Actually, I do know Dale quite well and have played with him, against him and for him. Arguably one of the best coaches I have ever had (I also played a short time under George Burley, Scotland's current manager, and I learn more from the game from Dale than Burley).
In saying that, I have no problem with the fact that if a coach doesn't qualify his team, than he should go.
My real issue is that most people make it out that Dale IS the reason. Dale IS NOT the reason and the reason is much more complicated. For example:
- We aren't very good at the sport at the present time (not Dale's fault)
- the National team has some good players, but not great! (not Dale's fault)
- Our best players stunk during qualifying, were outplayed by other teams best players in crappier leagues and haven't owned up to it. (not Dale's fault)
- We have no league of our own. MLS will NEVER be OUR league. (not Dale's fault)
- We have no investment in youth programs, Provincial Associations highjack and limit progressive clubs (besides the semi and pro clubs that they now bow down to) from progressing the youth game further and that is not going to change until we get a program like junior hockey and supply handful and handful of domestically grown talent. (not Dale's fault)
- The CSA is in shambles. (not Dale's fault)
You can say that Dale got his tactics wrong. Sure. I think Alex Ferguson get's his tactics wrong from time to time but to blame the whole thing on Dale is ridiculous, immature and unitelligent... or maybe just ignorant. Comments like these shows it...
He's qualified us for 2 of the last 3 World Youth Cups (the 3rd one we didn't have to) and got us within extra time of beating Spain and moving on to the semifinals. Over his head? Comments like these usually follow the "we should have hired Stephen Hart as coach". A guy who has never qualified Canada for any World Youth tournaments and never won any CONCACAF qualifying tournaments. How is he more qualified? He's now our technical director.
BINGO!
Because they see the bigger picture? Most of the coaching alum that I talk to, coach with/against, respect and listen to what they say are old pros from the NASL days or spent time over in Europe. Very few of them blame Dale. They may say he did this wrong and got that wrong but that's it.
Firing him is not the issue for me. Spending more money that we don't have on someone else like Holgier Osiek (who also didn't qualify us) will find the same issues - we have a decent player playing in Spains top league and then... Like Dale said, we're not good enough. Neither was the MNT U20's a few years back here in Canada. If we weren't hosting, we wouldn't have qualified. That has nothing to do with tactics!
Actually, I do know Dale quite well and have played with him, against him and for him. Arguably one of the best coaches I have ever had (I also played a short time under George Burley, Scotland's current manager, and I learn more from the game from Dale than Burley).
In saying that, I have no problem with the fact that if a coach doesn't qualify his team, than he should go.
My real issue is that most people make it out that Dale IS the reason. Dale IS NOT the reason and the reason is much more complicated. For example:
- We aren't very good at the sport at the present time (not Dale's fault)
- the National team has some good players, but not great! (not Dale's fault)
- Our best players stunk during qualifying, were outplayed by other teams best players in crappier leagues and haven't owned up to it. (not Dale's fault)
- We have no league of our own. MLS will NEVER be OUR league. (not Dale's fault)
- We have no investment in youth programs, Provincial Associations highjack and limit progressive clubs (besides the semi and pro clubs that they now bow down to) from progressing the youth game further and that is not going to change until we get a program like junior hockey and supply handful and handful of domestically grown talent. (not Dale's fault)
- The CSA is in shambles. (not Dale's fault)
You can say that Dale got his tactics wrong. Sure. I think Alex Ferguson get's his tactics wrong from time to time but to blame the whole thing on Dale is ridiculous, immature and unitelligent... or maybe just ignorant. Comments like these shows it...
He's qualified us for 2 of the last 3 World Youth Cups (the 3rd one we didn't have to) and got us within extra time of beating Spain and moving on to the semifinals. Over his head? Comments like these usually follow the "we should have hired Stephen Hart as coach". A guy who has never qualified Canada for any World Youth tournaments and never won any CONCACAF qualifying tournaments. How is he more qualified? He's now our technical director.
BINGO!
Because they see the bigger picture? Most of the coaching alum that I talk to, coach with/against, respect and listen to what they say are old pros from the NASL days or spent time over in Europe. Very few of them blame Dale. They may say he did this wrong and got that wrong but that's it.
Firing him is not the issue for me. Spending more money that we don't have on someone else like Holgier Osiek (who also didn't qualify us) will find the same issues - we have a decent player playing in Spains top league and then... Like Dale said, we're not good enough. Neither was the MNT U20's a few years back here in Canada. If we weren't hosting, we wouldn't have qualified. That has nothing to do with tactics!
That's clearly a forgotten point, too...and quite fair.
I'll put it in a different scenario for you though...
Often times in the business world, there are companies that are sitting right on the cusp of success...to moving to the next level. How do you make the jump? Well, in most companies there are certain deficiencies that need to be corrected, investments made, and risks to be taken.
Usually, in order to make the next step, the company will do two things:
~First, direct the focus towards the #1 product, service, target market, and / or combination. You identify where the largest potential for success is, and you center your goals around the success of that focus.
~Second, place a leader at the helm that will motivate and push his staff, as well as identify shortcomings within the system, and put systems in place to ensure long term success.
In this case, the MNT is the most important division of this organization, and the leader of this division needs to be the best they can afford.
This is a real simplistic and Cole’s notes version, but often times business and sports are closely compared because both are highly competitive...so often times the comparison is relevant.
Regs...I clearly remember that you, along with several of us, were as optimistic as ever about the MNT's chances of success following the Gold Cup. Optimism was as high as I can remember since we actually made it to the WC.
Now, the CSA as an organization clearly had its deficiencies. We hear and read about some of the things they are trying to implement to overcome these deficiencies. It's a massive undertaking. That being said, the #1 goal every 4 years HAS to be to qualify for the WC.
Jonesey...all you arguments are damning...I just can't disagree. I know it's not Dales fault. That being said, he wasn't a difference maker either.
You can't tell me we don't have the pure talent to compete in CONCACAF. We do. I agree it would take those players playing their best to actually qualify, but that is a given. So, when you have a fractured system that is slowly but surely trying to repair itself, yet this goal of qualifying is staring you in the face, what should an organization do? A leader that is qualified for the task at hand has to be put in place. In our case, I will boldly declare that the CSA FUBARed this hiring.
Mitchell...God love him for what he's done for our sport in this country, the player he was, and the obvious positive impact he's had on the youth. He's a bright light in the dark tunnel that is Canadian Soccer. But, he wasn't the right guy in the first place. He was not qualified, and he did not have the credentials. These players need to respect the guy at the helm. They need to know that the guy has been there, done that…either as a player, or better, as a coach.
So, back to my point…the CSA may be making strides in fixing the many problems of a fractured system. That being said, they have erred badly w/ this hiring. Dale should have been left in place where he was, and brought in as an assistant to learn under more experienced guidance. Would the players have thrown that coach under the bus? Who the fcuk knows….and they deserve as much if not more blame than Dale. But, as they say, you can’t just fire the talent, or remove the working pieces available on the board. You can change the leadership.
And there you have the main reason that Canada failed this go around. The players did not play their best, or rather, key players did not play their best.You can't tell me we don't have the pure talent to compete in CONCACAF. We do. I agree it would take those players playing their best to actually qualify, but that is a given
Before moving on, I need to clarify one thing here that drives me nuts:
Mitchell was not hired AFTER he "failed" at the U20s. He was promoted to the position before the tourney began. Splitting hairs? Maybe, but not when people use the mis-information to bolster their points/position.
And there you have the main reason that Canada failed this go around. The players did not play their best, or rather, key players did not play their best.
Yes I was stoked at the start of the campaign - I don't think anyone saw the sub-performances coming from so many.
Canada is world class. We just need two starters and two good subs. We need a sixfoot three centere mid strong on the ball and in the air,.