PSM Makassar ended the first round of Go-Jek League 1 2018 in the top three standings. Despite being able to compete at the top, Juku Eja leaves behind the worries of their supporters.
The first concern is the productivity of goals that are quite worrying. Robert Rene Alberts's men did score 24 goals in 17 matches. However, that number is still behind their two competitors, Persib Bandung (26 goals) and Barito Putera (30 goals). This incision is actually not be questioned if their attackers carry out the task well. However, the reality is the opposite.
Trio M. Rahmat, Ferdinand Sinaga, and Guy Junior just collected a total of nine goals. The most prominent player is a midfielder, Rizky Pellu, who has scored five goals. However, the concern of PSM supporters is the performance of foreign strikers, Bruce Djité.
Beyond the injury he suffered at the start of the season, the Australian did not appear to have any quality over the attackers who have now left PSM, namely Luiz Ricardo, Pavel Purishkin, and Reinaldo Costa. Though in terms of reputation, this player is quite respected in Australia. Together with Adelaide United, he has reached the final of the 2008 Asian Champions League. He has also been grazing in Turkey and South Korea.
Djité has not scored a single goal. In fact, Abdul Rahman who is a central defender was already collecting two goals. Robert's decision to install Djité not only hampered Juku Eja's front-line creativity but also limited the chance to play young strikers like Agi Pratama and Arsyad Yusgiantoro.
In addition to the front lines, PSM deficiency is in the position of goalkeeper. Although several times highlighted as a result of blunders, Rivky Mokodompit had played brilliantly like in the game against Arema FC and Persebaya. However, Rivky's injury at the end of the first round made Robert give goalkeeper position to Syaiful Syamsuddin. Well, here various PSM problems begin.
Syaiful's quality as a coating looks far below Rivky both in terms of both experience and decision making in the game. In four games that match, Syaiful conceded eight goals. Goalkeepers dropped out of South Sulawesi football team at the 2016 National Sports Week (PON) became the weak spot behind the actually solid crossbar that is Abdul Rahman and Steven Paulle.
In addition to the weaknesses in the two sectors above, overall sku PSM is good. Although Robert must pay attention to the fact that sometimes his team looks very dependent on the presence of duets Dutch midfielder, Wiljan Pluim, and Marc Klok. In the last match against the last occupant of the standings, PSMS Medan, the absence of Klok to make coordination of the back line and middle Juku Eja shattered.
Is PSM able to meet the expectations of its supporters by coming out as champions at the end of the second round of League 1? Or will they fall back and finish in the middle board like the already-already?
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