Derek Cornelius

[Kadenge]

6 yrs ago at the age of 19, Derek was playing in the Serbian 1st division. I've always been high on this guy as I was with Adekugbe. Hopefully he has a breakout season with Malmo. 

[VinceA]

With Miller out and Kennedy's form/returning from injury we could finally see Cornelius start a match.

It's wild that he's been in many camps during the past cycle but since 2021 he's only appeared in 1 match.

[CanadaFan123]

7 hours ago, VinceA said:

With Miller out and Kennedy's form/returning from injury we could finally see Cornelius start a match.

It's wild that he's been in many camps during the past cycle but since 2021 he's only appeared in 1 match.

Absolutely strange, especially as he emerged as a Herdman favourite early on.

 

[Obinna]

8 minutes ago, CanadaFan123 said:

Absolutely strange, especially as he emerged as a Herdman favourite early on.

 

I think it was the case of Cornelius not playing at Vancouver and Miller getting his chance because he was playing more with Orlando City at the time.

By the time Miller went to Montreal, he had already made that spot his own.

Cornelius meanwhile was having a good loan in Greece, but Kennedy also emerged around then also and established himself as the go-to back up, ahead of Cornelius, which made Cornelius 3rd on the depth chart.

Derek still got a look away to Jamaica (I think it was), but it was basically 3 guys vying for 1 spot and Cornelius was unfortunately the odd man out.

Now ironically he's arguably at the best club of the 3. Perhaps it's clean slate time and Cornelius gets more looks than 2022 and 2021? At minimum he should be ahead of Kennedy for Gold Cup, since the German-based guys are in the off-season. 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Obinna

[footballfreak]

On 3/21/2023 at 8:15 AM, VinceA said:

With Miller out and Kennedy's form/returning from injury we could finally see Cornelius start a match.

It's wild that he's been in many camps during the past cycle but since 2021 he's only appeared in 1 match.

Unless I'm mistaken, Herdman has never played a left footed CB at the central spot in the three. Even when Vitoria/Henry have been unavailable, it's never Miller, Cornelius, or Kennedy in the middle. It's surprising to me. I see that central spot as being a natural fit for Cornelius.

[Kadenge]

2 hours ago, footballfreak said:

Unless I'm mistaken, Herdman has never played a left footed CB at the central spot in the three. Even when Vitoria/Henry have been unavailable, it's never Miller, Cornelius, or Kennedy in the middle. It's surprising to me. I see that central spot as being a natural fit for Cornelius.

so who played in the middle? I don't recall a game where Vitoria and Henry were both not available

[jonovision]

19 minutes ago, Kadenge said:

so who played in the middle? I don't recall a game where Vitoria and Henry were both not available

Atiba?

[Markoaleks]

LF or RF- was super composed yesterday, did nothing wrong all match

[footballfreak]

5 hours ago, Kadenge said:

so who played in the middle? I don't recall a game where Vitoria and Henry were both not available

Atiba and Miller centred a back four against Costa Rica and Panama away.

If Henry wasn’t available to spell off Vitoria, Vitoria just pulled double duty. Basically there has never been a game where two of Kennedy, Cornelius, and Miller played together*. Not even against the minnows. Not in the Gold Cup. As far as I can tell, never. 

If Vitoria or Henry aren’t available to play that central role, Herdman does not play a back three.

*edit: before yesterday.

Edited March 27, 2023 by footballfreak

[Joe MacCarthy]

You never know this guy is even on the field, that has to be good.

[BearcatSA]

12 minutes ago, Joe MacCarthy said:

You never know this guy is even on the field, that has to be good.

Just before the David goal, he made a really bad pass that was not cleanly intercepted and had it been, we would have been caught out on the counter with too many guys on the wrong side of the ball.  But we got it back and very shortly thereafter turned our lead into three.  Such is the game.

[Pottsy3]

I noticed one real poor turnover in the defensive end, but otherwise he looked mostly comfortable when on the ball. Wasn’t called upon to do too much defending, but looked fine to me.

[canadasoccer20]

Canadas new starting CB? I always rated him and thought he played well in both games when tested.

Edited March 29, 2023 by canadasoccer20

[Obinna]

35 minutes ago, canadasoccer20 said:

Canadas new starting CB? I always rated him and thought he played well in both games when tested.

Unless Miller is playing out of his skin from now until June, I wouldn't mind keeping Cornelius at left center back

[canadasoccer20]

1 hour ago, Obinna said:

Unless Miller is playing out of his skin from now until June, I wouldn't mind keeping Cornelius at left center back

I actually rate Cornelius higher then Miller if I'm being honest.. 

[Wasp]

6 minutes ago, canadasoccer20 said:

I actually rate Cornelius higher then Miller if I'm being honest.. 

I think they're at about the same level, but that Cornelius fits better into our back-3 than Miller does. If we're going to be playing the 3-5-2 moving forward, it's vital that the LCB and RCB have the pace to track back in transition since Davies and Buchanan both like to get forward. Miller doesn't quite have the pace that Cornelius does in my opinion, and would be much better suited as a Vitoria replacement in the middle than the locked-in starter at LCB. I'd love to see Cornelius hold that position down moving forward.

Edited March 29, 2023 by Wasp

[canadasoccer20]

23 minutes ago, Wasp said:

I think they're at about the same level, but that Cornelius fits better into our back-3 than Miller does. If we're going to be playing the 3-5-2 moving forward, it's vital that the LCB and RCB have the pace to track back in transition since Davies and Buchanan both like to get forward. Miller doesn't quite have the pace that Cornelius does in my opinion, and would be much better suited as a Vitoria replacement in the middle than the locked-in starter at LCB. I'd love to see Cornelius hold that position down moving forward.

Exactly. This is also just my opinion. I wouldn't flinch if anyone rates Miller over Cornelius as he has been a solid member of this team for years now. I just think Cornelius pace compared to Millers and as we saw in the World Cup against the top dogs, pace at the back is going to be critical in the next few years because I think we won't have trouble scoring goals.. it'll be keeping them out. 

[PegCityCam]

Top of the table😁

 

[Obinna]

12 hours ago, PegCityCam said:

Top of the table😁

 

Didn't watch but my app said he was in the middle of a back 3.

[PegCityCam]

I know there was talk of this being a lateral move for Derek but in terms of atmosphere and expectations this is levels above Panetolikos.

 

[archer21]

On 3/29/2023 at 1:41 PM, Wasp said:

I think they're at about the same level, but that Cornelius fits better into our back-3 than Miller does. If we're going to be playing the 3-5-2 moving forward, it's vital that the LCB and RCB have the pace to track back in transition since Davies and Buchanan both like to get forward. Miller doesn't quite have the pace that Cornelius does in my opinion, and would be much better suited as a Vitoria replacement in the middle than the locked-in starter at LCB. I'd love to see Cornelius hold that position down moving forward.

I don’t really agree with this take. Miller isn’t good enough in the air to play in the middle in my opinion. I don’t think Cornelius is any faster than Miller. If I want a fast player at LCB, it’s Kennedy. And I’d rather Cornelius in the middle than Miller. 

[BearcatSA]

25 minutes ago, archer21 said:

I don’t really agree with this take. Miller isn’t good enough in the air to play in the middle in my opinion. I don’t think Cornelius is any faster than Miller. If I want a fast player at LCB, it’s Kennedy. And I’d rather Cornelius in the middle than Miller. 

I thought Cornelius was solid in the middle of a back three during the Olympic qualifying tourney but afterwards couldn't make an impression back with the Caps and then was sent off to Greece for a two year loan spell, so I always cheer for his particular success.

[narduch]

Team of the week

[PegCityCam]

Rated 8.3 on fotmob and 7.4 on sofascore making him the best rated defender and third on the team on both sites.

[trc2014]

I see the “Miller and Waterman need to get out of Montreal” talks, but are they blameless in these blowout losses?  Honest question, didn’t see the games.