Originally Posted by browna
Herdman deserves all the credit, and I mean all the credit.
Him being forced to take the role to save precious PR face for the CSA after the Zambrano drama, also IMO allowed him to dictate the terms of his employment...which meant bringing the staff he wanted, and resources he knew were needed, or else...and that the interaction with the highly political CSA board would be kept to a minimum, or he walks. No other coach in the program had that autonomy to be able to ignore what was suggested to them for player selection or tactics by a higher ranking official.
No other coach had that, you listen to the ex players yesterday, and they all in one way shape or form slid in/ mentioned "support" that they didn't have when they played.
Fan support would've probably never been a problem from a fan base of Canada got into the final Hex these past 20 years, the lack of support they were alluding to was the toxic CSA being cheap with coaches, training and everything else, which WC cylcle after cycle got worse. The CSA as late as last year complained about not having TV, because years ago they alienated networks by assuming Canada soccer had to be on TV for a high fee. They cheaped out, found cheap coaches that one faction of the board or executive would be forced to listen to. Training camps, travel, all of it was as cheap as possible.
Nevermind the infighting and policitics between factions of the executive and board, and then provincial associations getting involved. The explayers basically since 1993 never had a chance with the CSA mishandling every aspect of development and high performance.
Herdman removed that large element of negativity and distraction from the day to day around the MNT as terms of his employment. He was able to recruit players, at very least soon after his tenure started, with the lure of an automatic 2026 chance to play in a World Cup. He was able to break CSA guidelines and not have Ontario Soccer directors telling him which young guys to look at, so suddenly players from outside of Ontario and Quebec get an equal look. Davies is a partial example of that.
Herdman also gets a break with Covid to restart the qualifying process fresh, and with the group of players and coaches and support staff he wanted, and his techniques tactics and motivation got this team to where it should be.
Hargreaves, not noticed by the CSA until long after he was at Bayern and who the CSA tried to guilt him into playing for Canada, and others who had a legitimate choice and opportunity, made the right choice.
|