SINGAPORE — His long-term vision is for Singapore football to adopt a “fast-passing, offensive style based on a winning spirit” utilising a 4-3-3 formation.

But while steps are being taken to implement this philosophy at the grassroots, schools and national age-groups level, Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director Michel Sablon says he will not force new national team head coach V Sundramoorthy to follow suit.

Sundram made a name for himself as a pragmatic tactician who often favoured a defensive approach during his tenure as head coach of the now-defunct LionsXII. He also deployed a similar style at S.League outfit Tampines Rovers on occasion, despite having a wealth of striking options in Fazrul Nawaz, Jordan Webb, Billy Mehmet and Jermaine Pennant.

And so far, the approach has reaped dividends for the former international. The LionsXII won the Malaysian Super League title in 2013, while the Stags recently became the first S.League side since 2008 to reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

Sablon told TODAY he will have no issues with Sundram continuing in this same vein with the Lions for the Suzuki Cup at the end of the year, and even next year’s Asian Cup qualifiers.

“The national coach is free to implement the system he wants, because he is judged on whether the team wins or loses,” explained Sablon. “And the coach (Sundram) will be the one preparing the team for the Suzuki Cup. So it will be Sundram who has to find out what system will suit his team best based on the players available to him. But I will be there to fully support him with whatever he needs.”

However, Sablon, who is widely credited as the man who transformed his country into a footballing powerhouse, believes it will only be a matter of a few years before his philosophy is adopted by the national team.

Citing his time in Belgium, he said: “If we build it up from the youngsters and start now when they’re 14 or 15, they’ll be ready in four to five years’ time. In Belgium, I advised my coaches to play 4-3-3, but it was not an immediate success. It took time, but now the national team plays that way. It is a logical continuation of the overall system that I implemented at the youth level.

“After all, if we develop the players to be comfortable in that formation from young, the national team coach will eventually be inclined to utilise it, as they will find that is the system in which their players are most comfortable and effective in.”

Indeed, Sablon reckons his technical department is beginning to see the young shoots emerging from their developmental project.

“When we see the U-18 boys play in the Young Lions (in the S.League), that’s a good signal because these players, in maybe two years, will be ready for the national team,” he said.

“So he (Sundram) will reap the benefits of the development plan in a few years, but not yet now.” NOAH TAN