The Canadian Men's Soccer Team Thread

[M*A*S*H 4077]

One last thought on the game last night. That’s the best the States have looked in years (the semi final and the final). They deserved it and proved the gap between them and the rest of Concacaf. They’re our (and everyone else’s) measuring stick. And they were missing three starters, including arguably their two most important players (Adams, McKennie). I could see them making real noise in 2026.

We need a Walker Zimmerman in the worst way. He dominated our forwards

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

One last thought on the game last night. That’s the best the States have looked in years (the semi final and the final). They deserved it and proved the gap between them and the rest of Concacaf. They’re our (and everyone else’s) measuring stick. And they were missing three starters, including arguably their two most important players (Adams, McKennie). I could see them making real noise in 2026.

We need a Walker Zimmerman in the worst way. He dominated our forwards

If they get rid of Berhalter and get a real coach they would be even more of a threat. I think one of the biggest factors to us finishing above them in the WC qualifiers was terrible tactics from Berhalter.

I don't think they will ever be a world power or threat to win the WC but with their money, population, immigration they certainly could move into the 2nd tier of countries in world football.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Spurs

If they get rid of Berhalter and get a real coach they would be even more of a threat. I think one of the biggest factors to us finishing above them in the WC qualifiers was terrible tactics from Berhalter.

I don't think they will ever be a world power or threat to win the WC but with their money, population, immigration they certainly could move into the 2nd tier of countries in world football.

This.

Terrible tactics in the World Cup too and the soap opera with Reyna. He burned through his team's legs by not playing enough players in the group stage and they were GASSED by the time they played NED. He is naive and he is stubborn.

But with that said, what Herdman's tactics? Maybe he's been figured out.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

This.

Terrible tactics in the World Cup too and the soap opera with Reyna. He burned through his team's legs by not playing enough players in the group stage and they were GASSED by the time they played NED. He is naive and he is stubborn.

But with that said, what Herdman's tactics? Maybe he's been figured out.

I think that with Herdman it is more likely that he is limited by what he can do with the players he has. I think he did an amazing job getting them to the level they are at and have been at. I am not sure that there are many managers out there that could have done a better job. That isn't to say he is an elite manager, but that for what we needed he was a great fit.

He isn't without criticism, I think Davies taking the PK when there were better options was him letting the stage of the WC get the better of his judgement, but overall he does well.

[SuperMatt18]

I do think Canada is limited in tactics once they get to the big stage...and a big part of that is their centre backs.

Scott Kennedy, Kamal Miller, etc are just overmatched when you start playing on the international stage against the best attackers in the world.

They have strikers (David, Larin), and they have wide players that they can move around the squad (Davies, Johnston, Adekugbe, Laryea, Buchanen).

But outside of Eustaquio (and hopefully Kone eventually too) they don't have a lot in the middle of the pitch, in the midfield or defense.

[CroFlames]

I have endured what no man has had to endure. Both my teams losing a Final on the same ####ing day.

[browna]

Herdman continuing the theme from last week about more funding needed for this window.
Of course he's right, and echoing managers from the past decades, but he's the only one that has had any sort of voice.

Funding needs to happen now, through Copa America next year, to be flying by 2026.

https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canada-coa...pete-1.1975000

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by browna

Herdman continuing the theme from last week about more funding needed for this window.
Of course he's right, and echoing managers from the past decades, but he's the only one that has had any sort of voice.

Funding needs to happen now, through Copa America next year, to be flying by 2026.

https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canada-coa...pete-1.1975000

He’s not wrong, but where’s it going to come from? The CSA don’t even hold youth camps anymore and slashed the CWNT’s preparation for this year’s WWC.

The players haven’t even gotten their World Cup money yet.

[shermanator]

Where is this money magically going to come from?

The CSA blew the reserve fund to make the World Cup, that World Cup bandwagon emptied 6 months ago, and there are increasing demands for money from all levels of the game; MNT, WNT, youth teams, para soccer, beach, futsal, etc.

The only thing in the near future that might help is holding friendlies in the September / October window against some high profile teams. But the last time the CSA tried to do that it lead to a cancelled friendly, then the players backing out of the rescheduled friendly, costing them millions.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Where is this money magically going to come from?

The CSA blew the reserve fund to make the World Cup, that World Cup bandwagon emptied 6 months ago, and there are increasing demands for money from all levels of the game; MNT, WNT, youth teams, para soccer, beach, futsal, etc.

The only thing in the near future that might help is holding friendlies in the September / October window against some high profile teams. But the last time the CSA tried to do that it lead to a cancelled friendly, then the players backing out of the rescheduled friendly, costing them millions.

I just feel like a country as rich as ours, with millions of soccer players from coast to coast, we should be able to make this work.

Not even comparing ourselves to the big boy countries, it seems like small countries have figured it out, but we can't. The Finlands, Croatias, Denmarks and Uruguays of the world.

[shermanator]

IMO we may be a wealthy country in day-to-day life, but we are a very poor country soccer wise. The game has been rejected en masse for the first 140 years of this country's existence. There is little money at the top levels of the game, poor infrastructure across the country and little to no supporters culture.

Look at the ticket map for the Gold Cup game in Toronto next week. BMO Field is half empty. That would never happen in Europe. I don't think it's simply high ticket prices driving people away, BMO Field was half empty the last time we hosted a Gold Cup match back in 2015 too. The national teams, like most sports in this country, are subject to bandwagons.

It's slowly changing, but it's going to take generations to change that.

Unfortunately this financial reality is juxtaposed against players who are at massive clubs and expect a certain level of treatment that is very expensive to maintain.

[Spurs]

I don't expect us to be running around with the likes of England, Brazil, France or even the US or Belgium, but surely with the recent performances we have had, the upcoming World Cup and the growth of Soccer in the country there are opportunities through sponsorships, media rights etc. so that we don't have to be in such awful financial state?

I am not familiar with the ins and outs of National soccer finances but it doesn't seem like the monetary requests are over the top or that we should be in such trouble with no solutions.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by shermanator

IMO we may be a wealthy country in day-to-day life, but we are a very poor country soccer wise. The game has been rejected en masse for the first 140 years of this country's existence. There is little money at the top levels of the game, poor infrastructure across the country and little to no supporters culture.

Look at the ticket map for the Gold Cup game in Toronto next week. BMO Field is half empty. That would never happen in Europe. I don't think it's simply high ticket prices driving people away, BMO Field was half empty the last time we hosted a Gold Cup match back in 2015 too. The national teams, like most sports in this country, are subject to bandwagons.

It's slowly changing, but it's going to take generations to change that.

Unfortunately this financial reality is juxtaposed against players who are at massive clubs and expect a certain level of treatment that is very expensive to maintain.

Well the ticket prices are definitely a factor. I mean ~$125 for a good seat or ~$55 for a not good seat to see Canada against Guadeloupe? Of course teams in Europe aren't having the same issue, because you're seeing all-star players. I follow the sport pretty closely and I'm 99% sure I can't name one player on Guadeloupe. Would I drop $250 (plus, plus, plus) to see this game? Not likely.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well the ticket prices are definitely a factor. I mean ~$125 for a good seat or ~$55 for a not good seat to see Canada against Guadeloupe? Of course teams in Europe aren't having the same issue, because you're seeing all-star players. I follow the sport pretty closely and I'm 99% sure I can't name one player on Guadeloupe. Would I drop $250 (plus, plus, plus) to see this game? Not likely.

I think you're looking at that wrong. As a Canadian, you don't pay to see the stars of Guadeloupe, you pay to see the stars of Canada, such as Davies (Bayern Munich) and David (Lille).

Half the reason that the CMNT had such good turnout on the WC run was because they had marketable stars playing at the most elite level, and the results were showing on the field.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I think you're looking at that wrong. As a Canadian, you don't pay to see the stars of Guadeloupe, you pay to see the stars of Canada, such as Davies (Bayern Munich) and David (Lille).

Half the reason that the CMNT had such good turnout on the WC run was because they had marketable stars playing at the most elite level, and the results were showing on the field.

It was also THE World Cup! In Edmonton!

They just haven't promoted the Gold Cup enough that anyone cares about it, especially at those prices. It's rigged to be a cash grab and to get USA-Mexico in a final in a NFL stadium. It's not like any other confederation that rotates it's hosts for a fair competition and develop the region. Imagine if the Euros were held every two years and the goal was the make things as comfortable for England and Germany as possible so they make the final. Nobody would watch that.

For example, I watch the Asian Cup. South Korea hasn't hosted or won the Asian Cup since 1960. In fact, Korea and Japan haven't played a competitive match against each other since 2011. How often do USA and Mexico play? Every Gold Cup and every WCQ cycle.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I think you're looking at that wrong. As a Canadian, you don't pay to see the stars of Guadeloupe, you pay to see the stars of Canada, such as Davies (Bayern Munich) and David (Lille).

Half the reason that the CMNT had such good turnout on the WC run was because they had marketable stars playing at the most elite level, and the results were showing on the field.

Davies and David aren't playing in those games.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I think you're looking at that wrong. As a Canadian, you don't pay to see the stars of Guadeloupe, you pay to see the stars of Canada, such as Davies (Bayern Munich) and David (Lille).

Half the reason that the CMNT had such good turnout on the WC run was because they had marketable stars playing at the most elite level, and the results were showing on the field.

I didn't pay anywhere near that for the Edmonton games though. I paid $25 a ticket, and there was a lot on the line. So, sure maybe I am discounting the reason to go, but it's basically double for a less meaningful game and without the best Canadian players on the pitch. It's not exactly shocking that people are second-guessing it.

And as much as I love the CPL, we've discussed their ticket prices since inception. I buy seats and love going, but they could probably get more fans to games with cheaper tickets.

[Ozy_Flame]

My point is you don't pay money to stars of other teams. You pay money to see the stars of your own team, of which Canada has a few.

[shermanator]

To summarize the money issue with Canada Soccer:

- The CSA blew their reserve fund to fund a World Cup qualification during the COVID years.
- The MNT have superstars who expect the national team give them the same first class treatment they get with their big European clubs.
- The WNT see the treatment the MNT gets and demands the same.
- The youth teams see the treatment the MNT and WNT want and demand money for youth camps.
- The CSA get a fixed revenue for media and sponsorship rights. The media rights are worthless anyways as no sports network will pay for them, and sponsorship deals are limited given that they compete with their own players to sign these deals.
- Nike puts no effort into merchandise as it doesn’t sell well enough for them to care. So your merch doesn't sell well.
- The CSA tried to raise fees from youth clubs and the provincial associations forced the CSA president out (thankfully) as a result.
- CONCACAF games don’t draw well, especially if tickets are not cheap.
- There are no opportunities for friendlies against European opponents as they have Euro 2024 qualifying during those windows.
- High profile South American teams are incredibly expensive to fly in, nor do those teams have anything to gain by playing Canada.
- The MNT refused to play the last friendly in Canada, so other national teams are weary to commit to friendlies here.

So, what’s the magical solution?

[GirlySports]

There is none.

The solution might be to get out of concacaf and ask to join UEFA. I mean Toronto is closer to the UK than it is to Honduras.