I’ve really, really enjoyed watching the Canadian team this year. I love the new style that Marsch has brought. Entertaining and aggressive soccer. Very proud every time I watch them! 🇨🇦
I think the FIFA rankings for Canada will continue to close in on Mexico and the USA. Currently their ELO ranking is better... I see all three countries being ranked between 20 and 30 when the 2026 World Cup arrives...
I hope John David goes to Arsenal or Barca. I hope Davies goes to Liverpool or Madrid. I'm a United fan but the best thing from them is to go to those places. More players should also look at Alastair and use the Scottish League to spring board to another league.
I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t know why he has to move at all, if he enjoys living and playing at Lille, why leave? He’s having so much success, he’s their talisman. The Premier League doesn’t have to be the destination for all good players, he’s likely enjoys living in France.
I would give CEO Kevin Blue an "unheralded" award too. His hiring of Marsch & his work to get the Friendlies lined up & how he has, along with Marsch, brought in Dual Nationals & his excellent work with the women & mens players unions & just in general, he has Canada going in a very positive direction. I was surprised that none of you mentioned Buchanan as a major disappointment this year. Yes, he was injured for a long time; but even before his injury, he was benched by both his club & by Marsch, in favour of Ahmed. For me, given his tremendous potential, so far, he has not lived up to his hype. I am hoping that in 2025, that Buchanan will have a major bounce back year. Speaking of Buchanan & Ahmed, a big weakness of this team in 2024 has been the total lack of goal contribution from the Right Wing position. I am still a huge Buchanan fan & I expect him to start contributing in a major way to both club & country in 2025. As far as club accomplishments go in 2025, I think that the team defence has been outstanding. Shutting out France & the Netherlands for 3 of 4 halfs. Then, if you subtract the 4 goals given up to Messi & Argentina, Canada had one of the best defensive records in the Copa. Also Canada has 6 clean sheets since the match vs France & again, other than the 2 matches vs the World's #1 team, Argentina, Canada only gave up more than 1 goal once & that was vs Uruguay in the battle for 3rd place & that was mostly Canada's B team squad & they only gave up the 2nd goal in the dying minutes of regulation time. What has been very impressive about that is the brilliant defensive play of Canada's #9 (Larin) & #10 (David) positions, as well as the 4 backs. Canada's glaring weakness heading into 2024 was the general weakness of the backs in general. Johnston has just gradually gotten better & better over the year, with his ever growing confidence. Marsch getting Davies to concentrate mainly on defence has been massive for this team & then the combination of Bombito, paired with Cornelius, has been an absolute stunning positive surprise. We could well list Derek Cornelius as one of Canada's unheralded heros in 2024 too. He is not usually spoken about too much; but his steady excellent work back there compliments Bombito's more risky offensive game & he shined for his new club Marseille too, until he got injured. What a Great 2024!!! Let's hope that 2025 sees this team just continue to improve!!! * SORRY, LAST COMMENT: Yes, "the U.S. will be the favourite to win the Nations League in 2025"; but they sure wouldn't be, if the playoffs were being played in Canada or Mexico, as the U.S. have not proven to have been a very good team on the road at all. Of course, nobody talks about it; but the fact that the U.S. has homefield advantage, well over 95% of the time, is a HUGE advantage & quite frankly, it is a FIFA & CONCACAF farce.
I want to believe in Buchanon as well. His pace and willingness/bravery to take players 1 on 1 at the W Cup was what made me a believer. But since his move to Inter my belief has been diminished.
@jaytse2269 , Yes; but to be fair his club had planned to gradually work him into their roster; but unfortunately he then got that long-term injury. We can only hope that that grit that we saw in him will win out & he will make a Great comeback in 2025.
As a U.S. fan I am glad to see that Canada has made this a 3 headed race instead of the 2 headed race we’ve all grown used to seeing in this region. I hope Canada continue to grow even more for years to come so it can continue to stay as a 3 headed race for the top team because that will only make region better! 🫡
I’ve really, really enjoyed watching the Canadian team this year. I love the new style that Marsch has brought. Entertaining and aggressive soccer. Very proud every time I watch them! 🇨🇦
I think the FIFA rankings for Canada will continue to close in on Mexico and the USA. Currently their ELO ranking is better... I see all three countries being ranked between 20 and 30 when the 2026 World Cup arrives...
Is this available as a podcast?
I hope John David goes to Arsenal or Barca. I hope Davies goes to Liverpool or Madrid. I'm a United fan but the best thing from them is to go to those places.
More players should also look at Alastair and use the Scottish League to spring board to another league.
I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t know why he has to move at all, if he enjoys living and playing at Lille, why leave? He’s having so much success, he’s their talisman. The Premier League doesn’t have to be the destination for all good players, he’s likely enjoys living in France.
I would give CEO Kevin Blue an "unheralded" award too. His hiring of Marsch & his work to get the Friendlies lined up & how he has, along with Marsch, brought in Dual Nationals & his excellent work with the women & mens players unions & just in general, he has Canada going in a very positive direction.
I was surprised that none of you mentioned Buchanan as a major disappointment this year. Yes, he was injured for a long time; but even before his injury, he was benched by both his club & by Marsch, in favour of Ahmed.
For me, given his tremendous potential, so far, he has not lived up to his hype. I am hoping that in 2025, that Buchanan will have a major bounce back year.
Speaking of Buchanan & Ahmed, a big weakness of this team in 2024 has been the total lack of goal contribution from the Right Wing position. I am still a huge Buchanan fan & I expect him to start contributing in a major way to both club & country in 2025.
As far as club accomplishments go in 2025, I think that the team defence has been outstanding. Shutting out France & the Netherlands for 3 of 4 halfs. Then, if you subtract the 4 goals given up to Messi & Argentina, Canada had one of the best defensive records in the Copa. Also Canada has 6 clean sheets since the match vs France & again, other than the 2 matches vs the World's #1 team, Argentina, Canada only gave up more than 1 goal once & that was vs Uruguay in the battle for 3rd place & that was mostly Canada's B team squad & they only gave up the 2nd goal in the dying minutes of regulation time.
What has been very impressive about that is the brilliant defensive play of Canada's #9 (Larin) & #10 (David) positions, as well as the 4 backs.
Canada's glaring weakness heading into 2024 was the general weakness of the backs in general. Johnston has just gradually gotten better & better over the year, with his ever growing confidence. Marsch getting Davies to concentrate mainly on defence has been massive for this team & then the combination of Bombito, paired with Cornelius, has been an absolute stunning positive surprise.
We could well list Derek Cornelius as one of Canada's unheralded heros in 2024 too. He is not usually spoken about too much; but his steady excellent work back there compliments Bombito's more risky offensive game & he shined for his new club Marseille too, until he got injured.
What a Great 2024!!! Let's hope that 2025 sees this team just continue to improve!!!
* SORRY, LAST COMMENT:
Yes, "the U.S. will be the favourite to win the Nations League in 2025"; but they sure wouldn't be, if the playoffs were being played in Canada or Mexico, as the U.S. have not proven to have been a very good team on the road at all. Of course, nobody talks about it; but the fact that the U.S. has homefield advantage, well over 95% of the time, is a HUGE advantage & quite frankly, it is a FIFA & CONCACAF farce.
I want to believe in Buchanon as well. His pace and willingness/bravery to take players 1 on 1 at the W Cup was what made me a believer. But since his move to Inter my belief has been diminished.
@jaytse2269 , Yes; but to be fair his club had planned to gradually work him into their roster; but unfortunately he then got that long-term injury.
We can only hope that that grit that we saw in him will win out & he will make a Great comeback in 2025.
As a U.S. fan I am glad to see that Canada has made this a 3 headed race instead of the 2 headed race we’ve all grown used to seeing in this region. I hope Canada continue to grow even more for years to come so it can continue to stay as a 3 headed race for the top team because that will only make region better! 🫡