Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[Stay Golden]

Edgar and Mckenna need to watch their tempers with the shoving after whistles etc tonight.
I like their aggressive style of play but the after the whistle stuff needs to be minimized down there.
Its ok to play on the edge but be smart about it.
I want to see Canada take more runs into the box, force mistakes and trips. (especially Simeon). Panama prefers when the Canada mids take it wide and crosses as they don't have the best execution.
Canada exposed Panama I thought with the inside quick exchange mid play, near the 18yrd box.
On the opposite side for Canada their defending on the back end has been stellar. Still need to tighten up the R/L mid play while defending.
Perhaps it is by design due to having confidence in their backs.
JMO

[Locke]

Originally Posted by nik-

They would just need to put it to the players themselves in a vote, and if the result isn't overwhelmingly in the welcome them back camp, you don't do it. As crappy as that is for the chances.

Nope. Players dont get a say. Teams are not a democracy, the manager manages and thats that.

Originally Posted by polak

We need to stop talking like we're already in the Hex.

We lose today and suddenly we're not in that great of shape.

Very true.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't know if it's phony. It's a big decision. If Hoilett chose Canada before this round and they crashed and burned, he's out internationally for the whole of 2013 and who knows how long. He's stuck.

If Canada makes the hex he gets TEN more matches plus a chance at the biggest stage. I understand Hoilett more than De Guzman who's just an idiot.

But this is just one World Cup, and although I know that they don't happen very frequently, I would think that a player like Hoilett (pending injury or a decline) would be playing for Canada or Jamaica in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Basing the decision on one World Cup might backfire as there's no guarantee for future World Cups.

Personally, and I'm obviously biased toward the Canadian perspective, I feel that soccer in Canada (and North America) is on the cusp of big things. The MLS is healthy, including three Canadian franchises, and the profile of the sport is growing nicely in Canada and the USA. I don't see as much potential for growth in Jamaica. Add in the slightly shorter travel times for home internationals (Kingston vs. Toronto), and the fact that he was born and raised in Canada, the decision seems like a no brainer, regardless of what happens this cycle.

The catch 22 is that the Canadian program would be better with him, but he's waiting for the Canadian program to be better. Sooner or later, something has to happen.

Anyways - enough about Hoilett. I didn't expect to spend as much time on the forum this morning, let alone talking about Hoilett! I'd rather think about our current crew and my Norwich City player Simeon!

GO CANADA! Chat with you lads and lasses tonight after this match. Time to get some work done!

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't know if it's phony. It's a big decision. If Hoilett chose Canada before this round and they crashed and burned, he's out internationally for the whole of 2013 and who knows how long. He's stuck.

If Canada makes the hex he gets TEN more matches plus a chance at the biggest stage. I understand Hoilett more than De Guzman who's just an idiot.

Hoilett is flat out a mystery to me, he knows he would have made the roster and likely Hart would strategized differently to accomodate his addition. Yet he waits to see who goes through between Jamaica and Canada?
De Guzman i just don't get this guy, he goes from being a solid future player on the Canada roster to currently not making the Netherland roster.
His big brother needs to have a stern umm (talk) with him.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Locke

I just think that if you take the hardliner stance then it will be good for both the team and the organization.

If Hoilett and De Guzman changed their minds right now, what would that do to the loyal guys who have committed and played that get replaced?

I think if you accepted them on the team right now you might get 2 really good players, but you'd also potentially ruin your team dynamic and make the organization look like a bigger joke than it already is, not to mention if the team morale drops because of it you might even risk whatever potential success this team has.

Say what you want about the level of play that Canada has, I saw a pretty good team out there.

Its not just about having the best players, its about having the best possible team.

Well that's a decision you make on a case by case basis, a 100% hardline stance could prevent you from having the best possible team. Say you desperately need a good holding MF and a guy who flirted with another country and happens to be perfect for that role wants to play for Canada, a hardline policy means that you'd be refusing a player that would allow you to field the best possible team.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by valo403

Your last words pretty much sum it up. Maybe we shouldn't have to be resorting to it, but the fact of the matter is that in the real world we do have to resort to it unless we want to continue to be outsiders.

Basically, I believe that we shouldn't be at the point where we are using the opposition's antics as an excuse. We shouldn't be saying that we aren't qualifying because of these antics as the truth is we are not qualifying because we aren't playing well enough. Any time spent on other poor excuses is, to me, an absolute waste of time and hurts us in the long run. We need to completely dedicate ourselves to fixing the core issues as this is the only way to guarantee future success.

This does put us at a disadvantage in the short-term but I feel it is a worthy sacrifice in order for us to not get hung-up on what I see as excuses and distractions.

[GirlySports]

Tuesday programming alert: Watch Panama vs. Canada in FIFA World Cup qualifying live on Sportsnet ONE. Coverage starts at 8:30 pm ET with our pre-game show. You can also watch the game nation wide on CITYtv starting at 9 pm ET.

CITYtv? Really?

Occean is injured and Johnson is suspended... I wonder who will be inserted into the lineup? Does Canada go more defensive?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Addick

Basically, I believe that we shouldn't be at the point where we are using the opposition's antics as an excuse. We shouldn't be saying that we aren't qualifying because of these antics as the truth is we are not qualifying because we aren't playing well enough. Any time spent on other poor excuses is, to me, an absolute waste of time and hurts us in the long run. We need to completely dedicate ourselves to fixing the core issues as this is the only way to guarantee future success.

This does put us at a disadvantage in the short-term but I feel it is a worthy sacrifice in order for us to not get hung-up on what I see as excuses and distractions.

I think we're not qualifying because of these antics.

I stated before.. we can beat these teams on neutral ground but we can't be them there and we can't beat them here. Disadvantage on the road and no advantage at home. Whenever there's a Gold Cup in the US, we play well. In fact we come close to beat the US IN THE US a few times!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by valo403

Well that's a decision you make on a case by case basis, a 100% hardline stance could prevent you from having the best possible team. Say you desperately need a good holding MF and a guy who flirted with another country and happens to be perfect for that role wants to play for Canada, a hardline policy means that you'd be refusing a player that would allow you to field the best possible team.

I agree on a 'case-by-case' basis, but if the guy has been stringing Canada along like Hoilett then hes not committed, it shows hes a selfish player, how much of a good addition would he really be?

It doesnt matter who you are, even some of the best players in the world have to put their time in to demonstrate their commitment to their country. You wont see Argentina telling Messi that hes on the team, no need to help for qualification just show up for the World Cup.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Tuesday programming alert: Watch Panama vs. Canada in FIFA World Cup qualifying live on Sportsnet ONE. Coverage starts at 8:30 pm ET with our pre-game show. You can also watch the game nation wide on CITYtv starting at 9 pm ET.

CITYtv? Really?

Occean is injured and Johnson is suspended... I wonder who will be inserted into the lineup? Does Canada go more defensive?

You're complaining that there's more than one nationally based network broadcasting this game? Odd...

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Addick

Basically, I believe that we shouldn't be at the point where we are using the opposition's antics as an excuse. We shouldn't be saying that we aren't qualifying because of these antics as the truth is we are not qualifying because we aren't playing well enough. Any time spent on other poor excuses is, to me, an absolute waste of time and hurts us in the long run. We need to completely dedicate ourselves to fixing the core issues as this is the only way to guarantee future success.

This does put us at a disadvantage in the short-term but I feel it is a worthy sacrifice in order for us to not get hung-up on what I see as excuses and distractions.

Seriously, please explain to me how a guy hiding a ball for 3 seconds or other acts of gamesmanship takes away from our ability to develop talent. I can't for the life of me grasp what your argument is.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think we're not qualifying because of these antics.

I stated before.. we can beat these teams on neutral ground but we can't be them there and we can't beat them here. Disadvantage on the road and no advantage at home. Whenever there's a Gold Cup in the US, we play well. In fact we come close to beat the US IN THE US a few times!

I think these antics only work because we haven't been able to put the distance between us and the opposition that we should have been able to by now. If were at the level we should and could be at, these antics would not be affecting us. I really believe that this country has the potential and resources to produce quality footballers, footballers that would be phased by these sort of antics.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by valo403

Seriously, please explain to me how a guy hiding a ball for 3 seconds or other acts of gamesmanship takes away from our ability to develop talent. I can't for the life of me grasp what your argument is.

Look at what GirlySports said. There is the belief that we are not qualifying due to our reluctance to reduce our sportsmanship and this is an issue that needs to be tackled. If you then focus on tackling this issue you can quite easily begin to lose your focus on the important issues, i.e. player development. In Canada, there has been a lack of focus on the core issues.

As such, I strongly believe we need to ignore the smaller issues that become irrelevant once you fix the larger and more pressing issues. For example, their propensity for time wasting becomes irrelevant when you have enough skill to take the lead early.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Addick

Look at what GirlySports said. There is the belief that we are not qualifying due to our reluctance to reduce our sportsmanship and this is an issue that needs to be tackled. If you then focus on tackling this issue you can quite easily begin to lose your focus on the important issues, i.e. player development. In Canada, there has been a lack of focus on the core issues.

As such, I strongly believe we need to ignore the smaller issues that become irrelevant once you fix the larger and more pressing issues. For example, their propensity for time wasting becomes irrelevant when you have enough skill to take the lead early.

That's great, but the fact is that WE DON'T HAVE THAT SKILL!!!!

And we've been doing the whole 'be above it' garbage forever, and look where we are. So it's obviously not a case of engaging tin gamesmanship distracting from our ability to develop players, which is quite frankly one of the more ludicrous things I've ever heard.

It is possible to develop skill while doing what it takes to win. These are not mutually exclusive concepts.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by shermanator

You're complaining that there's more than one nationally based network broadcasting this game? Odd...

I'm not complaining, I was just shocked

[Locke]

Wow, the Dutch are really taking Hungary lightly with a 'B' squad. These are still WCQs you know....

[polak]

GOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

1-0 Poland

Penalty kick

[Locke]

And ze Germans roll onward.

[カナダ人です]

Occean being injured is a huge loss. He is great at holding the ball up and is the powerfull centre forward Canada needs against an athletic Panamanian team.

My guess is Ricketts takes his place, which would probably change Canada's tactics to more of a counter-attack style. Probably for the best away as well.

I think Dunfield replaces Johnson. Hopefully to be subbed by Bernier in the 2nd half.

A win tonight in Panama would be enormous. A tie good, and a loss concerning, but not completely disastrous.


GOOD LUCK CANADA!!!

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by カナダ人です

Occean being injured is a huge loss. He is great at holding the ball up and is the powerfull centre forward Canada needs against an athletic Panamanian team.

My guess is Ricketts takes his place, which would probably change Canada's tactics to more of a counter-attack style. Probably for the best away as well.

I think Dunfield replaces Johnson. Hopefully to be subbed by Bernier in the 2nd half.

A win tonight in Panama would be enormous. A tie good, and a loss concerning, but not completely disastrous.


GOOD LUCK CANADA!!!

Agree Ricketts probably gets the nod, i hope so I like his speed.
What was Johnson suspended for yellows?
As expected the forecast is for rain.