Pre Gold Cup 2017 Weekly Center Backs Review

[C2SKI]

Should Daniel Stanese be added to the conversation? He's having a good run of games in teir 3 Germany. Lately he's mostly been played as a DM, but he's played CB for most of his career.

[Big_M]

No he's playing at DM with Aalen and is very far from being ready to play at CB. There are plenty of players who are playing at CB every week. Attakora and Trafford have been very good early on followed by Roberts and Jakovic. Straith and Didic have started playing there and Gasparotto and Kapor have had many starts there this season.

[baulderdash77]

I think Attakora has really turned things around for himself turning into a solid NASL level CB.  He should definitely be considered as he's an in form starter wearing the Captains band.  

I expect that it will be him along with James or Jakovic that will be our starters for the gold cup.

[Big_M]

Playing time of CB's in the past 2 weeks

Week 4

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Straith played 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Gasparotto played 90 minutes and had an assist in a 2-2 draw.

Kapor played 90 minutes and scored one goal in a 2-1 win. It was the game winner in the last minute.

Week 5

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Straith played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 4-3 loss.

Meilleur-Giguere played 1 minute in a 0-0 draw.

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win.

Gasparotto played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win.

Trafford played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Kapor played 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss.

------------------------------

8 players are starters at CB in their teams:

Attakora
Didic
Gasparotto
Kapor
Jakovic
Roberts
Straith
Trafford

[Big_M]

Week 6

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Trafford played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win.

Edward played 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss.

Zator played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Kapor played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Cornelius played 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss.

Cornelius has been added to the list and started his first game at CB. Straith played at DM and looks like Miller prefers him there with Diakite and Watson at CB. Straith did well there at GC 2015 so to be continued...

[One American]

I hadn't realized Slovakia is a top 20 UEFA league.

[Big_M]

Week 7

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Beckie played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw. First time this season he plays at CB.

Trafford played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win. He was very good again, good anticipation, tackling and passing.

Straith played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw. 

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win. Bad touch on the goal conceded.

Kapor played 59 minutes and had an assist in a 2-1 loss. 

Gasparotto played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 3-1 win. Played well, good in the air and on the ground, quality passing and interventions. Got called on the foul in the box which led to the opponent's penalty but it was a mistake from the ref.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Zator played 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss. 

Edward played 82 minutes as a sub in a 0-0 draw.

[Shway]

Mason Trafford has quietly gone about having a solid past 2 years of soccer, but has never been called up or been given any type of notice. Would be interesting to see how he does.

[Big_M]

Week 8

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Trafford played 90 minutes in a 3-2 win.

Straith played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win.

Kapor played 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Vitoria played 90 minutes in a 4-0 win in the championship round. A great return to the field after being absent of the matchday squads for three months.

Geffrard played 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss.

Week 9

Jakovic played 90 minutes and had an assist in a 4-3 win.

Trafford played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win.

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss.

Kapor played 90 minutes in a 4-1 loss.

Gasparotto played 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw and 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss in the promotion play-offs and Falkirk fails to move on so his season ends here.

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Edward played 90 minutes in a 4-3 win.

Vitoria played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw.

Geffrard played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

 

Jems Geffrard started all four of his team's games this season in the finnish second division.

Mallan Roberts has played every minute in usl for richmond and his team has only allowed 7 goals in 10 games which is one of the least in the league. He is getting sharper as the season goes on making less mistakes.

At the halfway point of the spring nasl season, Trafford's Miami is top of the league and has the second least goals against tied with San Francisco. Trafford has been excellent on both sides of the ball. He is currently at the very least a top 3 cb in the list.

Attakora has been good but not as good as Trafford and Jakovic.

Edmonton is struggling but Straith is not to take more blame than his teammates. He has played two games in the midfield and five at cb.

[Obinna]

Jakovic I expected to be excellent at this level, but Trafford is a nice surprise. Sounds like a lot of promising options at the NASL / USL level, where we don't want the core of our roster to come from, but in order to fill out our roster I don't mind dipping into these leagues to call on standouts.

I know this is a CB thread, but how is Ouimette doing in San Fran? He is someone that's been on the fringes of the national team over the last few years. Now that he is playing regularly, is he any closer to the CanMNT?

[Big_M]

Ouimette's big weakness in mls was 1vs1 defending. Looks better against lower level opposition. Still needs to work on that, close down quicker and get better in the offensive phase..Cordova is a better option as one of the best rb's of the chilean second division. Big question at rb is whether ledgerwood is ready to go and can still perform like in the past. Miller has been playing him only in the midfield and even at am in the past couple of league games and subbed him out a couple of times this season at the half and left him on the bench once. The situation is not good there for him. Another possible backup is Dover who has been playing well with Rochester

[PopePouri]

I'd be interested to see how Didic is progressing. Hopefully he'll pickup a contract with SKC this summer.

[Bison44]

Wasnt someone posting about SKC supporters wanting him up at the big club already.  But SKC has no open international spots even if they wanted to.  GRRRR MLS!!!!

[Big_M]

Didic is doing well but can still do better. The first team has very good cb's and are doing well so no need for him now. The good thing is that he has very high technical quality so he could climb a level if the other aspects of his game are also at the level

[PopePouri]

13 hours ago, Big_M said:

Didic is doing well but can still do better. The first team has very good cb's and are doing well so no need for him now. The good thing is that he has very high technical quality so he could climb a level if the other aspects of his game are also at the level

They have good CB's but they're still don't have enough on their team. Ellis is a converted right-back and Palmer-Brown is still green.

[Vince193]

4 hours ago, PopePouri said:

They have good CB's but they're still don't have enough on their team. Ellis is a converted right-back and Palmer-Brown is still green.

Fans don't even like Ellis and EPB is most likely going to get sold as well.

[Vince193]

I still have hopes for Mallan Roberts to up his game.

[Big_M]

Week 10

Roberts played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw and 90 minutes in a 5-3 loss.

Kapor played 82 minutes in a 3-1 loss. His season has ended and his team finished second to last if we exclude the team that pulled out. He was starter at cb this season but even though it was in a tough league, it was on a very weak team that lost most of it's games and most of his experience is as a midfielder so shouldn't be called for the gold cup but for a friendly after that if he will still be a starter. If he was on a one year contract with Zlate Moravce he is probably done there.

Attakora played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw. 

Jakovic played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw. 

Vitoria played 90 minutes and had an assist in a 4-0 win. He played well and that was his third straight start and they haven't allowed any goals in those games. Possibility to win the league and get a european qualifying place in the last game.

Didic played 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss.

Geffrard played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

Straith played 90 minutes and scored one goal in a 2-1 win.

Zator played 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss.

The league has ended in Hungary with Vasas finishing third and getting a europa league qualifying round spot but the season is not over as they will play in the cup final on Wednesday. James stayed on the bench in the last two league games and in the second leg of the cup semi-final.

Skylar Thomas has gotten his first two starts in the league in the past week but it was as rb and lb.

[BrennanFan]

Kapor has not been contacted by the CSA, at least not as of a few days ago. Extremely disappointing, he deserves a look at the very least.  

[One American]

It's so much harder to compare this set of center backs based on league quality. Starter in Slovakia vs.sometimes starter in Poland or Hungary vs. starter in Scotland 2nd. How do you know? 

[One American]

FTR: since he's been mentioned, Matt Hedges called into USMNT camp for the Venezuela friendlies and upcoming qualifiers. Possibility of seeing the field in the qualies, but definitely not a certainty. Nonetheless, Gold Cup is seeming likely at this point. So if there's any CSA interest and any possibility.... it's now or never. 

 

 

[Vince193]

1 hour ago, One American said:

FTR: since he's been mentioned, Matt Hedges called into USMNT camp for the Venezuela friendlies and upcoming qualifiers. Possibility of seeing the field in the qualies, but definitely not a certainty. Nonetheless, Gold Cup is seeming likely at this point. So if there's any CSA interest and any possibility.... it's now or never. 

 

 

He isn't eligible.

[Bison44]

5 hours ago, BrennanFan said:

Kapor has not been contacted by the CSA, at least not as of a few days ago. Extremely disappointing, he deserves a look at the very least.  

Zambran 3000 should at least give him a call.  We know your out there, congrats on the season, keep it up and the calls will come.  

[Toje]

The Slovak league at this point is a big step down from the Czech league (for example) which I watch much more.  In the past the Slovak league had a better reputation when a few clubs made it to the Champions League group stage.

Kapor has been showing consistent signs of improvement over the past few seasons and this season seems to be his best.  Hopefully, if he keeps improving, he will get a look soon.

[Big_M]

As the squad for the June 13th friendly was announced in the week of May 29 and the 40 player provisional list was announced in the week of June 5th, this puts an end to the reviews on CB's. 

Jakovic, James, Lefevre and Straith were called to the camp for the friendly.

Jakovic, James, Lefevre, Straith, Vitoria and Kapor were named to the 40 player list.

The inclusion of Jakovic, James, Straith and Vitoria are correct. Jakovic and Straith are starters and playing well and Straith might be used in the midfield. Vitoria started and played well in the championship round of ekstraklasa. James was not a starter with Vasas although he got 5 league starts and 1 cup start in April in May. He played at DM there but still a good selection for CB as a speedy one could be needed to deal with the speedy forwards of central american teams. Kapor's inclusion is fine though a more experienced player at that position would have been more interesting such as Gasparotto, Attakora, Didic or Roberts. Unfortunately, the inclusion of Lefevre was a mistake as he has played very little this season and not ready for national team. All CB's in north america have been followed closely in the past 10 weeks and the top one is Mason Trafford. He should have been selected.

Selection of CB's for 40 player list: 

Jakovic, James, Straith, Vitoria, Trafford and Gasparotto

Selection of CB's for final 23 player list:

Jakovic, James, Vitoria and Trafford. Straith as first alternate in case of injury to a CB or midfielder