The Rumor is that there will be a tournement between the Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact and TFC but nothing has been confirmed on the CSA website.
Why is there so much controversy over this, its the same thing as how the Islanders qualifies for the CFU, a round robin tournament with several teams in PR in a National CUp.
I really think that CSA should organize a Canada Cup that also includes TFC...its the most logical thing to do
A story from today that talks about the Canadian qualification process: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=4dd88dfc-04b3-4aba-af61-0fb5dad9c113&k=99763
do you guys think Toronto FC is gonna beat the other 2 teams easily, or do they actually have chances to qualify for the CL?
I don't think the difference between the USL and the MLS are all that far off. Last year in quarterfinals of the US open cup there were 5 USL teams to only 3 MLS. Championship USL Seattle beat MLS Colorado by a 5-0 margin. Vancouver won the USL in 2006, Montreal finished first in regular season standings 4 of the last five years and won it in 2004. Toronto is in their second year in the MLS and even though they struggled with injuries and on the pitch did little to impress in their first year. I think it will be A tough fought competition and by no means a pushover for TFC.
nice to hear that, I honestly thouht the USL was crap, never ever heard of a US open where MLS and USL teams play each other, sounds cool, when is the next one?
To answer your question, MoRado, the US Open Cup is played annually and it is a bit like the FA Cup in England, for comparitive purposes. Also, not sure you can argue that USL-1 teams are at a near par to MLS teams. MLS had a notoriously poor showing in the US Open Cup last year (remember the Sounders beating the sh*t out of Colorado?), but I'm pretty sure most MLS sides don't take the cup too seriously. It's a bit like Arsenal in the Carling Cup, no?
I think the MLS poor showing seems worse than it was because not all teams from MLS competed in the tournament last year. Columbus, Kansas, NY, and Salt Lake didnt Compete. Which I think is dumb. In regards to the Canada Cup, or Voyaguers Cup that it might be named. Toronto is definitely not guaranteed because they are in the higher league. Toronto is the worse in MLS and Vancouver and Montreal are established teams that consistantly finish at the top of the USL1. Also, the Canada Cup will be a mini league where each team plays the other teams home and away. So unlike the US Open Cup which is knockout there is more chance that the truly deserving team will win. I wonder what will happen to the Canada Cup come the time that Montreal and Vacnouver get into the MLS? Hopefully it will evolve into a Open Cup format to involve any new teams that may be in USL1 as well as teams in the USL2, USL PDL, CSL and PCSL.
From Wikipedia entry for "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup": "Currently, eight of the U.S. teams from MLS, 10 teams from the USL First Division, six from the USL Second Division, eight from the USL Premier Development League, and eight from the United States Adult Soccer Association take part in the competition. In some cases, additional teams play in qualifying rounds to gain entry. One example is found with MLS clubs, as only the top six from the previous regular season get an automatic bid, while the bottom six US-based MLS teams face each other to qualify for the remaining two MLS slots." So, even though all MLS teams do not participate in the Cup, those that did not played in a qualification for the tournament. Not sure if San Jose, as the 13th US based MLS team this year, would play to qualify for the last two spots, but expect that they would.
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=3026 Hopefully this will lead to PCSL and CSL teams taking part as well.
Here's an article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...soccerblog20080130202054/WBStory/WBsoccerblog
LOL!! Former Cdn international and TheScore analyst Budgie pipes in with his comments below Bens' blog: Brian Budd from Canada writes: Let's be realistic here. A 3-way competition between Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver is the only viable option, considering the disjointed state of Canadian soccer. Look no further than the buffoons at the CSA, who would no doubt try to stick their oar in, and ruin it for everybody. BB Tell them how you really feel Budgie!
Yeah, I think its down to 8 teams now, of which 2 or 3 are from Washington state. Penticton just dropped from the senior league to the under 20 league.
Unless Toronto improves a lot, they could very well come in last place in the Canada Cup. Montreal and Vancouver have been two of the best teams in the USL 1 over the years. TFC lost 4-1 to USL 1 Portland last year. This Canada Cup will be great!
TFC started four regular starters in that game. I don't want to get into a pi$$ing match, but there is a world of difference between a post-season friendly and a competitive match. I'm sure MLSE is gonna want the extra CCL date, so I'm pretty sure TFC is gonna take the Canada Cup games seriously.
The thing is, sure 4 regulars, or in other words, most of their starting 11 during the scoreless streak. I was there and Portland ruled the pitch that day. In fact it was kinda sad. I actually felt bad for these guys who play in the top league in the country. Facts are, anybody who says that USL 1 is way below MLS know NOTHING of USL 1. Sure, it's not as good as MLS, we know. However, USL can compete with MLS sides and win, and the good one's can win often. Montreal and Vancouver are historically very good USL 1 teams. It'd be different if we were talking Minnesota or Miami, but we're talking Montreal and Vancouver, who I feel together have about a 60% chance of one of them taking it, or better. If TFC wins, GREAT! But don't be surprised if one leg of a prelim match or more is played at Swagard or Saputo come August.
I have no doubt that the USL teams will challenge TFC. I'd actually lay money that one of them will beat TFC in one game. But, the design of this competition--a mini-league as opposed to a cup--makes it less likely that the less talented teams can win. Not impossible, but less likely. If TFC is healthy, I'd suggest that it will take six points at home (where they are highly competitive in MLS). If they take care of BMO, a split of the road games should be enough (the USL teams are bound to take points off each other, so nine will likely take the group). It also helps that the league will be played early in the year. TFC was most successful in May and June last year, before the lack of depth bit them in the a$$. Regardless, that Montreal road trip will be fun as hell. Anyone want to set the over/under on the traveling support for that game? I'll go with 1,000 and take the over...
THe US Open Cup is one of the oldest knock out tournaments in the world and one of the oldest sporting traditions in the US. Only the baseball world series is older. Established 1914 the US Open Cup is open to all amateur and professional football (soccer) teams. Get educated: http://www.usopencup.com As for USL, it is a bit below MLS, the reason MLS sides lost to USL last year is because many, like the club I support, played their reserve players because they were saving their strength for SuperLiga. MLS sides often don't take the Open Cup seriously so using that as a measure of league strength is tenuous at best.