Feb 2 Event

[Obinna]

This was expected. The Cuba and Panama games will not be attended by many opposing fans, but the majority of US based Hondurans are within a 5-8 hour drive. They could pack the stadium with just their own fans. How can we ensure that 18,000 of the fans will be
pro-Canada?
.

I want to hear exactly how the CSA plans to deal with this. They should be proactive and have a strategy in place, instead of leaving it up to the fans. Can they not be restrictive and allow a bare minimum of away supports? Like 0? (Okay that is a joke obviously, perhaps limit them to a few hundred).

[SthMelbRed]

Oh right, the CSA should have "rewarded" Vancouver instead of playing the games in the best location. God talk about a sense of entitlement.

Yes, what an audacious sense of entitlement to think that the national team should make an effort to represent the entire nation. And what of those that are incredulous at the suggestion that the CSA make a conciliatory gesture by scheduling a couple of friendlies in the second and third largest population centers of a country with the second largest land mass in the world? Do they not display an unhealthy sense of entitlement?

[ChrisB]

Yes, what an audacious sense of entitlement to think that the national team should make an effort to represent the entire nation. And what of those that are incredulous at the suggestion that the CSA make a conciliatory gesture by scheduling a couple of friendlies in the second and third largest population centers of a country with the second largest land mass in the world? Do they not display an unhealthy sense of entitlement?

I agree that the CSA should schedule a friendly for sure for one of the other friendly windows (say November?) for Vancouver - I would have liked to see the June 3 friendly out west BUT, my guess is they want the players to be completely at home for the first two games. i.e.they will arrive in Toronto the last week of may and start training together, keep training until they fly down to Cuba. Builds some cohesion.

It makes sense to me that they would do it this way.

It is an unfortunate thing, but geography is the way it is. I don't think the V's out west are wrong to complain. It sucks. And I don't like to see the Eastern V's saying "grow up". But at the same time, objectively this is the best thing for the team.

[gator]

Take the geography right out of it, the MNT won't play on plastic pitches when there is a choice, end of story!

[smartlikefox]

I get the reasoning behind the decision.. doesn't mean I have to like it.

The CSA is missing an opportunity to grow the game more than just in the GTA. You've got Vancouver hitting the 2nd year of their MLS team after hosting a successful WNT Olympic Tourney. You've got Montreal hitting the MLS. Is it too much to ask to have 1 friendly in these locations at some point just to get some exposure? You are just going to end up with more people referring to it as the Toronto mens team instead.

I'm sure if they actually wanted to work on it, the CSA could get grass into BC Place for a game.. work with the Whitecaps.. maybe they'll want to host another international friendly and they can split the cost. The are options other than saying **** you BC grow up you spoiled little ****s like some of you are doing.

[Califax]

Take the geography right out of it, the MNT won't play on plastic pitches when there is a choice, end of story!

+1

[LeMarc]

Location dispute asside. I have a great feeling that the media is going to jump on the bandwagon, due in part to the successful woman's olympic qualification. Seeing them in person is not an issue for me. Its getting quality media coverage and have it available to watch live - Across the Country! HUGE! The HEX, now thats important.

[Lord Bob]

Everyone, just bow to your betters in Toronto already. They can't play in Vancouver because there's artificial turf! They can't play in Montreal because the stadium's not built yet! They can't play in Moncton because, um, spiders! Kneel and accept yet another reaming handed out to the rest of Canada by our southeastern Ontario overlords as the CSA takes our registration fees and gives us nothing in return but the shaft.

We must keep up the momentum that's seen us win once and draw three times in World Cup qualifiers all-time at BMO Field, all three of those draws being unbelievably disappointing results we should have won! We must keep up the momentum that's seen support for the national team in Toronto skyrocket, from a disappointing 21,978 fans for World Cup qualifying in 2008 to a remarkably strong 11,500, 12,178, and 10,375 fans for the last three games!

We must give the players from Toronto whatever they want, because the best way to have a successful asylum is to have the lunatics run it!

All praise our GTA overlords!

[Keegan]

Everyone, just bow to your betters in Toronto already. They can't play in Vancouver because there's artificial turf! They can't play in Montreal because the stadium's not built yet! They can't play in Moncton because, um, spiders! Kneel and accept yet another reaming handed out to the rest of Canada by our southeastern Ontario overlords as the CSA takes our registration fees and gives us nothing in return but the shaft.

We must keep up the momentum that's seen us win once and draw three times in World Cup qualifiers all-time at BMO Field, all three of those draws being unbelievably disappointing results we should have won! We must keep up the momentum that's seen support for the national team in Toronto skyrocket, from a disappointing 21,978 fans for World Cup qualifying in 2008 to a remarkably strong 11,500, 12,178, and 10,375 fans for the last three games!

We must give the players from Toronto whatever they want, because the best way to have a successful asylum is to have the lunatics run it!

All praise our GTA overlords!

Get a clue, LB. Seriously, the only thing the logic from the west is convincing me to do right now is buy some BC bud.

[Lord Bob]

So are you going to tell me where I'm wrong, or is it just your inherent Ontario superiority which convinces you that I must be?