Milan Borjan @mr_zombi starts for @crvenazvezdafk vs @PSG_inside in Paris. He will have to face continuous attacks of world class players, such as Mbappe, Neymar & Cavani. Can the Canadian national team keeper achieve the impossible and earn a clean sheet? #PSGCZV #UCL— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) October 3, 2018
Solid win for Scott Arfield and Rangers as one Glasgow team gets a result against Austrian opposition https://t.co/ap6jA50aTf— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) October 4, 2018 Besiktas falls 2-0 to Malmo
Arfield dominate at midfield for Rangers. FULL-TIME: Rangers 3-1 Hearts (Kent 3, Morelos 12, Arfield 32 | Dunne 67)A well-deserved three points for #RangersFC at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/8G3BHxrGmE— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) October 7, 2018
Watch out CONCACAF, Lucas Cavallini means business. Climbed to 9th best scorer in Liga MX Cavallini scores the Second in a 2-2 draw with Lobos Buap https://t.co/qhMa2mwTRt— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) October 8, 2018 3:40
.@AlphonsoDavies featured on @Bundesliga_EN https://t.co/cUK46oBn58 via @Bundesliga_EN— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) October 12, 2018
Canada stalwart Atiba Hutchinson set for international retirement after 2019 Gold Cup.📝: https://t.co/E7i6AczrQO | #CanPL pic.twitter.com/XJD8fxiZds— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 15, 2018 His successor is Samuel Piette. We’re in the playoffs and we ain’t going nowhere! #imfc #mls pic.twitter.com/etiSL8bqtC— Samuel Piette (@samuelpiette) September 27, 2018 The 23 years old was in Spain since his teenage years until Montreal Impact bought him from Izarra. European Clubs and La Liga Clubs wanted him but he opted to come home. His current manager Remi Garde said he should be starting in Europe. As a DM, we call him "the destroyer". He has a bright future ahead of him.
Canada's starting XI against Dominica for the Nation League and Gold Cup Qualifiers CANADA XI📺: TSN2 & RDS2📍: Toronto 🇨🇦 CAN⏰: 19.00 local / 19.00 ET / 16.00 PT🍁: https://t.co/TgOeh1eVsF#️⃣: 🇨🇦🇩🇲 #CANMNT #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/uPh0YG4liq— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 16, 2018
Halftime score. 🍁 #CANMNT #CNL pic.twitter.com/py2vdmFljf— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 16, 2018 WATCH: Lucas Cavallini steps up and shows his confidence from the penalty spot. 🇨🇦 3-0 🇩🇲#CANMNT #CNL pic.twitter.com/SxyzEcKIIy— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 16, 2018 3’ Goal Canada! Jonathan David with the far post finish after a lovely assist by @AlphonsoDavies!#CNL #TheDreamStartsNow@CanadaSoccerEN | Dominica pic.twitter.com/2QmHnXZvin— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) October 16, 2018
#CanMNT make short work of Dominica, strolling to a 5-0 win at BMO Field courtesy of goals from Jonathan David, Junior Hoilett, Lucas Cavallini and Cyle Larin 🍁Match report 📝: https://t.co/ouGrjy1v4g pic.twitter.com/sRlNaK7n6L— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) October 17, 2018 Cap tied: Alessandro Busti, Juventus youth team:Clean sheet for the youngest starting goalkeeper in team Canada history at age 18 Ballou Tabla, Barcelona B Zachary Brault-Guillard, Olympique Lyonnais
Highlights: Canada 5 - 0 Dominica#CNL #TheDreamStartsNow@CanadaSoccerEN | Dominica pic.twitter.com/wra6p6MsTu— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) October 17, 2018
Busti's apparently moved up from Juventus Primavera/youth team to their U23/reserve team in Serie C, so he's ahead of the curve.
My take on the Dominica vs. Canada Game (I was in attendance) GK-Alessandro Busti, 18, (Juventus U23 - Serie C): Youngest starting keeper for team Canada. He's been promoted to Juventus U23 in Serie C which says a lot about the faith the organization has in him. He was calm, collected and played with confident. A clean sheet in his 1st international start will help him at club level. CB-Derek Cornelius, 21, (FK Javor Ivanjica - Serbian First League): For me, he solidified his role as starter at this position. We have a huge CB problem but he plays like he owns that position. He's the one I trust the most there. Granted he needs to play at a higher level to further his progression. B+ CB-Manjrekar James, 25, (FC Fredericia - Danish 1st Division): He was sound defensively, just as fast as I remembered him but he got much bigger and physically imposing. He wasn't terrible but caused a few turnovers, gave away and got beat a few times. This is as good as he'll get and for the team to be competitive, simply not good enough. C- RB-Liam Millar, 19, (Liverpool U23, England): He normally plays a winger but can be both a striker and play midfield and be solid in any roles he's given. In this game, he went on the offence most of the time and wasn't too concern about playing defensively to our opponent. Technically very solid, he beat defenders many time and very smart on the ball. He needs to be loaned by Liverpool to a Championship team or League One. He's ready to play in a high competitive environment. C- (as a defender, would be a B+ at his natural position) LB-Alphonso Davies, 18, (Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS - Bayern Munich Bundesliga): We all know about his technique and raw abilities. He displayed that last night making quick work of any defenders trying to stop him. He belongs in Europe and I have no doubt he sees action with Bayern Munich by the end of the season. BUT... he was sloppy last night with his passing, give away and turnovers. That had to be the worst I saw him play. Was he taking Dominica too lightly or had an off night? Not sure, but these kind of mistake will get beat out of him by Bayern Munich, which will make him a very dangerous once he enters his prime. C- *He can be good at this position if you clean the sloppiness... He reminded me of this guy when he played LB right... What Munich decides to be the best course for Davies will determine how Herdman will use him next year. M-Atiba Hutchinson (C), 35, (Besiktas, Super Lig): Arguably the best player Canada has ever produced. He completely had midfield under control and mad it look unbelievably easy. Dominica never had a chance to get passed our midfield nor touch the ball more than 20% of the time. Even at his age, he's a top CONCACAF midfield and a real shame that Canada are only giving a great team so late in his career. He's retiring from Team Canada after the Gold Cup and made clear winning it was the goal. He has in Samuel Piette a great successor. A+ M-Jonathan Osorio, 26, (Toronto FC):As always, brings an attacking flair to his game and team. He wasn't bad but wasn't great either. Where the formation was focused on attacking and forwards and out of position defenders worked hard to score more goals, there was a clear lack of creativity at midfield which was disappointing. Scott Arfield, who was out due to injury during practice is league above Osorio...not even close. Osorio can do better and need more consistency at country level, otherwise, he's a sub for me. C- M-Russell Tiebert, 26, (Vancouver Whitecaps): Oh man, where do I start? Will keep it short... He doesn't belong on the national team...sub at best if there's injuries. He lacked physicality and was pushed off the ball often. He has good technical abilities and good soccer IQ but the game was clearly too fast for him. He was very often late on the ball and reacting too late to what was happening to him. I think Ballou Tabla was superior in every way to Teibert when he was subbed in and he's only 18. D+ F-Jonathan David, 18, (KAA Gent, Belgian First Division): 3G, 2A in 3 games at country level. He's a fantastic finisher. Although he's a sub in Belgium, he can definitely keep a somewhat dangerous game for 90 minutes, however it was going down near the end of the game but technically incredibly sharp at such a young age. Makes sense for Gent to use him as a sub for now at his age. With Larin showing consistency with the National team, David might be a better fit as a sub just like in Belgium and Europa. B+ F-Junior Hoilett, 28, (Cardiff City, English Premier League): Dominant, fast, high IQ, technically superior and creative, I recall that once he joined Canada, it changed our team completely and I saw it again tonight. He's a constant thereat and a nightmare to defend against. A fantastic playmaker who built a great chemistry with the young guys. A- F-Lucas Cavallini, 26, (Puebla, Liga MX): Did you guys know that he was Osorio childhood friend? Canada's best striker, he does it all. He's a complete player and I believe he'd do well in Europe. I like the swagger and borderline arrogance he brings with him on the pitch which we saw when he took that penalty but when was Canada ever this confident? A refreshing change of attitude. His physicality makes him hard to defend against, it's very hard to steal the ball from him as his technique and ball possession is solid. He's a great playmaker, unselfish with the ball and defensively active and responsible. A+ Subs RB-Zachary Brault-Guillard, 20, (Olympique Lyonnais U19, France): Really liked what I saw from him at his debut. He saved us from 2 turnovers. Plays safe, with confidence, reads the game well, great passer and forwards couldn't beat him. Physically imposing and surprisingly fast, he almost scored a goal on a break away. This position will be disputed between him and Marcus Godhino (Hearts of Midlothian, Socttish Premiership) who's recovering from a knee injury. B- M-Ballou Tabla, 19, (Barcelona B - Segunda B): The kid is crazy good. Brought creativity, pure technical skills once he got on. Questioning the attitude though as it looked he was trying to show off at time instead of helping the forwards to bury it...but the ceiling is crazy high. I say that because he didn't play like that during the International Cup when he played with the 1st team. He was still flashy, smart on the ball but did his job without showing off and keeping it longer than he needed. Outside of that, Can't argue that I see him as a starter. More creative and skilled than Osorio and Teibert, playing with Hutchinson, Millar and Arfield will make for one deadly midfield. B F-Cyle Larin, 23, (Besiktas Super Lig): He did his job by scoring and being a dangerous presence whenever he's got the ball. He's became more consistent at the national level and I think he earned starting with Cavallini as they are 2 very different type of strikers that would compliment one another perfectly. Larin performs better when someone is up there with him, good on Herdman to implement a system to his strength. David should replace any one of them as a sub as he's more of a Cavallini than a Larin. B+ Canada now sits 3rd overall in the qualifiers for both the 2019 Gold Cup and Nation League A where it will compete against Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, USA, Honduras and Trinidad.
Its called U20 CONCACAF Championships, U23 CONCACAF Championships, and at this rate.........................the Gold Cup Canada really needs to do well at this Gold Cup and the League of Nations games against the good CONCACAF teams. Beating up these minnows is a nice confidence builder, but not affecting their FIFA ranking. They're the 8th best team in CONCACAF according to those ratings, only 4 points ahead of Curacao. Not reflective or reality on the field. If they can get some results in games that matter, then they can push into the top 6. [Thusly avoiding the early WC qualification rounds and a better chance of avoiding a "group of death" in the 4th round. REALLY IMPORTANT.]
Unquestionably. Of course while Canada's youngsters are playing minnows in the League of Nations (which is fine, that's unavoidably on your schedule)................the American youngsters are playing seven quality teams (France, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Italy, and England.) All from June thru November. If I understand correctly, you guys have played 3 games in 2018. New Zealand, Virgin Islands, and Dominica. And you took care of business in those games as you rightfully should. Your other scheduled game this year is against Saint Kitts & Nevis. Then you have a game on the docket against French Guiana in early 2019. How does any of that prepare your kids to play Mexico or Honduras at the Gold Cup? It doesn't. We American fans are well used to overanalyzing results against minnows Is the CSA asleep at the wheel?
Not by choice, imposed by CONCACAF Qualifiers to Nation League and Gold Cup We're also building for the future... Some of the kids are still in youth clubs and being exposed to the region geography, culture, different style of play while allowing Herdman to evaluate them while coming up with a definitive plan for the Gold Cup, Nations League and WCQ is worth it...And of course the chemistry being built in the meantime while having veterans teach them. We're transitioning most of them from Toulon tournament to Gold Cup via the qualifications.We won't necessarily win the Gold Cup but it will be a tougher challenge for them which they will use to up their game in the Nations League when playing the likes of Mexico, Costa Rica and the US. The endgame is qualifying for 2022 and who knows how much better they will be 2 years from now at the heart of the WCQ. Herdman giving them the stage to challenge them also helps them at club level. Why? Because their clubs see their performances in a new light they can't provide and that's a huge incentive for them to further invest in their development and correct the way they've approached it so far which improves the player overall. Barcelona's opinion of Tabla increases, consolidating what they see in him which could lead to training more often with 1st team with Suarez and Messi and perhaps actually seeing the bench in La Liga or a loan to another Spanish Club. This fast-track his development. Same for Gent in regards to David. Herdman playing him 90 minutes is no accident. The fact that he can score and be a threat for 90 min might get Gent to start him more often as opposed to come off the bench. If he keeps this up, he could end up in a 1st team in a higher league or steal the starter position for himself...great for his development right? Liverpool were already very high on Liam Millar but at 19 years old, playing the way he does with guys like Hutchinson, Arfield, Hoilett and Cavallini tells Liverpool a lot about what they got in Liam. Let's not forget that he's been called up by England and turned it down. This might make loaning him to a Championship side or in League One as a starter a higher priority for Liverpool. Alessandro Busti being promoted at his age in Juventus system says a lot about what they see in him. No doubt Canada giving him the starting position at Toulon and on the National Team upgraded his status in the system while helping Juventus and us see what he was truly made off when being thrown in that environment. Same for defenders Zachary Brault Guillard who might see 1st team minute if he keeps playing like this at Lyon U19 and Derek Cornelius is showing that he should be playing at a higher level than Serbia 1st Division. They are as solid as Marcus Godhino who's a starter at Hearts of Midlothian since last year. This also got 18 year old Emile Legault to almost sign a 1st club contract at Celtic before his paperwork fell through. Bayern is looking for versatility. Alphonso Davies being able to shine as a forward, midfiled and defense improves his odds of seeing minutes in Bundesliga as of this season. Everyone knows he's good, but Herdman wants to see if he can be as good in different roles and he's challenging him. Those "minnows" games that means nothing to you are valuable for assessment, hence me being very critical of his performance last night at LB. He didn't play 100% of what he's capable. Throwing the talented kids in the mix helped...Something Canada usually didn't do in the past and it pays off. These guys will be much better by the next WCQ and a serious threat under the steady hand of Herdman. That's the end game of it all but they have to the right things first (technique, decision making, work ethic) and build on it... Minnows or not, you still got to perform the way you're expected too, with the professionalism and mental toughness required to keep playing quality football at the highest level. Analyzing the kids' performance is incredibly important which prepares them for the Gold cup and WCQ. Implementing the culture and professionalism to play at the highest level regardless of who you're playing is the entire point...otherwise this gets you beat by a minnow B team in WCQ like Trinidad... which Herdman will simply not allow. Is the CSA asleep? Safe too say if they were, they've woke up in 2014 when they implemented their 4 year action plan...We're in 2018 now and look at us
The UEFA Nations League has teams play 2 games per month unless they're in a group of 3. Concacaf has teams play 1 game per month. Even if Canada wanted to play a friendly a few days before or after a Nations League Qualifier, neither Canada nor a European team that played once that month would want to play in both continents. African, Asian, and Oceanian teams were unlikely to travel to Canada for a friendly unless they played another game in the Americas such as at USA. Canada could have tried to play a Hexagonal team or a lesser CONMEBOL team. Canada's options were limited, and it wasn't their fault.