Neymar made 48 appearances when he was 17. Sergio Aguero made 54 appearances with Independiente before his 18th birthday. It’s not uncommon for a top prospect to get a good amount of minutes in his domestic league, especially if that league isn’t a top league. It doesn’t happen with every top player, but it’s also not common for a prospect to prove he’s ready to contribute and then have the manager go out and find someone to play in front of that prospect.
It’s a pretty weak argument if you’re just going to spit out all the guys who didn’t get a chance to get consistent minutes before they turned 18. Next I’m sure you’ll talk about Landon Donovan or you’ll mention that Dempsey went to college.
Neymar and Aguero level prospects are themselves far from common. And in the unlikely event that Carleton truly is a prospect with that level of potential - then we probably don't have much to worry about, regardless of where he happens to be playing on his 18th birthday. Roberto Baggio was playing in Serie C for Vicenza when he turned 18; and then a couple months later he wasn't playing at all (because he tore his ACL). He turned out fine anyway.
I couldn't spit out all of those, because there are far too many. But highlighting some of them is a form of evidence - something which is generally seen as making arguments stronger, not weaker. If someone demands that US Soccer never give YNT national slots to players less than 5'8'' - because they believe that short people are inherently worse at soccer - an appropriate response would be to name some of the players below 5'7'' who have had good soccer careers. Similarly, when people insist that a lack of first-team, first-division playing time before age 18 is a cause for outrage, counterexamples are helpful. And finding counterexamples is incredibly easy, since lack of first team playing time before 18 is close to the norm.
Akinola starts for TFC as the host Ottawa in the Canadian Championship semifinal. TFC won the away leg 1-0. Stream
I've been watching for 5 minutes but Ayo has been great. I'll never forgive Tab if Ayo isn't called up for U20 qualifying.
Ayo Akinola with his first ever goal for Toronto FC. What a ball from Liam Fraser to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/ZhAcrzR2hm— Waking the Red (@WakingtheRed) July 26, 2018 Akinola showing excellent composure for the goal
He is playing up top with Jozy. Halftime now. He was pretty quite on the ball before the goal from what I saw. Had a nice spin out of pressure in his own half to spring a counter after that. Did have a pretty dangerous back pass later that was able to be completed.
For those interested in such things, the Canadian broadcast asked Jason de Vos who is the CSA Director of Development about Akinola and he basically punted on the question.
That was a much better goal than most will realize. Had to burst down there to get to it then soften his touch then slot it near post to avoid a lunging defender but not put it wide. He had a really small window and very little time and finished it nicely.
Akinola is a better CF option for qualifying than Rennicks, Dorsey, Brewer, etc. If Sargent, Weah and Soto all aren't available, he should definitely be called up, and possibly start. Are any of the '01 CF's better than him? Its to be determined, but I think Akinola isn't that bad playing as a CF. It simplifies his decisions. He's fast, physical and he finds the ball near goal. He could turn himself into a Teal Bunbury level player. I don't see why not.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/spo...vanney-wonders-why-canada-is-not-wooing-teen/ I didn't use to think so, but now I think Akinola may well have a future in some role with the US instead of having to switch to Canada. He's a fast, physical, athletic center-forward who can finish.
Would be a crime if Tab doesn’t have him on the team for the u20s... US is lacking in having multiple young CF prospects. I don’t want to lose Ayo to Canada
It's possible Akinola could be the *top* U20-eligible CF available for World Cup qualifying if Weah, Sargent, Soto aren't available.
I still don't think so. Even just in the '00 year, he's probably 4th CF at best. Strong year and all, but I still don't see Akinola as more than a player who maybe gets a couple caps. He just doesn't have a high ceiling due to his strengths and weaknesses, IMO. I don't want to voluntarily give him over to Canada, but I think losing Akinola to Canada will not matter.
Ayo might eventual find a level where his game tops out, but so far despite limitations he seems to excel at the one skill that is more important than any other and that is putting the ball in the net. Don’t see how he couldn’t be a lock for U20 honestly especially when you factor who just got called up.
I’ve always figured Ayo will eventually switch to Canada because it’s a numbers game. Unless his development takes off like a rocket, he’ll get a chance with the CANMNT before the USMNT calls. Also, they’ve got some exciting young attackers so it’s not a bad option at all.
Maybe, but we're talking about a country that hasn't even made the Hex since 1998. With that said, assuming Canada qualifies automatically for 2026, when Akinola will be in his mid-20s, they have a nice carrot to offer dual nationals.
The good news about Akinola is he seems to be advancing Sure........................but um, we also have that carrot I don't think this will be an issue with Ayo as long as we keep him involved in the program. He apparently has dismissed speculation regarding CanMNT in the recent past.
Fair. Though my point was more that they're presumably going to be an easier World Cup roster to make.
Maybe I'm off, but I actually don't see why Canada couldn't be third best in CONCACAF within five years. They underachieve compared to their talent pool. In 2026, they could have a team of GK: Crepeau, Pantemis, Busti DF: Dunn-Johnson, Tomori, Meilleur-Giguere, Cornelius, Adekugbe, Brault-Guillard, Cordova, Petrasso MF: Osorio, Eustaquio, Kaye, Okello, Davies, Tabla, David, Colyn FW: Larin, Cavallini, Akinola, Millar I think thats probably pretty weak defensively and in goal, but offensively thats not that bad. Crepeau Brault Guillard-Cornelius-Tomori-Adekugbe Kaye-Okello Tabla-Davies-Millar Larin
A 2026 projected Canadian World Cup lineup in a thread for YNTers in the Open Cup? Only on BigSoccer.