Saturday, August 20, 2011

5 Things we learned from the PFF-Smart Club National Championship Finals

1st Leg: Teknika FC 3 - 0 San Beda FC

1. The Teknika FC players looks a (hell) lot like the Global Smartmatic players
There can often be a problem when people follow the letter of the law (or agreement) and not the principle behind it. It actually becomes quite funny, in a farce sorta way. Sadly, farce is not my kind of comedy. In a backroom somewhere, a person thought up "I know! Let's change the name of the team, then we can play!" Take note, they did not even go to the extent of changing uniforms. REALLY?

2. Not having both YHusbands on the game had a direct diminishing impact on the quality of the football
I am not the biggest fans of both brothers, but I yield that they are quality footballers who inserts a certain upgrade to whatever match they play. Having them both on the stands today was a loss to the fans and the game who sorely missed that accurate through ball from James or that surprisingly quick first step from Phil.


3. The officiating remains wanting
I could not believe that red cards did not fly during a dying minute melee where one Smart players REPEATEDLY (yes, 3 times) shoved the referee. In what football universe that not an automatic red card.. I don't know. To my knowledge (but I am no expert), contact with the referees are strictly forbidden; a touch on the ref's shoulder is an automatic warning, and putting your hands across the ref to face you is a red. The shove would then have to be.. Terrible.. Terrible non-call.

4. Bringing foreign players into a league/game will not necessarily increase the local players' game level...
..it could also decrease the said foreign players game level. Life kinda works both ways like that. The foreign players on this game did not show the same dominance I have grown accustomed to seeing from them in the UFL.

5. Misagh was a shadow of his (Weis' perceived potential) self on this game
It almost felt like Misagh was expecting to be on the receiving side of a much higher level of football rather than freely imposing his will on a club level match. He just could not be in the right place at the right time for passes directed at him or for breaks through the San Beda back line. He is possibly playing too high as well, on what seemed to be a lone striker role (you would think that Izzo would be a more suitable player for this role). The problem with having a quality lone striker is, there is such an imperative to have a dominating midfield player who can deliver a cross or through ball consistently. Not once did he create for himself, and that is almost a requirement without the consistent midfield delivery. You have to trust me on this, I'm a Chelsea fan and we have a player named Torres.