Newly promoted Persidafon have become the ISL's whipping boys. Back to back thumpings, 5-0 at Sriwijaya, 5-2 at Persiram, have left them 15th in the 18 team league with nine points from their opening 11 games. Of concern to Sergei Dubrovin will be a defence that has leaked 30 goals in that time; an ignominy they share with fellow Papuans Persiram.

In a new bid to attract more interest it seems the SLeague have come up with a novel way of releasing the fixture list for the new season. Taking a leaf from the harry Potter movies they are announcing them bit by bit. The logic, such as it is, is that if it's good enough for JK Rawlings' teen magicians it's gotta be good enough for the SLeague.

(This entry is formulated based on the transcript of the media release from the Football Association of Singapore)
Picture credit: FAS
SINGAPORE, 15 JANUARY 2012 – The Courts Young Lions emerged victorious over the H-TWO-O Ultimate Dream Team after a nerve-wrecking penalty shoot-out in a match that was played at Jalan Besar Stadium this evening.

(This entry is formulated based on the transcript of the media release from the Football Association of Singapore)
Picture credit: FAS
SINGAPORE, 15 JANUARY 2012 – The Courts Young Lions emerged victorious over the H-TWO-O Ultimate Dream Team after a nerve-wrecking penalty shoot-out in a match that was played at Jalan Besar Stadium this evening.

Daft name for a football team? I dunno, when we get to this part of the world, where we have MBA speak fill the pages of newspapers and the words of TV hosts all the time, you would think people would understand the meaning and importance of branding.
LionsXII? For a football team? Sounds as daft as TTM, PEA, SAFC, MyTeam, or Sime Darby.

It's been another exciting season in the SLeague with the title race not being decided until the last game of the season. The penultimate game between Home United and Tampines Rovers saw the Stags win 1-0; they went into their last game knowing three points would be enough. They won 5-0 to secure their first title in six years.

Despite it being a dead rubber for Rosenborg, and Ajax having the ability to win the group, it was the Norwegian side who took all three points with a 2-0 victory in Amsterdam tonight, leaving our own Young Lions at the top of the pile.

This means that we'll have the advantage of playing the single-legged quarter final at Villa Park, more than likely against Marseille.

Intrigued by the nominations for Supporters of the Year in the SLeague. Normally SAFFC win it with their neo super hero style outfits and dangerously young cheerleaders and of course they are in the running again this year.
Looking at contenders this year, SAFFC, Gombak, Albirex Niigata and Young Lions, you get the feeling that for all the rhetoric that comes out of the FAS about rebranding the game it's all just same old, same old.

Next year sees a Singapore team competing in the Malaysia Super League, a throwback to the times when they competed in the prestigious Malaysia Cup fondly remembered by fans of that generation.
The Singapore Lions is a team being specially built to compete north of the causeway, the season starts in January, and is being slowly, almost painfully, put together piece by piece.

Gary Gardner scored all three goals in a comprehensive victory over Ajax U19s in the Young Lions' final group stage match of the NextGen Series at Villa Park tonight, guaranteeing a place in the quarter finals next year.
Ajax, who are now bumped down to second place in the group, have one final game; Rosenborg at home on November 29th.

The NextGen Series has announced the brackets for the quarter finals on their Twitter feed and it sets up a possible trip to Barcelona for our Young Lions. Due to domestic fixtures, the quarters finals will be played over just one leg with each of the group winners earning the advantage of playing at home:

QF1: Group 1 Winner vs Group 3 Runner-up QF2: Group 2 Winner vs Group 4 Runner-up QF3: Group 3 Winner vs Group 1 Runner-up QF4: Group 4 Winner vs Group 2 Runner-up

Group 2 has already been wrapped up with Sporting winning the group and Liverpool finishing in second place.

• Kop That: Craig Bellamy is back to his best for Liverpool and Wales http://t.co/oz6NeHOe 23:40:48, 2011-11-13
• Kop That: 'Comparisons with Barcelona's Lionel Messi are embarrassing' Liverpool's Luis Suarez http://t.co/IrvmvcIQ 23:24:58, 2011-11-13
• Kop That: Suarez downplays Messi comparison http://t.

Rodwell: Young Lions are ready for Euro 2012 chance

"If you are good enough you should play," says Everton starlet

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-13 22:25:17 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

• Kop That: Anthony Clavane's Big Match Verdict: Young Lions repay Capello's faith to prove the future's bright http://t.co/2ruyeLno 23:56:37, 2011-11-12
• Kop That: Andy Dunn's Big Match Verdict: Defence the new approach for Capello http://t.co/ANPlkyan 23:26:41, 2011-11-12
• Kop That: Why England cooked up a storm against the World Champions http://t.

Anthony Clavane's Big Match Verdict: Young Lions repay Capello's faith to prove the future's bright

Giving England's rookies a run-out against Spain could have either ended up a brave experiment – or an act of supreme folly. In the end, Fabio Capello's gamble paid off.

Why Wembley fans must not boo young Lions against Spain

Newcastle have found their Moyes, but Ashley won't hold onto him Why Stoke's humiliation gave me the giggles This week could see the fulfillment of a lifetime's ambition for four young Englishman. But before Daniel Sturridge, Kyle Walker and Jack Rodwell get too carried away with the prospect of making their international debuts against Spain or Sweden, and Danny Welbeck on starting his first England game, they should speak to four others who stood in their shoes a year ago.

Newcastle have found their Moyes, but Ashley won't hold onto him

Why Wembley fans must not boo young Lions against Spain Why Stoke's humiliation gave me the giggles Mike Ashley's grin must by be almost as wide as his waist. Despite the stick he took for letting Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan go, and refusing to spend the Andy Carroll cash, Newcastle have made an incredible start to the season, which must lead him to believe he's now a footballing genius.

Why Stoke's humiliation gave me the giggles

Why Wembley fans must not boo young Lions against Spain Newcastle have found their Moyes, but Ashley won't hold onto him Stoke's 5-0 trouncing by Bolton, which reversed the scoreline from last year's FA Cup semi-final, must have left their fans feeling desolate.

In somewhat unfortunate timing (the U19s lost 3-2 just last night in Norway) video of the Young Lions 4-1 win over Rosenborg at Villa Park has just been published. This home win was played on November 2nd.

Graham Burke, who was missing last night through suspension, scored twice. Gary Gardner, who was also missing last night as he's away with England U21s, and Michael Drennan grabbed a goal apiece.

Qualification for the knock-out phases of the NextGen series will have to wait after Villa's U19s failed to get a result in Norway, losing 3-2 to Rosenborg.

Derrick Williams cancelled out Ole Kristian Selnæs' 29th minute opener from a Samir Carruthers corner in the 39th minute. Daniel Johnson sent the visitors into the break 2-1 ahead just minutes later with a wicked shot from a tight angle.

You're probably already aware that the U19s comprehensively beat Rosenborg 4-1 in the NextGen Series at Villa Park last night, but it was a little over a week ago that they ground out an important three points in Turkey, beating Fenerbahce 2-1.

The video has only just been published, and it's not the best of quality, but you get a glimpse of some of the future stars in action.

Let's be totally Frank about this. Given a choice of watching Balestier Khalsa playing Woodlands Wellington or watching the latest reality TV hit from the US what would you rather do? For me, a trip to Toa Payoh would win hands down.
Woodlands, among other things, had only managed 17 goals going into their 31st game of the season and were in 12th position two points behind Tanjong Pagar.

(P.S: If you access this site via "come.to/matchpix", please click the "Facebook" icon after you click "HERE" when you want to view the album as that will redirect you to the album, thank you)

• 2011 Sultan of Selangor Cup - (Match Day and Balik Kampong)

Malay rock legend Amy Search (pictured above) wowed the 65,000 at the Shah Alam Stadium in this annual event initiated by the Sultan of Selangor with motive in fostering relationship between Singapore and Selangor whom both shared an unique rivalry in the Malayan football history.

(P.S: If you access this site via "come.to/matchpix", please click the "Facebook" icon after you click "HERE" when you want to view the album as that will redirect you to the album, thank you)

• 2011 Sultan of Selangor Cup - (Match Day and Balik Kampong)

Malay rock legend Amy Search (pictured above) wowed the 65,000 at the Shah Alam Stadium in this annual event initiated by the Sultan of Selangor with motive in fostering relationship between Singapore and Selangor whom both shared an unique rivalry in the Malayan football history.

I have been most remiss in my coverage of the SLeague in recent weeks and I do apologise for that. I hope to take some games in before the end of the season though.
So how do we stand as we enter the final furlong? I think it's fair to say it's a two horse race as the table shows;
1 - Home United 29 22 2 5 72-28 682 - Tampines Rovers 29 21 3 5 60-23 66
Four games remaining and a two point difference make for another exciting climax to the SLeague.

International Friendly
Malaysia Under 23 v Nepal 2-0 (Faris Ramlan, Yong Kuong Yong)
Indonesia Premier League (I think that's what they're calling it)
Persib v Semen Padang 1-1 (Milijan Radovic; Mostapha Aji)
Former Persikota and Persitara striker Mostapha Aji had the honour of scoring the first goal in the latest new era in Indonesian football as the new season got under way at Soreang.

I figured out why the club haven't been taking these CPO protests seriously. They're too busy bidding for young talent in 45 minute stretches. Yes, yes we are. More, after the jump.

Worth his weight in gold?

Well, this came out of left field. According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have succeeded in securing the signature of MK Dons starlet Oluwaseyi Ojo.

Academy hot-shot Adam Morgan netted the winner as England U19s beat Portugal 1-0 on Friday afternoon.
The striker started the game and fired in the second half to give Noel Blake's side a vital victory in the Limoges Tournament in France.
Conor Coady captained the side and played the full 90 minutes, Jack Robinson played the opening 45 minutes while Morgan featured for 84 minutes.

Jack Robinson was on target as England U19s were held to a 2-2 draw against host nation France in their opening game of the Limoges tournament on Wednesday night.
The young Lions twice went ahead through Will Keane and Robinson, only to be pegged back on each occasion by the home team.
Conor Coady captained Noel Blake's side while Adam Morgan appeared as a 63rd minute substitute.

Whisper it, but could Fabio's young Lions make England roar

I was there at the England compound in Phokeng the day after the defeat to Germany at the 2010 World Cup. There was only gloom in the marquee set in the grounds of England's luxury prison camp. Fabio Capello was sitting in front of us promising change but everyone thought that he was paying lip service to the notion and that, actually, he was too old to change.

The Young Lions returned to NextGen Series action last week, hosting Fenerbahce at Villa Park in an entertaining 4-0 romp. Samir Carruthers got no less than his early hard work deserved when he opened the scoring, captain Gary Gardner doubled the lead from the spot.
Callum Robinson made it three after the break and Daniel Johnson capped a stunning breakaway with a well taken goal to finish the Turks off.

• DAY ONE - Arrival from Singapore

Courts Young Lions' Ruzaini Zainal (pictured above) could consider taking up a sideline as a beverage stall operator eh? This was taken while at a half-way stop in Negri Sembilan before heading up to Shah Alam.
The mystical iconic Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque or "Blue Mosque" (pictured above) as what it was seen as when the contingent arrived at the designated accommodation in the state capital of Selangor.

AFC Cup
Arbil v Persipura 1-0 8,000 (Arbil win 3-1 on aggregate)Nasaf v Chonburi 0-0Muang Thong United v Kuwait SC 0-0 11,212 (KSC win 1-0 on aggregate and had 8 players booked!)
Malaysia Cup
Kedah v Perak 1-1Sabah v Johor 4-1Terengganu v Negeri Sembilan 0-0 Sime Darby v Selangor PKNS 0-1Kelantan v Felda United 2-0Johor FC v Sarawak 3-1Selangor v KL 2-1PDRM v T Team 0-6
Teams in bold qualify for next round which kicks off next Monday.

Story today out of Singapore suggests DPMM will be applying for a return to the SLeague next year. The Brunei team of course played in the SLeague back in 2009 and did most unSLeague like things like producing match day programmes and having an atmosphere at home and away games.
They also won the League Cup and were on course to win the SLeague before FIFA kicked them out because they were smaller than Indonesia.

Albirex Niigata have played their last three games away from home.
v Woodlands 5-1v Etoile 7-2v Home United 4-0
They are away to Young Lions on Wednesday! Probably lose 1-0...

England U21s 4-1 Israel U21s: Pearce's youngsters come from behind to seal comfortable win

Martyn Waghorn, Marvin Sordell, Nathan Delfouneso and Henri Lansbury with the goals for the young Lions

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-05 21:30:13 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Why I need convincing these young Lions are ready to snap at the England old guard's heels

The last members of England's so-called golden generation will not give up their shirts without a fight. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Rio ­Ferdinand all have their eyes on one last hurrah in the Euro 2012 finals.

It's being billed as the "Champions League of youth football", which is probably a massive overstatement, but the NextGen Series is an interesting competition nevertheless. We're one of 16 teams across Europe taking part in this new Under-19 championship which kicked off with a handful of games this evening, including our own Young Lions going down 2-0 to Ajax at their youth training camp, De Toekomst Dutch for "The Future".

Persiba Balikpapan have signed Japanese striker Kenji Adichihara from Bontang. Kenji spent two years with the team about six hours up the road from Balikpapan and netted 30 goals in his time there despite the team struggling most of that time.
He will renew his productive strike partnership with Paraguayan striker Aldo Baretto who made the same journey last year and has decided to stay with the Honey Bears for one more season.

The fate of both Hariss Harun and Safuwan Baharudin (pictured below) to join the national team for the upcoming World Cup group stages qualifiers is still hung in a balance, despite having their names on the 24-men squad list released by the Football Association of Singapore this evening.
Would Sufawan having the last laugh?