gkhs Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 January camps are often a bit underwhelming in terms of the quality of players involved (especially when they don't involve a full friendly). Who do you guys want to see involved in January? Here is a list of recently called up players, who may be able to attend. North American-based Jim Brennan Dwayne De Rosario Gabriel Gervais Kevin Harmse Ante Jazic Patrick Leduc Martin Nash Pat Onstad Nevio Pizzolitto Chris Pozniak Antonio Ribeiro Adrian Serioux Greg Sutton European-based(Summer Leagues) Ali Gerba Stephen Ademolu Sandro Grande Lars Hirschfeld Olivier Occean Kenny Stamatopoulos European-based(Leagues with extended breaks) André Hainault Atiba Hutchinson Issey Nakajima-Farran Germany-based (?) Patrice Bernier Rob Friend Daniel Imhof Nik Ledgerwood Kevin McKenna Josh Simpson Unattached (?) Adam Braz Marco Reda Who from this list shouldn't be invited in January? Are there any new callups you'd like to see? Do you think this camp can make a positive impact on WCQing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 My first thoughts: quote:Originally posted by gkhs Here is a list of recently called up players, who may be able to attend. North American-based Jim Brennan Dwayne De Rosario <s>Gabriel Gervais</s> Kevin Harmse Ante Jazic <s>Patrick Leduc</s> Martin Nash Pat Onstad <s>Nevio Pizzolitto</s> Chris Pozniak <s>Antonio Ribeiro</s> Adrian Serioux Greg Sutton European-based(Summer Leagues) Ali Gerba <s>Stephen Ademolu</s> Sandro Grande Lars Hirschfeld Olivier Occean Kenny Stamatopoulos European-based(Leagues with extended breaks) André Hainault Atiba Hutchinson Issey Nakajima-Farran Germany-based (?) Patrice Bernier Rob Friend Daniel Imhof Nik Ledgerwood Kevin McKenna Josh Simpson Unattached (?) Adam Braz <s>Marco Reda</s> Who from this list shouldn't be invited in January? Are there any new callups you'd like to see? Just my opinion on who I don't want to see from that list. As for possible invites, why no try to get some of our former U-20s like David Edgar, and Peters. Also, I crossed Ademolu off the list because to me it looks like he just isn't good enough to hack it in Norway, thus leading me to believe he won't be good enough for Canada. Ever. (well maybe not ever but definitely not for our upcoming friendlies and WQC campaign.) Heck we could even call Stalteri, lord knows he isn't doing much else over at 'spurs. (jk) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 To my view these camps are usually made up of people in the 15 to 30 rank in the national team depth chart, with a few exceptions. Most of our starters are in the winter leagues as are many of our first choice subs. At these camps you have an oppertunity to impress the coach an try to move to the top 15, or to convince that you have what it takes to move from prospect to the 15 to 30 spot or to convince that you still have it to remain in the to 30 spots. I'm using 30 spots as that has been the number thrown about as the depth needed for the qualifying campaign. Occean and Brennan would be two that would be trying to move up to the top 15, Ledgerwood and Edgar are trying to move from prospects to the first 30, Jazic and Pozniak are probably two who have to convince that they still have it. Having said that some can't come because of club commitments, ie Edgar. Also even if a club has a winter break, they usually have january training somewhere warm and a bubble player on the club does not want to miss that ie Ledgerwood. Compare last years camp of Braz, Brennan, DeRo, Harmse, Marcina, Gervais, Williams, Mert, Jazic, Stewart, Hainault, Sultenic, Poz, Save Simpson, Reda, Serioux, Issey, Sutton and Srdjan and which of those made the gold cup squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 quote:Originally posted by ken To my view these camps are usually made up of people in the 15 to 30 rank in the national team depth chart, with a few exceptions. Most of our starters are in the winter leagues as are many of our first choice subs. At these camps you have an oppertunity to impress the coach an try to move to the top 15, or to convince that you have what it takes to move from prospect to the 15 to 30 spot or to convince that you still have it to remain in the to 30 spots. I'm using 30 spots as that has been the number thrown about as the depth needed for the qualifying campaign. Occean and Brennan would be two that would be trying to move up to the top 15, Ledgerwood and Edgar are trying to move from prospects to the first 30, Jazic and Pozniak are probably two who have to convince that they still have it. Having said that some can't come because of club commitments, ie Edgar. Also even if a club has a winter break, they usually have january training somewhere warm and a bubble player on the club does not want to miss that ie Ledgerwood. Compare last years camp of Braz, Brennan, DeRo, Harmse, Marcina, Gervais, Williams, Mert, Jazic, Stewart, Hainault, Sultenic, Poz, Save Simpson, Reda, Serioux, Issey, Sutton and Srdjan and which of those made the gold cup squad. Not sure what you can read into the comparison, since I believe ten of the 19 you listed were in the Gold Cup squad, but only three (Braz, Reda, Gervais) didn't see any action during the tournament. As well, Serioux was coming back from surgery at the time. But I agree that it's the fringe player who gets a chance to make an impression during this type of camp (IMO preferably a younger up-and-comer as opposed to "old guard" types). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 quote:Originally posted by BearcatSA Not sure what you can read into the comparison, since I believe ten of the 19 you listed were in the Gold Cup squad, but only three (Braz, Reda, Gervais) didn't see any action during the tournament. As well, Serioux was coming back from surgery at the time. But I agree that it's the fringe player who gets a chance to make an impression during this type of camp (IMO preferably a younger up-and-comer as opposed to "old guard" types). Going into that camp, only DeRo and Sutton would have been considered starters and of the others only Brennan, Jazic and maybe Serioux as likely to make a 23 man roster, the others were competing for spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by ken Going into that camp, only DeRo and Sutton would have been considered starters and of the others only Brennan, Jazic and maybe Serioux as likely to make a 23 man roster, the others were competing for spots. I now understand, thanks for the clarification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB_Tito Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Adam Braz [)] Marco Reda [)] They will go to training camp with Circus de Soleil as first class clowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkhs Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Couple of thoughts: In the last WCQ cycle we used 27 players, plus 5 more who were called up but DNP'd. I would guess, if we make it through to the hex we'd want 36 players minimum (since its ten more matches, and an extra calendar year). I hope that more importance will be placed on this January camp, given the circumstances (WCQ and DM's first camp), and that we might try to focus on bringing stronger players. For the sake of the exercise, I think we're looking at players from the US and Canada, Sweden, Norway, and perhaps Denmark and the Czech Republic (since players from those leagues were released last year)...Germany might be a long shot, since their break is a little shorter. If they play elsewhere they're out. I could do without super longshots, like Marcina, Mert & Sultenic...but I would love to see some new guys onside nevertheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhat Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by JB_Tito Adam Braz [)] Marco Reda [)] They will go to training camp with Circus de Soleil as first class clowns. What a crappy thing to say about players that always showed up when called for our country. They may have not performed well with TFC, but that's not to say they can't be good cover in WCQ. WCQ is LOOONG, and injuries, cards, and club commitments can impede the participation of anyone in the pool. Another player ignored from the list is Antonio Ribeiro, who was actually in Venezuela for the friendly and sat on the bench during the Gold Cup. Don't discount anyone useful. A few of us would have discounted Pat Onstad in the GC. Thank God Stephen Hart knew more than many of us ragarding the MNT. Have some respect people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Unlike JB_Tito I respect Adam Braz. (Would respect him a Hell of a lot more if he'd strap on his tool belt and fix this leaky pipe I got going to my tub faucet. Good plumbers are hard to find!) Seriously though, within his limits Braz ain't that bad. He isn't the only player who was kinda lost under Trader Mo. Left wanting for direction. Not sure how FAR down the depth chart he is for Canada but he may be called upon yet and if not used ineffectively (given his qualities, such as they are) I'm not overly concerned about his inclusion in a Canada roster. Especially if his inclusion means Hutch is freed up for play further up-field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by gkhs Couple of thoughts: In the last WCQ cycle we used 27 players, plus 5 more who were called up but DNP'd. I would guess, if we make it through to the hex we'd want 36 players minimum (since its ten more matches, and an extra calendar year). Perhaps this was one of the reasons we ended last in our group? Obviously depth is key and we will no doubt face some injuries and such, but at the same time football is a team game and familiarity can do wonders. By the time WCQ rolls around i'd like to have out top 18 solidified, with our depth spots 19-23 depending on player form etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhat Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Bertuzzi44 Perhaps this was one of the reasons we ended last in our group? Obviously depth is key and we will no doubt face some injuries and such, but at the same time football is a team game and familiarity can do wonders. By the time WCQ rolls around i'd like to have out top 18 solidified, with our depth spots 19-23 depending on player form etc. We didn't qualify because we didn't PREPARE well. During the 2004 campaign, we had Stalteri, Jazic, de Guzman, Atiba, Hume, de Vos, Onstad, and Occean, as well as Josh Simpson, Serioux, Grande, and De Rosario. We played well in the 2007 Gold Cup because we prepared well (Venezuela + almost two weeks), not necessarily the roster. Guatemala reached the hex in 2004 because they prepared well, upsetting Honduras and Canada. I agree we need to solidify our roster, but we need to have a deep roster cause you never know what happens in next few rounds, when we reach them (optimistically). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by redhat What a crappy thing to say about players that always showed up when called for our country. They may have not performed well with TFC, but that's not to say they can't be good cover in WCQ. WCQ is LOOONG, and injuries, cards, and club commitments can impede the participation of anyone in the pool. Another player ignored from the list is Antonio Ribeiro, who was actually in Venezuela for the friendly and sat on the bench during the Gold Cup. Don't discount anyone useful. A few of us would have discounted Pat Onstad in the GC. Thank God Stephen Hart knew more than many of us ragarding the MNT. Have some respect people. You could also mention Nash. Though I really believe his time with the MNT is done, he did serve a role during the GC run. I agree that you really can't discount anyone: right now, it would be difficult to consider the two players mentioned until they re-establish their club careers at a high enough level. But you never know, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Tam should be on that list. Regardless of problems. If he is not at the training camp, that does not bode well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soju Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Antonio Ribeiro, where does he play his club football? He came on as a sub against VEN and I remember wondering who he was. Should he be included in our qualifying squad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by speedmonk42 Tam should be on that list. Regardless of problems. If he is not at the training camp, that does not bode well. Does the Greek league take a break in January? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Keeper Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I agree that these camps are nessisary to add depth to the squad. We seem to hold one or two a year. These camps are largely to thank for alot of the current depth we have in the national team. That we should really thank Frank Yallop for. He wasnt ready to coach at that level, I think, but he did almost completley reverse the depth problems that Osiek left for us with his policies of mostly capping euro players. Alot of the NA players may never have gotten a chance if not for these camps. My one beef with them (as always) is that the CSA should be scheduling a friendly for the end. One of the smaller CONCACAF nations would be perfect for preperation against St V and G. I would love to see us play St. Kitts and Nevis. They where the other smaller carribean nation to qualify for the semi's last year. Their level of play and experiance is similar to St. Vincent's. Truthfully though I would take a game vs. Anguilla or Aruba, just to get the guys some playing time together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jeffery S. Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 quote:Originally posted by BearcatSA Does the Greek league take a break in January? No, but they take a long Xmas break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkhs Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Are any of these uncapped players worth a look? Dave Simpson Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault Ryan Gyaki Gabe Gala Tyler Hemming Andrea Lombardo Joey Melo Jack Stewart Tyler Hughes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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