By Alder Almo
With the AFF Suzuki Cup fast approaching, the Philippine Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss is making sure he'll come up with a wide decision on who’ll be the Final 22.
The next couple of days and the upcoming friendly against Singapore in Cebu on Thursday next week will be critical for the players, who are aspiring to don the national colors in Bangkok, Thailand in the last week of the month.
“We have a very talented group here in the Philippines. I’ve been working with the group for almost two years. I don’t know, I have seen like what… 100 players,” said Weiss keeping his final list to his chest during the send-off party of the Azkals hosted by Suzuki Philippines last night at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Libis, Quezon City.
With the talent pool becoming deeper and the unstable schedule of the Fil-foreign talents from Europe, Weiss will decide on his Final 22 based on three criteria.
“My first criteria would be to ask what they have done in the past for Philippine football, what they have contributed to the success of the team and the sport,” Weiss said. “Second would be social interaction.”
The German coach said that “even a not so skilled player sometimes can do wonders.”
A firm believer of team spirit than individual talents alone, Weiss has proven this with the 1st Philippine Football Peace Cup title in September when a less stellar cast went on to sweep the four-nation tournament at home for the country’s first international football title in 99 long years.
The last criteria, which deemed to be the most critical, Weiss said is the fitness level of the players.
“That I will see in the next couple of days and the coming Singapore match on who are in the best shape."
Present last night were Azkals members Phil and James Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Lexton Moy, Chris Greatwich, Carli de Murga, Jason de Jong, Marwin and Marvin Angeles, Patrick Reichelt, Jeffrey Christiaens, Ian Araneta, Boogie Margarse, Juani Guirado and Anto Gonzales.
The 143rd-ranked Azkals, who are bunched in Group A featuring the top four teams in Southeast Asia, will face Thailand (146) on November 24, Vietnam (138) on November 27 and Myanmar (156) on November 30 at Bangkok, Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup.
philstar
First criteria is what the player has done for Philippine football?!? Is he fucking serious?!? Stephan Schrock has barely done anything for Philippine football, yet if he was available, he'd obviously get called up! With Etheridge becoming more unlikely to be available, Muller, just like Schrock, has barely done anything for Philippine football, will get called up and be first choice! His love child Marwin Angeles, who is domestic based and can barely get into Global FC's starting line-up, also has barely done anything for Philippine football, yet he's pretty much considered as a first choice midfielder!! Those are to name but a few!!
ReplyDeleteSecond is 'social interaction'..... how fucking ironic!!! There have been a number of players who have been labeled as prima donnas because they talk too much or are out and about a little too much and all that. Yet a criteria is 'social interaction'. LOL!!!! Weiss then goes to say that “even a not so skilled player sometimes can do wonders.” Bull fucking shit!!! So this must be why the likes of Margarse, Gener, Araneta, Caligdong, continue to get called up and why Palami likes to blabber far too often.
The only relevant criteria he has is the player's fitness! There's no criteria such as actual talent and tactical understanding/awareness. I say come 2013, we really should have a new coach, new manager, and just overall a new coaching staff!!! The national team needs fresh ideas but at the same time have some orthodox ideas and methods.
Spot on.
DeleteThat guys got some weird and strange criteria for selecting a player for the national squad. Makes me wonder how the likes of Gener, Araneta, and Margarse still continue to make the line up. They obviously dont have the gift of gab, are too shy to save their lives, and always lost on the pitch. I dont understand what criteria those guys fit in. So strange this beer guzzling, funny voiced, German coach.
we don't have the same brains man which tells us we don't have the same ways of thinking. let him do his job.
Deletethat's why we were stuck in the doldrums for so long because of idiots. now that we are up the ladder. give the coach a break. english is not his first language. 'social interaction 'could simply mean teamwork, 'contribution to the country' could simply mean how effectively he played for the country at the times he was given a chance. the only thing i don't agree with him is in the case of araneta who continues to get playing time. can't he find a better striker? margarse and gener? sometimes coaches (in any sport) add older players in their line-up for the youngsters to learn from especially discipline and attitude but actually he doesnt have any intention of fielding them. out of the 22 players, i think only 15 (?) can actually play in fifa rules
Delete^^ totally agree! i say the people who actually we need to give some slack is Coach and the rest of the staff. He's got no good command in english and he may have meant a different thing or two. he's been consistent with his choice of words but actually meant a different thing. sometimes, over analyzing things and what people say like what Anon 8Nov12 10:00 did makes him the more moronic here. you need to chill pare, really you have to.
DeleteChill? You people need to stop making excuses and stop kissing ass!!
DeleteWeiss is obviously German and therefore English is not his first language, but his English is perfectly fine! Therefore you can expect he means what he says and not something else as you people are making it out to be.
However, yes, Weiss has received a lot of unwarranted stick in the past. I'll even go as far as saying that to a certain extent, he deserves a contract extension irregardless of what happens in the Suzuki Cup. BUT, it's clear that he proven to be a bit unorthodox (not exactly in a good way) and inconsistent with his methods and choices therefore it would be better if he fucked off once his contract ends come January. Same thing for Palami. He can go fuck off as well and should just stick to his role as head of the national teams commitee and president of the Leyte FA.
With the resources available to coach Weiss for the last 2 years, i.e. truckloads of cash, planeloads of training trips and access to foreign professional players, PHI should easily be top dog among Asian emerging football nations.
ReplyDeleteIf the Azkals don't come home with the Suzuki Cup Herr Weiss will be the one who's done nothing for Philippine football.
That's just idiotic on so many levels especially that last sentence!! But ya, I would still like to see a new coach and new manager!!
Deleteblah blah blah! it's you who can;t stop yacking! get a life dude.
Delete^^Haha!! Typcial yet again!! You've been found wanting with your dumb ass comment and you have nothing to say in return except for that typical BS. At least we all know that you're retard. Good job!!
Delete