and I can’t say its a bad idea. While it’s always awesome to be able to attend Gold Cup matches which are invariably played somewhere within driving distance, it doesn’t really make sense to always have them in the states. Every Gold Cup has been played in the US, including two they shared with Mexico. The next Gold Cup will be in the US, but after that CONCACAF has not decided.
Obviously there are factors that keep it here, namely money and the relatively broad audience in the US. It’s not like we’ve had a drastic home-field advantage in all of these Gold Cup games. They are regularly better attended by fans of nations less than a tenth of our size. It does make sense to have the tournament in the US regularly, but permanently is a different thing.
Also there aren’t many other countries in CONCACAF that could handle a tournament of this size. The best thing CONCACAF and Jeff Webb could do to fix this is to circulate the tournament between regions rather than individuals countries. Antigua nor Barbuda could handle hosting the Gold Cup, but the entire Carribean could surely figure out a way to do it. The same goes (likely even better) for Central America. Games split throughout these regions and cycled through top stadiums in each of these countries is a totally viable solution. Mexico and the US would each be able to host entirely unaided of course, and Canada could likely do the same. The Gold Cup shouldn’t be here every year. As much as I love being able to attend, and despite how much more money the US will generally bring in, it really shouldn’t. Maybe this is a sign that the Sepp Blatter appointed Webb has more on his mind than money, unlike Jack Warner.
In the same interview Webb suggested moving the HQ of CONCACAF to Miami, a good idea which he has suggested before (its much more centrally located for everyone involved exscept Canada), although there are a few issues with getting it done. Primarily the number of votes that countries other than the US have.
The Head Quarters is, by rule, to be in the hometown of the General Secretary. As Chuck Blazer resigned as the GenSec in January and Ted Howard has been filling the role on an interim basis, the HQ stayed in Blazers hometown of New York. New Gen Sec Enrique Sanz is Colombian born but has lived in Miami for 13 years. According to CONCACAF rules I believe this means that the HQ will moved to Miami. Sanz was unanimously voted into his new position.
Webb also suggested holding a Women’s Gold Cup, again the right thing to do and a great way to take better advantage of the off year in the women’s calendar, but its unclear how practical this might be. It’s great to see that Webb is not running to the quick money, but to what is inherently good for the game, but Women’s tournaments around the world are notorious cash-holes. I would love to see a Women’s Gold Cup, don’t get me wrong. It would be great for the game in the US and likely an easy trophy to add, but it’ll be interesting to see where the money comes from.
Montreal Impact at Philadelphia Union
Saturday, July 14, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. ET
PPL Park | Chester, Pennsylvania
The Union take on the Montreal Impact tonight in Chester. Many expected this to be the first MLS game for Italian Centerback Allesandro Nesta but he has not traveled with the team and will not be playing. The only recently signed international defender who will likely play tonight is Swiss Dennis Iapichino. M Felipe and captain M Davy Arnaud will both return from one game suspensions for Yellow Card Accumulation, although F Sanna Nyassi will miss the game for the same reason. They also just traded Justin Braun to RSL and Tyson Wahl to Colorado.
Unavailable (Montreal) : Out: D Matteo Ferrari, D Nelson Rivas, D Alessandro Nesta, F Bernardo Corradi, F Andrew Wenger, F Sanna Nyassi (Yellow Card Susp.).
Unavailable (Union): F Hoffman, M Michael Farfan (right groin strain), M Cristhian Hernandez (left ankle sprain), Doubtful: D Bakary Soumare, Probable: GK Z MacMath
Ray Gaddis & Carlos Valdes were on previous injury lists for this game, but have been removed. Soumare has also been slowly moving towards becoming available. While it is unlikely he makes today’s roster, he looks to be coming in soon.
This game is not unlike the last the Union played. Toronto has gotten much press for the changes that new coach Aron Winter has made to turn around the team since midseason. Montreal hasn’t yet seen the “impact” on the field from many of the changes they have made, losing three of their last four games, but the changes have been much more recent. There are high expectations on many of the names that Montreal has already brought in during the current transfer window. They’ve got a record that is far below their current talent level and have changed from a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 and began to reap the results with a win at home against Columbus.
Also of note…
-Zarek Valentin and Andrew Wenger are both players with experience for US youth international teams and were both born and raised in Lancaster, PA.
-Former Zolos Shavar Thomas and Justin Mapp are also a part of the team. Thomas may be forced into substantial playing time due to injury and Mapp has been a regular for the team.
-Carlos Valdes and Collen Warner are both one yellow card from receiving a one-match suspension.
-The Impact lead the league in PK’s, both offensively and defensively. They have also committed the most fouls, been called offsides the most times and received the most yellow cards.
Expected Starting Lineups
SKC:
Ricketts; Brovsky, Thomas, Camara, Valentin; Warner, Bernier, Mapp, Felipe, Arnaud; Di Vaio
PHI:
MacMath; G. Farfan, Valdes, Okugo, Williams; Daniel, Carroll, Gomez; Adu, McInerney, Pajoy
The game will be shown on CSN.
A lot of fans in the greater Philadelphia area were hoping to root for Bolton as a second team and many kept tabs on Seba’s season thus far up north, supporting him all the way. That kind of support got a lot more complicated today as the NYRB officially announced a trade which will send Sebastian Le Toux to Harrison New Jersey and Jamaican winger Dane Richards to Vancouver. The move allows the Red Bull to fill a gap as Richards had been replaced by Jan Gunar Soli on the wing of late due to solid RB play from Brandon Barklage. Richards will be able to play alongside Jamaican countryman Darren Mattocks and add much speed to a hole at right wing for Vancouver. It seems to be a very good trade for both teams, but for the Union and their supporters its hard to imagine. The best player in the first three years of our clubs existence now plays for our only real rival. Is it possible to still root for a player you respect as much as Philly has grown to respect Le Toux when they play for one of the top teams in the league and your biggest rival? The Union play NYRB at Red Bull Arena one week from today, Saturday July 21st, and that question will surely come up more than a few times between then and now.
bpmangan
mattsant16
Pat
