A recent thread on the Voyageurs concerning Canada's possible squad for 2014 World Cup qualifying got me thinking. Canada's has a good number of up and coming centre backs. They are still without that key creative player, or any new midfielders who look like they will have a massive impact. Upfront the best Canadian forwards are still starting sporadically or in lower divisions. Out wide there aren't any fullbacks who are in the class of Klukowski. At centre back however Canada looks very strong.
One of Canada's biggest problem during 2010 qualifying was goals conceded from poor defending, especially in Montreal against Honduras when the centre backs could have dealt much better with both Honduran goals. Throughout qualifying Serioux, Hastings, Cann, McKenna and Hainault played at centre back. For the most part they are all strong physical centre backs who are technically poor. The new crop are all technically sound.
Dejan Jakovic showed loads of potential in the Gold Cup and was Canada's best player of the tournament in my opinion. He is a very patient defender who is confident with the ball at his feet something rare for Canadian defenders. Jakovic had been playing regularly this season for D.C. United up until recently when he picked up an injury. If Canada had a friendly tomorrow I would have Jakovic as one of the first names on the team sheet.
David Edgar's stock seems to have fallen since some poor showings with Newcastle last season. People don't seem to take into account that he was playing out of position with Newcastle at right back. He is naturally a centre back and has much better positional sense when playing in the middle. He has yet to feature for Burnley during the Premier League season, but he got lots of action during preseason and hopefully he will be able to break into that Burnley XI as the season progresses.
André Hainault of the Houston Dynamo has played a lot for Canada last year picking up three caps during World Cup qualifying along with an impressive performance at the CONCACAF U-23 Championships. Hainault is prone to the odd error, but he looks like a bit like improved version of Kevin McKenna (hopefully with the same determination and fight). He is 6'1" and physical. Hainault also is a threat in the air something McKenna also brought to the table. Hainault may have a serious role to play when qualifying roles around in 2012.
Nana Attakora is the most surprising out of this list. Attakora has had a breakout season with Toronto FC and it is almost universally accepted that he has been the best defender in the TFC squad this season. Attakora is only twenty-years-old and putting in quality performances week after week. He can play as a fullback as he has been used several times by Toronto but again Attakora is a natural centre back. Attakora might be the most promising of the bunch considering his young age and incredible potential.
So maybe Canada's squad for 2014 qualifying doesn't look a whole lot better than the one that failed epically in 2008, but at least the centre back situation looks more promising than it has in a while.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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2 comments:
I'm worried that Edgar is slipping down the list a little due to his inactivity at Burnley. You have to wonder if he would have been better off at Newcastle...
Overall I think we are looking good with the emergence of Jakovic and Attakora, but it would be great to see how they stack up in the Euro-scene after a couple years of seasoning.
Nana may be a natural centre-back, but he's played very well out on the right for TFC this year. As you point out, we've got some depth in the middle, but not a whole heck of a lot behind Stalteri.
Based on everyone we've tried there in the past few years, the successor is either Nana, Legerwood, Pozniak (31 in June 2012), Eddy Sidra, Chris Williams (USL), Peters (a waste there I think), Edgar, Hainault (both out of position) or Kennedy Owusu-Ansah (ripening nicely at 22 in June 2012).
Based on his form with TFC, I nominate Nana.
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