UFL: A Status Report after one month of Football

Global is the class of the league. These days a game with Global is where game plans go to die.

It starts with a rock-solid back four of Delon Patrick Yao and Jerry Barbaso on the wings with Val Kama and Carlos Tressor Guisso manning the middle. Roland Dely Sadia oftentimes has little to do between the posts with such a fortress in front of him.

Yao, who is Ivorian, and not Xavierian as his name suggests, is a muscular and skilled player who loves to bomb down the left flank and combine with left winger Jeffrey Cristiaens. Barbaso has come on well as an offensive threat too, with three assists off crosses in the last two games.

The biggest offseason acquisition for Global has been Ben Starosta. The Polish-Brit formerly of Sheffield United has the size and work rate to harass opposing midfielders and strikers into making mistakes.

Up top Izo Elhabbib has obviously rededicated himself to fitness. He looks sleek and has scored some terrific goals this season, none better than his thunderous free kick against Archers.

With all due respect to the other coaches in the league, Brian Reid has coached longer at a higher level (Scottish second tier) than anyone else. The players love him, even if at times they struggle to understand his instructions through his inscrutable Scottish brogue. Misagh Bahadoran tells me that in every single practice, Reid puts them through a different drill.

Global swept aside Pachanga with four second-half goals on Tuesday. Stiffer tests loom with Meralco, Stallion, and Kaya coming, but right now Global is a hot favorite to repeat.

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Stallion and Meralco must forget the past. Stallion are still perfect, but they were also 100% five games into the league last year, before falling behind. Fortunately for the Sta. Lucia-sponsored club, they now have Joaco Canas on defense and the brilliant Rufo Sanchez up top. Can they keep pace with Global for long?

Meralco was perfect until last night's draw with Kaya. They were strangely passive in the second half and Kaya deserved the late equalizer from Sean Iliff. The Sparks have question marks now with the injury to Freddy Gonzalez, whose three strikes led the team.

Loyola is still searching for that elusive first title. They have the tools to make a title run, but getting Gonzalez back (microfractures will keep him off the pitch for a month) will be crucial.

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Will the real Kaya FC please stand up? It's been a tumultuous season already for Kaya. Their coach Maor Rozen decided that he could no longer navigate the shoals of Kaya and called time on his stint there.

Kaya are now searching for a fourth coach in about a year.

They looked out-of-sorts in falling to Stallion 2-1 in the first game without the Uruguayan, but last Tuesday seemed to find their rhythm in coming back to tie Loyola.

Kaya are an enigma: they lack true defenders but makeshift centerbacks Masanari Omura and Dario Dakic, both converted mids, refuse to surrender many scores. Kaya is blessed with attacking resources and yet they struggle to score.

Kaya's bright spot is super-sub Janrick Soriano, who has scored twice late coming off the bench.

OJ Porteria scored a sensational individual goal against GAU but has been quiet since. But the irrepressible Virginian will likely provide many more highlight reel goals before the season is over.

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Green Archers United Globe's Visayan Small Ball has yet to click. Much hoopla was made of GAU this year after Chieffy Caligdong, Jovanie Simpron, Jake Hugo, Dan Ito, came aboard.

But one month into the season they languish in the drop zone with a solitary win over Air Force. What happened?

There has been much talk about how the cramped Empy pitch (eight meters narrower and shorter than Rizal Memorial) restricts their wing-based game predicated on speed. I am thinking these keen observers have a point. With much less real estate than a standard pitch, that pace advantage is blunted.

The inexperienced defense is also getting stretched. Jake Hugo, Ronnie Aguisanda, and Dodong Villareal have to step up fast, especially since Dom Mensah has apparently fallen out of favor with the team and doesn't play much.

The return of Jonjon Melliza from UAAP duty is welcome, but Ito, the well-traveled veteran, has been unable to prove his class. For me the most consistently productive member of the midfield has been Dodz Pasinabo, who has worked hard all season.

My suggestion to coach Dolfo Alicante: try stationing Ayi Aryee Nii up top to help give the Archers some height in the attacking third.

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The surprise team is Nomads. The plucky squad from Merville is clear of the relegation zone for now thanks to wins over Air Force, Army, Pachanga, and a draw against Kaya. Those are astonishing results for a part-time team of (somewhat) young professionals.

Bafio Magassa and Fidelis Nnabuife have been great this year, and the preternatural genius of 17-year old James Woldring has been one of the feel-good stories of the league. He didn't score versus PD, but he did trot out three jaw-dropping plays. I say the young Aussie has a future in his country's A-League.

Nomads' secret weapons are experience and camaraderie. “You won't find a closer team than Nomads in the league” boasts keeper Jeff Blake.

Pachanga Diliman has the most underrated player in the league. PD has two wins already but has lost three of the last four. The home-grown heavy squad just might pull off some surprises.

Boyet Cañedo, their midfielder, is one of the hidden gems of the UFL. As Step Permanes of Cimarron says “bawal siyang agawan” ( its forbidden to dispossess him.) The San Carlos native is a physical presence on the field who hardly ever puts in a bad pass. And his free-kicking skill is in the Mark Hartmann neighborhood. An Azkals call-up would be possible if only the National Team wasn't so full of gifted mids.

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The military clubs struggle, but are in different situations. Army is winless and point-less, although they did battle Stallion close in a 2-1 loss.

The boys from Bonifacio seriously lack youth and speed in almost every phase of play. For me their best player is Yok Becite, but I am baffled at why Army doesn't try him at attacking mid or even at striker. The Barotacnon has a cannon of a right foot that can threaten from distance. But Army plays him at the holding mid position where he is tasked to tidy up defensively.

Air Force is shadow of a team that won the league and cup double just two years ago. They haven't a point to their name in all their outings.

A green defense led Mark Anthony Fernandez has had difficulty holding the fort, and I am told that they need to communicate better. Glenn Bulaquina, another promising defender, has a hamstring pull. Air Force are often forced to bring in the aging Martin Doctora to settle things.

Joebel Bermejo brings veteran smarts at right back, but he is still playing through some pain from his achilles injury.

Ansing Gustilo showed what he is capable with a magnificent half-volley against Green Archers. He will need to produce with more flashes of brilliance if Air Force are to resurrect this season.

Air Force let go of a bunch of players, and the one they seem to miss most is Peter Jaugan. The M'lang native is a smart, Internationally-experienced midfielder who could have helped them stabilize the center of the park.

The best thing about Air Force is that unlike Army, they are young, and theoretically can only get better.

With coach Brax Bracamonte entering Air Force schooling soon, the onus will be on veteran Winnie Subere to chip in with the sideline leadership.

Pasargad misses Masoud Shedideh. The big Iranian was one of the best strikers in the league last year. But he fell out with club management last year and is now back in Iran.

Without him Essie Sedigh's team is adrift, without a point thus far.

There are issues off the field as well. Gerald Orcullo, a former Azkal central defender, has reportedly been arrested on drug charges. They could badly use his quality on defense.

Where is the long throw? I'm surprised that aside from Kaya's Anton Del Rosario, few teams are going with a long-throw-in specialist. That is a massive weapon in a small pitch.

If I were a UFL coach I'd get the longest thrower on the team to practice it for at least half an hour every day, so that throw-ins deep in enemy territory become virtual corner kicks.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.