some canadian guys writing about soccer

And we’re back, with Part 2 (of 3) in this big year-end roundup. In Part 1, our participants took a look at 2009 in a more general sense, but today they’re looking at Canadian soccer in particular. Come back soon for the Part 3 — the finale! — where they’ll do some forecasting for the year(s) ahead.

As a reminder, our participants are:
Paul Beirne (Director of Business Operations for Toronto FC)
Jason de Vos (TV commentator, CBC blogger and former captain, Canadian men’s national team)
Ben Knight (writer, Onward Soccer)
Ben Massey (a.k.a Lord Bob of The Maple Leaf Forever)
John Molinaro (senior writer, CBCSports.ca)
Duane Rollins (writer, The 24th Minute)
Dino Rossi (director, Soccer Academy Alliance Canada and member, The Voyageurs)
Ben Rycroft (soccer columnist, Metro News)
James Sharman (host, The Footy Show on The Score)
Jon Wiebe (writer, Out Of Touch)

…plus, of course, Grant, Jamie and Squizz of a little site called Some Canadian Guys Writing About Soccer (you’re on it now!)

What are your thoughts on Stephen Hart being confirmed as the man who’ll lead us into qualifying for the 2014 World Cup?
Beirne: Stephen is a great guy, great technician, and has a firmer grip on the National team than people give him credit for. I think with the changes happening elsewhere in Canadian soccer… our time is coming. And I don’t think 2014 is too lofty a goal.
de Vos: I like Stephen, and I wish him all the best. It is a very difficult job, regardless of who takes it on, because we just don’t have enough quality players to be competitive with the likes of the USA, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. When only three teams qualify for the World Cup from CONCACAF, we are always going to have a very difficult time clinching one of those places.
Knight: Hugely in favour. Best possible use of slim available resources. Four years from now, Canada may be in position to hire a Guus Hiddink and go for it, but that time is not now.
Massey: “Cautiously optimistic”. His record as men’s head coach is exciting, his record everywhere else isn’t, but the players respond to him and making them happy to represent Canada again is an important first step.
Molinaro: I think it’s the wrong choice. I have a lot of respect for Stephen, but I would have liked to seen him remain as the CSA’s technical director – so he could fix the bigger problems – and have someone else coach the team, preferably a high-profile European or South American manager. Frankly, I don’t think it matters who the coach is because Canada won’t qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Rollins: That he’s a good man and a decent coach faced with a near impossible task. I desperately want him to succeed.
Rossi: Stephen is a passionate soccer man who won’t be distracted by the many shortcomings of the Canadian football system. His relationship with the players is good/excellent and they have shown a tendency to play well for him. However, unless we enjoy a miraculous talent upgrade at key positions between now and 2012, we’ll still likely be on the outside looking in.
Rycroft: I would have preferred he stayed in the technical director’s role. He’s a great coach and it’s clear the players listen to him but there are too few minds in this country fit to channel the development of our young players into something substantive in the years to come. I hope that he is a part of the process for picking his successor.
Sharman: It was the easy, safe choice. Fact is the CSA is either unwilling or unable to bring in a high-priced proven man, so I’m fine with Hart who knows the landscape better than most, and as technical director he knows the youngsters coming through, who will be key to the next cycle. So I’m fine with it.
Wiebe: I tend to view his coronation/hiring within a smaller time frame. His job clearly is to build the depth of this squad, but he needs to show progress before 2012 if he is to convince me that he’s the guy for the job. I hope and think he will be, but I hope the CSA won’t be afraid to make a change if necessary.
Grant (SCG): Yes, an expensive import would be better. But Christ, at this point who would come? Everyone seems to think we don’t have anywhere near the talent available to qualify in 2014 anyway, so why waste money on a big name manager now? Let’s go with the guy whom the talent we do have seem to like and hope he surprises us.
Jamie (SCG): It’s a mixed bag. He knows Canadian soccer, and (from what I’ve seen) appears to be above its internal pettiness, but his lack of winning experience as a coach doesn’t elevate a team that needs to learn how to succeed.
Squizz (SCG): Best of all available options. The CSA could have gone on another protracted, divisive search for a foreign mercenary, but sometimes all you need is right under your nose.

Fans in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal certainly made their presence felt in 2009. Beyond creating a boisterous atmosphere at games, what do you think soccer fans can do to help grow the game in this country?
Beirne: Support the Canadian Men’s National Team. If there is a game on Canadian soil, it better be sold out, and full of Canadian support! I love that in this country you are encouraged to remain connected to your “old country”. But we need to change the culture to a “Canada first” mentality. It is happening… just not fast enough for my liking!
de Vos: Be more demanding. Demand that there are coaching standards put in place for the development of youth soccer, because that is how we are going to improve. Demand that the provincial associations are held accountable for the vast sums of money that are filtering through the system, and don’t be afraid to seek answers to where that money is going.
Knight: Lead by example. Soccer atmosphere is unmatched for its colour, pride and passion. Keep drawing new fans, and never stop making noise!
Massey: It’s important to think of things beyond “creating a boisterous atmosphere”. Hardcore supporters are of course important but the bouncy-castle fans are the ones we have to get onside. Let’s stop looking down on people for being casuals.
Molinaro: Nothing, really.
Rollins: They create interest. The Red Patch Boys did more to sell the sport in Canada (central Canada anyway) than any amount of focus groups or marketing campaigns could have.
Rossi: I’d say the best thing a devout soccer lover can do is to bring someone to a game who doesn’t necessarily love the sport and try to get them hooked. Although soccer is the biggest participation sport in Canada and the popularity of pro soccer is growing all the time, the number of people who are prepared to buy tickets and support the professional game is still fairly limited.
Rycroft: Keep putting pressure on the CSA to reform its governance structure.
Sharman: Keep watching The Footy Show in enormous numbers! Kidding! However, building the community on the various platforms, including blogs such as this, is really important. Fans need to show potential fans what the game is about, and get them aboard. We are still tiny in number, but that is growing. The WC will see many more become soccer fans for one month, it is up to the likes of us to convince them to stick around for a while after the WC!
Wiebe: Reproduce. Like rabbits. It’s great that fans are creating atmosphere at the club level, and occasionally for the national team, but we need more people like them.
Grant (SCG): On a personal level, wear your Canada badge with pride and most importantly, good humour. Introduce your friends who care about sports other than soccer to the game. And don’t get defensive (or even worse, offensive) in barstool discussions with Canadians who choose to support other national sides.
Jamie (SCG): Soccer fans in Canada just need to remember Canadian soccer, I think. We have an increasingly worthy club scene here, so don’t think only of the EPL or Serie A, and – for God’s sake – support the national team.
Squizz (SCG): Talk about it. Not just to each other. But to whoever will listen. As this site has grown, I’ve had a surprising number of people — who I assumed had no interest in soccer — ask me questions about it. The correct response to “what league does Toronto FC play in?” is not “you’re an idiot”, but “well, it’s MLS, and here’s some more about it…” We diehards need to create a sense of inclusiveness when it comes to this game; otherwise we’ll forever remain a small group of nerds just yelling at one another.

In all, how would you evaluate 2009 for the game of soccer in Canada?
Beirne: I’d say we are in the middle of a sea change in Canadian soccer. In five to 10 years we’ll look back on 2007-2011 as the years that made the biggest difference. All positive change.
de Vos: Mixed emotions. I am delighted that Vancouver will be joining MLS in 2011, and I look forward to the eventual news that Montreal will be the 19th MLS franchise. Yet I am still very disappointed that our men’s team was so poor in qualifying, and with every match that took place in the hex that we weren’t involved in, I felt more and more despair about our chances at the international level.
Knight: A good year. Big-name Canada stars came home, and the CSA — for once — didn’t discernibly back-slide. For now, Canada goes as far as Hart and Montopoli. For one year, at least, well done!
Massey: On balance, a success. The national team started playing again and did well in the Gold Cup. Toronto FC continued to improve, the Whitecaps got into MLS, and the Impact are all but certain to follow.
Molinaro: It was very rough. Toronto FC failed to make the playoffs, Canada bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup and the Canadian club championship failed to live up to the hype.
Rollins: Maturing. The best news of 2009 is the evolving nature of thoughtful, critical commentating on the game. That’s what will drive true change.
Rossi: An eventful year. Vancouver won entry into MLS. Montreal will be joining the club as well. There are people talking about putting pro teams in places like Ottawa and Edmonton. The CSA is talking about major changes to governance and funding priorities. More than anything, you can feel that this game is gaining serious momentum. Soccer isn’t the fifth or sixth sport on the pecking order anymore and each year that passes will continue to show that to be true.
Rycroft: Aside from the World Cup failures, I would classify it as one of the best in our history. MLS expansion, key players coming home to play in our domestic league and the CSA finally starting to show signs of change. Soccer is on the cusp of becoming something big in Canada. It’s exciting times for those of us that have longed to see it in its proper place in the sports lexicon.
Sharman: If we dismiss the WCQ campaign, then I am optimistic. The CSA is still far from perfect, but I have hope that Peter Montopoli is the right man to sell the game. The growth of the private academy system is encouraging, and is putting pressure on the status quo. Vancouver is soon to be in MLS, and MLS want Montreal. Television viewership continues to hit new highs, and the soccer media is growing hugely thanks to sites like this, which is introducing more personality. Essential!
Wiebe: It was a year of baby steps. The qualifying disaster of 2008 is behind us now; other developments like de Guzman and DeRo to TFC were positive. The Gold Cup was good for three games, which isn’t long enough. How about a C+?
Grant (SCG): Good news on the MLS expansion front. Horrible news on the good young Canadian players defecting to other countries front. No better than a ‘C’ I’m afraid.
Jamie (SCG): A decent year for interest, but a bad year for results. I fear for 2010, with no Gold Cup or WCQ, and before Vancouver joins MLS. A blank year could kill any momentum the sport had here. TFC better do well.
Squizz (SCG): Thumbs up, for sure. Popular new head coaches for the men’s and women’s national teams, signs of restructuring at the CSA, decent performance at the Gold Cup, Toronto FC continues to improve, Vancouver and Montreal face each other in the USL1 final. Yeah, woulda been nice to be playing some World Cup qualifiers, but all things considered, as I said, thumbs up.

Remember to check back in the next few days, for third and final part of the roundtable, where the participants predict the future!