Azkals Get Key Players Back!

The Azkals offense may have gotten weaker with the loss of Phil Younghusband but their defense is certainly going to get a lot stronger.

Why? Because goalie Neil Etheridge and defender Rob Gier are back in town.



Etheridge and Gier were part of the Azkals side who made waves in last year's AFF Suzuki Cup. That team was characterized by tenacious and unforgiving defense plus a predatory offense.

Younghusband's exit may mean a less cohesive offensive side but new recruits Angel Guirado and William Espinosa has been wowwing Coach Hans Michael Weiss the past few weeks so we can expect that the offense will be as dangerous as it was before.

On the defensive side, Etheridge is definitely a notch above Eduard Sacapano because of his length and big league experience while Gier might bring back the tenacious defense so obviously lacking in the first half of the Azkal-Blue Wolves match.