There is merit in the words of Canadian midfielder Julian De Guzman; but there is also meekness.
Just three weeks after referring to the Canadian Soccer Association as a cancer, the midfielder was back on the job by adding a bunch of amateurs to his assessment. A cancerous bunch of amateurs may indeed be harsh, but it is nothing a little thick skin can't fix. If JDG is serious in his plight for change he needs to start naming names and quit with the ambiguity.
I am sure you're asking, 'Where's the ambiguity?'
Well, here it is:
"The players we have were good enough to make the World Cup, I don't care what anyone says," said De Guzman, who was selected as Canada's best player in 2008. "I heard statements from the coach where he said the team wasn't good enough ... but this team for me was the best team, but it was just the way he went about it, we went about it like a bunch of amateurs."
I, we, he, me, anyone, the players, the coach -- who is being blamed in the above quote?
Now I have spoke with JDG in the past and he is very respectful to his colleagues and his profession. It can be argued he is too respectful (Read: Canadian). Diplomacy doesn't work; feelings need to be hurt if change is the end goal. If JDG had picked a pronoun and stuck with it the wheels may already be in motion. He said we weren't good enough. He went about it wrong. I won't play for him at the upcoming Gold Cup.
Everyone knows the identity of he. And everyone knows that it is indeed he who needs to go. In doing so the Gold Cup - which may just be the most important soccer tournament we see for some time - might be salvaged. De Guzman wants the CSA to change, we all want it to change, but collectively we know that executing such a lofty aspiration is not as easily accomplished
Lobbing softballs over the bow of the weakened ship is accomplishing very little, if anything. Sink it and move on to the next in line.
Others have no problem with it.
