The problem with investing heavily in one particular style of play is that when it comes to playing the games which you really need to win — often against stronger opponents — you would typically be forced to play the exact opposite of the style you are used to deploying.
During the AFC Champions League Two group stage, Lion City Sailors averaged 37% possession across six games against her regional peers — significantly lower than what they are used to in the domestic league. If LCS decided to specialise in patient build-up, possession-based football without developing a more direct, counter-attacking style of play, they would not have progressed far in the prestigious regional competition.
Thankfully, the oft-used 5-4-1 system and Wünder-Uncle Shawal Anuar are equally good at low blocks vis-a-vis playing on the front foot. To this outside observer, LCS are sufficiently drilled to play dimetrically different styles of play, depending on the opposition on matchday.
