Subject: »[NT] Update

grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Arrenged any friendlies yet?

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The intent of this thread is to deal with NT news. Let's have match discussion elsewhere please. :)

Thanks :)
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In the short time I had available I managed to arrange some friendlies
week 4 Makedonija
week 8 Australia U21
week 12 Bosnia U21
week 15 Croatia U21
week 0 Sweden U21
week 1 Belgium
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I like the list. Ranking isn't crucial this season, and with the easy group will be just fine. Nice to see some interesting friendlies. :)

I see that the Macedonia game is booked now. I assume, to avoid injury to first team players, that it will be mostly B team players.

You are correct, but Macedonian manager wants to play U21, and say's he has no problem if I want to play 21+ B team, so we'll see

Looks like one of our U21 defenders is on the TL.

If this is one of the best something is seriously wrong.
His 3 caps only gives me hope for Canada though.

I made no secret of the weakness of our U21 defense last season. Small nations only get so many good youth pulls - it's easy to "miss" a position, and that's happened to us on defense in recent seasons.

That doesn't necessarily bode ill for the senior team. It is a big jump from the U21s to the senior squad. You only need an occasional prospect to make the transitional to keep the senior team stocked (Sebrango a notable example).

There is some cause for concern. Team Canada's original strength was a result of good initial distribution of our domestic trainers. We lucked out by having managers in good proportions address each of the positions. That's changing - and defense is the position that's taking the hit. Of our traditional NT-providing defense trainers, none of Jalea of Scarberia, Snowhares or Kamloops Lakers have been blessed with much recent youth academy luck (G. Verville a notable exception). Partizan 74 has had wonderful luck, but the youths have led the team in another direction.

International trainers may fill in the gap (Sebrango & Zanardi for example). But IMO only a small number of youths "scream" a position. Most can go different directions, and if our training base is skewed one way or another, the team may end up skewed too.

But I'm over-stating the danger. So long as we have a Sebrango come through every couple of seasons, the senior team should be fine.

Yeah, sometimes you go through really dry spells, especially when you don't have the luxury of having say 2000-3000 users like some of the other countries. Been there, done that, know all about U21's and undesired shortages but you have to make do with what you've got in that department at the time.

Fortunately as you say, it doesn't necessarily imply it being bad for the top side and you just keep picking off the 1's and 2's that do reach the side and in the long run things work out.

We've gone through periods where we've been short in some area as well, going through it this season actually but it won't damage us long term other than make our U21 side (which isn't official as such anyway) look a bit scratchy in patches.

So I know exactly what you're talking about and agree even though I don't know squat about the skills of Canada's players.

Edit: I'll show myself out ;).
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The manager of Tunisia has been banned, does that mean we will win the matches by default?

Unlikely.

When a nation loses it's NT coach, a new election is held (only in that nation). The Tunisia-Canada match is far enough off that this process will likely have taken place by then.

Even if it hasn't, the manager's last match orders should carry through. Assuming he hasn't left a walkover line-up, Tunisia will continue to play it's matches.

Btw - I see a new U21 striker has been called up. Is Gérard Talbot really NT caliber? He doesn't look like he's anywhere near Boissieres, Sewell or Farahani. My Parise puts up better marks and value, and he's got half the form and only weak stamina (and is a year younger).