It’s getting increasingly harder to write these previews because I think barring a freak run of form, our Sailors have already got the league title in the bag. If you’re a betting person, you’d by now have realised that Singapore Pools has stopped taking bets on who is going to win the SPL title. I feel like if even we feel it, the players must also be feeling it.
Super Long Season
It has been a super long season due to this year being a transitional year for the SPL. On top of that, our Sailors have also been involved in two continental competitions, the Shopee Cup and the ACL2. If you take any local club, such as Young Lions for example, they will have played 26 games in the league, and 4 games in the Singapore Cup by now.
As for our Sailors though, the number of games has really added up. League – 27 games. Singapore Cup – 4 games. Shopee Cup – 5 games. ACL 2 – 12 games. That is a total of 48 games.
Not only do the players have many miles in their legs this season, the number of air miles racked up will also add to their physical and mental fatigue. It’s probably fair to assume that everyone is just waiting for the ACL2 final – which sounds like a crazy thing to say considering we have not won the league yet (mathematically), and we are only in the semi-finals of the Singapore Cup.
I think the performances have shown it too – there is a huge difference in intensity when we play our ACL2 games, as compared to our domestic games. Is it deliberate because we are saving our best for the ACL2? Or is it subconscious? I don’t have the answer, but this lack of intensity has seen us drop 4 points in the last 4 league games. I don’t think that’s likely to change tomorrow for a game against the Young Lions, but the hope is that it will be good enough to deal with them.
Young Lions Rusty?
Due to postponements, amazingly Young Lions have only played 1 game since we last thrashed them 8-0 at the beginning of the month. In that time, we have played 4 times, and taken a trip to Sydney. That 1 game they played? A dour 0-0 draw with Albirex more than 2 weeks ago. They might be rusty, and there for the taking.
In the previous preview, I cautioned against taking them lightly, because of their improved form. In the end, the game turned out to be quite easy after a first-half red card for their keeper. This time round, they are unlikely to have the services of Danish Qaayum and Raoul Suhaimi, who have been listed as doubts by the SPL website.
Given their lack of games, it is difficult to read too much into the Young Lions’ form.
Maxime Lestienne’s Form
Ever since Maxime Lestienne returned from injury, he has huffed and puffed but amazingly, still doesn’t have a goal or assist to show for it. There have been chances though.
Against Sydney, he snatched at a chance that he usually takes, and would have given us a precious 1-0 away lead. Against Albirex, his pinpoint cross found Shawal right in front of goal, but he somehow missed. He also had a long-range curler flash just wide of the post.
For any other player, drawing a blank in 3.5 games might seem pretty normal. However, this is Maxime Lestienne we are talking about, our best player and goals/assists machine. He has 12 goals and 20 assists in the league alone.
We think this is just a small blip, and he should be back to his best soon, but the question for Coach Ranko must be whether he continues to play Maxime through this patch until he gets his confidence back, or if he preserves his legs for bigger matches.
Conclusion
Let’s hope we get a strong statrt so that we can rest players for the Geylang game. They will undoubtedly be tougher opponents, but we’ll want to get the win there too to really take the pressure off the Balestier game that happens right before the Sharjah game.
Hariss is suspended for this one, but I think with our depth that shouldn’t be an issue.
COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE!
My predicted line-up
Izwan Mahbud
Chris van Huizen, Lionel Tan, Bailey Wright, Toni Datkovic, Sergio Carmona
Hami Syahin, Song Ui-Young
Maxime Lestienne, Lennart Thy, Bart Ramselaar
Score Prediction
Joseph and I predict the scores and track our success in a table. Stay tuned to find out who is the prediction king!
Eddy’s prediction: Sailors 3 Young Lions 0
Joseph’s prediction: Sailors 4 Young Lions 0
Written by Eddy Hirono
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