Shin Tae-yong demonstrated his sharp, detailed match reading ability when Persija Jakarta faced Persib Bandung at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta. For Isman Jasulmei, the most remarkable point of the fixture was not the final score, but how STY managed the flow of the game minute by minute.
Tactical experimentation formed a core part of this approach. Rizky Ridho was handed an unorthodox role, operating as a deep-lying libero shifted into the midfield zone. His responsibility went beyond standard defensive duties: he was tasked with constricting Thom Haye's movement space and cutting off his passing distribution lanes. With Haye unable to freely dictate match tempo, Persib lost its primary creative outlet.
"STY managed this match against Persib minute by minute. Both Haye and Peralta were completely shut down," stated Isman during the ITSMe podcast.
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This discussion took place on the ITSMe podcast, featuring former Persija player & head coach Isman Jasulmei and football analyst Ronny Pangemanan, hosted by Raisha and Gilang in Sentul, Bogor on Monday (14/9/2026).
Isman noted that Persib arrived at the fixture with high confidence and a clear intent to take all three points. This very mentality was exactly what STY was able to exploit. When the match required a shift in attacking profile, he introduced tall physical target forwards - dubbed "mammoth strikers" - to introduce an entirely new dimension to Persija's offensive play.
Having Jeremieff and Ivan Mamud available gave STY far greater tactical flexibility. This is one of his defining strengths as a coach: he never locks himself into a single pre-planned strategy. A head coach must have Plan A, Plan B, even a Plan C ready. Once Haye and Peralta were neutralised, Persib had no reliable alternative outlets to build their attacking play.
Rizky Ridho was the linchpin of this tactical setup. By pushing forward from his usual centre-back position, he allowed Persija to shut down the exact zone that Haye operates from. This experiment proved that defensive players can be repurposed for far wider tactical objectives than just stopping opposition attacks.
Ronny Pangemanan agreed Persija now has genuine potential to compete at the top of the league table, but emphasised this promise must be proven over the coming matchweeks. If the squad can maintain consistency, avoid unnecessary defeats, and preserve their strong home form, they will have a very realistic shot at the Super League title.
For Persib meanwhile, this fixture at GBK requires immediate reflection and adjustments. The club will next travel away to face FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League Two. Defensive structure is a priority area to fix: when opposition teams shut down your creative playmakers and sever attacking supply lines, any side will lose control of their match rhythm.
This match provided a clear window into how Shin Tae-yong operates as a coach. He does not merely finalise a starting eleven before kickoff. He reads the game in real time minute by minute, tests player roles mid-match, adjusts responsibilities, and adapts solutions directly based on the unfolding action on the pitch.
The experiment deploying Rizky Ridho as a midfield libero to neutralise Thom Haye stands as the clearest example of this approach. Should this system continue to develop and Persija maintain their performance consistency, the tactical adjustments STY tested at GBK may become a foundational building block for a genuine, competitive title challenge.
