EnigMattic1

The way I see things, Ohin will be the defensive block between the defence and midfield (assuming PDS goes 4-3-3). Guti and Rendon in the centre of the park with Niyongabire on the left and Ulloa or Williams on the right. Up top, it will be one of either Novak, Ponce or Siaj (I am not confident in either of them at present).
However,
Should PDS look to play a 4-2-3-1, Ohin will probably partner Guti with the latter being the more attacking/creative of the two. Again, Niyongabire on the left and Ulloa on the right with Williams in the hole. Lone striker the same as above.
I think the defence picks itself in both scenarios, with Yesli in goal, Baquero and (a fit) Haynes as full backs (although I would opt for de Brienne over a fit Haynes). First choice centre back pairing will be Samake and (again, a fit) AJB. Should one of those be injured (I'm looking at you, AJB), Pianelli will get the nod, unless the opposition are strong in the air, in which case, the 6'6 Chandler will get the nod.

By all accounts, the High Performance side play regular friendlies against MMSL sides, so it would make sense for them to have a team in there. Honestly, where is the harm in that happening? it would benefit both parties in the sense that the HP side would get regular, competitive matches and the MMSL teams would have an opponent of a (theoretically) different calibre.
If you were really that concerned, have the HP side start at the bottom (Division 6 last year I believe) and work their way up. They would have entry into the Bison cup until a time comes when they either join a newly formed League1 Prairies or reach the MMSL Premier Division.
It also gives MMSL players a chance to get noticed that they wouldn't necessarily have. I mean, if Valour were treating the HP side as a form of reserve side, there would be regular communication between the reserve side and the first team which could see "stand-out" opposition getting a trial or something. As you said, a direct development pathway.
It also increases the presence of Valour in the community as a lot of the MMSL teams play in public venues which could also generate interest in first team ticket sales.

The plan is, eventually, for the high performance side to actually operate as an academy. I know there have been a handful of players from the high performance side that have trained with the first team, but, obviously, nobody has been signed.
The thing is, Where teams like Forge, Cavalry and Ottawa are forming links with teams at a League1 level, Valour doesn't have that option as I don't think the MMSL is at that level. And, would USL2 be any different? I mean, out of the 5 teams that Valour apparently have links with, Only Bonivital are in the MMSL and that is Bonivital Flames and not Bonivital United.
I honestly don't see why they don't try and form some sort of partnership with FC Manitoba. Hell, even an annual friendly would be a start. I guess money would be the issue.

The plan is, eventually, for the high performance side to actually operate as an academy. I know there have been a handful of players from the high performance side that have trained with the first team, but, obviously, nobody has been signed.
The thing is, Where teams like Forge, Cavalry and Ottawa are forming links with teams at a League1 level, Valour doesn't have that option as I don't think the MMSL is at that level. And, would USL2 be any different? I mean, out of the 5 teams that Valour apparently have links with, Only Bonivital are in the MMSL and that is Bonivital Flames and not Bonivital United.
I honestly don't see why they don't try and form some sort of partnership with FC Manitoba. Hell, even an annual friendly would be a start. I guess money would be the issue.

1. Totally agree with you here. I have always been of the belief that consistency is key. Don't get me wrong, both Sirois and Rayane are good keepers, but why swap them needlessly as you said?
2. Again, totally agree with you. Although Mekideche came in halfway through the season, he showed a lot of promise and there was a lot of positive comments about him before he signed. I think, with Romeo, it will be a case of us having to see what we could have had given that he is still in the league. I can see him being a key player for Vancouver. He would have been an ideal replacement for AJB. I think the first choice pairing will be Samake and AJB. Could Pianelli and Chandler push for a starting role? Competition can only be a good thing.
3. Yes, games are often won and lost in midfield, but I still believe in the quote that Sir Alex Ferguson used, being that "goals win games, but defence wins titles". I think the return of Ohin will be a boost. He can sit in front of the defensive line and break down the opposition attack. He will be hungry and have a point to prove after missing out last season through injury. Gutierrez has to be one of the first names on the team sheet. But, as you said, he needs a regular partner. As with the centre back pairing, consistency is key.
4. Maybe Ponce will be different now he has had a season to settle? Novak after an injury hasn't looked too bad in pre season. Siaj? Who knows? Were there other options? Maybe Hundal or Attardo back for a second spell? The downside is, it will be harder to attract players who could genuinely be a threat without playoff qualification.
All in all, there are some issues that need to be addressed. We appear to have a #1 set in for the season, which is a bonus, but we need to settle on a pairing at both centre back and centre midfield. Establish who the 'key' players are and get them on longer contracts. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

I think the issue with Valour is quite simply, results. I mean, they have enough seats in the stadium (which I believe is capped for CPL games at around 6.5k) and there isn't any provincial competition (their closest rivals being either Forge or York). They are active in the community and have the interest but I can't help but feel fans wont pay to see the team struggle.
If they could pull of a few results and actually qualify for the playoffs, I believe attendance would increase.

Although, BVB IA do have this on one of the pages of their website:
In partnership with David Edgar Football Coaching

https://www.bvbinternationalacademy-waterloo.com/page/show/7481425-technical-skills-development-program

I wouldn't personally take Karajovanovic as we already have enough attacking players.
Laplante should still be there but, saying that, Raine Lyn (who is also left footed) just disappeared without any sort of announcement last year.
Carlos is now at North Toronto Nitros, so I am assuming that "rights retained" just prevents them from entering the draft again.
As far as the inter-squad match goes, that could also include players from the "high performance" team. The first pic is definitely Tomy though.

I wouldn't personally take Karajovanovic as we already have enough attacking players.
Laplante should still be there but, saying that, Raine Lyn (who is also left footed) just disappeared without any sort of announcement last year.
Carlos is now at North Toronto Nitros, so I am assuming that "rights retained" just prevents them from entering the draft again.
As far as the inter-squad match goes, that could also include players from the "high performance" team. The first pic is definitely Tomy though.

No trialists, but I hear Esparza is still available.........
Seriously though, I've heard nothing. Other than possible U-Sports players to pad out the left side, or an (unrealistic) Attardo return, there doesn't seem to be much out there.
Saying that though, Hidalgo-Mazzei hasn't been at Valour this year...... Yet. 🤣

This made me laugh, purely because that is how the board is. Realistically, 16 would be an ideal size. There would be no need for a pro/rel system and I don't see any reason (other than travel costs) for an East/West split. There will always be speculation over expansion sides and, even if the CPL reaches 16 teams, the rumours won't stop. I would be very surprised if we pass 12 teams by 2026, and that is assuming Saskatoon get the stadium sorted and the Kelowna rumour is more than that. Even then, that is only 11 teams including Windsor.

A quick look at the current squad, with 1 roster slot open, we need either a left back to operate as cover for Haynes, or a left winger to allow de Brienne to be used as an attacking full back. We have at least 2 for each position elsewhere on the field. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

A 6'6 defender in front of a 6'7 keeper. Can't be bad. 

I think the issue with Valour is quite simply, results. I mean, they have enough seats in the stadium (which I believe is capped for CPL games at around 6.5k) and there isn't any provincial competition (their closest rivals being either Forge or York). They are active in the community and have the interest but I can't help but feel fans wont pay to see the team struggle.
If they could pull of a few results and actually qualify for the playoffs, I believe attendance would increase.

I think the issue with Valour is quite simply, results. I mean, they have enough seats in the stadium (which I believe is capped for CPL games at around 6.5k) and there isn't any provincial competition (their closest rivals being either Forge or York). They are active in the community and have the interest but I can't help but feel fans wont pay to see the team struggle.
If they could pull of a few results and actually qualify for the playoffs, I believe attendance would increase.

Honestly, can anyone see Edmonton returning in the future? I would like to thing that they could return at some point.

Personally, I don't feel they have made the right signings. Don't get me wrong, they could come good, but they are still too thin defensively. Granted, there are still 2 roster slots available and the season is a few weeks away, so that could change. As much as I hate to admit it, I feel it will be harder for us to make the playoffs now than it was last season.
As far as York go, as you said, they have a decent squad on paper. I can't help but feel that, if they didn't have the injury problems that they did, they would have been closer to 4th than they were.
HFX are a team in transition. New manager with new ideas. Could be interesting to watch, especially given the L1 influence.
Vancouver are unproven. Give them a season or two and they could really push. Take a look at Ottawa. They were definitely a surprise package last season. I do, however, feel that Vancouver have a good core that they can build upon.
After all that, I think York have the best chance of reaching the playoffs.

This guy was rapid! Pace to burn back in the day. Haven't seen or heard anything of him for a while, so I don't know if he is still as fast, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him causing opposition defenders trouble.

2 things that stood out for me. The first is no mention of Ohin and his injury. The second was the comment "Canadian Premier League teams aren't built overnight". No, but Valour's is rebuilt every year.
In all fairness though, that article was somewhat vague. I still have no idea whether I should be optimistic for the season ahead.

The kid even has a website:
TJ Tahid