Time to panic. Check that: time to act.
The best, deepest, most talented men's national soccer team in Canada has but one point to show for home matches against Jamaica and Honduras in World Cup qualifying. Barring a compete revival and some astonishing road form, the dream is dying for another four interminable years.
Canada led quickly against the Hondurans in Montreal on Saturday, thanks to a thundering header from Adrian Serioux in the opening minutes. They could easily have been up by two at halftime, perhaps even three in the wildest dreams of fan-frenzied optimism.
But they got taken to soccer school in the second half. Honduras dominated the ball, even managing to keep it on the ground effectively on Stade Saputo grass that was surrendering in huge, appalling chunks straight from the opening kickoff.
In the end, the Hondurans were better. So – where was all that talent for Canada? Largely out of position throughout the second half. Which raises the central point:
Why is Dale Mitchell running this team, and how can he be convinced not to?
Mitchell, of course, had to watch an entire year go by while the Canadian Soccer Association dithered and withered over who the next head coach of Canada would be. He was finally given the job – it fell dead in his lap when all the shooting stopped – just before he led Canada's youth team to possibly the worst performance in the history of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup: no goals in three matches. Three HOME matches.
In the meantime, solid servant and interim coach Stephen Hart guided Canada to some gong-ringing success at the 2007 Gold Cup. The Canadians were daring and creative, riding inspired, high-octane midfield play from Dwayne de Rosario and Julian de Guzman. But for one horrid and lamented refereeing decision, they looked bound for the final.
Despite all that, Mitchell was promoted. It's time to reverse that mistake.
In the second half in a hostile Montreal stadium filled with 7,000 excited Hondurans, 1,000 red-shirted Canadian fans and about 4,500 silent others, Honduras made halftime adjustments Mitchell never caught up with. A deeply winnable game became a hugely expensive loss.
De Rosario, who'd had some lovely touches in the first half, spend most of the rest of the night lost in double Honduran coverage way out on the right wing.
After a red card ejection to Canada (Amado Guevara, Honduras and Toronto FC, rolling around like he'd been shot in both knees), De Guzman was forced wide left and backwards to try to contain rampant Honduran wing work.
Despite all this, the Canadians hung in, still desperately trying to create chances not merely to tie the game, but win it. But nothing worked. With de R and de G wasted on the wings, the link-ups weren't there. The game – and almost certainly the campaign – was lost.
Facts:
- Dale Mitchell got the Canada job by bureaucratic default.
- Stephen Hart – promoted to technical director – remains on the bench as an assistant.
- The only chance Canada now has is to return to the daring, fearless creativity they consistently showed under Hart.
Saturday night in Montreal, it was easier to find a Canada fan who wants Mitchell out than it was to find draft beer. But it's not a fan decision – or a media one. Why not bypass all the supporters, scribes, bureaucrats, apologists, clichés and excuses, and give this decision straight to the people it affects the most?
The players.
Call a closed-door meeting, lads, and decide if you want Mitchell or Hart running the team next Wednesday night in Mexico.
The CSA should listen. Lord knows those bureaucrats owe these players … big.
Is saving bureaucratic face more important than doing everything possible to save a World Cup campaign that's now been torpedoed twice below the waterline before it's even gotten out of harbour? Does anyone honestly think Mitchell is going to out-manage his Mexican opponent – former England boss Sven-Goran Ericksson?
Dale Mitchell's coaching record does not support him. If Stephen Hart – the guy who drove Canada to the race – is twiddling his thumbs on pit row while Mitchell is getting lapped out there, why not just toss him the keys?
Things are officially desperate. It is time for Dale Mitchell to go.
Onward!
