My last post on the Australia vs Malaysia game, I coined it as a feast to behold. Yeah it was a feast! Feast of goals! Seeing one of the top keepers in our region, conceding 5 goals, only one word can describe it all, SHAMBOLIC!
Khairul Fahmi Che Mat shouldn't be blamed. Our defense played like the India defenders who defensed aimlessly against South Korea in the 2011 Asian Cup Group Stages at Qatar. The quartet of Asrarudin Putra, Mahali Jasuli, Muslim Ahmad and veteran Norhafiz Zamani Misbah were in tatters against Australia who mostly fielded their reserve side.
K.Rajagopal will surely be scratching his head on how to rectify this situation and I've always had a feeling that the team will be thrashed as his squad selection was pretty funny this time around. King Raja left our skipper Safiq Rahim, winger, Amirulhadi Zainal and playmaker, Ashaari Shamsuddin from his squad.
Wanting to test new players against the Oceania giants, I think should always instill this thought in himself. When you play an A International friendly game, it helps you to rake in ranking points and in Malaysia's case, we need points to get a higher ranking(we are ranked together with, Fiji!). Thus, the need to bring your best players for this kind of game, IT'S A MUST!! (Unless your ranked like Spain, then you can bring the Reuben's and Kallang Tie's la)
Australia were able to rest their top lads like Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton, Scott McDonald, and Mark Scwarzer as their reserves proved to be a class above than the Malaysian squad. I knew defeat was looming for the team but the nature of their defeat was unacceptable! We were worst than 'JAGUH KAMPUNGS!'
I've never fancied Asrarudin as he is overrated and against Australia, he proved me right! Looking at the highlights and comments from sports writers, the Malaysian players were outlasted, outnumbered and some claimed that the weather took its toll on them(acceptable reason but 5-0! come on lah!) What has happened to the team that was once acknowledged by Rio Ferdinand on twitter? Have they lost their steam? Popularity took its toll on them? Some many questions can be raised from the debacle against Australia.
Hopefully from now on, FAM will plan their friendlies and I think, we should start small and rake in the ranking points. Facing the likes of Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Palestine would do a world of wonders. If we manage to beat these teams, psychologically, the players will tend to have the feel food factor and when they face bigger sides, it would be helpful! Starting small is the key for our squad and if nothing is done, hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup will fade away!
When I was reading the The Star today, I came across a column in which Eric Samuel stated that the Malaysian squad was barely good enough to be Jaguh Kampung! I've got to agree him, the truth does hurt! According to him, the national team were not only outclassed but were made the laughing stock! From regional champions to comedy pieces! Even Vijaykanth, Ramarajan and T Rajendar would have done better against the Australians( By the way, they are Tamil Film superstars in their own rights!)
Eric claimed that the substandard league that we have in our country is the cause for the thrashings and shambolic performances of our players. I've always been reading articles about our league and I've got to say the latest standings of clubs according to IFFHS is just unacceptable! Perak is higher ranked Jeju United and FC Busan! After 1999, our league and our teams have been below par and teams from other regions from of Asia would have easily thrashed our clubs!(sorry to say this, but this is the FACT!)
FAM Competition Committee is solely to be blamed for this as they are constant format changes, players rulings and fixture changes have affected the standard of our football. The management of clubs have been terrible except for Kelantan who have been a force to be reckoned after Tan Sri Annuar Musa became the president! Perak is also slowly coming back to the fore and I'm just praying that the momentum continues.
FAM has to be consistent when it comes to our league as this is where we uneart talents and at the same time raise the standard of our football. Look at the Djarum Super Liga, S League and Thai League! Their national teams have qualified for the group stages of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers! If you asked, why they have qualified? Look at their league and our league! Enough said! You evaluate it for yourself!
The Malaysian Super League needs a FINAL REVAMP and it should be a good one! Whether it's the publicity or the quality of games, FAM should look it on the whole and try to make colossal changes. I've got to agree with Tan Sri Annuar Musa who said that the league needs a rebranding and It's bout time, that we do that! We've got a big sponsorship from Atsro, so use it wisely and make things click! I'm sure the fans would also be craving for a league which is on par with the other leagues in the SEA region!
Furthermore, our players need to train in better pitches and if this is fixed, players would be technically good and they would be playing good football. Look at Japan and South Korea, they have such great technical players as they have been trained in well nourished pitches and thanks to their pitches, they can easily acclimatise in European conditions. In Perak itself, we have terrible pitches and with these pitches, we can't breed top class players!
If you were to ask me, I would continue my rantings but this shall do for now! It's sad to see our beloved football in Malaysia is on a PLATEAU or shall I say, in the midst of CRUMBLING UNDER PRESSURE! We should look at every avenue to improve the situation and in my opinion, our football should be on another level. We have got raw talent and we should turn them into STARS in our might. I feel that K.Rajagopal is still the man for the National team but if he rectifies his squad selection and at the same time work with FAM to rectify the situation in Malaysia, slowly but surely, we will be able to repeat the glory days we had in the 70s and 80s!
Avinesh says: If i had watched the game, surely the new flat screen TV in my house would have been damaged.. If watching the highlights was GUT WRENCHING, imagine the game!! The whole neighborhood would be looking at my house..Luckily Venkat and the team saved me!! LOL
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