WCQ: Mexico vs Canada - Thursday, Oct 7, 9:40pm Eastern / 6:40pm Pacific - Mexico City

[Ruud]

3 hours ago, SpursFlu said:

I think Davies and David are on the bench. They're going to play for a draw and if the result is still up for grabs after 65, Herdman might go for it

Praying for this option!  Put Buchanan up top of you will.  Also Estaquio staring off would be my preference 

[Gian-Luca]

27 minutes ago, Floortom said:

Agreed - even Tesho who is just competent at best might have been useful at this point. God forbid something happens to David tomorrow or Brym has to play meaningful minutes

I thought Tesho actually played pretty well for us in the Gold Cup. In fact I recall Herdman citing as one of the factors in the late loss to Mexico in the semi-finals was that after Tesho had played pretty well for us, there wasn't really anyone left who could properly lead the line up top so we weren't able to keep the ball up the field as well very late when we were tiring, as the other three strikers we had brought to the tourney were all injured/suspended - Larin, Cav & Akinola

This makes Tesho's admission all the more puzzling to me. Okay, David is an upgrade on Tesho but the altitude makes it even more difficult and we are still without 75% of our top 4 strikers in that the same trio of Larin, Cav & Akinola are missing.  So Brym comes on to lead the line?

Our only win against the "big two" in Concacaf, the 2-0 triumph over the US two years ago came with David & Davies playing up top so maybe that is what he has in mind, but we had Cavallini & Hoilett come on to replace them off the bench, to great effect. Brym will be the guy coming on late to secure the win for us the way Cav & Junior did? Maybe it will be Millar & Shaffelburg, but that's a lot of trust in guys who haven't proven themselves internationally as yet (to be fair, some of them haven't had a chance to do so, neither Liam or Jacob were on the Olympic team) to secure a win in our toughest test in WCQ.

[Bison44]

Can we still get Tesho to pull an ole switcheroo and grab a flight to BMO if he is needed??  The pseudo MLS taxi squad??

[canadasoccer20]

David has to play the full 90 now imo and then if Cav and Larin can't go rest of the window we need to call up someone like Tesho

[narduch]

29 minutes ago, Bison44 said:

Can we still get Tesho to pull an ole switcheroo and grab a flight to BMO if he is needed??  The pseudo MLS taxi squad??

He's in Orlando. Would be pretty easy for him to join the team in Jamaica 

[Lansdude]

57 minutes ago, Ruud said:

Praying for this option!  Put Buchanan up top of you will.  Also Estaquio staring off would be my preference 

Read this as "Pat Buchanan" up top

[gigi riva]

23 hours ago, RS said:

Mexico’s much more of a Coke nation.

In more ways than one 

[The Beaver 2.0]

9 minutes ago, gigi riva said:

In more ways than one 

If you know what I'm saying. (wink wink).

[trc2014]

It feels like the attitude in the media has shifted to this being a do or die game.

[Gian-Luca]

9 minutes ago, trc2014 said:

It feels like the attitude in the media has shifted to this being a do or die game.

On what basis? This is the game we (and any team) would be most expected to lose.

[SthMelbRed]

38 minutes ago, Lansdude said:

Read this as "Pat Buchanan" up top

He only plays right wing, though. 😛 

[One American]

Did you all not send a doctor to look at Atiba's and Larin's "injuries?" They're very convenient to Besiktas. 

[One American]

I wouldn't start David and Davies. Panama is the key game in this cycle. Panama are going to be in two dogfights this cycle - away in El Salvador and against the USMNT at home. They don't have much depth, so by the third game, they will be tired. If Canada are healthy and not worn out by Azteca, then you should win that game. 

[king1010]

4 minutes ago, One American said:

Did you all not send a doctor to look at Atiba's and Larin's "injuries?" They're very convenient to Besiktas. 

Well considering they both missed the last couple league and champions league games I think you’re reaching. 

Edited October 7, 2021 by king1010

[One American]

Fair enough. 

[trc2014]

23 minutes ago, Gian-Luca said:

On what basis? This is the game we (and any team) would be most expected to lose.

Exactly, the media is acting like we are going to go all out and do everything we can to win and that we have a real shot at victory.  In reality this is a 1 game is a 14 game journey.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

2 hours ago, narduch said:

 

This is such B.S. I mean did they think he was going to play on the 10th for Minnesota? If he hasn't been in Mexico unannounced, then should have been from the get-go.

Everyone  knew Milan was in no fit state.

Herdman gonna Herdman....

[Bison44]

38 minutes ago, trc2014 said:

It feels like the attitude in the media has shifted to this being a do or die game.

Typical "hot take" sports channel crap.  We dont need to be first, we need to be top 3. We dont need to beat Mexico, but we damn sure need to beat Honduras,Panama, Jamaica, Costa rica or we;ll be exaclty where we were last time.  The guys already proved they can hang with Mexico...they put a heck of a scare into them at the gold cup.  Put another scare into them, keep it close maybe we get lucky...but a loss there doesnt finish us.  Losing to Panama at home or not taking advantage of Jamaica and get a road win might.  

[SthMelbRed]

39 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

This is such B.S. I mean did they think he was going to play on the 10th for Minnesota? If he hasn't been in Mexico unannounced, then should have been from the get-go.

Everyone  knew Milan was in no fit state.

Herdman gonna Herdman....

Honestly, this is a pretty weird thing to get fired up over. They gave the #1 guy, who's been a huge leader within this group, every chance to make it during this window. They almost certainly knew it was a long-shot, so they had another guy on standby. Milan ultimately couldn't make it, so DSC steps in. No sweat.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

3 minutes ago, SthMelbRed said:

Honestly, this is a pretty weird thing to get fired up over. They gave the #1 guy, who's been a huge leader within this group, every chance to make it during this window. They almost certainly knew it was a long-shot, so they had another guy on standby. Milan ultimately couldn't make it, so DSC steps in. No sweat.

Fair enough. If it had been for match #2 or #3 of this window that would be one thing but it always seemed far-fetched to summond a guy recovering from COVID so quickly.

It always seem more delusion than optimism.

Edited October 7, 2021 by Olympique_de_Marseille

[Redpunkfiddle]

1 hour ago, trc2014 said:

It feels like the attitude in the media has shifted to this being a do or die game.

Yah, right. The Mexican media, maybe!

[CanadaFan123]

7 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

Fair enough. If it had been for match #2 or #3 of this window that would be one thing but it always seemed far-fetched to summond a guy recovering from COVID so quickly.

It always seem more delusion than optimism.

How so? He tested positive September 21 so chances are he would be fine by now. 

[trc2014]

interesting that JH specifically highlights the Cornelius, Henry and Atiba back three vs. Jimenez at the 2019 gold cup.  I wonder if this means we may see Henry and Cornelius at least play in this game.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

4 minutes ago, CanadaFan123 said:

How so? He tested positive September 21 so chances are he would be fine by now. 

He was unwell enough to visit a hospital.

Was he really going to travel so far and still be at 100% by October 7th ? 

[Cblake]

7 minutes ago, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

He was unwell enough to visit a hospital.

Was he really going to travel so far and still be at 100% by October 7th ? 

Absolutely , its generally considered that you have recovered after 14 days but as we know there certainly can be some lasting affects that would make travel among other things that would not be the smartest thing to do. Hope he is doing ok.