Chances Of Canada Having A World Cup Team?

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I think for a long time it was hard for Canadian players because there was no true professional league for them to play in in this country, but with the expansion of the MLS into Canada, this is changing.

Like I have said before, the problem was/is the fact that Canada simply didn't/doesn't have enough professional-quality players. We may produce players that can cut it in the top professional leagues in Europe but we don't have enough consistency in the development system. As such, that is where the focus needs to be placed. Professional teams might eventually help with developing young talent but in order to ensure their future they cannot focus on that during their infancy (see: Toronto FC). Additionally, Canada only has the potential for supporting the MLS in the three cities. What happens to the rest?

For the above reasons, Canada needs to develop a player development system that it can roll out nation-wide. We need to spend money on coaching the coaches, teaching them how to teach and develop players. Canada has the raw input materials (i.e. an abundance of youth players), we simply need the machinery to properly transform the raw materials into high-quality outputs. Amateur, semi-pro, and professional leagues will be a part of this but there is so much more (e.g. knowledge management and skill development).

Anyway, to answer your question. We could qualify but we'd be better off in the long-term if we made long-term plans instead of focusing on short-term success.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Can't see Calgary being close to MLS support, and even have some doubts about Vancouver. We all know how fair-weather the sports fans here can be, so I'm not 100% sure the Whitecaps will keep enough demand in the long run to be a big success. Hope it is though.

Never know how things will work out long term but they have over 13000 season ticket deposits already... that's not bad at all.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Matty81

The CSA just approved a major structural change, not without some opposition;
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/jason...to-change.html

Not surpised at the opposition. The exact political garbage that has plauged that organization.

Hargreaves was never on the CSA radar until long after he was at Bayern, because unless you played in Ontraio or Quebec or maybe BC, you weren't scouted or thought of as ever going to be turning into a player because you were in Alberta.

Youth and senior results from the 90's were spread all across the country (sparing the Maritimes), however but the U18, U21 teams and development programs were stacked with Ontario and Quebec players, coaches and officials.

Maybe the odd BC player/coach was in there, but the organinzations from Central Canada ran the show, so its not suprisning that they're likely the ones trying desperatley to grasp on tho this self appointed power they've obtained in running the CSA.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Thanks guys for all the great information. I would love to cheer for team Canada at the World Cup. Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later!

I would be in tears if Canada ever made the World Cup. Especially hearing O Canada.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Never know how things will work out long term but they have over 13000 season ticket deposits already... that's not bad at all.

Yeah, that's a good number (2 are mine ). I read today that Seattle has over 30,000 season ticket holders and Toronto has a waitlist of 14,000.
Nice to see the MLS getting such strong support.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by browna

Not surpised at the opposition. The exact political garbage that has plauged that organization.

Hargreaves was never on the CSA radar until long after he was at Bayern, because unless you played in Ontraio or Quebec or maybe BC, you weren't scouted or thought of as ever going to be turning into a player because you were in Alberta.

Youth and senior results from the 90's were spread all across the country (sparing the Maritimes), however but the U18, U21 teams and development programs were stacked with Ontario and Quebec players, coaches and officials.

Maybe the odd BC player/coach was in there, but the organinzations from Central Canada ran the show, so its not suprisning that they're likely the ones trying desperatley to grasp on tho this self appointed power they've obtained in running the CSA.

I don't know the full list of who voted how but apparently Alberta was in the heart of the opposition to those changes to the CSA, the president of Alberta soccer was in favour and was going to vote for the changes and the Alberta board suspended him and the 4 of them went out to the AGM themselves to vote against the changes.

I think this particular change is less about geographic dominance of the national team and more about controlling their own little empire without interference. The more power the central body has the less importance and power these smaller provincial boards have.

As for Owen, I think it's a story we hear alot from guys who choose to represent another country they are not from as justification - Canada didn't recognize my talent because I was cut from the regional/provincial/national team when I was 12. I know he is hated with some intensity by most of the Canadian soccer community but I personally don't care much, I'd rather have people play for Canada who are proud to do so.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Can't see Calgary being close to MLS support, and even have some doubts about Vancouver. We all know how fair-weather the sports fans here can be, so I'm not 100% sure the Whitecaps will keep enough demand in the long run to be a big success. Hope it is though.

That's definitely true for Calgary.

I've been a soccer fan all of my life. When I was very young, my dad used to take me to Strikers and Kickers games at the old Mewata stadium in the 80s. At that point, they were part of the CSL and I believe even won the championship one year.

Calgary went through a period without a semi-pro/pro team until the early 2000s when the Storm/Mustangs were brought in. The team had some faithful supporters when they were playing well in the PDL, but when they made the jump to the A-League, they began to struggle. That's when the attendance started to drop. I think they were barely hitting 500 fans a game when they moved onto the artificial turf at McMahon. I was close with the captain of the Storm and the team ran out of money, so they couldn't pay their local players.

If some are interested in watching professional soccer, Calgary does have an indoor team called United. It's part of the CMISL. The squad is made up of a lot of former Storm/Mustangs players: Reyes, Jesic, Napuri, and Zuniga. They won the title in 2010. The league itself is looking to expand: http://www.cmisl.com/

[looooob]

Originally Posted by browna

Choked away 1998...Good in the group stages, but in the final round tying Jamica and Hondurus at home after get the doors blown off by the US and Mexico and that was it after 4 games of the 10 in that stage.

1994 was as close as possible, with a veteran team...had a chance against Mexico, at home, in the final game...win and they're in, and they tie the game. But lose that game, then onto Australia where they had the PK's (and TSN's feed went bad in extra time of that game) to get in.

Chicken and egg...the amount of money the CSA would've got from making the world cup is probably 20x thier current annual budget, which may have helped spurn more programs for youth and improved the program as a whole. Many of it also may have just got to waste with an inefficient management group heading the CSA at the time.

yeah 94 hurt. had to view the tuneup game versus Brazil at Commonwealth as our "World Cup" that year, and that was a fun game

I cried when they qualified in 86, hope to see it again, someday..

[GirlySports]

Not sure the money for going to the WC in 86 was much, it was a different time, not the bazillion dollar industry it is now.

Where'd all the money they made from hosting the U20 in 2007 go?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Not sure the money for going to the WC in 86 was much, it was a different time, not the bazillion dollar industry it is now.

Where'd all the money they made from hosting the U20 in 2007 go?

They ran 2 million over budget on facility rental and operation, half a mil over on ground transportation and broke even to the dollar according to their financial statements.

Financial Statements are at ; http://www.canadasoccer.com/document...-20finance.pdf
drowsiness may result for non-Accountants.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Matty81

They ran 2 million over budget on facility rental and operation, half a mil over on ground transportation and broke even to the dollar according to their financial statements.

Financial Statements are at ; http://www.canadasoccer.com/document...-20finance.pdf
drowsiness may result for non-Accountants.

That's ridonkulous!

[goodyear]

It'll be nice to see Canada qualify and be in the 32. I also would like a chance to be a participant on 'Bud House' at a future World Cup.

But even if we qualify, there's probably a good likelihood that we get booted out in the first round like Honduras, the third CONCACAF team.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by goodyear

But even if we qualify, there's probably a good likelihood that we get booted out in the first round like Honduras, the third CONCACAF team.

Sometimes you need arsewhoopings to learn. Canada would get worked but so what? At least we'd be there, the sport would grow in Canada and we could be proud and nationalistic about our team! It would only go up from there.

And Jonathan De Guzman should not be allowed anywhere near this team, just like Hargraves. I know you may have been snubbed and went unrecognized but if you don't want to play for Canada GTFO. Every Canadian should be proud to play for this great country and improve the program. I wonder how Dutch Jonathan feels given that he doesn't get a sniff of the Dutch side.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Sometimes you need arsewhoopings to learn. Canada would get worked but so what? At least we'd be there, the sport would grow in Canada and we could be proud and nationalistic about our team! It would only go up from there.

And Jonathan De Guzman should not be allowed anywhere near this team, just like Hargraves. I know you may have been snubbed and went unrecognized but if you don't want to play for Canada GTFO. Every Canadian should be proud to play for this great country and improve the program. I wonder how Dutch Jonathan feels given that he doesn't get a sniff of the Dutch side.

I think our national team was significantly better on paper than New Zealand in the last cycle and we saw how well they did. Never know what could happen if you can get your team into a one off tourney.

I agree with the sentiment about de Guzman but I expect that they will take him if he wants to come back simply because his brother is pretty much the engine of the national team and both Julian and Jonathan are good friends with most of the guys in the national team program. He might get some ribbing but it would not affect squad cohesion in the same way an unknown coming in after doing the same thing would. Morocco and Algeria do the same thing with guys who first chose to declare for France at youth level over and over again much to the betterment of soccer in their countries.

[Finny61]

We need Jose Mourinho!!! j/k

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think our national team was significantly better on paper than New Zealand in the last cycle and we saw how well they did. Never know what could happen if you can get your team into a one off tourney.

I would agree with this. Canada does well in tournaments on neutral ground. For example they always do very well in the Gold Cup.

But it's that home and away factor in WCQ that kills Canada. Canada has no advantage at home and then have to go to places like Guatemala and El Salvador where they throw urine bags at you.

Europeans have it easy. I'd like to see England and their fans play a meaningful game in Tegucigalpa and see how they like it!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Sometimes you need arsewhoopings to learn. Canada would get worked but so what? At least we'd be there, the sport would grow in Canada and we could be proud and nationalistic about our team! It would only go up from there.

And Jonathan De Guzman should not be allowed anywhere near this team, just like Hargraves. I know you may have been snubbed and went unrecognized but if you don't want to play for Canada GTFO. Every Canadian should be proud to play for this great country and improve the program. I wonder how Dutch Jonathan feels given that he doesn't get a sniff of the Dutch side.

That depends, as a coach I always preach that the best way to learn is to play against strong competition. But theres a difference between playing against strong competition and being in so far over your head that you give up. Once you're getting worked and you've given up, you're not learning anything, you're just bitter.

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think our national team was significantly better on paper than New Zealand in the last cycle and we saw how well they did. Never know what could happen if you can get your team into a one off tourney.

Originally Posted by Finny61

We need Jose Mourinho!!! j/k

My response to both of these comments is that we do indeed need a talented manager as GirlySports constantly alludes to, I agree with her. And they are out there for the taking. But CSA has got to take the clamps off of the purse strings. There are great managers/coaches out there who are willing to work with a developing soccer nation, but they arent going to do it for free or be insulted by the pathetic pittance CSA is willing to offer them.

You look at some of the surprises of the tournament, New Zealand, Swizterland, South Africa, etc, and the common theme is that these teams got results they couldnt have dreamed of because their managers squeezed every ounce out of his players and he had them playing a methodical, well disciplined and extremely organized strategy.

In this game there is a lot of give and take, and if you give up a fair bit of talent on the field, then you have to take from elsewhere in order to balance it out, a solid manager can make a huge difference.

[Matty81]

Hart's been OK so far. I'd have loved to see them hire a higher profile coach in the past, as I alluded to the provincial boards blocked the hire of Rene Simoes (who was going to bring a sizeable staff with him) by the CSA recently so I think that the new structure will allow them to be more decisive as to how they spend their money.

Over the next year I'd like to see investment in high profile international friendlies if we have extra coin. I've heard that the friendly with Argentina despite the loss was impressive to alot of the younger players in the program, a week or so after there were comments from Hoilett like this;
http://www.blackburn.vitalfootball.c...e.asp?a=201126

I think a higher profile friendly in Europe could bring a couple of the hesitant younger talents into the side.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Locke

My response to both of these comments is that we do indeed need a talented manager as GirlySports constantly alludes to, I agree with her. And they are out there for the taking. But CSA has got to take the clamps off of the purse strings. There are great managers/coaches out there who are willing to work with a developing soccer nation, but they arent going to do it for free or be insulted by the pathetic pittance CSA is willing to offer them.

You look at some of the surprises of the tournament, New Zealand, Swizterland, South Africa, etc, and the common theme is that these teams got results they couldnt have dreamed of because their managers squeezed every ounce out of his players and he had them playing a methodical, well disciplined and extremely organized strategy.

In this game there is a lot of give and take, and if you give up a fair bit of talent on the field, then you have to take from elsewhere in order to balance it out, a solid manager can make a huge difference.

You don't think the CSA is spending it's full budget? It's not a matter of taking clamps off purse strings, it's a matter of getting a bigger purse.

I don't see how throwing money at a top notch coach would benefit the program if it means sacrificing 1/3 of the budget, those cuts have to come from somewhere and it's likely to be at the lower levels, meaning future player development continues to be subpar. Maybe some programs can be streamlined in order to be more cost effective, thereby opening up some cash for a men's team coach, but thoughts of bringing in the Hiddink's of the international game are simply preposterous without a much larger budget.

It's interesting that you point to New Zealand's management, that's about as solid of an example of using a well trained domestic manager over a foreign mercenary as you can get. Herbert has no European experience and manages in a low level league. Sounds like Lenarduzzi to me. I'm not saying that Canada should limit it's search to domestic managers, but it's pretty obvious that we can't a ford a truly world class manager as it is. If that's the case I'd rather see the money spent on developing talent, including managerial talent, than thrown at a rotation of failed European club managers. If the money were there, and Canada could get a long term commitment from someone willing and able to oversee the whole program, I'd be all for it. But I'd also have liked to have had more than one number in last weeks powerball.

[GirlySports]

I know we'd never get a Mourinho or GUUUUS but maybe look around at younger talent from european league.

Following Asian football I know a country like Vietnam has a portugese coach (Calisto) or Thaliand with Brian Robson. Singapore has a Serbian coach. These countries aren't rich powerhouses or anything.

Looking for something like that.