The Canadian Men's Soccer Team Thread

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Yes debut for De Fougerolles!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Shaf needs to be a starter. Hes got something.

Our left side is stacked with him, Davies, Larin, and Liam Millar is arguably the most in form player of them all right now

[shermanator]

Thoughts on the game. Really poor from Canada until the subs were made. Larin with a great finish but it was just dreadful in the final third. Once Trinidad had to stretch the game and eventually Canada took advantage. But they got the result and that's what matters.

Thought David was probably the best player on the pitch. Crepeau looked good in goal and I didn't worry with him in goal like I normally do with Borjan. Shaffelburg had a big impact as he didn't #### around and just tried to be direct. Buchanan and Eustaquio's poor play show that moves to big clubs can be a downside if there are stretches where they get so few minutes. Good to see de Fougerolles get his debut as we are desperate for CBs and he is an intriguing prospect.

Hopefully Canada step up their game against some really good opposition in June. Netherlands and Argentina in subsequent games are two of the best tests Canada have had in decades. But those big tests are desperately needed between now and the World Cup and they are now happening.

Rick Westhead in shambles right now, if he even knows there is a game on....

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I agree with everything you wrote Sherm especially your comment on Crepeau! Breathe of fresh air in net.

I was a little worried Buchanan was a walking second yellow card waiting to happen but he made it through unscathed

I’ll add Waterman and Miller were good. Their foot speed is what it is but they were good on the ball and Waterman had a couple huge blocks in the last 10 or 15. Johnston looked more steady in the second half and aware of his position. They must’ve addressed that at half.

And the kit looks quite good on tv with the red shorts. Middle logos are still a crime against humanity but from afar it looks good

[ditty]

A bit disjointed and lacking energy and cohesion. I think Biello's plan to play both Eustáquio and Koné so high was a bit of a risk but I understand that we needed to pin them back.

This team looks and feels quite different from the team in WCQ two years ago. There isn't quite the same energy or ruthlessness in front of goal, IMO. We plodded at times in those qualifying games as well but we had individual performances that broke games open. I was at the home game in Toronto vs Panama and that was similar to today (granted, against a much better opponent) in that we struggled to break them down and finish when we did create chances. But then Davies stepped up with that memorable goal and we went on to devastate them. The home games against Costa and Rica and the US were similar but we had those gamebreaking moments. That's what's lacking now.

It was very encouraging to see Russell-Rowe and especially Shaffelburg come off the bench and have a strong impact.

The Copa America is going to be excellent to see what this team can do. Obviously we'll be underdogs but playing on the counter will suit us and provide the test we need leading up to 2026.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Shaf needs to be a starter. Hes got something.

It's hard. He's always played so so well as a late sub going balls to the wall and running at tired players. Keeping that up for 90' is a different story, but hopefully he grows into it. He looked the same way at TFC, amazing sub, a bit more pedestrian when starting.

[shermanator]

Tough to be a starter when you are in competition with Davies on that side of the pitch. I think Shaffelburg has overtaken Liam Millar as that first option off the bench on the left side though.

[MegaErtz]

Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies does not want to accept a new deal with the club, which makes a €50 million move to Real Madrid increasingly likely, per Bild's Christian Falk.

Davies has played a vital role for Thomas Tuchel's side this season, featuring 31 times in all competitions, notching one goal and three assists. However, his precarious contractual situation leaves Bayern vulnerable to losing their star defender.

It is reported that Davies could leave the Bavarian outfit this summer, with Bayern offering the Canada international €14m per year in salary, falling short of Davies' demand of €20m per year. With the 23-year-old under contract with the German champions until 2025, Bayern could be forced to part ways with the defender this summer to ensure that he does not leave as a free agent in 2025.

Real Madrid have reportedly been monitoring the situation and could be ready to strike this summer. Davies joined Bayern in January 2019 from Vancouver Whitecaps and has emerged as one of the best left-backs in the world, which has alerted several clubs to his situation.

It has been reported that Davies has already reached a verbal agreement with Los Blancos, with the Canadian's departure from the Bavarian club looking increasingly likely.


It is amazing to me that we'll have a Canadian starting every week for Real Madrid, possibly as early as later this summer. Just imagine being a right-back for a smaller Spanish club. Vinicius Jr. dribbling past you and laying it back for Alphonso Davies. What a nightmare combination.

[shermanator]

Financial update from the new general secretary. Even getting a financial update from the organization just seems like a breath of fresh air.

Canada Soccer’s budget for FY24 shows a $4M operating deficit on total expenses of $30M.

For context, the US Soccer Federation reported a $40M deficit on $188M of total expenses for FY23, is forecasting a $3M surplus on $184M of total expenses in FY24, and is planning for a $9.6M surplus on $201M in spending (USD) in FY25. Football Australia reported a $669,000 surplus on $112M in expenses (AUD) in FY23.

...

Thinking ahead my initial assessment is that Canada Soccer must grow annual revenues by between $10M and $12M to robustly fund its programs and serve its stakeholders – from grassroots up to the national teams.

...

The first concept is based on Consumer Price Index (CPI). Canada Soccer has forgone $5.84M in revenue since 2017 because the Player Levy has not been adjusted for CPI. We are discussing a true-up of the Player Levy for CPI along with a proportional adjustment of Membership Affiliation Fees.

The second concept is an incremental investment that would direct additional funding specifically towards the launch of Project 8 and in support of our youth national teams. These are timely and strategically important investments. Project 8 ensures an equitable competitive pathway into professional football. And additional support for our youth national teams is important in light of FIFA’s recently announced expansions of international youth competitions.

https://canada-soccer-pressroom.prez...pdate-finances

[GirlySports]

Australia having 112M total expenses and still getting a surplus is impressive.

https://www.footballaustralia.com.au...l%20Report.pdf

20M is sponsorship, 20M in registration and 20M in grants is impressive.

[shermanator]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1776282016314540410

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Great way to practice the bunker before Argentina!

[troutman]

Frank Lampard a shock candidate for Canada job

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...te-canada-job/

[Slava]

Originally Posted by troutman

Frank Lampard a shock candidate for Canada job

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...te-canada-job/

So ridiculous. The guy is bereft of ideas. Surely there’s got to be someone better that we can be talking to. You know…an actual manager with a clue on how to run a program?

[MegaErtz]

Anthony Barry or Lee Carsley are the guys the CSA should be going after. They just don't want to pay what it would cost.

[shermanator]

Good article highlighting the broadcasting situation the game finds itself in.

Mediapro may not have done as much for grassroots Canadian soccer as it had hoped, but it’s certainly done more than any Canadian broadcaster. Before it launched OneSoccer in 2019, there were generally two ways that Canadians could watch their men’s or women’s national teams: Either Canada Soccer could pay a hefty fee to a broadcaster to produce and air the games, or fans could search the internet for low-quality pirated foreign streams.

Still, not everyone shared that vision.....So, when OneSoccer couldn’t get carriage on the major cable systems, except for Telus, it meant lower potential sponsorship revenue for Canadian Soccer Business – and Canada Soccer itself, which, despite reports to the contrary, still owns the rights to several categories of commercial sponsorships.

Canada’s broadcast system was built to protect Canadian companies – and those who work for and with them – from foreign competition. For decades, it enabled Canadian voices to be heard, to not be drowned out in our own home by the cacophony from the other side of our southern border. But it also meant that private gatekeepers were able to dictate what Canadians could or couldn’t watch. And while the streaming revolution has helped to disrupt that order, the system still favours incumbents.

Canadians shouldn’t have had to wait for a foreign company to show us what we were missing on our own soccer pitch. Still, having seen the possibilities, it would be nice to think Canadian broadcasters might be able to take it from here.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...anadian-soccer

[shermanator]

Canada vs France June 9 is official. Massive string of games in June. Arguably the best they've ever had.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1780249710139212119

[Jimmy Stang]

So what has changed to give us these high profile opponents? I believe that these top countries command a hefty fee to play against them, and the national program seems as unstable as ever.

Don't get me wrong, I love to see it. But... how?

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Wonder if they’re thinking that the only way to make money is to spend money and get these types of games

Either way, love to see it

[Slava]

Happy to see it for sure, but also wondering if we see a B/C France team or a complete 5-0 beatdown? Same goes for the Netherlands match.