Entertainment & Apathy Induced Embarrassment

Went to watch Brazil U-23 train at the National Stadium yesterday, and it sure is an eye opener. They played 2-sided-games throughout and I must say, there was rarely a misplaced pass or touch and the intensity was really high, not to mention the level of football on display.

Ronaldinho looked a tad sluggish and is obviously still in a race to get himself fit for the Olympics. Anderson looked assuring, but his antics during training were a minor cause for concern. But he is only 20 and is still growing and maturing, and perhaps his sort of presence during tense periods close to big games or tournaments can help alleviate the general stress on the team. Pato looked sharp and matured for someone his age and is definitely one for the future. The one that impressed me most however is Manchester City's new signing Jo. He is very similar to Adebayor - lanky yet quick, good movement with and without the ball, strong in the air and strikes a mean shot. He will definitely be one to look out for in the coming season as he seeks to repay the mad amount of money paid by Thaksin.

Finally, a few words regarding the Singaporean fans who were present at the session. I felt uncomfortable throughout the session as the people who were really there made me feel like some sort of a misfit. They shouted unsavoury jokes, most of which presented Singaporeans as a bunch of low-lives with poor and blunt sense of humour. I guess they were just doing it for the sake of their own idea of 'good fun', but being funny and being laughed at are two different things.

The kind of frenzy (or lack of) that this match has created somewhat reflects the kind of society we live in. Tickets are still apparently on sale when I expected them to move really fast. Goodness this is Brazil, who will not want to watch it, for a decent price as well! The hustle and bustle of our highly capitalistic system has changed our attitudes towards leisure, to the point of apathy. There are multitudes of distractions and other priorities placed above leisure. I would think leisure would be something we look forward to and work towards, not distract ourselves from. Looks like priorities and attitudes have changed.

(edit: I actually wrote this two days before the Straits Times' Sports Correspondent came up with something of similar content!)

Ronald-HO..A Carlos Queiroz Ramble

Should he or should he not? I think it is a foregone conclusion in my opinion, just get going and give us a minimum of 70mil Euros in return. A player, however brilliant, is only as useful as his heart for the club. Wanna leave? Fine, just make sure I get back monetarily the amount of effort I put into making who you are today, the faith I placed in you when everyone thought your were an Olympic diver and sheltered you while the whole of England wanted your ass.

Can anyone honestly replace him? He is strong, fast, skilful, an accomplished finisher with both his feet and head, excellent physique and plays with the heart and desire that is desperately lacking in so many professional players. A complete player? Yes. Irreplaceble? Maybe. Can we go on and be successful without him? Definitely. We are Man United, not CRFC. We won the Champions League the season after Cantona retired and you're no where near his legendary status yet.

With a heavy heart I let you go, but with (muted) gleeful anticipation I look forward to your next replacement. With that money, I can get anyone I want.



Queiroz