Tacticaly outdated HM outclassed by The old enemy on home soil

Yang Berbahagia Dato K Rajagobal was flying high since 2009, and his success in Laos gave some new momentum on local football to rise again. And followed by the unthinkable 2010 AFF victory in Jakarta further endorsed his philosophy who started the revolution with the national under 16 team. Since then, he seems to work on his own way, and the reluctance to change the style of play is exactly what i am going to write tonight. This is because i care for my national team.

And he was brought down to earth yesterday by the old enemy Singapore on our own backyard...the reality starts to bite.

In 2010, there was no expectation, nobody care to take Malaysia seriously. We went to Jakarta without a numbers of supposedly 'core players'. Slaughtered in the first game, however went on unnotice by many and suddenly lifted the cup in a quite remarkable dramatic fashion.

Two years on, series of friendly matches saw some signs of stagnancy, where the formation of 4-4-2 remain as the catalyst of our game plan. The pattern of positioning, distribution of the ball also unchange. The selection of players for each position has been increasingly expected.

S Kunanlan for instance, has been playing as a left winger regularly for 2 or 3 years. During the game, there was no position exchange between him and fellow wide man from the opposite flanks. He will stay there on the left flank for the entire game. Very predictable.

The return of Aidil Zafuan means one of the two cup winning centre backs have to be sacrificed. For me, this was the starting point, the solidity of the back four has been broken. A returning player should compete for his place instead of given an automatic spot. An automatic spot in the national team for a player who played in second division added more insult to the rest. The dressing room harmony could be an unknown issue for the public. But if it is, the damage done could be unreconcilable.

Skipper Safiq Rahim is another untouchable asset. Unchallenge, his call up to the squad means that they will be no other attacking playmaker in the squad. Dato build his team around Safiq. His limited style of cross field passes is now very common for south east asian teams. Lack of pace, lack of physical presence, and make things worse, his form has been declining in recent weeks. No healthy rivalry in the squad has put him in a very relax and complacent situation.

Besides talking about personel, the formation used by Dato was also very predictable. Flat 4-4-2 with the creativity much coming from Nurshahrul, the rest was easily read by Baihaki and the gangs.

No real penetration on the lions defence as they quickly defending in numbers once the ball reach Wan Zack or Kuna. Either flanks were well shut, as the two hardworking midfielders in Harris Harun and Mustafic always helping the fullbacks to clamp the threat from wide arears.

When supplies from the flanks were limited, the chances to get the ball into the area has been decreasing. That desperate situation forced Safee Sali to come deep just to collect passes.

For me, outdated tactics, identical personel and Maybe dressing room unrest could be the factor for this defeat. I just hope the national team set up could consider radical changes for the next game. We need the 3 points very badly.