World Cup Qualifying Third Round Match Day 1: Canada Honduras - Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 - BMO Field, Toronto.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Here is their projection for game one starting lineup; leaving out Hoilett, Buchanan, Hutchinson

[CanadaFan123]

3 minutes ago, Joe MacCarthy said:

Here is their projection for game one starting lineup; leaving out Hoilett, Buchanan, Hutchinson

More like KJ’s projection. No offence to the other contributors but they all just sort of nodded to whatever he said and deferred to him.

Sort of a strange XI. 

[Joe MacCarthy]

1 minute ago, CanadaFan123 said:

More like KJ’s projection. No offence to the other contributors but they all just sort of nodded to whatever he said and deferred to him.

Yeah, who are they supposed to be when they're at home?

[BigMo]

31 minutes ago, Joe MacCarthy said:

 

Wow I’m surprised no one had Atiba starting. Our recent good form notwithstanding, seems like we’ve already forgot his quality. I would definitely start him at home.

[dyslexic nam]

5 minutes ago, BigMo said:

Wow I’m surprised no one had Atiba starting. Our recent good form notwithstanding, seems like we’ve already forgot his quality. I would definitely start him at home.

I have him starting  

[TOCanada115]

Haha, am I the only one yelling at my screen when they all agreed to Kennedy on the bench? Or Atiba not starting? I get the Laryea vs Buchanan debate (id personally go Buchanan), but it’s mind boggling to me that he’s isn’t the first CB on the team sheet.
 

And them debating Victoria or Henry… don’t even get me started 😂 

[Joe MacCarthy]

4 hours ago, VinceA said:

This interview is fantastic, Alistair is probably gonna be a media favourite going forward.

Have to say I never gave him much thought before but I think KJ is a pretty good interviewer.  He didn't get in the way and let the guy tell his story while keeping him on track.  That's what a good interviewer does.

Couple of things, I took from the interview.  Johnston speaks highly of Herdman and staff's coaching tactics and acumen and also one of the small details (maybe a big one) that I said Herdman would bring to the table when hired.

Herdman has got them singing the anthem (start at 26:30), I remember seeing it once and thinking they're taking it seriously and actually are pretty good, even better than the women (if that doesn't offend anybody)  Now I'm sure many of you think I'm crazy but I generally only talk about things I know a little bit about.  You'll never see me posting about tactics, in-game strategy or positioning or anything like that.  The reason is, I don't know anything, but I do know a little bit about sport psychology.

Why does Herdman care about the anthem?  I don't know what his reasons are but here are mine.  Most times people perform better when they are doing it for someone other than themselves. Some of the educational Outward Bound program is derived from this, IIRC.  It's much easier to let yourself down than somebody else who is counting on you. Ali was a great example of that, often fighting for a cause rather than himself and I'm am not one who deifies Ali, like many do.

When they sing the anthem, it is uncomfortable for some people.  It is uncomfortable to show an outward sign of patriotism (when victory has not yet been achieved) it is uncomfortable to sing in public if you're not a singer.  By singing the anthem, loud and proud, you are leaving the insecurities of your inner self and subjugating yourself to the group.  Group dynamics often gives us licence to do what we normally wouldn't do on our own.

I watched the Pan Am Games women's basketball game between Canada and the USA.  Just by their attitudes during the national anthem I could tell the USA was going to lose.  They had no cohesiveness at all, they had lost before the game was even started.  Now of course I'm not going to say this is true in all cases (see example of US Dream team), but it is a detail that shouldn't be overlooked and is a good part of a winning strategy.

I would love to hear them sing it in French to show what their French speaking teammates mean to them.

Edited September 1, 2021 by Joe MacCarthy

[Joe MacCarthy]

29 minutes ago, TOCanada115 said:

I get the Laryea vs Buchanan debate (id personally go Buchanan), but it’s mind boggling to me that he’s isn’t the first CB on the team sheet.

I like the idea of bringing in Buchanan as a shock troop at around 55 minutes.  And watching our games it just seems something transforms this team at 60-65 minutes, they adapt to the ongoing situation and step it up a level.

[Unnamed Trialist]

2 hours ago, Joe MacCarthy said:

 

So what is the point of even doing such a soft, unengaged chat? The questions are leading, the invitees have no opinions of their own, they all just nod their heads like school kids. Terrible. 

Apart from the fact that there are tons of decent questions they just missed. Principal: why not play Davies on the right side turning in? The whole point of his left side play at Bayern has him go deep on the wing and cross to the best target striker in the world. He hardly ever shoots on goal and scores rarely. Because left side for a dominant left foot means wide left. 

But it is my fault for thinking that just because some Jack does a chit-chat it will have any merit at all. Really bad, but I guess it's a true sign soccer is growing that you have to have analysis of this level too, because there's an audience for it. 

[Joe MacCarthy]

I won't say who because I don't know who these guys are anyway, but one of them was beyond useless and this is coming from a guy who has already admitted he doesn't know anything, me.

[Joe MacCarthy]

4 minutes ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

So what is the point of even doing such a soft, unengaged chat?

The point was it gave me a nice screen shot that we can kill time with for the next two days

[Cblake]

2 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

I have him starting  

I am going to be really interested to see how much time Larin and David spend together on the pitch?

[Unnamed Trialist]

What's cool about this thread, 48 hours before the match, is how it's cooled. New posters are appearing, which is always nice. But the regs have little to say. You can feel fans are nervous, at least that is the sense I get.

It's like a lull before the storm, very little of anything substantial being posted. Everyone has got their starting XIs out, beefs about the call-up, other extraneous comments, it's all pretty well been said--and exhausted. 

I get it. I will just take whatever Herdman puts on the pitch. Then I'll be happy if nothing terrible happens and we don't get behind the 8-ball, either too early or at all. It'd be nice to see us rise above and be what we've been promising for so long. I'd be thrilled if we win because then I can have a good three days until the next match. But I'm neither optimistic or the opposite. 

[Yoginess]

I’m not nervous. Not saying I won’t be, I will be a nervous wreck. Just not yet

[archer21]

6 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

So what is the point of even doing such a soft, unengaged chat? The questions are leading, the invitees have no opinions of their own, they all just nod their heads like school kids. Terrible. 

Apart from the fact that there are tons of decent questions they just missed. Principal: why not play Davies on the right side turning in? The whole point of his left side play at Bayern has him go deep on the wing and cross to the best target striker in the world. He hardly ever shoots on goal and scores rarely. Because left side for a dominant left foot means wide left. 

But it is my fault for thinking that just because some Jack does a chit-chat it will have any merit at all. Really bad, but I guess it's a true sign soccer is growing that you have to have analysis of this level too, because there's an audience for it. 

I take it you’re in favour of Davies on the right then? I could see it if we’re in 4 at the back but as a wing back, he clearly should be on the left. So I think it’s kind of a moot point if we’re playing 3 at the back.

[narduch]

6 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said:

What's cool about this thread, 48 hours before the match, is how it's cooled. New posters are appearing, which is always nice. But the regs have little to say. You can feel fans are nervous, at least that is the sense I get.

There is very little news to discuss. Probably a mix of the team being tight-lipped and the decimation of the sports media.

[ag futbol]

Out of curiosity, checking Ticket Master this morning, looks like this game is basically sold out (if I’m reading it right). Only 52 ticket left.
 

Is that what everyone else is seeing too? 
 

 

[Bdog]

40 minutes ago, ag futbol said:

Out of curiosity, checking Ticket Master this morning, looks like this game is basically sold out (if I’m reading it right). Only 52 ticket left.
 

Is that what everyone else is seeing too? 
 

 

I still see quite a few upper bowl tickets. 

Was the lower bowl even open for this one or did they all sell out?

[Miche]

3 minutes ago, Bdog said:

I still see quite a few upper bowl tickets. 

Was the lower bowl even open for this one or did they all sell out?

I'm only going by ticketmaster, so someone else will be more knowledgeable, but based on what appears to be socially-distanced seating, it does look like the entire lower is sold out. Still probably 1000 tickets still available in the upper though. Says capacity is 15k, so that's ~14k sold...?

[king1010]

50 minutes ago, ag futbol said:

Out of curiosity, checking Ticket Master this morning, looks like this game is basically sold out (if I’m reading it right). Only 52 ticket left.
 

Is that what everyone else is seeing too? 
 

 

Not sure where you’re seeing that. Looks to be close to 2000 tickets left. 

[Floortom]

Looks like 1,500 + tickets remaining. Probably around half of those will get sold in the next 36 hours so we should be pretty close to capacity for the match. 

[trc2014]

I haven’t seen one photo of David.  I know that they aren’t releasing much from camp, but you think they would release even one photo if he had made camp (ala how much they are focusing on Davies).

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

A very sincere thank you to @narduch @apbsmith and others who like the methodical way I start match threads but @Cblakewas well within his rights pounce on the building excitement and start one!

A few things I wanted to mention:

1) The Canada vs Honduras rivalry since 2004

The matches in 2004
https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2004/09/05/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/canada/honduras/238895/
↑(Atiba Hutchinson and Maynor Figueroa both played in this match!)

https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2004/10/09/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/honduras/canada/238899/
↑(Atiba Hutchinson played and scored in this match)

2005 friendly at Swanguard:
https://www.canadasoccer.com/national-teams/matches/national-team-match-past/?matchId=750

2008 WCQ matches:
https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2008/09/07/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/canada/honduras/652223/

https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2008/10/12/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/honduras/canada/652227/

2009 Gold Cup:
https://web.archive.org/web/20121003121632/http://concacaf.globalsportsmedia.com/page.php?sport=soccer&language_id=us&page=tournament&view=match&match_id=769376

2010 friendly:
https://www.canadasoccer.com/national-teams/matches/national-team-match-past/?matchId=962

2012 WCQ matches:
https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2012/06/13/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/canada/honduras/1228146/

https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2012/10/16/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/honduras/canada/1228170/
↑(The infamous 8-1)

2015 WCQ matches:
https://www.canadasoccer.com/national-teams/matches/national-team-match-past/?matchId=1273

2016 WCQ matches:
https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2016/09/02/nc-america/wc-qualifying-concacaf/honduras/canada/2155368/

2017 Gold Cup:
https://www.concacaf.com/en/gold-cup/game-details?matchid=393992

12 matches. Fun fact: Atiba Hutchinson has played in every single match we have played against Honduras since 2004 EXCEPT the last one (the 2017 Gold Cup).

 

2) Yellow cards

Nobody seems to know if they will carry over. As others have posted, there is nothing that says they won't (no matter how unfair that would be).

Vitória
Davies
Laryea
Kaye
Hoilett
Henry
Obviously Honduras, along with the other 4 teams that entered during this round, have no yellow card concerns.

 

3) The Honduran Squad
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras_national_football_team
https://twitter.com/FenafuthOrg/status/1429899788162580492
https://twitter.com/FenafuthOrg/status/1429903628110901249
https://twitter.com/FenafuthOrg/status/1429907547159506952
https://twitter.com/FenafuthOrg/status/1429911328857149442

No injury concerns to note. Some latecomers but I think their whole squad is there now.

 

4) The refs

The ref, as @narduch first posted, is Fernando Guerrero Ramírez.

https://ca.soccerway.com/referees/fernando-guerrero-ramirez/93092/

He was the ref for our U23 match against El Salvador. He seems OK but does like to give out yellow cards which could be a problem.

Karen Janett Díaz Medina was the lineswoman during our match against Aruba. As some may recall, Karen went full Karen on Mark-Anthony Kaye! So hopefully nothing worse happens in this match!  

Edited September 1, 2021 by Olympique_de_Marseille

[narduch]

12 minutes ago, trc2014 said:

I haven’t seen one photo of David.  I know that they aren’t releasing much from camp, but you think they would release even one photo if he had made camp (ala how much they are focusing on Davies).

I wonder if he got in late.

I noticed a news story that Navas was late arriving to the Costa Rica camp due to flight connection issues.

[Floortom]

David flew in Monday morning (he posted an IG story from his flight) and landed in the afternoon.

There havent been many pics or vids at all from this camp so far. I was worried that Eustaqiuo didnt make it due to all the transfer hoopla as I didnt see any pics of him but I'm assuming he's there