Quote:
Originally Posted by shermanator
Was there a tonne of depth to choose from though? From now to 2015, Canada needs to focus on developing talent domestically. That means the Canadian MLS clubs need to continue developing players through their Academies, and pushing them through the first team. That is the key to this team getting better.
I imagine players like Morgan, Cavallini, Borjan and Teibert will take over from Hirschfeld, de Rosario, Jazic et al for the next qualification cycle.
|
There are lots of players playing all over the world who didn't even get a sniff in WCQs. Basically he chose the strategy of committing to a group of 16-18 guys and going with them come hell or high water.
When you're not even willing to look at players outside your preferred group you end up with situations like Ledgerwood or Ricketts who have not left the bench at club level starting in a game of this magnitude. Those guys wouldn't even be in the side for most national teams if they're not playing. Just being associated with a club means absolutely nothing when you are a full time backup.
I think even more unforgivable was only calling up 21 guys on the 23 man roster for some reason (with no backup forwards other than Hume) and needing to call Cavallini in last minute to make the game in Honduras when they went down to 20 guys after Occean's suspension... Just why? Are you trying to save money on flights? I'll pay for a leg ffs. Any two of Edwini-Bonsu, Friend, Cavallini or Haber - not amazing depth, but depth is there. I mean there was depth there at every position, maybe not amazing players but guys who are playing and could have provided options... they just weren't used.
There's clearly a commitment to go with "his guys" when you've got a young kid in Uruguay starting in the top league and scoring goals... who isn't even in the side let alone starting because Ricketts is blocking him who isn't even starting in Norway of all places and has 20 club games in 3 years?
Canadian program's problem in past years is it's unwillingness to give people outside their core group much of a look and they do it at every level. It alienates players and has cost us quite a few who had multiple nationalities as well after they felt slighted. Just not a responsive program at all which basically ignores the modern practice of cup tying players. Hart was a product of the Canadian national team system and not someone who was ever going to drive change on those fronts.