20 out of the 23 players will be selected for the 2003 WYC in UAE (as of now). http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1079 D MARSHALL, Winston Wright State University 26-Feb-83 Scarborough, ON D/M LEDGERWOOD, Nikolas Calgary Storm FC 16-Jan-85 Lethbridge, AB D WILSON, Derek University of Victoria 22-Aug-83 Victoria, BC M DUTRA, Waldemar Calgary Storm FC 20-Feb-83 Sherwood Park, AB D ARANGO, Andres Mercer College (USA) 23-Apr-83 Etobicoke, ON M DI TULLIO, Jason l'Impact de Montreal 06-Jan-84 Montreal, QC M CHIN, Gordon unattached 26-Mar-83 Burnaby, BC F LEMIRE, Chris Calgary Storm FC 03-Nov-83 Edmonton, AB M/F GARCIA, Andy St. Bonaventure University 26-Dec-84 Mississauga, ON M SIMPSON, Josh University of Portland 15-May-83 Victoria BC M MATONDO, Sita-Taty unattached 28-Dec-84 St-Laurent, QC M BLICHARSKI, Nicolas Wilfrid Laurier University 26-Apr-84 Kitchener, ON D HARMSE, Kevin unattached 04-Jul-84 Coquitlam, BC D HOBBS, Gavin University of Washington 10-Jul-83 North Vancouver, BC GK KARIM, Alim Syracuse University 20-Apr-83 Scarborough, ON F CHURSKY, Alex Seattle University (USA) 07-Sep-83 Federal Way, WA GK FERNANDES, Daniel Celta Vigo (Spain) 25-Sep-83 Vancouver, BC F HUME, Iain Tranmere Rovers FC 30-Oct-83 Brampton, ON F BELOTTE, Wyn IFK Norrkoping 06-May-84 Montreal, QC GK RAYNER, Simon Barry Town AFC 08-Jul-83 Vancouver, BC M HUTCHINSON, Atiba Osters IF (Sweden) 08-Feb-83 Brampton, ON F GODFREY, Elliott Watford FC (England) 02-Feb-83 Hempstead, UK GK DJEKANOVIC, Srdjan Radnicki Obrenovac 08-Jan-83 Vancouver, BC
Obviously this roster is bigger than the 20 players who will make the UAE roster. Who are the leading candidates to be dropped and are there other players in the U20 pool with a real shot at going to thw WYC who aren't listed?
Well there are four keepers on the list so one or two of the drops will be from that list. It is hard to tell who the first choice keepers are since Karim starting all three games in the CONCACAF qualifiers was something of a surprise. There is not anyone from outside the list who will be considered according to the CSA. So if 3 keeprs are going, my bet would be that Radnicki would be the keeper left behind, although many of us wonder about Karim. Among the non-keepers, my guess would be that Blicharski, Garcia and Hobbs would be on the bubble. Perhaps Ledgerwood as well, although he is talented and his age may work for him as they will likely want to groom him a bit for the next time around. Thsoe are my thoughts, but, who knows?
Looks like the tourney's been postponed due to threat of war. When are they going to be able to reschedule? Can't really play in summer in UAE, can you? Won't affect Canada so much, as there are only a couple of pros, but might affect England (Everton was balking on releasing Rooney, for example) or the US (if MLS is in season.)
There are 11 Pros on the team and 3 more, Chin, Harmse and Matando who are unattached and have been taking trials in Europe. Harmse and Chin are both draft choices of the Whitecaps and, irrespective of how the European Trials are going, are likely to be pro in the A-League by then. So of the 14, 7 are in Europe, 3 may be either Europe or A-League and 4 are definited A-League. A summer tournament would be useful for 5 of the European Pros as their seasons are over by then (although Training camps etc are in full swing) while the Scandinavian and A-League pros will be in mid-season. Either way, the effect is probabaly a wash in terms of incovenience.
Last I heard Matando was on trial with GAK in the Austrian first division. No idea if he is back in Canada or still in Austria....
Meant "euro pros" and was thinking of those whose teams might think of balking at a call-up. Should have been more clear. But again, I don't see 'em playing in the UAE in August, so it won't have much effect either way on the Canadian team, I wager. It does have to go this year as it is a U- tourney, so probably look at the fall/early winter if the talk of/reality of war is over by then. Surprised they just didn't move it.
It wouldn't surprise me if they do, ultimately, move the Tournament. If there is war, I am not so certain that the fallout - and the risks - will be over by March. A fellow over on the Voyaguers board suggested, reasonably I think, that the commitment to the UAE could be made by giving them the next Tournament. And you are right, I don't think they will be playing in the summer if it is held in the UAE.
They have already awarded the 2005 U20 Tournament to Holland. So annoying UEFA would be out of the question. The tournament could still be played in April/May depending on how the war turns out.