Submitted by: Tesla | 19th Sept 2024
In our previous encounter with the Young Lions, we were undone by two set piece headers. It was a game where we went down twice and had to claw our way back into the game twice.
Similarly, over the past weekend, BG Tampines Rovers had to claw their way out of a two goal deficit from the Young Lions who tend to get their goals early.
There's two things we can learn here: (a)Young lions will punish you if you start slow in a game because then they'll retreat back into a low block, and (b)we need to deal with set pieces better.
The good news is that we have improved on both ends. We have proven we can score early and we've progressed leaps-and-bounds when it comes to dealing with set pieces. So all praise for our Hougang boys!
But all is not sunshine as the Young lions have proven just what they can achieve when they have the right ingredients and tactics going their way. This season they have amassed 14 points â a huge improvement. So let's delve into what makes YL that dangerous - and what we can do to mitigate their threat. Here's YOUNG LIONS VS HOUGANG UTD - SPL 24/25 ROUND 2. Let's go!
CHAPTER 1: The 4-3-3
Sometimes we fans over-complicate things when we think of formations especially in modern football where formation shape will rotate between when the team have the ball and when they don't. A team doesn't just stick to their formations anymore especially what is shown on tv based on the teamsheet given to the broadcaster.
The safe bet is to always break it down into defence-midfield-forwards. Hence, no matter how varied the formations look, it will fall back to this X-X-X. In the case of the young lions, 4-3-3 is their go-to. Even their 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-3 is just a variation of the 4-3-3. The defining thing is the roles that is needed from game to game. Some teams hand out these roles to individual players that will stick throughout the game, while others will assign roles for different pitch areas depending on different situations(if that makes sense). For the latter, a loose example would be when the team is facing a counter-attack from a lost of possession by their very own wingbacks â the wingers will have to assume the role of the wingback.
In coach Nazri Nasir, we can see abit of the old-school whatwith his players sticking with their individual roles most of the time. YL know that they have an abundance of youthful energy and running and will utilise it when they counter attack from a transition phase. That is when they are most dangerous.
The 4-3-3 allows them to be at their flowing best where they sit deep in a 4-5-1 and when an opportune moment comes, they spring forward in a 4-3-3. This season, they have a depth of good forwards this season in Enomoto, Farhan Zulkifli, Khairin Nadim and Danish Qayyum.
This season they also have a solid midfield trio in Kan Kobayashi, Kaisei Ogawa and Fathullah Rahmat â all are or were first XI for their previous clubs.
And don't forget their defence this season which houses first XI regulars in Ryaan Sanizal and Nur Adam Abdullah.
They are a proper team and as such, should be treated with caution.
CHAPTER 2: The Threat of the front-two
Farhan Zulkifli has proven to be a menace this season for YL. Of course, this is not something new as we've seen him doing this for us time and time again in a Hougang shirt.
But there's something more to him this season, he has grown out from becoming a wunderkind to a full fledged man of steel. He also is a captain with YL for multiple occassions this season.
Against BG Tampines, once again Farhan was highlighted by coach Gavin as "very good". Farhan is a great dribbler, speed and gets into great attacking positions frequently. Be wary of getting too close to him as he can get past you!
Alongside Farhan is Enomoto the spear head of the team who is also a revelation for the YL this season scoring clutch goals and finally providing YL a consistent and constant stream of goals. We saw this in the pre-season friendly and it's translated into the Singapore Premier League. Enomoto has speed to latch onto balls-over-the-top and a tricky mind to outwit players.
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The duo has amassed 14 goals amongst themselves amounting to more than half of YL's goals tally so far. And crucially, they've scored it in the first 15mins of the second half for 29% of their goals this season. We would need to keep a close eye on these two players and handle their set piece threat so we can successfully nullify them.
CHAPTER 3: The Stats
What's dragging YL down this season, as shown by this stat here, is their defensive record. YL is on-par with us at 14 points but has played one game more, has no clean sheets, and has conceded 10 more goals than us.
Once again it seems like we have to be patient and wait for an opening against them or we can go all guns blazing and hope to outscore the YL. Coach Marko will have to decide how his boys will have to shape us for this clash.
Let's hope our hougang boys bring their experience, defensive stability, and calmness to manage this game and get that win to restart our resurgence! We've already got 10 points from Round 2 so far, let's aim for another 5 points!
All the best boys! and Satu Hati, Satu Hougang! #1H1H đ
Young Lions vs Hougang Quick Report:
- 4-3-3 formation preferred (YL).
- Dangermen: Enomoto, Farhan Zulkifli
-stop Enomoto and Farhan
-If YL scores first then we will play right into YL's hands.
-Hougang needs to beware of their set pieces. We conceded two goals from set pieces last time.
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Who will be the main threat for YL?
0%Enomoto
0%Farhan Zulkifli
0%Kan Kobayashi
0%* My choice is not on this list
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Who will be key for Hougang?
0%Racic
0%Stjepan (pronounced "Stipe")
0%Hazzuwan
0%Gabriel
You can vote for more than one answer.
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