August 15 Friendly: Canada vs T&T in Florida

[The Beaver]

^ De Jong, when healthy, is better than Klukowski and much better than Jazic or Morgan.

I agree, though I have a feeling that if all goes well Morgan will be a better player than DeJong soon enough.

[nolando]

De jong missed a preseason match for Augsburg on the weekend due to injury. Will be surprised to see him. when I see Evan James listed it makes me wonder about Saiko.

[Keegan]

I wouldn't have been against Saiko, Hamilton or Edward being added to the team. I think any of those 3 would be more deserving than James.

[Obinna]

^maybe saiko is more deserving based on club form, but after watching U23's, I am not so sure. Also, james gives us dpeth out wide.

[Sam]

Considering James was a late addition, because of the DeRo injury, I don't think this is a bad squad. I'm looking forward to seeing Cavellini as I said I was in the other thread. I'm also delighted that De Jong is back, he could fill the gap on the left side of midfield left by Simpson's injury if he impresses in this match.

It would have been nice to have a squad closer to 100% right before WCQ, but with many European seasons starting in and around this match date getting the players released must not be easy. There are still a core group of guys on this squad that I think will be a major part of the Panama games, so it is not like this doesn't offer any preparation at all for Panama.

[villus]

I'd love to see us try a midfield 3 with DeJong in the left mid spot along with Johnson, Bernier and JDG. Feel like with Hutch thats 5 guys to play those 3 spots and they are all very capable 2 way players. Obviously would have liked a full strength squad but its understandable with a bunch of guys starting seasons that week and with such a short window. I hope we don't need Doneil any time soon, hes going to be very good in a few years but hes still way too raw to be able get the job done at this level.

[loyola]

Good squad since we knew we wouldn't have everybody available.

I'm glad to see Bernier is back. He deserves a chance to prove himself with the MNT after his recent performance with MTL.

Also happy to seeboth keepers will be able to battle that number 1 spot. IMO it should be Borjan but if Lars is better in practice and game than he might be back in goal against Panama.

[nolando]

DeRo has an injured shoulder. James was called-up yesterday to replace him.

FWIW:

D.C. United’s Dwayne De Rosario returned to regular training Thursday after resting a sore shoulder injured in the first half of last weekend’s 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew. Coach Ben Olsen said he expects the 2011 MLS MVP to play Saturday night at Sporting Kansas City

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/post/dc-united-news-and-notes-dwayne-de-rosario-mike-chabala-andy-najar-ethan-white-robbie-russell/2012/08/10/71cb22ac-e22e-11e1-a25e-15067bb31849_blog.html

[matthew]

I'm not a huge Evan James fan, but I thought he looked fairly lively in the half he played against Lyon in Montreal. Not a horrible last second replacement call for DeRo.

cheers,

matthew

[Obinna]

I'd love to see us try a midfield 3 with DeJong in the left mid spot along with Johnson, Bernier and JDG. Feel like with Hutch thats 5 guys to play those 3 spots and they are all very capable 2 way players. Obviously would have liked a full strength squad but its understandable with a bunch of guys starting seasons that week and with such a short window. I hope we don't need Doneil any time soon, hes going to be very good in a few years but hes still way too raw to be able get the job done at this level.

Speaking of keepers, who do you think gets the start next week? I am thinking Lars with Bojan comming in at half.

[Jason]

I'm not a huge Evan James fan, but I thought he looked fairly lively in the half he played against Lyon in Montreal. Not a horrible last second replacement call for DeRo.

cheers,

matthew

I think the James call up is interesting regarding Hart's strategy of calling guys to the team. He picked James, who has never made it past the bench in MLS ahead of Saiko, who is in a bit of a slump right now but has been playing regularly with FCE. Considering he usually goes with a policy of not picking guys who aren't playing, does this tell us that he rates James so much higher than Saiko, or does he not take any value from NASL play relating to MNT call ups? Realistically, I don't see many potential call ups for NASL in the future, but if there would've been a game, this would've been it.

Jason

[Greatest Cockney Rip Off]

I think the James call up is interesting regarding Hart's strategy of calling guys to the team. He picked James, who has never made it past the bench in MLS ahead of Saiko, who is in a bit of a slump right now but has been playing regularly with FCE. Considering he usually goes with a policy of not picking guys who aren't playing, does this tell us that he rates James so much higher than Saiko, or does he not take any value from NASL play relating to MNT call ups? Realistically, I don't see many potential call ups for NASL in the future, but if there would've been a game, this would've been it.

Jason

I wouldn't look that much into it. Hart said, "We were becoming a bit thin at the wide position, and Evan can fill that void." I really don't think Saiko is a player Hart would use out wide.

[villus]

Speaking of keepers, who do you think gets the start next week? I am thinking Lars with Bojan comming in at half.

I hope they both get a half, and I hope that REB is not there because of club reasons, he should be at this camp but its understandable his club is already into they're season I think.

[Sam]

I'd love to see us try a midfield 3 with DeJong in the left mid spot along with Johnson, Bernier and JDG. Feel like with Hutch thats 5 guys to play those 3 spots and they are all very capable 2 way players. Obviously would have liked a full strength squad but its understandable with a bunch of guys starting seasons that week and with such a short window. I hope we don't need Doneil any time soon, hes going to be very good in a few years but hes still way too raw to be able get the job done at this level.

Hutch if fit is probably the only 100% starter in that midfield. Then you've got to pick two more of the MLS guys (and maybe De Jong if he does impress there) from Johnson, JDG and Bernier. I think just for some grit and defensive stability you have to throw Johnson in there, which leaves you between Bernier and JDG. If we go by MLS form there is no way that Bernier doesn't start right now over JDG. Obviously previous national team performances say differently, but Bernier's passing range has been spot on with Montreal, whereas JDG had one good month this year with Toronto in May and shown very little outside of that one month. It's a very tough decision for Hart and I think that a lot of it will come down to which out of those two performs better against Trinidad and Tobago in this match.

[Soccerpro]

I hope the young guys get to play some meaningful minutes to prove what they can do.

[jonovision]

Hutch if fit is probably the only 100% starter in that midfield. Then you've got to pick two more of the MLS guys (and maybe De Jong if he does impress there) from Johnson, JDG and Bernier. I think just for some grit and defensive stability you have to throw Johnson in there, which leaves you between Bernier and JDG. If we go by MLS form there is no way that Bernier doesn't start right now over JDG. Obviously previous national team performances say differently, but Bernier's passing range has been spot on with Montreal, whereas JDG had one good month this year with Toronto in May and shown very little outside of that one month. It's a very tough decision for Hart and I think that a lot of it will come down to which out of those two performs better against Trinidad and Tobago in this match.

The main problem with Bernier is he is a less defensive option than de Guzman and Johnson. For me he only works in Hutchinson's position, which is a problem for him because Hutchinson is much better.

[madmonte]

? Expected a Robert post in here for some reason.

Anyways, I'm at least a day late, but I like the callups. We all knew going in that it was going to be a tight window and many Europeans wouldn't make it. REALLY excited to see DeJong healthy and back in the mix, that's one of the big things for me!

The main problem with Bernier is he is a less defensive option than de Guzman and Johnson. For me he only works in Hutchinson's position, which is a problem for him because Hutchinson is much better.

Need to comment that for Hutch's position, remember, Hutch has seen a LOT of time at RB at club level recently and would probably be very comfortable dropping back into that slot at need. That could have Edgar at need going to his natural position at CB, and allow Bernier to slot back where Hutch would be. Do you think that would help solve that issue, or would you just rather see Hutch pushed forward?

Also, given the roster, I can't argue against either James or Saiko, but given Hart saying that he was going to be trying to choose only (mostly) players that were actually playing at club level...well in THAT case I'd say that there shouldn't be discrimination of MLS players over NASL players as being necessarily better. Perhaps that isn't the case. For all we know, he asked Saiko, and he had a wedding to attend that weekend or something! Or perhaps he just thinks James is the better choice right now, because Saiko is more direct in the middle (which we have an abundance of) and he wanted to try someone that was better out wide (which James shows potential with). But Hart has not been discriminatory of league in the past, given Romania's second Tier, and german third tier callups within the last year, and Ledgerwood now being fourth tier sweden.

A callup I'm surprised hasn't been swooned over...a lot of you said you really wanted to see Cavallini and here he is! So that'll be nice to see him on the senior team getting a look right?

Remember, given the amount of friendlies canada actually plays (which is minimal), Hart getting a look at new guys and seeing them will be EXTREMELY valuable going forward. At times we need to think more long term than just the Panama game, and times when other players simply cannot make it in, like many of our European players, are definitely times for these looks. That said, I expect Hart to get these looks more in training than actually on the pitch vs T&T, but valuable regardless.

[Ivanovski94]

I'm pretty sure Hammarby (Nik Ledgerwood's Team) is one of top teams in the second division. Also has been a top team in the first division historically.

[Keegan]

Judging from De Rosario's latest tweet he will be joining the team.

Dwayne De Rosario ‏@dwaynederosario

Next game: Team Canada vs Trinidad & Tobago ~ August 15, 2012 ~ Central Broward Regional Stadium ~ 7pm ET

Here's my XI for this match:

---------------Ricketts--------------

De Jong------Bernier----De Rosario

---------Johnson--De Guzman------

Jazic---Henry---Jakovic--Hainault

---------------Borjan----------------

Not a bad lineup, if they can't get a result there is a problem. I think we definitely need to see De Jong in the left wing spot to see what he offers there as we seem set at left back for now. I think Johnson and De Guzman is a no brainer combo in the middle to keep that chemistry brewing.

Originally I was thinking of putting Ledgerwood at right back, but really what's the point? We know what he offers there, he's playing 2nd division Sweden and when he has played first team football in the past year it has been mostly as a midfielder. We might as well see Hainault there, he's been good in the middle for us but it also wouldn't be bad to see him there just as a depth option and give a shot to Henry at centre back.

[The Beaver]

Judging from De Rosario's latest tweet he will be joining the team.

Dwayne De Rosario ‏@dwaynederosario

Next game: Team Canada vs Trinidad & Tobago ~ August 15, 2012 ~ Central Broward Regional Stadium ~ 7pm ET

Here's my XI for this match:

---------------Ricketts--------------

De Jong------Bernier----De Rosario

---------Johnson--De Guzman------

Jazic---Henry---Jakovic--Hainault

---------------Borjan----------------

Not a bad lineup, if they can't get a result there is a problem. I think we definitely need to see De Jong in the left wing spot to see what he offers there as we seem set at left back for now. I think Johnson and De Guzman is a no brainer combo in the middle to keep that chemistry brewing.

Originally I was thinking of putting Ledgerwood at right back, but really what's the point? We know what he offers there, he's playing 2nd division Sweden and when he has played first team football in the past year it has been mostly as a midfielder. We might as well see Hainault there, he's been good in the middle for us but it also wouldn't be bad to see him there just as a depth option and give a shot to Henry at centre back.

This line up makes sense, but I sort of doubt Henry will slot in at CB. Maybe he gets a look out wide on the right, but I suspect Hainault starts at CB with Jakovic.

[Sam]

Judging from De Rosario's latest tweet he will be joining the team.

Dwayne De Rosario ‏@dwaynederosario

Next game: Team Canada vs Trinidad & Tobago ~ August 15, 2012 ~ Central Broward Regional Stadium ~ 7pm ET

DeRo tweets schedules and kickoff times for everything (including Champions League and Euro games). Seeing him tweet this doesn't indicate he is joining the team at all.

[Keegan]

DeRo tweets schedules and kickoff times for everything (including Champions League and Euro games). Seeing him tweet this doesn't indicate he is joining the team at all.

Ya but when he tweets those scores he doesn't say "next game"

[villus]

Ya really want to see DeJong used somewhere in midfield, seeing as we have 3 other solid left backs 2 on form and historically our best LB slowly creeping back up to form if DeJong works in midfield it would be great. Although I'd much rather have the full squad and get work in, based on whats available and a crucial time for guys with clubs (which will mean a lot for later games if guys can stay with they're clubs and cement they're spot hopefully in the first 11) I'm happy that we can get in a lot of younger guys and the staff can at least see up close who will be ready if needed in the upcoming games. So its not the pure best option, but at least the CSA shelled out and it definetely will be a help for the squad going forward, as well as any time together should create team cohesiveness.

[loyola]

Interviews with SH and the newcomers plus some video of the first training session can be seen here:

http://www.canadasoccer.com/young-canada-squad-begins-camp-in-florida--p151611

The game won't be webcast but highlights of the game will be available.

[fourfourtwo]

This line up makes sense, but I sort of doubt Henry will slot in at CB. Maybe he gets a look out wide on the right, but I suspect Hainault starts at CB with Jakovic.

Would this be your choice for Panama or Hainault/Edgar if Mckenna is not fit?