Canadian Soccer News Not much going on internationally so news will be about this side of the ocean Canadian Premier League We now know the identity of the 4 teams moving on to the second round group stage. (Calgary) Cavalry Halifax Wanderers (Hamilton) Forge (Vancouver Island) Pacific Teams will face one another once and the top 2 advance to CPL Finals. The winner will be the 2020 CPL Champions and will qualify for : 2021 CONCACAF League 2020 Canadian Championship Finals against an MLS team MLS With the surprise victory of the Vancouver Whitecaps over Toronto FC, the 2020 Canadian Championship finals is within grasp for Montreal Impact who would go through if they win all their remaining games against the Whitecaps. Huge credit to Vancouver for beating Toronto by playing 8 Canadians - starting 6
Portugal 23 years old Stephen Eustaquio will stay in Portugal with Paços de Ferreira in Primeira Liga. Looks like Cruz Azul aren't ready to sell him just yet after having a good season in Portugal. He helped turn the club around who was in the relegation zone before his arrival. He is Canada's present and future at midfield According to @Record_Portugal Stephen Eustáquio, set to sign for Paços de Ferreira. Who played last season on loan. https://t.co/Orb2Ax37To— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) September 7, 2020 England 18 years old striker Theo Corbeanu is now training with the first team at Wolves. He's part of their U23 team after a successful run with their U18 team. Born in Burlington, Ontario - he represented Romania but decided to represent Canada going forward. Theo Corbeanu has been training with the first team https://t.co/OZs2J0KwDJ pic.twitter.com/v0iOFVtRI1— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) September 7, 2020
Do you think CPL teams would join the MLS elite player development platform? After all they're using Alphonso Davies to promote it.
No they would not as this already exist in Canada under the provincial bodies management (below Ontario & Quebec as examples) Ontario Quebec Which is funny as he wasn't developed by an MLS academy but by Edmonton academies operating under Alberta Soccer. While MLS Academies in Canada will most likely be allowed to be part of MLS Next (for now), the rest of the academies coast to coast will be operating under their respective provincial jurisdictions. What used to happen when CPL didn't exist was that the best players outside of MLS academies would be identified by the CSA but pushed to sign MLS contracts. There would be some like Jonathan David simply opting for Europe but most would end up in USL limbo or at best warming the bench in MLS at a time when they needed minutes the most until being released. Now, those young talents will be identified by CPL clubs much earlier as they expand throughout the country. By the time they are identified by the CSA, they will be tied to CPL clubs who will provided them those minutes to develop. What was missing in Canada was a true pathway to Pro - not that MLS isn't a viable pathway but insufficient for our needs
Canadian Championship Race Canadian Premier League Group Stage Top 2 advance to CPL Finals Cavalry Halifax Wanderers Forge (defending champions) Pacific MLS Canadian Series Top team advance to Canadian Championship finals
David's story is very inspiring for the next generation. I think he made the right choice by not joining an MLS academy and betting on himself while keeping control of his destiny. Like the video said, he wouldn't get 1st club minute that he was seeking - not like Gent gave him. Young talents were going to those academies because there wasn't really any other options except the path David took which is very hard for a young Canadian. CPL now providing a viable alternative, more talents are likely to choose that path to get those minutes while the league as a whole wants to move talents to higher leagues in Europe - not just MLS. The next David and Davies are more likely to be found out by CPL clubs. Anyone familiar with Davies story knows that had CPL existed, Davies would have been with FC Edmonton. Same for David, he'd be more likely to play for Atletico Ottawa, who would have given him the minutes he wanted and most likely move to Madrid or elsewhere. David and Davies are undeniably paving the way for the next generation
On the other hand Chris Richards, an 18 year-old who was on the bench for Bayern Munich at the UEFA Champions League Final, and Joe Scally, who will join Borussia Mönchengladbach on his 18th birthday, both came through the MLS academy route at Dallas and NYC respectively.
but would a CPL Davies bave gone abroad or maybe he woupd have needed a year or 2 in MLS to gain attention of scouts?
I have no doubts that the MLS academies in the US works better than the ones in Canada. Same league, very different ways of using them When asked if CPL will replicate what the Canadian MLS academies have done, CPL commissioner points out to the very low % of players actually getting MLS minutes vs the cost. He also adds that academies are good when used correctly and in Canada, they have been misused and there's an awareness that we don't have the expertise to yield results like in Europe who've been doing it for decades. That's why for short to mid-term, CPL will partner with existing academies who have the expertise and been around for decades producing players who went on to top Euro leagues while investing in developing this expertise instead (coaching, execs, etc) with their partners and within their organization. Long term once that expertise is acquired, CPL might have academies.
What CPL would have done for Davies is giving him and his family more choices. Going to Vancouver was a hard decision for his family. In CPL, he would have stayed in Edmonton 2 to 3 years and could have chosen between MLS and Europe. Without CPL, knowing his family situation and the agent he had, going to Vancouver was virtually his only option. David had to go on trial to Belgium for Gent to give him his chance. Unlike Davies, David was in a better position to just go and persevere in Europe wanting to avoid MLS. Had CPL existed, he would have been at Atletico Ottawa, dominate and move on to Europe This article does a much better job at explaining Canada being viewed as an untapped market and how CPL factor in. I would add that the MediaPro deal that La Liga helped brokered and close ties between CPL & top European leagues who are supporting, advising and watching the league are also strong positives for Canadian players and the league. Forgotten Canada experiencing gold rush as foreign soccer leagues eye untapped talent https://www.google.com/amp/s/thepro...wcm/e6e42187-9d8c-438c-9051-7e9e78544327/amp/
Of course what would really help young players get spotted is for the Canadian youth teams qualifying for their respective world cups.
For that, the CSA will have to have a more inclusive approach and not just put out rosters that are so MLS academy heavy. I believe we're about to see a change in the coming years with Canada having a domestic league for young players to get minutes at a higher level
Moves like this furthers my point that the whole bragging about wanting to develop Canadians and transitioning them to first team is total BS from Toronto. I think Initially it was the intention but the current management inherited a system they don't believe in and don't really buy into Canadian soccer in my opinion That's not just me saying it but more and more journalists are questioning moves like this as the popularity of the sports grows here. 1304929444101005312 is not a valid tweet id Young players are catching on too.
Canadian news France Jonathan David played 83 minutes in a 1-0 win over Metz England Junior Hoillet played 58 minutes for Cardiff City in a 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday Liam Millar played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over EvertonU23. Liverpool are looking to loan him by the end of the transfer window. 18 years old striker Theo Corbeanu scores for Wolves Academy. He already declared tyat he wishbto play for Canada going forward. Simply brilliant from Theo Corbeanu 👏📺 Watch live 👉 https://t.co/LedpDWh7CK#WOLBUR #PL2 pic.twitter.com/CVDXtVlrUk— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) September 12, 2020 Scotland M Scott Arfield had 1 goal and an assist in a 4-0 win with Rangers who are at the top of the table 1304809843216338944 is not a valid tweet id M David Wotherspoon played 84 minutes in a 1-0 loss for St.Johnstone 22 years old Harry Paton played in a tough loss against Celtic. He's likely to be called up for the Olympics squad. Turkey Cyle Larin played 72 minutes and Atiba Hutchinson the full 90 minutes where he bossed the midfield in a 3-1 win for Besiktas. The club will be playing a Europa league qualifier game next week. Serbia GK Milan Bojan started in a 3-1 win. Belgrade have a Champions League qualifiers game next week. Norway LB Sam Adekugbe played the full 90 in a 5-1 win for Valerenga Chile 25 years old RB Juan Cordova played 90 minutes for Huachipato in a 3-2 loss against Santiago Wanderers Canadian championship race Canadian Premier League On the road to the 2020 Canadian Championship FinalSaturday 🗓️Forge FC pick up 3 points with 2:0 win over Pacific FCHFX Wanderers pick up 3 points with 2:1 win over Cavalry FCTuesday 🗓️Cavalry FC v Forge FCHFX Wanderers FC v Pacific FC#CanChamp https://t.co/BGMMFkYssn pic.twitter.com/KS58IRshF4— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 12, 2020 1- (Hamilton) Forge 2019 CPL champions most depth and balanced in my opinion Advanced in 2019 CONCACAF League with a result in Central America and a win over Olimpia 2-Halifax Wanderers Excellent goalkeeping (Christian Oxner being the best this year) and solid defensively with a fast counterattack T&T Akeem Garcia and Brazilian Joao Morelli leads the league in goal scoring 3-(Calgary) Cavalry Eliminated an MLS club from the domestic cup and were 2019 CPL finalists As deep as Forge but plagued by injuries in this tournament In my opinion, plays the most attractive brand of football Best newcomer of the league : 20 years old RB Mohammed Farsi Mohamed Farsi 🍁 steals the ball and fires it home for the Cavalry FC 3-1 lead🔥 pic.twitter.com/zDEwwShw0D— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 10, 2020 4-(Vancouver Island) Pacific Dangerous trio in Blasco, Diaz and Bustos Marco Bustos 🍁 with the 🚀 to take Pacific FC into the next round on the road to the 2020 Canadian Championship Final pic.twitter.com/kRz2x3aONN— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 6, 2020 Kadin Chung is the best RB in the league and should make the Olympics team
Canadian championship race Major League Soccer With the 4-2 win, Montreal only needs to beat Vancouver on Wednesday and score 2 goals to advance to Canadian Championship finals On the road to the 2020 Canadian Championship FinalMontréal win 4:2 on Sunday night at BC Place in VancouverNext (last) match: Wednesday 16 SeptemberVancouver Whitecaps v Impact de Montréal#CanChamp (inc. tie-breakers) https://t.co/DIF2HkFdRa https://t.co/9X22xIvyWf pic.twitter.com/qKqf1VHXa0— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 14, 2020
Credit to Thierry Henry for trying to make Samuel Piette becoming a more complete player by playing him higher at midfield. Looks like the 25 years old have more room for growth after 1 goal and 1 assist 21 years old Lyon graduate Zachary Brault-Guillard has been incredibly at RB and is making a case to be a starter at the position for the National team. Great showing by striker Theo Bair with 1 goal tonight. He's a lock for the Olympics qualifiers team Lucas Cavallini might lose his #2 spot to Cyle Larin after his red card tonight and not a great start in MLS. He should have stayed in Liga MX but Vancouver is not a great so there's time to turn things around. 23 years old Christian Gutierrez* was amazing at LB and Vancouver should send the international Ali Adnan packing and just play the Canadian instead. *His twin Diego Gutierrez plays for (Winnipeg) Valour FC as a midfielder. Valour wanted to sign both but Christian club in Chile decided to keep him an extra year in Chile and Diego went to CPL. Vancouver would pick up Christian afterwards.
Canadian championship race It's official, the CPL finals will be the defending champions Forge vs Halifax Wanderers On the road to the 🍁 Canadian Championship FinalTuesday Group StageForge FC 1:0 CavalryPacific FC 5:0 HFX Wanderers FC#IslandGames 🏆 SaturdayFINAL - Forge FC Hamilton 🆚 HFX Wanderers FC#CanChamp https://t.co/BGMMFkYssn pic.twitter.com/u4WDx2yAj3— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 16, 2020 2 Canadians are nomimated for the 2020 Golden boy award - Alphonso Davies & Jonathan David Jonathan David (@itsJoDavid) is named to the shortlist for the 2020 Golden Boy award! pic.twitter.com/DGVwYdr3E6— Axía Sports Management (@axiasportsmgmt) September 15, 2020
A Canadian teenager is one of the fastest soccer players in the world. https://t.co/x8Lt1ZE5Xd— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) September 17, 2020
UEFA has announced the players shortlisted for the 2019/20 Champions League awards, announced on Oct 1.GOALKEEPER: Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain)Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)(cont...)— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) September 17, 2020 DEFENDERS: David Alaba (Bayern Munich)Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)MIDFIELDER: Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) September 17, 2020 FORWARD: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)So the 12-man the shortlist by club is 7 - Bayern Munich3 - PSG1 - Atletico Madrid1 - Manchester City— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) September 17, 2020