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  • Tout quiet sur la Rue Metcalfe


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    Okay, so maybe the fact that I passed Grade 9 French is almost as big a fraud as the last five years on Wall Street.

    But things are awfully quiet these days at the Canadian Soccer Association.

    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    It’s been a bit of time now since the embattled Dale Mitchell was removed from the driver’s seat the Canadian national men’s soccer team. The team was out of gas in a cul-de-sac at the time, so it’s not like Mitchell was actually going to drive them anywhere.

    I’m not surprised that the question of successorship is taking a while to sort out. The more time the better, really, as it indicates that general secretary Peter Montopoli (the hope of many, moi included) is patiently working his way through the tangled CSA bureaucracy.

    What’s interesting, though, is how little information is seeping out.

    It’s usually not too hard to get a read on this stuff. Someone’s always willing to offer an off-the-record insight. Taken as a group, these tid-bits quite often paint a fairly complete picture.

    But for the last week or more, the insight radar has been quiet. Blank, even.

    Early speculation – before the lights went out – suggested the new man would either be technical director Stephen Hart (who guided the team very well at the Gold Cup two years ago) or a foreign mercenary. The main issue was money. The last peep I heard, before the wall shuttered down, was “there’s money!”

    There’s a moderate urgency, I suppose, because another Gold Cup is coming up this summer. It’s the only name tournament on Canada’s dance card for the next couple of years, a perfect chance for the new bench boss to get familiarized with his discouraged, wary troops.

    If I might speculate, I think it’s quite possible the next Canada coach may be a relative unknown. I don’t have a name for you, but here’s a description that holds promise:

    - He’s coached in England or Italy or some similar place, in the bottom part of the top flight, or with some decent success in the second division.

    - He’s been recently dismissed, and is disillusioned with the soccer scene at home.

    - He has a fine head for strategy, and some wonderful ideas he wants to develop.

    - He is going to make a fine, successful name for himself one day.

    - He could happily be lured to Canada for modest-to-decent money, on the assurance that it’s his team and there will be no bureaucratic interference from the CSA board.

    Again, I don’t have a name to fit this description. Basically, we’re talking an inspired up-and-comer, who is ready to shine and whose price may be down because of recent setbacks.

    Someone a bit like Graham Taylor, when Elton John decided to bankroll him at Watford in the 80s. Someone like Brian Clough, when he fetched up at Derby County, before all his national and international championships. Jose Mourinho, when he bubbled up in Portugal.

    A future star, in other words, who needs new scenery and a brand new start.

    These guys are out there. They cost less than Guus Hiddink, and have more motivation. This guy’s future will truly be on the line when he arrives here. He’ll have all the motivation we’ll ever need – and if Montopoli can keep the board in line, some very sweet possibilities may await us all.

    All fiction, alas – as far as I can prove. I’m watching the CSA radar, and I’ll let you know when I get a good “ping.”

    For now though – who do you want coaching Canada?

    Onward!



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