retired_thoiyaba

I apologize for the error in flow. The comment about 3 consecutive world cups should have been at the bottom. I don't know what happened there.

retired_thoiyaba

THREE IN A ROW! Canada Defeats Honduras 2-0 To Clinch Third Sucessive World Cup Birth

Personal Thoughts, September 2nd, 2017

Unbelievable. Absolutely incredible. This is, by far, the most meaningful qualifying win of my career. Kid Master earned another win. He has very firmly cemented himself (and it's about time, some would say) as our starting keeper.

The scoring was simple - Jason Kindel in the 48th, and Daniel Johnson on a penalty in the 70th. Fantastic defense, fantastic goalkeeping. As a manager, that's all I could have asked for.

Our goal now is to avoid complacency at all costs. We've got a very difficult Mexico team up next, in just four days. We've never beaten them in an actual, competitive match, and that's something which I hope we can put a stop to, immediately, especially in light of what they did to us earlier in the round.

2-0 Win Over Honduras

retired_citygurl464

I'm really enjoying this! Which league are you on? (since I'm fairly sure the Canadian league isn't featured in FM). Decent number of regens?

retired_thoiyaba

Canada Falls To Mexico For Second Time, 3-1

retired_thoiyaba

continued from above, cause I'm a little trigger happy on the mouse apparently. hah.

Personal Thoughts, September 6, 2017

A nightmare game. That's all I can say. Mexico has always been a challenge, but we rolled over on this one.

Once again, we were down a goal early. Jamie Mendoza scored on a blistering strike in the second minute. It was pretty much downhill from there, but we did manage to tie the game in the 47th minute with a goal from David Hoillet. The Mexicans added two more, in the 49th and 85th to round out the scoring.

This isn't the kind of game we can play if we want success next year and beyond. We have to shore things up. We've got just over a month to get ready for our next game, which will be our second matchup versus Costa Rica who we beat fairly handily in June. That's a game we ought to win. Even though we've already secured a spot in the Cup, we've got to gain confidence, and a win or two to close out the tournament would be a positive step in gaining that confidence.

3-1 Versus Mexico

retired_thoiyaba

Canada Loses Second Straight as Costa Rica Coasts to 3-1 Win

Personal Thoughts, October 7, 2017

Alright. Now I'm angry. I warned us against complacency after we secured a spot in the finals, and what's happened? We've stopped caring.

Again, we were down a goal in the first minute, and down two by the fourth (Jose Ortiz scored the opener and Jorge Cordero scored in the 4th). Ortiz added another one for the Costa Ricans in the 19th.

I did decide to give Andrea Lombardo the start as one of my strikers, and, perhaps not surprisingly, he came through and broke the shutout in the 45th minute, to mark the only bright spot for us all day.

I don't know what the hell's going on here. We do such great things throughout the qualifiers, and then figure "Ah, we're in. We can relax", or something. We can't relax. Every game should be played to win, especially for a nation like ours.

We play Guatemala in four days to close out the qualifying round. I'm happy we're in, but we need a result BADLY!3-1 Vs Costa Rica

retired_thoiyaba

Canada Draws Guatemala 3-3 In Final World Cup Qualifying Test

I suppose this was a bit better, but, once again, we have to do something to shore up the defense around here. They scored all three of their goals in the first sixteen minutes of play, and all three goals were scored by Walter Flores (13, 16, 21). Jonathan DeGuzman got us on the board in the 36th and we went in at half down two.

We got in the locker room and I questioned their pride, especially after the last two. I asked them if they realized how embarassed I was for them and for us, and told them that alot of jobs were on the line if we didn't improve in the second half. I made it clear (as if the last seven and a half years of revolving door rosters didn't give them a clue) that the guys on this team certainly aren't sacred, and would be replaced should their performance warrant it.

It worked, to a large extent. We played a beautiful game defensively and Andrea Lombardo and Steve Gazzola contributed with goals in the 80th and 87th minutes, respectively.

We got in to the team room after the game and I told them I was proud of the second half, that that was the type of quality we needed, not for 45 minutes, but for 90. I think they got it, but then again, I can never be sure with this group. 3-3VsGuatemala

retired_thoiyaba

Sorry - the date on the above should have been October 11, 2017.

retired_thoiyaba

Post World Cup Friendly Match Roundup

Personal Thoughts, November 15, 2017

Whew. Two wins in a row. Okay, they were just friendly matches, but two wins are two wins. We beat Guadeloupe 3-0 and Surinam 2-1.

I swear Andrea Lombardo is cursed. Less than two months after returning from his torn calf, he went down in the 45th minute of the game against Surinam after a VERY hard (and, in my opinion unprofessional) foul which wasn't even yellow carded, and was diagnosed after the game with a spinal injury.

There's no possible way I'll play him in the Gold Cup. He may be ready by then, apparently it's just a bruise, but the bottom line is that when you're dealing with a spinal injury of any type, it no longer becomes about the quality of a man's performance on the pitch. It's potentially a quality of life issue if it gets re-injured. I'm hoping he'll be at full strength for the World Cup, but if he's not, he's not. The doctors said they're 99.9 percent certain he will be. If he can play, it's a bonus for us. If he can't, he'll rest. It's really not smart to chance that kind of injury.
If he gets medical clearance, he'll play.

On a more personal note, media speculation is heating up that Luton is on the verge of sacking their current manager and that I'd be their number one candidate. I don't really put alot of stock in it, normally, because I've been linked with any number of major and semi-major clubs througout the UK ever since I left Hereford.

But this one intrigues me. They've got alot of the qualities that I like. They're fast and they have guys who can score goals. They just seem really directionless. Not to mention the fact that they're broke as a club and I could very easily get that turned around with one or two player sales.

I honestly have to say that if Bill Tomlins, their Chairman, were to call me and say "fly over and have a look at the job and see if we can work something out" I'd do it. The Gold Cup hasn't been scheduled, and beyond that, we're not doing anything as a team until the World Cup. We live in an age now where, if i was to take the job at Luton, if it was offered, I could manage at Luton, travel for the games with Team Canada, and do any and all paperwork that needed done for both jobs by E-mail or Fax wherever I was in the world.

Intriguing...most intriguing.

retired_thoiyaba

BREAKING TEAM CANADA NEWS
[b]November 25, 2017[B]

Sources Say Eckstein, Luton "in discussions" about a contract.

Edmonton (CP) - According to an anonymous source "close to the situation", Canada manager Ian Eckstein has been formally offered the job to manage the Luton Hatters.

The Hatters, currently last place sitters in the English Championship, are on a twelve match winless run, while the Eckstein-managed Team Canada have just recently qualified for their third straight World Cup.

A news conference on "the state of Canadian Soccer." is expected in the coming days.