutely unmatchable in the air to add to the maturity and sound
decision making he gives to the Lions. If Singapore continue to
maximize their abilities and the Azkals are still at a loss as to
theirs, Wednesday night will be yet another semi-final exit for the
Philippines.
5.) de Jong isn't
the problem, instability is
Poor 'ol Jason de
Jong was practically villainized for his dismal first half showing.
No excuses, it really was awful, but it was just symptomatic of a
continually changing cast of characters for international games. The
Azkals' selection policy is as quick and fetishistic as the
Philippines' overseas labour drive, prioritizing perceived short term
success over a lengthy stable project. Even in light of this, the
benefit of the doubt would and should be given to the coaching staff
because they know their players the most. However, uncontrollable
circumstances of foreign clubs recalling their players (as in
Etheridge's case) and injuries aggravate this uncertainty, always
casting this doubt in a problematic perspective. I mean, what the
heck was the Peace Cup for? No one really knows which side or version
of the team would show up because it always is something new.
Saturday's tactical conundrum was a case-in-point. The team is in
constant flux and though they are getting better on paper, results on
the pitch are just as much to vary.
---
Wednesday
night, as of most of the Azkals' games so far, will be another Weiss
experiment with the inclusion of the now-available Jerry Lucena to
(quoting Weiss himself) “add kalma” to that mess of a midfield.
That could be very much a given but as to magically turning the
Azkals into a purposeful side overnight remains a big question.
Questions with regard to the Philippine football team have only been
successful at begetting more questions. It is this intrigue and
uncertainty which has guiltily kept a lot of us watching our group of
men slug it out for 90 minutes against the region's finest. For the
Filipino football fan, doubt and anxiety may be this week's general
theme but we'll be watching Wednesday's match. If not to get some
answers, then in the hopes to ask more questions.
As our
English friends are wont to say: It's the magic of the cup!
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