TSN Injury Time Report: Canada's Year in Review

[Winnipeg Fury]

Whoa Canada

This was not a particularly good year to be a fan of Canadian soccer. Our Gold Cup team was hosed out of a critical goal against the United States. Canada's Under-20 team embarrassed themselves at home by failing to score a single goal at the World Cup and the nation's highly rated women's team went home way too early from the Women's World Cup. However, Canada's biggest blushes came from the dysfunction of the Canadian Soccer Association.

The CSA made several moves that caused footy fans in this country to scratch their heads. The first was the hiring of a full-time coach for the National team. Following Frank Yallop's resignation the CSA went through a list of candidates to take over the job. The thought was that Canada would take the radical step of hiring a foreign born and trained coach to help Canada take the next step in the international realm. Brazilian Rene Simoes, who helped Jamaica advance to the World Cup in 1998, seemed to be the front runner. In-fighting at the CSA caused the talks to collapse and Canada had to settle for U-20 manager and former national team striker Dale Mitchell.

Fans were willing to give Mitchell the benefit of the doubt; that was until Canada's Under-20 team failed to find the back of the net even once during this past summer's World Cup, a tournament Canada was hosting. Canadian fans were enraged by Mitchell's questionable substitutions and his team's lack of preparation.

The situation for the CSA got even more embarrassing when President Colin Linford resigned his post in August and blasted the organization on his way out.

Canada begin their qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in June against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, not exactly Brazil, but if they fail to get the necessary results, expect things to get worse rather than better in the near future.

[Scottie]

I think that's a very negative take on a year where huge strides were made. There's no mention of TFC, record crowds at the U-20s, and how about that was one of Canada's best ever performances at th gold cup? And of course, great individual performances at club level by de rosario, friend, de guzman, hutch, hirschfeld, etc. Sure was a terrible year to be a fan.

(though they didn't mention nykamp either)

[Alex]

He didnt post the whole article though, if you read it they mention TFC and all the rest.

[Gian-Luca]

That portion does sound like it was written from someone who hasn't followed the national team too closely. Hiring a foreign coach is hardly a huge "radical" step for the Canada (Holger Osiec, anyone?), while the bit about fans being enraged about Mitchell's alleged "questionable subsitutions" is news to me.

[CanadasBest]

I dunno. The tone of the article pretty much sums up my feelings for the past year.

Take away our brilliant play at the Gold Cup and this may indeed have been the worst year ever in Canadian soccer.

[SthMelbRed]

Worst ever year? Are you insane? Do you not remember just a few years ago when we hardly played, were ranked outside of the FIFA top-100 (I can't recall the exact ranking, but it was not pretty) and a good portion of our national team were playing at levels not much higher than amateur Sunday league? For the first time since before the start of the hex in '97 there is real optimism about the national team. We have been drawn into the toughest group in WCQ yet most still expect us to qualify. All this is the result of what's happened in the last year.

[ob1]

2007

I’m Happy that we did well at the gold cup, I’m glad that are national team players are starting to crack top clubs in top leagues. But I’m extremely disappointed in our finish; to draw Iceland and Costa Rica at our new national stadium and lose to a second rate South Africa just isn’t good enough.

Have we had worst years, absolutely?

Have we had better years, I think so, 2000. I don’t care what anyone says about coach, players and style of play, we won the gold cup. We beat Mexico and Columbia. We came home with a trophy.

We should be doing better now, we should be top three in concacaf at all times without doubt.

we only have the CSA to blame.

[Free kick]

quote:Originally posted by SthMelbRed

Worst ever year? Are you insane? Do you not remember just a few years ago when we hardly played, were ranked outside of the FIFA top-100 (I can't recall the exact ranking, but it was not pretty) and a good portion of our national team were playing at levels not much higher than amateur Sunday league?

Well. I dont agree. Especially the last part. Where do you see professional progression from our players compared to, say, four or five years ago?

We had players playing at higher level than we had now. Or, at worst equal. I recall one year where we had Radzinski in the Champion league scoring highlight goals against strong sides like Lazio and Man U. We also had Imhof and his club making a surprisingly strong run in CL. Later, Radz near the top of the EPL scoring, we saw Stalteri being an intrigal part of Werder Bremen, we saw DeGuzman move from Saarerbrucken to Hanover and then Depor. We also had more players playing on in the CCC in england and to boot, on strong clubs vying ( and succedding) for promotion. Thats not the case anymore. In fact, I have not heard in the past two years of a single player transfer or promotion of any serious significance. What we have seen though, is some regression from many.

As far as the earlier part. Have to admire your optimism, And there is still reason for optimism. But GW, was not entirely off base. Aside from the GC, the results have been, at best, So So. The U20 was disaster for canada on the pitch, we saw a lot of TFC's Capped-Canadian contingent struggle from playing time against americans that are not even, or barely, on their national team radar. Comapered to 4-5 years ago, goals by Canadians in club play were far more frequent.

In short, lets be honnest here, there has not been any improvement for Canadian players in the area of professional progression.

[CanadasBest]

quote:Originally posted by SthMelbRed

Worst ever year? Are you insane? Do you not remember just a few years ago when we hardly played, were ranked outside of the FIFA top-100 (I can't recall the exact ranking, but it was not pretty) and a good portion of our national team were playing at levels not much higher than amateur Sunday league? For the first time since before the start of the hex in '97 there is real optimism about the national team. We have been drawn into the toughest group in WCQ yet most still expect us to qualify. All this is the result of what's happened in the last year.

I did say "Take away our brilliant play at the gold cup..." The only reason we're ranked so high was because of the Gold Cup. The main reason for the optimism we all have is the Gold Cup. Take away all that and it would be the worst year in Canadian soccer.

I'm just as excited as everyone on the board with regards to our chances during WCQ next year. But that doesn't take away all the crap happening within the CSA, the failure of the U-20's, and the failure of the women at the World Cup.

[Macksam]

Player development should be taking a huge leap in the next few years with Toronto FC.

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by gwallace76

I'm just as excited as everyone on the board with regards to our chances during WCQ next year. But that doesn't take away all the crap happening within the CSA, the failure of the U-20's, and the failure of the women at the World Cup.

I echo these sentiments. The performance at the GC really raised my expectations of what I hope to see in the WCQ.

[ob1]

quote:Originally posted by Macksam

Player development should be taking a huge leap in the next few years with Toronto FC.

That’s not their job it’s the job of the CSA, we need are own league, not a few self serving franchises of corporate America.

I have been optimistic for the last 20 years, I want to see results, I want to see home grown talent play in a home grown league, and I want to see us at the World Cup.

Gold cup, its yesterday’s news. Look at the latest games and look at the dysfunctional CSA., major problems.

[SthMelbRed]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

Well. I dont agree. Especially the last part. Where do you see professional progression from our players compared to, say, four or five years ago?

We had players playing at higher level than we had now. Or, at worst equal. I recall one year where we had Radzinski in the Champion league scoring highlight goals against strong sides like Lazio and Man U. We also had Imhof and his club making a surprisingly strong run in CL. Later, Radz near the top of the EPL scoring, we saw Stalteri being an intrigal part of Werder Bremen, we saw DeGuzman move from Saarerbrucken to Hanover and then Depor. We also had more players playing on in the CCC in england and to boot, on strong clubs vying ( and succedding) for promotion. Thats not the case anymore. In fact, I have not heard in the past two years of a single player transfer or promotion of any serious significance. What we have seen though, is some regression from many.

As far as the earlier part. Have to admire your optimism, And there is still reason for optimism. But GW, was not entirely off base. Aside from the GC, the results have been, at best, So So. The U20 was disaster for canada on the pitch, we saw a lot of TFC's Capped-Canadian contingent struggle from playing time against americans that are not even, or barely, on their national team radar. Comapered to 4-5 years ago, goals by Canadians in club play were far more frequent.

In short, lets be honnest here, there has not been any improvement for Canadian players in the area of professional progression.

Well, I have to disagree with your assessment of our former position with regards to our players in Europe. Other than Radzinski, who had a three or four year run playing regularly in, first the Champions' League with Anderlecht, then in the Premier League (and don't forget, he wasn't playing for Canada during that period), we had Stalteri starting to play regularly with Werder Bremen. Beyond that, our national team was comprised of players playing in either 3rd/4th tier European leagues (such as the ones in Norway and Sweden) or in the USL. Two or three guys were in Scotland, which was dire beyond the Old Firm. Bircham was the only one playing regularly in the English second-tier.

Now, we have DeGuzman in Spain, Stalteri in the PL (even better if he gets a transfer in January), Radzinski and Nsaliwa in Greece (there top division is far better than Norway or Sweden), Imhof playing in the Bundesliga(far better than where he was in Switzerland, where he did NOT play Champions' League, but rather UEFA Cup), DeVos and Hume in the English 2nd-tier, numerous guys in the German 2nd-tier, several playing in a vastly improved MLS, and some up-and-comers (Edgar and Begovic) with PL sides. Lars has just made a decent name for himself in the Champions' League, as did Attiba last season. I truly believe that from a playing perspective we are vastly improved on the period just prior to the last WCQ. The problems at the CSA aren't good, but they are not enough to dampen my enthusiasm for where we might be another year from now.

[Free kick]

quote:Originally posted by SthMelbRed

Imhof playing in the Bundesliga(far better than where he was in Switzerland, where he did NOT play Champions' League, but rather UEFA Cup), DeVos

No. He played in Champions league. St Gallen turned some heads and surprised some people in CL that year. They did eventually end up qualifying in UEFA cup that same campaign because ( though they didn't advance beyond a certain stage) they were a team that was able to secure a UEFA cup berth from their strong results in CL. The same hold true to this day where I believe the third place group finisher in the recently completed group stage go to UEFA CUP.

As far as the rest of your post regarding where canadians are now versus 5-7 years ago, I'll say this: that topic and discussions was for me one of the main reasons and interest for me in perousing these forums. There was always something interesting happening in regards to player transfers and movements and player progression in Europe involving Canadians. If it wasn't someone like Hargreaves ( before his defection), it was Mckenna or many others. At one point we had three canadians in the Bundesliga and even a player with a serie A club. At another point we saw Brennan with Norwich win promotion to EPL, JDV at Wigan leading the CCC, Pesch winning promotion to EPL with Fulham, Rad going from Ekeren, to anderlect, leading the league in scoring, then going to Everton and Fulham ( all the while scoring regularly at all levels including CL), we also also had canadians doing well in prestigious youth sides in France and moving on to better clubs. I could go on.

But in the past year or two, have seldom ever openned the canadian abroad thread in this forum because I have found little of any interest in there when I do; a few small steps here and there but mostly lateral moves ( eg.: Tranmere to Leicester) or downward moves on the competitive scale. Mostly the "yawn" kind of stuff. Since deguzman's transfer two yera ago to depor; nothing really interesting has happened. You stated that, "before", we only had players in places like Scandinavia and nowehere else on the Continent, but thats not true. Canadians in Norway and Sweden is a fairly recent phenomena that started as resulted from USL clubs like the Lynx and Impact finding someone to buy their talent. In the case of the Lynx, they sold them excessively cheap. We use to have a significaant presense of canadians in SPL and many of us ( including myself) bemoaned the fact that we couldn't see Canadians a better or more prestigious playing environments or levels of competitions than the SPL. But compared to today, Facing the old firm clubs in the SPL looks pretty good in comparaision.

I might undertstand your perspective on this topic if you are looking all this from a narrow time frame. All I am offering is a broader perspective, at the risk of sounding like a geazer or an eternal pessimist.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

Well. I dont agree. Especially the last part. Where do you see professional progression from our players compared to, say, four or five years ago?

The difference with 4-5 yrs ago is the number of our players playing at higher levels. I agree that we haven't seen a lot of our players moving on to the top leagues but have a lot more playing in good leagues (Dutch, Norway, Denmark, Greece, MLS, Belgium, Czech Republic, Bundesliga 2) than before.

We also have more depth in different position (except at RB).

The other positive I see is that some of those guys are pretty young and have a chance to move to bigger things in the near future (DeJong, Johnson, Issey, Atiba, Hainault, Occean).

I'm looking at our 2003 GC roster and I just don't get your point.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1318

Some of those guys were playing in the English third tier, some in the USL. Today, none of our top 25 players would come from one of those leagues.

[Free kick]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

The difference with 4-5 yrs ago is the number of our players playing at higher levels. I agree that we haven't seen a lot of our players moving on to the top leagues but have a lot more playing in good leagues (Dutch, Norway, Denmark, Greece, MLS, Belgium, Czech Republic, Bundesliga 2) than before.

We also have more depth in different position (except at RB).

The other positive I see is that some of those guys are pretty young and have a chance to move to bigger things in the near future (DeJong, Johnson, Issey, Atiba, Hainault, Occean).

I'm looking at our 2003 GC roster and I just don't get your point.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1318

Some of those guys were playing in the English third tier, some in the USL. Today, none of our top 25 players would come from one of those leagues.

It was stated, in an earlier response to Geoff Wallace, that compared to today, we had players practically playing in "Sunday leagues".

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

he said, in an earlier response to Geoff Wallace, that compared to today, we had players practically playing in "Sunday leagues".

The core of our MNT players are definitely playing at a higher level than 5-6 yrs . So, I see players progression from our point.

[SthMelbRed]

quote:Originally posted by Free kick

[No. He played in Champions league. St Gallen turned some heads and surprised some people in CL that year.

I think if you look back at the records, you'll find that St. Gallen has never played in the Champions' League proper (I'm not sure if they have played in the qualifying rounds). The year where they made some significant news was the year that they eliminated Chelsea in the first round of the UEFA Cup. It was pre-Abramovich Chelsea, but a pretty prestigious scalp to take for a club the stature of St. Gallen. Imhof played in both legs, and if I remember correctly, he made a tackle in midfield that injured one of Chelsea's big-name players (I can't remember who it was at the moment). In fact, before that time, I don't think too many people in Canada even knew Imhof. His breakthrough to the full national team came on the back of that performance.

[Macksam]

quote:Originally posted by ob1

That’s not their job it’s the job of the CSA, we need are own league, not a few self serving franchises of corporate America.

I have been optimistic for the last 20 years, I want to see results, I want to see home grown talent play in a home grown league, and I want to see us at the World Cup.

Gold cup, its yesterday’s news. Look at the latest games and look at the dysfunctional CSA., major problems.

Like it or not, it's going to be their job now, so accept it and be optimistic or continue to dream that the CSA will start actually doing their job.

[brandon]

quote:Originally posted by SthMelbRed

I think if you look back at the records, you'll find that St. Gallen has never played in the Champions' League proper (I'm not sure if they have played in the qualifying rounds). The year where they made some significant news was the year that they eliminated Chelsea in the first round of the UEFA Cup. It was pre-Abramovich Chelsea, but a pretty prestigious scalp to take for a club the stature of St. Gallen. Imhof played in both legs, and if I remember correctly, he made a tackle in midfield that injured one of Chelsea's big-name players (I can't remember who it was at the moment). In fact, before that time, I don't think too many people in Canada even knew Imhof. His breakthrough to the full national team came on the back of that performance.

If i remember correctly he broke Di Matteo's leg.

[ob1]

quote:Originally posted by Macksam

Like it or not, it's going to be their job now, so accept it and be optimistic or continue to dream that the CSA will start actually doing their job.

It's not their job, thats my point. Money, fan base, gate sales, and highly entertaining product is their job. they were not givin a team by a bunch of yanks to help poor old Canada to develop talent for thier national team.

If or when MLS starts to grow and attract overseas talent from other countries who do you think the first ones to be left in the dark will be.

All I am saying is we can’t put all our hope and dreams of a better tomorrow for Canadian soccer in the hands of TFC

[Macksam]

quote:Originally posted by ob1

It's not their job, thats my point. Money, fan base, gate sales, and highly entertaining product is their job. they were not givin a team by a bunch of yanks to help poor old Canada to develop talent for thier national team.

If or when MLS starts to grow and attract overseas talent from other countries who do you think the first ones to be left in the dark will be.

All I am saying is we can’t put all our hope and dreams of a better tomorrow for Canadian soccer in the hands of TFC

In about fifteen years, the best players on TFC will come from the youth academy.

Also, one of the reasons the team was given to Canada was to help develop our talent.