Canadian Soccer

RedDevilCanuck

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I haven't seen a dedicated thread here.

Octavio Zambrano sacked as manager of Canada and Canadian youth set up. Women's team double broze medallist John Herdman hired immediately with no interview and no selection process.

Herman has never coached a men's team.

I am actually appalled by this. Zambrano had canada paying the best football I've seen in ages. Results were decent but progress was being made. We actually looked a decent technical side and our tactics very good.

Zambrano was selecting technically proficient players and I really liked the direction.

I have nothing against Herdman and respect his accomplishments but something doesn't seem right here.

Good long term appointment or typical incompetence from Soccer Canada?
 

mazhar13

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I'm absolutely appalled by the decision. I thought that they hired Zambrano to come in and move us forward. He was doing that, and he was integrating younger, more technical players into the team. Our football was the best that we ever played, and no one really expected us to make it into the Hex with our current set of players.

It turns out that we were doing exactly what the U.S. were attempting to do with Klinsmann. I guess we'll never change...
 

limerickcitykid

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Different things are being said by different journalists so I'm waiting to see but I'm guessing we'll never know the whole truth. Some are saying he was regarded as a disaster and was like George Costanza with the Penske files. He was wasting money on extravagant scouting trips with zero results from them.

I'm interested to see how Herdman can do, I'm excited to see his ideas.
 

FCBarca

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Can't say I follow the Canadian game but interesting story developing there - were they really not getting good results?
 

VancouverUtdFan

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Definitely a head scratcher. Doesn’t really make sense from the men’s or women’s perspective with Herdman being absolutely golden for the girls and as you say, Zambrano having built a nice culture and foundation for the boys.
 

RedDevilCanuck

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Can't say I follow the Canadian game but interesting story developing there - were they really not getting good results?
Results were pretty good but more importantly the football was good and tactics so much better than we have seen in ages.

In the gold cup we lost to Jamaica but really should have won and looked technically superior.
 

limerickcitykid

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I'm getting quite excited for Canadian PL as well. It's not going to happen but how I would love a Brampton team. More realistically Mississauga might get a team and hopefully Toronto does too. Talk if a York region team as well. Excited to see the eventual clubs announced and who I'll end up supporting. I just wish it came earlier and my brothers and I could have had a chance at it.

Cyle Larin's move to Besiktas now official joint fellow Bramptonian and greatest Canadian ever Atiba Hutchinson. Read Besiktas might look to sign another's striker and loan Cyle out. Looking forward to see how he can do out there and Atiba will be good to help him settle.
 

FootballHQ

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Larin got a great record in MLS.

Do we reckon he'll do well in europe?
 

mazhar13

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Cyle Larin's move to Besiktas now official joint fellow Bramptonian and greatest Canadian ever Atiba Hutchinson. Read Besiktas might look to sign another's striker and loan Cyle out. Looking forward to see how he can do out there and Atiba will be good to help him settle.
Well, he finally got his move to Europe that he really wanted. Let's see if he becomes more motivated and becomes determined to improve himself.
Larin got a great record in MLS.

Do we reckon he'll do well in europe?
I'm not sure, to be honest. Technically, he's quite adept, but he's poor at applying his technique and athleticism. His performances in the MLS and for Canada have been very lazy to the point where I feel he's been sulking about his situation. This Besiktas move should do him a world of good and hopefully provide him some motivation and determination to better himself.

Either that, or he'll wither away and struggle to apply himself in Europe.
 

limerickcitykid

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Well, he finally got his move to Europe that he really wanted. Let's see if he becomes more motivated and becomes determined to improve himself.
Not just yet it seems. Some big controversy surrounding it with contract issues and legality of it. Seems like hes burning quite a few bridges with the MLS anyway.
 

RedDevilCanuck

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So Toronto FC gets a huge 2-1 result in the first leg against the Mexican side Tigres.

Great game to watch. A proper champions league tie. As technical and as tactical a game you will see in North America. Big names on display like Gignac, Valencia, Giovinco, Bradley and Altidore.

Altidore failed in England but is an absolute beast for Toronto and continues to produce the goods in big moments. Yet another goal after bullying a defender and a nice finish.

Toronto I thought deserved the result and looked the more dangerous side. Could of scored more and conceded a counter attack goal. Conditions were cold and rainy and suited TFC perfectly as the pitch was terrible.

The second leg will be extremely difficult. Im hoping TFC can keep it tight and hit on the break.
 

limerickcitykid

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Didn't get to watch since it's too late here but pleasant surprise to wake up to an Oso winner. Really hoping we can hang on to it as it'll be tough down in Mexico.
 

Ballache

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Random question, but Toronto FC represent Canada in the North American CL right? How does qualification work?
 

limerickcitykid

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Random question, but Toronto FC represent Canada in the North American CL right? How does qualification work?
We won the Canadian Championship who get in. There is no way for the Canadian teams to qualify through the league.

It'll be interesting to see how its handled onces the Canadian PL starts up.
 

limerickcitykid

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Little bump for the superstar Jonathan David. Currently has 5 goals in 66 minutes of play in the Belgian league and Europa League qualifiers. Averages to about 7 goals per 90 minutes. Confirmed as the best striker in the world?
 

André Dominguez

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The only decent player I remember from Canada is a retired striker named Alex Bunbury who was quite a very lethal striker inside the box. Probably the best striker Marítimo ever had.
 

André Dominguez

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Jesus, how could I forget Fernando Aguiar aka "Robocop"? :D Mainly a destroyer midfielder but had a decent distribution, but was quite handful for high middle table teams. He was vital for us (Benfica) in a season we won the league.

 

Keeps It tidy

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In recent transfer widows Canada have had a player signed by Barca and a player signed by Bayern. Made 2026 will not be a disaster for them.
 

NYAS

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I’m going to the Whitecaps game tomorrow and was wondering if Alphonso Davies is back from his Bayern escapades yet? I would hate to miss out on seeing him play while I’m here.
 

Keeps It tidy

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The only decent player I remember from Canada is a retired striker named Alex Bunbury who was quite a very lethal striker inside the box. Probably the best striker Marítimo ever had.
His son Teal has played in the MLS for a while and his daughter Kylie is an actress.
 

limerickcitykid

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I’m going to the Whitecaps game tomorrow and was wondering if Alphonso Davies is back from his Bayern escapades yet? I would hate to miss out on seeing him play while I’m here.
He hasn't gone to Bayern yet, he's been playing recent games so should be there.
 

NYAS

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He hasn't gone to Bayern yet, he's been playing recent games so should be there.
I know, I was referring to him joining their pre-season tour and signing etc. I ask because I checked their line-up in the last game and he wasn’t in the squad. Hopefully he’ll be there!
 

limerickcitykid

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I know, I was referring to him joining their pre-season tour and signing etc. I ask because I checked their line-up in the last game and he wasn’t in the squad. Hopefully he’ll be there!
Ahh didn't realize he missed their last league game. He played in the Canadian Championship against TFC a couple days ago though so he is with them. So hopefully you get to watch him play.
 

limerickcitykid

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Decent little video about my city with two of our big footballers. Jonathan played for the same club as me and my brothers and went to our rival school. My brother grew up playing against him and I played with/against Anthony Osorio.
 

Keeps It tidy

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Shout out to Brampton also where Tyler Ennis, Tristan Thompson and Alessia Cara is from. And I can believe "the six" nickname for Toronto has stuck. Toronto will always be Tdot to me.
 

limerickcitykid

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Shout out to Brampton also where Tyler Ennis, Tristan Thompson and Alessia Cara is from. And I can believe "the six" nickname for Toronto has stuck. Toronto will always be Tdot to me.
We also got Tyler Seguin (friend of friends of mine), Michael Cera (went to school like a 5 minute walk from my house), Russell Peters, and many more.

Only kids and losers who are on Drake's dick call it the six. No self respecting adult ever calls it that.
 

poleglass red

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Decent little video about my city with two of our big footballers. Jonathan played for the same club as me and my brothers and went to our rival school. My brother grew up playing against him and I played with/against Anthony Osorio.
nice story that, having a great season but his latest hair cut is terrible
 

RedDevilCanuck

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The only decent player I remember from Canada is a retired striker named Alex Bunbury who was quite a very lethal striker inside the box. Probably the best striker Marítimo ever had.
I was young but remember him scoring all the time.
 

RedDevilCanuck

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Shout out to Brampton also where Tyler Ennis, Tristan Thompson and Alessia Cara is from. And I can believe "the six" nickname for Toronto has stuck. Toronto will always be Tdot to me.
Well said. The 6 is a terrible name. T dot was cool and it was when nobody knew anything about Toronto and we were a sleeping giant. Now everyone talks about Toronto and it's all cringe.
 

André Dominguez

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I was young but remember him scoring all the time.
He scored a lot of goals against Benfica, Sporting and Porto. He was quite a big game player. He was unlucky to arrive at Portugal already at 27 y.o. and back in the 90's top clubs mostly bought u23 potential talented players and the Bosman law didn't exist yet.

If he had come early in his career he would had a shot at Porto, Sporting or Benfica, for sure.

But bare in mind that Marítimo had a very good budget and squad at the time, they were usually 4th or 5th in the league.