KP and the Nats

[kravi]

So I was reading my latest email from soccer american, and came accross this:

"Back in March we announced we would have a complete review of all our technical areas," Gulati said. "It's a process that [D.C. United president] Kevin Payne is heading up. We named a technical committee and we'll have subcommittees on the men's and women's side."

The technical committee is comprised of Payne, the men's national team coach (Arena for now), women's national team coach Greg Ryan, former men's national team star Tab Ramos and former women's national team star and current Naval Academy coach Carin Jennings Gabarra.

I hope they aren't stealing him from us :)

But to be honest, I completely agree with their taking KP on this. He's obviously proven that he knows his stuff, and I hope they listen to his feedback. I think he could do a good job of rebuilding Team USA...

--Me

EDIT: BTW, the article also mentioned that US Soccer was considering not playing inthe Copa America any more, because of timing

[Hunter R]

I think pulling out of Sudamerica would be a bad idea. If MLS is going to grow, our teams must have good showings at these events (it also might help to bring in better talent as well).

[Lowecifer]

Dude, it's just a committee, not a career change. Though I have to say that some committees I've served on have been damn near full-time positions.

[Atouk]

EDIT: BTW, the article also mentioned that US Soccer was considering not playing inthe Copa America any more, because of timingThe reverse is true. They're reconsidering whether the US should participate in Copa America, something we haven't done since 1995. However, Gulati indicated that the difficulty in participating in Copa America next year would be that it would start three days after the Gold Cup ends.

[garbaggio]

I thought this was going to be some bad news about Kevin Payne allowing the Washington Nationals more control over RFK or something.

Payne on a technical committee to evaluate the USMNT only means he's well regarded. He's not going to be the new coach and the USSF already has a president.

[albionroad]

I think pulling out of Sudamerica would be a bad idea. If MLS is going to grow, our teams must have good showings at these events (it also might help to bring in better talent as well).Copa America = tournament for national teams. Copa Sudamericana = tournament for club teams.

[beltwayrob]

Wise move by USSF to bring in KP for some advice, he hasn't made DCU one of the most successful teams in North American history by luck!

[kravi]

To be honest, I think we should screw the gold cup and all participate in the Copa America instead. Better for everyone.

--Me

[onefineesq]

I think pulling out of Sudamerica would be a bad idea. If MLS is going to grow, our teams must have good showings at these events (it also might help to bring in better talent as well). I mentioned this in another thread, but if the Concacaf Champions League is really going to be put into place next year, from July-November, there isn't much of a choice but to pull out of participation in Sudamericana. There is no way that an MLS team can be playing league games, US Open Cup games, Champions League games AND Sudamericana games at the same time. The only true alternative would be to choose an MLS NOT in the Champions League to play in Sudamericana, but it would seem unlikely that Conmebol would want to settle for an MLS team that wasn't one of the top teams to begin with.

[onefineesq]

To be honest, I think we should screw the gold cup and all participate in the Copa America instead. Better for everyone.

--Me It's only better for us. It is worse for everyone else in Concacaf.

[John L]

I mentioned this in another thread, but if the Concacaf Champions League is really going to be put into place next year, from July-November, there isn't much of a choice but to pull out of participation in Sudamericana. There is no way that an MLS team can be playing league games, US Open Cup games, Champions League games AND Sudamericana games at the same time. The only true alternative would be to choose an MLS NOT in the Champions League to play in Sudamericana, but it would seem unlikely that Conmebol would want to settle for an MLS team that wasn't one of the top teams to begin with.

Copa Sudamericana is, and the CONCACAF Champions League will be, powered by TV money - CS can survive in South America without MLS participation - The CONCACAF can't in the North American markets without MLS teams - Offering up to 4 slots for MLS teams would ensure cooperation and participation - I know that going up against the better competition might seem better, but going into the CONCACAF Champ League is the better course for now - First the CONCACAF and then onto CONMEBOL

I see another loser in this congestion - The US Open Cup - Unless MLS teams can dictate the dates for the later rounds, the better teams won't want to be in it as well as the CONCACAF

[Benedict XVI]

We should send our U-23 team to the Gold Cup and our full senior team to the Copa America.