What we're really after

[Toronto MB]

I’d like to preface this entire post by saying that I am deeply saddened by our results thus far. Like all of you, I support this team with the dream of being able to sing for our boys during our first World Cup game in over 20 years. My heart hurts; I didn’t think it would be this painful this time.

With that being said, I think I may be betraying my own desires with this exact wish.

As has been previously mentioned by those more wise than me: what will a token first round appearance at a World Cup final achieve for Canada? We will surely build up the largest spectrum of media attention the national team has ever enjoyed, but wouldn’t it be all for not? Canada would manage maybe a single draw, possibly worse, and then amidst all the hype, finally the nay-sayers would have their mainstream proof that “Canada sucks at soccer”. Live for the world to see, in front of the Italians, English and other old-country patriots who never believed in us anyways: a real Canadian football failure.

So as we travel down to Mexico, clinging to hopes of 0-0 with Pellerud-like tactics of long-ball creative starvation, aren’t we just misleading ourselves anyways? Sure, a 2-1 loss in Mexico seems like a respectable result, but any supporter who witnessed the match will know that we looked as badly outclassed as we did in 1996.

The confusing thing in this whole equation is that this is essentially a more complete Canadian team than the versions that went toe-to-toe with the US and Brazil in the last 18 months. Never holding back, Canada asserted their creative play and attacking movements from the initial whistle in both of these games and were unfortunate to walk-away without results on both accounts. Despite the losses however, Canadians could finally take pride in what was a passionate, creative and potent display of football. Those of us who have suffered through too many years of Holger-era, dump and chase football will know the pleasure associated with viewing and supporting such dynamic and refreshing performances.\

Why did we fare so well against Brazil and the US, but look so terrified against Mexico? The obvious answer is that Canada was under no pressure to achieve in the first two instances. Nothing was expected, nothing was required and we just focused on playing positive football.

It’s time to think long-term gentlemen. So long term that we shouldn’t even stress over dreams of 2010, 2014 or even 2018. Let’s dream of fluent passing, intelligent movement and natural attacking instead. Let’s focus on style and performance instead of results, and I believe the achievements will fall into place eventually.

Of course all this affirmative action must start at the top. We tried to turn a blind eye to the CSA’s misguided efforts in not wanting to disturb what we thought was a sure-fire road to 2010. Consider it a lesson learned Voyageurs. We still have a long road ahead of us.

Change must come to the board, the governance and the player development from grassroots to the highest technical tree-tops. We must take better care of our youngsters going abroad to learn the game, keep in better touch with them, keep them in our national systems at all costs and most importantly keep them Canadian. We can no more afford to lose our Hargreaves’ and DeGuzman’s. We must do more to provide alternative, domestic avenues through our clubs at home in Canada. We must be patient with our youth and never pressure for 0-0 draws in the face of superior opposition but encourage them with creative liberties.

Most importantly, and this is where we come in, we must continue to grow the culture of Canadian football. We have grown by leaps and bounds as supporters of our domestic clubs and national team. We must continue this exponential growth with unwavering persistence in the face of bad results, always supporting the positive football we know may one day lead us past a trivial first-round appearance at a World Cup final.

Yes, Mitchell must go. Yes, the CSA’s clown concoction must be disbanded. But let’s not hide our lack of quality behind these two convenient distractions.

Onwards and upwards Voyageurs, from here on in we need to start walking with a little swagger in our step.

Let’s build.

Long-term believer,

Max Bell

[loyola]

You forgot the most important thing about a WC appearance....10 millions $$$$.

[El Hombre]

quote:Originally posted by Toronto MB

As has been previously mentioned by those more wise than me: what will a token first round appearance at a World Cup final achieve for Canada? We will surely build up the largest spectrum of media attention the national team has ever enjoyed, but wouldn’t it be all for not? Canada would manage maybe a single draw, possibly worse, and then amidst all the hype, finally the nay-sayers would have their mainstream proof that “Canada sucks at soccer”. Live for the world to see, in front of the Italians, English and other old-country patriots who never believed in us anyways: a real Canadian football failure.

So, you think a first-round exit is finally the proof that nay-sayers need to say that "Canada sucks at soccer"? I think they've got it by the 20+ years of failing to even qualify for the World Cup.

This part smacks of "we won't win so why even bother trying". Well, in fact, making the World Cup will give the program a little bit of legitimacy and credibility. Also, everyone thought Senegal was a 3 and out in 2002 didn't they?

While I won't get into your huge assumption that we'd be lucky to get a result if we did make it, how many here became fans during the 1986 run? And we didn't even score a goal then. With more media exposure, the amount of people that might begin paying attention to Canadian soccer would dwarf that groundswell.

quote:Originally posted by Toronto MB

So as we travel down to Mexico, clinging to hopes of 0-0 with Pellerud-like tactics of long-ball creative starvation, aren’t we just misleading ourselves anyways? Sure, a 2-1 loss in Mexico seems like a respectable result, but any supporter who witnessed the match will know that we looked as badly outclassed as we did in 1996.

The confusing thing in this whole equation is that this is essentially a more complete Canadian team than the versions that went toe-to-toe with the US and Brazil in the last 18 months. Never holding back, Canada asserted their creative play and attacking movements from the initial whistle in both of these games and were unfortunate to walk-away without results on both accounts. Despite the losses however, Canadians could finally take pride in what was a passionate, creative and potent display of football. Those of us who have suffered through too many years of Holger-era, dump and chase football will know the pleasure associated with viewing and supporting such dynamic and refreshing performances.\

Why did we fare so well against Brazil and the US, but look so terrified against Mexico? The obvious answer is that Canada was under no pressure to achieve in the first two instances. Nothing was expected, nothing was required and we just focused on playing positive football.

Personally, I think Mitchell is a terribly negative coach. Every team he runs seems to play that way. However, the Mexico game was the one game where that tactic was actually appropriate. I truly believe that we took it to the US because Hart let loose the players and they played attacking soccer. As for the Brazil game, you have to look at that one in context: Brazil's not putting in too many inspired performances lately.

quote:Originally posted by Toronto MB

Change must come to the board, the governance and the player development from grassroots to the highest technical tree-tops. We must take better care of our youngsters going abroad to learn the game, keep in better touch with them, keep them in our national systems at all costs and most importantly keep them Canadian. We can no more afford to lose our Hargreaves’ and DeGuzman’s. We must do more to provide alternative, domestic avenues through our clubs at home in Canada. We must be patient with our youth and never pressure for 0-0 draws in the face of superior opposition but encourage them with creative liberties.

While this is an admirable goal, we have to start accepting these cases as a fact of life. Some kids are going to play for other countries and other kids are going to move to Canada and pull on the red and white for us. This isn't to say we should be happy about it, but more to accept it rather than sacrifice infrastructure and the program to cap everyone we can.

quote:Originally posted by Toronto MB

Most importantly, and this is where we come in, we must continue to grow the culture of Canadian football. We have grown by leaps and bounds as supporters of our domestic clubs and national team. We must continue this exponential growth with unwavering persistence in the face of bad results, always supporting the positive football we know may one day lead us past a trivial first-round appearance at a World Cup final.

And I think this is the fundamental difference between your thinking and mine. I will never consider a first round appearance at the World Cup "trivial". Full stop.

All in all though, a good post.

[Sébastien]

I do not think that a first round performance, and very potentially, exit at the World Cup, would be negative for Canada. It would create a lot of exposure and although yes, we would absolutely not be in the same league as Italy, Spain, Holland, etc., we would actually be on the same comparitive level, which is World Cup participation.

That being said, I do think that there needs to be a HUGE focus to be put into the grassroots level of soccer, mainly in coaching. More practices for the youngsters, more training for the coaches with an emphasis on ball control and transitionnal attack, instead of simply having what we too often see at youth levels, which is kicking it to the corner, have someone get to it, cross it to the front and hopefully get something on it.

Honestly, I think that simply putting A LOT more emphasis on ball control right from the beggining would make a huge difference as far as futur development goes. And with saying that, I would absolutely love to see Futsall (sp?) being included in the younger one's Phys. Ed. department instead of actual soccer.

[Sam]

For me Canada making the World Cup would be the greatest moment in my life as a football fan. Nothing my club could do would ever trump Canada making the world cup. When we got there if we played poorly sure there would be some "Canada sucks" people, but I really don't care about them. I'd like us to do well, but I don't think you can trivialize who big it would be to make a World Cup regardless of our performance if we get there.

[Guest Ed]

TorontoMB, no disrespect but T&T had the soft route into the WC in 2006 and were the darlings of the tournament early on. I could see us taking that role easily with technical stars such as JDG and Atiba. I mean you have to admit we are at least as good as T&T. Making the World Cup would have been huge with little downside.

And, as mentioned, the money for qualifying would fund a lot of CSA activity.

[Eric]

Here is a coach with balls but no team!!

http://members.pikmail.com/home.php?feature=28&aid=309427&gid=14

[Avram Grant]

I believe that if Canada could qualify for the World Cup it would be a similar (maybe not quite but close) experience to what happened in Australia - ie. 10,000 people in downtown Sydney watching the games on a big screen, thousands of Socceroos in Europe at the matches.

Despite prevailing opinion, a lot of Canadians really are patriotic, and a lot of that patriotism is based on being insecure about our place in the world. Everyone here knows what a big deal the World Cup is, and soccer in general has never enjoyed the level of exposure it does now in this country.

I think a lot of people who don't know the first thing about soccer would throw on a red shirt and scream at the TV because it would be Canada competing at something that the whole world is watching. Qualification would be huge.

That said, I definitely agree with your other points about what needs to change, especially our continued responsibility to grow Canadian soccer culture.