Can Hart Solve the JET LAG Issue???

[Canada1]

Every 4 years the same problems rear there ugly head. New inexperienced management trying to go further than the previous management but not seeming to address the previous problems. Jet Lag from our European based players seem to affect Canada's team performance every qualification time.

This in my opinion is the toughest issue for Hart to solve. As most of our top players play for European Clubs while the majority of Cuba, Honduras and Panama players play in the Western Hemisphere.

Player performance is hugely affected as the long gruelling travel takes it's toll on the players body as can been seen by the recent results from Spain (World Cup Champions) and Serbia when playing in Costa Rica and Honduras this week.

In your opinion, Can Hart solve the JET LAG issue in order to give Canada a chance of reaching the Hex.

What suggestions do you have?????

[Free kick]

This is why its important to have a core group of domestic based (Playing professionally in North America)that you can count on. Assuming the star players will always go to Europe, then they would become the icing on the cake for the team. Going to Europe should be for the really talented ones who have outgrown their stay. if you are really talented then you can make an impact even if you are Jet lagged.

More importantly, Having a team of player who started their careers in canada makes it easier for coaches to assess their talents and capabilities. And how they can fit in the puzzle. Argentina, Brazil and Holland (to name few) have all foreign based player but they were developed at home so they are known to the coaches and selectors. Or they are stars in the game which makes their inclusion a no brainer since there is tons on info on them.

Flying 20 players back from europe who all come from different leagues and differnt levels of play makes it very difficult to build a team and select the right players to match your playing philosphy.. And, you have a whole team affected by jet lag.

[Canada1]

This is why its important to have a core group of domestic based (Playing professionally in North America)that you can count on. Assuming the star players will always go to Europe, then they would become the icing on the cake for the team. Going to Europe should be for the really talented ones who have outgrown their stay. if you are really talented then you can make an impact even if you are Jet lagged.

More importantly, Having a team of player who started their careers in canada makes it easier for coaches to assess their talents and capabilities. And how they can fit in the puzzle. Argentina, Brazil and Holland (to name few) have all foreign based player but they were developed at home so they are known to the coaches and selectors. Or they are stars in the game which makes their inclusion a no brainer since there is tons on info on them.

Flying 20 players back from europe who all come from different leagues and differnt levels of play makes it very difficult to build a team and select the right players to match your playing philosphy.. And, you have a whole team affected by jet lag.

The CSA should experiment with an idea like this with the teams that Canada just played. I bet you the results would be very similar.

[Lord Bob]

The only way to "solve" jet lag is to either reduce the distance traveled or increase the time before the game. I don't think it would be wise for Hart to stop calling up the European-based players, therefore the only possible solution is longer training camps before each match, which is completely out of Hart's hands.

[Guest Brethers]

I would say call them a day or two earlier to the camp than normal and allow them to adjust more

[ThiKu]

^this. not much Hart can do...

But yes, a domestic roster is great to as much extent as possible but those won't always be the most talented. IE, would you like a MF/attack excludes Simpson, Jackson, and Ricketts?

[gator]

Here's a domestic roster just quickly thought up and minus a keeper, don't know who I may have left out but it's a start:

-------------------------------------------------GERBA

-------------------------------------------------STINSON

DERO-------------------------------------------------------------------JOHNSON

--------------------------------------------JDG---------------DUNFIELD

MORGAN-----------------------------JAKOVIC------------------NANA-----HAINAULT

[Lord Bob]

FW: Tubby

AMC: De Rosario

LW: Teibert

RW: Johnson

DCM: Stinson

LB: Jazic

CB: Jakovic, Hamilton

RB: Hainault

GK: Sutton

Bench: Monsalve, Attakora, Morgan, Henry, Davies, Saiko, Porter

That's the best I can do and I wouldn't run that out against serious opposition if I could help it.

[gator]

FW: Tubby

AMC: De Rosario

LW: Teibert

RW: Johnson

DCM: Stinson

LB: Jazic

CB: Jakovic, Hamilton

RB: Hainault

GK: Sutton

Bench: Monsalve, Attakora, Morgan, Henry, Davies, Saiko, Porter

That's the best I can do and I wouldn't run that out against serious opposition if I could help it.

No Dunfield or DeGuzman? Bernier will perhaps be in the North American based mix as well!

[Keano]

Yeah. Longer camps is a much better idea than sad, partially NASL starting XIs.

[Canada1]

With the Montreal Impact joining TFC and the Caps in the MLS next season, this can only give more Canadian players the opportunity to play in North America which might encourage some European based players to return thus helping the possiblity of a domestic based team for Canada.

[Lord Bob]

Dunfield could go in for Davies but I decided we were well-up for ball-holders. De Guzman is done.

[El Hombre]

Every 4 years the same problems rear there ugly head. New inexperienced management trying to go further than the previous management but not seeming to address the previous problems. Jet Lag from our European based players seem to affect Canada's team performance every qualification time.

I don't think it's fair to say that new management isn't addressing the previous problems. From what I understand, the CSA is now flying the players first class. I think that's one step in the right direction which I don't remember from previous years. Step #2 is having a camp of significant length, which is what is being planned for May. Over the past couple qualifying cycles, qualifying began in August which didn't allow us to have these types of camps, but the fact that the CSA is taking advantage of this schedule is a good sign as well.

[Grizzly]

Are the players really that jet lagged by the time of the games? We have had little camps before the games and I think even the latest arrivals are in camp by Tuesday before the games on Friday. Plus travelling to North America from Europe is relatively mild in regards to jet lag, it is like staying up later. It is the other direction where the time change/jet lag is tougher. I would think the European players are mostly suffering from jet lag when they return to their clubs and have to get used to going to bed and waking up earlier. In regards to the North American based players those on Vancouver or other western teams have a 2 or 3 hour adjustment in the harder direction before games which can be as tough as the 5 or 6 hour adjustment in the easy direction that the European players have. There is a reason employee shift changes cycle towards later not earlier because it is much easier for the body to get used to staying up later than going to bed and waking up earlier.

I don't think the results really show that we are suffering from jet lag. We were better in the 2nd game this time but in the last pairing we played well in the first game and were terrible in the 2nd.

[jonovision]

FW: Tubby

AMC: De Rosario

LW: Teibert

RW: Johnson

DCM: Stinson

LB: Jazic

CB: Jakovic, Hamilton

RB: Hainault

GK: Sutton

That's the best I can do and I wouldn't run that out against serious opposition if I could help it.

To be honest, I'd kind of like to see us play with eleven guys on the pitch.

[superbrad]

Pretty timely article about this issue by Gerry Dobson. I gotta say - Simpson is a trooper. Also interesting results in Central America. We HAVE to win our home games....

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/sports/article/168941--canadian-players-make-great-sacrifices

There were three international results that caught my attention recently, and they all got lost in the shuffle for several reasons.

There were plenty of World Cup qualifying matches on the recently concluded international double date, including Canada's games against St. Kitts and Nevis. There were also the playoff series to determine the final spots for Euro 2012.

Included in all the friendlies that took place around the globe were three matches in North and Central America that I took note of where European clubs formed the opposition.

Serbia played twice and lost both, 2-0 to Mexico on Saturday and 2-0 to Honduras two days later. Then on Tuesday, World Cup champions Spain needed two goals in the last 10 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw at Costa Rica.

Not exactly brilliant performances by the visitors. Admittedly, Serbia is in disarray these days having missed out on Euro 2012 but they are the 23rd ranked country in the world. As for Spain, conditions were brutal in Costa Rica and the pitch was water logged. And they were just friendlies.

But it still illustrates the difficulty for any team to go into North and Central America and get a result. You know where I'm going with this, since Canada is facing trips to Panama, Honduras and Cuba (geographically in the Caribbean) in the third round of World Cup qualifying next year.

Conditions will be hot, humid and hostile. We all know this. But sometimes I think we're in danger of failing to fully appreciate what Canadian players go through to play for their country.

The travel is a nightmare. My broadcast partner Craig Forrest tells me about the time he had to hook up with the national team for a World Cup qualifier in El Salvador. He and the others who were based in England flew from London to Toronto. Then Toronto to Los Angeles. Los Angeles to Houston. Houston to Belize. Finally Belize to San Salvador. Played the game, and then followed the same itinerary back!

Forrest landed in London in the morning only to be told by the West Ham manager he had to play against Aston Villa in a Cup game that evening. They won 3-1. And oh yes, it was Forrest's club debut.

That was more than a dozen years ago and yes things have changed. Back then the Canadian Soccer Association was absolutely strapped for cash and flew players as cheaply as possible.

But consider the plight of current team members Josh Simpson and Mike Klukowski. They play club football in Turkey and were part of Stephen Hart's squad in the recent matches against St. Kitts and Nevis.

Here was their itinerary: Izmir Turkey to Munich; Munich to Charlotte North Carolina; Charlotte to Miami; Miami to St. Kitts. Then St. Kitts to Miami; Miami to Toronto for the match at BMO Field; Toronto to Munich, and then back to Izmir.

To top it off, after a day or two at home, it's back to the club and an away game in the Turkish league. Both Simpson and Klukowski leave young families behind every time they travel.

To be fair the CSA has been in the habit for several years now of flying players overseas in business class, so it eases the pain somewhat. But it can't be easy, both physically and emotionally. And there's never a complaint.

We're all aware on one level of what players go through to play for Canada. But think about it a little more deeply for a moment and maybe you'll appreciate even more the sacrifices our players make when it comes to pulling on the shirt for Canada.

[Sam]

Ridiculous commitment from Mike and Josh - they both deserve an amazing amount of credit for the effort and performances they've put in at the national team level.

[CanadasBest]

The CSA should look at hiring the same sleep specialist that the Canucks have been using for the last few years. It's made a big difference for them on their road trip games.