Auckland showed immense desire

Europe is under siege from an Arctic winter. Airports are closed, driving is treacherous and people are struggling with their daily lives. It is little wonder that most of the leagues around Europe take a winter break.

The UFL is obviously aware of such temperature changes and as a precaution have included a winter break until 10th January. There are cup games before the league resumes and then it will stop again for a few weeks in January. I think an increase in the number of teams or making the season more compact would help the league. The double-edged sword of increasing the number of teams would compromise quality.

Ajman this season have been diabolical with no wins or even a draw this season. I went to watch them lose 2-1 against Al Wasl on Monday. They were a team devoid of ideas, confidence, fight and ability. The 10-man Al Wasl side were not the strongest opposition they will face this season and I fear for them when they come up against some of the bigger sides. I am still trying to work out how they beat Al Ain in the Cup.

Top quality

The Fifa Club World Cup provided the UAE with a glimpse of some fantastic football at the highest level. It also provided a lesson in what organisation, desire and hard work can achieve. Auckland City were a team of part-timers who, when you looked through the squad, had a few older players, a few who could have been in better shape if they had been professionals and no real pace. The fact that they beat Al Ahli and TP Mepenze shows how much can be achieved with limited resources.

Way to go

If local teams show the same desire they can start to push on in the Asian Champions League and internationally. The number of times I have watched games with players whose attitude is suspect is unbelievable and often the foreign players drop their own standards rather than try to encourage teammates to raise their game.

The same consensus is apparent in the clubs when you speak to staff who have come from abroad. The obvious thing to do is for players to go abroad and experience the standards of some of the world's bigger leagues. Given that the youth sides in the UAE have done well recently, wouldn't now be the time to provide them experience abroad and secure the future of UAE football?

Two-horse race

Meydan opened its doors to the press this week so that fits in nicely with the championship now being a two-horse race. It looks like it will be a straight-up battle between Abu Dhabi pair Al Wahda and Al Jazira for the title. The curve ball in this one would be Baiano. Let go to Al Wahda from Al Jazira last season, he has been continuing his goal-scoring form throughout this season and Al Jazira may well regret their decision to let him go.

This is the last column before Christmas which means two things. I should wish you all happy holidays and let you know that I will be doing a review of the year in next week's column. Anything you can remember that stands out let me know via the newspaper email address.