General Discussion on CMNT

costarg · November 28, 2022

18 minutes ago, Sal333 said:

I know I'm jumping the gun a little (we still have one more game at Qatar) but I took a look at our roster for the next four years.

Most likely Gone in 2026

Borjan

Cavallini

Hoilett

Hutch

Osorio

Vitoria

Wotherspoon

Maybe/maybe not on the squad

Fraser

Kaye

Larin

Pantemis

Piette

Foot in the door

Kennedy

Cornelius

Laryea

Millar

Ugbo

Waterman

Crepeau (not in the definite column cause of the grave injury)

Definite

Adekugbe

Buchanan

David

Davies

Eustaquio

Johnston

Kone

Miller

St. Clair.

So as you can see we have a lot of holes to fill. There can be slight changes in the groups but for the most part this is what we have to work with. 9 players in the definite column. 7 in the foot in the door. At best we have 16 players that can play. But how many are of WC quality?

This tells me in the next 3 and a half years we need to start integrating our up and coming young players: the Nelsons, Jebbisons, Koleoshos, Corbeanus.

And convert all players under 19 and over 6' into CB's unconditionally.

VinceA · November 28, 2022

I don't think Osorio is a definite out in 2026. His game isn't super physical and he won't lose any of his technical ability as he gets older so a 34 year old Osorio could still be around, especially if he's in Europe (which seems to more likely these days) in 2026.

Kent · November 28, 2022

11 hours ago, Stryker911 said:

For as good as we have looked and as great as it is that we got a goal. We are currently tied for dead last in the tournament with Qatar.

Admittedly I didn't think we would make it out of the group, but something about being 31 or 32 pit of 32 teams isn't great. If we can at least get a point we should finish around 27-29. Still not great, but slightly more respectable.

Qatar and us are the only 2 teams to start with 2 losses. So there are 30 teams that already have at least 1 point. Getting a draw in our last game will not guarantee us a top 29 spot. Especially since the teams with heavy losses (Costa Rica losing 7-0, Iran losing 6-2, Australia losing 4-1) have all also won a game.

But yeah, I am mostly hoping we don't finish with 0 points now. We've met one of my goals by scoring a goal, and we've failed at my biggest goal of getting out of the group. A point and a win are still on the table, hopefully we achieve one or two of those.

BearcatSA · November 28, 2022

I don't know what's happening with the FIFA Nations Leagues after next spring but we need to go back to playing bigger time opponents in friendlies outside of CONCACAF as we build towards 2026. Even if we are playing on the road in UEFA, COMNEBOL, CAF, or at a neutral European site, we need to play against a higher calibre of opponent more regularly in such matches.

I realize that this is easier said than done, but the next step involves finding a way to get back to this.

Edited November 28, 2022 by BearcatSA

BearcatSA · November 28, 2022

...

Edited November 28, 2022 by BearcatSA

VinceA · November 28, 2022

I think potentially with the emergence of Loturi (and maybe Paton if he can also starting playing more regularly), Batyrev (who transfermarkt lists as a central player) and the continued development of Priso, Nelson as a CM, and whoever else might pop up in the pipeline I think the team will eventually move back to using 3 CMs on the regular. Perhaps a 4-3-3.

Aird25 · November 28, 2022

1 hour ago, costarg said:

My feeling is only a TFC fan would go out of his way to single out Miller as the issue on this roster.

And as most know, I say this as a Canadian soccer fan. My allegiance, in order is:

CANMNT

CFM

TFC & VWC

Followed by a bunch of EU teams I follow regularly, mostly with CANMNT members.

No interest in CPL?

costarg · November 28, 2022

31 minutes ago, Aird25 said:

No interest in CPL?

Absolutely! Just not enough time, two kids under 6 will do that!

dyslexic nam · November 28, 2022

3 hours ago, Sal333 said:

I know I'm jumping the gun a little (we still have one more game at Qatar) but I took a look at our roster for the next four years.

Most likely Gone in 2026

Borjan

Cavallini

Hoilett

Hutch

Osorio

Vitoria

Wotherspoon

Maybe/maybe not on the squad

Fraser

Kaye

Larin

Pantemis

Piette

Foot in the door

Kennedy

Cornelius

Laryea

Millar

Ugbo

Waterman

Crepeau (not in the definite column cause of the grave injury)

Definite

Adekugbe

Buchanan

David

Davies

Eustaquio

Johnston

Kone

Miller

St. Clair.

So as you can see we have a lot of holes to fill. There can be slight changes in the groups but for the most part this is what we have to work with. 9 players in the definite column. 7 in the foot in the door. At best we have 16 players that can play. But how many are of WC quality?

This tells me in the next 3 and a half years we need to start integrating our up and coming young players: the Nelsons, Jebbisons, Koleoshos, Corbeanus.

I guess I am more optimistic. Still obviously some holes to fill but we have good depth and/or prospects in a lot of areas. Guys like Laryea and Millar aren’t just possibilities IMO, they are guys that will be in their prime and competing for spots next cycle. Regardless of any club silliness with Richie, he is on my team sheet every time when healthy. And given four more years, I suspect Millar will be playing at an even higher level than he is now. If either of those guys get displaced it will only because we are oozing quality-in-depth in their positions.

Keeper - I am giving Max the benefit of the doubt and think he will be back to 100%. And Dayne will mature into a monster by then. Between Hasal, Pantemis, Breza etc we basically need one more guy to step up to a level where we would be comfortable with him in the role of third keeper.

Attack - David and Ugbo will both be in their primes Larin will be 31 so could easily still be in the picture as a wily vet. Akinola could even rediscover his MLS-is-back form by then - or at least mature into a bench option. This doesn’t even consider Jebbo coming on board.

Wide - Davies, Buchanan, Adekugbe, Laryea - nuff said. Plus Corbeanu will likely be playing at a very respectable level and Koleosho might sign up.

Central mid - Staq and kone are locks and I would bet that one of Nelson or Rutty emerge in this position. Plus MAK and Piette may still be in contention (31 and 32 isn’t exactly geriatric). To put it in perspective, Hutch is still playing at 39, JdG retired at 35 and Stalteri played for the Nats until he was 32. There is no reason why we should be planning retirement parties when guys are approaching 30 - especially if there aren’t tons of young prospects pushing them out onto the ice flow.

Defence - this is where I will concede our lack of depth. Miller and Johnston are young. Cornelius and Kennedy could be there for sure. But ultimately it is why we need guys like Justin Smith to step up and succeed.

But overall that is far more encouraging than worrying. Throw in the unknown talents that we have no idea about yet, plus dual Nats who will want a crack at a World Cup, and I am good with our prospects for 2026. Hell, I have been debating trying to find a place where I can get $50 on us winning the whole goddamn thing.

Dominic94 · November 28, 2022

We might head to South America in 2024…

Edited November 28, 2022 by Dominic94

GasPed · November 28, 2022

13 minutes ago, dyslexic nam said:

But overall that is far more encouraging than worrying. Throw in the unknown talents that we have no idea about yet, plus dual Nats who will want a crack at a World Cup, and I am good with our prospects for 2026. Hell, I have been debating trying to find a place where I can get $50 on us winning the whole goddamn thing.

That is an optimistic take all right. 🙂

Not to pour too much cold water on it, but consider the team that just beat us - they're 4 years removed from the prime of their "Golden Generation" who went to the finals in 2018. Almost every single member of that team was a starter on a Big 5 league team, and their midfield (Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic, Brozovic) were starters on Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter. It was the same for the champion France team from 2018 - every one of their players was a starter in a Big 5 league.

Then look at the roster of the favourites this year (Brazil). It's remarkable (and frightening) how almost every one of them are literally from the biggest clubs in the world. As much as I want to think we'll be better in 2026, I don't think there's any chance our roster will look like that. And even though desire and grit will take you far, as we've seen, in the end there's no substitute for talent. All that said, I do hope you find someone to take your bet and I hope you win it. 😉

reggietfc · November 28, 2022

5 hours ago, costarg said:

My feeling is only a TFC fan would go out of his way to single out Miller as the issue on this roster.

And as most know, I say this as a Canadian soccer fan. My allegiance, in order is:

CANMNT

CFM

TFC & VWC

Followed by a bunch of EU teams I follow regularly, mostly with CANMNT members.

not at all.im a CNMT 1st 2nd and 3rd,and tfc., 4th.other than the canadians on cfm and vwc i couldnt care less about those clubs.i really like miller,he has improved alot and is a toronto guy, if we dont improve our cb and dm positions we will never take the next step

reggietfc · November 28, 2022

double post