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Potential Can of Worms


The Beaver

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Perhaps this isn't the sort of thing we want to talk about here, but I thought I'd raise this just in case others were feeling the same way and wanted to discuss it (briefly, I hope).

Very simply: Am I right (or wrong) in thinking the spirit of this forum has gotten sort of nasty over the past little while? It sort of seems like we've lost patience with each other. Yes, we've had scraps in the past, and there will always be good, contentious debate at times, but it also seems like there is a rather angry, not-particularly-generous undercurrent these days. And, I can sort of assume why this is happening: We are all still sore about the WCQ campaign, and relatively speaking, there isn' a whole lot happening in soccer to keep us properly distracted.

I will not make any suggestions--I've entered plenty of scraps over the past little while--but I wonder what you guys are feeling. Where is G-L and some of the other traditionally active Voyageurs? Is there reason to believe things are disintegrating here, or am I simply picking up on errant vibes? Or are we just bored out of our trees? [V]

Any thoughts?

Vive le Canada!

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quote:Originally posted by The Beaver

Perhaps this isn't the sort of thing we want to talk about here, but I thought I'd raise this just in case others were feeling the same way and wanted to discuss it (briefly, I hope).

Very simply: Am I right (or wrong) in thinking the spirit of this forum has gotten sort of nasty over the past little while? It sort of seems like we've lost patience with each other. Yes, we've had scraps in the past, and there will always be good, contentious debate at times, but it also seems like there is a rather angry, not-particularly-generous undercurrent these days. And, I can sort of assume why this is happening: We are all still sore about the WCQ campaign, and relatively speaking, there isn' a whole lot happening in soccer to keep us properly distracted.

I will not make any suggestions--I've entered plenty of scraps over the past little while--but I wonder what you guys are feeling. Where is G-L and some of the other traditionally active Voyageurs? Is there reason to believe things are disintegrating here, or am I simply picking up on errant vibes? Or are we just bored out of our trees? [V]

Any thoughts?

Vive le Canada!

I hate my job and just post out of anger.

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You're right.There isn't much to forward to.In the months leading up to August 18th the Voyageurs world was filled with optimism.It all went terribly bad from then on and now we're left facing another 3 to 4 years of speculating on the future of the national team.That speculation has lead to the re hashing of old topics.Those of us who have been around for a while might feel that there isn't a lot left to be said that hasn't already been talked about.

On the bright side,there have been some new posters that have had some intersting things to add.

I,for one accept that we'll have to endure another few years of re building and growing pains followed by more optimism leading up to the next WCQ.In the meantime I'll come here as often as I can to get information on the up and coming players and add the occasional comment that may or may not be of interest to the fans here.

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Hey guys!

Yes Canada's elimination was hard to take, and I felt quite the fool. I've been told I've been a little dark lately. Well... it is the New World Order after all.

Good news is that the days start getting longer in 2 weeks! Then it's 9 weeks to March.

I'm gonna turn my brain off until Spring.

Oh by the way... Vive le Canada, mother****er.

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Basically, there is nothing to post about so ridiculous threads keep popping up and in some twisted incestuous way, the posters contribute to the crazy threads of others. I do it because I fear withdrawal syndrome.

We should close this board over the holidays and only have a news section available. Wouldn't THAT be nuts. The Internet on vacation...

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I came to the Voyageurs board a few years back to support the national side. Yes, I also support the women and Canada's A-League teams and our internationally-based players, but the bottom line for me is the national team -- that's why I view this board and occasionally post.

We have sucked for a long time and this year was just more of the same. Since we got eliminated early, and once again the national side's receded into the wallpaper, I find myself less interested in football right now -- and in this board's oh-so-familiar debates. For me, something positive needs to happen with the national side leading up to and including the Gold Cup in order to re-charge my interest, and I suspect I'm not alone.

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My situation is this. I am above all a Canadian fan. My second team is Sachsen Leipzig which provides me with almost an equal amount of frustration as our CNT if not more. My third team is the only one I can have any pride. Shinnik Yaroslavl finishishes every year year in 5th to 8th place in the Russian top tier even though this year they have severe financial problems and didn't even have a jersey sponsor (their budget is probably about 1/3 of the Moscow teams). Every year I think they are a relegation candidate but they survive and I even saw them beat CSKA this year in Yaroslavl (CSKA was very unlucky not to adance, no way Porto beats Chelsea if Chelsea were not already through). Shinnik's coach will transfer this year to a Moscow team along with several players.

I erroneously supported the hiring of Yallop. I think it was time for Osieck to leave even though I think he is a good coach though too extreme with his discipline demands. In retrospect we should have hired a national team short term specialist on a short term contract. Only goal to qualify for 2006. If we don't qualify, contract annulled. I support Yallop being given a fair chance. However, I saw the Kingston games and thought he called a very good squad. Afterwards, I was in Russia and hardly posted here. I was shocked to read the squad he called when I went to the internet cafe in Yaroslavl before the Guatemala game. Even with the injuries and suspensions it was far from what I expected and I had a very bad feeling in Russia even before the first match was played. Everyone who can do a site search also knows I also had a very bad feeling about Onstad right after the first game in Kingston. Since this game I have not heard Yallop accept 1% of responsibility for our elimination and constantly hear various excuses from him. Maybe we have overanalysised the technique comment, but this follows a variety of comments from Yallop, none of which have taken any personal responsibility. This leaves me very sceptical and pesismistic. I hope we win the Gold Cup under Yallop and subsbsequently qualify. However, I am worried we will have a mediocre successs in the Gold Cup which will result in Yallop being retained. I think we have the talent to be a top team in CONCACAF but a few mistakes made by players or the coach could result in us being eliminated. I give Yallop credit for the good things he has done in finding a few talented players and connecting them with clubs. However, I have very low confidence that he can help us qualify for 2010. If Yallop does better than I expect I am willing to forgive him and admit my errors just as I think I made an error in advocating he be hired. However, I presently can't think of anyone in Canada who I feel is MNT coaching quality and think the job should go to a foreigner. Yallop's recent irresponsible comments lead me to believe he should be let go and a new and probably foreign candidate should be selected. At the moment I think there are several Dutch candidates who would be among the top favourites for the job.

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Yeah, the premature demise of the MNT Wc qualifying certainly has thrown a rusty spanner in the good old fashioned debate of the Men's National Team. Instead of speaking/debating/cursing about other countries we'd be playing in the hex, the chances of qualification, sharing ribald tales of black-market organ selling in order to afford that trip to mexico, line-up selection and - dare i say it - support of Frank Yallop, we've been hit by a terrible influx of bad news all at once: elimination, Yallop's competence, and CSA complacency/effectiveness. All these topics lead one to make negative conclusions en masse. So in a sense, it can be like putting on the ol' hair shirt lately when reading the board's influx of negative comments, and can understand why some people are, well, a little short fused. As well, the bile that gets spewed from a certain unnamed poster doesn't help stave off the negative vibes.

So, until a friendly is played and the U-20s get rolling in qualification, i will expect more of the same, that boredom and misplaced insanity will triumph over reason and good natured debate. And for anyone who wishes to debate my posts, please do so, I won't get offended, as long you do not mention my albinism, ricketts, scurvy, and ever-present case of vertigo. [:P]

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Think a lot of people are still suffering the post-elimination blues. Dosen't help when the govering body in charge of WCQ shrugs the results off and tells everyone there's allways next go around (again). Hard to give a damn under those circumstances some times.

And it's getting on Christmas. Every year gets quiet round here come Christmas, but yeah, there are quite a few regulars who've gone into early hibernation.

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I'm still here, no worries. I haven't been posting as much lately, but I generally check this board everyday. Like a number of other posters have indicated (and I suspect this is true of a number of other ones that haven't) there's not a whole lot to talk about right now, other than the possibility of the MLS coming to Toronto and frankly I've had enough of saying the same things over and over about that. Once things start to kick up again you'll see things start to fly once again.

I think most people need a little downtime, to re-charge the batteries. Work has been very busy for me and one of the other major hobbies of mine is kicking up again in a very big way, which is using up a great deal of my available time spent on the net (as it has a much larger on-line community that we do).

Certainly I can't wait for the Gold Cup & the U20 qualifiers as I want to have something positive to cheer about for my country in soccer.

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quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

one of the other major hobbies of mine is kicking up again in a very big way, which is using up a great deal of my available time spent on the net (as it has a much larger on-line community that we do).

Well G-L, I'm glad to hear that the porn is going well. :)

I'm in the same boat. I needed some downtime to get over the downfall. And now there's not much to talk about the national team, so my footie focus goes towards Crystal Palace for the rest of the season.

I agree that there has been more nastiness on the board. Probably due to old topics being hashed and rehashed. Also possibly due to some posters who have recently wandered over from the old Network54 forum - which I felt always had a much nastier tone than this board.

But at least The Beaver is always here to bring the love. It gives me a big warm fuzzy whenever I see a new thread from him.

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Downtime? I'll be a dad in a few days (Dec 24th?), apparently there's

no such thing as downtime. :) Baby's kicking lots, I'm sure he/she

will be in soccer. Even got an Ipswich jersey on EBay. ;)

Yes, since WCQ elimination, everyone's been "snarky" including

myself. (My heartfelt apologies.)

But if I can suggest worthwhile topics, let me list them:

(1) the Gold Cup (anyone planning to go?, lineups, etc.)

(2) the future lineups for WYC 2007 and the MNT

(3) future role of Voyageurs (formal group? funding, etc.)

(4) a Canadian rep to the CONCACAF club championship

(5) your all-time Canadian MNT lineup and ratings

(6) your all-time Canadian MNT moments (good & bad)

Topics to AVOID if you can (ONLY A SUGGESTION):

(1) anything about Yallop, Pipe, or the incompetence of the CSA

(we all know why)

(2) anything about Pat Onstad's abilities, Ante Jazic's blunders,

Mark Watson's rejuvenation qualities, etc.

(3) anything personal about a Voyageur (crying teachers, beastiality

afficianados, etc.etc.)

(4) any topic on diaper genies and kids (because I'll get them

anyways) ...

(5) the CSA should buy something _____ (stadium, league, a jet plane,

a new brain, etc)

These are interesting times, boys. Canada will have to rebuild, like

Honduras, Jamaica, Cuba, Scotland, and China. But so did Greece (before Euro 2004), and a few other countries. The next few years

will be not only interesting, but exciting. It starts now.

Thanks, End of rant.

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God, what a reasonable bunch of lads you guys are. I was really hoping that we could get some Voyageur initiatives off the ground prior to the holidays, but we'll have to see what transpires in the New Year. I think there are opportunities for all of us to have a larger impact on Canadian soccer, if only in certain areas. Keeping busy with these initiatives should keep us focussed on what is important rather than rehashing old debates. Let's see what we can get started in the New Year.

"But at least The Beaver is always here to bring the love. It gives me a big warm fuzzy whenever I see a new thread from him."

sstackho, I'm glad I can still have this sort of effect on you. After all these years, and the romance is still going strong...

And Redhat, dude--congratulations on the pregnancy, and be sure to let us know when bambino Redhat enters this world. My wife and I are three months pregnant, which means I should have the little one on the pitch working on technique, technique, technique sometime toward this time next year. (They start walking at 6 months, right?)

Yes, a break is a good idea. I'll be around for another week, then back in time for the U20s to really get going. Damn, I'd love to see these games on TV.

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Beav, don't leave! You're the safeguard, the conscience, the arbiter of political correctness! Without your timely reminders to keep us on our toes it'll be a big orgy of ethnic jokes and racist remarks, edgy double entendre, provocative puns...sigh...might as well just stick to soccer talk I guess.

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quote:Originally posted by sstackho

Wow, Mrs. Beaver is preggers, that was quick! [does quick search, sees that The Beaver got married in August] Is this one of those wedding night conceptions?? (oh wait, now we're breaking redhat's rules 3 and 4...)

No, not a wedding night conception (we slept instead), but yes, we did not waste any time. Figured I'd better do my part to help the future of Canadian soccer asap. The Wee Beaver will be a force in mid-field, just you watch.

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quote:Originally posted by canso

Beav, don't leave! You're the safeguard, the conscience, the arbiter of political correctness! Without your timely reminders to keep us on our toes it'll be a big orgy of ethnic jokes and racist remarks, edgy double entendre, provocative puns...sigh...might as well just stick to soccer talk I guess.

Canso, dude, can't wait to meet you! ;)[}:)]

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quote:Originally posted by beachesl

Hey Beav, don't let the new rug rat cut into the beer budget!

(congrats)

Thanks, and no worries about the beer! I've invested a kingly sum in a GIC for just those purposes. My kid won't be able to afford university, but as some of our members have shown, education is highly overrated anyways. [8D]

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quote:Originally posted by beachesl

Hey Beav, don't let the new rug rat cut into the beer budget!

(congrats)

Thanks, and no worries about the beer! I've invested a kingly sum in a GIC for just those purposes. My kid won't be able to afford university, but as some of our members have shown, education is highly overrated anyways. [8D]

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quote:Originally posted by sstackho

Yes, Old topics and arguments being hashed and rehased are getting a little tiring. That is one of the things that has kept me away more than at any other time in the past 4-5 years.

But no doubt, the biggest factor has been the elimination of the MNT from WCQ. Many discussions centred around topics that were related directly or indirectly to the MNT performances in the big event ( ie.: WCQ). Now that its all over what is the point to discussing something that is 4 - 5 years away. Thats the problem with CONCACAF. For many most Concacaf sides the important games ( WCQ ) are played over a span of time that is too short and when its over, you have a very very long wait. Thats why I like the CONMEBOL and UEFA.

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