Should Christine Sinclair retire from the CWNT?

[Robert]

Should Christine Sinclair retire from the Canadian Women's National Team? With John Herdman deciding to jump ship to the Men's National Team, and having reached the ripe old age of 34, does Sincy still have it in her to adjust to a new coach for one more kick at the World Cup, or should she make way now for the inevitable coming of the next generation? We may already have witnessed the end of an era. If so, thanks for everything Christine. You have been the brightest Canadian soccer star since I came to Canada in 1969.

[tc-in-bc]

No. Christine Sinclair was a model of consistency in 2017 -- only held pointless in 4 of her 12 appearances for Canada.  She was the CANWNT's  second highest scorer in 2017 (  essentially one goal behind Beckie ) and the second highest Canadian scorer in the NWSL ( essentially one goal behind Leon ). Christine Sinclair's  recent form is still quite high for both club and country and consequently, does not merit retirement just yet.

[rkomar]

I agree with tc-in-bc.  Not only does she still contribute with her play, she's a great captain for the newcomers to follow.  She can retire when she's not good enough to make the team anymore, which is still in the future.

[Scorpion26]

How far is she from breaking the goal record? Would love for her to have that record and since she can still play at high level can't why she should stop...

[MrsC]

14 hours ago, tc-in-bc said:

No. Christine Sinclair was a model of consistency in 2017 -- only held pointless in 4 of her 12 appearances for Canada.  She was the CANWNT's  second highest scorer in 2017 (  essentially one goal behind Beckie ) and the second highest Canadian scorer in the NWSL ( essentially one goal behind Leon ). Christine Sinclair's  recent form is still quite high for both club and country and consequently, does not merit retirement just yet.

Agreed.  And beyond the NWSL goal tally, Sinclair was pivotal in the Portland Thorns championship run.  A large number of their goals were either scored by Sinc, or first/second assisted by her. 

[toontownman]

Is like to see her stay and go for the record. Main points are: if she still contributes on/off the field and still feels the passion and fitness then go as long as you can. 

Think breaking the record is unlikely but not impossible. She is around 13-16 goals behind I thought. Could be way out to lunch though.  

[Robert]

#	Name	Position	National team	Intl goals	Caps	Goals per match	Active years	Date of 100th goal
1	Abby Wambach	Forward	United States	184	256	0.72	2001–2015	2009-07-20
2	Christine Sinclair	Forward/­Midfielder	Canada	169	253	0.66	2000–	2010-02-20
3	Mia Hamm	Forward	United States	158	275	0.57	1987–2004	1998-09-18
4	Kristine Lilly	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	130	352	0.36	1987–2010	2004-10-03
5	Birgit Prinz	Forward	Germany	128	214	0.59	1994–2011	2006-10-25
6	Julie Fleeting	Forward	Scotland	116	120	0.97	1996–2011	2007-10-27
7	Patrizia Panico	Forward	Italy	110	204	0.54	1996–	2014-03-10
8	Elisabetta Vignotto	Forward	Italy	107	110	0.97	1970–1989	unknown
9	Sun Wen	Forward	China PR	106	152	0.69	1990–2006	unknown
10	Michelle Akers	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	105	153	0.68	1985–2000	1999-01-30
11	Carolina Morace	Forward	Italy	105	153	0.68	1978–1997	unknown
12	Han Duan	Forward	China PR	101	188	0.53	2000–2011	unknown
13	Portia Modise	Forward	South Africa	101	124	0.81	2000–2015	2014-10-18
14	Marta	Forward	Brazil	105	106	0.99	2002–	2015-12-13
15	Tiffeny Milbrett	Forward	United States	100	204	0.49	1991–2006	2005-7-10

Edited January 20, 2018 by Robert

[MtlMario]

She averaged about 10 goals a year, so she would have to play at least 2 more years to have a chance. But boy it would feel great to pass Wambach and be # 1.

[Patrick]

Hell No!   While I think everyone knows she's not the player she used to be, both because she's older and because the competition is just so much better, she's still one of the best in the world.  I don't know her at all but I suspect she's a lot more than goal scoring machine, she's also the captain, and a leader in the room.  There are a lot of very good prospects coming in to the team, Huitema just to name one, and having a presence and an institutional memory like Sinclair around is an incredible tool to mould the next generation.  I believe she will know when to hang the boots up but she has a lot of miles left in the tank, in my opinion.  When she's ready to go, she should go, but not a moment before.

[Robert]

On 1/20/2018 at 1:29 PM, Robert said:

#	Name	Position	National team	Intl goals	Caps	Goals per match	Active years	Date of 100th goal
1	Abby Wambach	Forward	United States	184	256	0.72	2001–2015	2009-07-20
2	Christine Sinclair	Forward/­Midfielder	Canada	169	253	0.66	2000–	2010-02-20
3	Mia Hamm	Forward	United States	158	275	0.57	1987–2004	1998-09-18
4	Kristine Lilly	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	130	352	0.36	1987–2010	2004-10-03
5	Birgit Prinz	Forward	Germany	128	214	0.59	1994–2011	2006-10-25
6	Julie Fleeting	Forward	Scotland	116	120	0.97	1996–2011	2007-10-27
7	Patrizia Panico	Forward	Italy	110	204	0.54	1996–	2014-03-10
8	Elisabetta Vignotto	Forward	Italy	107	110	0.97	1970–1989	unknown
9	Sun Wen	Forward	China PR	106	152	0.69	1990–2006	unknown
10	Michelle Akers	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	105	153	0.68	1985–2000	1999-01-30
11	Carolina Morace	Forward	Italy	105	153	0.68	1978–1997	unknown
12	Han Duan	Forward	China PR	101	188	0.53	2000–2011	unknown
13	Portia Modise	Forward	South Africa	101	124	0.81	2000–2015	2014-10-18
14	Marta	Forward	Brazil	105	106	0.99	2002–	2015-12-13
15	Tiffeny Milbrett	Forward	United States	100	204	0.49	1991–2006	2005-7-10

UPDATE

 

#	Name	Position	National team	Intl goals	Caps	Goals per match	Active years	Date of 100th goal
1	Abby Wambach	Forward	United States	184	256	0.72	2001–2015	2009-07-20[1]
2	Christine Sinclair	Forward/­Midfielder	Canada	177	268	0.66	2000–	2010-02-20[3]
3	Mia Hamm	Forward	United States	158	275	0.57	1987–2004	1998-09-18[4]
4	Kristine Lilly	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	130	352	0.36	1987–2010	2004-10-03[5]
5	Birgit Prinz	Forward	Germany	128	214	0.59	1994–2011	2006-10-25[6]
6	Julie Fleeting	Forward	Scotland	116	120	0.97	1996–2011	2007-10-27[7]
7	Patrizia Panico	Forward	Italy	110	204	0.54	1996–2014	2014-03-10[8]
8	Marta4	Forward	Brazil	110	120	0.97	2002–	2015-12-13[9]
9	Elisabetta Vignotto1	Forward	Italy	107	110	0.97	1970–1989	unknown
10	Sun Wen	Forward	China PR	106	152	0.69	1990–2006	unknown
11	Carli Lloyd	Midfielder	United States	105	262	0.40	2005–	2018-04-08[10]
12	Michelle Akers	Forward/­Midfielder	United States	105	153	0.68	1985–2000	1999-01-30[11]
13	Carolina Morace2	Forward	Italy	105	153	0.68	1978–1997	unknown
14	Han Duan3	Forward	China PR	101	188	0.53	2000–2011	unknown[12][13][14][15]
15	Portia Modise	Forward	South Africa	101	124	0.81	2000–2015	2014-10-18[16]
16	Tiffeny Milbrett	Forward	United States	100	204	0.49	1991–2006	2005-7-10[17]

[Robert]

I think BC Place should be renamed Christine Sinclair's Place!

Edited December 4, 2018 by Robert

[Vic]

Someone once did an analysis of Abby Wambach's goals and I noticed she only had 16 PK's, thought it would have been higher but guess she was down the pecking order in who takes for the US. Also that she only had three in extra or additional time and that she scored in half her games played and over 40% with her head:
https://www.ussoccer.com/womens-national-team/thanks-abby/151216-wambach-goal-facts

[Yoho]

They don't ask how, just how many.

[red card]

In Guardian's countdown to top 100 woman players, Sinclair is ranked 16th. Buchanan is only other Canadian player on the list so far at 83.

Sinclair continues to defy the odds and it is no surprise that, even at 35, she continues to lurk around the top end of the rankings. Nine goals and six assists ensured she was at the heart of everything good the defending NWSL champions Portland Thorns did in 2018, even if it meant ending the year as runners-up on this occasion. Canada’s captain also had another highly influential year for her country, scoring eight goals as they qualified for the World Cup and Sinclair personally closed in on Abby Wambach’s all-time international record

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/dec/04/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2018

 

Edited December 6, 2018 by red card

[Robert]

Perhaps a more significant record that Christine Sinclair is chasing, is the number of goals scored at World Cup Finals, as these are goals scored at the highest level of competition:

Players with at least 9 goals at the FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

Rank	Player	Team	Goals scored	Matches played	Goal average	Tournaments
1	Marta	Brazil	15	17	0.88	2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
2	Birgit Prinz	Germany	14	24	0.58	1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, (2011)
	Abby Wambach	United States	14	25	0.56	2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
4	Michelle Akers	United States	12	13	0.92	1991, (1995), 1999
5	Sun Wen	China PR	11	20	0.55	1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
	Bettina Wiegmann	Germany	11	22	0.50	1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
7	Ann Kristin Aarønes	Norway	10	11	0.90	1995, 1999
	Heidi Mohr	Germany	10	12	0.83	1991, 1995
9	Christine Sinclair	Canada	9	17	0.53	2003, 2007, 2011, 2015
	Linda Medalen	Norway	9	17	0.53	1991, 1995, 1999
	Hege Riise	Norway	9	22	0.41	1991, 1995, 1999, (2003)

Edited December 7, 2018 by Robert

[The Ref]

Sinclair will continue to excel now that Herdman is gone.

 

[Robert]

1 hour ago, The Ref said:

Sinclair will continue to excel now that Herdman is gone.

 

It's one thing coaching the Women to bronze medal success in a 12-team Olympic tournament (twice), and quite something else trying to do the same thing in a 24-team World Cup Final. However, that Herdman mis-perception will become apparent even to the many who have been falsely perceived, once the Canadian men begin their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. Like you pointed out, Sinc's brilliance will continue to shine regardless of who's coaching. Sadly, most Canadians will not truly appreciate what Christine has done for Canadian soccer until after she retires, and the Canadian women start to get the same results they did prior to the Women's World Cup Final in 2003 (and the U-19 World Cup in 2002).

Edited December 7, 2018 by Robert

[Robert]

Just to make it perfectly clear. It wasn't Herdman who made Christine look good. It was Christine who made Herdman look good!

And Christine will prove Herdman's jumping ship a big mistake on his part.

Here's to a favourable draw for Canada tomorrow!

Edited December 7, 2018 by Robert

[JamboAl]

This has zilch to do with Herdman.  He went to a job that was the next challenge for him personally. Sinclair is still a decent contributor but this WC should be her swan song. 

[BearcatSA]

On ‎12‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 11:53 AM, red card said:

In Guardian's countdown to top 100 woman players, Sinclair is ranked 16th. Buchanan is only other Canadian player on the list so far at 83.

Sinclair continues to defy the odds and it is no surprise that, even at 35, she continues to lurk around the top end of the rankings. Nine goals and six assists ensured she was at the heart of everything good the defending NWSL champions Portland Thorns did in 2018, even if it meant ending the year as runners-up on this occasion. Canada’s captain also had another highly influential year for her country, scoring eight goals as they qualified for the World Cup and Sinclair personally closed in on Abby Wambach’s all-time international record

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2018/dec/04/the-100-best-female-footballers-in-the-world-2018

 

We're the fifth ranked team in the world and, according to this particular author and article, we only have two players in the top 100?  Interesting.

 

[Robert]

1 hour ago, JamboAl said:

This has zilch to do with Herdman.  He went to a job that was the next challenge for him personally. Sinclair is still a decent contributor but this WC should be her swan song. 

Herdman's next challenge could very well prove to be his swan song as well, as his achievements with the CWNT will be difficult to replicate with the CMNT. With the exception of Bob Lenarduzzi, coaching the CMNT has been a graveyard for every coach who has had the honour to hold that position.

Edited December 9, 2018 by Robert

[red card]

1 hour ago, BearcatSA said:

We're the fifth ranked team in the world and, according to this particular author and article, we only have two players in the top 100?  Interesting.

 

It is a bit jarring but only Ashley Lawrence would have an argument to be on the list. Our sum of the parts has been better than our individual parts. Credit goes to Herdman.

And this isn't one author's view but the top 100 is based on votes by players, coaches and journalists from around the world - including two Canadian journos. 

[The Ref]

2 hours ago, BearcatSA said:

We're the fifth ranked team in the world and, according to this particular author and article, we only have two players in the top 100?  Interesting.

 

Maybe it is due to lack of media exposure for our players.

[red card]

Cathal Kelly of the Globe just put out a piece discussing the top 100 ranking and no discussion about Canada winning next year outside of Canada. He concludes 

The seventh-ranked Dutch had six players on the list. The sixth-ranked Australians had five.

If the Guardian’s judges are to be believed, Canada – working with one proper striker well into athletic middle age, the 10th-best defender in the world and a collection of backup staff ranking between 101 and infinity – has managed to regularly plant itself among the very best.

For this to be true, Canada must have the greatest coaching staff on the planet, in any sport. Life has handed them lemons and they’ve made Dom Perignon.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-the-canadian-womens-soccer-team-and-its-perpetual-holding-pattern/?cmpid=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Bison44]

I cant believe I gave Cathal a click.  He has had so many head up his ass articles I should have known not to take the bait.  But whats the old saying, any press is good press?  

On one hand I dont really care what the Guardian's experts have to say, but for Cathal to say Canads will be in the WC championship game is just as bad.  Quater finals would be great, semis would be  out of this world.