Result of First Clash

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I am hoping that the Super Reds could pull off a great job by holding the seemingly unconvincing Home United to a draw. I was terribly wrong. I take back my criticism of Straits Times and the public. The foreign teams aren't making a big impact anyway.

Another issue. After the 1-5 hammering, I realised that despite being recipients of several proposals for participating in the S-League, there are not really good teams coming along. Sinchi FC came and went. So did Sporting Afrique, who seems a rather good team in attack but lacks the defensive ability to make much of an impact. I hugely suspect that of Liaoning FC and Korean Super Reds, one or both could end up out of the S-League. Why? Despite boasting Chinese and Korean names, in the S-League, they are only sending in a feeder club and the quality of football is not clearly shown. I am hoping the FAS could do their best to accept offers that could boost the quality of football in our native league. Adding to that, we should also have more local teams and expand the league size. Local teams give local players more chance, while expanding the league size again is definitely necessary. However, due to the problem of the number of matches that could be played due to expansion of league size, we should, in fact, have a promotion and relegation system, whereby perhaps 12 teams in the top tier and 12 or 14 in the bottom tier, with one team automatically relegated or promoted, and the second best and second worst of 2nd and 1st tier square off. Winner of this playoff will gain entry to the top tier next season. Isn't this idea more feasible, so that only the best can survive, and the worst could fight as hard as they can for survival and more benefits?

Just look at the season in 2005. Then, there is one team who stands out greatly. No, not Tampines Rovers, who claimed the title a second successive time, but bottom club Paya Lebar Punggol, who, out of 27 matches and a possible 81 points, amassed only a single win and a single draw for 4 points. This is totally unacceptable. They should be relegated, but they merged with Sengkang United and formed Sengkang Punggol, but ended up last again, with 18 points from 30 matches, due to a sudden surge at the end of the season by Geyland United, who won their last two matches to go five points ahead of Sengkang, including a gritty 3-2 victory over already crowned champions SAFFC.

Last point to make before ending. Why is Woodlands Wellington called the Chelsea of Singapore last season and now it is Home United's turn? Why Chelsea? Chelsea spends a lot of money, while we have never ever heard of any transfer fees, because the clubs get players from overaged players from the Young Lions. FAS should implement a system that you should be paying transfer fees for players. Home United did not spend a lot of money, in fact almost minimal, and the comparison should not stand. Therefore, call them something nice, while they could just change their nickname, from the current Protectors, to a more selling name.