Harimau Malaya.

Here's what I think of the game:

Heartbreakingly disappointing. They were not aggressive enough, and defense was very poor. Khairul Fahmi was superb, Safee Sali did tried his best as well, but the thing is.. football is a team game. It requires the effort of the entire team to win, and I don't know.. I failed to see that effort in this game.

However, I am more emotional right now, because of the way most of my fellow Malaysians react to the game. Yesssssss I get it you want to be supportive. but come on, they did not play well. I guess second half was sligggghhhhhhtly better, but the first half was terrible. Passing was off, defends was incredibly poor, goalie was... superb. The only thing I am incredibly proud of today.

What I read so far of the comments made is things such as.. "well done, Harimau Malaya! at least we are Malaysians and played fair.. unlike the Lions that are made up of immigrants and are full of drama queens."

Okay first of all.. the typical Malaysian would say that. The comment is to me, diverting the fault to the Singaporeans. And that is what disappoints me the most. Yes they were drama queens on the pitch, yes some of them are not even Singaporeans.. but they played 'football' anyhow. This is our home grown, how can you not performed? Their players are more professional, but they were also older. How can they control the game more than you? Heck, I actually even think the referee was a bit bias to our Malaysian players during the first half of the game.. 

My point here is, what disappoint me is.. how my fellow Malaysians love to divert the fault to the other person rather than seeing their own fault, or in this case our own team's weaknesses.

Then.. there was the 'job well done' comment. I may not be an expert in football games, but from what I saw, they did not play well. And to praise them for playing that way is just... ridiculous. It's like praising a kid for getting a C in their exam. It might work and make the kid not lose hope, but it might backfire as well, and make the kid thinks that a C is sufficient enough to make mummy and daddy proud of me.

Get my point? I just don't think that praising them for something they did not perform well on is good for them, in the long run. If everyone keep on saying its okay every time they lose, and nobody pointed out to them what they should improve on, then how can they possibly improve?

I'm not saying you should ambushed them with hatred and all of their weaknesses and mistakes and make their lost even more depressing for them, am just saying that perhaps.. rather than praised them for something they did not deserve a praise for, maybe we can give them tips and points to work on, and encourage them to do better. Am sure they do read these comments you make for them.. even if they don't, I'm sure someone will be telling them about it. And if everyone says its okay, don't you think that will make them think it is indeed okay, and therefore next time they just have to fight with the exact same momentum as they just did just now? Would that be good?

Just my two cents.