USA Officially Invited to Copa America '04 -- but USSF rejects invite (p.7)

[Dr. Wankler]

Have any of you noticed you're debating a three-year old thread?

[encinitas]

Have any of you noticed you're debating a three-year old thread?
That's when they F8CK up the first time....3 years ago. But just recently they said they would turn it down again. This was right after this WC2006:eek:



According to another thread, the USSF has been invited again and Sunil Gulati turned them down. Again.

Here's the thread mentioning the article:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showp...ostcount=54 4

More competitive matches against better national teams is a no-brainer, but already federation president Sunil Gulati has snubbed a return to the Copa America, because of MLS conflicts. Absurd. Sending a squad comprised of one player per MLS team and a few of the younger European players who need additional seasoning won't knock the earth out of its orbit. Anybody who thinks a few weeks in South America wouldn't toughen up Eddie Gaven isn't paying attention. And it's no coincidence that Mexico's impressive record against the world's top teams stems from playing in the Copa America as well as club competitions like the Libertadores Cup."


Here is a link to an online petition asking USSF to participate, set up by our own dfb547490

http://www.petitiononline.com/USCopaAm/petition.html

[Devil500]

Have any of you noticed you're debating a three-year old thread?

Well its one of the reasons we did bad in Germany why not bash on the USSF while we can :rolleyes:

[SamsArmySam]

Here is a link to an online petition asking USSF to participate, set up by our own dfb547490

http://www.petitiononline.com/USCopaAm/petition.html
Petition bump.

[encinitas]

Well its one of the reasons we did bad in Germany why not bash on the USSF while we can :rolleyes:

Join in and sign the petition....send it to all the soccer organizations you know:)

Somone send it to Fox SOCCER





Here is a link to an online petition asking USSF to participate, set up by our own dfb547490

http://www.petitiononline.com/USCopaAm/petition.html

[Dr. Wankler]

Well its one of the reasons we did bad in Germany why not bash on the USSF while we can :rolleyes:

We could've won the Copa American '04. Wouldn't have changed a damn thing in Germany.

Except created even more unreasonable expectations.

[tacos]

I felt a bit foolish doing so, but I signed it. It is now up to a whopping 99 signatures. Gulati will have no choice but to concede and accept the invitation in '09!

[TxFan]

We could've won the Copa American '04. Wouldn't have changed a damn thing in Germany.

Except created even more unreasonable expectations.

What's your problem? No one is suggesting that if we would have won Copa America in '04 or that anything would have been different. All people are suggesting is that maybe we should try to schedule a few more competitve matches for the national side and that this might be a good way of closing the gap between us and the rest of the world. What the hell is so annoying about that suggestion? Seriously, why people need to cop an attitude behind anonymous posts on an internet soccer forum is beyond me.

I can't think of any way in which us participating in Copa America could possibly hurt the USMNT? Maybe it would draw attention away from MLS and that might be a legitimate concern. But you don't address that. Instead you just fall back on the old "nothing would be different" argument.

Whatever.

[Dr. Wankler]

What's your problem? No one is suggesting that if we would have won Copa America in '04 or that anything would have been different. All people are suggesting is that maybe we should try to schedule a few more competitve matches for the national side and that this might be a good way of closing the gap between us and the rest of the world. What the hell is so annoying about that suggestion? Seriously, why people need to cop an attitude behind anonymous posts on an internet soccer forum is beyond me.

I can't think of any way in which us participating in Copa America could possibly hurt the USMNT? Maybe it would draw attention away from MLS and that might be a legitimate concern. But you don't address that. Instead you just fall back on the old "nothing would be different" argument.

Whatever.

Well, if you like "what if spartacus had a piper cub debate, that's fine.

I just thought it was funny that people were jumping on a three-year old thread like it was a fresh discovery.

But I stand by my contention. Still, I have to say the underlined portion of your post struck me as especially (unintentionally?) humorous.

[TxFan]

Still, I have to say the underlined portion of your post struck me as especially (unintentionally?) humorous.

you got me there. ;) pot... kettle... black.

[jefbal99]

Signed the petition and emailed USSF

[Saltenya94]

Over 207

[portugamerifinn]

Some people on here are brining up that WC qualifying is more important than participating in Copa America, which is true. However, this is CONCACAF qualifying we're talking about here. I am pretty sure the U.S. could send a team to Copa America that wouldn't be too exhausted to come back and beat the likes of Guatemala, T&T, Panama, Canada, Jamaica and all those CONCACAF "powerhouses" the U.S. has to beat in order to qualify.

Sure, Copa America is mainly for South American countries, but if invited the U.S. should always go. It is the one chance the U.S. has to play meaningful games aside from WC qualifying and the World Cup itself. How can anybody expect the U.S. to reach the heights it would loike to reach when from one WC to the next the only meaningful matches the U.S. plays are against CONCACAF teams that suck (excluding Mexico, the only consistently good team) during WC qualifying. And don't say anything about the Gold Cup. Just look at who the U.S. played last summer.

It will be so nice when most of the U.S. national team is playing in Europe so the USSF can stop decling certain friendlies and tournaments because of MLS.

I wonder if any European teams that qualify for Euro 2008 will decide not to go because it is only a couple months before WC qualifying begins?

[OldFanatic]

I just thought it was funny that people were jumping on a three-year old thread like it was a fresh discovery.

Please re-read few posts before yours.

Yes, it is a fresh discovery.

According to Soccer America newsletter, Sunil Gulati turned down the latest Copa America invitation - for MLS scheduling conflicts. I could care less about MLS schedules. US national team must progress. I just signed the petition.

[MasterShake29]

The easy solution is to suspend MLS during the Copa America. That way no players miss games, and the U.S. can still go. Provided a deal is worked out to get the games on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2.

I'm sure that's not an option though.

[Shaster]

Simple.

MLS fans STOP to watch MLS games during Copa America. That will help.

But how many players in the rosters?

20?

2 Goalkeepers--Howard, Hahneman (Brown, Westburg)

7 Defenders--Cherundolo, Spector, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Gibbs, DeMerit, Pearce. (Califf, Borcher, Whitbread, Simak)

7 Midfielders--Convey, Beasley, Bradley, Feilhaber, West, Nguyen, Lewis

4 Forwards--Casey, Ochoa, Smith, J. Johnson

Sunil, why we need MLS players at all?

[ExpatSwede]

Why is it so hard for MLS to take a summer break?

The Swedish & Norwegian leagues who also use a spring-fall schedule always take a longish summer break. (Longer than usual during WC years, but still) So why can't MLS? There's no climate restrictions here...

[Shaster]

Why is it so hard for MLS to take a summer break?

The Swedish & Norwegian leagues who also use a spring-fall schedule always take a longish summer break. (Longer than usual during WC years, but still) So why can't MLS? There's no climate restrictions here...

Probably when MLS started, they don't have their own stadium and have to share with NFL/college football team. So have to avoid the schedule conflict. Now most of teams have their own stadiums, but few of them like NY and NE don't have yet.

[wufc]

A summer break would kill their already crowded schedule. Since MLS has to waste 5 perfectly good game weeks on all star game and playoffs, their schedule is crowded, with several 2 game weeks.

[ExpatSwede]

But the schedule is no less crowded for Euro teams. Practically every euro league (including Sweden & Norway) have a Cup tournament that is played parallel to the regular season. Occationally 3 games may even be played in a span of 7 days, but that is rare.

The shared stadium argument does make sense, though. Hopefully it won't be an issue for much longer.