I set the poll to close the day before the Semifinals start. This is separate from my prediction contest. Please sticky this topic. It's okay with me if this becomes a general Group C topic.
HON & PAN. I wouldn't discard Panama to end up at the top either. I think this will be the closest group.
I think this will be the closest group, but Honduras and Canada will prevail. It's about time Canada got back into the HEX.
Not as clear cut a favorite here as in the other groups. Still, I think there are three teams with legit shots, who could all beat each other (Hon, Pan, Can) and a huge minnow (Cuba). Still, I think Honduras and Panama take it. Canada not inspiring me with their play in the previous round.
Canada plays down to its opposition and its recent performance can't be counted for much. Honduras is overrated and Cuba is a big question mark. I think Canada will take six points in the first two games, beating Cuba in Havana and Honduras at home. Panama will join Canada in the top two places.
Honduras and Panama. Easy. This group will be decided before the others. I honestly don't think Canada have shown anything special. Honduras is not playing as well but once they get their top players in good form they will be gunning. Panama is actually playing good football and I think they will advance without much trouble. Canada to me isn't very good at all. Cuba, well...we saw the Gold Cup.
This group will be ugly and most likely come down to who can hand out the biggest beatdowns on Cuba. Otherwise, home-and-home splits. HON, PAN through because they have a better offense than CAN.
I'm interested in seeing where Canada is going to play it's home games, Toronto? Its not a guaranteed home field advantage
Honduras and Panama. The frustration for Canada continues as Junior Holliet decides to suit up for the US only to be turned away for not being German
hoilett with the usa is impossible isn't it..canada could escape to the hex but i very much favour honduras and panama.
Julian De Guzman just did an interview stating his brother Jonathan is trying to get his passport back to play for Canada. Could make a real difference to Canada's attack
That joke doesn't even make sense. Hoillet is only eligible for Canada and Jamaica. There is talk of him possibly waiting for a British passport to see if he'd be considered for English selection. But as JYDA said, in an interview on The Score last night Julian de Guzman stated that Jon de Guzman has asked the CSA into getting him eligible for Canada again. Apparently Jon has talked with Junior Hoillet about them both playing for Canada in this cycle.
The joke is all the new German Americans suiting up for USA since Klinsmann took over the USMNT. Please don't make all of us Canadians look slow.
The renovations at BC Place in Vancouver are done and I think Saputo is supposed to be done before the hex starts so Vancouver and Montreal should get games this time.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1552950/index.html is titled "Honduras tipped in open quartet."
Panama is improving but do not have any players like DeGuzman (Villarreal) or Hoilett (Blackburn). De Guzman and Hoilett are highly rated players in the best leagues in the world. Honduras has a pretty good team, but lack a top notch attacking midfielder. Wilson Palacios and Henry Thomas are defensive midfielders, and Espinoza is alright but not a player who scares me. Jonathan De Guzman is a true attacking midfielder and a free kick specialist and will cause both Honduras and Panama problems if he can join. Canada's problem attacking wise is that we have to depend on some average attackers in the starting 11, which is why our build up in the final 3rd breaks down. If you replace them with Junior Hoilett and Jonathan De Guzman, you now could face a setup like this: ------------------Hoilett(Blackburn) ---Jackson(Norwich)----- ---------------------------De Guzman(Villarreal)------------------------ DeRosario(DC United)------------------------------------Hutchinson(PSV) --------------------------De Guzman(Toronto FC)--------------------- --De Jong(Augsburg)--McKenna(FC Koln)--Edgar(Burnley)--Hainualt(Houston) -------------------------------Bojan(Sivasspor)--------------------------- There is alot of talent there, and the key would be bringing it all together, but De Guzman, Hoilett, and DeRosario (MVP of MLS) are capable of producing moments of brilliance that could give Canada the edge to advance (If we manage to even get them on board). Its going to be close but... 1. Honduras 2. Canada 3. Panama 4. Cuba Cheers, Obinna
^erm, neither Hoilett or JDG2 have committed to Canada, so why are you discussing Canada's progressing with those players? Support the ones we have now, that are committed and have played for us. The players we have ARE good enough to get a the required results against Hondo and Panama, which if those results are at least 2 wins from 4 and 2 wins from 2 against Cuba we progress. If Canada goes 1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss v. Hon/Pan plus 2 wins v. Cuba we could also advance. This will be the closest group for sure. Although Cuba appears fodder based on the GC it seems to be due to gambling/fixing. Cuba just got a draw v. CR (a reserve CR team I believe though??). Ignore the JDG2/DH talk until they commit. If Canada plays Simpson centrally they will score goals!
Why am I discussing progressing with non-committed players? Why not? It is very possible both will be playing for us by the time the next round starts. Therefore I see nothing wrong with discussing Canada's chances with them in the squad. If JDG2 doesn't qualify, and if Hoilett decides to play for Jamacia (or wait another 3 years for England) then I still support the team obviously. We have a habit of overvaluing our talent so trying not to be biased, I am going to say that without those two guys, we just miss out on advancement (although any of the 3 could win the group, and luck will play a role) I fear that a poor result against Cuba in either the home or return leg will seal our fate. Playing Simpson centrally (perhaps as a second striker) would be interesting, but in my opinion he is best when taking players on from the wing. When we tied Ecuador at BMO, he flew past two opposing players with ease and whipped in a dangerous ball (and Will Johnson painfully missed the tap-in). Simpson can float inside from the wing when necessary, I think the team would be better off with DeRosario in that central role. Cheers, Obinna