Zhang, as a veteran keeper and player-coach, should have shown better judgement. A team looking to compete for the title cannot have these costly mistakes that drop points for no reason. This is likely the final straw; I have no inside information, but maybe there are other factors in play here. Zhang is no angel and not an easy player to manage, is he worth keeping as a backup keeper if he cannot even perform his "coach" function? This hopefully is the last we see of Zhang in the league.
Kenneth Kwok departs from his joint coaching role of Tai Po FC as he has to attend an AFC pro license course. Fung Hoi-Man will continue to deputise as the head coach. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kon...kenneth-kwok-leaves-football-champions-tai-po Meanwhile the Hong Kong U19 drew 1-1 with North Korea in their quest to qualify for the next AFC U19 tournament.
For Hong Kong Pegasus, their number 1 keeper Leung Hing-Kit is injured and they probably need to sign a keeper to replace Zhang soon. For Wofoo Tai Po, Kwok Ka-Lok was the only suitably qualified coach for them in the 2020 ACL qualifier. Fung Hoi-Man does not have the required coaching license. They will need to sign someone properly qualified if they are to take part.
Here is the latest podcast from Offside.hk where they discuss the recent fixtures within the HKPL and their thoughts on the preliminary squad list and predictions against Bahrain and Cambodia: PODCAST: Can Hong Kong get their first win in the World Cup qualifiers in front of an enthusiastic home crowd? @duwenzhe and @AsiaFootyJim discuss this and more https://t.co/HAw1GP8Bzq— Football in Hong Kong (@offsideHK) November 6, 2019 I do agree that Happy Valley's Lai Pui-Ki is certainly one to watch out for and could possibly end up breaking through the senior squad within a few years.
FT: R&F HK Vs HK Pegasus - 2:1 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=938038493263023 A Giovane double gave R&F HK the win to advance to the last 4 of the Senior Cup.
My thoughts on the final squad: - KC Southern's Tse Tak Him finally makes it in replacing Kitchee's Wang Zhenpang who had been named in the final squad numerous times in the past. Whilst I am certain that Yapp Hung Fai is likely to main tain as the number one choice, despite a few slip-ups for Lee Man, Yuen Ho Chun has justified his place in the final squad and he is more likely to be on the substitutes bench. - Eastern's Fung Hing Wa who had been named previously in the squad against Iraq is the only absentee in the defense list. Although there are some defenders who I question such as the recent form of Helio Goncalves. - R&F's Giovane Alves da Silva whose last international cap was against Indonesia makes it into the squad in which he totally deserves having shown good form at club level. KC Southern's Chan Kwong Ho and James Ha both made the cut whilst Tai Po's Sun Ming Him and Dalian Yifeng's Alex Akande also made it. Personally, I don't really feel the national team need Alex considering that he is still not getting enough regular football or played a full 90 mins with his club this season. - But either ways, I 'm still glad that Giovane is finally getting another chance and it is pretty much make or break for Mixu Paatalainen as he really needs the right results.
Quick fire game day updates: Ju Yingzhi has withdrawn from the squad due to injury Dani Cancela is suspended for the first match Huang Yang and Helio are both injury doubts for the first match Given that Leung Nok Hang was invited to media day (usually reserved for the captain or veterans), it seems like he will partner Andy Russell in the middle Hope they star Law Tze Chun over Tong Kin Man as Cancela's replacement Jaimes McKee will be honored at halftime https://news.mingpao.com/pns/體育/article/20191114/s00015/1573670602613/港足動盪中拼盡迎巴林-足總承諾加強保安-球迷發起默哀悼科大生
Here is the starting XI of the HK national team against Bahrain: - First starts for Leung Nok Hang, Cheng Siu Kwan and Giovane Alves da Silva. - Tsui Wang Kit makes it back into the starting eleven having not featured against Iraq last month.
FT: Hong Kong Vs Bahrain - 0:0 Not much opportunities created by Hong Kong, but they picked up another point from a goaless draw against Bahrain.
Going to give my further thoughts on the match: - Once again, Hong Kong were mainly focusing on their defence in a similar fashion to what they did against Iran and Iraq. - Leung Nok Hang and Tsui Wang Kit were pretty solid in defense. - I really hope that Giovane has another opportunity to score goals when HK play against Cambodia in a few days. - Mixu Paatalainen's record so far: 0W 2D 3L, but I am confident that he will get his first win against Cambodia that is if he step things up with the Hong Kong National Football Team. - If Hong Kong does get the win against Cambodia within a few days, it is more than likely that they will settle for 4th place in the group as long as they do not mess up.
Anyone see a video making the rounds of a Bahrainian player making a racist gesture towards the fans yesterday? I hope someone takes this up with FIFA.
https://sports.now.com/home/news/details?id=27513036946 A highlights video is available on Now sports. Good performance from the whole team. I hope they get a win against Cambodia on Tuesday. Maybe Mixu can play a more aggressive team then.
It's not a bad result but we will rue how defensively we played. I don't understand why Mixu didn't use his third sub sooner and brought on a second striker to help Sandro at around the 75th minute mark.
In addition to Tsui and Leung who both defended well, another youngster deserving of praise is Cheng Siu Kwan. He has a bright future. But I don't see why Sun was brought on so late... should have brought on Bullet or Chan Kwong Ho around the 80 minute mark.
All I can say is that whilst Hong Kong certainly defended well, Mixu will really need to step up his game and try and bring more aggression into their next match against Cambodia and hopefully provide more creativity up front as I felt Giovane wasn't able to show that against Bahrain.
Picking up 3 points tonight is a must if we are to even make it to the 3rd round of Asian Cup qualifying.
Is it an overreaction to call James Ha our best striker now? He was much better than Giovane and Alex in my opinion. And his ball handling skills have impressed me so far, much better than what McKee used to offer.
Ha and Sandro up top is what I want to see. Even against lowly Cambodia, Mixu set us up to defend first and play on the counter. It's clear that this is the style he wants to install in the team. If that's the case, I don't want just one striker up top. I want both of them up there, pressing the other team's back line, running down loose balls, trying to win flick-ons, and trying to run at the opponent when we recover possession. I'd keep Alex as an option off the bench when the opponent has started to tire. I had higher expectations of Giovane but after seeing him in the two matches this window, I don't think he has what it takes to play for Hong Kong anymore. He's a poacher but without the pace or strength to make himself dangerous without the ball. His work rate defensively is terrible. In short, on a team that isn't built to have much of the possession like us, he's a liability.
I do watch a lot of HK football, but I still do not understand the level of trust people put in Sandro... which aspect is he strong in? I find that he is slow, lacks competitive fire, has no defensive mentality and is weak on the ball. He does have a tall frame and happens to be in the right places at the right time. But he is far from clinical, and isn't even a reliable penalty taker.