My UFL Starting XI

I have been asking UFL fans to vote for their starting eleven, five reserves (allowed by the league), and head coach. Here are my choices.

Forwards:

Phil Younghusband and Joo Young Lee

Midfielders:

Jake Morallo, William Guerridon, Prince Mark Boley, Emelio Caligdong

Defenders:

Jason Sabio, Roxy Dorlas, Jerry Barbaso, Anton del Rosario

Goalkeeper:

Saba Garmaroudi

Reserves:

Ruben Doctora Jr., James Younghusband, Jonas Romero, Yong Jae Pi, Tats Mercado

Coach:

Juan Cutillas

My choices:

Forwards: Phil Younghusband. Probably the biggest scoring threat this country has to offer. Industrious on the offensive end. Scores some incredible goals. Can leave him up there as target man. But Phil has a poor percentage in successful makes.

Joo Young Lee

This guy is like a ninja. So deceptive and quiet. He doesn’t take too many shots and his success rate must be off the charts.

Midfielders: I chose athletes with boundless energy and who can race up and down the field. Prerequisites are they have speed, they think of passing before taking shots. Plus, they can all finish.

Defenders: I chose players who are mobile, with good speed, and can link up on the attack. The throw-ins by Anton del Rosario and Jason Sabio are an advantage.

Goalkeeper: When healthy there is no finer goalkeeper. Able to stop the most difficult of shots.

The formation:

The formation is a 4-4-2 on defense but when on the attack, they form a diamond in the middle and a stopper-sweeper formation in the back. In the summer of 2011, I saw Dipolog coach Reggie Jukes use Jerry Barbaso in a novel way – as a stopper that would bring up the ball. And it worked as Dipolog’s U-23 team advanced all the way from the qualifiers to the quarterfinals. Jerry was quick enough to join the attack and to go back down on defense.