So which national footballer will get chopped by coach Raddy Avramovic?

After the 6-0 thrashing by Iran last week, there is speculation about which player national football coach Raddy Avramovic will drop for the upcoming game against Jordan on January 28 at the National Stadium.

Coach Raddy Avramovic refuses to name which player is in danger of getting dropped though, according to a report in Today (Avramovic sharpens his axe; Tuesday, January 20, 2009).

But he certainly sounds like he is in the mood to slice and dice some players. Avramovic told Today: "Some players don't feel responsible for the team, that was clear. When we were in possession, nobody wanted the ball. You will only concede three goals in five minutes if you play without responsibility."

The team defended well enough to keep Iran at bay before Ismail Yunos’ calamitous two-footed lunge at an Iranian player earned him an automatic red card. Within minutes, Iran scored their first goal.

In the second half, they leaked five more goals in a shambolic display.

Since football is a team game, the loss can’t be attributed to just Ismail Yunos. So who else was on the pitch?

Here’s the starting lineup:

Lionel Lewis (GK), Ismail Yunos, Baihakki Khaizan, Precious Emuejeraye, Daniel Bennett, Shahril Ishak (Juma’at Jantan 57′), Fahrudin Mustafic, Isa Halim, John Wilkinson (Agu Casmir 67′), Noh Alam Shah, Indra Sahdan (Ridhuan Muhammad 46′)

For all the bleating about Singapore having too many foreign talents, the team that took the field only had four naturalised citizens.

This was a game where the local-born players were given first-team opportunities to shine. When all the first-choice players are fit, up to seven naturalised citizens make the first team at times.

Despite the opportunities, the local boys turned in forgettable performances. For all those critics who continually take pot shots at the naturalised foreign talents, the 0-6 drubbing by Iran will be hard to swallow because the truth is clear – the local boys in the squad aren’t good enough.

Astonishingly, Indra Sahdan was quoted by Today as saying “I can see how (Avramovic) is angry with our performance. But if he were to drop players just based on work rate and effort, I wouldn’t agree with that because player quality is important.”

John Wilkinson was also quoted as saying “I don’t know if any other players can come into the squad and do better.”

This prompted Singapore Sports Fan, a regular contributor to Red Sports, to write in his blog:

“What bloody cheek! In fact, these two quotes are so offensive to me that I find myself becoming increasingly angry as I write this.

If this is the way you have come to regard yourself in the national set-up, then frankly you also don't deserve to don the Singapore jersey and have the flag on your chest.

Frankly, because of this, I have now reached the stage where I don't care if Singapore beats or loses to Jordan on Wednesday.

I am now only hoping that Avramovic brings the offending players down to earth and puts them in their proper places. Because we Singapore fans deserve much better than this.”

REDpoll

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AFC Asian Cup 2011 Final Qualification Round (Group E)

Singapore v Jordan
Date: 28 January 2009
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Venue: National Stadium, Singapore

Ticket Details

Pre-sale of tickets will start from 20 to 23 January at the FAS office. Match day tickets will be sold at the National Stadium East and West Entrances from 5.30pm onwards.

20 to 22 Jan: FAS Office (12pm – 7pm)
23 Jan: FAS Office (9am to 1pm)
28 Jan: National Stadium East & West Entrances (5.30pm onwards)

Grandstand: $10.00
Gallery: $6.00 (Adult)
Gallery: $2.00 (Student / Senior Citizen)*

* Only applicable for secondary school, ITE & Junior College students with proof of valid concession passes; Senior Citizens must be 60 years and above as of 2009 with proof of identification)

^ FREE entry for primary school students and below (applicable for Gallery seating only; students must display valid concession passes for entry into stadium).