After a winter hibernation where my laptop quit on me and work became a lot busier, I am finally going to start posting again. Here is what is coming up:
The state of football on the south coast, with 9 of the 13 teams there in a relegation fight I am going to look at just what is going on down there.
A closer look at World Cup Qualifying with the tournament just over 400 days away.
If there is anything that you want to see drop me a line.
Cheers,
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Examples for the CSA and Dale Mitchell
As the next stage of World Cup Qualifying draws near, I for one am shocked that Dale Mitchell is still the coach of Canada. In every match that he has coached he has gotten the tactics wrong, in the first match he even got the team selection wrong. I think along with most Canadian Football fans that the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) should have sacked Mitchell after the Honduras match when Canada were sitting on 1 point after two home matches. Then he went to Mexico and played negative tactics aimed at getting a 0-0 draw, but it wasn't until Mexico scored twice that he realized that he should maybe try to score a goal, which Canada was able to do. Our squad has the talent and we are being destroyed by poor coaching. I don't think that I am alone in thinking that Mitchell should be sacked, maybe I expect too much from a coach of a national team? Let's have a look at what has happened around the world since Canada's loss in Mexico.
We'll start in Jamaica. Jamaica are in the same group as Canada, and have exactly the same record as Canada, though Canada are ahead of them on goal difference. After Jamaica's loss to Honduras they SACKED their coach Rene Simoes because of his poor results. It is important to note a few things here: One, most observers would tell you that on paper Jamaica has the worst team in the group and Two, Jamaica has yet to play a home game. So one would assume that if Mitchell were in charge of Jamaica he would have been fired.
Moving further south to Colombia, Colombia sit in 6th place in the South American qualifying only 3 points behind an automatic place and 2 points out of a playoff place with 10 matches to go. There results to date include a 0-0 draw at home to Brasil and a 2-1 victory over Argentina also at home. But after a two defeats to Uruguay (0-1 at home) and Chile (4-0 away) they have sacked their manager Jorge Luis Pinto because they were worried that the team was heading in the wrong direction. Also adding that the goal was to qualify for the World Cup, one would assume that Dale Mitchell would have only made it through 2 or 3 matches with Colombia before he would have been sacked.
If we jump over to Asia we find two interesting examples. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) their coach Bruno Metsu resigned after 2 defeats leaving UAE in last place in their qualifying group. Most people are surprised that the UAE made it this far, and yes Metsu is the coach that took Senegal a long way in the 2002 World Cup. Metsu has since taken over Qatar as they have fired their manager Jorge Fossati because he was going to take too long to recover from a stomach surgery. That was a bit Harsh if you ask me, which is whyQatar sacking their coach isn't one of my examples. For this you have to look at Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan are in a group with England, Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus and Andorra. The Kazakhs have played three matches so far, a 3-0 victory over Andorra (which is more than England managed), a 3-0 loss away to Croatia, and a 3-1 loss at home to Ukraine. In predicting this group I would put Kazakhstan to beat out Andorra and be near Belarus, but the Kazakhstan FA wants more! They sacked their coach after winning a game he was expected to win and lossing two games most people expected them to lose. It may be a little foolhardy but at least it shows some ambition. So Dale Mitchell you could have followed Metsu's example and stepped down recognizing your own sub par preformance led to Canada being in a place where we must win all of our matches to have a chance, just a chance to make it to the next stage of World Cup Qualifying. CSA you could show Canadians and the world that you believe our squad is good enough, you could show us that you want Canada in the World Cup, and you want us there in 2010!!
CSA you missed your window to fire Dale Mitchell when it would have helped Canada make it to 2010 now we are firmly in the it would take a miracle range. Please fire Mitchell before we end up figuring out that the World Cup in 2014 is over 2000 days away! If you are happy with his preformance then it is you that we should be looking at replacing.
We'll start in Jamaica. Jamaica are in the same group as Canada, and have exactly the same record as Canada, though Canada are ahead of them on goal difference. After Jamaica's loss to Honduras they SACKED their coach Rene Simoes because of his poor results. It is important to note a few things here: One, most observers would tell you that on paper Jamaica has the worst team in the group and Two, Jamaica has yet to play a home game. So one would assume that if Mitchell were in charge of Jamaica he would have been fired.
Moving further south to Colombia, Colombia sit in 6th place in the South American qualifying only 3 points behind an automatic place and 2 points out of a playoff place with 10 matches to go. There results to date include a 0-0 draw at home to Brasil and a 2-1 victory over Argentina also at home. But after a two defeats to Uruguay (0-1 at home) and Chile (4-0 away) they have sacked their manager Jorge Luis Pinto because they were worried that the team was heading in the wrong direction. Also adding that the goal was to qualify for the World Cup, one would assume that Dale Mitchell would have only made it through 2 or 3 matches with Colombia before he would have been sacked.
If we jump over to Asia we find two interesting examples. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) their coach Bruno Metsu resigned after 2 defeats leaving UAE in last place in their qualifying group. Most people are surprised that the UAE made it this far, and yes Metsu is the coach that took Senegal a long way in the 2002 World Cup. Metsu has since taken over Qatar as they have fired their manager Jorge Fossati because he was going to take too long to recover from a stomach surgery. That was a bit Harsh if you ask me, which is whyQatar sacking their coach isn't one of my examples. For this you have to look at Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan are in a group with England, Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus and Andorra. The Kazakhs have played three matches so far, a 3-0 victory over Andorra (which is more than England managed), a 3-0 loss away to Croatia, and a 3-1 loss at home to Ukraine. In predicting this group I would put Kazakhstan to beat out Andorra and be near Belarus, but the Kazakhstan FA wants more! They sacked their coach after winning a game he was expected to win and lossing two games most people expected them to lose. It may be a little foolhardy but at least it shows some ambition. So Dale Mitchell you could have followed Metsu's example and stepped down recognizing your own sub par preformance led to Canada being in a place where we must win all of our matches to have a chance, just a chance to make it to the next stage of World Cup Qualifying. CSA you could show Canadians and the world that you believe our squad is good enough, you could show us that you want Canada in the World Cup, and you want us there in 2010!!
CSA you missed your window to fire Dale Mitchell when it would have helped Canada make it to 2010 now we are firmly in the it would take a miracle range. Please fire Mitchell before we end up figuring out that the World Cup in 2014 is over 2000 days away! If you are happy with his preformance then it is you that we should be looking at replacing.
Friday, September 12, 2008
South America World Cup Qualifying – The Road to South Africa 2010
Things in South America are continuing, there were a few surprises in the last round of matches. Colombia had been playing well but was spanked by Chile 4-0, they will need to rebound quickly from this as there next match is at home to leaders Paraguay. Paraguay have continued to play well and have built up a four point lead at the top of the table. Paraguay won at home to Venezuela and drew away to Argentina but they really opened up a gap because Brazil and Argentina both drew their last matches. Brazil was at home to Bolivia, a match that they should have won easily. I am sure that even though Brazil are tied for 2nd with ten games to go Dunga must be feeling some pressure. Argentina followed up their draw at home to Paraguay with a draw at Peru. Manchester United striker got another red card for his country, which is certain to put him in the coaches bad book. Not a lot have changed since my intial predictions, despite poor results Brazil & Argentina will advance, Paraguay is looking more likely to join. Colombia are going to struggle to stay in the hunt. It will be an interesting last ten matches.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying – The Road to South Africa 2010
Group 1 - I was wrong again. T & T came out and beat Cuba in Cuba which wasn't how I thought that would go down. Cuba are in big trouble and I no longer see them advancing from this group. USA has won all of their matches and are cruising in 1st place, I would say that they are a lock for the next round. The race is on between Guatemala & Trinidad & Tobago, I think that Guatemala may have the edge here, a lot depends on when Jones is available for T & T.
Group 2 - Wrong again, this is getting old. I had predicted that Canada would get some joy from their home matches, but they are sitting in third place on one point. There is technically still a chance that Canada can progress in second place, but though I really really want it to happen, I just can't see it. I think that Mexico & Honduras will advance.
Group 3 - A ha! I finally got one right Costa Rica & El Salvador find themselves in the same situation as Mexico & Honduras in group two with the 3rd & 4th place teams 5 points back of 2nd. I see them advancing without much trouble.
The Next Stage - So the amended prediction is that USA, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, & El Salvador will make up the final six. I think that El Salvador are a team on a role and could cause some upsets along the way. Though it will likely be USA, Mexico, & Honduras that advance with Costa Rica in the playoff against South America.
Group 2 - Wrong again, this is getting old. I had predicted that Canada would get some joy from their home matches, but they are sitting in third place on one point. There is technically still a chance that Canada can progress in second place, but though I really really want it to happen, I just can't see it. I think that Mexico & Honduras will advance.
Group 3 - A ha! I finally got one right Costa Rica & El Salvador find themselves in the same situation as Mexico & Honduras in group two with the 3rd & 4th place teams 5 points back of 2nd. I see them advancing without much trouble.
The Next Stage - So the amended prediction is that USA, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, & El Salvador will make up the final six. I think that El Salvador are a team on a role and could cause some upsets along the way. Though it will likely be USA, Mexico, & Honduras that advance with Costa Rica in the playoff against South America.
Oceania World Cup Qualifying – The Road to South Africa 2010
Well I was wrong. New Calendonia didn't have a huge shock in them, let alone the two that I called for. New Zealand have wrapped up the playoff spot and have a meaningless match against Fiji while they await their Asian opponent. I can't see New Zealand beating the Asian team, but who knows maybe they have a big performance in them.
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