BuzzerBeater Forums

So, it seems (unless someone can prove me wrong) that the highest salaried player in Canada is being paid just under $140,000. One of these guys is Zuka Mompati. This leads me to two questions:

-Mompati will probably not play for the NT any time soon because his owner refuses to keep him in good game shape. What will you do as a manager to reach out to owners who cannot keep their players in good game shape? (this is a slight to me by the way, since I was never successful at getting Mompati in good game shape while he was on the U21)

-Given the relatively low salaries of high level Canadian players, should we really be getting excited about 19 year old all time great potential players? (I don't even know if the top players in the world, like Cardenas, have even needed ATG potential yet) Or should we be trying to find and support engaged owners who can actually train our 18 year old superstar - hall of fame players?

Last edited by HeadPaperPusher at 12/16/2009 2:51:10 PM

I think there may be two things at play here:

1) People are extremely happy with the job you are doing and do not feel they could do better (I encouraged at least one person to run against you because he joked that he would throw his hat in the ring if no one serious stepped forward, but they felt they could not do a better job that you. And to be honest, I can't really disagree from what you have done in the past)

2) Running for the position is time intensive and if you win it is even more of a time crunch. There is just too much going on at this time of year.

I feel that you have done so much in the past that you deserve another term. I just hope that the lack of competition does not de-motivate you. But knowing how much you care about the U21/NT I know you would not let that happen.

As for my questions/comments, I was really hoping one of the rookies/joke candidates would take a stab at them, too. But I guess there is not much hope for a debate it seems.

I can't speak for everyone, but I've been happy with the job that you've done as NT manager. I was hoping that you'd run, as at this point, I'd rather vote for you than run myself.

I think that I probably will run for either U21 manager or NT manager at some point, if my interest in the teams remains as high as it is now, and the timing seems right. With this in mind, I would be interesting in learning more about the inner workings of the job, to help prepare for a possible campaign in the future.

For anyone who is following the Canadian election: is there a reason why there are no other serious candidates running?

I am only going into my third season so take my opinions with a grain of salt, but I think you've done an excellent job and the interest in the NT/U21 teams seems to be at least in part a result of your hard work. I feel that regardless of results, this interest in the NT is itself a good and the fact that both you and the AFNA Chuck have been very good about being welcoming and helpful to new players like me. Interest from noobs like myself can only help down the road in terms of getting more players trying to train prospects and learning how to do it effectively.

So basically I think it's both a combination of people being busy, you having done a good job and you coming across as likable enough that there doesn't seem to be a compelling reason for someone to run as an "Anyone but RiP88 candidate."

It's a bit of both for myself RiP. I do think you've done a very good job, I'm not sure I would do a better job than you do, but I would have run against you except for the past two months, I've only been able to log in once or twice a day for a few minutes, and I don't think it's enough to run a successful NT.

If my work allows me more leisure time in 16 weeks, maybe I'll make a run for the U21 next season.

Good luck!

I am glad to see that Rip should be the NT manager again and I will vote for him. I would also love to run again in an election and have a shot at running the NT or the U21 team again, but unfortunately work and family don't allow me as much time as previously to run the team as successfully as our current managers are doing. Good luck in this election Rip and I continue to offer support wherever and whenever possible.

RiP, I think you have done a fantastic job running the team and in sparking some interest in the NT. I don't have time to run (nor do I feel I am qualified), and my vote is definitely for you just based on past work alone.

Good luck!