Gold Cup - The Canadian MLS contingent – Part Two: Those Left Behind - 24th Minute

Spirits and expectations – amongst the fan base, if not in camp - may be low heading into the Gold Cup.

But, in yesterday’s Part One - an examination of the eight members of the squad from MLS clubs - it emerged that several of those who ply their trade in MLS have been, as one commentator accurately remarked, difference makers for their respective clubs, laying the foundations for a solid eleven.

But what of those who were left off the roster?[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

Fitness, age, and a lack of first team playing time – in the case of the young fringe element, who will feature in Part Three - have been mentioned as reasons for their exclusion, but is it really that straight-forward?

There were four major omissions of MLS stock from the National Team: Dejan Jakovic, Kyle Porter, Dwayne De Rosario, and Patrice Bernier.

Dejan Jakovic

Jakovic would definitely have definitely been a part of this squad was it not for a nagging adductor strain – alternatively reported as a groin issue in some places.

Interim boss, Colin Miller, went so far as to say - on a the conference call when the initial camp roster was announced - that Jakovic was very keen to join the side and was very disappointed he would have to miss out.

The centre-back started all ten of DC United matches prior to picking up the injury, despite the tinkering of coach, Ben Olsen, which saw the side chopped and changed in search of a winning combination throughout their struggles.

It is a measure of the club’s opinion of Jakovic that he remained in the lineup throughout that rocky spell.

While still guilty of the occasional mental mistake and never the fleetest of foot – his awareness more than makes up for any deficiency - Jakovic has matured into a very reliable defender, one who is also comfortable on the ball.

A very limited (which is to say, brief) example of his composure moving forward can be seen in the build up to Perry Kitchen’s goal below. Notice how, rather than pass sideways or make the easy play outside or back, Jakovic strides forward confidently before dishing to Lionard Pajoy who picks out Dwayne De Rosario to set up Kitchen for the strike.

Earlier in that same match, he succumbed to one of those mental mistakes, being a little too casual with his passing, allowing Philadelphia a quick break, resulting in Jack McInerney goal.

His presence will be missed, as he figures to be a key member of the central defense in the coming years.

On the aforementioned conference call, Miller said that Jakovic would be out for another six weeks, which struck as a little odd – ten days earlier, on June 15, he was named as a substitute on DC’s bench for their match against Toronto FC, though he did not feature.

It was reported on June 10 that Jakovic had returned to full training and his status was upgraded to ‘Questionable’ on the injury report dated June 14, but he had regressed to ‘Out’ on the subsequent report (June 21) without the explicit indication of any setback.

Not to make a mountain out of a molehill here, players suffer recurrences in training all the time as they return, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on exactly when he does return to action for DC.

Kyle Porter

Porter, like Will Johnson, Russell Teibert, and Jonathan Osorio, can be considered as one of the breakout performers of this MLS season.

Acquired by DC at the end of February, shipping a second-round pick in the 2014 supplemental draft to Vancouver, who held his MLS rights, Porter has been one of the few bright spots at the struggling outfit.

After seeing limited action from the bench through the first month of the season, subbing into four matches, he was granted his chance following an injury to Nick DeLeon.

Porter seized the opportunity and hasn’t looked back; starting eleven of the next twelve league matches – he missed the Toronto match with a calf strain - scoring his first goal in the league and adding an assist.

A rather tidy finish at the back-post, his assist, on De Rosario’s free kick is below.

What is not evident on simple stat lines is his tireless energy or the willingness to try to create, an asset that has been in short supply in DC, and something that Canada has also struggled with in recent times.

Surely with those assets an in-form Porter could be of some use at the tournament and would relish the chance to represent Canada once more, having gotten a small taste in the January camp.

The is a glut of midfielders available to Canada at the moment – eleven of the 23 named – but underlying his non-selection is the fact that it could be detrimental to his development, taking him away from his club just as he is starting to find his feet.

Could this factor into the decision to leave him out of the National Team?

Unlike Teibert, Osorio, or Doneil Henry - who were called – Porter’s position at DC is much less stable; they count as homegrown players and come with domestic and salary perks to quell any fears about a place in the side.

In contrast, Porter’s status as an international makes him much more costly – taking up one of the limited international roster spots at the club - and a Canadian kid does not garner the emotional attraction – despite DC having a good history with players of the Northern persuasion – that would compensate for that extra expense.

If so, Porter would not be the only player who will miss out in order to focus on their club careers, both Atiba Hutchinson and Andre Hainault, one possibly on the move, the other looking for a club, made the decision to not be involved this time around.

The risk of a potential move being quashed by picking up an injury is as threatening as losing one’s hard-earned place in a side.

These players give a lot to the country and if, on occasion – rare occasion, preferably - they need to take care of themselves first, it is understandable and should not be overly scrutinized or criticized.

Dwayne De Rosario

One could make a valid case that coming off a significant knee injury – suffered while on international duty with Canada in Panama last September, having his preseason disrupted by a suspension – for head-butting Danny Cruz, and then succumbing to an early muscle injury, has impacted De Rosario’s ability to gear up to match fitness, but the vital signs have begun to rise – just in time for the Gold Cup.

His absence from the roster drew the most attention.

Dwayne missed DC’s first two matches – serving that suspension, then returned for two games before picking up an adductor strain that saw him rested for a match and a half.

Such disruptions are not a good way to return to playing after several months off and the older one gets - De Rosario turned 35 in May – the longer and more difficult it will be to reach the necessary match fitness required to excel and this level.

He started a run of five matches – scoring his first goal of the season in his seventh appearance (it was assisted by Porter) against Dallas – but then fell victim to Olsen’s desperation-scrambled rotations.

Like the determined individual that he is, De Rosario, after exchanging a few passionate words about tactics in the media, responded in the best way a player can – on the pitch, notching a hat-trick in the Open Cup, adding a second in the league – from the spot, though he would miss out on the match – a win over San Jose - that ended their long winless streak, nursing a hip flexor injury.

Whether or not De Rosario has any more to offer the National Team has been a matter of impassioned debate.

One side argues that he, and many others, have had their time in the sun and should now make way for the next generation.

The other states the case that there is a value to experience and a calmness or mentorship that elder players can bring to youthful squads that may get a little nervous or overwhelmed on the big occasion.

Since suffering the ignominy of a three-team season – that slap moderated by winning the league MVP that year – and landing with a young DC United, there has been a change in De Rosario.

He is still a dominant personality – a trait that could have encouraged deference from the young squad, who may well be more free to take the match into their own hands without him on the pitch – but having some body who is familiar with the opposition, to drive the side forward and not be intimidated by lofty opponents such as Mexico or Panama, could definitely have been an asset in this tough group that awaits Canada.

Coach Miller, when queried regarding his absence, stated that this was not the end of his career with the National Team, indicating that he would be considered when qualification rolls around – whether circumstances (read: age) comes to pass by then, will only be realized with time.

Miller went on to say they spoke at length about whether he would join the squad and that Dwayne was disappointed to not be coming in, but was supportive nonetheless.

It is interesting that all three of DC’s Canadians were not selected for this summer’s tournament.

Fostering relationships with the professional clubs - despite what TFC thinks - has been a focus of the National Program in recent months, tracing that treacherous line between what is best for them and what is best for the players.

That DC lost De Rosario for the end of last season as a result of an injury he suffered with Canada in September should be remembered.

DC are currently struggling, firmly at the bottom of the league with Olsen’s job at risk, and to be shorn of three potential starters for the duration of the tournament – three or four matches, depending on how long Canada lasts – could be very detrimental to the club’s fortunes.

With Canada’s aims reaching far beyond this tournament, perhaps the time was right to concede to them on this occasion and call in favours when more necessary.

Patrice Bernier

While De Rosario’s absence grabbed most of the attention, more surprising – to those who watch MLS regularly, at least – was the exclusion of one of the most impressive midfielders in the league, Montreal’s Bernier.

Returning from a career in Europe to assist his hometown club in their expansion season last year, Bernier earned plaudits from all, including Thierry Henry, who called him the key to the team as the Impact defeated New York 3-1 last July.

The midfielder, though a year older at 34, has been involved in each of Montreal’s sixteen matches, starting fourteen – he was rested, appearing from the bench, around the time of the Voyageurs Cup series with Toronto.

His offensive production has dropped considerably; to be expected given the more defensive role he has assumed in coach, Marco Schallibaum’s style.

As the sole holding midfielder, having played much of last season with Collen Warner alongside him in Jesse Marsch’s 4-2-3-1, Bernier has not been permitted the free reign to glide forward, tallying only one goal – from the spot against Toronto – and five assists, compared to the nine goals and eight assists he accumulated in 2012.

That said, he has not lost his ability to pick as pass, as this wonderful effort played in Felipe against Houston.

If there was one mistake made in this squad selection, it was the decision to leave out Bernier.

Yes, he doesn’t run that much, but given the absence of Hutchinson in particular, it would be advantageous to have a man who can manage a game like no other in the middle of the pitch.

A partnership between Bernier and Johnson would be a joy to watch for MLS enthusiasts and it is a shame that they will be denied such viewing pleasures.

So why the decision to not bring him in?

Some have speculated that his time with the team is over, but at a similar age to De Rosario, who as mentioned will be considered again in the future, why wouldn’t an impressive Bernier warrant inclusion?

One factor, a the moment at least is that Bernier, has played every league match - plus four in the Voyageurs Cup - for Montreal and, if his tired looking performance against Toronto on Wednesday is any indication, may not have the legs for a Gold Cup, the rigours of an MLS season and impending Champions League commitments as the Impact go in search of their first MLS title.

_______

Whenever one assembles a squad, injury, as in the case of Jakovic, will always be a limiting factor, and sometimes players – Porter, Hutchinson, and Hainault - will be unavailable as they focus on the betterment of their careers, solidifying their tenuous holds at clubs.

While knowing when to turn the page on the previous generation – De Rosario and Bernier - is a delicate art.

But looking at this summer’s Gold Cup in isolation, Canada will miss the talents of these four players, given the ability they have shown this season in MLS.

Will Johnson, Russell Teibert, Jonathan Osorio, Kyle Porter, Dwayne De Rosario, Patrice Bernier, Dejan Jakovic, Nana Attakora, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Kyle Bekker, and Simon Thomas; not a bad little collection of MLS-based talent with which to create a National Team.

Granted, one a little shy on strikers and keepers, but hey, this is Canada.

_______

This third, and final, installment of this examination of Canadian talent in MLS with an eye towards the Gold Cup will conclude tomorrow (Saturday) with a shorter post looking at the young players on the fringes of their respective clubs and therefore not in the National Team picture.

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Gold Cup - The Canadian MLS contingent – Part Two: Those Left Behind

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