FIFA Rankings for CONCACAF

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by Canadian_Supporter


Then you must admit that Canada isn't doing that bad without a pro league.


Define "isn't doing bad" because I'd consider not qualifying for the hex, and losing to Scotland "bad".

[Canadian_Supporter]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank



Define "isn't doing bad" because I'd consider not qualifying for the hex, and losing to Scotland "bad".

Winning the Gold Cup in 2000, bronze medal in 2002. Beating Swiss (in St Gallen), losing a tough game to Scotland. I am a blind optimist... I have to be because I support the Canadian national team. :D

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by Canadian_Supporter


Winning the Gold Cup in 2000, bronze medal in 2002. Beating Swiss (in St Gallen), losing a tough game to Scotland. I am a blind optimist... I have to be because I support the Canadian national team. :D


Not trying to piss in your cheerios, but Switzerland is not a good side at all, and no one outside Canada rates the Gold Cup as anything more than a collection of friendlies. Personally I'd love to see Canada qualify for 2006 along with the US just because it would piss off Latin America, but I don't see Canada making it unless the CUSL starts before 2004.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank



Not trying to piss in your cheerios, but Switzerland is not a good side at all, and no one outside Canada rates the Gold Cup as anything more than a collection of friendlies.

What did you say? I think you just said that the Swiss are a top quality side, and that the Gold Cup shows what teams are really dominating CONCACAF.

I don't know what you wrote, but that is what I see. ;)

Ahh, blind optimism, or stupidity... :D

[italchacao]

and why would it piss off latin americans?
Do you think I'd care if Mexico or Costa Rica don't make it?

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by italchacao
and why would it piss off latin americans?
Do you think I'd care if Mexico or Costa Rica don't make it?



I meant residents of Latin American countries.

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by Canadian_Supporter


What did you say? I think you just said that the Swiss are a top quality side, and that the Gold Cup shows what teams are really dominating CONCACAF.

I don't know what you wrote, but that is what I see. ;)




Something like that :D. Seriously though, Radzinski and Stalteri are good players and could both make the US team. Now, your job is find them a supporting cast.

[nicodemus]

Originally posted by SoccerPsycho
quote:As has it mine, although getting beat in every friendly you play would get old after a while.

It wouldn't be so bad...think of all the cool places you'd get to visit for free. Your coach would pretty much know that you weren't ever going to win so you'd pretty much be left to do whatever you wanted to on your away matches. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank



Something like that :D. Seriously though, Radzinski and Stalteri are good players and could both make the US team. Now, your job is find them a supporting cast.

I do understand that Canada needs a national league to develop talent. Until then, qualifying for the World Cup is going to be a huge up hill climb. Holger is doing a good job, for the most part, but it is going to take some time. I will be very upset if Canada doesn't make it to the final stages of the 2006 WCQ.

[Crazy_Yank]

Originally posted by nicodemus


It wouldn't be so bad...think of all the cool places you'd get to visit for free. Your coach would pretty much know that you weren't ever going to win so you'd pretty much be left to do whatever you wanted to on your away matches. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.


Besides, I bet we'd beat Bhutan. Those stupid troll Bhutan supporters make me sick.

[kenosha]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank



Something like that :D. Seriously though, Radzinski and Stalteri are good players and could both make the US team. Now, your job is find them a supporting cast.

I watched Canada play a couple of times and they have a core of 5-7 solid players that can play with any one in CONCACAF. De Guzman (yes he's Canadian Capped) plays for Hannover, De Vos could play for US --he could play Berhalter's role with the Nats--, and Canada has some decent goal keepers. They lack a playmaker to give their forwards service and they need better finishing-- sounds like the US-- and they are not deep at all. In my opinion Canada's lack of depth will be the achilles heal in qualifying. When all their best players are together, they can be difficult as they proved in the Gold Cup(s). However, CONCACAF qualifying is a marathon with injuries and yellow card accumulation inevitable. Without depth, it is hard for teams like Canada.

[italchacao]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank




I meant residents of Latin American countries.



Well OK, then yeah maybe

[sidspaceman]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank



Personally I'd love to see Canada qualify for 2006 along with the US just because it would piss off Latin America.

I really don't see why anybody in South America would get pissed if Canada or the US qualify.

[TopDogg]

Originally posted by Crazy_Yank
Seriously though, Radzinski and Stalteri are good players and could both make the US team. Now, your job is find them a supporting cast. While I'm sure we'd never have the depth to compete with the top CONCACAF nations until a league gets going, I know that we are slowly starting to build a supporting cast.

As mentioned above, Julian DeGuzman is starting to see increased minutes for Hannover in the Bundesliga, as well as guys like Mike Klukowski for La Louviere in Belgium, Iain Hume at Tranmere (he's only 19), Chris Pozniak with Orebro, Terry Dunfield with Man City/Bury, etc.

While this may not seem like a whole lot, remember that a few years ago it was a miracle for any of our u-23 guys to be playing first team football in Europe, and all of the names I mentioned above are doing just that.

I think Canada's biggest problem (along wth lack of depth) is lack of preparation. It always seems like a lifetime between Canadian nat'l games, although hopefully the CSA has rectified that by already announcing 3 friendlies for early 2003, with a goal of 5 before the GC in July.

[italchacao]

Originally posted by sidspaceman


I really don't see why anybody in South America would get pissed if Canada or the US qualify.



I was thinking the same thing.

[DigitalTron]

Originally posted by Kick The Ball
What a joke, Canada & Guatemala, yea right, let me guess you're a Guatemalan living in Canada.

If you say Honduras and Costa Rica or even Haiti and Cuba may be I'll understand, but Guatemala and Canada,,,hell NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, USA, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico has the best youth teams right now in CONCACAF. Heh. No, actually I'm an American who has lived my entire life in the US, and have no connections to or relations from/in either Canada or Guatamala. But I do pay close attention to the youth soccer scene.

I never said Costa Rica wasn't good. Quite to the contrary, I think they are very good. I was simply noting that in the future Canada and Guatamala should be closing the gap on the current frontrunners USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica.

I disagree about Haiti and Cuba. IMHO, neither of those countries looks to make the move to the level of the teams I just mentioned. I could easily be wrong, but that's my opinion.

As for "what a joke", I'm not one to engage in personal attacks, it kinda bores me. There is a rivalry forum if you're into that.

It's difficult to keep as close of tabs on soccer as say basketball here in the US, but if you have any light to shed on Haiti, Cuba or any of the other CONCACAF teams that you think may be rising stars, I'm eager to hear your insight.

-Tron

[Juan Luis Guerra]

Originally posted by sidspaceman


I really don't see why anybody in South America would get pissed if Canada or the US qualify.

I have to agree with you Sid

[DigitalTron]

Originally posted by TopDogg
While I'm sure we'd never have the depth to compete with the top CONCACAF nations until a league gets going, I know that we are slowly starting to build a supporting cast. Actually Canada has started making inroads into Europe, and have done a good job of it! It seems now that they've been able to get and stay on the radar screen of French talent scouts. That's a great league for international talents, much like Holland but probably without the reputation for developing talent. With all of the top French players seeking better financial reward in one of the top 4 leagues (i.e. EPL), most French club teams are stacked with internationals, so there really isn't any local bias.

Despite not being one of the big 4 leagues in Europe, the quality of play is high. Recent examples would be the success of Senegal in the World Cup (almost all from French Championaat club teams), and the success of their teams in the Champion's League.

Originally limited to Quebec, I understand that these scouts are closely following all of the Canadian youth national teams. If Canada continues to utilize this avenue to get young players into Europe, that will go a long way to building their full national team even without a domestic league.

-Tron

[nicodemus]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Actually Canada has started making inroads into Europe, and have done a good job of it!

Is it easier for Canadians to get work permits in Europe because of the whole Commonwealth thing?

If so, that is lame.

[TopDogg]

Originally posted by nicodemus


Is it easier for Canadians to get work permits in Europe because of the whole Commonwealth thing?

If so, that is lame. In a word, no.

Canadians face the same restrictions in Britain as other non-Europeans.

As well, the rest of Europe couldn't give a crap about the Commonwealth.