Chances Of Canada Having A World Cup Team?

[valo403]

Originally Posted by 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.

What's the point of that though? To be able to say that we have a European coach? I sure don't see Thailand and Vietnam lighting Asia on fire due to their new coaches (unless of course Robson had something to do with the Bangkok riots ). Is it really worth upping the budget to bring in someone who is at best marginally better than what we have at the price of reducing funding to other areas?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by valo403

What's the point of that though? To be able to say that we have a European coach? I sure don't see Thailand and Vietnam lighting Asia on fire due to their new coaches (unless of course Robson had something to do with the Bangkok riots ). Is it really worth upping the budget to bring in someone who is at best marginally better than what we have at the price of reducing funding to other areas?

It's about little goals and exposure, not necessarily making the World Cup.

Thailand and Vietnam just want to beat each other. They like to qualify for the Asian Cup (16 teams) or make the final round of Asian WC qualifying (10 teams) if they can. But they want to beat each other. Thie games are seen by millions. This exposure leads to more tickets, more merchandise, more tv deals in the region and more news.

A young player in Canada getting funding is fine but then what? What are they playing for after that? There's this big hole. When was the last time you woke up and couldn't wait for a match featuring Canada?

I just want a coach that can friggin beat Guatemala! Please!

[shermanator]

Didn't see it mentioned yet in this thread, but Edmonton was granted a NASL team to begin play in 2011 (assuming the NASL is sanctioned). They will play at Foote Field in Edmonton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Edmonton

Having Calgary be granted a similar franchise as Edmonton is the proper start to building a fan base IMO. I think that no Calgary based soccer team will survive without the building of a new soccer specific stadium. McMahon is just way too big and cavernous for the amount of people that would come, and no other stadiums in this city are even remotely equipped to handle professional soccer.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by valo403

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.

My sentiments exactly. If we are going to spend big money on a single individual/mind, it would have to be a guy like Arsene Wegner who could act a director for the entire system.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

A young player in Canada getting funding is fine but then what? What are they playing for after that? There's this big hole.

Without a doubt there is a big hole, but:

1. That hole starts before professional leagues, i.e. we have a gap between grass-roots and professional leagues (e.g. amateur leagues).
2. There are many other leagues in the World for Canadian players to ply their trade.

Especially in today's globalized World, where football was one of the first industries to adopt a globalized mindset, there is no shortage of professional leagues that Canadian players can play in. This is actually to Canada's benefit as we can focus on providing the player's needs that come before a professional league. One thing that baffled by father was the lack of high level amateur leagues in Calgary, this is a predicament that people who move here from footballing nations also usually re-voice to me. It might not be glamorous and bring in large numbers of fans but it will help start a strong and devoted fan base, in addition to, providing much needed development infrastructure.

[Fire]

Canada's soccer team would be a lot better if player's didn't turn their back on their own country to play for a better national team.

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Didn't see it mentioned yet in this thread, but Edmonton was granted a NASL team to begin play in 2011 (assuming the NASL is sanctioned). They will play at Foote Field in Edmonton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Edmonton

Having Calgary be granted a similar franchise as Edmonton is the proper start to building a fan base IMO. I think that no Calgary based soccer team will survive without the building of a new soccer specific stadium. McMahon is just way too big and cavernous for the amount of people that would come, and no other stadiums in this city are even remotely equipped to handle professional soccer.

The problem with this is that the Edmonton team took 3-4 of our top local players with them. Alberta doesn't have the talent right now to support 2 of these teams. In fact I doubt you see much interest in the Edmonton team. I play amsl and we have less than 20 fans a game haha. Even the Calgary united team referenced earlier drew at most 300 fans.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

The problem with this is that the Edmonton team took 3-4 of our top local players with them. Alberta doesn't have the talent right now to support 2 of these teams. In fact I doubt you see much interest in the Edmonton team. I play amsl and we have less than 20 fans a game haha. Even the Calgary united team referenced earlier drew at most 300 fans.

The NASL would be one step down from MLS so I presume they could generate a little more interest then the numbers you have? Even the Calgary Mustangs (who were in the USL in 2004) generated 674 people average in their final year...

[J epworth]

To be honest a good spot to play if NASL ever came to Calgary would be the Calgary Rugby Park. It already fits 7500 people, and if the owners of the soccer club felt it necessary I'm sure some retrofitting would be a lot cheaper than building a new soccer specific stadium. It's location as of now would be bad for lots of Calgarians but with the promise of the addition of a SE C-train line it would be viable. Definitely better than having an empty McMahon stadium that's for sure.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's about little goals and exposure, not necessarily making the World Cup.

Thailand and Vietnam just want to beat each other. They like to qualify for the Asian Cup (16 teams) or make the final round of Asian WC qualifying (10 teams) if they can. But they want to beat each other. Thie games are seen by millions. This exposure leads to more tickets, more merchandise, more tv deals in the region and more news.

A young player in Canada getting funding is fine but then what? What are they playing for after that? There's this big hole. When was the last time you woke up and couldn't wait for a match featuring Canada?

I just want a coach that can friggin beat Guatemala! Please!

So you want Bob Lenarduzzi? Bringing in a B list European coach for more than a domestic coach is about as terrible a turn as I can think of. There's really no point. Spend more money to get negligibly better results? Seriously, what does that accomplish?

Would you be really excited for a Canada match because we had Brian Robson managing? Is that really going to make a difference?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by valo403

So you want Bob Lenarduzzi? Bringing in a B list European coach for more than a domestic coach is about as terrible a turn as I can think of. There's really no point. Spend more money to get negligibly better results? Seriously, what does that accomplish?

Would you be really excited for a Canada match because we had Brian Robson managing? Is that really going to make a difference?

We're just rehashing stuff

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by shermanator

The NASL would be one step down from MLS so I presume they could generate a little more interest then the numbers you have? Even the Calgary Mustangs (who were in the USL in 2004) generated 674 people average in their final year...

The problem is the talent isn't significantly higher than the Calgary united team. I have played against or with all the players but 5 that are on that roster in the past year. I hope it could work and actually draw fans but I just doubt the level of interest.

[PyramidsofMars]

Even if Calgary gets an MLS team (unlikely), I will still be a Toronto FC fan.

[troutman]

It it worthwile to qualify for the World Cup, only to get shut-out three straight games, and then get sent home right away?

[mmanzz]

Well i can tell you about being a Canada fan. Back when we were trying to qualify for the 1994 world cup, I remember being at a Canada-El Salvador qualifier at Swangard Stadium.

There had been a previous game against one of the other concacaf teams that was poorly attended by Vancouverites. The local press got a bit pumped up about it and for the El Salvador game, the public responded and they somehow got Canadians out to attend the game. For myself and any other Canadians at the game we were given preferential treatment when the last tickets went on sale, we were essentiallly escorted to the front of the line while the Salvadorians looked on.

AS a result, the game has fond memories, i remember a very rowdy home crowd that cheered Canada on to a very classy 2-0 win, one of my best experiences as a Canadian fan.

A few months later in the next round we had to beat Mexico in Toronto's Varsity Stadium to get to the World Cup. Completely different experience, i believe i was one of about 100 Canadian fans among 20 Thousands Mexicans in Toronto on that day. I believe Canada had a 1-0 lead as the "visitors" when the "home" side Mexicans came back to tie the game. There was also a questionable offside in the game as i remember that would have put us up 2-1. That ended up being my worst experience!

In any case, along with all the other structural things that need to be done, Canada should be restricting visiting fans to a small part of the available seating for our "home" games.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

The problem is the talent isn't significantly higher than the Calgary united team. I have played against or with all the players but 5 that are on that roster in the past year. I hope it could work and actually draw fans but I just doubt the level of interest.

I find at the lower levels in North America standard of play and names on the roster aren't so much the drawing factor as the facility and the match day experience. A small stadium with decent food, drink and amenities where there is even a little atmosphere would do more for the game in Calgary with a team that came in last than a winning team at McMahon IMO. Look at what a team like the Rochester Rhinos have accomplished with the right building in a small market.

I don't think Calgary would support MLS right now regardless of building but they could easily play in the A-League/NASL and build up with a nice 5,000 seat stadium designed for soccer.

That kind of infrastructure is proposed or being built by very rich guys in Greg Kerfoot, Eugene Melnyk and Joey Saputo in other places in Canada. To date, no one with the financial clout to pull off pro soccer has shown an interest in Alberta in the last 20 years. Because there is absolutely no infrastructure there to support soccer you're basically starting from scratch so it is an expensive proposition.

The NASL in Edmonton is going to have a rough rough ride. That league is a house of cards and Foote Field is an amateur facility at best. I noticed they have 11 people working in their front office! 11 people for a semi-pro soccer team in Admin! Makes you wonder if it is intended as a writeoff or something. I want to see them succeed but I don't know. As for on the pitch, I think they look OK, the 4 dutch guys they signed are all from the top 2 leagues in Holland and Shaun Saiko is actually a pretty amazing Canadian player for them to have landed at that level in Edmonton IMO.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

it it worthwile to qualify for the world cup, only to get shut-out three straight games, and then get sent home right away?

yes! The journey to the finals is just as fun! It would be 16 fun games!

And just because Honduras was crap doesn't mean Canada would be. Alot of little teams did well like Korea, Japan, New Zealand! It would be great!

Not to mention you get million of dollars now for being there and recognition.
Even if Canada doesn't do well maybe a player shines and he can get a contract to a decent club.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by mmanzz

Well i can tell you about being a Canada fan. Back when we were trying to qualify for the 1994 world cup, I remember being at a Canada-El Salvador qualifier at Swangard Stadium.

There had been a previous game against one of the other concacaf teams that was poorly attended by Vancouverites. The local press got a bit pumped up about it and for the El Salvador game, the public responded and they somehow got Canadians out to attend the game. For myself and any other Canadians at the game we were given preferential treatment when the last tickets went on sale, we were essentiallly escorted to the front of the line while the Salvadorians looked on.

AS a result, the game has fond memories, i remember a very rowdy home crowd that cheered Canada on to a very classy 2-0 win, one of my best experiences as a Canadian fan.

A few months later in the next round we had to beat Mexico in Toronto's Varsity Stadium to get to the World Cup. Completely different experience, i believe i was one of about 100 Canadian fans among 20 Thousands Mexicans in Toronto on that day. I believe Canada had a 1-0 lead as the "visitors" when the "home" side Mexicans came back to tie the game. There was also a questionable offside in the game as i remember that would have put us up 2-1. That ended up being my worst experience!

In any case, along with all the other structural things that need to be done, Canada should be restricting visiting fans to a small part of the available seating for our "home" games.

I have the tape lying around somewhere. Campos (the flamboyant Mexican keeper) made an unbelievable save on a Mike Sweeney free kick that would have made it 2-0. At 2-0 Canada would have definitely held on to qualify directly to USA 94.

You know how you restrict visiting fans? Play in Nunavut or Newfoundland!

[Addick]

Originally Posted by mmanzz

There had been a previous game against one of the other concacaf teams that was poorly attended by Vancouverites. The local press got a bit pumped up about it and for the El Salvador game, the public responded and they somehow got Canadians out to attend the game. For myself and any other Canadians at the game we were given preferential treatment when the last tickets went on sale, we were essentiallly escorted to the front of the line while the Salvadorians looked on.

I remember back during the Youth World Cup that Canada held one of the CBC commentator was praising Canada for our ability to not have to segregate the crowds. It is nice that we aren't a bunch of hooligans but I actually prefer fan segregation; it is easier to start chants/songs and it nice to be around others supporting the same team/country.

Originally Posted by Matty81

I find at the lower levels in North America standard of play and names on the roster aren't so much the drawing factor as the facility and the match day experience. A small stadium with decent food, drink and amenities where there is even a little atmosphere would do more for the game in Calgary with a team that came in last than a winning team at McMahon IMO. Look at what a team like the Rochester Rhinos have accomplished with the right building in a small market.

As my words above may have revealed, I'm not the prawn sandwich kinda guy and I go to games for the atmosphere and game being played (sport not sports entertainment). Nonetheless, in the amateur leagues I think Canada should embrace decent facilities are a must. Even though the people you are looking to form the core of your support around will be primarily interested in the football, having a decent park conducive to a good atmosphere reveals the club's professionalism, ambitions, and commitment. Very important stuff!

[GirlySports]

Blast from the past:

http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/clips/13478/

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by troutman

It it worthwile to qualify for the World Cup, only to get shut-out three straight games, and then get sent home right away?

Absolutely. It's the next step to legitimacy.