WCQ: Third Round - Window 1 (September 2-8, 2021)

[Shway]

Match 1: vs Honduras 🇭🇳
📍 September 2nd  @ BMO Field, Toronto
🕗  8:00pm EST

Match 2: vs USA 🇺🇸
📍 September 5th @ Nissan Stadium, Nashville
🕗  8:00pm EST

Match 3: vs El Salvador
📍 September 8th @ BMO Field, Toronto
🕢 7:30pm EST

[Shway]

That promotional poster says it all, let's say it was made last year 🤷‍♂️.

[Shway]

Unofficial Squad status:

Out: Cavallini, Akinola 
Questionable: Larin, Johnston

Edited August 13, 2021 by Shway

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

33 minutes ago, Shway said:

Unofficial Squad status:

Out: Cavallini, Akinola 
Questionable: Larin

Larin is the Besiktas squad for tonight's game. 

Edit: Does not mean he will make the team sheet but he is close and the media has said they are hopeful. 

Edited August 13, 2021 by WestHamCanadianinOxford

[El Hombre]

Any guesses on when a squad will be announced?  Optimistic: August 20th.  Realistic: August 30th.

[Alex]

16 minutes ago, WestHamCanadianinOxford said:

Larin is the Besiktas squad for tonight's game. 

Edit: Does not mean he will make the team sheet but he is close and the media has said they are hopeful. 

I knew he got injured but I completely missed it, what was his injury? 

[Stryker911]

58 minutes ago, Shway said:

Unofficial Squad status:

Out: Cavallini, Akinola 
Questionable: Larin

Johnston hasn't played the last couple games for Nashville. He is still listed as questionable for this week. 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

25 minutes ago, El Hombre said:

Any guesses on when a squad will be announced?  Optimistic: August 20th.  Realistic: August 30th.

I was feeling optimistic and thinking we might get it the 29th ! That would be when the last players fly out.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

20 minutes ago, Alex said:

I knew he got injured but I completely missed it, what was his injury? 

Just the quad (I believe) one from the Gold Cup.

On the bench tonight, incidentally. 

Edited August 13, 2021 by WestHamCanadianinOxford

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Anybody want to try themselves at a who might play in which match?

Or who might make the 23-man squad for each match?

I could see how ZBG might get the call for match #1.

I've already said that I think Crépeau starts match #1.

I think Arfield starts match #2 but based on his crazy travel schedule, may not play in match #1 at all.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

11 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Anybody want to try themselves at a who might play in which match?

Or who might make the 23-man squad for each match?

I could see how ZBG might get the call for match #1.

I've already said that I think Crépeau starts match #1.

I think Arfield starts match #2 but based on his crazy travel schedule, may not play in match #1 at all.

Worth remembering Rangers, St Johnstone, Pacos, FC Basel and Red Star play in Europe on Thursday 26th of Aug so probably have league games on Sunday the 29th.  Red Star are the only one without a confirmed time right now. 

Pacos is at 8:30 at night my time it looks like.  

 

[prairiecanuck]

12 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Anybody want to try themselves at a who might play in which match?

Or who might make the 23-man squad for each match?

I could see how ZBG might get the call for match #1.

I've already said that I think Crépeau starts match #1.

I think Arfield starts match #2 but based on his crazy travel schedule, may not play in match #1 at all.

I've been thinking about this quite a bit too.  Taking 3 points in that first game would be so fantastic.  You want your best available for the US, but you can't take Honduras lightly.  

[Shway]

31 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Anybody want to try themselves at a who might play in which match?

Or who might make the 23-man squad for each match?

I could see how ZBG might get the call for match #1.

I've already said that I think Crépeau starts match #1.

I think Arfield starts match #2 but based on his crazy travel schedule, may not play in match #1 at all.

I’ll wait for the squads to be announced before I start doing the impossible.

Lets try naming the 26 man squad first. 

 

[El Hombre]

16 minutes ago, prairiecanuck said:

I've been thinking about this quite a bit too.  Taking 3 points in that first game would be so fantastic.  You want your best available for the US, but you can't take Honduras lightly.  

I think Honduras at home is a must-win.  I would go with the top team for that one.  US away would be nice, but not catastrophic if we didn't win, so I would rest some of the top guys.  El Salvador technically should be the easiest but also the second most important of the three, so try to come back hard on that one.

For the front seven: I think guys like Davies, David, Buchanon and Eustaquio can play all three.  Arfield, Hutch and Larin for the first, Osorio, Kaye and Hoilett for the second, and then some mixture for the third.

For the back three: Vitoria, Kennedy and Johnston (if fit) for the first, Kennedy, Henry and Miller for the second and then whoever's left standing for the third.

[narduch]

Good news is Davies starting today.

[WestHamCanadianinOxford]

6 minutes ago, El Hombre said:

I think Honduras at home is a must-win.  I would go with the top team for that one.  US away would be nice, but not catastrophic if we didn't win, so I would rest some of the top guys.  El Salvador technically should be the easiest but also the second most important of the three, so try to come back hard on that one.

For the front seven: I think guys like Davies, David, Buchanon and Eustaquio can play all three.  Arfield, Hutch and Larin for the first, Osorio, Kaye and Hoilett for the second, and then some mixture for the third.

For the back three: Vitoria, Kennedy and Johnston (if fit) for the first, Kennedy, Henry and Miller for the second and then whoever's left standing for the third.

I worry about Eustaquio, his club have not rested him yet and they are playing twice a week from the beginning of the season. 

[Obinna]

47 minutes ago, El Hombre said:

For the back three: Vitoria, Kennedy and Johnston (if fit) for the first, Kennedy, Henry and Miller for the second and then whoever's left standing for the third.

This should be a little concerning. We don't have an obvious alternative.

Here are some options:

- Henry

- Vitoria (with Miller or Kennedy in the middle)

- Miller or Kennedy (who'd be playing on their weak side).

- Sturing/Waterman/Bassong

- Convert ZBG

[archer21]

13 minutes ago, Obinna said:

This should be a little concerning. We don't have an obvious alternative.

Here are some options:

- Henry

- Vitoria (with Miller or Kennedy in the middle)

- Miller or Kennedy (who'd be playing on their weak side).

- Sturing/Waterman/Bassong

- Convert ZBG

Not a ton of really convincing options there. There’s still time so I’m pretty optimistic Johnston will play but if not, my guess is Henry at RCB or 4 at the back.

[Obinna]

Just now, archer21 said:

Not a ton of really convincing options there. There’s still time so I’m pretty optimistic Johnston will play but if not, my guess is Henry at RCB or 4 at the back.

I see it that way as well, it's just a shame we'd be tempted to shift formation over the loss of Johnston. The same thing happens on the left and we can replace Kennedy with Miller, or vice versa.

Maybe roll the dice on Justin Smith? Don't know a lot about him, but what I know is that he's in the match day squad for Nice and is a midfielder, but can play CB. I have never even seen so much as a highlight of him, but that profile suggests he'd be comfortable with the ball at RCB, which is what I want.

Then again, we are talking about a teenager against Honduras in the final round of WCQ? Pretty risky.

[PegCityCam]

Not to derail...but any news on major Canadian networks picking up any of this?

[narduch]

8 minutes ago, PegCityCam said:

Not to derail...but any news on major Canadian networks picking up any of this?

I doubt it.

[Obinna]

27 minutes ago, PegCityCam said:

Not to derail...but any news on major Canadian networks picking up any of this?

One Soccer

[trc2014]

What are your thoughts on the likelihood of points coming out of this window?  Note this is what is realistically most likely - I know we are all dreaming about 9 points.  These is my thoughts, in order of most likely; I don’t think #1 is any kind of guarantee.

1) 6 pts

2) 7 pts

3) 4 pts

4) 9 pts

5) 3 pts

[El Hombre]

3 minutes ago, trc2014 said:

What are your thoughts on the likelihood of points coming out of this window?  Note this is what is realistically most likely - I know we are all dreaming about 9 points.  These is my thoughts, in order of most likely; I don’t think #1 is any kind of guarantee.

1) 6 pts

2) 7 pts

3) 4 pts

4) 9 pts

5) 3 pts

12 points.

After watching the systemic demolishing of Honduras, US and El Salvador, Panama will forfeit the October 13th game.

[narduch]

How do we use Hutchinson?

I'm thinking we start him v. USA only.