S.League: Topsy-turvy

This season's Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League has been tighter than ever.

With just five matches to go before the 12-team league is split into two, for a "half round" of five extra games per team, it appears every side in the top six have a chance of winning the title. Sixth-placed Hougang United are just six points behind league leaders Brunei DPMM. What makes this such an open title race?

BIG GUNS UNCONVINCING

It's as though the traditional big guns - Tampines Rovers, Brunei DPMM and Home United - are all shy to lead the table.

The crown seems to be there for the taking, but they are tripping over themselves with one unexpected result after another.

For example, Home United, runners-up in 2011 and 2013, were thumped 3-0 by seventh-placed Balestier Khalsa on Friday.

Tampines coach Rafi Ali said: "This season, anybody can beat anybody.

"I've been in the S.League since 1996, first as a player and now a coach, and I can't remember a season similar to this year, where the top six teams are all title challengers."

Rafi took over the reins of the Stags in late April, after Salim Moin resigned.

Tampines are looking to win their sixth S.League title - and fourth in a row - but have found it tougher this season than in the past three. Like other sides in the top six, they have a mixed record against teams around them.

In eight games against top-six teams, Tampines have lost only once, but won just three.

One reason it has been so difficult to build a consistent run of good results, Rafi said, was the fixture schedule.

"A lot of clubs have had to play three or four games in 10 days or so," he said.

"It's taxing on the players."

Home United coach Lee Lim Saeng echoed a common sentiment among coaches of the top six clubs - that each of the teams have strengthened well in the off-season and are reaping the rewards.

"The top six clubs are all better than they were last season, especially Brunei DPMM," said the former South Korean international.

"But I'm not sure they can hold on to the top position because there is not one, but five teams chasing them."

ALL ABOUT RUN

Unlike most other teams, leaders DPMM have managed to string a good run of results this year.

The Wasps won 10 of their first 12 matches, and at one point, looked set to run away with the title.

But a run of four winless games followed, before the 2012 runners-up beat Courts Young Lions 3-2 last week.

Said DPMM coach Steve Kean: "You could say that our opponents are playing harder against us now because we're the league leaders, or perhaps teams have just gotten wiser... to our strengths and weaknesses.

"Teams go through ups and downs during a season. We've had our down, and we have to put certain things right to get out of it."

THE PRETENDERS

While the big guns have been uncharacteristically dropping points, three other teams have performed above expectations.

Hougang United are the biggest surprise this season.

The Cheetahs have never finished in the top half of the S.League, but are on course to achieve the feat.

Coach Amin Nasir played down talk of his side being in the mix for the title.

He said, with a chuckle: "No lah, we're not in the title race... I don't even want to talk about it.

"We're just a few points behind the leaders, and it's a nice situation to be in. But I don't want us to get carried away.

"We've shown we can compete against the top six, but it's our performance against the lower teams that I'm worried about."

Indeed, perhaps the most surprising statistic of the season is that Hougang have the best head-to-head record against the top six teams, winning five of eight games.

But the Cheetahs have dropped points against lowly Woodlands Wellington (twice) and second-from-bottom Young Lions.

Still, Amin believes their good run can continue.

He said: "We are proud of where we are at now. Compared to previous seasons, we've done all right.

"I'm grateful I have experienced players like Fadhil (Salim), Lau (Meng Meng) and Azhar (Sairudin) who know what the season is all about. "Morale in the team is high, the spirit is good, and we just want to take it one game at a time."

Albirex Niigata, as usual, are the dark horses and are looking to finish in the top four for the fourth season running.

Coach Tatsuyuki Okuyama says one of the reasons for the topsy-turvy form of many teams is the less-than-impressive defensive standard this season.

"Every team are conceding goals," said the former J.League player, pointing out that only DPMM have conceded fewer goals than games played.

"On average, more than one goal is conceded in every game. This is why consistency is hard to achieve."

Another team "new" in the title race are sleeping giants Warriors FC.

The eight-time S.League champions finished seventh the past two years, and their last league triumph came in 2009.

REJUVENATED

But, under British coach Alex Weaver, they are rejuvenated.

The former Stoke City academy coach is relishing the unpredictable nature of this year's S.League.

"That's what's great about league football," he said.

"It's not just about your strongest 11, but also about your conditioning work, keeping your players fresh, and making sure they have discipline so you get fewer suspensions and so on.

"Around this point of the season, clubs with bigger squads - like Home, Tampines and DPMM - could do well and pull away. So the pressure is very much on them.

"Either way, it (the openness of the title race) is good for Singapore football, it's good for the league, and it reflects the good work all the coaches and players have done to make the teams so competitive."

msazali@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 22, 2014.
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