You're kidding, right?! Costa Rica plays on fieldturf... for international matches!? What is this, MLS? Don't get me wrong, it's better than astroturf and playing in craters of grass and dirt, but can't FIFA regulate on this crap?
I agree with most of your arguments....I personally do not like Artificial turf, however FIFA is allowing more and more teams in Europe to expand there use of the turf. Pele has even commented that his playing career would have lengthened had he played on the new artificial turf (again I disagree with). But I'm not sure how you can state the Seahawks stadium does not have infrastructure to support large events.
Let's just forget about Blaine MN., Charleston SC, Birmingham AL., Alberqurque, etc. They are not getting any games. If there is a non-MLS city that is getting a game it would be one of the following: 1. Sad to say, but Miami. For some sad reason we go there, are treated like strangers in a strange land and play like crap. But we keep going back. Since we have no pure winter games, it would be unlikely that we end up here. 2. Houston - Don't know why, just a hunch. 3. Seattle - Once again, unlikely, but an option for early June. 4. NY/NJ - Metrostars are not really an MLS team.
You know you are probably right. But I still believe the USSF will be greedy--and ticket prices will be astro-freakin-nomical. Not that I can blame them. Demand for that game will be huge.
The only thing I know is that March in Massachusetts in miserable. Just like me. Just the way I like it. Take that for what it's worth. I have no beef with KC. They did the job last time. Put Trinny in HDC. Mexie will be at the Ohio Fairgrounds, as it should be. I'll bring my wife this time.
I think you have to have Mexico in Columbus...We need to keep as much of home field advantage as we can get against the better teams we will play. Any game down south is going to have to be a game we are going into with 100% confidence we will get the win, figuring we will be outnumbered as fans. I think our biggest concern will be the 2 september games....playing a tough mexico game and then traveling to Guatamala 3 days later...that is going to be tough....then at costa.... that could be an ugly stretch those 3 games and having our last game be a must win or tie to move on...
uefa has approved the use of field turf in cl games. There is a chance the new arsenal pitch will be field turf. I play on it and it is beginning to grow on me.
so have the players... and it warmed up on them too real bad like in short... they really, really don't like it
The goal should be to clinch by the 8th match. If we can start with a win at T&T, draw in mexico and a win in our first home match we can be well on our way. I think this is very realistic and Arena should settle for nothing less.
Not quite!! Winning all our home games, and a single tie, or a single victory away, will NOT guarantee one of the top 3 spots. For instance: CR wins all home games, wins away @Pan, T&T = 21 pts Mex wins all home games, wins away @Pan, T&T = 21 pts Gua wins all home games, wins away @Pan, T&T = 21 pts USA wins all home games, tie @T&T = 16 pts OR USA wins all home games, wins @T&T = 18 pts To guarantee it, we must win at least 2 away games, and hope we have a good GD.
Any thought to having a match held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia? They have held some great matches with Manchester United, AC Milan, Barcelona, etc.
Perhaps CR will choose to play the US away from the turf at Saprissa Alajuela or the National Stadium could both host a game.
Had forgotten about that. Having to travel the following week makes Sunday a no go - this is the same weekend stretch that we had to play Saturday morning to get ESPN TV time in 2001.
Match Day 3 - Wednesday, March 30 USA vs. Guatemala Columbus indeed- we can make it a tradition or Chicago Match Day 4 - Saturday or Sunday, June 4 or 5 USA vs. Costa Rica I think we need an exemption to play at KC, not sure we'll want to, not sure CR will go for it this time- I say Denver or Chicago Match Day 6 - Wednesday, August 17 USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago Foxboro or Chicago Match Day 7 - Saturday or Sunday, September 3 or 4 USA vs. Mexico Columbus, again Match Day 10 - Wednesday, October 12 USA vs. Panama Dallas
The Fieldturf at Saprissa actually helps us IMO. First, it ensures that the pitch will be good (albeit artificial) quality, regardless of the weather; second, the US has an endless supply of Fieldturf pitches to practice on, whereas i'd wager that Guatemala, Panama, Trinidad, and possibly Mexico don't have that luxury. As for the draw itself...damn. With the exception of finishing up at home against Panama (guaranteed 3 points if we need it), this draw couldn't have turned out any worse for us. 2 games on the road to open up including one at Mexico, no cold-weather dates (closest thing we'll get is late March)...damn. 15, or at the very least 13, points in the heart of the schedule (games 3-7) is an absolute must. As for the venues, I'd like to see this: 3-30 vs. Guatemala: Columbus Crew Stadium 6-4/5 vs. Costa Rica: Gillette Stadium 8-17 vs. Trinidad: Invesco Field (Denver) 9-3/4 vs. Mexico: Columbus Crew Stadium 10-12 vs. Panama: Gillette Stadium
There is absolutely no reason why this game can't be played on Sunday September 4th.. NFL won't kickoff until the following weekend (they stated they will not play on Labor Day Weekend anymore).. There shouldn't be any scheduling conflicts of any kind that weekend, provided they play on Sunday..
our realistic goal should be 15 points at home and enough points on the road to qualify as a top 3 team in the region.
Last time, Bruce did not want to play Sunday because they had to travel for a Wednesday game. I doubt he'd change his mind on that. Sunday is actually better TV wise because of the football issue, but I just don't see him saying OK for this one.