Canada MNT ...

You may remember this post. Well I justed wanted to give my 2 cents about the Canadian MNT 

First, I don't know what happened in that game. Were they threatened to be killed? Ricketts missing two goals are not something a pro players would do, even drunk. I am sorry, I am against bashing anyone, but I have seen really bad beyong ugly players and none of the, has missed one of those.

I am sorry about a hard post, some canucks would not understand why a foreign guy who roots for their country so bad ( I was almost unproductive at work waiting and thinking about the game) can talk bad about your National Team. However, I have been doing it for years and I will live there soon and I know that If i have children, they will be canadian.  I will cut this post in 3 parts: 1)The players, 2) What suits best for Canada and 3)What to do next.

The players

I remember watching the Canada-Perú game in a friends's house. He always played PES and FIFA with Perú while I used the Maple Leaf team. That was going to be the first head to head for real. Perú neutralized Canada and there were just a few moments that were really worthy to note. However, I realised that Hart didn't know how to adapt the team. The players were average, but DeRo, JDG, De Jong, Hutch stood up. I followed the games and classified the guys into 2 groups: The ones that are really World Cup Qualifying players and the local players:

World Cup players:

Lars Hirschfeld is a great player; despite being relatively not young, he can go one more cycle, but he needs to go to MLS or at least move from the Norweigan league.

De Jong: Solid player, strong character, nice long distance shoots.

De Guzman: Very skilled player who can be kept for the next cycle to mentor the young guys

DeRosario: The best there is. Despite being old, her can go for more years; however, the team must not rely on him.

Josh Simpson: He is "the player". He can mark the difference up front.

Hutchinson: smart player, confident and a fighter

Ian Hume: The guy never gives up. I have seen him since the U20. Peruvian commentators were thrilled about him and thought he was gonna be a big time player.

Edwini Bonsu has less accuracy at scoring than Rickets, Haber is not that great either. It is simple, fo not get thrilled when someone scores, no matter they play in the Senegal 9th division. Compare them to guys like Costly, Altidore, Ruiz and if you think that in the same team the Canadian would be a starter, he is worth to be called up.

The local players:

This players are among the best the team can offer, but they are not what Canada needs or at least they have not being used properly.

Borjan: I am not totally sold on the guy, yet. He can make great saves, but do wrong in other plays. He is good, but still needs more practice to become the next Craig Forrest

Mckeena: He used to be good, but he is slow now and despite he has scored many goals, he is not a great header. 

Jackson: He is fast, but I was surprised how he is not able to get a pass and dominate the ball, he needs time and the ball can not be controlled in the first touch. He misses seconds trying to control it.

Occean: He scores goals, but he is not the forward that Canada needs. He is like Friend. He adjust to a team  that can manage the ball at send it to the box. Canada needs a Paolo Guerrero or Luis Suarez type of guy.

What suits best for Canada

The tactics were not the best. We can blame Hart for that. I never saw a team that managed the ball properly. However, we can not be that hard on him. He did his best, but his best was not good. Vilifed Holger Osieck showed the world that a rudimentary team could be able to become champion. Canada 2000 was organized and the players knew what they were supposed to do. The team was less skilled than the curent, but they were a team. Canada's Hart version was more like Maradona's Argentina. Players thrown together to do what they can. It didn't work for Argentina, it obviously didn't work for Canada. Systems like 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 are not what suits best for Canada. Holger's 3-5-2 was the key to success. It allowed the team to defend and when getting the few chances to attack Corazzin and Pesch were supported by Brennan and Clarke or Martin Nash. 

Canada should not get rid of De Guzman or De Ro, they are still key players. Who would be able to replace them? Dunfield has not upped his game, Pacheco is not ready to drive a team yet and bear a cross like both guys had to carry.  

What to do next

First things first, the new head coach has to be someone not very familiar with the program. Why? Miller, Yallop, Hart, Mitchell. All were familiar with the program but did almost nothing outside of it. Yallop had success in MLS, but come on, despite MLS players overshadow the MNT they are subpar world class players. Bringing back Holger would be bringing back Hitler, as many players "loved" the guy. Bring someone that has earned something or at least has managed a decent National Team. Don't have the money? I bet there are South American coaches that would love to get a canadian permanent resident visa. They have a different vision and more important, they would know how to beat Central american countries. Central American teams play like South americans, but less skilled. However, they are more difficult for USA, Canada and even some Euro teams. Insight from a South American coach would benefit the team on how to play against such teams and also would get a different psychology. 

I am from Peru and its team fails miserable every 4 years. Despite it is country where everybody breathes football, players are not good enough because they tend to become mediocres. They achieve just some fame or economical position and stop upping their game. Canadian situation is different. Canada is country where the players need support, so despite you are crying right now do not turn your backs. CSA won't be doing much to help youth teams, expecting that would be like the known example when you learn the First Conditional in english: "If I were millionaire, I would..." Each and everyone has to support the young kids, promote the game, advice the young players to understand the matches of the likes of Brazil, Spain. Challenging them.

Next year there is another Gold Cup. The process to 2018 starts there. A new head coach and the players of the future. 11 from 22 players must be under 20, the rest can be some survivors of this process. The team may fail and be placed last, but the young bucks are going to learn. We need a new Jason De Vos. We need a trong line of 3 in the back. We need to nationalize a 9, the government offers permanent visas, give one to a guy from England, Argentina, Brazil.

Fans are like friends, you know who are the real ones when you are falling. do not slaugther the players, they seem to be ashamed of what happened, let's just focus and what to do next. This is not a joke, but next year we will have plenty of Friendly games, so the new squad has to be tested ASAP.

and just for sarcasm, cause I prefer to laugh better to cry