True, but Canada didn't even get a nominee on the original short list last time (when Suriname and Panama did). I wish we knew how the original nominations were determined. That would help a lot. True, but that's a bit of a different case. Vergara was at WC02 back when ARs went by themselves. So he earned his spot there and then got tied to Archundia. I was thinking about this. I wonder who their guy is going to be. Courtney Campbell of Jamaica is too old. Neil Brizan of Trinidad & Tobago is too old. I guess Winjgaarde of Suriname counts as "Caribbean" by CONCACAF standards, but he's pretty bad and FIFA has already rejected him. I really have no clue who is next on the depth chart from the islands. Well, I have a clue, actually... Geoffrey Hopesdale is from Trinidad & Tobago and he went to the last Gold Cup. I imagine he's Mr. Warner's next project... This might be true. I really wish we knew how the initial nominations were made. Last time there were 7 from CONCACAF, which were then whittled down to 5, and then 4 were selected (with one as a 4th). Anything could change (including more/less candidates or more/less refs--either for CONCACAF or overall), but if there were to be an initial 7 nominees, I'd suspect it would come from this group of 11: WARD (CAN) QUESADA (CRC) LOPEZ (GUA) PINEDA (HON) GARCIA (MEX) RODRIGUEZ (MEX) MORENO (PAN) AGUILAR (SLV) WINJGAARDE (SUR) HOPESDALES (TTO) MARRUFO/SALAZAR (USA) It's an uphill climb for an American (and for Ward, too), because many of those guys have already been getting Hexagonal matches for awhile.
I think you are right with the presence issue, but hopefully that comes with more international and MLS experience. From what I've seen insofar as his fitness, foul recognition and man management, I like him. I admit that it's been very limited knowledge. Some of the MLS ARs I know personally speak very highly of him, though.
I'm sorry but there is no way I would ever back a Canadian with American AR's. I want an all American officiating crew. Ward with his brethren from Canada. Let's focus on choosing two viable candidates and move forward. Let's stop assigning four or five different crews of referees for hex and international friendlies. Go with two. They'll get seen and much experience. At this point Salazar, Marrufo only is his head is screwed on straight, otherwise Geiger.
I think Geiger is going to get a look from Fifa. He's been getting a lot of assignments that point to him getting some name recognition. We'll have to see what happens, but he got a World Cup qualifier at the end of the hex, got a Mexico - Chile friendly at the Azteca, the Turkey - Czech Republic match, the Club America - Cruz Azul friendly, a couple of other matches in Mexico, and he's been getting regular work in the CONCACAF Champions League. Personally, I wouldn't go back to Marufo, so that leaves Geiger as the US referee who has some eligibility for the next two tournaments. If they decide to go for goal line assistants, maybe we put two guys up.
It makes sense to me if you're going to have referee teams at a world cup to have the ARs of the team of the 4th Official to be the AARs. That way you have two teams of referees on the field at the time, 6 referees in total you train the ARs to be AARs and the referee gets a bit of a rest if he's had a hard tournament at 4th official. Works out quite well.
This makes a lot of sense, but only if they eliminate the position of "reserve assistant referee." Otherwise, you need seven officials for every World Cup match. We are still a long way from realizing the 6-official (+reserve AR) system, but if that's the way FIFA is going to head, I think it actually makes sense to consider teams of four officials from each federation (two CRs, two ARs). Each team would work a match as Ref/AR1/AR2/4th and then also work as AAR/AAR/Reserve AR (with either the other assistant getting a rest, or the referee getting a rest while the AR performs AAR duties).
I agree that Geiger seems to be the guy USSF is grooming for 2014. Vaughn and Salazar both have plenty of time to make a case as well, but Geiger seems to have drawn a majority of the international assignments in the past 4-6 months. I don't see Marrufo getting back into the fold. USSF only lists 3 FT officials now (Vaughn, Salazar, and Toledo), which means either they did not tender Marrufo a FT contract or he resigned. That would be a backwards step for him if he wanted to go to Brazil. I think for AR Gansner would be great. He is truly a class act from my own limited conversations I had with him at regionals a year ago), but he seemed to be giving the suggestion that he blew his chance when he got injured a year or two back. He seems like a very humble, knowledgeable, level-headed person with excellent perspective and an appreciation for what his role is to his lower-graded peers, but I would bet you could say that about 90% of the USSF FIFA-boarded officials.
Look you know me and I am frank and blunt at times to the point of rudeness. I have refereed with Mark at the Sun Bowl, State Cup and I believe one US Open Cup match. I did not as of a few years ago believe he was ready for membership on the FIFA panel. He is a fine young man, but he lacked the character and confidence at the time to be on the panel and I questioned his inclusion. I no longer believe this way. I believe he is ready for the next step. Being one of the referees we put forth to FIFA for the World Cup short list. Mark has developed character. We should take that chance on him.
Vaughn has not developed to be that guy. He has not moved forward and improved over the past two years. If there was no mandatory retirement age it's a slam dunk. I would support Alex Prus. He is our best referee.
Prus is our best FIFA. He's not the best referee, Kevin Stott cards for the things most FIFAs are too worried about carding for. His games are always well controlled and managed well and decided by the players.
And while everyone is criticizing Webb for no red card on de Jong, lets not forget Prus's no red card for the head butt in the MLS Cup a couple of years ago. And he still hasn't changed. I worry that if some of you are considering him our best FIFA ref that would make the rest worst than him. That's not saying much for them IMO. Prus has been one of the main water carriers in the MLS style of refereeing, which has been widely criticized in these boards and elsewhere for several years. And besides he never did have much of a career internationally, as compared to some of the others.
OH YEAH Duh...he's too old. Oh well so he's our second best referee. Good for him it's hard meeting that high standard set by Stott.
If Kelly (Irl) was to make the World cup that would be a massive boost for refereeing in Ireland. Would make younger referees like me believe there was a chance of making it. I hope the OP is right.