loopdokter yeah, I think most of us will probably keep an eye on the scores as we have a vested interest in how the big south American teams (Brazil, Argentina etc) are doing when the World Cup comes around. Most of their players are in European leagues too so good to keep an eye out for injuries during the domestic season.
COPA America
loopdokter Yeah, he’s one hell of a player and was the player of the match for Canada against France. He’s only 21 and honestly I think he’s a once in a generation talent. I think he has the potential to be on the same level as Alphonso Davies is now - albeit a different position.
He needs to get the hell out of Watford! I hope a higher level league team picks him up in the summer transfer market.
That’s a hell of a lot of hyperbole there, but if the scouts of some deep-pocketed clubs feel the same then I won’t complain. He’s not even too good a player for us really and is maybe our 3rd best CM at present. The thing is he can currently have 2 mediocre games for every 1 very good one. This should improve with time though but at the moment his floor level as a player isn’t great.
I’d be fine if he stays here to keep developing, as we’re actually a good club for developing young players, but if someone comes in with a big offer I wouldn’t complain too much either.
Loops is the king of hyperbole when it comes to all things Canadia. And Blackberry.
And trampolines.
loopdokter I appreciate your enthusiasm, I really do. But you (and a lot of Canadians) were saying the same thing 18 months ago and we know how that worked out. I haven’t watched them play more than a few minutes since, but every time they look like a glorified mls team. I hope they prove me wrong, I’m just not holding my breath.
Loopy aside the best thing about Canada is my old mate Bryan Adams.
And even he moved to London as soon as he could.
I still remember the day he left, it cut like a knife.
Smallman1 And even he moved to London as soon as he could.
pretty sure he moved over the pond in the summer of ’69
ScottBailey pretty sure he moved over the pond in the summer of ’69
Those were the best days of his life.
Smalls thinks that everything he does, he does for him.
303abuser I appreciate your enthusiasm, I really do. But you (and a lot of Canadians) were saying the same thing 18 months ago and we know how that worked out. I haven’t watched them play more than a few minutes since, but every time they look like a glorified mls team. I hope they prove me wrong, I’m just not holding my breath.
I’m by no means claiming that they’re going to beat on Brazil or Argentina in any consistent basis.
We’re finally producing players that play in the top leagues in Europe on a consistent basis and that’s only growing.
Like it or not, the MLS (and to a smaller extent the CPL) has been responsible for a lot of our players going to Europe.
A thread with Loopy and Hugo about football. S to the….
loopdokter Yeah, maybe. I’ll just take a wait and see approach, I’m not overly invested in the whole thing.
Smallman1 Those were the best days of his life
you must be on Cloud Number Nine with that one
11 days later
- Edited
So Canada put up a fight, but the end result was a 2-0 win for Argentina. All commentary seems to agree that Canada are able to compete at this level.
Once again we played a pretty solid first half and let it fall apart a bit in the second.
The good… Maxime Crépeau - our keeper - had a hell of a game and stopped Messi cold three times. Our centreback Derek Cornelius showed his mettle as well. I also felt Liam Millar played a hell of a game and hopefully he’ll get a shot at a bigger team than Preston North End. Jacob Shaffelburg came on to replace a rather invisible Tajon Buchanon and immediately started wrecking havoc on the right side of the pitch. I hope he has a chance to play in Europe if he continues playing like he has for us. Argentina genuinely struggled with our pace and high press. We had a decent number of chances to score.
The bad… Clinical finishing has been problematic. We’ve played three games against three of top teams in the world and can’t seem to score - despite us having one of the best attacking players in the COPA with Jonathan David. Obviously that’s a problem. We had multiple shots last night and they were either straight at the keeper or just wide of goal. Stephen Estaquio had a great opportunity to score and headed it straight at the keeper. Cyle Larin put a header above the crossbar when completely unmarked that felt like it should have gone in if it had been from a better striker. I’m stating the obvious, but if we want to get out of the group and beat Chile and Peru, we need to score.
Our back line - whilst improving - is still the biggest question mark. Several times we were caught out and paid the price as a result. Ismaël Koné had a couple of critical errors that lead to a wide open opportunity for Argentina. Moïse Bombito looked a little stunned at centreback a few times and was caught out of position. More than once Maxime Crépeau had to step up and save our bacon. Argentina were able to rip our back line apart at key moments and prove why they’re the reigning COPA America and World Cup champions. We need to be better and someone needs to step up and be more vocal who should be where and when. It felt like communication was lacking at times.
Alphonso Davies has had several ho-hum games the past three matches, and this was one of them. He needs to be better and play like he plays for one of the best club teams in the world.
I remain hopeful that we’ll get out of the group. Chile and Peru are beatable. We had quite a few flashes of brilliance, but our inexperience by some of our younger players showed at key moments.
loopdokter We’ve played three games against three of top teams in the world and can’t seem to score - despite us having one of the best attacking players in the COPA with Jonathan David. Obviously that’s a problem.
Not sure David is all that to be honest, the fact you can’t score probably underlines.
Not quite the end product you’d expect from his all-round play