An Observer Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 I think if he is playing for Arsenal next season which is possible, he would be on the team as (1) we will have a 26 man squad; and (2) he plays a position of need as we don’t have a 10. TGAA_Star 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Observer Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 7 hours ago, dyslexic nam said: I think I am repeating myself but the only potential addition I can see at this point would be a guy like Jebbison. In theory anyone could have an absolute break-out season and stake a claim, but it seems pretty unlikely. Other than Jeb, you have a few guys who have had some involvement with the squad (ZBG, Akinola, etc) and could play their way in at the expense of someone who isn’t locked down. For a guy like Flores, I just don’t see it. Maybe an invite gets extended for Nations League in an effort to bring him into the fold but I just don’t see a path to the WC by next November. I would say in addition to who you name and my thoughts on Flores, Corbeanu has a shot (probably you included him in your etc.). I also think Priso and Okello have a chance simply because we lack a little depth at central midfield. Fraser is there and has performed admirably but still playing at a low level in Belgium. A great season under Bradley for one of those 2 could nab the 6 or 7 central mid in a 26 man roster. Corazon, Approve My Account Pls, Xavier. and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyslexic nam Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 4 hours ago, An Observer said: I would say in addition to who you name and my thoughts on Flores, Corbeanu has a shot (probably you included him in your etc.). I also think Priso and Okello have a chance simply because we lack a little depth at central midfield. Fraser is there and has performed admirably but still playing at a low level in Belgium. A great season under Bradley for one of those 2 could nab the 6 or 7 central mid in a 26 man roster. Yeah, I def include Corbeanu as one of those fringe guys that could play their way in. When I referenced Jebbison I just meant that he is the only truly new addition I could imagine actually making it to Qatar. Maybe Flores both surprises me and proves me wrong but I don’t see it. Interesting about Priso and Okello. I have Priso pegged as a guy for 2026 - he really impressed me last year. Assuming full recovery it would be an interesting possibility for November. And as much as I am rooting for Okello I am not sure I can see him progressing enough this year to get a spot. I think someone Priso’s age is more likely to make a big leap I one season. I think we are starting to see who Okello is and I am not sure he makes the kind of quantum step that would be needed to be ready for that level. Fingers crossed though - and not just because I have Aron of his rookie cards Corazon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal333 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Unless one of the non-roster players improves in leaps and bounds (a la Buchanan) or we have a series of injured players, I think we shouldn't expect any surprises in our WC lineup. I drew up a depth chart for each position to illustrate my point. Obviously many players can slot into more than one position but for the sake of simplicity I placed them in one role. Keep in mind I went with a 26 man roster. If FIFA reverts back to a 23 man roster we still have to cut three more players from my list which will make it even more difficult for one of the young players to break in. LW CF RW Hoilett David Larin Millar Ugbo Buchanan Akinola Cavallini LWB LCM RCM RWB Davies Eustaquio Hutch Laryea Adekugbe Kaye Osorio Piette Fraser LCB CB RCB Miller Vitoria Johnston Kennedy Henry Cornelius KEEPERS Borjan Crepeau St. Clair Corazon, YorkRegionFan, johnyb and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOcanadafan Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 6 minutes ago, Sal333 said: Unless one of the non-roster players improves in leaps and bounds (a la Buchanan) or we have a series of injured players, I think we shouldn't expect any surprises in our WC lineup. I drew up a depth chart for each position to illustrate my point. Obviously many players can slot into more than one position but for the sake of simplicity I placed them in one role. Keep in mind I went with a 26 man roster. If FIFA reverts back to a 23 man roster we still have to cut three more players from my list which will make it even more difficult for one of the young players to break in. LW CF RW Hoilett David Larin Millar Ugbo Buchanan Akinola Cavallini LWB LCM RCM RWB Davies Eustaquio Hutch Laryea Adekugbe Kaye Osorio Piette Fraser LCB CB RCB Miller Vitoria Johnston Kennedy Henry Cornelius KEEPERS Borjan Crepeau St. Clair I agree with most of your choices (maybe Theo over Akinola)… but that roster screams out for a creative #8/10. Probably a year or two too early for Flores but part of me wants to bring him along just in case we could cap-tie him if we are afforded a 26 man roster… in that case I guess I’d have to drop Akinola and Cavallini. There will definitely be tough decisions, but if Canada wants to continue to rise higher post Qatar, there needs to be an eye to the future. Corazon and Addona 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narduch Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 St. Clair is not going to the World Cup if he doesn't start again this year Bertuzzi44, Corazon, Dominic94 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal333 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 1 minute ago, TOcanadafan said: I agree with most of your choices (maybe Theo over Akinola)… but that roster screams out for a creative #8/10. Probably a year or two too early for Flores but part of me wants to bring him along just in case we could cap-tie him if we are afforded a 26 man roster… in that case I guess I’d have to drop Akinola and Cavallini. There will definitely be tough decisions, but if Canada wants to continue to rise higher post Qatar, there needs to be an eye to the future. I totally agree with you about the #10 but Flores is 18 and weighs as much as one of my t-shirts. He's a couple of years away from our or the Mexican team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal333 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Just now, narduch said: St. Clair is not going to the World Cup if he doesn't start again this year The choice of 3rd keeper doesn't affect whether Flores, Jebbison or Mitrovic make the team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison44 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Wouldnt a Wotherspoon be ahead of Priso or Okello?? I get that they are still improving but right now if everyone is healthy I would take him over those two. johnyb, Corazon, CanadaFan123 and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyslexic nam Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 45 minutes ago, Sal333 said: Unless one of the non-roster players improves in leaps and bounds (a la Buchanan) or we have a series of injured players, I think we shouldn't expect any surprises in our WC lineup. I drew up a depth chart for each position to illustrate my point. Obviously many players can slot into more than one position but for the sake of simplicity I placed them in one role. Keep in mind I went with a 26 man roster. If FIFA reverts back to a 23 man roster we still have to cut three more players from my list which will make it even more difficult for one of the young players to break in. LW CF RW Hoilett David Larin Millar Ugbo Buchanan Akinola Cavallini LWB LCM RCM RWB Davies Eustaquio Hutch Laryea Adekugbe Kaye Osorio Piette Fraser LCB CB RCB Miller Vitoria Johnston Kennedy Henry Cornelius KEEPERS Borjan Crepeau St. Clair I think the core group is known but I also think there are some fringe amd eligible players that could play their way into the squad. And conversely there are guys on your list who could lose their spot toif their play doesn’t justify their continued inclusion. Guys like Jebbison or Corbeanu could grab a spot from some of the guys on the cusp IMO. Akinola isn’t at all guaranteed a spot in my mind. I am glad he chose us and if he comes back from his injury and is banging in goals for TFC then it is very possible but there are a lot of question marks there given that he is coming off a major injury. Cav is probably a lock but it is conceivable that his MLS season would raise questions. He has clearly become more of a sub/role player for us so it isn’t impossible that he slips further down the pecking order. It’s not like he lit up MLS last year. Ugbo is another one who isn’t guaranteed a spot. Sure we have called him in the last couple of windows but it isn’t like he dragged us to Qatar and we owe him a spot. His inclusion will be decided on the strength of his play this year and the other available options. And as much as I like Millar and am rooting for him, I don’t think he is a guarantee either. He is playing at the right level and doing well for his club but he isn’t immune from someone like Theo if the latter has a really strong year. In the rest of the field I think we are more settled but I still think change is possible. Depending on their play over the next season, guys like ZBG or Priso could also stake a claim. And at the very edge of this category is where I put Flores. Seems pretty unlikely but you never know. None of this means that I think we will see wholesale changes - at most I think we would see one or two of the changes noted above. But that doesn’t mean that any one of these guys doesn’t have everything to play for with a shot at playing in the WC on the line. Corazon, An Observer and Addona 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison44 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 We could still see someone take off in roughly 1year like Kennedy, Johnston or Buchanon (fringe to starter), but it helps if you are in a thin spot for Canada. And those spots are getting fewer and fewer. Ivan, MauditYvon, Xavier. and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 Could be wrong but I think this year there will be more Canadians in the MLS than ever. Our Canadian MLS squads are all representing and starting to get stacked with Canadians. Priso was pretty close prior to his injury in my opinion. Okello could finally start reaching his potential, Gutierrez and Choiniere could push. AJ said last week Joel Waterman was his pick to break out over the next year or two. Hopefully Akinola gets fit and on form. Plenty of other players that could have break out seasons and sneak in. The 3rd Goalkeeper situation is absolutely up for grabs. Hasal will be licking his lips at his big chance with Pantemis and Breza fighting each other. The pressure will be on for Canadians outside the squad to hit the ground running though. Nations league will be a big opportunity to try a few new things. Man I am excited about the prospects and potential. Xavier., dyslexic nam, johnyb and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 This is not directed at anyone in particular, as I also get excited about the potential player pool. However, in the context of Qatar, potential isn't relevant. It is about what you are doing right now, and to do it consistently. The window to demonstrate that is nearly closed. No Flores, no Akinola, no Priso, no Okello, etc. It is not their cycle. I agree Jebibson has a chance, but it is closing quickly. The time to think about potential is at the start of a cycle, not the end. toontownman, Sal333, El Hombre and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 6 minutes ago, kacbru said: No Flores, no Akinola, no Priso, no Okello, etc. It is not their cycle. I agree Jebibson has a chance, but it is closing quickly. If Akinola is banging in goals like he was before his injury, he could usurp Cavallini or Ugbo in the striker pecking order. Similar deal for Jebbison if he tears it up in the Championship. You're likely right about the others, although Priso has an outside shot of playing his way in. lamptern, baulderdash77, dyslexic nam and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal333 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 2 hours ago, toontownman said: Could be wrong but I think this year there will be more Canadians in the MLS than ever. Our Canadian MLS squads are all representing and starting to get stacked with Canadians. Priso was pretty close prior to his injury in my opinion. Okello could finally start reaching his potential, Gutierrez and Choiniere could push. AJ said last week Joel Waterman was his pick to break out over the next year or two. Hopefully Akinola gets fit and on form. Plenty of other players that could have break out seasons and sneak in. The 3rd Goalkeeper situation is absolutely up for grabs. Hasal will be licking his lips at his big chance with Pantemis and Breza fighting each other. The pressure will be on for Canadians outside the squad to hit the ground running though. Nations league will be a big opportunity to try a few new things. Man I am excited about the prospects and potential. Montreal CF has 16 Canadians on their pre-season roster. Although I don't think all of them will start with the club. toontownman and baulderdash77 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baulderdash77 Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 There is still time for players to work their way onto the roster between now and the World Cup; but for sure the window is closing. But I’ll say it - if a young guy like JMR or Priso absolutely tears up MLS this year, they could make the roster. But an average performance won’t do it. dyslexic nam, Dominic94, toontownman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier. Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 A lot also depends on if they keep a 23 man roster for the World Cup, or have an extended 26 man roster like the Euros due to covid. TGAA_Star 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
An Observer Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 3 hours ago, Xavier. said: A lot also depends on if they keep a 23 man roster for the World Cup, or have an extended 26 man roster like the Euros due to covid. My assumption is it will the a 26 man roster and that is also a reason I can see a spot or two for someone like Flores or Rutty looking a little bit to the future if they have big 22’s Xavier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apbsmith Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 9 hours ago, Bison44 said: Wouldnt a Wotherspoon be ahead of Priso or Okello?? I get that they are still improving but right now if everyone is healthy I would take him over those two. Wrong thread.... Was Wotherspoon hurt or simply left off this window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Approve My Account Pls Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 1 hour ago, apbsmith said: Wrong thread.... Was Wotherspoon hurt or simply left off this window? Hurt, he's out with an ACL injury apbsmith and Xavier. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 We have one key need: attacking, creative mids, and no real depth prospects. For one, because it's an objective defect in the pool. And also, because it'd give us a major tactical variation. As is we've pushed our creativity to the wings, and that hurts us as well as helping. Sam and Richie are not participative in midfield possession, but since we're playing to our strengths their role is to progress more directly to the strikers. At the WC expect pitches will be wide and we'll benefit in some matches. For some matches we need more than this, which will mean trying a classic 4-man midfield to get possession. Or to challenge some of the stronger midfield rivals who rely less on the wings (Croatia, Denmark, South Korea). That means sacrificing one or both of Adekugbe or Laryea and playing with Piette, Hutch, Eustaqiuo and Osorio. Fine. But who are their replacements? Just Kaye? Not enough IMO. We could ask David to play attacking mid and it might be surprising Our WC roster, in any case, should be filled by whoever can support our midfield 5. We are going to have to leave some attackers at home. The Real Marc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-O Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 The biggest question before we fill the squad will be : where will Davies play? Is our best lineup with Larin & David? If so, will we play a 3-5-2 counter all tournament? If that's the case, could Davies be played as a CM/Shadow Striker behind the 2? Tough to move Adekugbe, also tough to be effective on the counter with Davies at LWB. Just trying to figure it out here... That's what I see right now. Bojan Laryea RWB Adekugbe LWB Johnston Vitoria Miller Hutch CM Eustachio CM Davies CM/SS Larin David Super sub : Buchanan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOcanadafan Posted February 6, 2022 Share Posted February 6, 2022 14 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said: We have one key need: attacking, creative mids, and no real depth prospects. For one, because it's an objective defect in the pool. And also, because it'd give us a major tactical variation. As is we've pushed our creativity to the wings, and that hurts us as well as helping. Sam and Richie are not participative in midfield possession, but since we're playing to our strengths their role is to progress more directly to the strikers. At the WC expect pitches will be wide and we'll benefit in some matches. For some matches we need more than this, which will mean trying a classic 4-man midfield to get possession. Or to challenge some of the stronger midfield rivals who rely less on the wings (Croatia, Denmark, South Korea). That means sacrificing one or both of Adekugbe or Laryea and playing with Piette, Hutch, Eustaqiuo and Osorio. Fine. But who are their replacements? Just Kaye? Not enough IMO. We could ask David to play attacking mid and it might be surprising Our WC roster, in any case, should be filled by whoever can support our midfield 5. We are going to have to leave some attackers at home. I don’t agree that we need to swing that drastically to a 4-man mid. We have sometimes been playing with a 2-man mid. Playing 3 should be enough with David. We have to still keep to our strengths of using the wings. In the case of coming up against a strong midfield possession team we’ll have to play similar to how we did against the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costarg Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 On 2/6/2022 at 10:22 AM, P-O said: The biggest question before we fill the squad will be : where will Davies play? Is our best lineup with Larin & David? If so, will we play a 3-5-2 counter all tournament? If that's the case, could Davies be played as a CM/Shadow Striker behind the 2? Tough to move Adekugbe, also tough to be effective on the counter with Davies at LWB. Just trying to figure it out here... That's what I see right now. Bojan Laryea RWB Adekugbe LWB Johnston Vitoria Miller Hutch CM Eustachio CM Davies CM/SS Larin David Super sub : Buchanan Adekugbe has been great, but i just don't see us starting him at LWB in front of Tajon. Pretty sure Tajon is in the 11 regardless of the formation we choose, be it 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 4-4-2, or even 4-3-3. Another thing to consider was the way Davies played up front with David vs the USA in 2019. They both ran them ragged. I don't see Davies being an out and out striker, but he can do some serious damage being deployed like that. Dump and chase style, a la hockey. So many options, it's just a great time to be on the CANMNT train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinceA Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 If we're playing a 3-5-2 Davies should be the LWB. N1ckbr0wn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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