How T-Team can go higher

Kuala Terengganu: Granted it's barely ten days since the start of the new season. Based on the current standing though though, it does not look good to see T-Team right at the bottom, while Terengganu is higher at the second spot in the table.

Despite the "celebrated" 1-0 home win against star-studded JDT, the team they have to face off again in the FA Cup second round, this time away on 1 Feb, T-Team cannot afford not to collect more points, score more goals and allow less goals in. After all, their management had thrown a "get eight points" challenge in their first five tough Super League matches.

Bola Pantai Timur speaks to a football critic who watched both the games against JDT last Saturday and Terengganu on Tuesday, which they lost 0-2.

He says, "T-Team ought to maintain a Super League class of play and not allow its performance to deteriorate for the rest of the season. Against JDT, the visitor could not handle the pressure after T-Team got the fist goal. T-Team played well in the first half against Terengganu but could not repeat it in the second half."

T-Team head coach Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah cites players' tiredness in the Terengganu game after playing all-out against JDT. He adds, "Player for player, we cannot match Terengganu." Despite the limited time he has since the next game against JDT is brought forward to 1 Feb from 4 Feb, he says T-Team will work out something for the game.

The critic, who claims he failed to see T-Team's pattern of play, has a message for Azraai.

He says, "I am not sure what football "philosophy" was used. Besides, the things which T-Team also need to look at include fairly basic stuff such as inaccurate passing, directionless corner or set-pieces and poorly thought-out clearance." He adds that certain players who are fond of waiting for the ball to come, should also display a higher work rate.    

Azraai said his team's tactical play worked against JDT in Kuala Terengganu. T-Team fans hope, having seen JDT in action here, as well as the players' full commitment and support, it will work equally well this Saturday. Brazilian defender Fabio Flor, one of the many who played their hearts out against JDT, says, "If we play with the same spirit, we can qualify to the next stage."