Is Will Johnson's Canada's starting RM?

[nolando]

He looks to me to be our best option at the moment, is continuing in great form with RSL, but there is also a tonne of competition out there, maybe our deepest position:

Hume

Peters

Nakajima

Ademolu (considering he was used there vs Jamaica)

More defensively, of course Bernier and maybe a young guy like Ledgerwood could also be used, although I prefer these guys at RDM.

Having said that, I wonder if Hart could consider a 5 man mid (L to R) that looks like this:

DDR JDG Johnson Hutch Hume

given that Johnson has been almost central in many recent highlights of his offensive skills, and also that JDG and Hutch just seem to me to be much more effective playing in a more defensive capacity.

[Keegan]

He looks to me to be our best option at the moment, is continuing in great form with RSL, but there is also a tonne of competition out there, maybe our deepest position:

Hume

Peters

Nakajima

Ademolu (considering he was used there vs Jamaica)

More defensively, of course Bernier and maybe a young guy like Ledgerwood could also be used, although I prefer these guys at RDM.

Having said that, I wonder if Hart could consider a 5 man mid (L to R) that looks like this:

DDR JDG Johnson Hutch Hume

given that Johnson has been almost central in many recent highlights of his offensive skills, and also that JDG and Hutch just seem to me to be much more effective playing in a more defensive capacity.

I think with his play Josh Simpson has to be a strong strong contender for a starting position as well as Marcel De Jong on the left side. This would push De Rosario out of that left spot maybe into the right spot or into a central spot. Competition is awesome right now don't forget Jamie Peters for that right mid spot or even Simeon Jackson as an attacking winger

[nolando]

So maybe Simpson JDG DDR Hutch Johnson, you say?

[TheKottonmouthed1555362307]

So maybe Simpson JDG DDR Hutch Johnson, you say?

Agreed, defintely my choice for a starting 5 in the mid, with Hume as the spark plug off the bench.

[gator]

It's great that we have some depth, with all the friendlies coming up Hart will have a chance to try different combinations! Also player availabilty could be an issue so it's that much more important to have depth! Every player should get a fair chance to impress Hart! As for Johnson, I think he has been playing quite well and deserves a good shot there, I also like Hume in that position!

[Toronto MB]

Hart seems to be very consistent with his attacking 4-3-3 / defensive 4-5-1, but I'm not entirely convinced that such a formation allows us to utilize the best of our limited personnel. I'd like to see something like this in attack:

----------------Friend----------------------

-----------------De Rosario---------------

Simpson-----Hutchinson--------Johnson

---------------De Guzman----------------

And on the bench you have:

Gerba (for Friend)

Jackson (for Friend or De Rosario)

Hume (for Johnson or De Rosario)

De Jong (for Simpson)

If you ever had to remove JDG or Atiba (god forbid), I have no idea who we would use in WCQ for 2014. Bernier will likely be past it, and no one else is really springing to mind in that defensive/central area of midfield. Peters has played in central midfield for Ipswich, but he remains firmly a winger in my mind.

Any thoughts?

[nolando]

Hart seems to be very consistent with his attacking 4-3-3 / defensive 4-5-1, but I'm not entirely convinced that such a formation allows us to utilize the best of our limited personnel. I'd like to see something like this in attack:

----------------Friend----------------------

-----------------De Rosario---------------

Simpson-----Hutchinson--------Johnson

---------------De Guzman----------------

And on the bench you have:

Gerba (for Friend)

Jackson (for Friend or De Rosario)

Hume (for Johnson or De Rosario)

De Jong (for Simpson)

If you ever had to remove JDG or Atiba (god forbid), I have no idea who we would use in WCQ for 2014. Bernier will likely be past it, and no one else is really springing to mind in that defensive/central area of midfield. Peters has played in central midfield for Ipswich, but he remains firmly a winger in my mind.

Any thoughts?

Great looking line-up and formation out front, MB. Best ever, even??

Let's hope DDR ages like Radz and increases his commitment and effort with the Nats like him as well.

Although I am no huge fan, Bernier might be around for WCQ still as he is playing what looks like some of the best football of his career, although I would like Ledgerwood or someone similar groomed to slot in there.

Peters is at best our third or fourth option down the right wing and I really feel like he will get no better from here on in. Gut feeling.

[Admin]

Gerba? It will be interesting to see if he finds himself on the national team again.

Probably not.

[Toronto MB]

Gerba? It will be interesting to see if he finds himself on the national team again.

Probably not.

Have you actually watched Canada play over the last two years?

- Who was our leading goal-scorer in World Cup Qualifying? A: Ali Gerba

- Who scored a goal when we desperately needed it in Mexico? A: Ali Gerba

- Who belted in a 25-yard volley against Mexico in Edmonton? A: Ali Gerba

- Did you see the Gold Cup game against Jamaica? Cause I did.... A: Ali Gerba

- How about El Salvador? Oh, yup, that one too... A: Ali Gerba

- Did you know who is now Canada's all time leading scorer at the Gold Cup? A: Ali Gerba

The man is a mystery, but it is quite obvious that he enjoys playing under Mr. Hart. And I am patiently waiting for your suggestion as to whom might take Ali Gerba's place in the squad as even our substitute striker?

The Toronto Football Circus saga aside, he has been Canada's best striker over the last couple years. The facts don't lie. He'll be there, mark my words.

[Keegan]

Gerba? It will be interesting to see if he finds himself on the national team again.

Probably not.

We all love Ali and the goals he has scored for us... but if after his recent club fiasco he is called up to the national team that is a huge problem.

We need 4 strikers? Here they are at the moment: Friend, Jackson, Bunbury, Hume

More than enough for our formation no need for Gerba to be called up. Marcus Haber should even be higher than Gerba if we are going on recent form.

I'm loving the depth, Im not even sure if Hume deserves that spark plug role even if he has scored lately, Jaime Peters seems to be playing a lot more and starting a lot more (and thats not counting Hume being injured obviously) on a better club. These friendlies are going to be exciting, I don't want to see guys like Gerba, Hastings or Cann there, I want to see Attakora, Edgar, Straith and Bunbury. These guys are going to be key pieces for the next 2-3 cycles and god pray Hoillet!!

Oh AND Hirschfeld is actually playing for his club!

How great would it be to see this lineup

----------------------Friend-------------------------

Simpson----------De Rosario----------------Johnson

------------De Guzman----Hutchinson-------------

Klukowski----Jakovic-----McKenna----Attakora

---------------------Hirschfeld---------------------------

Bench:

Monsalve, Peters, Stalteri, Straith, Hainault, Edgar, De Jong, Jackson, Hume, Bernier, Bunbury

I'm looking for Hart to drop Gerba and Issey which is why I didn't include them, they need to sort out their club situations

Overall the team is really young and most importantly all guys should be around for next qualifying. Only question marks age at the start of 2012 qualifying in brackets... Stalteri (34) Bernier (32) De Rosario (34)

For the XI I think McKenna and Jakovic are a lock at center back right now, their NT form is good, their partnership is strong and their club situations are 100%

[Toronto MB]

Current form? Current form?

I'm talking about current form for Canada. Who is scoring the goals? Who is winning the games?

ALI GERBA.

I'm baffled.

Listen, my love for Jackson and Hume is well documented, and of course I feel that they should be in the team.

Friend, though never reaching his full potential for Canada, partially due to managerial mismanagement, has earned his role as our starter by virtue of his constant presence in a top 5 European league. I think we can all agree on that.

But when somebody tries to tell me that Teal Bunbury that should replace a man that has virtually a goal in every two games for the senior national team, I have to laugh.

My only comfort in this whole debate, is that Stephen Hart basically stated on Friday that young Bunbury hasn't done enough to earn his spot yet. And it doesn't take any real insight to understand why Hart would be compelled to call Ali Gerba every day of the week. The two Gold Cups, the WCQ... managers don't throw away players who win them games.

He'll be there. I promise you. With or without a new club....

[Scottie]

Current form? Current form?

I'm talking about current form for Canada. Who is scoring the goals? Who is winning the games?

ALI GERBA.

I'm baffled.

Listen, my love for Jackson and Hume is well documented, and of course I feel that they should be in the team.

Friend, though never reaching his full potential for Canada, partially due to managerial mismanagement, has earned his role as our starter by virtue of his constant presence in a top 5 European league. I think we can all agree on that.

But when somebody tries to tell me that Teal Bunbury that should replace a man that has virtually a goal in every two games for the senior national team, I have to laugh.

My only comfort in this whole debate, is that Stephen Hart basically stated on Friday that young Bunbury hasn't done enough to earn his spot yet. And it doesn't take any real insight to understand why Hart would be compelled to call Ali Gerba every day of the week. The two Gold Cups, the WCQ... managers don't throw away players who win them games.

He'll be there. I promise you. With or without a new club....

I'm with you all the way on this one Max. I think a lot of Toronto FC fans have soured on him because he recently did there what he does at all his clubs, but he'll be back. The man is our (tied) active leading goalscorer FFS, and he's not about to retire!

[loyola]

Bunbury hasn't done anything to deserve a call up at this point but he is worth keeping an eye on.

As for Gerba, I think he'll be in SA in May unless he finds a club before that. But after this, I guess calls will depend on Ali club form compared to the other strikers we have. If Jackson, Friend, Haber, Bunbury, Hume are all doing better than Ali, I wouldn't have a problem with not calling him. But that's in 1 or 2 years because at the moment we don't have other choices since the young guys like Haber and Bunbury haven't done much yet.

[Sam]

I agree with Max on this one as well. Gerba's scoring record leaves you no option but to put him on the roster at least for Canada in the two games down in South America. I would also like to see Haber get a call.

[Ivan]

We need a destroyer/ballwinner in front of the back four. At this point, I'm not sure who that should be (Edgar, Serioux, Hainault, Straith???) in front of Jakovic & McKenna. JDG & Hutch behind a lone striker (Friend) with Simpson/DDR on the left and Peters/Hume/Johnson on the right.

[Keegan]

Current form? Current form?

I'm talking about current form for Canada. Who is scoring the goals? Who is winning the games?

ALI GERBA.

I'm baffled.

Listen, my love for Jackson and Hume is well documented, and of course I feel that they should be in the team.

Friend, though never reaching his full potential for Canada, partially due to managerial mismanagement, has earned his role as our starter by virtue of his constant presence in a top 5 European league. I think we can all agree on that.

But when somebody tries to tell me that Teal Bunbury that should replace a man that has virtually a goal in every two games for the senior national team, I have to laugh.

My only comfort in this whole debate, is that Stephen Hart basically stated on Friday that young Bunbury hasn't done enough to earn his spot yet. And it doesn't take any real insight to understand why Hart would be compelled to call Ali Gerba every day of the week. The two Gold Cups, the WCQ... managers don't throw away players who win them games.

He'll be there. I promise you. With or without a new club....

I'm just not too crazy about a player who hasn't scored a goal in any competition since July... he shouldn't be starting. And if he shouldn't be starting and he is unattached why in the world would you call him ahead of Bunbury? Bunbury has a lot more to gain by being in camp then Gerba

[jonovision]

I'm just not too crazy about a player who hasn't scored a goal in any competition since July... he shouldn't be starting. And if he shouldn't be starting and he is unattached why in the world would you call him ahead of Bunbury? Bunbury has a lot more to gain by being in camp then Gerba

That's not the basis on which a coach should make selection decisions. The matter of real importance is which selection offers Canada the most. At this point, I think a reasonable argument can be made that it's still Gerba.

[jpg75]

Bunbury won't even be available for selection for the SA games so it's a moot point.

[BearcatSA]

We need a destroyer/ballwinner in front of the back four. At this point, I'm not sure who that should be (Edgar, Serioux, Hainault, Straith???) in front of Jakovic & McKenna. JDG & Hutch behind a lone striker (Friend) with Simpson/DDR on the left and Peters/Hume/Johnson on the right.

Judging from the recent matches I have watched vs Honduras, as well as the reports from Macedonia and Poland, I would agree. Either a quick passing distribution hub (Grande/Nash type) or simply a pure ballwinner. It allows the other central mid pairing (JDG, Hutchinson, Johnson, and hopefully others) to be more box to box in scope.

I like Johnson's role with RSL, where he starts on the left of midfield but often tucks back centrally and deep to cover for Sideshow Bob Beckerman when he goes on an attacking sortie. I'd prefer to see him competing for one of the three midfield spots as opposed to being a right winger like he was used at the GC. I would like to see a better 1 v 1 attacker there: perhaps Jackson can be a candidate?. Hoillet or a healthy Jono De Guzman would be tailor made for the spot, but that doesn't look like it will happen.

[Keegan]

Judging from the recent matches I have watched vs Honduras, as well as the reports from Macedonia and Poland, I would agree. Either a quick passing distribution hub (Grande/Nash type) or simply a pure ballwinner. It allows the other central mid pairing (JDG, Hutchinson, Johnson, and hopefully others) to be more box to box in scope.

I like Johnson's role with RSL, where he starts on the left of midfield but often tucks back centrally and deep to cover for Sideshow Bob Beckerman when he goes on an attacking sortie. I'd prefer to see him competing for one of the three midfield spots as opposed to being a right winger like he was used at the GC. I would like to see a better 1 v 1 attacker there: perhaps Jackson can be a candidate?. Hoillet or a healthy Jono De Guzman would be tailor made for the spot, but that doesn't look like it will happen.

Why not De Rosario on the right? He is probably best suited for that one v one role and for the left wing Simpson would probably be best suited for one v one.

[BearcatSA]

Why not De Rosario on the right? He is probably best suited for that one v one role and for the left wing Simpson would probably be best suited for one v one.

That's definitely a possibility though I think he plays better down the left because he likes to cut in shoot off his right foot. However, I'm also guessing that he'll be chosen more in a central, attacking mid position.