Bottom line: this isn’t about stroking egos or making the players feel good about themselves. This is about the next level for the USMNT, and that is Copa America.

The Copa America would provide a perfect opportunity for this, but instead the powers that be think it more important to beat up on Jamaica…

I can’t believe how people are wildly missing the point on this.

Donovan plays that kind of competition on a regular basis? You have got to be kidding me. At least Howard and Onyewu are in the Prem, but even that is no substitute for tough/harsh international competition.

You are completely missing the point, and the complacency that you represent is the exact reason why US mens soccer has accomplished nothing on the world stage and will not in the near future.

I agree with your “negativity” argument and its not necessarily the players that should be shit on, but the administrators and coaches who have not put them in the right situation to even have a shot at being competitive.

Honestly I think it will benifit guys like Borenstein, Mapp, Perkins, etc to play against a high caliber opononent more than it would Howard, Donovon, Onyewu or other players who have seen that level of competition and environment at the club and WC level.

If we get our asses kicked that might be embarassing, but I’m not sure of the tremendous benefit of doing well either. Does anybody really think that come 2010 we’ll be saying “if only Dempsey had played in the 07 CA we’d be hoisting the cup right now?”

Honestly, I think people are just looking for reasons to shit on the national team. I was pissed about the WC too, but take it easy on the negativity.

Obviously something is not working…if playing better competition will not help us prepare for hostile/better competition in the World Cup, then what will? Training at altitude or something…?

What exactly are your ideas? I really cannot fathom what people are not seeing here.

The Italians play the same team and learn to work together as a team and play great competition ALL the time.

What are we going to gain by playing a “B” team in the COPA?

I’m interested to hear your responses.

“didn?t offer much of an actual argument the other way.”
Click the link to the previous post.

“A bit needy, are we?”
Yes, but that’s beside the point. I was merely refuting Canales’ claim that the GC represents a trophy worth striving for in and of itself.

“And by the way, we are actually playing in Copa America, so we actually are going to play in front of those hostile crowds. So what was that rant exactly for?”
I’m happy that Chris Albright will be playing in the CA: he’ll be ready for the 2010 World Cup…when he experiences it as a fan. That rant was aimed at the notion that the players who need it the most won’t be included in the CA squad.

I’m not sure why I responded to any of that.

I’d prefer that we’d send our best to play in Copa America. While it would be nice to use it as time to scout our upcoming opponents, how much scouting do we need to figure out Haiti and Panama? Maybe I’m assuming way too much, but if CONCACAF gets 3 (or 3.5?) spots for the next Cup — it’ll probably be US, Mexico and roll-the-dice, right?

However, in Copa America, you know that South America is going to throw their best out there. Plus, it’ll be good experience to play against that style — since in all likelihood that’s the style we’ll play against should we get to the knockout round in WC2010 (no offense Trinidad & Tobago, but I don’t see it happening)

Would we be making the same choice if Gold Cup was set somewhere else, where the Fed/Sponsors aren’t as on the hook for guaranteeing attendance and nielsen numbers? I doubt it.

I hate to let facts get in the way of a wonderfully sculpted opinion, but in the land where I come from, a week is longer than 2 days. Yes, it’s true, I know it sounds all wacky and such, but get this: Gold Cup Final: June 24. U.S. vs. Argentina: June 28. I know, I know, it seems like 2 weeks, but really it’s not. Honest! I wouldn’t lie to you!

Beyond factual goofs, it’s fine that you disagree with Canales, but you didn’t offer much of an actual argument the other way. It was really clever that you picked apart her analogies, though. That really did the trick. Whoo! She said Kournikova! What drugs is she on?

You say that you don’t care about respect, while at the same time saying that “no one cares about CONCACAF.” Really? Is that really your argument? So let’s say everyone cared about CONCACAF…would that mean they respect CONCACAF, so we should then play in the Gold Cup? But surely the “no one cares” comment couldn’t be your argument, because that would mean that you not only care about respect, you’re begging for it. A bit needy, are we?

And by the way, we are actually playing in Copa America, so we actually are going to play in front of those hostile crowds. So what was that rant exactly for?

She makes an Anna Kournikova analogy in an article about US mens soccer? That says it all. She should be fired immediately…

Anna Kournikova?! WTF?! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think she even competes in tennis tournaments anymore which would create a more accurate analogy for the US mens team after we go through with this absolutely horrendous plan. Years and years ahead of us of not competing…

At least Landon might still be able to model in the upcoming years like Anna does. (we have all seen his work)…