2/15/07: Rushed Construction

[BuffloSoldier]

Collinsville, investor plan to hire consultant for advice on stadium--St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/BE70B405452BAF9186257283001200D7?OpenDocument)

On the mend--BigAppleSoccer.com (http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=8673)

Who's in camp--BigAppleSoccer.com (http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=8672)

Ngwenya: Crew will be fine without name talent--Columbus Dispatch (
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/crew/crew.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/15/20070215-C8-01.html)

Robinson lives American dream--South Wales Echo (http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/0200news/tm_headline=robinson-lives-american-dream&method=full&objectid=18625746&siteid=50082-name_page.html)

U.S. Coach Bradley looks at Copa America draw--LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/galaxy/la-spw-soccer15feb15,1,5630685.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer-gal)

FCD's Cooper has U.S. goals--Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/021507dnspofcdallaslede.1301194.html)

Defender Torres a little rusty on first day back--Deseret Morning News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660195666,00.html)

Utah native once again battling to make team--Deseret Morning News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660195662,00.html)

[Matrim55]

From the LA Times article:

He said that chances are the U.S. will field a stronger team in the Gold Cup, when the European players are more likely to be available, but said there could be some players who would take part in both tournaments.

[Revs007]

From the LA Times article: He said that chances are the U.S. will field a stronger team in the Gold Cup, when the European players are more likely to be available, but said there could be some players who would take part in both tournaments.

I don't get it?

We will be fielding a stronger team in a weaker tournament on our home soil rather than a more prestigious tournament with more intense competition? Who the hell is running the show here? For what? The horrible Confed Cup -- a whole lot of good that did Mexico last go around!

Part of me just wishes the Gold Cup died. I hate this tournament. I hate the fact that it’s only held in the US- that no major team takes it seriously- and that we actually place more importance on winning that crap tournament than we do a more prestigious international tournament.

All I can say is. If this is the mentality of Bob Bradley, Fire him now!

[tab5g]

If this is the mentality of Bob Bradley, Fire him now!

it's not only Interim Bob's decision on whom to take to which tournaments. Sunil was the one who accepted the CA invite, so he gets to help "shape" the roster compositions.

if Sunil had his way, i'm sure he'd hire Klinsi or Jose or someone to lead the USMNT in the GC, while Bradley and Nowak took the U23's to CA to get ready for the Olympics.

and i'd be fine with that.

if we don't win the 2007GC, no one is going to be happy, even if we win CA2007.

[Golazo]

I don't get it?

We will be fielding a stronger team in a weaker tournament on our home soil rather than a more prestigious tournament with more intense competition? Who the hell is running the show here? For what? The horrible Confed Cup -- a whole lot of good that did Mexico last go around!

Part of me just wishes the Gold Cup died. I hate this tournament. I hate the fact that it’s only held in the US- that no major team takes it seriously- and that we actually place more importance on winning that crap tournament than we do a more prestigious international tournament.




Gold Cup blows. FWIW, the boys on ESPN Deportes Radio were talking this morning about many rumors of Mexico trying to set something up in 2008 or 09 that would include all of Conmebol and six CONCAF squads. That would be good clean fun.... if it's not all rumors.

[tab5g]

Gold Cup blows. FWIW, the boys on ESPN Deportes Radio were talking this morning about many rumors of Mexico trying to set something up in 2008 or 09 that would include all of Conmebol and six CONCAF squads. That would be good clean fun.... if it's not all rumors.

if Mexico, or anyone would be able to set up and host a Copa de Americas type tournament in 2008 or 2012 (the same size and dates as the EuroChampionships), that would be an event to treat as truly special.

as an invite to the CA, it's nice and all, but as long as the GC remains the Concacaf championship event, it's going to be higher on US Soccer's priority list.

i'd have no problem accepting a joint Copa de Americas (in the summers two year offset from the WC) to replace the mish-mash scheduling of the GC and any future CA that the US might be invited to.

[Clint Eastwood]

Sunil Gulati has said the same thing for quite some time.
They feel it's very important to win our own confederation's title and qualify for the Confederations Cup in 2009. That tournament is in South Africa, so it would give the US a wonderful chance to prepare for the World Cup there a year later.

I think we'd sort of split up the good players.
Why have Beasley and Convey both in the same tournament?
Bring Beasley and an MLS backup (Brad Davis) to the Gold Cup
Bring Convey and an MLS backup (Pat Noonan or whomoever, you get the idea) to the Copa America.

I bet it's gonna work out fine if we split up the squad like that. It'll give a whole lot of players some experience and we'll still have strong teams.

If we avoid injuries that is.

[John_Harkes_6]

IPart of me just wishes the Gold Cup died. I hate this tournament. I hate the fact that it’s only held in the US- that no major team takes it seriously- and that we actually place more importance on winning that crap tournament than we do a more prestigious international tournament.


You mean like the fact that Brazil is taking the Copa so seriously they are possibly sending their U-23 team?

Also, lets just ignore the fact that due to the timing it will be far more difficult to get our European players for the Copa than it will the Gold Cup.

[irishapple21]

as an invite to the CA, it's nice and all, but as long as the GC remains the Concacaf championship event, it's going to be higher on US Soccer's priority list.


Exactly. Because the Gold Cup will win us an invite to the Confederations Cup, we should take it more seriously. If we win GC this year and go on to do well in the Confederations Cup, it could give US Soccer some more respect and legitimacy.

[Revs007]

if Mexico, or anyone would be able to set up and host a Copa de Americas type tournament in 2008 or 2012 (the same size and dates as the EuroChampionships), that would be an event to treat as truly special.


God I hope so.

The only thing Concacaf is good for is the Hexagonal. The GC as it stands now is a waste of time and energy. I take Arsene Wenger's point of view of international competitions when it comes to this crap tournament. Ofcourse the USSF doensn't care because they stage this dumb tournament in the US everytime. They also don't care because they win this stupid tournament 75% of the time - most recently because its held in the US all the time.

There is no wonder why we can't beat third world countries outside of the US. WE NEVER PLAY MEANINGFUL GAMES OUTSIDE OF THE US!

Either way, Is the Gold Cup every 2 years or 4? It seems like they have one every year! I would rather watch the LA Galaxy vs Crew than this goddam wast of time tournament.

Oh' by the way. The Confed Cup is a waste of time also. Besides the host country's trial run for staging the big event, this tournament is perceived as useful as an @hole on ones elbow.

[Revs007]

Exactly. Because the Gold Cup will win us an invite to the Confederations Cup, we should take it more seriously. If we win GC this year and go on to do well in the Confederations Cup, it could give US Soccer some more respect and legitimacy.

I disagree. The Confed Cup is useless. You would garner more respect by winning the Copa America than you would anyother tournament -- even the Confed Cup.

[Revs007]

You mean like the fact that Brazil is taking the Copa so seriously they are possibly sending their U-23 team?

Also, lets just ignore the fact that due to the timing it will be far more difficult to get our European players for the Copa than it will the Gold Cup.


The Copa has its faults, but also has a much bigger upside for our lads. For one, its not in our country. Two, the respect given will be greater if we win that tournament over if we win another stupid GC.

Listen, I hate the GC but understand that it is important to win. However, I'm not at all thrilled at our approach for GC and the Copa. Frankly, why these two tournaments are being staged on the same year baffles me.

There are some serious organization problems with "BOTH" confederations. But in terms of prestige, and overall competition -- the Copa destroys the Gold Cup everytime.

[tab5g]

I disagree. The Confed Cup is useless. You would garner more respect by winning the Copa America than you would anyother tournament -- even the Confed Cup.

it's not about garnering respect.

it is about preparing the USMNT for the next WC.

and the ConfedCup would be a huge help in that cause.

the 2007CA is of some help as well, but the 2009 Confed Cup would likely be more useful (given that it's only one year out from and played in the same venues as the 2010WC).

[dirtskier]

The importance of playing top competition in 2009 >>>> the importance of playing top competition in 2007.

[Matrim55]

The importance of playing top competition in 2009 >>>> the importance of playing top competition in 2007.
It's intuitive, but not exactly factual. Of the four teams at the 2005 Confed Cup that made the biggest splash, only Germany lived up to (actually exceeded, but whatever) expectations at the World Cup.

I'm all for the US playing as many tournament games on foreign soil as possible, as I think most people are. But there's nothing quantifiable that says Confed Cup success, or even participation, is more important than Copa America or even the Gold Cup.

[John_Harkes_6]

The Copa has its faults, but also has a much bigger upside for our lads. For one, its not in our country. Two, the respect given will be greater if we win that tournament over if we win another stupid GC.

I could give two shits less about "respect." I want to win - that means taking chances with younger players and seeing what they can do. If it means getting destroyed in the Copa America and having the rest of the world mock us so we can have a better result in WC '10 - so be it.

I don't know what you think "respect" is going to do for our national team. Do you play better when you are respected? Probably not, many professional coaches (including BA in WC '02) got more out of their team by playing up the underdog/lack of respect angle. And besides, if we can get another team to look past us like Portugal did in '02 - more power to us.

[RogueFC]

Wasn't it Mexico's good showing at the Confed Cup that got them the seeded place in the draw for WC 06? If that's the case, I say F the Copa America.

[Revs007]

I could give two shits less about "respect." I want to win - that means taking chances with younger players and seeing what they can do. If it means getting destroyed in the Copa America and having the rest of the world mock us so we can have a better result in WC '10 - so be it.

I don't know what you think "respect" is going to do for our national team. Do you play better when you are respected? Probably not, many professional coaches (including BA in WC '02) got more out of their team by playing up the underdog/lack of respect angle. And besides, if we can get another team to look past us like Portugal did in '02 - more power to us.

I say "respect" because from a fans point of view, the National team lost a lot of respect last year, especially from us diehard fans. I don't care what other teams think of us, I care what I think of my team. And I can damn tell you that we can win every Gold Cup from here until eternity and that would not matter one iota because it is against inferior teams “AT HOME”.

The Nats will not regain the respect that was lost by focusing their time and resources on weak-ass tournaments "AT HOME" against weak-ass opponents. Say what you will about the Copa, but playing Brazil's "B" team in Venezuela will better prepare us than playing against Panama at Frisco. Why waste this tournament on players that we know will have very little chance on making the squad in 2010. One tournament is more difficult than the other. We choose to send our best players to the weaker tournament. How does that help us?

[RSwenson]

as was mentioned, I am certain that Euro managers will have big problems releasing any players that they are counting on for a tournament in July (when they want the players resting up and healing in preparation for preseason)... also, despite the fact that CA is an "offiical tournament" I do not believe that it is for us (as "guests")... if it is not, then clubs simply don't have to release their players... of course, even if it is, managers can claim the players with losing their starting positions... they are much more likely to play this card for CA, IMO...

Rand

[RSwenson]

I actually think that we will see a fair number of Euro players on the CA roster, just not the "stars"... it may be a great opportunity to play young or lower division YA's... Simek, Whitbread (if he has healed), Feilhaber, etc... basically anyone who won't be busy with the U20s or U23 (Olympic) team

Heck, the Scandinavian players may all be right for this since they have a season that goes later, with a shorter (and different) break than most of the rest of Europe... may be a good time to see how Califf, Pearce, even Davies and some of the rest are coming along... I'm just pretty sure we won't be seeing Deuce, Convey, Boca, or Gooch in CA... maybe Howard for GC and Hahnaman for CA?

rand