Long Balls originally intended to discuss whether Jamie Peters' two recent starts at rightback for Ipswich Town make him the definitive choice at that position for Canada's friendly with Greece next month, but decided instead to engage in irresponsible speculation about what Ronaldinho could have taught maybe-Canadian striker David Hoilett at Blackburn.
Brushing aside that the Brazilian was never going remotely near northwest England - as well as the wisdom of focusing on a player who refuses to clarify his Canada future over one who repeatedly answers the call - away we go.
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Ronaldinho is famous for many things, but two incidents sum up his career nicely. One is the long, slaloming run through the Real Madrid defence in the 2005 El Clasico that earned him one of only two standing ovations the Bernabeu crowd has ever offered an opposing player. The second is how in 2007 he allegedly partied until 11am in a Rio de Janeiro nightclub, and then snuck out in the trunk of a car to avoid the paparazzi.
If even a fraction of the moves Ronnie displayed at the peak of his Barca powers had rubbed off on Hoilett, well, that would be simply fantastic for the Canada program (or for the Jamaica one). But the Brazilian's acute knowledge of the European nightclub scene is also something Hoilett could share with his teammates to energize those lonely nights on Canada duty in Macedonia and Estonia. An added bonus: the Canucks could spend the dawn hours gyrating to the "Final Countdown" and stroll confidently out into the morning sun, as media rarely cover them on the football pitch, nevermind off of it.
But the last thing Canada supporters would want to rub off on young Hoilett is Ronnie's misjudged sense of career longevity. What good would it do for Hoilett to win man of the tournament in the 2011 Gold Cup if by 2012 he retired prematurely due to drugs, hookers and extra poundage?
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Jamie Peters' two appearances last week at rightback for Ipswich didn't turn heads, but he's the only Canadian player besides natural midfielder Atiba Hutchinson getting minutes at this position. And Canada needs somebody new at this position. Yes, Paul Stalteri is on in years, but the biggest reason he should make way in Canada's starting eleven is that he now rarely plays with his club. Simple as that.
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Long Balls missed it last week, but on Boxing Day Wigan took to the pitch for the first time in 100 matches without a Honduran in their lineup. Both Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas were suspended for the match, killing a streak that dates all the way back to January 2008, when Wigan signed Wilson Palacios. If this doesn't settle it, nothing does: outside of Honduras, DW Stadium is officially the second-most Catracho-friendly stadium in the world, after Stade Saputo.