Sorry for the lack of writing updates Thursday and Friday - I was dealing with some things related to an upcoming move on Thursday and ptting out three podcasts Friday
So the CSA has a press conference Monday to tell us what it's plans are for the 2010 season. I applaud the effort to actually get information out. That's an improvement over past years. So, regardless of what is said at the presser, it's good that the organization realizes that it needs to communicate with the Canadian people to have any hope of one day mattering to them.
As I've reported several times now, a high ranking CSA official contacted me (unsolicited) a few weeks back to tell me that the organization planned to play between 30-35 friendlies between now (well, then) and the start of 2014 qualifying (which should be in the spring of 2012).
Two down (Poland and Macedonia) 33 to go.
If Monday's press conference is to formally announce that then I applaud the organization. It's one thing to whisper it in the ear of a blogger with an audience of the obsessed and clinically deranged. It's another to tell mainstream media, with an audience of the guy that goes to four TFC games a year and thinks it's swell that the kids in the south end of the stadium are having so much fun.
In a perfect world, the CSA would actually announce teams and dates -- at home! -- for the 2010 versions of the 33 remaining friendlies. Maybe a little tournament down at BMO - Four teams, four games, all the money goes to the CSA. Remember the old Canada Cups they held back about a decade ago? That sort of thing. Start to sell the tickets now and maybe you actually make some money on it too!
Make it an annual thing -- the BMO Challenge -- and invite one or more old world teams so you can draw in more fans (before the hardcore Voyageurs lose their mind on that point think of it this way. You can't get rid of the Eurosnobs. You can't. The best thing you can then do is figure out a way to take their money).
I have a suggestion for this summer. Scotland. And maybe Ireland. Invite the USA as the fourth team and hold the series in early May (the US would use it as a final prep before heading to South Africa. Honduras would be a good second choice invite).
Imagine this weekend down at BMO: Wednesday - Canada vs USA, Thursday - Scotland vs Ireland, Saturday - 3rd place game, Sunday - final.
I'd pay to see that. I bet others would too.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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5 comments:
sounds like a good plan
but this is the CSA we are talking about. So nothing will happen until 5 minutes before a deadline is due.
I'm so used to objected games at BMO because of the turf. And i was just about to say as a USA fan that i don't want them to play canada if it is on BMO's turf. But it is great that doesn't matter anymore. I would love that friendly to be part of our WC preprations.
Wouldn't the US rather play Ireland than us? Wouldn't it be a better preparation? But the idea is awesome. I'd travel to TO for that.
I'd make the trip for that definitely..A great excuse to take a few days off from slacking at work and come down to Toronto..
I'd come down to see Portugal or how about Italy. I know these choices are a wee bit in the clouds but with the large Portuguese and Italian populations in Toronto the turnout would be huge. Remember when cronaldo made his appearance at BMO with Real this past summer ;)
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