Sunil on FSC

[CDM76]

Just watched the interview with Sunil Gulati on FCS at the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis.

This guy sounds like a full-blown, hand-picked, BS-shovelling politician.

Is he bright? No doubt. Does he dance around questions like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever? No s*** Sherlock!

Just feels like he's another Sepp Blatter or, even worse, Jack Warner.

Anyone else a bit dissappointed with Sunil as your voice in international soccer?

[m vann]

I saw the interview. The jury is still out on Sunil. He is a little too PC and doesn't want to step on too many toes. But, what comes out of his mouth is not necessarily what he wants to say. This is frustrating. I think he should just let it rip and forget what others are going to say. His mentioned his disappointment of the WC performance but his on screen words gave the impression that is "ho hum". Too many excuses. He should of brought the hammer down and said we were piss poor and underachievement put our National team two steps back instead of one step forward. I think his heart is in the right place but I just wish he would drop all the PC crap.

[oldguyfc]

I know he gets all the blame for the Klinsman debacle; but the truth seems to be that Dan Flynn might be the real villian here. Flynn apparently wanted to also be Klinsman's boss, a situation Klinsman was not ready to accept. He wanted to answer only to Gulati, which when you look at it, it's not really that much of demand. Flynn, evidently, would not back down from his stance on this issue.

[wcharriscpa]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

[bshredder]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

It's crap.. we have a tournament that featuers Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Mexico, & Paraguay and Sunil wants to send a B team and instead have our best players play against Canada, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Panama

The Copa is a tournament to be taken more seriously because it's a better tournament. End of Story. Winning the Gold Cup is pointless. Yeah we may get to go to the Confed Cup if we win but the Copa America has just as good competition as the Confed Cup. And we should be playing in the Copa in 2009too.

[gnatfan]

I thought Mexico said they were going to send their "A" team to the Gold Cup to grab that Confederation's cup entry. I think we should do the same. Playing a tournament in 2009 in the host country against the world's top sides (rather than just from a single confederation) certainly justifies this decision.

And please correct me but I thought the copa tournament is not necessarily one in which all countries send an "A" squad.

I agree with Sunil (I can't believe I just wrote that) I think the priority should be the Gold Cup, then the world youth cup and then Copa (and then of course MLS--are they going on hiatus this summer--half their teams will be in different parts of the hemisphere).

I didn't think he looked too bad in the interview--but he needs a podium or a desk to hide behind. He looked like a little kid on those stools.

[FirstStar]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

It's our confederation championship and it's a berth to the Confed Cup. When 2009 rolls around and we are in the Confed Cup, everyone will be beeming about what excellent preperation it is for the World Cup. Really, there's nothing better out there (CONCACAF Qualifying? whatever. And we've seen how many top sides want to travel to the US for pre-WC matches-- 0). How would winning CA this year help us with WC 2010? We're probably not even going to have the same coach.

I agree that 2009 GC is worthless. In fact, given the injuries we suffered in 2005, it's probably worse than worthless, but that's a different conversation.

[alocksley]

I thought Gulati had a sort of arrogant, know-it-all feel to him. Very disappointed with how he carries himself.

[RSwenson]

And please correct me but I thought the copa tournament is not necessarily one in which all countries send an "A" squad.

That is correct... it has frequently included what one would call "Olympic" teams... I haven't heard of plans of any of the big nations this year yet...

Anyone know whether clubs have to release players for a continental tournament in which you are playing as a guest?

Also, Euro clubs will be pi$$ed if their players are in a tournament in July (since the players will have little rest before the next season - remember, most Prem clubs are well into preseason training in the last week of July)... I can almost guarantee that players from any major clubs in Europe will not be released for two tournaments...

Reluctantly, I think that sending a young and mostly domestic team to CA is the right move (and for the same reason that many South American nations send a young team)... see who can play on a big stage and with pressure and get them experience...

rand

[RSwenson]

I thought Gulati had a sort of arrogant, know-it-all feel to him. Very disappointed with how he carries himself.

He definitely seemed to be testy after the first question (about Klinsman) and it took a while for him to get his "smooth" back on;)...

rand

[MasterShake29]

I thought Mexico said they were going to send their "A" team to the Gold Cup to grab that Confederation's cup entry. I think we should do the same. Playing a tournament in 2009 in the host country against the world's top sides (rather than just from a single confederation) certainly justifies this decision.

And please correct me but I thought the copa tournament is not necessarily one in which all countries send an "A" squad.

You are indeed right on both counts.

[dcsundevil2002]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

I am suprised as well, because the USSF is doing the right thing. Getting our European players in the Gold Cup gives us the best chance to win it and go to the Confederations Cup, which is a great opprotunity to prepare for the 2010 World Cup. It also give our Euro based players time off in July, when they can rest up and be fresh for their European seasons, and be in better positions to avoid fatigue based injuries.

The Copa is a perfect environment to give the new guys a crash course in what an international tournament is all about. The CONMEBOL nations use it as the measuring stick for their younger less experianced players. We should follow suit and give them a good dose of reality.

[TimB4Last]

I know he gets all the blame for the Klinsman debacle; but the truth seems to be that Dan Flynn might be the real villian here. Flynn apparently wanted to also be Klinsman's boss, a situation Klinsman was not ready to accept. He wanted to answer only to Gulati, which when you look at it, it's not really that much of demand. Flynn, evidently, would not back down from his stance on this issue.

Hey, OldGuy, posts like yours, above, make me very curious. Most reports spoke vaguely about 'control issues,' but your 'charge' is rather specific. Care to elaborate? What else can you tell us about the entire Klinsmann 'debacle?' You're among friends here, so spill.

[TimB4Last]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

Any hints about who might be coaching each tournament this summer? What are we guessing now? New coach (CQ?) w/ BB assisting for the GC; then BB bringing his U23/Olympic team to Venezuela for CA? BB for both, with new coach taking over post-CA? BB all this year and JK (or ?) next (2008)?

[Globalusation]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

Good. I was wondering how the European guys would feel about this though. I know they would want their time off but you would think some of them would want to play in Copa America.

[MasterShake29]

Good. I was wondering how the European guys would feel about this though. I know they would want their time off but you would think some of them would want to play in Copa America.

Schedule wise, I think the Gold Cup is better for the Euros. Copa America will run into the Euro pre-season.

[MarioKempes]

I thought Sunil was pretty level-headed and insightful. I think Klinsmann asked for too much, and I'm glad he was denied. I'm sorry it didn't happen, but I think the USSF made the right decision given what he was asking for.

To me, Sunil sounds like any diehard fan here at B.S., and that's the kind of enthusiasm I want from someone running the USSF.

[superdave]

I was most surprised when Gulati said that the Gold Cup would be our priority this summer and it would include our European players, while the Copa America would likely be largely made up of domestics.

Really???

OK.

[TimB4Last]

Really???

OK.

I agree, not a surprise. Nice use of the word 'domestics,' though.

Feel like tackling my coaching questions, from page 1?

However the players are divided up, won't BB have to remain the defacto coach through this summer's competitions?

The main reason to make the GC the #1 priority is the potential payoff for winning it. How can we expect a new coach, arriving in May/June, to get a handle on things in time to make a meaningful, positive contribution?

Do we expect BB to go to CA with the U23/Olympic team?

[Globalusation]

Schedule wise, I think the Gold Cup is better for the Euros. Copa America will run into the Euro pre-season.

No it won't. Copa America is from end of june to July 15th (or around then). The 15th being the final. We'd be out before then anyways.

It wouldn't run into their pre-season and even if it did it would be the very begining and wouldn't be required. A club isn't going to demand their players come to the very begining of pre-season and miss a tournament like Copa America.

I'm hoping some of the European players want to play in Copa America. I can't imagine all of them refusing to play in it.