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Right Back Issue


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We don't seem to have any. We have a ton of left backs, just looking at them: Adekugbe, Morgan, De Jong, etc, but we seem to have a dearth of RBs. Floro's been resorting to using Henry as a makeshift, and as far as I can tell senior wise, there aren't any players playing at RB at their clubs. Anyone know of any good RBs coming up?

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A lot depends on the role of the RB under Floro's tactical setup. If defending is job #1, like it was vs Colombia, then Henry probably is our best option for now. If the player needs to have any attacking élan, then it needs to be someone else. What Floro does with that spot against Panama, against whom we probably will be pushing forward more often, will be interesting.

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A lot depends on the role of the RB under Floro's tactical setup. If defending is job #1, like it was vs Colombia, then Henry probably is our best option for now. If the player needs to have any attacking élan, then it needs to be someone else. What Floro does with that spot against Panama, against whom we probably will be pushing forward more often, will be interesting.

Against Panama on the road, it will be disciplined defensive shape first and foremost, grind it out, strike off the counter and set plays.  In fact, I think most games will continue to be this way under Trappatoni...er...Floro.

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Nana Attakora is a RB. A player that has fallen off his club and country radar. I have been a huge supporter of his for years but unfortunately because I haven't seen very much of him over the last few years it's hard for me to make a fair assessment of him. I know that at the top of his game, I think he could easily be the starting RB for us. Even in his last match with the CMNT that I was able to view (USA in 2013) I thought he did fairly well.

 

I believe he has been selected to a few matches this year as well but I don't think he has featured in any of the matches.

 

The one knock I have had with both him and Henry is their distribution of the ball. Clearing the ball is not an issue but making an outlet pass to a mid has always been a struggle. But I do think together, Henry and  Nana are really solid.

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Edward should at least get a look. For me, the best option at this moment (well, in a year) would be Montreals' Camara. He's a natural RB with scoring abilities and could get a passport (if he wants to) in about 1 year.

 

I agree with this. IMO would be our 3rd or 4th best option at CB as well. Which is useful.

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Is this systemic in football for some reason, and not just a problem in Canada? There aren't many good right backs in MLS. The US have the same issue to a certain degree, with unproven youngsters or players out of position. I'd say England have a similar issue as well. You'd think in these kick and chase nations, most kids are right footed. Used to be hard to find left footed players. Strange days.

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Is this systemic in football for some reason, and not just a problem in Canada? There aren't many good right backs in MLS. The US have the same issue to a certain degree, with unproven youngsters or players out of position. I'd say England have a similar issue as well. You'd think in these kick and chase nations, most kids are right footed. Used to be hard to find left footed players. Strange days.

The US have solved their problem. They have Yedlin, Johnson, and Chandler. They are set for the future.

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Edward should at least get a look. For me, the best option at this moment (well, in a year) would be Montreals' Camara. He's a natural RB with scoring abilities and could get a passport (if he wants to) in about 1 year.

Has there been any news on Camara recently? He'd definitely be nice to have for the short term. 

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Has there been any news on Camara recently? He'd definitely be nice to have for the short term. 

 

Camara won't be eligible to play for us until 2016. And even when asked, he didn't think that it would be right for him to play for Canada. (Something along those lines. I can't find the interview that he did with  Patrick Leduc last year) He didn't shut it down saying that there is no chance that he would play for Canada, but he didn't seem all in with CAnada. Also, Camara is 28. That's 1 year younger than Ledgerwood.

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Camara won't be eligible to play for us until 2016. And even when asked, he didn't think that it would be right for him to play for Canada. (Something along those lines. I can't find the interview that he did with  Patrick Leduc last year) He didn't shut it down saying that there is no chance that he would play for Canada, but he didn't seem all in with CAnada. Also, Camara is 28. That's 1 year younger than Ledgerwood.

 

You would know better than me but I thought he was positive about playing for us when asked.  Also Camara is 30, not 28.  He would be a nice asset to have due to his strength off of set pieces and athletic ability up and down the flanks.  If we're going to use Henry there then Camara would be an upgrade for sure.  Floro seems to like big bodies in his XI, presumably for set pieces.

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Either way, we are splitting hairs here. Whether he is 29 or 31 at the time of eligibility, he is still a short term solution. If he is available I say we use him, as he is an MLS starting RB (which means he should be able to adequately fill in for us). Ultimately though, we really need a young right back to emerge and there are absolutely no good prospects in the pipeline. It is so bizarre. 

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From what I've seen, I'd be comfortable with Doniel Henry playing right back if we continue to have this be an issue. He's solid defensively, highlighted by a strong physical presence and effective tackling. Until he learns to control the harshness of his tackles, keeping him at RB is safer than CB (he can draw the odd foul instead of penalties).

His weakness is bringing the ball forward. For a player who is being fit into a problem position, I'll take that as a weakness. It's not dangerous if he's told to just distribute the ball to midfielders instead of running it up himself. He's a stay-at-home right back who is solid when required.

I haven't seen too much of Eddie Edward. I wouldn't mind seeing him play as a RB with the national team before deciding if he's a fit for it.

For what it's worth, there's two more possibilities in Ottawa: Drew Beckie and Phillipe Davies. Beckie had played a lot of RB in this year, while Davies is a right forward who has gotten a fair amount of time as a right back. I'm not sure if either of those guys are national team caliber though.

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