Should We Be Concerned About our Backline?

[TGAA_Star]

2 hours ago, MauditYvon said:

He goes to Celtic. That’s my wish. Miller to Rangers.

That is only if they have great showings in Qatar because if they do they can secure big money moves to said clubs because every club team pays attention to players at World Cups 

[MauditYvon]

What is big money move for you, especially for the buying side? Because Championship teams were ready to put 4 millions £+ for Koné.

[DeRo_Is_King]

It would be disingenuous to say I'm not concerned, but that's only because we have a tough group stage. If we had a world-class CB (i.e. Tomori), I'd feel way better. 

Edited September 20, 2022 by DeRo_Is_King

[Jack1997]

Davies would be our best CB if he was a CB which is a bit reassuring as he is very underrated defensively and I’d assume he basically plays the role he does for Bayern with us at the World Cup, Just run up and down the pitch and play offense and defense.

[kacbru]

10 hours ago, The Pessimist said:

We should definitely be concerned. I'm basing this on what I saw during the last 10 minutes of the Mexico game, where they almost tied the game, and also during the Costa Rica away game where Costa Rica repeatedly beat us to headed crosses into the box.

We seem to have a problem dealing with crossed balls. Steven Vitoria seems to be the only defender that we can rely on to get his head on the ball in tight situations. The rest of our defenders need to step up this part of their game if we want to have any success at the WC.

I agree - it is easy to forget that some of our wins and draws could easily have been draws or losses without the heroics of Borjan and Crepeau.  That's the difference between topping the group and battling it out for the playoff spot.

[costarg]

9 hours ago, WestHamCanadianinOxford said:

For a couple of seconds, I was like:  What did he have to swagger about?  The '64 Civil Rights Act?

 

Yes I am getting old, used to be a political nerd and have not paid attention to basketball (right?) in a long while.

 You have it right, I did mean Lyndon B Johnson.  Legend (or fact) says he had a foot long in his pants and was very open and eager about showing it.  He'd use it to intimidate others.  That's how I'd feel if Tomori and Cristante were leading our back line.

[GasPed]

2 minutes ago, costarg said:

 You have it right, I did mean Lyndon B Johnson.  Legend (or fact) says he had a foot long in his pants and was very open and eager about showing it.  He'd use it to intimidate others.  That's how I'd feel if Tomori and Cristante were leading our back line.

Gotta be honest, if that's what you would do with a first-rate backline, I'm suddenly very ok with Waterman and Vitoria.

[TGAA_Star]

Plus to see Canada's backline trying to hold up against Belgium, Croatia or even that of Morocco; let's just say Canada is in for a rough showing. I mean with Belgium they outclass Canada in almost every way offensively and defensively too. Their goalkeeper Courtois is still elite.

Croatia still have that midfield maestro Luka Modric but also yeah their team is getting somewhat older but their young talent they have coming in rivals that of Canada. But their goalkeeping situation is pretty suspect. But I still would have to give them the edge over Canada but just barely.

 

Morocco...being an African-Canadian myself I know what Morocco is capable of. Defensively they play pretty tight at the back but with tactics like that, they play similarly to a team like let's say Switzerland in that kind of regard. But also their midfield is pretty good too but up front they definitely look somewhat suspect. But only somewhat. But even then would I give Canada a chance against Morocco? Yeah I would 

 

But also Canada too have some weaknesses not just at the back but also within midfield.

[GasPed]

7 hours ago, TGAA_Star said:

Croatia still have that midfield maestro Luka Modric but also yeah their team is getting somewhat older but their young talent they have coming in rivals that of Canada. But their goalkeeping situation is pretty suspect. But I still would have to give them the edge over Canada but just barely.

As much as Modric worries me, it's Brozovic/Kovacic/Kramaric that worry me far more.  They are all midfield monsters in their own right and in their prime.  We're not even close to that level in our midfield.  Our forwards are better, and our defenders are actually not much worse than theirs.  But midfield is no contest. 

Edited September 21, 2022 by GasPed

[TGAA_Star]

3 minutes ago, GasPed said:

Gotta be honest - as much as Modric worries me, it's Brozovic/Kovacic/Kramaric that worry me far more.  They are all midfield monsters in their own right and in their prime.  We're not even close to that level in our midfield.  Our forwards are better, and our defenders are actually not much worse than theirs.  But midfield is no contest. 

Exactly and that is what I think it will boil down to and Canada faces Croatia 2nd before they face Morocco in the 3rd and final group game

[canuckgbp]

Yes. 
 

Major questions ahead of Copa America and the World Cup. 

[Approve My Account Pls]

We're so screwed when Vitoria decides to hang them up

[sose]

Kennedy is not it.. looks too shaky. He might be ok on the left side of a back 3 but he's not the man for the middle of a back 3.

 

Without Vitoria in there our back like is like the parted red sea.

[canadasoccer20]

100000% our defenders have been and at this point will always be our weakest point. I have never rated Kamal Miller and there is a reason why Miller has not made a move to Europe yet and a reason why Kennedy plays on a 2nd league German team that got relegated this year. There is levels to having a quality international team and starting defenders in a big game with resumes like that make it so evident the results will turn out like they did tonight.

The things I would do to have Tomori in a Canadian jersey....

[GasPed]

25 minutes ago, canadasoccer20 said:

100000% our defenders have been and at this point will always be our weakest point. I have never rated Kamal Miller and there is a reason why Miller has not made a move to Europe yet and a reason why Kennedy plays on a 2nd league German team that got relegated this year. There is levels to having a quality international team and starting defenders in a big game with resumes like that make it so evident the results will turn out like they did tonight.

The things I would do to have Tomori in a Canadian jersey....

Depends how far back you go.  40 years ago, all we had were defenders.

[Stoppage Time]

Yes, absolutely our back line is shaky overall. Is it time for Davies to play LB or LWB again?

It would good to see Zator at the GC if only for comparison purposes.

[MauditYvon]

Cornelius is a big piece missing, and Waterman should get a call.

[Grandbloke]

8 minutes ago, MauditYvon said:

Cornelius is a big piece missing, and Waterman should get a call.

Hope we see at least 3 of Waterman, Hiebert, Zator and Bombito at the Gold Cup.

[Norrin Radd]

I want to get a good look at some of our new MLS defenders at the Gold Cup.

McGraw looks like he might be an option to take Vitoria's place in the middle of the back three. I don't think any of our other defenders are adequate in that role. I hope to see him at the Gold Cup.

Bombito looks very athletic and might be a great option in the near future but he needs at least a couple of dozen more professional games under his belt before he's ready.

Edited June 19, 2023 by Norrin Radd

[SirBobsaget]

YES!!! Its insane the imbalance, everywhere else is euro top 5 quality then on defense we are at MLS starter but not MLS DP/TAM quality. So average MLS which would not get a sniff at USMNT

[toontownman]

I assume that is a big reason for bringing in Shaw and Neville. 

There is no big secret or surprise though, we are decades behind the states for progression, growth and investment into youth development and national leagues. It's a long game but we will get there provided we find ways to keep growing and sustaining momentum.

Definitely ready to see some new blood in McGraw and Bombito. Heibert too.

[gigi riva]

Our Backline Has been our Achilles Heel even before WC Qualifying  its a area we need to improve in 

[Grandbloke]

35 minutes ago, Norrin Radd said:

McGraw looks like he might be an option to take Vitoria's place in the middle of the back three.

But will he play for us? Correct me if I’m mistaken, but he was born in the USA and has always lived there.

[Dominic94]

1 hour ago, toontownman said:

I assume that is a big reason for bringing in Shaw and Neville. 

There is no big secret or surprise though, we are decades behind the states for progression, growth and investment into youth development and national leagues. It's a long game but we will get there provided we find ways to keep growing and sustaining momentum.

Definitely ready to see some new blood in McGraw and Bombito. Heibert too.

We are hundreds of millions behind them, look how many high end academies and facilities they have. We have not invested in a single one here.

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

4 hours ago, Dominic94 said:

We are hundreds of millions behind them, look how many high end academies and facilities they have. We have not invested in a single one here.

Downsview and the facility the Whitecaps have? Not sure what CF Montreal's setup is these days. It's certainly true that there are many more facilities like that in the USA but is that surprising when they have a much larger population?

People are focusing a lot on what happens when Vitoria leaves the scene but the same question mark also hangs over goalkeeping post-Borjan who was already looking like he was slightly past his sell by date at this level in Qatar and no longer appears to be part of Red Star Belgrade's plans for next season. The octagon may well have been the peak on CMNT performance for a few years in other words until those two issues get resolved because the options after those guys may not be able to cut it at this level when teams like the USA and Mexico are the opponent.

Beyond that I think people need to be realistic where players like Waterman and Zator are concerned. They are more likely to have been receiving callups because they are viewed as the best available options to fill out the roster rather than because they are viewed as somebody who you would genuinely want out there in a game like this with a trophy on the line.

Edited June 19, 2023 by Ozzie_the_parrot