The Brazilian teams still in the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil have adopted the same strategy as every year, saving the best players for the midweek games and playing their reserves in the league.
Both Santos and Corinthians are getting exactly what they deserve for such stupid, short-sighted and insulting policies. After four games, Corinthians are bottom of the table with 1 point and Santos are just above them with 3 points.
The clubs still in the Copa do Brasil playing semi-reserve teams are doing almost as badly. Palmeiras are second bottom of the table and Coritiba are in 14th place. Only Sao Paulo in seventh and Gremio – in third after defeating Corinthians (reserves) yesterday – are anywhere like they should be.
The policy is stupid because resting top players for league games doesn’t make these teams any more likely to triumph in the Libertadores.
It’s short-sighted because giving up on so many points at the start of the season will inevitably cost them any chances of league success later on.
And it’s insulting to players because it presumes they can’t perform to the best of their abilities twice in a week and to fans, who are asked to pay to see sub-standard line ups.
Pele used to play more games in a season than any player does today. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play twice a week and seem to do just fine. Players in England, Germany, France and Italy all play high profile, energy sapping league matches at the weekend and Champions league fixtures during the week.
Supporters deserve better. They’re not daft. Yesterday’s crowd to see Santos (reserves) play Sao Paulo (reserves)? 6,327.
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June 11, 2012 at 4:01 pm
andyhpmartin
I agree but I also think it’s indicative of the shambolic way in which the Brasileiro is organised in general. The start of a new football season should be characterised by anticipation, optimism and excitement at what is to come ahead during the year but in Brazil it comes a week after the finish of the state championships, in the middle of the Libertadores and during a whole set of international fixtures. Frankly, after four games of the season I already feel pretty indifferent about the whole thing.
June 11, 2012 at 4:05 pm
andrewdownie
Yeah, you’re right. But I hope all these teams miss out on the league, Libertadores, the Copa Sudamerica, or whatever by a point or two. Not that they’d learn from their mistakes…..
June 11, 2012 at 4:08 pm
andyhpmartin
Agreed! It was a joke that Santos didn’t take the league seriously last year because they were ‘saving themselves’ for the World Club Cup game with Barcelona. The fact they then got stuffed 4-0 made it even sweeter.
June 11, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Gustavo
Basically people in Brazil tends to overrate Libertadores, this is why you see such stupid decisions. The only reason Copa do Brasil is also very well considered right now is because it gives one spot in the next Libertadores. So, obviously it’s a much shorter way to get there, compared to the National League.
However, right now we see the Libertadores less and less competitive – Brazilian teams dominate it. And it’s not even Manager’s fault – as I said, most people will overrate these cups. Hopefully there will be a time that people will realize that there isn’t a more exciting tournament to win in Brazil than the League. When that day comes, we won’t see that again and public average in the Brasileirão will grow.
June 11, 2012 at 4:49 pm
andrewdownie
Thanks Gustavo. I am writing right now about the professionalistion of the league. It’s happening, but it’s a slow process. Pouco a pouco, ne? Abs, Andrew
June 15, 2012 at 11:08 pm
andyhpmartin
For what it’s worth I’ve written a post about some of the things I mentioned above. Would be interested to hear what you think. Cheers!
http://thebookisonthetable.me/2012/06/15/will-the-last-person-watching-the-brasiliero-please-turn-off-the-lights/