It's time to chill the **** out

[Duane Rollins]

Now that I have you attention…

Boys…it was an under-20 tournament. Kids. A good chunk of Europe doesn’t even care about the u-20s. In 1981 Qatar made the final. On another occasion Ghana did. It’s a nice little development tournament, but it isn’t really that important and it certainly isn’t a predictor of senior success.

Losing the way we did sucked. It was just another occasion where we, as Canadian soccer fans, had to take it on the chin from our less informed friends and our (more often than not) oblivious sports media. Canada sucks. Can’t beat the Congo. Blah. Blah. Blah.

However, as I have sat back the last few days and watched the fall-out—and there has been a fall-out—I’ve increasingly become convinced that this could be the best thing that has ever happened to Canadian soccer.

A few things to consider:

1) the MNT, the only team that really matters is as good as it ever has been. We have more depth, more flare and flat-out ability than, likely, at any other point in our development as a soccer playing nation. All those millions of kids that played u-5 YMCA soccer in the '80s are paying off now. We still aren’t developing them—for the most part European clubs are—but we still benefit from them.
2) This tournament is making boatloads of money
3) This tournament is keeping soccer on the front pages all month
4) The media, all of it, not just the old soccer standbys, is actually critically looking at the sport and our failure to be successful at it.

The thing is, point number four contradicts with point one. However, to us the fan, that’s great. We want the media to think that we are the worst soccer country in the world. We don’t want the mainstream sports media to realize that our senior national team can string two passes together. We don’t want them to figure out that the u-20s aren’t likely to figure into 2010 qualifying at all.

We want the media to keep being critical of the CSA, to keep embarrassing them. Then, maybe, the CSA will use some of that boatload of money its making to actually improve the elite development side of things (which is clearly the biggest failing of Canadian soccer—we grow great grapes in this country, but we are ****ty at turning them into wine, to use an analogy)

In the meantime we, the fans, still get to maintain some hope that the MNT can make it to South Africa. After all, we all just watched what it can do at the Gold Cup. Mitchell doubts aside, there is no reason to think (other than pure, justified, unbridled skepticism learned from years and years and years of being frustrated) that the team can’t repeat things on the WCQ stage.

To me it’s a perfect storm for Canadian soccer. Combine an underrated MNT, a suddenly semi-interested media, boatloads of money and a demand for change and, to me, you have the potential for good things. Real change. And, from that change, success.

And I’m not sure the criticism would have been the same if Canada had lost 3-0 to Chile, tied Austria 0-0 and beat Congo 1-0 before losing the round-of-16 match 3-0. The results would have been almost as bad, but people would have shrugged their shoulders and said ‘well, that’s about right.’

Instead, we got embarrassed. Next to winning thew whole damn thing (or making a run to the semis, at least) I can’t think of a better result.

Seriously.

[Gian-Luca]

Great post.

[The Beaver]

Yes, well said. Nice to see a rational, big-picture view.

Mind you, to defend all those given to histrionics at the moment, they are only going through all the normal stages of loss and disappointment ie. rage, sadness etc. I'd be more worried if our core fans were complacent.

[ken]

Amen.

[Trillium]

quote:Originally posted by MediaGuy





We want the media to keep being critical of the CSA, to keep embarrassing them. Then, maybe, the CSA will use some of that boatload of money its making to actually improve the elite development side of things

What money ...its FIFAs tournament..where do you get the idea the revenues are going to the CSA ?

[mcaout]

I appreciate your points, but I don't agree with you on some of them.

I'm not sure of this being good for Canadian soccer. I worry that the children and teens no doubt moved to watch the U 20 WC by the massive media blitz will see a very sad Canada and not want to play for us. They have famous examples of where you can go if you play for someone else internationally. I think this will be increased once we're finally allowed to bask in the glory of Hardgraves playing at Man U next year.

Also, you speak of the grapes we grow, yes more money to turn them elite. But under your first section you put the MNT above all else, which for me, throws half, if not more of the grapes to the bin. I'm sure it's accepted dogma here that the MNT is the most important, and I'll admit to feeling the same way. But I don't think that the CSA can shift focus away from Women's soccer or that they should pick the MNT to recieve its resources. Women's soccer already faces lots of problems with funding and supporting players. Most importantly, womens soccer is where at least half of the young players are going to. I think they might have issues with the fact their teams do not really matter.

I also think this U 20 WC is as important as we want it to be. To compare its relivance to us in light of attitudes in Europe isn't necessarily fair. Europe has other compitions to take the place of this ( U 21 ), we don't as much. I think this is a big disappointment, one which hopefully forces the CSA to reform and rethink, as you say put pressure on them, but I feel we must be respectful of the right of all levels, sexes, and ages to be represented by the CSA.

[CoachRich]

Interesting points -

1. a lot of female soccer players & their supporters will disagree w/ "the MNT, the only team that really matters" Even Sports Canada would disagree w/ your statement as they give more money to the WNT team as they qualify based on Sports Canada's formula higher than the MNT.

Lindfords similar statements about "the MNT, the only team that really matters" has inflamed the WNT,a lot of the soccer community & even those that aren't soccer followers. He's got to go as he's not in step w/ the times.

2. This is FIFA's tournament. Even though CSA will get a cut the biggest bonus of this event are the leagacy facilities. Remember BMO was built w/ tax dollars from whom & how much other money the CSA got to fund this event. The CSA has no money, if they did they would make their financials public you'd think.

3. Yes, this event is got soccer in the media but it's not the first event to do so in a big way. Even Ben Knight acknowledge that this event probably would not have happen if the WNT YWC in 2002 was such a success.

4. Yes, hopefully something will come out of the media pressing the CSA for answers. The general public understand their money was used in part to fund this event. Also, as a sporting country I don't think many Canadians like having teams bombing like this.

Bottomline is getting embrassed is going to be good in moving soccer forward but I still think rather than all of us waiting on the CSA we do our part & make it easier for the kids in development programs to excel & move up the ladder.

[RJB]

I see where you are coming from, but it is a poor attitude to be ok with losing. It should never be a 'good thing' and we shouldn't treat it as such.

The only way things will change is if we remain vocal.

[rodfern2007]

quote:Originally posted by RJB

I see where you are coming from, but it is a poor attitude to be ok with losing. It should never be a 'good thing' and we shouldn't treat it as such.

The only way things will change is if we remain vocal.

Right on. As spectators and as consumers, we demand something in return for price of admission to watch our national team play. As the late Bill Shankley was fond of reminding his players that they are priveledged to play for the spectator. We must drum this mantra into their heads, both the players and the CSA (both directors and coaching staff). The CSA may have been able to get away with mediocre results in the past. But in the age of the internet, that is no longer possible, and we the fans must remind them of this.

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by RJB

I see where you are coming from, but it is a poor attitude to be ok with losing.

I don't think Media Guy was trying to suggest that. I think it was just a case of reminding everyone that it isn't the end of the world, and we still have much to look forward to & to be positive about.