CNL Play-In for Copa America: Canada vs Trinidad & Tobago - Saturday, March 23, 2024 - Frisco (greater Dallas), Texas

[Canuckia]

1 hour ago, Vasi said:

Does anyone know when the game will be played? 

Ticket says 3pm local(CT) which is 4pm ET

[Obinna]

I am sure it's way too early for this still, but can't help myself with the recent developments:

As you can see, my 3 chances are Bair for Rowe, Corbeanu for Hoilett, and Sirois for Borjan. I just love the idea for finally rewarding Bair for his goals. Seems he's finally turned the corner. I know we're gonna go Cavallini, the vet playing at a higher level, but I would love to see Theo get a chance. And speaking of Theos, I really want to see Corbeanu come in after making this La Liga move. It's more likely IMO than Bair coming in, or Siros for Borjan, which is overdue. 

My 23 for Dallas vs T&T

GK - Crepeau/Portland

GK - St. Clair/Minnesota

GK - Sirois/Montreal

D - Johnston/Celtic

D - Laryea/Forest?

D - Miller/Portland

D - Cornelius/Malmo

D - LDF/Fulham

D - Vitoria/Chaves

D - Davies/Bayern

D - Adekugbe/Vancouver

M - Eustaquio/Porto

M - Kone/Watford

M - Choniere/Montreal

M - Ahmed/Vancouver

M - Piette/Montreal

M - Osorio/Toronto

F - Buchanan/Inter Milan

F - David/Lille

F - Larin/Mallorca

F - Millar/Preston

F - Bair/Motherwell

F - Corbeanu/Granada

 

[Corazon]

For our 3rd or 4th option at attack and for a 1-off game in the US, I can't imagine Cavallini not being included as he's based locally and also playing consistently.

[Canuckia]

58 minutes ago, Obinna said:

I am sure it's way too early for this still, but can't help myself with the recent developments:

As you can see, my 3 chances are Bair for Rowe, Corbeanu for Hoilett, and Sirois for Borjan. I just love the idea for finally rewarding Bair for his goals. Seems he's finally turned the corner. I know we're gonna go Cavallini, the vet playing at a higher level, but I would love to see Theo get a chance. And speaking of Theos, I really want to see Corbeanu come in after making this La Liga move. It's more likely IMO than Bair coming in, or Siros for Borjan, which is overdue. 

My 23 for Dallas vs T&T

GK - Crepeau/Portland

GK - St. Clair/Minnesota

GK - Sirois/Montreal

D - Johnston/Celtic

D - Laryea/Forest?

D - Miller/Portland

D - Cornelius/Malmo

D - LDF/Fulham

D - Vitoria/Chaves

D - Davies/Bayern

D - Adekugbe/Vancouver

M - Eustaquio/Porto

M - Kone/Watford

M - Choniere/Montreal

M - Ahmed/Vancouver

M - Piette/Montreal

M - Osorio/Toronto

F - Buchanan/Inter Milan

F - David/Lille

F - Larin/Mallorca

F - Millar/Preston

F - Bair/Motherwell

F - Corbeanu/Granada

 

Sounds great to me!

[Bigandy]

4 hours ago, Obinna said:

I am sure it's way too early for this still, but can't help myself with the recent developments:

As you can see, my 3 chances are Bair for Rowe, Corbeanu for Hoilett, and Sirois for Borjan. I just love the idea for finally rewarding Bair for his goals. Seems he's finally turned the corner. I know we're gonna go Cavallini, the vet playing at a higher level, but I would love to see Theo get a chance. And speaking of Theos, I really want to see Corbeanu come in after making this La Liga move. It's more likely IMO than Bair coming in, or Siros for Borjan, which is overdue. 

My 23 for Dallas vs T&T

GK - Crepeau/Portland

GK - St. Clair/Minnesota

GK - Sirois/Montreal

D - Johnston/Celtic

D - Laryea/Forest?

D - Miller/Portland

D - Cornelius/Malmo

D - LDF/Fulham

D - Vitoria/Chaves

D - Davies/Bayern

D - Adekugbe/Vancouver

M - Eustaquio/Porto

M - Kone/Watford

M - Choniere/Montreal

M - Ahmed/Vancouver

M - Piette/Montreal

M - Osorio/Toronto

F - Buchanan/Inter Milan

F - David/Lille

F - Larin/Mallorca

F - Millar/Preston

F - Bair/Motherwell

F - Corbeanu/Granada

 

I may be in the minority here, but I dont see cav as an automatic pick from biello. Obv biello is low risk so cav would be a logical choice but I dont feel cav has the same level of commitment towards or from CMNT. 

Just a gut feeling but if corbeanu gets minutes then he gets called and bair, JRR, Brym, Jebbo?, and cav all compete for a spot. 

[CanadaFan123]

3 hours ago, Corazon said:

For our 3rd or 4th option at attack and for a 1-off game in the US, I can't imagine Cavallini not being included as he's based locally and also playing consistently.

Agree. Bair over Cavallini would be crazy unless Bair goes off. 

[Watchmen]

7 hours ago, Obinna said:

I am sure it's way too early for this still, but can't help myself with the recent developments:

As you can see, my 3 chances are Bair for Rowe, Corbeanu for Hoilett, and Sirois for Borjan. I just love the idea for finally rewarding Bair for his goals. Seems he's finally turned the corner. I know we're gonna go Cavallini, the vet playing at a higher level, but I would love to see Theo get a chance. And speaking of Theos, I really want to see Corbeanu come in after making this La Liga move. It's more likely IMO than Bair coming in, or Siros for Borjan, which is overdue. 

My 23 for Dallas vs T&T

GK - Crepeau/Portland

GK - St. Clair/Minnesota

GK - Sirois/Montreal

D - Johnston/Celtic

D - Laryea/Forest?

D - Miller/Portland

D - Cornelius/Malmo

D - LDF/Fulham

D - Vitoria/Chaves

D - Davies/Bayern

D - Adekugbe/Vancouver

M - Eustaquio/Porto

M - Kone/Watford

M - Choniere/Montreal

M - Ahmed/Vancouver

M - Piette/Montreal

M - Osorio/Toronto

F - Buchanan/Inter Milan

F - David/Lille

F - Larin/Mallorca

F - Millar/Preston

F - Bair/Motherwell

F - Corbeanu/Granada

 

I would not count on Ahmed being healthy/in game shape by that time. And we'll have to see with Adekugbe, as he hasn't trained in the preseason so far.

[Obinna]

17 minutes ago, Watchmen said:

I would not count on Ahmed being healthy/in game shape by that time. And we'll have to see with Adekugbe, as he hasn't trained in the preseason so far.

That would suck for Ahmed, but it would open the door for Fraser, who is literally on location. Fraser might even get selected regardless of what's going on with Ahmed. I guess Paton would be an option too, but in this one off game I don't see him coming in. Whatever though, as long as we don't see Kaye. Perhaps MAK is not done forever, but he's the first name on the last selection I would rotate out. 

[Obinna]

Speaking of Dallas, when does Sali become eligible again? I think it's fall of this year, so too soon for this camp, but I wonder if we can low key invite him to meet the group or something. At least get him free access to the match or something. 

[BearcatSA]

14 hours ago, Watchmen said:

And we'll have to see with Adekugbe, as he hasn't trained in the preseason so far.

Seems to be a concerning issue since he returned to the club.  Has he inherited the curse of Gutierrez?

[BrennanFan]

18 hours ago, Obinna said:

Speaking of Dallas, when does Sali become eligible again? I think it's fall of this year, so too soon for this camp, but I wonder if we can low key invite him to meet the group or something. At least get him free access to the match or something. 

"a player is still eligible to switch national teams, regardless of age, if they have only represented their original country in no more than three matches, none of which were during the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or of any confederations’ competitions. In addition, at least three years must have elapsed since the player last represented their original national team."

Sali will be free to represent Canada on Nov 14, 2024 as long as he does not accept any senior Romania call ups between now and then.

[johnyb]

21 hours ago, CanadaFan123 said:

Agree. Bair over Cavallini would be crazy unless Bair goes off. 

Bair IS going off!!

[johnyb]

On 2/2/2024 at 12:30 PM, Obinna said:

I am sure it's way too early for this still, but can't help myself with the recent developments:

As you can see, my 3 chances are Bair for Rowe, Corbeanu for Hoilett, and Sirois for Borjan. I just love the idea for finally rewarding Bair for his goals. Seems he's finally turned the corner. I know we're gonna go Cavallini, the vet playing at a higher level, but I would love to see Theo get a chance. And speaking of Theos, I really want to see Corbeanu come in after making this La Liga move. It's more likely IMO than Bair coming in, or Siros for Borjan, which is overdue. 

My 23 for Dallas vs T&T

GK - Crepeau/Portland

GK - St. Clair/Minnesota

GK - Sirois/Montreal

D - Johnston/Celtic

D - Laryea/Forest?

D - Miller/Portland

D - Cornelius/Malmo

D - LDF/Fulham

D - Vitoria/Chaves

D - Davies/Bayern

D - Adekugbe/Vancouver

M - Eustaquio/Porto

M - Kone/Watford

M - Choniere/Montreal

M - Ahmed/Vancouver

M - Piette/Montreal

M - Osorio/Toronto

F - Buchanan/Inter Milan

F - David/Lille

F - Larin/Mallorca

F - Millar/Preston

F - Bair/Motherwell

F - Corbeanu/Granada

 

Did you intentionally leave Borjan off?

[Obinna]

16 minutes ago, johnyb said:

Did you intentionally leave Borjan off?

I did. I expect him to get called and start, which is fine, but personally I am ready for Crepeau.

[johnyb]

5 minutes ago, Obinna said:

I did. I expect him to get called and start, which is fine, but personally I am ready for Crepeau.

I do too, but to go from 1st choice to 4th is a little extreme.

[Obinna]

Just now, johnyb said:

I do too, but to go from 1st choice to 4th is a little extreme.

I agree. Generally I wouldn't advocate for that, but I feel with Borjan it's a call him to play him or don't call him at all proposition.

And that's not suggesting he wouldn't be cool with being a back up, I don't necessarily buy that narrative, it's just a case of wanting to integrate Sirois sooner than later.

I suppose we could keep Borjan around as a back up, let Crepeau start, then swap out St. Clair for Sirois, at least on occasion. The once Borjan is actually finished, Sirois has had some exposure to the team.

[BearcatSA]

22 hours ago, Bigandy said:

Just a gut feeling but if corbeanu gets minutes then he gets called and bair, JRR, Brym, Jebbo?, and cav all compete for a spot. 

Unless Russell-Rowe is a regular starter out of the gate in MLS, I don't see him ahead of the club midseason candidates.

[blueseeka]

10 hours ago, BrennanFan said:

"a player is still eligible to switch national teams, regardless of age, if they have only represented their original country in no more than three matches, none of which were during the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or of any confederations’ competitions. In addition, at least three years must have elapsed since the player last represented their original national team."

Sali will be free to represent Canada on Nov 14, 2024 as long as he does not accept any senior Romania call ups between now and then.

I havent followed Sali in a long time. Did his loans go bad? Seemed very promising for a while

[king1010]

6 hours ago, blueseeka said:

I havent followed Sali in a long time. Did his loans go bad? Seemed very promising for a while

That was a ridiculously cynical cap tie from Romania. He played one time for the national team and from there has played u16,u17 and u19 for them. 
 

he seems to still be doing alright. just signed for FC Dallas and the Guardian said the below about him. 
 

On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide

Edited February 4 by king1010

[Bigandy]

On 2/3/2024 at 2:55 PM, BearcatSA said:

Unless Russell-Rowe is a regular starter out of the gate in MLS, I don't see him ahead of the club midseason candidates.

For sure. I'd be shocked if he gets a call. I think it goes to Cav or brym but JRR gets a mention due to his last game call up - even if it was due to technical logistics. 

[blueseeka]

2 hours ago, Bigandy said:

For sure. I'd be shocked if he gets a call. I think it goes to Cav or brym but JRR gets a mention due to his last game call up - even if it was due to technical logistics. 

I was hoping for a move for JRR. Looks like he stays put

[Vasi]

This will be a Euro heavy squad and starting lineup as the Euro guys are in mid season form. 

I'm sure some ppl will be upset here. But Borjan has been playing for half a season. The other guys have not. 

This is a one game tournament. There should be no time to experiment. 

If we qualify bring lots of new guys and a new goalie for the Copa tune-ups.

[narduch]

I'm not really worried about the MLS guys. Season starts Feb 25. They have 4 match days before the T&T game

[Obinna]

1 hour ago, Vasi said:

This will be a Euro heavy squad and starting lineup as the Euro guys are in mid season form. 

I'm sure some ppl will be upset here. But Borjan has been playing for half a season. The other guys have not. 

This is a one game tournament. There should be no time to experiment. 

If we qualify bring lots of new guys and a new goalie for the Copa tune-ups.

I called for Crepeau to start but hard to argue with your reasoning here. I trust Crepeau, but if he has a gaff that costs us the narrative will be that we should have gone with Borjan, our number 1 who has been playing.

If Borjan makes a gaff that costs us, then nothing changes. It's probably just the nail in his coffin and we move on to Crepeau.

BUT if Borjan leads us to Copa isn't it hard to drop him for the Copa America? Maybe we lean on the fact that Crepeau is now the "in season" keeper and Borjan becomes the number 2? And when do we integrate Sirois?

[narduch]

Borjan is also on winter break. But Slovan is back Feb 9.

Plus he has Europa Conference still too.