Gulati Considering Gold Cup-Copa America Double Header

Hopefully, by 2009, MLS will be on the same season as the European leagues, and the full compliment of players will be available for summer international competition.

I think combining the Gold Cup and the Copa America to create a European Championship-esque (with qualifying) tournament is the best long term solution.

Also, it’s time to consider changes to the MLS’s season. It either needs to be pushed forward or back.

That being said, why not send MLS players to teh Gold Cup, and the European based players to the Copa America?

That would be great for the US team!

Chris- I hope someday the MLS has the same schedule as Europe, but 2009 is a bit early. (did you read that somewhere?)

Do you think there’s enough interest right now? I think maybe in a decade there may be (after South Africa 2010)

I seem to recall seeing a discussion with Garber where he talked about needing soccer-only stadiums and entertaining the possibility of the switch once that was in place. By 2009, most MLS teams will have soccer facilities.

I guess a lot has to do with the willingness to make drastic changes. I think recognizing the league winner for the first time this year, separate from the playoffs, is a start. The league has made a lot of progress in ten years.

What!!! the US will never be as good as the Europeans or Latin American league. There is no style and the pay is awful.

Excellent news about the CA. I go way back on this to the first time we snubbed the Copa in 1997. There are a million threads on BigSoccer about this and most of the opinion favors me.

s/favors me/favors my position/

Can the MLS season really be changed? Especially with our northern teams, and Toronto FC joining in, it seems like it would be difficult to play through the winter months. Don’t the Scandanavian countries play through the summer as well?

Is there any way for the U.S. team to take part in 2007 tournament, or do we wait till 09?

It certainly is good news that they are changing their attitude on this. Now, for that coaching change..

Karl,

I don’t really want to see MLS go to a fall-to-spring schedule because of the conflict with NFL, etc. But at the very least, they should be able to move the season up a month. If that means two or three cold games in New England and Toronto, so be it. Not great for crowds, obviously, but not worth passing up the Copa America for.

I hope the US can train there players a little harder so they can play 2007 and have a chance to win.. That would make me very happy:). My Fav. country is the US, Canada is fun but you can’t beat the US i love there country to damn much;)

As others have noted, MLS on a fall to spring schedule will never happen. The schedule of sport is overbooked already then with NFL, NHL, and NBA. MLS’s schedule is currently picked so that for the bulk of the season the only competion is MLB. I can’t see them trying to take on three of the big four…

The USA should definitely compete in the Copa America as often as possible and a pan-American copa is a good idea which would benefit football across the Americas.

I still have memories of Copa America ‘95 which was hosted (and won) by Uruguay. Somehow (thank you, sponsors!) it was broadcast in Malaysia, so those in Singapore caught some of it.

It was the immediate post-Milutinovic era. Steve Sampson took charge of the team and it got some respect at the Copa, most notably by defeating a complacent Argentina side 3-0!

I was – and still am – disappointed that the USA does not take part regularly in the Copa America.

No disrespect meant to the other Concacaf members, but national teams need decent and competitive fixtures on a regular basis to stay sharp.

Think about it, Team USA.

I would suggest we look to Germany as the best framework for a schedule for MLS. They start in ealy August and have a month or more break when it is too cold in the dead of winter. that way we could have a month or so with no competition at all and we would not go head to head with NFL playoffs or college bowl games

anything that can help the US team prepare itsself for ‘big’ tourney has got to help. USSF must have every option on the table, because if they don’t it stay what it is today: just some sport you take the kiddies to saturday morning so mom and dad can have some alone time. the US has to get over the mentality that” why should we bother with soccer ,its just some sissy sport”, because that attitude is starting to carry over into other realms…if you know what i mean.

Yes, I agree with James. Start in August. Run it through sometime in December. There’s enough warm-weather cities to start up again in February and start the playoffs in April or so.

MLS will do well to ignore the voices who shout that it will “never be…” this or that. A strict adherance to fundamental principles and a long-term vision and MLS can be the #5 or #6 league in the world in ten years — certainly by 2020. We all know the top 4 may be tough to crack, but look what’s happening in Italy… you never know…

Speaking of MLS. How about Dempsey’s second goal against Red Bull yesterday? I was watching with the volume off (after 2 cup games my wife could take more) and I could have sworn he was offsides because the defense looked like it was standing still and Meola literally did stand still as the ball went past him (lay down Tony). He simply made it look way too easy. Why hasn’t this guy been signed to the EPL yet? There have to be some teams that could use him. What about the promtion teams? What about Fulham; he might fit in nicely for Steed Mabranque if given the chance, right?

Good post Tony:

The US, like Australia, needs to play some competitive games (which are tough to find in the CONCACAF/OCEANIA). However, we still need to play against reional foes so that they are better for having played us.

good point about the Germany league. I think once MLS teams have their own stadiums that would be a great possibility (I am sick of seeing soccer played with football hashmarks or baseball diamonds)

Bruce Arena, has done all He can for US Soccer but now we need a world class coach, like Argentinian coach Pekerman, or a Brasilian coach, but we need a leader that will not choke in a difficult game and one who knows when to make substitutions and what to do, to inspire his players.
Arena must sdmit, He is not up to par for the next world cup. Maybe we need a guy like Klinsman to create an exciting new team without the old broken busted legs like Reyna,Owiguchi,Pope and other players who do not contribute a thing to the team.
Thank you Mr. Arena but your era has ended…..

I was at the Italy-US game and want to make two quick points:

1) Italy bought the ref. I cannot believe any other scenario is possible, especially given the recent events in Serie A’s legal woes.

2) Gooch was the only reason that we eaked out a point in that game. He was flat against Czech (as was the entire team, starting with golden-child Donovan) but he almost single-handedly saved the tie with Italy. “Old broken busted legs”???? He’s 24 and is one of a handful of national-team players that actually plays in Europe, albeit in Belgium.

Shepherd

I’m pretty sure Parreira (Brazil’s coach) and Pekerman (Arg’s coach) just got knocked out because of terrible starting selections and in game substitutions.

Van Basten, a Dutch coach, refused to play his best striker, Van Nistelroy, because he didnt’ fit well into the coach’s 4-3-3 system.

My point: European and South American fetishism needs to stop. There are plenty of good coaches that know the game that are not from those places. We need a good coach, but would we want Zico and his 3-6-1 (ala Sampson) just because he’s Brazilian?

As for the Ziko question, YES. Once every week, and twice on Sunday.

The difference is that those coaches, at this point in time, know the game a lot better than our coaches for a variety of reasons. When you combine that knowledge with the player talant of Ziko, you cannot go wrong.

By the way, Ziko did a decent job in Japan. I saw two of their games – they were controlling most of the match with Australia and played a decent Croatia team to a time. They scored 1st against Brazil.

I am not saying Ziko is our TOP option – that is Klinsmann – but we definitely do needa Euro / So. American coach.

USA needs to raise their game to the level of Europe and S. America. They’re style of play is too simple, too basic to be effective. The players are too slow and the long balls down the middle of the field are easy pray for an average defender, let alone world class competition. We need to get out of our own way and realize that the best players are not in the MLS because that’s not where the best soccer is played. For Wynalda to state at the beginning of the tournament that he thinks USA will be Brazil in the final is typical of the bias of the commentators. Tell it like it is. Let’s get real here, we have a long way to go to compete and with all due respect our commentators aren’t helping, they’re ex-players and they just reinforce the lack of sophistication in US soccer.

I don’t know what the US team needs but Arena must go. We need a world class coach with a 4-2-4 formation
We need a team that scores goals constantly and effectively.

We definitely need a new coach, but players drive formations, not vice versa.

A 4-2-4 with the US talent level would be an absolute joke. Who would be the two midfielders? What forwards can hold up the ball?

Arena used a defensive formation because we lack talented midfielders: I find it hysterical he plays a 4-5-1 and gets panned for 1 loss and 2 draws, but the Trinidad coach plays a 6-3-1, gets the same results, and is considered a genius.

Until the US produces Claudio Reynas and John O’Briens on a consistent basis, we continually have to clog the midfield.

now all of u will see USA teams true quality: garbage! they wont even be able to compete with Peru or Venezuela…cmon guys!!! i hope for your ignorances’s sake that u learn the the US team sux, and that bruce arena is or was ur mvp…peace…btw this isnt football…its futbol

Hey, look at that, malik finally found his caps lock button. Congratulations malik! All the best to you and your frustrated Saudi brethren.

i have the greatest idea for world cup soccer for team usa

select a college school and send them and there marching band there to cheer on team usa we could never be beat

B.S. beside Brazil & Argentina US can beat any of the other teams in a good day matter of facts the us has beat some of them including Argentina in Copa America game.
Beside Brazil & Argentina and sometimes Uruguay (1930/50) the rest of the team are not consistence none of them has any big accomplish at the world cup level. Remember all this teams in S.A. are been playing at the international level a lot longer them the US.
Yes I think the US should get a new couch and participate in Copa America

The bigger the stage you play on, the better athlete you’ll attract. A yearly showdown with South American giants is something to inspire kids, much like playing in the Rose Bowl someday.

Sure, we’ll get killed for a while down there, but we can’t help but get better.

Malik-

I’m confident that in a neutral stadium, the US team can play against the mid tier teams of South America, like Chile, Peru, and Venezuela.

However, we will probably lose to Paraguay, Ecuador, and Uruguay, and lose convincingly to Argentina and Brazil.

But you learn a lot more from losing to better competition than beating up on minnows. Even if the US comes in dead last every tournament, we’d be better off for it.

I’ve read several comments and I agree. U.S.A. has no chance at Copa America. But at least they will have the opportunity to watch and learn.

xavi, in about 2 years the usa can beat everybody

Guys,

the US is fine. What we need is simple: constant competition against the best footballing nations. YEAR ROUND football is another concept that seems to work in other nations except ours. Why the heck is GULATI the head of US Soccer? We have an Indian guy who has never played soccer running US Soccer? GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! INDIAN GUY RUNNING US SOCCER …. LET ME REPEAT: INDIAN GUY RUNNING US SOCCER !

Have we all gone nuts ? I guarantee you that India would not allow an American to run their cricket program.

Another reason why US Soccer is still not where it should be: we are snobbish when we shouldn’t be. The Mexican League is one of the best soccer leagues in the world and we never send MLS teams nor kids teams down there because of the rivalry factor. Stop being moron snobs and take your freaking teams to BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, MEXICO … NOT SORRY SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND.

WE should CUT ALL members of US Soccer that have British accents. When was the last time the English won anything? All their Premiership teams are filled with foreigners. Stop being snobbish: learn from Brazilians, Argentines, and Spanish. oh and Germans and Italians.

GET RID OF GULATI! JESUS that is annoying …. please …

Since when does your country have to be the best in order for fans to passionate? Take a look around the world and you will see the vast majority of nations have little or no chance of being in the “best.” However, their fans still cheer like crazy and always dream of the big upset. I saw first hand some great US fan support in Germany. It is beginning to grow in MLS also. Copa America is great opportunity regardless of the results. Let’s hope Klinsman agrees to skip some casual time in Huntington Beach and lead a passionate US MNT.

After the more than disappointing show from the US team in 2006 World Cup, I fully support the idea of reaching out to other places and matching our skills up with any team in the world. The US team has great potential, and I believe (even though I don’t’ watch it) that the MLS is one of the best things for the US to grow in futbol and better them selves in it. I’m glad that Arena’s out and we’re trying something new. This leads me to believe that other new things will be given a chance- like competing in Copa America, adjusting the MLS schedule (however it may be done) so that we can use nothing but the best US players and not have to worry about depleting an MLS team because we want to prove ourselves on a national level. All this in turn might make the US a great futbol team, but only time can tell- and that we have a lot of.

>

United States Soccer Fan For Life

Go USA!!!

wOOt!!!

Guys,
the US is fine. What we need is simple: constant competition against the best footballing nations. YEAR ROUND football is another concept that seems to work in other nations except ours. Why the heck is GULATI the head of US Soccer? We have an Indian guy who has never played soccer running US Soccer? GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! INDIAN GUY RUNNING US SOCCER …. LET ME REPEAT: INDIAN GUY RUNNING US SOCCER !
Have we all gone nuts ? I guarantee you that India would not allow an American to run their cricket program.
Another reason why US Soccer is still not where it should be: we are snobbish when we shouldn’t be. The Mexican League is one of the best soccer leagues in the world and we never send MLS teams nor kids teams down there because of the rivalry factor. Stop being moron snobs and take your freaking teams to BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, MEXICO … NOT SORRY SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND.
WE should CUT ALL members of US Soccer that have British accents. When was the last time the English won anything? All their Premiership teams are filled with foreigners. Stop being snobbish: learn from Brazilians, Argentines, and Spanish. oh and Germans and Italians.
GET RID OF GULATI! JESUS that is annoying