Hex expansion?

[pura_vida362]

Should qualifying for the 2010 be expanded. Should the hexagonal go from 6 teams to mabye 8 or 10? mabye even more? Start posting your views.

[Davids26]

No. You'd probably have to start the hex in the middle of 2008 rather than at the beginning of 2009, and move all qualifying up a bit. On top of that, I don't really think more than 6 teams deserve to be in the final round in our region. Maybe as the region improves considerations for expanding would be more reasonable, but I think we need to focus more on how the hell T&T has gotten an easy pass to the hex the past two cycles when teams like Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada get stuck in much tougher groups...

[IASocFan]

10 is definitely too many. That's eighteen games - and how many games are required to get from 35 teams to 10? South America took over 2 years to play an 18 game qualifying round!

An 8 team final round would require 14 games after the preliminary rounds. Only South America requires 14 games more games, and they don't have preliminary rounds.

With an expanded final round, there is also the problem of having games meaningful to both sides at the end - teams have already qualified or have been eliminated.

Groups of 4 or 6 are best for both having meaningful games and schedule congestion!

[tomwilhelm]

Unless we want our qualifying to continue to look like a joke, 3.5 spots requires more than 6 teams. We've gone over this in a couple of other threads, but here's my newest proposal:

Pot A: US, Mexico, Costa Rica, T&T
Pot B: Guatamala, Panama, Honduras, Jamaica
Pot C: Canada, El Salvador, St VG, St KN, Cuba, Haiti, Barbados, Bermuda
Pot D: St. Lucia, Bahamas, Grenada, Nicaragua, Surinam, Belize, Antigua, Dom Rep
Pot E: BVI, Caymans, Dominica, Neth. Ant., Guyana,
Pot F: Anguilla, USVI, Turks, Montserrat, PR, Aruba

Round 1:
F v F (winners to Pot E)
3 losers remain in Pot F

Round 2:
E v D (winners to Pot W)
8 losers to Pot E and F

Round 3:
C v W (winners to semis)
8 losers to Pot D

Semis:
4 groups of 4 (1A, 1B, 2 R2 winners)
8 3rd/4th placed teams to Pot C

Finals:
8 Teams, top 2 from each semis group
Top 4: Pot A, Bottom 4: Pot B

[changoguapo]

No. You'd probably have to start the hex in the middle of 2008 rather than at the beginning of 2009, and move all qualifying up a bit. On top of that, I don't really think more than 6 teams deserve to be in the final round in our region. Maybe as the region improves considerations for expanding would be more reasonable, but I think we need to focus more on how the hell T&T has gotten an easy pass to the hex the past two cycles when teams like Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada get stuck in much tougher groups...

Oh, i know! iknow! iknow! Who is Jack Warner? did i win?

[tomwilhelm]

Oh, i know! iknow! iknow! Who is Jack Warner? did i win?
*golf clap*

[changoguapo]

*golf clap*

YAY!!! I want to thank Jack Warner for being corrupt and Sepp Blatter for allowing him to be part of his inner-circle of cronies, and Chuck Blazer for not having a pair to argue his point and.......

[yankiboy]

Should qualifying for the 2010 be expanded. Should the hexagonal go from 6 teams to mabye 8 or 10? mabye even more? Start posting your views.

Absolutely not. Especially if CONCACAF loses the 1/2 berth like a lot of us are anticipating.

6 is great. More than 6 is too many. If you didn't make it to the final 6 then better luck next time. I personally think that it would be too much.

[narduch]

I would like to see the hex increased to 8 teams. I think Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba and maybe Haiti would do alright in an increased final. CONCACAF is not that devoid of good teams. Plus with 8 teams, the fourth place finisher might actually have a winning record. The big problem with this is match congestion.

The other solution is to have two final groups of 6 (or 4). If the CONCACAF teams do well in the World Cup and the Asian teams do poorly (which I'm predicting will happen), it may be possible that we will get 4 full spots.

As it stands now, too many of CONCACAF's decent teams are being eliminated too early in the competition.

[Trin]

No. You'd probably have to start the hex in the middle of 2008 rather than at the beginning of 2009, and move all qualifying up a bit. On top of that, I don't really think more than 6 teams deserve to be in the final round in our region. Maybe as the region improves considerations for expanding would be more reasonable, but I think we need to focus more on how the hell T&T has gotten an easy pass to the hex the past two cycles when teams like Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada get stuck in much tougher groups...

Maybe you should do some research before spouting crap.... Ill save you some time. Trinidad and Tobago was grouped with Mexico Panama and your precious Canada in the group stage of qualifying for WC 2002.
Oh and by the way we won the group as well :eek:

[midknight]

No. You'd probably have to start the hex in the middle of 2008 rather than at the beginning of 2009, and move all qualifying up a bit. On top of that, I don't really think more than 6 teams deserve to be in the final round in our region. Maybe as the region improves considerations for expanding would be more reasonable, but I think we need to focus more on how the hell T&T has gotten an easy pass to the hex the past two cycles when teams like Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada get stuck in much tougher groups...

everyone agrees that 2006 had unbalanced groups, but past 2 cycles? come on man. You're not being objective here. In 2002, Trinidad and Canada were in the same group...with Mexico and Panama. Jamaica and Honduras were in the same group with El Salvador and St.Vincent....

Tell me something. How could Tand T have got an easy pass in 2002 and Canada get stuck in a harder group if they were in the same group.:rolleyes: I don't need to remind you of the two teams differing records that year.

BTW, If you think Jamaica, Honduras, El Sal and St. vincent is a tough group for the top two, check out the final table...

In 1998, why weren't you complaining about Canada's semifinal round. El Salvador, Panama, Cuba. Oh wait...thats Why...

[jpg75]

8 teams in the final round is necessary, there are too many improving teams in this region that get knocked out too early in the qualification process

[Gordon]

Maybe you should do some research before spouting crap.... Ill save you some time. Trinidad and Tobago was grouped with Mexico Panama and your precious Canada in the group stage of qualifying for WC 2002.
Oh and by the way we won the group as well :eek:

You might want to have a second look at Davids26's personal information.

[Davids26]

everyone agrees that 2006 had unbalanced groups, but past 2 cycles? come on man. You're not being objective here. In 2002, Trinidad and Canada were in the same group...with Mexico and Panama. Jamaica and Honduras were in the same group with El Salvador and St.Vincent....

Tell me something. How could Tand T have got an easy pass in 2002 and Canada get stuck in a harder group if they were in the same group.:rolleyes: I don't need to remind you of the two teams differing records that year.

BTW, If you think Jamaica, Honduras, El Sal and St. vincent is a tough group for the top two, check out the final table...

In 1998, why weren't you complaining about Canada's semifinal round. El Salvador, Panama, Cuba. Oh wait...thats Why...

Maybe for '02 T&T had just as tough a road as anyone else, however I don't think they would have made the Hex if they'd been placed in either of the other groups this time around.

And I'm not Canadian. Furthermore, with the amount of corruption that exists around your countryman Jack Warner, and the advantage that you gained in this past cycle, complaints like this are quite warranted... I'm glad to see you guys representing CONCACAF and no doubt the team changed when Beenhakker took over, but I highly doubt they'd have gotten to this point without Jackass Warner nudging them along...

Hope you guys do well in the WC, I'll be cheering for you.

[ZeekLTK]

No. You'd probably have to start the hex in the middle of 2008 rather than at the beginning of 2009, and move all qualifying up a bit. On top of that, I don't really think more than 6 teams deserve to be in the final round in our region. Maybe as the region improves considerations for expanding would be more reasonable, but I think we need to focus more on how the hell T&T has gotten an easy pass to the hex the past two cycles when teams like Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada get stuck in much tougher groups...

Yeah because their 2002 semifinal group (that they won) of Mexico, Canada, and Panama was a walk in the park...


Maybe for '02 T&T had just as tough a road as anyone else, however I don't think they would have made the Hex if they'd been placed in either of the other groups this time around.

And I'm not Canadian. Furthermore, with the amount of corruption that exists around your countryman Jack Warner, and the advantage that you gained in this past cycle, complaints like this are quite warranted... I'm glad to see you guys representing CONCACAF and no doubt the team changed when Beenhakker took over, but I highly doubt they'd have gotten to this point without Jackass Warner nudging them along...

Hope you guys do well in the WC, I'll be cheering for you.

In 1989 T&T were one game away from qualifying for the World Cup. I'm pretty sure Jack Warner wasn't nudging them along back then...

Also why wouldn't they have qualified from one of these groups?

Group A
United States
Trinidad & Tobago
El Salvador
Panama

Group B
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
Guatemala
Canada

T&T finished higher than both Panama and Guatemala in the hex, why not the semifinals?

[X-Caper]

I don't know, I kinda like the hex the way it is. The reality of it is that Mexico and US will always be there, sparing some major event. I would only want the best teams playing agianst them, (being the next best 4, in theory) thereby helping all teams in the hex getting better and more prepared for the WC. I have to admit, that this time around it didn't look like some teams should to be in the hex, but they won their way their and deserve their chance.

Compare the CONCACAF to other formats, Asia, seems a little ridiculous, Africa is worse, the marathon in SA, and Europe seems to get the short end of the stick time and time again (some group 2nd placing teams get the boot, with no playoff) and I find myself seeing that CONCACAF is actually Ok with what they have.

As for the teams there, I found myself cheering for Costa Rica in 2002, and will be cheering for T&T and Costa Rica this time around. If they do well, then CONCACAF will be better respected. Oh, and US and Mexico, I'll be hoping you do well as well, especially US (Landon Donovan's fatherr being cdn and all), cause some are screaming mad about your top ranking, go out there and prove people wrong!

[Davids26]

Yeah because their 2002 semifinal group (that they won) of Mexico, Canada, and Panama was a walk in the park...




In 1989 T&T were one game away from qualifying for the World Cup. I'm pretty sure Jack Warner wasn't nudging them along back then...

Also why wouldn't they have qualified from one of these groups?

Group A
United States
Trinidad & Tobago
El Salvador
Panama

Group B
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago
Guatemala
Canada

T&T finished higher than both Panama and Guatemala in the hex, why not the semifinals?

Because imo, T&T wasn't the same team in the semi-final round that they were in the hex... Furthermore, it really does depend on what team you replace them with in either of those groups, but I could see them struggling in either one of those groups. Panama was playing quite well back then (asside from the 6-0 drubbing they received against the US) and I really doubt they'd have gotten out of the Group B you posted, nevermind if Canada were to be replaced by Honduras...

It doesn't matter much now, I'm just hopeful that in the future T&T doesn't get a free pass to the hex like they did this cycle. That's all.

[narduch]

This is what I would like to see:

The seeding could look like this:

Pot A: "The World Cup Qualifyer Pot"
Mexico
United States
Costa Rica
Trinidad & Tobago

Pot B "The Semi-finalist Pot"
Guatemala
Panama
Jamaica
El Salvador
Honduras
Canada
St. Vincent/Grenadines
St. Kitts & Nevis

Pot C "The everyone else pot."
Grenada
Bermuda
Haiti
St. Lucia
Cuba
Surinam
Netherland Antillies
Dominica
Barbados
Dominican Republic
Guyana
Montserrat
Turks & Caicos Islands
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Aruba
Antigua & Barbuda
Bahamas
US Virgin Islands
Anguilla
Puerto Rico

Round 1:
The teams in Pot C fight for 4 spots into the semi-final round. This can be completed with a knock-out competition using FIFA rankings for seedings.

Round 2: The semi-final round

4 groups of 4 - Each group will have one team from Pot A, two teams from Pot B and 1 team from the Pot C winners.

Round 3: The final round (the oct?)

An 8-team group with the first and second place teams from the 4 semi-final groups.

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The main problem is that teams will need 20 games to qualify (Pot C teams will need even more)

[Gary V]

And I'm not Canadian.Pretty close - just go south across the border.

[yankiboy]

Pretty close - just go south across the border.

Ya meant North, right? :)

Just goofin. I'm not the geography police. I'm sure that everyone gets your point...