The kneejerk reaction in most Canadian soccer circles over the TOAUSLNASL2.0 (that's how I'm going to write it from now on, I think) has been similar to the small child that puts his hands over his ears and screams "I can't hear you I Can't hear you I can't hear you" when he's told to go to bed.
Joe Soccer Fan wants to believe that everything will work itself out and that the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps will have a league to play in next year. In turn, the Voyageurs’ Cup will continue as if nothing changed and the winner will move on to play in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Maybe they are right. Hell, hopefully they are right. But, it's a bit silly to assume they are right.
Let's review what we know.
1 - Playing in a non-sanctioned league would be foolish, to say the least. So, the TOA cannot simply bully its way to the finish line. It must finesse its way to sanctioning.
2 - That sanctioning will have to come from the USSF. The CSA shut the door on a back door sanctioning at Monday's press conference.
3 - The USSF is nowhere near ready to move on sanctioning and there are plenty of rumours floating about that suggest that the NASL has done far less due diligence than it is letting on or that the USSF would like to see.
4 - A meeting between the USSF and the TOAUSLNASL2.0 in New York was far from promising. The two sides don't at all seem interested in compromise.
5 - The USL is threatening to sue everyone.
6 - It is unclear whether CONCACAF will recognize the Whitecaps or Impact if they are not playing in a sanctioned league. Therefore their potential participation in the CONCACAF Champions League is in doubt.
7 - CONCACAF has pulled CCL spots in the past when the teams in question have failed to meet certain requirements. So a direct bye for TFC is not a sure thing either.
8 - It's Dec. 10. We are less than four months away from the start of the 2010 season in North America.
That's a lot of balls in the air and not much time to catch them all. As Canadians our main concern has to be how to protect the Impact and Whitecaps. With only three fully pro teams in the country it would be a bit of a hit to have two of them mothballed for a year. Without sanctioning of the NASL, or a kiss and make up session with the USL, that's pretty much what they are staring at.
That is unless the CSA can find a loophole to allow the two clubs to play in 2010 and be recognized by CONCACAF for participation in the CCL. The easiest way for that to happen is to simply forge a deal with CONCACAF. Get on the phone to Trinidad and figure out a way to make it happen. Doing that would show that Canada actually put effort into its football governance (what with the lobbying and such) and that it might actually be getting a tiny bit of influence.
If CONCACAF insists on the two teams playing in a league for the year than there is an option – have Montreal play in the CSL and Vancouver in the PCSL. You could essentially play your reserve squad in the league games and your first team squad in an exhibition schedule along with the Voyageurs' Cup. Since the CSA already recognizes the CSL and PCSL there shouldn't be a problem in sanctioning the teams if they are involved in those leagues.
The best solution, of course, is for the TOAUSLNASL2.0 mess to get sorted out. But, if that doesn't happen -- and, again, DECEMBER 10 -- the CSA needs to have a plan B.
It didn't seem like there was a plan B on Monday. It seemed like the CSA was sitting back and waiting for the USSF to figure it out.
It's time to figure it out for ourselves.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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12 comments:
Duane,
Do you seriously think that no sanctionned 2nd division will come out of all this mess? I mean I highly doubt the USSF is gonna tell the 11-14 teams involved "sorry we decided after all this that there will be no 2nd division league next year so all you teams can just go away!"
Some kind sanctionned league has to come out of all of this whether its USL-1, the new NASL or a mix of both...
And this is why I come here, to hear all drama. I love it, it gives soccer/futbol more meaning to me. I feel like I'm keeping up with a "soap opera". In regards to TOA_NASL2.0. you'd think they would have dotted their i's and crossed all their t's before deciding to come out against the USL but it's looking more likely that they did not. What I can't believe is that the Whitecaps got caught up in this mess, from everything I've heard it seems as if though they have it all together, you'd think they would have done their do deligence before jumping the gun right along with Joey Suputo.
Yes, let's all get together and figure it out for ourselves.
And then once we've figured it out we'll write the USSF and tell them what to do.
While we're at it let's fix global warming and post-pardom depression too.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
The USSF isn't going to be able to force NASL to play in the USL. The NASL can easily not play next year. The USL as a Div 2 league is done. I also doubt that the USSF is going to destroy their 2nd division while FIFA's eyes are on them because of the 2018 WC bid. I'm guessing there will be a NASL Div. 2 next year.
The Leafs are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are only 5 points out of a playoff spot.
and they still haven't won anyting since 1967...
And yet are still more relevant than soccer in Canada.
The Leafs?
Boston: I can understand how watching TSN all the time and listening to Pierre McGuire drool over 18 year olds would make you think that.
But clear the fog from your mask and take a look around:
http://canadiansoccerblog.ca/2009/12/10/more-soccer-yay-more-hockey-nay/
Duane, to continue your analogy...regarding small children behaviour...your headlines are like the big sister who knows the soft spot; and she keeps poking and poking although you are crying and pleading with her to STOP. Your headlines are "almost" supported by your articles. And your MLS/TFC bias is painful like a persistent poke.
This is too Funny the CSA, that they have to have the USSF figure it out.The CSA is crap and NOBODY cares, Canada is always riding on the tail of the USA. USL is dead and NASL may or may not happen, NOBODY cares about a lower tier league. Now TFC can claim to be Canadian champs two years in a row.
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