Dale Mitchell Interview Re-Cap

[Toronto MB]

So I wasn't able to catch the Dale Mitchell interview that was scheduled to be on Soccer Central yesterday.

Did anyone see it? And would anyone care to sum-up the main points discussed for those of us that missed it?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[themodelcitizen]

Saw one on the Footy show, not SC but that James Sharman show on the Score. Basically said that he was in contact with Jon De Guzman and Nsaliwa and was trying to sort out Tam's situation while letting Jono know that the door was open. Didn't say too much about WCQ venues (unless I missed something?) but seemed confident about our chances, said Radz could still be useful as a supersub and he was happy he was doing well in Greece. I wasn't paying lots of attention but someone else can expand maybe?

[Afrosta]

http://portal.thescore.ca/video/Player.aspx?vid=741

[Bertuzzi44]

quote:Originally posted by Afrosta

http://portal.thescore.ca/video/Player.aspx?vid=741

Thanks!

[nolando]

Well...uh..what's the...uh..Canadian record...uh...for the most..."uhs" per minute....No offense, uh, but this guy uh sounds like, uh, a minor league hockey coach - if I uh didnt know who he uh was, then I would swear he knew uh nothing about the world of uh soccer.

If I can barely bear listening to this guy now, imagine what might happen if we start losing games and have to listen to postgame excuses spoken as eloquently as these ones. Ughhh

Thanks for linking though - it's been a long time since I heard him speak, and I guess we might as well start getting used to him.

[MBZitch]

quote:Originally posted by themodelcitizen

Saw one on the Footy show, not SC but that James Sharman show on the Score. Basically said that he was in contact with Jon De Guzman and Nsaliwa and was trying to sort out Tam's situation while letting Jono know that the door was open. Didn't say too much about WCQ venues (unless I missed something?) but seemed confident about our chances, said Radz could still be useful as a supersub and he was happy he was doing well in Greece. I wasn't paying lots of attention but someone else can expand maybe?

Got a chance to see the Soccer Central interview. Much of the same topics and discussion, but there was one tidbit that stood out. He summarized the schedule for the MNT for next year as follows:

Jan - Camp for N.American and some Scandinavian based players

March - Friendly game

June - First round WC qualifying against St. V

One friendly before WC Quals ! :shakeshead:

[seaner]

[Gian-Luca]

He didn't say there would only be one friendly prior to the WCQ, that's you guys reading into things.

[The Ref]

Mitchell's reference to the good play at the last Gold Cup is all fine, but he omitted to say that it was not under his tutelage, but that under Hart's. I wonder if he will call DeVos back, Jason can certainly help out. Would love to see another finger interchange between Salteri and DeVos again. I was surprised to hear Mitchell being hot with Hirshfield. Not that there is anything wrong with his GK, but coaches usually doing want to appear being committed on opinions about any particular player.

[Massive Attack]

I agree G-L. All he mentioned was a friendly in March. That doesn't rule out a friendly or 2 leading up to St. Vincent. Even when we played Belize we had a couple of matches leading in (Wales and San Jose I believe).

As per De Vos, I wouldn't mind trying Brennan at CB before resorting to DeVos.

[El Hombre]

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

I agree G-L. All he mentioned was a friendly in March. That doesn't rule out a friendly or 2 leading up to St. Vincent. Even when we played Belize we had a couple of matches leading in (Wales and San Jose I believe).

As much as I don't want to underestimate SVG, I'd prefer having more friendlies before the group stage than before that match. If there's only so much money to go around for friendlies, that's where I'd like to see it go. The biggest problem with the last WCQ was the lack of action between the Belize games and the first Guatemala game. Ideally, I'd like two before SVG and another two before the group stage.

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

As per De Vos, I wouldn't mind trying Brennan at CB before resorting to DeVos.

Agree.

[SCF08]

Why does everyone want to try everyone who is not a central defender in that spot..??

Your never going to get a solid base if you keep changing the whole ''team'' around match by match and play players out of their position. With the WCQ coming up there is no chemistry because in the 3 friendlies it just has been trying trying trying and no one knows what is going to happen.

Who is most likely going to be the leader CB for the team in the future..? David Edgar..?

Give the youth some playing time and put him in. Give him the confidence because he deserves it and he's going to be needed in the future. Let him get used to it...

Bringing DeVos back would be absolutely shocking and horrible.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by El Hombre

As much as I don't want to underestimate SVG, I'd prefer having more friendlies before the group stage than before that match. If there's only so much money to go around for friendlies, that's where I'd like to see it go. The biggest problem with the last WCQ was the lack of action between the Belize games and the first Guatemala game. Ideally, I'd like two before SVG and another two before the group stage.

The problem here is that we have no FIFA dates between June and August and our players are either in season (MLS and Scandinavia) or in training camps with their clubs.

Since a lot of their players are playing in their domestic leagues, central americans teams have an easier time to schedule friendlies outside of the FIFA calendar.

Despite this, I still hope we can get a game or two, but it's very unlikely.

[Massive Attack]

The problem Canada faces is that there are no FIFA dates between the SVG games and the opening match of the semi round. So the FIFA dates in February, March, the SVG games and any other game we play will have to be considered part of the prep for the August kick off of the semi round.

Although we can supplement with games on unofficial days but clubs will not have to release players. And its sort of pointless to play games with out most of your main squad available.

Edit: Loyola beat me to the punch, but I think we're on the same wavelength.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by SCF08

Why does everyone want to try everyone who is not a central defender in that spot..??

Your never going to get a solid base if you keep changing the whole ''team'' around match by match and play players out of their position. With the WCQ coming up there is no chemistry because in the 3 friendlies it just has been trying trying trying and no one knows what is going to happen.

Who is most likely going to be the leader CB for the team in the future..? David Edgar..?

Give the youth some playing time and put him in. Give him the confidence because he deserves it and he's going to be needed in the future. Let him get used to it...

Bringing DeVos back would be absolutely shocking and horrible.

Your overrating David Edgar. I'm wondering what you saw that makes you believe he's good enough to start for us at CB?

At the moment, a guy like Hainault (who's only a few months older than Edgar) is a better option at CB.

[SCF08]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

Your overrating David Edgar. I'm wondering what you saw that makes you believe he's good enough to start for us at CB?

At the moment, a guy like Hainault (who's only a few months older than Edgar) is a better option at CB.

I was gonna mention him as well but forgot.

It's the idea though. Get a young gun in instead and give him the confidence he deserves instead of someone who is not natural in that position or an old head like DeVos.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by SCF08

I was gonna mention him as well but forgot.

It's the idea though. Get a young gun in instead and give him the confidence he deserves instead of someone who is not natural in that position or an old head like DeVos.

We aren't Holland, our young guns not always turns out to be that good.

In CONCACAF, outside of Mexico and the US, teams usually needs experience to qualify. Costa Rica in 2006 didn't used young players to qualify, they went with experience.

Also, you can look at 2004 WCQ as an excellent example of what happenned when Canada went in with inexperienced players.

I seriously doubt David Edgar is the solution for our CB for 2008.

[Toronto MB]

Thanks for the info and the link. Interesting video piece.

While I certainly didn't find Dale to be an enthralling interview, nor did I find his responses to be particularly insightful I do agree with a lot of his points and I suppose that is what's most important.

I too am extremely hopeful that we can resolve Tam's citzenship issues before WCQ. He would make a great partner with either McKenna or DeVos as he can move the ball forward and has excellent speed and has proven he can shut down key players on the opposition. (see Damarcus Beasley in the US Semi-Final at GC 2001)

The segment on Jono didn't sound too promising. But who knows. And it doesn't sound like we will be seeing JDV anytime soon.

I sincerely hope we can make use of more than one of the FIFA dates between now and June. Even a pre-SVG friendly against TFC would be useful. It would also shut-up the ignorant TFC fans who claim that Canada is garbage. But seriously, there is no reason why we can't fly over Brennan and DeRosario and play some Euro-based friendlies, especially as European sides will be gearing up for the summer as well.

[Daniel]

quote:Originally posted by SCF08

It's the idea though. Get a young gun in instead and give him the confidence he deserves instead of someone who is not natural in that position or an old head like DeVos.

After the Peters experiment, I think we're all a bit cautious...

[Bertuzzi44]

Didn't we figure DeVos was a tad too slow against quick central american teams? I don't remember exactly, but if he was that was 3 years ago.

I'd like to see Tam at CB just to get an idea of what it would be like to have someone who is a little quicker, albeit a tad shorter. Our tall physical CB's like Mckenna and Devos sometimes get burned by quick counter attacks. I dunno, pro's and con's for all our CB's I guess.

[BigBird]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

Your overrating David Edgar. I'm wondering what you saw that makes you believe he's good enough to start for us at CB?

At the moment, a guy like Hainault (who's only a few months older than Edgar) is a better option at CB.

Loyola you must be very uncertain about our young talent out there. Edgar is would be an ideal person in behing Hainault as you mentioned and shlould have his spot. but surely there is nothing wrong with having Edgar on the MNT in the next game and if needed to play a few mintues I am quite sure he can handle himself quite well as a sub for Hainault. Why not... the kid paid his dues and now its time the Canada gives a lng overdue of his first experience of a cap with Canada.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by BigBird

Loyola you must be very uncertain about our young talent out there. Edgar is would be an ideal person in behing Hainault as you mentioned and shlould have his spot. but surely there is nothing wrong with having Edgar on the MNT in the next game and if needed to play a few mintues I am quite sure he can handle himself quite well as a sub for Hainault. Why not... the kid paid his dues and now its time the Canada gives a lng overdue of his first experience of a cap with Canada.

We have only a few games to prepare for the WCQ, there's no time to start giving PT to players who aren't even playing first team right now. Yes, it might be a good idea to include him in the squad for a friendly (like we did in Iceland) if we have injuries but so far he isn't in our top 18-20 players.

I think at the moment Hainault, Mckenna, Hastings, Nsaliwa, Kluka, Imhoff, (who did played at CB in Iceland over Edgar) and even Hutchinson are players that I would start over him at CB.

[Grizzly]

It boggles the mind that after the Peters experiment people are calling for us to play young unproven players.

[BigBird]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

We have only a few games to prepare for the WCQ, there's no time to start giving PT to players who aren't even playing first team right now. Yes, it might be a good idea to include him in the squad for a friendly (like we did in Iceland) if we have injuries but so far he isn't in our top 18-20 players.

I think at the moment Hainault, Mckenna, Hastings, Nsaliwa, Kluka, Imhoff, (who did played at CB in Iceland over Edgar) and even Hutchinson are players that I would start over him at CB.

Ok Loyola let me see if I can help you here of a good example of what I am talking about. Look at Germany last two world cup they clean up house get rid of all their senior older players brought in the younger players to their first team. If I am not mistaken the youngest team in world qualifying of all countries in the world cup or close too it. Look how far they got,,,,,,

Nobody is saying that you have to start them now. I said bring him there like the Edgar, Uccello, and maybe other that have not had their chance and few others, to go in as a sub if needed for a few minutes so what you make a friggren mistake. How else are you going see the true merits of a player or (S) to work with them and prepared them in years to come..... Why? Is it that Canada has to wait till a player makes a first team, or sign a multi deal contract to have them play on the MNT. The why have a coach! **** you do not need to coach just pick players that are on the first team, and what ever happens happens. Thats friggen great, wow, raise the flag yahoo. Loyola it not that easy as that. To me coaching is one taken risk, and a coach should never feel challenged when it comes to preparation of his team.

Why I say bring them in the young ones is for this reason alone!

Over 80% PERCENT OF ALL GAMES ARE WON IN THE SECOND HALF AND ALL OF THEM CAUSED BY SUBBING PLAYERS IN AT THE RIGHT TIME by REMOVING THE RIGHT STARTER(s).

So a good bench player is a good bench player.

In response to Grizzly Every players has a chance to show what they can do and they should. Some sooner then others, If Peters earlier did not work for you that’s fine and or some others in previous post, but that does not mean anything maybe later he will be better or maybe it was not the right time for him!. All players should be treated the same dignity and with the out most respect of what they have done or not done. Its a tuff world outside your country and lonely for most. Canada should be proud of all of their players playing outside their country and never be forgotten, but most of all never treat them less then you would if it you or another Canadian.

[Daniel]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

I think at the moment Hainault, Mckenna, Hastings, Nsaliwa, Kluka, Imhoff, (who did played at CB in Iceland over Edgar) and even Hutchinson are players that I would start over him at CB.

I'd even throw in Brennan.