Bring back the Nike U.S. Cup!

[Georgia Empire]

What happened to this cup? Why don't we have it anymore? hell, it might not be Copa America, but it'd be a good way to hopefully get some competitive matches.

Hopefully, the new coach and USSF will understand the importance of getting competitive matches and will try to bring back an annual Nike US cup. I think a good time for it would be sometime after the MLS season. Also, i'd try to limit the CONCACAF teams.

If it were the US coach, I'd dedicate each year to getting my team ready not only for the qualifiers but for the US cup also. Try to hype the hell out of the tournament so countries will want to enter and clubs would be willing to release their players for a couple of weeks. Getting a team together every year would help our chances in the World Cup.

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the way i'd structure it would be a 2 group tournament with a knockout round: *a)teams i'd try to get first, b) teams to take if one of the original can't make it c) filler teams*

GROUP A:
1) HOME NATION: USA (automatic)
2) CONMEMBOL: a) Brazil, Argentina b) Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador c) Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia
3) AFRICA: a)Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia b) Morocco, Angola, Togo, Egypt, c) Zimbabwe, South Africa, Guinea, Zambia
4) EURO-a) England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Holland, Portugal, Czech Republic b) Switzerland, Poland, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Denmark, Turkey, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, c) Norway, Bulgaria, Isralel, Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary

GROUP B:
1) USA' CONCACAF RIVAL: a) Mexico, b) Canada, Costa Rica, c)Honduras, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Panama
2) CONMEBOL: (selection same as above)
3) ASIA/OFC: a) Japan, South Korea, Australia b) China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, c) Bahrain, New Zealand, Uzbekistan, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar
4) EURO: (selection same as above)

*So the ideal tournament would be something like:
Group A: USA, Brazil, Nigeria, and England
Group B: Mexico, Argentina, South Korea, and Germany

[El Chuma]

Looks good to me...

[EL MONO MARIO]

I prefer US playing in copa AMerica a cup that MEANS something rather than a friendly cup.

[Roehl Sybing]

I prefer US playing in copa AMerica a cup that MEANS something rather than a friendly cup.
It's a step up because it simulates a tournament format, otherwise the US plays once a month and aren't pressured on endurance. And the US makes money off of it.

[Metrofan_1996]

Georgia Empire -

You took the words (and the posting) right out of my mouth (and keyboard too!) -

I strongly believe that the our National Team need more practice and competition vs. other National Teams from the best around the world.

What did happen to the US CUP? It is an excellent question and it was a very good tournament for our guys to prepare vs. the worlds best come World Cup time in the past. I think the last one was in 1997? not sure.

But, unlike Copa America - which I highly disagree with, the US Cup would be a much better Tourney and Prep Course for our guys, here is why -

The United States has had trouble defeating the Europeans in general, but especially the Eastern Part of Europe, hands down.
It again showed in this WC, where we got our butts kicked vs. CZE and even though they tied Italy, they still did not play well in that game either.

They need to schedule and play more games vs. Europe, more than any other squad. They need to especially play the Czech Republic's, Poland's, Ukraine's,
Romania's, Slovenia's and such. True they still should also schedule matches vs the Italy's, Germany's, England's and France's as well.

We have proven that we can beat Central America and South America.
We have beaten Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and even mighty Brazil.

USSF & Nike (or other Sponsors) need to look at this event and issue again; for I believe if you had this Tournament organized yearly or even every 2 or 4 years(Year before the World Cup- 2009,2013, etc.) I think it would make for excellent preparation and a positive impact for our National Team.

[Zathras]

We last played the US cup in 2000.

After that, the Gold Cup came around more often and with MLS and Olympic qualifying, our team's schedule was becoming a little crowded (allegedly.)

The problem was that if you have it in the summer, you can get some lower European teams (maybe) but it's during MLS. If you do it in the early part of the year, you have more trouble getting European teams. It's a scheduling nightmare to get teams to take that sort of competition seriously. I think it's a good forum for trying out some new players, which is what Arena did with it in 1999 and 2000, and what Sampson did in 1997. It's just not very good for much beyond that.

[Roehl Sybing]

The problem was that if you have it in the summer, you can get some lower European teams (maybe) but it's during MLS. If you do it in the early part of the year, you have more trouble getting European teams. It's a scheduling nightmare to get teams to take that sort of competition seriously.
Our supposedly full-strength team isn't playing during the summer, and whatever challenges they obviously didn't face up to in Europe in order to ostensibly make them better players, they can get playing friendlies in the off-season.

Otherwise, MLS has been largely cooperative with international call-ups - whatever's said in the press, they know their success is tied to the success of the NT - so it can't hurt to take more advantage of it.

[Eleven Bravo]

since, the US is so busy during the summer why don't we try to have it in the winter? the MLS players have about a good 5 months that they are doing absolutely nothing. i'd think bringing back the U.S. Cup wouold be great for the US. it would give the sport more exposure and give some players more competitive matches.

But what countries would the US be able to get during the winter?

[flyerhawk]

since, the US is so busy during the summer why don't we try to have it in the winter? the MLS players have about a good 5 months that they are doing absolutely nothing. i'd think bringing back the U.S. Cup wouold be great for the US. it would give the sport more exposure and give some players more competitive matches.

But what countries would the US be able to get during the winter?

Quite a few as long as we don't want any established players in the tournament.

[dcsundevil2002]

Quite a few as long as we don't want any established players in the tournament.

If we were to use the Nike US Cup as a grinder for an all MLS squad, we really wouldn't need established stars over here for it. Her is an idea for the tournament -

Group A
1. USA (all MLS squad)
2. Norway (league is on MLS style schedule)
3. Germany U23 (on winter break, would still be a good test)
4. Finland (league is on MLS style Schedule

Group B
1. Canada (using players from MLS and USL)
2. Sweden (league is on MLS style schedule)
3. Russia (league is on MLS style schedule)
4. Iceland (league is on MLS style schedule)

Schedule the tournament to run from January 24th, 2007 to February 11th, 2007. That is just over two weeks. Play round robin, then top teams play the second place in the other group, then a final, maybe a 3rd place match.

Have Phoenix and LA host the matches, as both cities have good weather at this time. One group in Phoenix, the other in LA. Then have the knock out matches in LA and the final in LA. HDC can host the finals.

It would be another good way to get soccer to a part of the country that MLS hasn't hit yet (Phoenix).

[bshredder]

If we were to use the Nike US Cup as a grinder for an all MLS squad, we really wouldn't need established stars over here for it. Her is an idea for the tournament -

Group A
1. USA (all MLS squad)
2. Norway (league is on MLS style schedule)
3. Germany U23 (on winter break, would still be a good test)
4. Finland (league is on MLS style Schedule

Group B
1. Canada (using players from MLS and USL)
2. Sweden (league is on MLS style schedule)
3. Russia (league is on MLS style schedule)
4. Iceland (league is on MLS style schedule)



The advantage of the US Cup is that it's an opportunity for USSF to make some serious $$$.. They will need to make this money if they want to shell out the money for a coach. How much of a crowd do you think will turn out for a Russia Iceland match?

If this tournament is to be worthwhile for US Soccer, you need a Mexico or a Colombia (or both) to bring in the crowds. It would also be cool to lure in one or two poplular Euro teams even if they don't send a full strength squad (Italy, England, Holland, Spain, Germany, etc).

[dcsundevil2002]

The advantage of the US Cup is that it's an opportunity for USSF to make some serious $$$.. They will need to make this money if they want to shell out the money for a coach. How much of a crowd do you think will turn out for a Russia Iceland match?

If this tournament is to be worthwhile for US Soccer, you need a Mexico or a Colombia (or both) to bring in the crowds. It would also be cool to lure in one or two poplular Euro teams even if they don't send a full strength squad (Italy, England, Holland, Spain, Germany, etc).

Thats a good point. I was just thinking of countries that have leagues off during the time frame. Having Mexico or Columbia, or a Brasil U23 team would be good.

[ussoccerFan12358]

No U23 teams. If USSF is inviting an Olympic team to play our MLS squad and actually calling it a competition, than that's just saying we suck, and we want someone to play us which is not the case.

[dcsundevil2002]

No U23 teams. If USSF is inviting an Olympic team to play our MLS squad and actually calling it a competition, than that's just saying we suck, and we want someone to play us which is not the case.

Our First team lost to the Brasil U23 team in the 2003 Gold Cup. I would wager money that a U23 Germany team beats our MLS US players as well. Just because they are U23, don't mean they suck.

[Galaxian]

I would love to the US Cup come back , but it cant be us sending a half a**ed team and the other teams involved doing the same thing .

If we are going to make money ( USSF ) then we need some popular teams that are going to get big crowds . If we happen to beat these big teams also , it looks a lot better for us .

[dcsundevil2002]

I would love to the US Cup come back , but it cant be us sending a half a**ed team and the other teams involved doing the same thing .

If we are going to make money ( USSF ) then we need some popular teams that are going to get big crowds . If we happen to beat these big teams also , it looks a lot better for us .

I agree with you here, I was thinking it be revived as a way to bridge MLS with the USSF, using only MLS players, in the off-season to get guys playing time when they are on vacation. It would also serve to see which MLS guys want to be in the US camp.

From a money standpoint, I can see how this would be a less impressive event. I still think that if my idea was implimented, it would generate interest in Phoenix.

[dfb547490]

The problem with Scandinavian teams is that although they run on the same schedule as MLS, most of their top players play in England and Germany.

The Bundesliga takes a month-long winter break, so you might be able to get some semblance of a full German side. USA/Germany/Mexico/Russia would be a pretty solid lineup.

[dcsundevil2002]

The problem with Scandinavian teams is that although they run on the same schedule as MLS, most of their top players play in England and Germany.

The Bundesliga takes a month-long winter break, so you might be able to get some semblance of a full German side. USA/Germany/Mexico/Russia would be a pretty solid lineup.

Yeah, I figured we would still be without the Scandanavian stars, but it would still be a good chance for them to get players some match time.

A USA/Mexico/Germany/Russia/Columbia/Nigeria tournament might be a good draw as well.

[Norsk Troll]

The United States has had trouble defeating the Europeans in general, but especially the Eastern Part of Europe, hands down.You forgot Poland!

Since 1990, we have a fairly nice record against them: 4-1-1, with 3 of those wins in Europe. Of course, the only non-friendly (WC 2002) happens to be the only loss as well.

[Soccerprep]

I have mentioned previosly that the US Cup could be scheduled during the MLS offseason. They usually have a camp, and get some games in (this year it was Norway, Japan, Canada, etc). The US Cup should be every year in January, filled with national teams which are on a similiar calender that MLS uses. Several national leagues are off at the same time (Norway, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, Canada etc.). Mexico would probably send a team as well if invited. This tournament would be very helpful for our coach to see several other players, that normally would not be given a chance on official FIFA match days.