El Diego

An interesting match ended even after York9 FC fought back from a two goal deficit thanks to a formation change and set pieces. View full record

Forge FC thoroughly dominated another match, this time getting the result they deserved as they defeated Valour FC by two goals. View full record

I was never that sold on Crepeau, but this season has convinced me that he's a solid #2 for us (and this is before seeing that triple save). Year after year, I keep being reminded how consistent playing time at higher levels can really improve players, even for those who have graduated from their so called "developmental" years.

Highlights https://www.concacaf.com/en/under-17s-men/video/cu17-costa-rica-v-canada-highlights

No one is suggesting Gogarty. I was the only one who mentioned him and that was only because I was listing current Canadian starting centre backs in the CPL. I mentioned in the same post that I don't think any CPL centre back is under consideration for a call up.

Well, Waterman, Zator, and Gogarty play on the outside of a back 3, but they are absolutely centre backs.

Penalty shootout summary CR Hernandez saved (0-0) CAN Habibullah goal (0-1) CR Davis goal (1-1) CAN Catavolo goal (1-2) CR Castro goal (2-2) CAN Russell-Rowe saved (2-2) CR Evans miss off the crossbar (2-2) CAN Altobelli goal (2-3) CR Gonzalez goal (3-3) CAN Facchineri goal (3-4)

Jay Wheeldon is British. You also missed a number of Canadians who have been starting centre backs so far: - Joel Waterman and Dominick Zator (Cavalry FC) - Emile Legault (Pacific FC) - Dan Gogarty (York9 FC) - Chrisnovic N'Sa (HFX Wanderers FC) - Jordan Murrell (Valour FC) Personally, I don't think any CPL centre back is in any serious consideration for the senior team.

Came on with 16 minutes to go as a defensive winger with the Caps up by one. Had some decent moments as well as maybe one shaky one. Although he was previously used as a left back, MDS has Ali Adnan there and remember that Levis was very much an attacking midfielder before joining Vancouver. Good to see him make another appearance, and it will be interesting to see where he plays when he does get minutes.

In the limited sample size I thought Bona was better as well. But it's too early to make sweeping generalizations. That being said, the U Sports guys who have gotten meaningful minutes have not looked out of place at all, and have even impressed (and not just for HFX, I mean).

What do people think about/what can they tell me about Joel Waterman? I thought he was fantastic in the opener and really good in the second match. My favourite centre back in the league so far. Has had an unheralded path: went to TWU and was a 2nd round pick, played a little but for TSS, Kitsap, and Foothills Jrs. Never heard his name before but had to wonder why after seeing him. I saw he was listed as a defender and midfielder. I could see him playing holding mid, but I also really like him as a centre back where his distribution becomes a plus-plus skill.

Petrasso has played as a striker, an inside forward/left winger, and as an attacking mid so far. I thought he looked best when he went into an inside forward role on the left and cut inside, but I don't think he's good enough to make the team as an attacker.

So here's something I think about. Legault was called up to the Toulon tournament, and did decently well. Guys like N'Sa and Langwa were probably not even considered. Yet, if you've watched these three in the CPL, you would not see why a guy like Legault would be considered in a different class (and this is not to disparage Legault, I like what I've seen so far and I do realize he's slightly younger than the HFX guys). Speaking of CPL guys we'd like to see that came out of nowhere, in my opinion Joel Waterman has been the best centre back in the league so far. Assuming the age rules for qualifying are the same as the actual tournament (aside from the three overagers, obviously) he just makes the age cut off as a January '97.