Autor: Norman | Publicado: 2012-06-23T07:55:00-07:00



LIBERTADORES,
AN EXPERIENCE WORTH FORGETTING?

Santos did
try and actually scored first, but it wasn't to be. Of course there is a lot of
complaining about the anti-game performed by the opponent, stopping every play
with a foul. The ref presented few if any yellow cards, which would have helped
to make the game a little more enjoyable. The feeling we santistas get is that
Santos has been pulled in every direction, be it the national team, the
Libertadores, and the Paulista, in addition to endless injuries. The fact is,
Santos played only about 70% of what it is accustomed to, not to speak of when
the team really plays according to music. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened
for a while.

Nevertheless,
being in the semi-finals is not all that bad, especially when compared to
plights, such as of São Paulo, who fell in the semi-finals of the Copa do
Brasil, whose winner is entitled to a slot in next year's Libertadores.

Of course,
the focus is again on Neymar and, to an extent, on Ganso. Let's start with
Neymar. As I mentioned in previous notes, the process continues. Just like a
baby goes through all stages of development, the teenager goes through rites of
passage, so do professionals go through stages in their career. Neymar is no
different.

My analysis
is that the second honeymoon is over. Neymar is shedding skins and is not
always able to channel an inspired message of the soccer gods. The light gets
dimmer at times as he has to deal with forces of the underworld. Sound like
some TV superhero flick? I did this on purpose. However, Neymar has been around
for a short while now, continuously under the spotlights and carrying the world
on his shoulders. This will be no different for the next couple of years, as we
head for the Olympic games and ultimately the World Cup. The question arises as
to how much he can stand and if he can focus on the virtuoso side of things and
not on the material obstacles and forces that will never cease to try and stop
him. Will our hero shed another skin to become even stronger? Will he continue
to channel good soccer and make the fans go wild? Or will he succumb to the
overwhelming mediocrity that does not admit to be in the presence of the light?
Stay tuned, though the intensity shall wane slightly in the next few months, as
Santos will battle the long grind in the Brasileirão, coming from behind to
take the title.

Now for
Ganso. Paulo Henrique Ganso has had a very ambiguous history within the
confines of the Santos team. He has gone from hero to villain to hero to would
be hero to who knows if Santos even will resist to negotiate him at this point.
At this point, the tables are turning, and Santos will have to take into
consideration all the revenues that will not come into its coffers. These
amounts are considerable and alter the course of financial planning of the
Club. To be reckoned are the amounts not received for the Libertadores final games and now impossible title, the sponsorship money that dependeds on the high
visibility of the team, new sponsorships that will not materialize due to the
same factors. Also, Ganso would depend on being in the spotlight to attract the
kind of sponsorship that would make his presence until the World Cup possible
financially. In terms of the interests for Santos, it may be more interesting
to look at the younger categories for new blood and begin to write a new story. 

Another
consideration is that Ganso did his best to get back into the game after
undergoing some clean-up surgery. There is little doubt that he did not play
anywhere close to his potential. It may be understood that this was an
important factor in the elimination of the team, and it is not the first time
that his lack of physical fitness and inspiration cost the team in terms of
results. This has been dragging on for a while, and the fact that he was the
center of negativity on more than one occasion preceding important events only
adds to the forces that would like to cash in on the situation and negotiate
him to a European team for valuable financial returns. We will see. Quite a
strange story.

I am not
sure how much I will be sharing with you in the next few weeks. I am working on
projecting and &nbsp;hoping to see a
little of the soccer that I have become accustomed to in the recent past. 

Will
Corinthians be champion of the Libertadores, I doubt it. Boca has been there
many times before. It would be unusual for a first time contestant beat such a
qualified team. Riquelme may not be at the height of his years, though he is
quite a talent - probably the greatest idol ever to play for Boca. And he loves the
team. However, since we have predicted that the end of times is near, a win by
Corinthians would be emblematic, no doubt. In this case, dig yourselves in, buy emergency
supplies and brace yourself for the impact.

Run them
over, Santos