If they can hold this team together during the off season (which I think they'll be able to ((crossing fingers on Nelsen)) ) then I really do have a good feeling about them for next years CONCACAF Champions Cup which in the past didn't really mean sh;t but this time around means a trip to the FIFA Club World Championship and a shot at least a piece of $15 million prize money. Earnie may bolt but I really don't think that'd be a loss at all. I think he's easily replaceable, even his experience. If DCU can pick up a good player here and there (I think defense is where they need to put the most effort) then I really do think they got a good shot next year.
Well firstly the chances of them Cancelling the World Club Championship like they do every year is much greater then the even actually taking place. Secondly the Concacaf Champions Cup is a scheduling nightmare for MLS teams because it happens during the Preseason. I believe the first weeks in March where our teams are not match fit, many new players are being brought into the fold doesn't show MLS in it's best light. I'm hoping for a great showing from United, but I expect the CCC to be more of a "lets get in shape and build our team chemistry for the upcoming MLS season" type of event. ALthough it would be great to be champs of CONCACAF
http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=2804 I believe a team to make it is Municipal of Guatemala, the team w/Guillermo Ramirez, the team we beat 6-0 at RFK. I believe Municipal made the finals of a Central American tourney, someone can check I could be wrong bout this.
As someone who's been following the CWC situation very closely, let me tell you that it will take place in 2005. As for DC United's chances, at this point I would clearly put the two MFL teams and Saprissa as the favorites...
Umm, for someone who doesn't really pay attention to the rest of concacaf club soccer who will we be playing in this little shindig?
CFU: Series Winner of Harbour View FC (JAM) vs. Tivoli Gardens FC (JAM) Mexico (2): Pumas UNAM, TBD USA (2): D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards UNCAF (3): CD F.A.S. (SLV), CD Olímpia (HON), CSD Municipal (GUA) or Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) 8 teams total...
I just want to clarify that I'm not saying that DCU is going to be the favorites. I'm just saying that of all the 10 MLS teams that could have competed in this tourney, DCU has the best chance of winning it. I agree that the scheduling is crap with our season and that when it starts are players won't 1)be quite match fit yet 2)have their timing down and the gelling that they'd have mid-late season. I'm just saying they've got the best shot. And SwissGCZ is correct. Come hell or high water, it looks like the CWC is going to happen.
yeah i agree. ive been doing my research on it too and it looks like its gonna happen. And youre exactly right, of all the teams i would put DC as our best bet for MLS to win it. even during our struggling period we were doing well against dirty ol' south teams.
Yep, it has been since 2002... Quarterfinal Series First leg – 9 March Second leg – 16 March Semifinal Series First leg – 6 April Second leg – 13 April Final Series First leg – 4 May Second leg – 11 May [EDIT] All historical CCC info can be found here: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/ca1.html
I know the CONCACAF, Oceania, Asia, and Africa continental club champions go to Club World Championship in Japan, but the Champions League and Copa Libertadores winners are not explicitly written as going to the event. For anyone who knows, is this an attempt to needle out of the event and having the Intercontinental Cup elsewhere while having the likes of the Irish and Bolivian champs going to Japan?
The Intercontinetal Cup will be "absorbed" FIFA Club World Championship to replace Toyota Cup from 2005: http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,101512,00.html?comp=CWC&year=2000&articleid=101512
Man, looking at those scores it makes you wonder, did MLS teams lose interest in the tournament as the years went on or did the rest of the continent start to care more?
Well: #1) As has been mentioned before MLS clubs are in pre-season form, while going up against other clubs that are in top form. #2) There's never been anything to play for until now. Now that the winner goest to the world club championship there's A LOT at stake here.
This is assuming a lot and at this point I still want to bask in the light of yesterdays huge win. I disagree that Earnie is easily replaceable.
That's fine but I still maintain my position. Right now Earnie Stewart is the flavor of the day. He had a great MLS Cup final and did relatively well during the playoffs however over the course of the season he was mostly a non-factor and at times a liability. I hate to say it, but it's almost like Bobby Convey. He's a very good player but while he was there he didn't do anything and once he left the team was better and that's just the way it is. Earnie's post-season was great but let's not forget his regular season. I think DCU will be better served bringing in another player and/or having someone normally on the bench as a sub (Gros comes to mind) playing in his place. We'll just have to see what happens in the off-season but I sincerely don't think that next year we'll feel like something's missing when Earnie's not there.
Once the format changed to home & away it was downhill for MLS teams. That is debatable (it's still nice to be Concacaf Champion), but getting whacked 6-0 is simply embarrassing - no matter what...
Though a Columbus fan at heart (no idea why after this season), you'll have at least one fan present in Tokyo if your club makes it here next winter. Hopefully they'll take the Concacaf Crap Cup seriously (unlike Columbus did against Morelia).
Concur. It's very embarassing for the Central American country to showcase the corruption of the regional referees. US teams have suffered unbelievable calls in those Central American venues. I can't speak for other visiting teams, who probably have also suffered from the graft. A bunch of us are going to have to show up and make sure the "referee" understands that there are two sides to pressure. GM
The quarter finals are in preseason and the semis are just after the MLS season kicks off. Hopefully, we can get to training a little early, like say, next week. Sachin