finally!!! that's great news for the country. Millar, Tabla and Davies for attacking players as in non strikers and best of all they are all 99-00 age wise.
We might go after Stephen Eustaquio, he's 21 years old, midfield for GD Chaves in the Portuguese top league. He liked Tabla tweet committing to Canada. Another target is Ricardo Ferreira, 25 years old, centre-back for Braga in Portugal top league.
Nice, hopefully this is the first domino to fall and several other Canadian duels will think "maybe we can start something".
Good question... Technically, Davies, David, Tabla, Brault-guillard, Bustu and Millar are all eligible. Us fans would like all of them to go to the qualifiers as it would be a huge push for the program if we did qualify. Question is....will their clubs release them... Millar, Brault Guillard and Busti should go. Davies too. I doubt Gent let's David go.
Another kid born in 1999 that could be approached by Herdman. Zoran Bassong plays for Lille reserve team and he's a leftback. He was born in Toronto but also eligible for Belgium Bassong plays the last 6 for Lille’s reserves in a 3-1 win over Lens, he had a role in the goal in the 90th https://t.co/DXwABZhUBe— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) September 26, 2018
I have said it before and will say it again … Canada's program, when it is all said and done, might have to erect a statue for Alphonso Davies. His committing to Canada so passionately, so early, and so unequivocally, with his prodigious talents (and scoring 3 or 4 goals in last years Gold Cup) has quite simply made it easy for the other young talents to take the same early leap and feel confident that they have a shot to do big things. 10 years ago I was always lamenting that any half-decent Canadian player was looking at door #2 for their exit strategy from the program. Davies has created some belief.
Here's a question: in terms of the top three forward/winger youth-eligible talents, is Canada is better than both the US and Mexico at this juncture? You'd have Davies-David-Tabla vs. probably Amon-Weah-Pulisic vs. probably Lainez-Maleck-Antuna. I think Mexico would be third, at least. Now, as a US fan, of course I take Amon (Emre Mor 2.0), Weah, and Pulisic, but it can be up for debate.
The way its looking, if Canada can get those players released, they could compete for the title with USA and Mexico. Canada would be helped out a lot by consistently getting themselves into these major youth tournaments.
If Canada can find some decent defenders in the short-term, look out. They are, quite frankly, loaded with promising offensive talent ... as this region goes.
They need to push hard for Tomori, even though he's provisionally cap-tied. If they can get Tabla, they can certainly try to get Tomori, who has no real future with England given the depth of youth players and not-old senior players ahead of him in the England pecking order. (A youth-eligible CB starting in the Championship is still a very good player.) If England doesn't finish in the top four at next summer's U21 European Championship, then his England youth eligibility ends right then and there. Tomori would be one of the top young CBs in CONCACAF. It's appealing offer, slide into the starting lineup of a team that has a real chance at a World Cup berth in 2022, vs. having to battle with Maguire, Stones, Gomez, Holgate, etc. etc. Ferreira, I'm less optimistic of Canada getting, as Portugal's young CB depth doesn't look very good (I think I'd even take the US's over theirs) and he's already been capped by their senior team in a friendly. He could well have a role with Portugal and has no reason at this point to switch.
Current state at defense: CB-Fiyoki Tomori, 20, Derby County (Championship) - loan from Chelsea*** CB-Ricardo Ferreira, 25, Braga (Liga NOS-Portugal top tier)*** CB-Derek Cornelius, 21, Javor Matis (2nd tier Serbia) CB-Kosovar Sadiki, 20, Lokomotiva Zagreb (Croatia top league) CB-Emile Legault, 18, Auxerres U17 (Came close to a 3 year contract with Celtic but work permit issues - https://readceltic.com/2018/09/24/celtic-came-close-to-signing-canadian-defender-emile-legault/) CB-Steven Vitoria, 31, Lechia Gdansk (Top tier, Poland) CB-Doneil Henry, 25, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) CB-Manjrekar James, 25, FC Fredericia (Denmark 2nd tier) CB-Dejan Jakovic, 33, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) RB-Marcus Godinho, 21, Hearts of Midlothian (Scottish Premiership) RB-Zachary Brault-Guillard, 19, Olympique de Lyon B RB-Juan Cordova, 23, Huachipato (Primera Division-Chile) RB-Michael Petrasso, 23, Montreal Impact (MLS) LB-Sam Adekugbe, 23, Valerenga, (Eliteserien, Top tier Norway) LB-Marcel De Jong, 31, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) LB-Ashtone Morgan, 27, Toronto FC (MLS) Herdman had Cornelius play right back during the Nation League Qualifier and had Samuel Piette play left back. Robinson, who was fired today by Vancouver tried Alphonso Davies at left back for a while, giving us fan a collective heart attack. Not sure if tried to turn him into
What does England finishing in the top 4 have to do with anything? A lot of the players will age out of the youth teams next summer. England don't play in the Olympics.
You are right. Anyway, Tomori ought to be in a Canadian kit sometime after next summer. Certainly by 2022 if they qualify for the WC.
Cameron Palmer, 18 years old, Midfield, might make his debut for Rangers very soon in the Scottish Premiership. He's eligible to both Canada and Northern Ireland...Scotland too...I think. We better hurry and get in the race.
It's nice to have reason for optimism for the first time since the Gold Cup in '99 (which was a fluke). Players who can create offensive opportunities on their own is an area that has been solely lacking for Canada for a long time. We desperately need some high quality defenders before we seriously challenge. Oh yes, our very own professional league begins play next year. Hard to believe.
Ferdi Kadioglu Date of Birth (Age): Oct 7, 1999 (18) Attacking Midfield Now plays at Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Süper Lig Herdman’s patient approach lead to Tabla windfall for Canada https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/herdmans-patient-approach-lead-tabla-windfall-canada/ What’s especially promising for Canadian soccer fans is that Herdman isn’t resting on his laurels, and has put together a list of other youngsters who like Tabla could represent other countries, and drafted a specific strategy for each player to convince them to play for Canada. Herdman didn’t offer any specific names, but hinted that Ferdi Kadioglu is someone who is on his radar. Kadioglu is a 19-year-old Dutch midfielder who recently signed with Turkish side Fenerbahce. He’s played for the Netherlands at youth level, but hasn’t been capped by the Dutch senior team. Kadioglu is eligible to play for Canada because his mother was born here.
so Zachary Brault-Guillard and WC2026 being in Canada are a big reason as to why Table committed. that whole article pretty much confirms that Tabla really didn't have any interest until those 2 things and Herdman's vision changed his mind. not surprising that any young player could be tempted with the prospect of a WC at home. if Canada can get another few youngsters to commit could be big. Especially if CBs can be found.
Best option for CB right now might be Jakovic and Henry. Jakovic is older but he's getting regular time for an upper-tier MLS club, and Henry is now starting regularly for Vancouver. MLS has its problems but its central defenders can be internationally-viable. Long-term, perhaps Henry and Legault, or if they can get him, Tomori. Not sold on the European-based CB options in the Canadian youth program as potential international-starting-quality players except possibly Legault.
If Canada gets a strong CB to commit, I believe we will be able to play with (and not just bunker against) any team in CONCACAF. But as it stands, Jakovic and Henry as our two CBs is a disaster waiting to happen.