On that 2-2 draw between the Philippines & Indonesia

This one says it all. For flag and country. The Younghusband brothers to the emotional rescue.

Multiple Choice(s)

How do you really feel about that 2-2 draw between the Philippines and Indonesia?

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

The match between the Philippines and Indonesia that ended in a 2-2 draw left me:

       a)    Happy because we got a good result from Indonesia for the first time in ages.

      b)    Dissatisfied because we could have beaten the Merah Putih had we gone with our best   eleven to start the match.

      c)    Bewildered because I wonder if we are shooting ourselves in the foot with off-field issues.

      d)    Thinking that this is one step back and two steps forward.

      e)    All of the above.

I am not going to sugarcoat this. If I did, I am doing everyone a disservice. My answer is --- e) all of the above.

There’s that famous poster that appeared on the office wall of The X-Files’ Fox Mulder  where there’s a Unidentified Flying Object with a slogan that reads: “I want to believe.”

Well, I do believe in the Philippine Men’s National Football Team and let’s make that very clear. I have and always will. And I have been covering them for the longest time more than anyone not named Jack Biantan (my Back Four Bum mate Cedelf Tupas and I came on board almost around the same time). And that’s through the losing and teeth gnashing years, bud. What I want to believe is that last night’s 2-2 result was all part of the master plan. Really.

If previous to the match, the intention was to test the Azkals’ character, new tactics, and combinations on the field then I am fine with it. International friendlies after all are designed to give new call ups experience and exposure and for teams to try out new schemes.

To wit: the majority of the French national team was suspended following their disastrous 2010 World Cup stint and in their first international friendly, this time under Laurent Blanc, Les Bleus lost 2-1 to Norway. The French public knew that it was a different team on the pitch but the result was nevertheless galling and unacceptable.

With regards to the Azkals, head coach Hans Michael Weiss has the right and responsibility to play whom he feels is best. Although I may second guess some of the decisions some of the time, I will respect that. Conversely, the second year national head coach must live with the feedback, commentary, and repercussions of those decisions. It’s part and parcel of accepting praise and it cannot be a one way street.

My point is, if the coach feels that he is trying out new combinations should certain players be unavailable for the upcoming Suzuki Cup, then why are we not giving the locally based players a chance?

For sure I love the quality of Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara (he was great in last night’s match), Manny Ott, Paul Mulders, Stephan Schrock, and the others. But as we’ve seen, our club schedule differs from that of Europe. Most of the foreign-based players are not available when certain competitions come around. Are we certain that they will be available for the Suzuki Cup? As it is uncertain then why not work with the locally based players more? It makes more sense to utilize them more because they are readily available and that makes it easier to build cohesion.

I am not saying we do not include players like Cagara or Lucena but let’s go with a lineup that will train together for the next five months. Why don’t we borrow from the idea of Smart Gilas Pilipinas where that team was kept together for three years? We have done our scouting for players from all over the world and we already have what is close to our “Dream Team.” If there is anyone we are not sure of with their commitment let’s go with someone who can really commit.

Indonesia’s head coach Nil Maizar said that a huge advantage for his team is that all his players come from their local leagues and whether playing with or against each other that helps with familiarity.

On the other hand, many have left our local camp angry and swearing not to play for the national team again citing biases and the lack of opportunities. Anto Gonzales played well in the camp. He was repeatedly praised by the coach from what I was told. So why was he not there? If you ask me, he would have helped last night’s starting eleven by organizing their attack. He does that so well and shame on you if you missed Loyola’s recent match with Geylang in the Singapore Cup where he did much more than was ever shown on television and I kid you not. That is why during the first match of the last UFL Cup between Stallion and Diliman, the latter’s game plan was to “take out” Gonzales. He is one of three pure playmakers in the United Football League outside Pachanga’s Ousseynou Diop and Global’s Angel Guirado (I’d make a case for Stallion’s Francis Gustilo but his confidence and form have dropped sharply since the UFL Cup).

Lexton Moy has done a great job of bring up that ball yet he has sat of late. Marwin Angeles has talent but last night was lacking in ideas and resoluteness. Manny Ott tried to bring it up but where were the receivers? Obviously, Ott works so well with Stephan Schrock in the midfield.

Although we dominated the first half, we flirted with disaster before the Younghusband brothers’ emotional rescue.

Sure. Coach’s decision. But mind all of you, in last night’s post-match press conference, both sides said that they will all have to live with the results.

Should players tweet (imagine that “word” is now a “verb) before a match?

      a)    Yes, but if it is related to their “job” then it must exercised under strict guidance.

      b)    No, if not, then they deal with the repercussions of what they tweet.

      c)    Leave them be. It’s a free country.

On the morning of match day, the Azkals’ Neil Etheridge tweeted that he was “just disappointed that I won’t be starting today.” According to Bob Guerrero and Craig Burrows, fans began to tweet their feelings and thoughts about the switch.

When Stephan Schrock suddenly left the Philippines due to a family emergency, the PFF managed that so well that it hardly dripped with any speculation and controversy. By the time, the official statement about his departure came out on the Azkals website, the entire media team of the match had managed the situation well.

When rumors spread that the Younghusband brothers were not starting that added to all the pre-match speculation.

I believe that is something that should be kept under wraps and could be a pre-game distraction that the team and the supporters do not need. 

The night before the match, I blundered my way into that info about the goalkeeping situation. While lining up for the buffet dinner, I asked, “Hey, where’s Neil (I was supposed to talk to him)?”

Every one fell silent with all eyes on me. “Etheridge. You know? The big dude who plays for Fulham?” Still silence.

Roland Muller, who was next to me, said in a hushed tone, “Uh, I… am starting tomorrow…”

I felt like an idiot as a knot developed somewhere in my stomach. “Hey, guys. I hear the pasta is real good. Let’s eat!” So I sat next to Rafa Garcia talking about the Indonesian team’s late night forays and their search for the best lechon in Manila. Nevertheless, I told myself that I am not going to tweet or write anything about who is starting and who is not (I already knew the brothers were not starting as well). That would have been highly irresponsible on my part.

I felt and still feel bad for Neil. He is the country’s number one goalkeeper. I remember the day he took over from Louie Casas at goal during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers and you could see the confidence in the lad. I came away saying (and I am sure so did many others), “Damn. We have a world class keeper who can tend the nets for a long time to come.” Etheridge kept three clean sheets in his three matches and it was a smashing debut for him. He’s saved our bacon on many occasions with terrific goal tending. Sure there have been howlers but it happens to the best of them.

I have the jerseys of many national players but the first one I had with a name on the back was “Etheridge.”

In his return to action following the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, Neil had his friends from England in town to watch him… come off the bench and then concede two goals.

Imagine that. Muller did so well and Neil comes in and Indonesia scores two goals. That has to hurt and I felt so crushed for the dude. What does that do for his confidence? Imagine him waiting and waiting for a chance with Fulham and in the one team where he’s starting and has done a fantastic job and this happens.

To cut to the chase and to return to the question, maybe the players should not be allowed to tweet about game matters. I have no idea of how matters are communicated to the players but if the players’ reactions are any indication, they are not. This is where I believe that national team manager Dan Palami should step in. I know he has been so busy of late, but he can pull this team together.

You know in those days of 2010 when this team was battling the PFF, Dan was the glue that held that team together. Without his resources, his insistence on breaking down barriers between the foreign and local based players, his shielding the team from politics, and his belief in the team, this current spotlight on football in the Philippines would have not happened. If the players were troubled about something, Dan was Mr. Fix It.

A coach’s intuition is something that can work both good and bad. In a cross sport reference, remember when then-Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson called for Bulls rookie Toni Kukoc to take the last shot with 1.8 seconds left and Game 3 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals tied at 102-all with the New York Knicks. The Bull’s star, Scottie Pippen was incensed that the play was not designed for him and he decided to take a seat on the bench. Kukoc hit the game winning shot and Pippen was pilloried for being selfish.

More recently, former Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish was questioned for his late introduction of Andy Carroll in the FA Cup Finals against Chelsea where the former team lost, 2-1. Carroll was playing well of late and his entry galvanized Liverpool. But it was too late for the Reds to further cut into the lead of the Blues.

Hey, it’s an imperfect world and no one can read the future, but certainly, there are some things that can be managed such as communicating matters better that could disrupt team harmony.

I’ll leave this question (and with all due respect to the players on our national team) with that old World War II slogan of “loose lips sink ships” in reference to people loosely talking about troop movements, gun emplacements etcetera etcetera etcetera. Let’s keep certain things in the family. My answer is a) Yes but under strict guidance.

What does this draw say about our national team?

      a)    We still have work to do.

      b)    We are getting there. At least we aren’t getting blown out.

      c)    We are competitive and now have a fighting chance.

      d)    All of the above.

My answer is once more -- d) all of the above.

Consider this first, in the last few matches against our Suzuki Cup foes, we lost 2-0 to Singapore, drew twice with Malaysia and now drew with a young Indonesian team who came away looking like winners last night.

The first half reminded me of the way we played against Vietnam during the 2010 Suzuki Cup – sit back and hit them on the counter.

Indonesia was playing defensively in the first half. We were aggressive and looking dangerous. However, there was no serious build-up and the only ideas we had on offense were a chip over Indonesia’s back four or a long ball.

Clearly, this Merah Putih side was beatable yet they scored first. They had few opportunities yet they made the most out of it. The right back position – just as it was against Malaysia – gave us all sorts of problems. Patrick Wanggai was left unmarked from there and Irfan Bachdim outsprinted everyone from that position as well.

This match should serve as a lesson not only to the coaching staff but also to the players that we really have to get our act together when playing for the country. Windows are open only for so long before it closes (but then again another one will open).

It’s an exciting time for Philippine football. Interest is growing and the sport will never look back. It’s great that we are no longer on the receiving end of blowouts. And for the first time, we are expecting wins.

As Coach Mike said in the day prior to the match, this is dangerous because we all have to be patient. Point taken.

At the end of the day, it is more than putting a “Dream Team” on the pitch. There is so much that needs doing and fixing from within.

And like everyone else, I remain a faithful supporter.

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The day before the match, while watching the press conference for the contract signing between Puma and the Azkals, I sat beside Coach Mike to talk about stuff. There he mentioned (and not off the record I have to say) about making surprise starts and non-starts the following day. Although he didn't say who he hoped that people took national team business a little more seriously. I tried to probe a little more but he said I'll just have to wait and see it unfold. I still think a coach makes decisions based on what he feels right. I hope I made it very clear above that these things have to be communicated well. If not, it's a recipe for disaster.


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There are many more things that cannot be said at the moment. All I can say is -- in time.