CP: Canada Needs Domestic League

[Winnipeg Fury]

Lack of domestic players makes it tough for national soccer team, says coach

EDMONTON (CP) - The new coach of Canada's national soccer team says it is tough to be competitive in a system that relies on airlifting players from Europe to compete in World Cup qualifying matches.

As the Canadians prepared to take on Honduras in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, coach Frank Yallop said the success of any national program lies in developing a deep pool of players who play in North America.

"I am not going to stand here and say the system is great and we're fine. We're not," he said, as the latest FIFA rankings dropped Canada to 99th in the world Wednesday.

"We need to look ahead and get the most out of players playing in Canada or the U.S., whether it means A-League or MLS. We could get together more and play a lot more games."

The lack of games Canada plays outside of World Cup qualifying is blamed for the team's low ranking. The club also plays in few international tournaments.

Yallop said airlifting talented Canadians from overseas leagues provides the club with the best available talent, but they don't get together frequently enough to play as a team.

He blamed the national team's loss to Guatemala in the first game of the CONCACAF semi-finals on the fact that he was missing three of his best starters. And those who made it only had a couple days to prepare.

"The guys tried, but just didn't have the legs under them," he said.

Most of the players had played in Europe on the weekend and flew into Vancouver on Sunday or Monday for Wednesday game, he said.

Since beating Belize twice in June to advance from the first round, the Canadian squad had no opportunity to play together before facing Guatemala, he added.

"Guatemala, as a team, played six games before they played us and we didn't play any," said Yallop, who was named coach last December. "We've got good players, but we're not quite a team."

He said it is difficult for the squad to gain continuity when players arrive only a day or two before a game. The solution to that is to place more players in North American leagues where they are more readily available, he added.

"It is my job to try to push that where we can get more of our players playing in Canada or the U.S.," he said. "I am trying to put things in place that will do well for the sport of soccer and it will do well long after I am gone."

Yallop has made steps in that direction already, inviting young Canadian players to a developmental camp this spring and including seven on the roster in the 2-0 loss to Guatemala in Vancouver Aug. 18.

The Canadian men's team has only qualified for the World Cup once and that was back in 1986 in Mexico.

Yallop is expecting better things from his team against Honduras on Saturday, although the team surprised pool favourite Costa Rica 5-2 in the first match.

Canada was ranked fourth in the six-team pool before the games began. The top three teams advance and the fourth gets a playoff with the fifth-place team in the Asian region for one of the last berths.

Yallop said Canada needs a win Saturday.

"I think we will blow it wide open if we get the win," he said. "If we win this one, we have to win two out of (the remaining) four so that's doable."

He predicted that Canada needs to win at least three of the six games to advance.

Yallop said his club won't be sitting back in a defensive shell, waiting for Honduras to make a mistake.

"We're going to attack and we're going to try to score first," he explained. "If we get the first goal that will bring them out of their shell a little bit, but we need to score first at home."

His players are excited to be playing at Commonwealth Stadium where they have some history of success and have drawn great pro-Canadian crowds in years past.

Defender Mark Watson, who plays for the A-League's Charleston Battery, said it really helps the team perform.

"As a player we probably would choose Edmonton before any other place in terms of Canadian support," he said. "I don't think any other city will rival Edmonton.

"It has the best sports facility in the country and it just seems the support from Canadian fans is second to none."

He said that during some games the club has played in Toronto, the Canadians have felt like the visiting team because the majority of fans appear to be cheering against them.

"You want to see your fans cheering you on and giving you that 12th man," he said.

Defender Jason deVos, who plays for Ipswich Town in the English First Division, said the Hondurans are skilful players who are very creative with the ball.

"We're going to have to be very physical with them," he said. "We're going to have to be very quick on the counter-attack and try to utilize our speed on the flanks and up the middle."

He said despite its low ranking, Canada has the players that can give Honduras some difficulty.

"If we can get them the ball and get into the dangerous areas I am sure we can cause them problems," he said.

NOTES - DeVos is recovering from a leg injury that was first suspected to be a broken bone, but further testing showed it to be only a bone bruise. . . . The weather at Commonwealth Stadium could be cold and wet, but Yallop says that won't affect his players much since many of them play in England.

[soccerbeast]

Nice to Frank to state the obvious. If he is not happy about the amount of times the Canadian team gets together tell the CSA not the press, the press can't do dick all. Frank's taking shots at Toronto for lack of support for the team is low. I was at Varsity

when Canada played Italy all those years ago, i was one of the few cheering the canucks that day, but the CSA knew Toronto has a big

Italian population, so they might have guessed what would have happened. The same when Scotland visited Varsity, same thing all though there were a few more Canadian supporters and the Scots

fans also gave Canada a few cheers, more then you would ever get from the iTalian community (soccer supporters, yea right)>Since a lot of

our players play in Europe, the CSA should during the winter months,

get Canada games against teams from the Championship league in England, Or the SPL in Scotland. Even playing the Watford's,Sheffield

's would be good for getting the team to play as one. And to Frank, a lot of people on this site have said i have been to hard on you, maybe thats true, But as National team coach you should not take

shots at the support the Canadian team does have in Toronto, you won't make friends either doing that. Good luck in the next week,

get us the two wins to get us back in this thing.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by soccerbeast

Nice to Frank to state the obvious. If he is not happy about the amount of times the Canadian team gets together tell the CSA not the press, the press can't do dick all. Frank's taking shots at Toronto for lack of support for the team is low. I was at Varsity

when Canada played Italy all those years ago, i was one of the few cheering the canucks that day, but the CSA knew Toronto has a big

Italian population, so they might have guessed what would have happened. The same when Scotland visited Varsity, same thing all though there were a few more Canadian supporters and the Scots

fans also gave Canada a few cheers, more then you would ever get from the iTalian community (soccer supporters, yea right)>Since a lot of

our players play in Europe, the CSA should during the winter months,

get Canada games against teams from the Championship league in England, Or the SPL in Scotland. Even playing the Watford's,Sheffield

's would be good for getting the team to play as one. And to Frank, a lot of people on this site have said i have been to hard on you, maybe thats true, But as National team coach you should not take

shots at the support the Canadian team does have in Toronto, you won't make friends either doing that. Good luck in the next week,

get us the two wins to get us back in this thing.

Reading Comprehension 101.

It was Watson who said that "the Canadians have felt like the visiting team because the majority of fans appear to be cheering against them", and even then, that was a paraphrasing job by the writer.

[soccerbeast]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

Reading Comprehension 101.

It was Watson who said that "the Canadians have felt like the visiting team because the majority of fans appear to be cheering against them", and even then, that was a paraphrasing job by the writer.

I stand corrected, sorry Frank. But even Watson should not have said it, or even appear to say it. I for one would love to see

the national team back in this part of Ontario, but won't hold my breath till it happens.

[DJT]

So soccerbeast made an error, but I have to agree with his sentiment. I'm tired of reading about how great Vancouver and Edmonton are and how bad Toronto is. When the CSA named Vancouver as the new "home" of the national team, we were told that the players wanted Vancouver, but now we're told that the players would choose Edmonton over any other city??? Okay, why don't they just stop talking about this, stop fueling petty regional squabbles, and get on with it! Let's see articles actually talking about soccer! Alas, our writers aren't capable and their target audience (not us) wouldn't understand, anyway.

I also don't understand how Yallop can admit a lack of continuity and yet proceed to call up a bunch of new players for a critical match while we had some players who have lots more experience with the national team just sitting in Europe. Okay, so calling local and young players begins to build the desired depth, but then we're really aiming for 2010 (which, mind you, I don't really have a problem with --- as long as we maintain continuity up until then and don't dismantle everything if we fail for 2006).

Winnipeg Fury, could you provide links to the articles you post? I erroneously assumed that this was written by Neil Davidson, and I would think that others would make the same mistake. Then I looked it up to be sure and it turns out it was written by Darcy Denton:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2004/09/01/612217-cp.html

[redhat]

I just hope that the ASA/CSA people do not schedule a Honduran

halftime show, like they did for the T&T game in 2000.

As for the context of the presentation, I think it was intended

to ingratiate themselves to the Edmonton media. It is true that

support has been overwhelmimgly pro-Canadian, especially the U19

Women's matches.

Regarding the comments about Toronto, that may have been the issue

way back then, but I don't think that was the case against Mexico

in 2000. It is unfortunate that the players brought it up (regardless

of whether or not that's how they felt at the time).

The venues of the past in Toronto would have been more favourable if

the CSA or the ticket people handled the seating arrangements and

marketing of the game better. Even the seating arrangements at

Swangard (and security) could have been better.

[Gian-Luca]

And once again, the question has to be asked - if Yallop is admitting that the players were tired for the Guatemala match, why did we fly them all the way out there from Europe when there were options in the Eastern half of the country that were available (Montreal, Kingston)?

[kelownaguy]

Having the National Team training center and Head Offices in Vancouver makes sense because of the climate and ability to play and train all 12 months of the year. The advantage of this being training camps can be had during winter, more so for the youth teams rather then our top professionals (who probably should be having training camps in Europe itself) But I do agree with spreading the games out all over the country equally rather then predominantly out west, I think the lesson should be learned from last game that when you only have a few days to prepare, as was the case in the Guats game, play the games out east where travel time and jet lag can be minimized because every little advantage you can get is crucial. That being said, when you have adequate time to prepare for a game (around a week) Edmonton would be my first choice because of the quality stadium, and potential for huge amounts of soccer fans (2002 Under 19 Womens World Cup for example,,incredible..)

[DarnCherry]

Perhaps the east can be satisfied with getting all of the World Cup of Hockey games, and soccer is throwing us westerners a bone.

[Winnipeg Fury]

Considering there was two matches in Kingston, I hardly see the disparity. Three games out West, two in the East. Big deal.

[massimo]

quote:Originally posted by Winnipeg Fury

Considering there was two matches in Kingston, I hardly see the disparity. Three games out West, two in the East. Big deal.

But if you compare the quality between the matches in the East vs. West? There is no comparison.

The last time Mtl got a game, it was a friendly in 1995!!!

[Massive Attack]

I consider Ontario central Canada.

[DarnCherry]

I don't, it's not very central on a map and it is in the eastern time zone.

[DarnCherry]

quote:Originally posted by massimo

But if you compare the quality between the matches in the East vs. West? There is no comparison.

You really want to debate the "quality" of matches? You think Canada-Guatemala was better quality?

[Free kick]

Why do these discussions always have to come down to a west versus east pissing match. I have not noticed anyone questioning the decision on selfish or political motives but rather whats the best way to get a home field advantage. The huge travel distances between Europe and the pacific time zone mean fatigue which in turn hurts our performance and favours the opposition. Even Yallop has acknowledged that. Three games in three months out there will hurt our performance. For what its worth, I also believe that the October game should have been played in Montreal. Not because I would like to attend. I can't since its in midweek, therefore for my viewing purposes whether its Montreal or Vancouver makes no difference. But I do know that that Europe to Montreal is less than half the distance compared to Europe to Vancouver.

The selection of venues has defied logic in my opinion. They chose the eastern site in June when most of players were already in canada. Yet when the players went back to Europe, they chose the locations that will mean the most travel and fatigue. Where is the logic?

[DarnCherry]

Why does it become a pissing match? Because no matter how you slice it, if we scheduled national team games they way you guys want it we'd never get any games here out west. You guys don't have a problem with that because you are out east. We do have a problem with that because we are out west, and if you guys have your way we'd never have any more WCQ out here ever.

So deal with it becoming a pissing match every time that you post negative comments about having games out west.

[Gian-Luca]

In many previous threads (including those before the Guatemala match) I have asked this question - why didn't we play the Belize games in Vancouver (as I do believe important to play games out there & as many different parts of the country as possible & practical) at a time where we didn't really have to worry about lengthy flights from Europe, and then play the Guatemala match in Montreal or Kingston (when we did). This way all regions get matches and our players do not get needlessly tired out from longer-than-necessary flights (not to mention time-zone adjustments).

I know that Queen's University doesn't start in mid-August so I have a tough time believing that this stadium wasn't available (not to mention CCR in Montreal).

I have yet to see a satisfactory answer to this question and since I am advocating that we play games out on the west coast I don't think it came be legitimately claimed that I am advocating for no games on the west coast.

[DarnCherry]

I'd have been okay with the Belize games being held out here and the east getting the other games. I don't think it would make much difference though, considering the real problem with the national team is not the long flights and the time zone differences, it's the fact that the team doesn't get together, train and play together very often. This will continue to be the case and the main cause for the national teams poor showings for as long as all our players are scattered all over the world. Which will be a very long time.

[massimo]

quote:Originally posted by Krammerhead

You really want to debate the "quality" of matches? You think Canada-Guatemala was better quality?

No, but I'm talking about the opposition. Comparing Belize and Guatemala. Belize and Honduras

[soccerbeast]

quote:Originally posted by Krammerhead

I'd have been okay with the Belize games being held out here and the east getting the other games. I don't think it would make much difference though, considering the real problem with the national team is not the long flights and the time zone differences, it's the fact that the team doesn't get together, train and play together very often. This will continue to be the case and the main cause for the national teams poor showings for as long as all our players are scattered all over the world. Which will be a very long time.

I thought Canada could have played their first game against Guatemala

in Toronto at the end of July when they had the natural grass laid

for the champions world series games, that would have been great for the support here in Ontario.

[massimo]

quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

In many previous threads (including those before the Guatemala match) I have asked this question - why didn't we play the Belize games in Vancouver (as I do believe important to play games out there & as many different parts of the country as possible & practical) at a time where we didn't really have to worry about lengthy flights from Europe, and then play the Guatemala match in Montreal or Kingston (when we did). This way all regions get matches and our players do not get needlessly tired out from longer-than-necessary flights (not to mention time-zone adjustments).

I know that Queen's University doesn't start in mid-August so I have a tough time believing that this stadium wasn't available (not to mention CCR in Montreal).

I have yet to see a satisfactory answer to this question and since I am advocating that we play games out on the west coast I don't think it came be legitimately claimed that I am advocating for no games on the west coast.

exactly, I am all for whether gives CANANDA the upper hand. If that means less hours of flight time for our players, and more for the opposition.

Even, Playing in Yellowknife or whatever! Tundra here we come!

Now imagine that!

[sstackho]

quote:Originally posted by DJT

I erroneously assumed that this was written by Neil Davidson, and I would think that others would make the same mistake.

quote:Originally posted by Winnipeg Fury

Yallop is expecting better things from his team against Honduras on Saturday, although the team surprised pool favourite Costa Rica 5-2 in the first match.

Canada was ranked fourth in the six-team pool before the games began. The top three teams advance and the fourth gets a playoff with the fifth-place team in the Asian region for one of the last berths.

With embarrasingly incorrect facts like this one, I don't think anyone on here will think that this article was written by Neil Davidson.

Norm DaCosta on the other hand... [:I]

[DJT]

True on the second one, though in my defence I just skimmed that part (as I usually do when they're just summarizing the current standings, format, etc.). But the first one is correct: Honduras defeated Costa Rica 5-2 in the first match.

Regardless, we should be posting links to these articles.

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by soccerbeast

I thought Canada could have played their first game against Guatemala

in Toronto at the end of July when they had the natural grass laid

for the champions world series games, that would have been great for the support here in Ontario.

The games had to be played on set FIFA dates, which is why all WCQ games are usually played at the same time.