Olympics '12 - Pakistan Hockey Team Watch | [Pakistan finishes 7th]

[chui_kadoo]

almost 5-0

[Raz]

Was off target.

[BoomBoomCricket]

Imran Shah is the Kamran Akmal of hockey apparently

[chui_kadoo]

Is there a big following back home?

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Solid Snake I assume you are referring to our keeper, in which case after watching a few slow-mo replays, I have to say I agree. When one of the aussie strikers was winding up to take a shot, he dived a fraction to early to one side. I'm no expert, and perhaps you have to take a guess in those situations, but I would have thought waiting that tiny extra amount of time to see which way the ball was being hit would be a better technique, therefore at least allowing the keeper to move in the right direction.

Absolutely, it's the cricketing equivalent of premeditating a shot as a batsman.

[imshally81]

Originally Posted by chui_kadoo Is there a big following back home?

Yes.... ....
but due bad performance hockey is losing fan specially in last 10 years

[chui_kadoo]

5-0 redicolus

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by imshally81 Yes.... .... but due bad performance hockey is losing fan specially in last 10 years

I guess there wont be a backlash back at home cos they probably know we are rubbish and didnt expect to go far.

They will be losing me after this match

[Raz]

Lol, Australia playing with us. Another goal. Devastating finish which gave the keeper no chance.

[iHammad]

Depress kar diya in logon ne bilkul...

How many shots on target? 1?

[PerfectionPersonified]

hahah - ausssie in charge - Pakistan a really bad unit tbh

[imshally81]

10-0 .... anyone ??

[imshally81]

we need here

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by imshally81 10-0 .... anyone ??

My prediction was 8-0 at the start

[chui_kadoo]

PC again.

[Raz]

PC to Australia

[chui_kadoo]

Keeper just wafts around. He aint got a clue

[chui_kadoo]

oh dear what was that. 6-0 Did u see the keeper

[Solid Snake]

[chui_kadoo]

oh my days. How bad is this

[chui_kadoo]

shocking. Mark my words I can do much better than this retard keeper

[chui_kadoo]

I hope there is a back lash after this miserable display back home

[chui_kadoo]

Some one throw in the white towel

[chui_kadoo]

still 18 mins left

[Raz]

Goalkeeper was clueless and generally has been. Can't win Olympic medals when your keeper is such a douchebag.

[DesiMunda]

Been watching this match, and I think you guys are being a bit too harsh on the keeper. It's not just the keeper but the whole defensive line has been bad. Even if you had the best keeper possible, the scoreline would still be 3-0 or 4-0.

[Raz]

Still no Penalty Corners for Pakistan.

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by DesiMunda Been watching this match, and I think you guys are being a bit too harsh on the keeper. It's not just the keeper but the whole defensive line has been bad. Even if you had the best keeper possible, the scoreline would still be 3-0 or 4-0.

Trust me the keeper is bad. He has got snail like reactions. So so inept. What the hell is he doing in the team is beyond me

[Raz]

Originally Posted by DesiMunda Been watching this match, and I think you guys are being a bit too harsh on the keeper. It's not just the keeper but the whole defensive line has been bad. Even if you had the best keeper possible, the scoreline would still be 3-0 or 4-0.

I hear what you're saying, but the keeper doesn't inspire confidence, and hasn't done so throughout the tournament. In this game we had no chance but to attack, which has meant our defence would not be as tight as it could be. Some of the keeper's attempts at stopping goals have been nothing short of embarrassing.

[chui_kadoo]

Pakistan will play for 7th and 8th place now

[chui_kadoo]

7th or 8th is pretty abysmal. Need a clear out.

[Raz]

I missed the first 15-20 minutes of the game. What happened to Sohail Abbas?

[chui_kadoo]

I guess we got one game left

[chui_kadoo]

we are so slow going forward

[cricketpassion]

Originally Posted by chui_kadoo 7th or 8th is pretty abysmal. Need a clear out.

But that is our ranking now a days

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by cricketpassion But that is our ranking now a days

I guess the rankings are correct then. We are minnows

[iRfaN_LA]

what a phainty this is.

[chui_kadoo]

I hope GB pull it off with a Gold

[chui_kadoo]

7-0 folks

[chui_kadoo]

my prediction of 8-0 still on

[chui_kadoo]

1 minute left to get another goal

[DesiMunda]

Lol, Pakistan has called a video referral ? Really ?

[chui_kadoo]

is this our heaviest defeat ?

[chui_kadoo]

7-0 final result

[chui_kadoo]

Pak got man handled

[Solid Snake]

So no olympic medals this time round either...

[PerfectionPersonified]

totally demolished

[iRfaN_LA]

This is too embarrassing !! AUS just ate us alive !!!!

[chui_kadoo]

No wonder there are less and less Pakistanis following hockey. We are bloody awful

[chui_kadoo]

Cant see us winning a medal in the next 20 years. Major talent has to be hunted. Maybe get some imports

[NeVerMind]

And here I was trying to get tickets to the match...tried on several occasion yesterday night when they became available but never was able to reserve the ticket. Seems like a blessing in disguise now. Now should I try to get tickets to the 7th-8th place play-off or not?

[iRfaN_LA]

Originally Posted by chui_kadoo Cant see us winning a medal in the next 20 years. Major talent has to be hunted. Maybe get some imports

talent, fitness, money...we need everything.

[namak]

Originally Posted by NeVerMind And here I was trying to get tickets to the match...tried on several occasion yesterday night when they became available but never was able to reserve the ticket. Seems like a blessing in disguise now. Now should I try to get tickets to the 7th-8th place play-off or not?

If Spain score less than 2 goals and lose by a margin of 5 goals to GB, then Pakistan could play in the 5th-6th matchup (possible, but highly unlikely)

[KA$H]

i dont think talent is the issue - the on the ball skills of our players is special - all the commentators still say so

defensive technique/strategy needs a rework - and fitness/strength of our players also needs looking at

we need a better set-up/facilities in pak to compete at the highest levels of sport,

international matches and class oppo returning to pak, otherwise the team will continue to stagnate

[chui_kadoo]

Originally Posted by NeVerMind And here I was trying to get tickets to the match...tried on several occasion yesterday night when they became available but never was able to reserve the ticket. Seems like a blessing in disguise now. Now should I try to get tickets to the 7th-8th place play-off or not?

I wouldnt waste your money. Its only a 7th or 8th place game. It will be an anti climax game. After the mauling today the players probably wont give their all in that game.

[AJK]

European/Australian teams are a class apart. There was no way we can compete in near future. No point blaming players. PHF needs to do something to improve standards; they can't rely on individual brilliance as we simply don't have the players and the global game has moved on.

[asifp]

Our guys can hold a stick and have some tricks but

1. We don't have the fitness and speed of the top teams
2. Our players don't flow up and down the field like the top teams
3. Our man marking is poor
4. We go forward without a plan on who to pass

Basically the way we play our hockey has not adopted to the modern no off side game.

Need a much better game plan which required modern coaching methods

[Solid Snake]

Agree with asifp and Kash; I know it sounds surprising considering the mauling we received today, but I really do think our team is capable of so much more.

It's unfortunately a bit like cricket, individually there was some brilliance, but it was just so effectively countered by the aussies. When a single player would advance, three defenders would converge around him and shut out our attack.

In contrast, our defenders would hang back and give way too much space...

And of course, much like our cricket, off-field management seems atrocious. Five coaches in four years, current coach (who I doubt is up to par with modern day hockey and all the planning and training that it entails) was only picked a few months before the olympics!

It's really disappointing because with planning and guidance, we could achieve so much more.

[Runner Up]

The reality is we can't compete with worlds best teams. If we had a better goal keeper, result would have been little better.

But at least we were able to win few matches unlike India who are still trying to find a victory. They are playing with Belgium right now and already one goal down and first half is about to complete.

[AZulfi]

With the current weak defence (and crappy goalie) and a forward line lacking in skill, fluency and penetration, the rout was always on the cards. Australia are world champions for a reason

[AZulfi]

With the kind of investment in sports (well no investment in fact) this is to be expected. The poor players are the symptom of our terrible support network in Pakistan for sports.

really can't blame them. They were so anaemic compared to the hattay kattay players of other teams.

[Bushroda]

Originally Posted by Runner Up But at least we were able to win few matches unlike India who are still trying to find a victory. They are playing with Belgium right now and already one goal down and first half is about to complete.

You are right. Indian hockey team is a disgrace. As a matter of fact, We Indians gave up on hockey a long time back as medal hope for India. No big tears were shed (except by some former Olympians) when hockey team failed to qualify for Beijing Olympics 4 years back. If you notice in London Olympics | Team India thread, hardly anybody discussed hockey event except for cursory mention here & there.

Gone are the glory days of subcontinental hockey when we ruled the world.

[Mohsin]

One question...i heard the commies talk about Pakistan's 'European approach' nowadays following the Dutch coaches, trying to catch up to the European teams (which basically means Netherlands and Germany)....im not old enough to have been lucky to have properly appreciated the Pakistan hockey domination and class, but we obviously had our own style of play.
Why dont/didnt we stick to it? Why try and do something thats not natural to us and copy others?

[AZulfi]

Originally Posted by Mohsin One question...i heard the commies talk about Pakistan's 'European approach' nowadays following the Dutch coaches, trying to catch up to the European teams (which basically means Netherlands and Germany)....im not old enough to have been lucky to have properly appreciated the Pakistan hockey domination and class, but we obviously had our own style of play. Why dont/didnt we stick to it? Why try and do something thats not natural to us and copy others?

We should only copy the European style in defence (because our defence is weak) but when it comes to attacking play/field goals we need to revert to the old Asian style hockey (dribbling, dodging and short passing)

That being said, hockey of today is almost unrecognizable from the 70s and 80s

These days hockey is just a game of scoring goals from penalty corners. Most teams exploit this aspect. Hard-earned breathtaking field goals seem like a thing of the past

[cornered paktiger]

Originally Posted by Mohsin One question...i heard the commies talk about Pakistan's 'European approach' nowadays following the Dutch coaches, trying to catch up to the European teams (which basically means Netherlands and Germany)....im not old enough to have been lucky to have properly appreciated the Pakistan hockey domination and class, but we obviously had our own style of play. Why dont/didnt we stick to it? Why try and do something thats not natural to us and copy others?

The change came as a result of the playing surface. Up until the 1990s, hockey was played on grass rather than astroturf. It was a slower and more skilful game where dribbling and a short passing game were the key ingredients. Since astroturf, it has become a quicker and long ball game with more goals scored from penalty corners. The key attributes are athleticism and organisation.

The changes have led to a decline in Pakistani and Indian hockey.

[AZulfi]

Replace Iftikhar with Imran Shah (our goalie) and it makes perfect sense then. Hasan Sardar and Samiullah in the audience

Khalid Abbas Dar

[freelance_cricketer]

At least they were alive till the last match and gave you guys a real big hope unlike our team that lost 5 in a row. Be proud of them.

[Solid Snake]

^ I guess that is some consolation. I had heard a lot about our decline which in addition to the terrible performances and the coaching crisis leading up to the olympics, painted a pretty bleak picture.

Whilst we were completely outclassed today, and there are glaringly obvious weaknesses in both our play and approach to the game, the team did put in some good performances. I'm sure they tried their level best.

Lets face it, Australia is a country that takes its sport very seriously, and you can tell there is a lot of thought and preparation, as well as talent, when it comes to their team.

But it is disappointing nonetheless, as hockey was our only shot at a medal .

FC at least India has picked up a couple of medals already, and still are in the running for a few more so something to cherish for you guys .

Wish Pakistan invested a little more in some of the other events...

[AZulfi]

Originally Posted by cornered paktiger The change came as a result of the playing surface. Up until the 1990s, hockey was played on grass rather than astroturf. It was a slower and more skilful game where dribbling and a short passing game were the key ingredients. Since astroturf, it has become a quicker and long ball game with more goals scored from penalty corners. The key attributes are athleticism and organisation. The changes have led to a decline in Pakistani and Indian hockey.

Actually astroturf has been there in Europe since the 70s and in international hockey since the early 80s.

Whilst I agree that switching from grass to synthetic turf has removed some of the skill element from hockey, Pakistan won the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1982 and 1994 world cups on astroturf.

Ironically we won then despite not having a great penalty corner specialist. But our forwards incl. Hasan Sardar, Manzoor Junior, Samiullah, Kalimullah, Hanif Khan and Shahbaz Ahmed etc. were brilliant

Defensive weakness apart our current set of forwards are just not good or skilful enough. They lack fluency and penetration

Unfortunately for Sohail, he never played in a Pakistan team boasting a world-class attack. Pakistan's last great forward, Shahbaz Ahmed had retired (1996) by the time Sohail made his international debut in hockey (1998)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahbaz_Ahmed

[MoHZ]

Great shame today. Even missed out on the 5/6 play off.

But... on the bright side... its a significantly better performance than the World Cup debacle and still the best team in Asia if we win against Korea.

Imran Shah looked pretty useless the whole tournament, but having said that we've never been greatly renowned for our goalkeeping talents have we.

[AZulfi]

Originally Posted by MoHZ Great shame today. Even missed out on the 5/6 play off. But... on the bright side... its a significantly better performance than the World Cup debacle and still the best team in Asia if we win against Korea. Imran Shah looked pretty useless the whole tournament, but having said that we've never been greatly renowned for our goalkeeping talents have we.

Are you kidding me?

ever heard of Shahid Ali Khan (the best Pak goalie imo) and Mansoor Ali Khan (World Cup 1994)?

World Cup Final 1994 Pakistan v Holland in Sydney

1-1 after extra time


Penalty Strokes (won 4-3)

[Square Drive]

Depressing loss. That's all I can say.

Imran SHAH.

[OZGOD]

Great performance from the OZ in what has been a dismal Olympics from us. Hopefully the Kookaburras can give us our 5th medal (woop woop )

[MoHZ]

Originally Posted by AZulfi Are you kidding me? ever heard of Shahid Ali Khan (the best Pak goalie imo) and Mansoor Ali Khan (World Cup 1994)? World Cup Final 1994 Pakistan v Holland in Sydney 1-1 after extra time Penalty Strokes (won 4-3)

No I'm not kidding you. In the modern area no truly world class goalkeeper has come out of Pakistan. I would not regard pre 2000 the modern area.

However, very true with regards to the two chaps you mention in your post. Top quality goalkeepers.

[Azlan Khan]

Pakistan vs Korea, battle for the 7th place.. Tomorrow at 11:30 UK time, 2:30 UAE time and 3:30 Pakistan time. Don't forget to support them.

Pakistan Zindabad!

[sada90]

any chance for any kind of medal lol

[AZulfi]

Originally Posted by AzlanKhan Pakistan vs Korea, battle for the 7th place.. Tomorrow at 11:30 UK time, 2:30 UAE time and 3:30 Pakistan time. Don't forget to support them. Pakistan Zindabad!

7th or 8th, What difference does it make?

[AZulfi]

I think it will be an Australia-Netherlands Final

Holland the only team to have won all 5 group matches

Australia though has the best goal difference (23-5)

http://www.london2012.com/hockey/event/men/

[Square Drive]

Originally Posted by AzlanKhan Pakistan vs Korea, battle for the 7th place.. Tomorrow at 11:30 UK time, 2:30 UAE time and 3:30 Pakistan time. Don't forget to support them. Pakistan Zindabad!

I'm not even going to bother this time.

Originally Posted by sada90 any chance for any kind of medal lol

Nope.

[the Great Khan]

I Saw qll the pak matches until the drubbing and knew we would get destroyed..GB,OZ and co have younge forwards who are sharp, strong and quick.our lot look lethargic, negative and lack basic skills. a far cry from shehbaz and co..we need to go back to playing the asian way instead of this turgid 1980's european way..

current hockey has developed coutners to pen corners and more field goals are being score..we should adapt and go back to fast incisive forward play!

but I see no future for hockey in paksitan unless more money is invested!