2019 Canadian Championship

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Robert Borden, Oct 28, 2018.

  1. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    When playing against lower level teams, they have played B squads for the first leg because they know their B squad is at about the same level as their opponent. They then play as much of their A squad in the second leg as they feel is necessary to secure the aggregate win. It isn't that they don't take the CC seriously, it's that they can do squad rotation and still advance.
     
  2. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I would also not say it's a full B team, it's not like they are playing their whole bench, they still have starters. Like you said too if a squad has depth and they can rotate without really losing anything, then it's still an A team. Will be interesting to see what lineups they put out next week. I'm expecting Cavalry to focus fully on this now and go all out.
     
  3. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    In the past two years, the MLS-USL series were both Toronto versus Ottawa.

    In 2017, TFC played one regular starter (Cheyrou - captain for the day) in the first leg.

    In 2018, TFC played one regular starter (Osorio - captain for the day) in the first leg.

    They were not only playing from the bench, they were calling up heavily from TFC II.

    I expect the MLS teams will do something similar for the first leg against the CPL teams. I look forward to seeing how the CPL teams respond as I suspect they will go all out for this.
     
  4. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Ok, if the MLS are going to treat the CPL like that, well then they could be in for a real shock, if the MLS is smart enough and serious enough they won't take the CPL so lightly. It's very hard to beat Cavalry esp. at home and on the road too. HFX do well at home, York are a tough team to get a win against. If we think these clubs are better than Ottawa, then the MLS could very well get knocked out.
     
  5. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    So here are the elo rankings/ratings of all the Canadian clubs and as of right now Cavalry are indeed #1 ahead of all 3 MLS clubs, so CPL's best is currently better, of course the CC will change things, but as of right now CPL has it's moment in the sun, hope they can keep it going. Ottawa would be in the bottom 3 of the CPL:

    https://i2.wp.com/www.northernstart...t/uploads/2019/05/310519-EloRatings.png?ssl=1
     
  6. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    ^ I like the CPL and want it to succeed. I'm not sure how those rankings are calculated but there's no way Calgary's best line up is anywhere close to the MLS teams' best line ups. The only way the CPL has success against the MLS teams in the Canadian Championship is if the MLS teams play back up lines ups. If they do in game one and the CPL teams pull out a win, they will put in a real line up in game two to win it back.
     
  7. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Well we can't say for sure until they actually play each other, on paper you might think Cavalry aren't nearly as good, but matches are not played on paper, plus Cavalry have pretty much dominated the CPL, so yeah it does count for a lot, Vancouver haven't won a match since May 25th, they've drawn their last 3 and lost their last, only have 4 wins all season, so haven't been performing that well in MLS, which is another reason why Cavalry are ahead, so coming in here Cavalry do look the better side.
     
  8. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    York9 gets crushed by MTL. Their only hope is MTL showing up with guys who barely see any minutes, using the smaller pitch to their advantage and Ingham stopping everything.


    Fury will beat HFX Wanderers who are plagued with injuries but they could catch the Fury in their counterattack game

    Cavalry and Whitecaps is the dream matchup here. Whitecaps are favorites but it won't be easy. Cavalry are absolutely deadly on set pieces and I doubt Cavalry finishes last in MLS, they play that well. Whitecaps should win but an upset here could happen
     
  9. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    That's like saying the Ottawa 67s dominated the OHL and the Ottawa Senators had a lousy NHL season so the 67s look the better side. You can't compare the records of teams in divergent leagues.

    In sports, there is always a chance for an upset. That's why we actually play the games. If Vancouver puts out its real line up, however, there is only a very low chance of an upset.
     
  10. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    The OHL compared to L1O would be a fairer comparison

    But yeah, doesn't work like that in football. Anything can goes in those type of tournaments.
     
  11. Yoshou

    Yoshou Fan of the CCL Champ

    May 12, 2009
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Right now that ELO rating just isn’t accurate for CPL teams. Usually it would include a team’s league performance, international performance, and a league modifier. Since the Cavalry and CPL haven’t faced any international teams and the only non-league games have been the 4 against the L10 teams, they basically have the base score for those modifiers and their league performance modifier is huge since they mopped up in CPL play.. As CPL teams play more non-CPL games, the rating will start to more accurately reflect the league’s proper standing and the Cavalry’s ELO will adjust accordingly.
     
  12. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    #162 Goaler, Jul 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2019
    Montreal have smartly fielded a strong lineup, because they know they are playing a fellow tier 1 league, just like I said.
     
  13. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Ottawa take leg 1 3-2, quite the match, both sides in it till the end, HFX may have been robbed, leg 2 will be good, proving the CPL is far better than people are giving it credit for.
     
  14. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    #164 Goaler, Jul 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2019
    1st half between York9 and Montreal is done ending 0-0, Montreal had a good deal of the ball but they really did not create much with it, and when they did for the most part York9 defended when they had to, York9 is right there with them, they are no way out of their depth, proving how good the CPL is, York9's tactics have looked good, they are playing better than their general CPL level, maybe they have an advantage in that they have well scouted Montreal, maybe Montreal don't have the same. Stats say York9 had more of the ball actually, didn't feel like it though.
     
  15. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    What a 2nd half, Montreal scored 1st off a Y9 mistake at the back, then Y9 reply, then Y9 score again but make another mistake by getting a yellow card for it, then their goalie makes a huge error by tripping a Montreal player in the box giving them a PK, which they convert on, so if Y9 just kept their composure and heads they would've walked out of this up 2-0, instead they are down on away goals (not one of the better rules in sports) 2-2, I wonder what Brennan will say after it.
     
  16. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Cavalry vs Vancouver has kicked off, VWCaps are putting out a strong lineup, again smartly not underestimating their opposition.
     
  17. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    0-0 after 1st half, Cavalry have been solid on D, but could have done better on set pieces, WCaps haven't had much going forward.
     
  18. Goaler

    Goaler Member

    Bristol City, Slavia Prague, Pacific FC, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union
    England
    Apr 11, 2007
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Cavalry pretty much outplayed the Whitecaps who did not look good and were quite vulnerable and weak coming off a 6-1 blasting, so yeah, form does play a part, but Cavalry could not fully take advantage, their set pieces were not as sharp as normal, however the ref decided this game as they missed 2 calls, the 1st was when the WCaps should have had a goal but it was called offside and Cavalry should have had a PK, so it ended 0-0. All in all it's a good result for Cavalry though since if they can get an away goal in the next one they are in a great spot to advance. I thought York9 overall were the best minus the mistakes.
     
  19. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Round 3 Canadian Championship

    Tonight, history was made in Canadian soccer as Canadian Premier League faced USL & MLS clubs for the 1st time.

    This was a statement night for the CPL who gained lots of respect tonight from the media, fans and casuals with the performance they had.

    (CPL) HFX Wanderers 2-3 (USL) Ottawa Fury
    Ottawa had lots to proved as their organization and fans were speculating that the level of play and budgets of CPL were too low for them to join. Some of them were arguing that they were a tier above CPL.

    They have not demonstrated that tonight. Ottawa's finishing was clinical and would be a top 3 CPL club but not above Forge or Cavalry. The level of play was very similar with Halifax who got denied a goal by they were clearly onside.

    Halifax knows for its organized defense was didn't quite play up to their standards but Ottawa had the same problems.

    (CPL) York9 2-2 (MLS) Montreal Impact
    Montreal did not play their best XI while York9 did. Most experts argued that Montreal would make quick work of York who's a bottom tier of CPL regardless. Despite playing Piette and Brault-Guillard, Montreal's depth was exposed tonight.

    York9 attracted a lot of TFC & IMFC fans who knew little of CPL and left the stadium surprised at the level of play by York 9. Tweets from journalists covering the game mirrored that impression.

    York9 defense and keeper, who were praised in CPL, cost them the victory with 2 defensive mistakes. That lack of composure and concentration is where you saw the difference of tier, also, the midfield lacks depth. Too bad as for once, their attack showed up, against Montreal nonetheless.

    (CPL) Cavalry 0-0 (MLS) Vancouver
    This game was the measuring stick. Vancouver put out their best XI, same for Cavalry who are the reigning Spring season champions who truly are above the rest of the league.

    It was an even matchup and this was clearly Cavalry hardest match they had so far. However, they slowly started to take over the game near the end and got robbed of a clear penalty. If Cavalry was in MLS, no doubt in my mind they wouldn't be dead last and could compete in that league, but would be somewhat where Vancouver are at the moment.

    The manager Tommy Wheeldon is a name to remember. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets an opportunity at a higher level
     
  20. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    Some fun games for leg one of this series.

    In their first competition against USL and MLS sides, the CPL teams showed well. A narrow loss to the USL team, a draw against a backup-heavy Impact, and a draw against a decently representative Vancouver squad. The sample size is really small and I'm looking forward to seeing how things go in the return legs (especially to see what line ups the MLS teams put out). So far, however, the results by the CPL teams are comparable to what the USL teams have done in the Canadian Championship in recent years. That (on a small sample size) puts the CPL teams around the USL level, which is quite good for year one and about what I was expecting.

    This was the first round where all three games (even York!) pulled decent attendances. We're just over 52 000 total for the 2019 edition of the tournament so far and only about 10 500 away from our one millionth fan all time. Someone at either the Ottawa or Montreal home games (they play simultaneously) will be the millionth Canadian Championship fan.
     
  21. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    That was actually Vancouver's best XI last night. That's why it was the true measuring stick.

    Montreal had lots of regular starters nonetheless in their line up (they are getting toasted by the media this morning). The attack was their regular attack, Jackson-Hamel didn't even play, Piette played, Zachary Brault-Guillard and the regular back line played. Midfield outside of Piette, was the depth players.

    Analysts in Montreal are praising the league this morning as more people discovered it last night in the big 3 cities...that was their coming out.

    Calgary proved they are truly on a class of its own with that perfomance against Vancouver. You won't find people pointing out the gap between those 2 teams. Crepeau proved why he's one of the best keeper in MLS, he bailed his team out last night.

    Wanderers underperformed in my opinion, they are much better than that defensively. Alberto Perea completely transformed the offensive side of that team, hence the poor defensive play being a head scratcher.

    I was at York Lions stadium, wow!!!! Most fun I had in a live soccer game in a very long time. This league is here to stay and this would only attract more investors to the league.

    Ottawa? Just join CPL. Their arguments went flying out the window last night.
     
  22. RocketRobin

    RocketRobin Member

    Canada
    Feb 3, 2007
    Toronto
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    July 10, 2019 CPL vs MLS Voyageurs Cup post game press conference of York 9 FC vs Montreal Impact match on my site right now.
    http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports19/19york123.htm

    Impact's head coach Remi Garde and Samuel Piette. York 9's Jimmy Brennan and Ryan Telfer.

    more pictures, rosters, play by play, opinion added in next day or two.
     
  23. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    That's great. That sort of experience will help build the fan bases across the league.

    I'd like to see them in the CPL. I don't think their arguments were about the play, however, so much as the economics. But maybe the good crowd in Halifax will show them what's possible.
     
  24. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    #174 Robert Borden, Jul 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
    Their worries was pre-MediaPro deal, sponsors, CONCACAF League inclusion.

    I get that they didn't trust the business model at first but as a whole, the league is exceeding expectations on a sound business plan focused on diversification of revenues and oversea market penetration.

    Not saying that USL isn't a good business model, but not in Canada.
     
  25. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Actually, I thought Halifax underperformed during that game. They got some of their attack back in Perea but they were let down by their defense who gave way too much space to Fury attackers.

    That's being said, if Halifax can go back to how they defend, they can contain the Fury. They just got Gutierrez back at midfield adding more punch to the attack
     

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