Ayo Akinola

[Obinna]

2 minutes ago, Kadenge said:

Plus playing Honduras, El Salvador or Panama away in WCQ is a daunting task and many of the US players have not had that pleasure yet. The Cdn players you mentioned plus Larin, Henry & Cavallini have been there before, so hopefully that will help us this time around

Players who have gone through at least 1 qualifying cycle:

Canada: Larin, Hoilett, Atiba, Arfield, Piette, Osorio, Borjan, Akindele

USA: Zardes, Brooks, Ream, Pulisic, Arriola, Morris (?)

I bolded the players who are likely to play a significant role in the third round of concacaf world cup qualifying.

As you can see, we outnumber them on experience 7 to 3. Furthermore, some of those players like Atiba and Borjan have been through multiple cycles (Piette too I believe).

[Kadenge]

3 hours ago, Obinna said:

Players who have gone through at least 1 qualifying cycle:

Canada: Larin, Hoilett, Atiba, Arfield, Piette, Osorio, Borjan, Akindele

USA: Zardes, Brooks, Ream, Pulisic, Arriola, Morris (?)

I bolded the players who are likely to play a significant role in the third round of concacaf world cup qualifying.

As you can see, we outnumber them on experience 7 to 3. Furthermore, some of those players like Atiba and Borjan have been through multiple cycles (Piette too I believe).

Piette made his WCQ debut under Hart so 2 cycles. If Henry is fit Herdman will select him, so that's one more

[BrennanFan]

We have zero experience in the final round of qualifying where a world cup birth is in reach. Those games will be pressure cookers the likes of which none of our players have experienced before. 

[BrennanFan]

Just now, BrennanFan said:

We have zero experience in the final round of qualifying where a world cup birth is in reach. Those games will be pressure cookers the likes of which none of our players have experienced before. 

Some of our players will be able to draw on experiences like previous WCQ, and club situations like the CCL, Old Firm and Istanbul derby. But collectively we will be very inexperienced. 

Herdman, of course, will be the least experienced individual involved. I hope he remembers to bring multiple changes of underwear for when he experiences the away atmospheres in Honduras and Mexico. His total and utter lack of experience with the intensity of away grounds in the men's game is his most glaring deficiency, and when push comes to shove, what can he really bring to the table in these situations? Not much. 

[Shway]

I'm just hoping Akinola isn't a younger Jozy with his injuries...or else we may never see him with any national team.
He's somewhat built like him, I hope he values his diet.

[Obinna]

17 minutes ago, BrennanFan said:

Some of our players will be able to draw on experiences like previous WCQ, and club situations like the CCL, Old Firm and Istanbul derby. But collectively we will be very inexperienced. 

Herdman, of course, will be the least experienced individual involved. I hope he remembers to bring multiple changes of underwear for when he experiences the away atmospheres in Honduras and Mexico. His total and utter lack of experience with the intensity of away grounds in the men's game is his most glaring deficiency, and when push comes to shove, what can he really bring to the table in these situations? Not much. 

Didn't he admit to losing his nerve in the Haiti game? I recall him saying part of the reason things fell apart because the players sniffed out his panic.

He said he learned his lesson from that, and I hope so, because very soon they'll be more to play for against Haiti than a trip to the Gold Cup semi-final. 

[trc2014]

It’s wild how little chatter there is about Ayo in reference to TFC recently, barely mentioned with all the talk about TFC injury issues, who is coming back to availability, etc

[Shway]

38 minutes ago, trc2014 said:

It’s wild how little chatter there is about Ayo in reference to TFC recently, barely mentioned with all the talk about TFC injury issues, who is coming back to availability, etc

Literally this....but it makes sense when your high value guys are on that list... Oso, Poz, Jozy, and Mavinga 

[LeoH037]

7 hours ago, Obinna said:

Players who have gone through at least 1 qualifying cycle:

Canada: Larin, Hoilett, Atiba, Arfield, Piette, Osorio, Borjan, Akindele

USA: Zardes, Brooks, Ream, Pulisic, Arriola, Morris (?)

I bolded the players who are likely to play a significant role in the third round of concacaf world cup qualifying.

As you can see, we outnumber them on experience 7 to 3. Furthermore, some of those players like Atiba and Borjan have been through multiple cycles (Piette too I believe).

So much experience that they cracked against Haiti right? They sure have experience alright, and not the good kind.

Seriously, the players themselves may have been around longer, but that doesn't mean they have a lot of international experience as a team (they don't, we barely play), and so far a lot of good all that "experience" has done them. Leaning on someone usually works better when that someone knows what it takes to get over a bar...

and oh... that's an interesting way to try and quantify "experience"

Edited April 23, 2021 by LeoH037

[An Observer]

13 minutes ago, LeoH037 said:

So much experience that they cracked against Haiti right? They sure have experience alright, and not the good kind.

Seriously, the players themselves may have been around longer, but that doesn't mean they have a lot of international experience as a team (they don't, we barely play), and so far a lot of good all that "experience" has done them. Leaning on someone usually works better when that someone knows what it takes to get over a bar...

and oh... that's an interesting way to try and quantify "experience"

Very few sides get very far at senior level with essentially a U23 side.  You need a mix of experience and youth.  And experiences like blowing up against a Haiti are what adds to experience.  I have said before and will say it again. The US has a golden generation of young talent and on that alone they should easily qualify. But they like any young side will have their ups and downs in the octagon and it will really depend how they come together or not during those tough moments when the pressure is on. 

[LeoH037]

4 minutes ago, An Observer said:

Very few sides get very far at senior level with essentially a U23 side.  You need a mix of experience and youth.  And experiences like blowing up against a Haiti are what adds to experience.  I have said before and will say it again. The US has a golden generation of young talent and on that alone they should easily qualify. But they like any young side will have their ups and downs in the octagon and it will really depend how they come together or not during those tough moments when the pressure is on. 

I agree. I just think the entire premise of using experience as viable thing we got going for us over other teams in CONCACAF funny.

[Obinna]

40 minutes ago, LeoH037 said:

So much experience that they cracked against Haiti right? They sure have experience alright, and not the good kind.

Seriously, the players themselves may have been around longer, but that doesn't mean they have a lot of international experience as a team (they don't, we barely play), and so far a lot of good all that "experience" has done them. Leaning on someone usually works better when that someone knows what it takes to get over a bar...

and oh... that's an interesting way to try and quantify "experience"

I know we don't have a lot of experience as a team. I acknowledged that already.

What I am saying is that Canada has more veteran players with greater individual experience, and I think that counts for something. You may find what I am saying funny, but would you say we are better off without seasoned professionals like Hutchinson, Arfield, Hoilett, etc.? 

Furthermore, would you argue against the idea that the individual experience of veterans helps a team in the long run? That idea is tested and true and goes beyond just soccer.

I want to make it clear that I am not saying our veterans makes us better than the states, nor am I saying they'll ensure our path to qualification. Will it help more than it will hurt? Can't see how it wouldn't, can you?

Similarly, the states would be better with more veteran players. Why? Because we know veteran players help a team. Right now they are basically an U-23 team.  I am sure the day will come when they will be a force. Those talented players will gain individual experience but more importantly, team experience. 

Edited April 24, 2021 by Obinna

[trc2014]

On the bench today

 

Edited April 24, 2021 by trc2014

[dyslexic nam]

Every time I see a bump to this thread, this is the sort of thing I was looking for.  
 

Great news.  
 

Plus Nelson is starting. 

[trc2014]

Just noticed no Priso.

[MM3/MM2/MM]

https://www.transfermarkt.us/ayo-akinola/nationalmannschaft/spieler/370979

Does Transfermarkt know something?

9		United States	Dec 10, 2020	1	1	Gregg Berhalter	20 years 10 months 20 days
-		Canada	-	-	-
7		United States U20	Sep 7, 2018	12	9	Tab Ramos	18 years 07 months 18 days
-		United States U19	-	-	-
-		United States U17	Dec 2, 2015	32	24	Richie Williams	15 years 10 months 12 days
-		United States U15	Apr 25, 2015	7	5	John Hackworth	15 years 03 months 05 days

[LeoH037]

What exactly am I supposed to be looking at? :s

[MM3/MM2/MM]

2 minutes ago, LeoH037 said:

What exactly am I supposed to be looking at? :s

Click on the link and hover over the Canada icon.

 

[LeoH037]

1 minute ago, MM3/MM2/MM said:

Click on the link and hover over the Canada icon.

 

"Gold Cup 2021"... is that it? Cause it says the same under the USA icon though

[Shway]

I think it’s simply referencing the January callups.

[Dominic94]

On the bench tonight 

[canadianbacons]

No mention in this MLSsoccer.com video discussing the top 5 for the #9 role with the USMNT.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/club-and-country-usmnt-no-9-depth-chart

Would definitely be in our top 5 (although behind David, Larin and Cavallini).

 

[TOcanadafan]

Akinola better get subbed in to start second half... Altidore is a waste of space out there and caused the first goal.

[dyslexic nam]

Just now, TOcanadafan said:

Akinola better get subbed in to start second half... Altidore is a waste of space out there and caused the first goal.

Agree 100%.  Time to get Ayo in there.  

[frmr]

Instead we get Patrick Mullins. I've seen enough of this game.