Posted by: Gerry O’Toole

Singaporeans appear to be among the world’s most avid Man Utd supporters. (For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, more information is here.)

Personally, Man utd and I go way back to when I was a wee lad in Belfast and the great Belfast Man, George Best was in the team and was in my view the BEST in the world. He was also a prolific drinker and carouser, which proved to be his downfall and lead to a premature death.

‘I have spent half of my money on women and drink’ he once famously quipped ‘ and the rest I just squandered’. That gives you some measure of the man but his footballing genius was the main thing. 

The current Man Utd team has been flattered by winning three trophies this year – and also managed to get to the final of the world’s premier football competition -Europe’s Champions League – and so it was with much anticipation that Jim Howlett, myself and my son Dylan rose at 2am and drove to a well known watering hole to watch the match. The Singapore Man Utd fans were out in force.

Big disappointment – Barcelona were in a different class once they got going. Man Utd had no answer to the Spanish midfield dominance and were well beaten in the end. An uncharacteristic poor performance from Man Utd. We’re still looking for the new George Best.

So now, Jim and I are both tired and bleary eyed at our desks. The things we do for Black & Veatch!…