Diving into a CanMNT 'should we be worried-o-meter' ahead of the March window
Ahead of the March World Cup qualifying window for the CanMNT, I dive into a 'should we be worried-o-meter' for the situations of some of the top Canadian players in Europe right now.
Over a month after they beat El Salvador 2-0 to cap off a perfect January window, the CanMNT are 2 weeks away from reconvening once again for their March camp.
And now, thanks to their efforts in that January window, where they picked up 9 out of a possible 9 points to extend their lead atop the ‘Octagonal’, the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, things are looking very rosy for Canada as they get set for the last 3 games of the Octo later this month.
Closer to qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986 than ever, knowing that just a win or a draw (or even a loss in some cases) in their next game away against Costa Rica will push them over the line, things are looking rosy for the CanMNT at the moment.
Of course, they don’t want to just qualify (which is all but guaranteed based on the numbers), as they now have their sights on topping the Octo table and making as much of a push as possible to be a Pot 3 team for the World Cup draw on April 1st, but they do want to assure qualification as soon as possible despite that.
As a result, it’s going to be very interesting to see what this CanMNT side looks like in that Costa Rica game. That won’t be their only chance to qualify, as they can do so against Jamaica at home or Panama away, making it less of a must-win, but it’d be huge if they could wrap it up as soon as possible, allowing them to approach the last two games with a little less worry.
But heading into that Costa Rica game, which is just 15 days away as of writing, there is cause for concern in the Canadian ranks.
Already looking more and more likely to be without Alphonso Davies, the team’s star player, for this window, as he continues to recover from the myocarditis that also kept him out of the January window, it’s also worth noting that he isn’t the only key Canadian player who could miss out due to injury here.
Plus, a lot of the other Canadian players who are healthy aren’t in the greatest of form, either, as it hasn’t exactly been a great month for CanMNT players in Europe since that last camp (although this most recent weekend was a big improvement).
At the same time, that isn’t a bad thing. Beyond Davies, while it might be concerning to see Canada’s top scorers, Cyle Larin and Jonathan David, combine for 1 goal since the last camp, or to see key players Stephen Eustaquio or Richie Laryea struggle for game time after moving to new clubs, that adversity could be good for Canada.
Ahead of that January window, as well as the November window where Canada also grabbed maximum points (in that case, just 6 points), it felt like everything was flying for Canadian players in each case, helping explain their positive performances in both of those camps.
But now, that isn’t the situation here, as after flying into those last few windows, it really feels like Canada is slowly dragging its way into this next camp.
And that’s not the end of the world. After all of the success that a lot of these Canadian players have tasted as of late, a little adversity never hurts, especially when it comes to remembering the harsh reality that can be the European game sometimes.
Yes, there are some causes for concern ahead of this camp, no doubt, especially from a CanMNT perspective, but for the most part, other than the Davies (and the others) injuries, a lot of this has also provided key learning experiences.
So seeing all of this, that’s where the idea for this piece originates, as I’ll be looking at the various struggles that some of the top CanMNT players have faced as of late, and whether or not there should be cause for concern with them ahead of this camp.
By first seeing reasons to be worried, as well as reasons to not be, it’ll give us a better idea of who to really keep an eye on for the next 16 days ahead of this Costa Rica clash, as Canada looks to pick up where they left off in World Cup qualifying action.
So without further ado, let’s get right into it with Canada’s midfield maestro, Eustaquio, and go down the list from there.
Stephen Eustaquio’s rocky minutes situation:
I should worry because:
And to start with Eustaquio, there is a fair bit to worry about, as Canada’s midfield workhorse, who played over 1850 minutes for Pacos De Ferreira in 21/22, has played just 54 minutes for FC Porto since joining the Portuguese giants on loan in January.
That on its own wouldn’t be all too worrying on its own, to be fair, as it's hard to get integrated into a squad of that calibre. At the same time, though, it’s also worth noting that after making a breakthrough with his first start for the club at the end of February, Eustaquio was yanked from that game after 31 minutes for tactical reasons, and was left out of the squad completely in the next two matches, so he looks to have squandered a good opportunity there.
For any player, that’d obviously be a concern, but especially so for someone like Eustaquio, who has munched minutes for both Pacos and Canada the past few years, playing a big role in both of their successes.
Because of that, it is a big worry to see him struggling for game time with Canada’s camp just around the corner. Especially given the fact that he had COVID in January, you’d have liked to see him get a good stream of minutes since then, allowing him to get his legs fully under himself again.
So heading into this camp, it feels like rust could be a huge issue for him, as he already looked a bit rusty in the last camp (where he played the last of the 3 games after missing the first 2 with that aforementioned COVID), and you can’t imagine things will be much better for him now here.
I shouldn’t worry because:
At the same time, that’s just the reality of playing for a big club. There’s a reason why Porto are consistently among the top teams in Portugal each year, and are regular participants in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, as they’re a deep side, one filled with talent.
So while Eustaquio has quietly been one of the better midfielders in Portugal the past few seasons, which earned him this move, he’s just now getting a taste of the reality of being a player at these sorts of clubs. It’s very hard to claw your way onto the pitch at these teams, as it takes a lot of hard work in training and then making the most of your chances when you get them.
Because of that, it’s hard to be too frustrated with the move quite yet. Yes, you’d like to see Eustaquio get more game time, but he’s training regularly in a very competitive environment, which is also key. It’s not easy to compete with the depth that Porto has in midfield, such as Vitinha, Mateus Uribe and Marko Grujic, among others, and he’s now learning that.
Plus, given that he joined halfway through the season, that only makes it tougher for him to get integrated within that group, so there’s that extra layer to consider, too.
No doubt, it’ll be very interesting to see how this affects his form for Canada, as this will be a very good case study in the debate between team ‘play as many minutes at a decent level’ vs team ‘being at a bigger club will help you improve’ that we often see play out between National Teams fans, but at the minimum, this shouldn’t change things too much.
So although it has been a tough few weeks in terms of trying to follow Eustaquio’s progress with his new club, this move was always going to be done with an eye on the long-term, so it’s important to stay patient.
And hey, as we know in this sport, he’s always a break away from being a long-term part of that Porto midfield, so with it still being early in his stint there, it’s not the time to panic quite yet.
Verdict: Not worried, just keeping a careful eye.
Richie Laryea’s lack of minutes, period:
I should worry because:
And continuing on that vein of CanMNT players who made a January transfer, we then have Laryea, who joined Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship on a permanent deal to kick off 2022.
But if you thought it has been going tough for Eustaquio over at Porto, Laryea’s situation blows that out of the water, as since making that move, he is yet to feature once for Forest, and has been on the bench just 3 times (and 2 were in the FA Cup, where the bench size is bigger).
So for someone who has munched minutes for Canada recently, playing in 19 of the last 22 Canada games (16 starts), that’s a bit of a worry, as he’s expected to play a big role in this upcoming window.
Plus, it’s not as if he’s on the cusp of the minutes, as the fact that he has been struggling to make the squad itself shows where he stands in the Forest hierarchy, which obviously has Canadian fans worried as the clock ticks towards the Costa Rica game.
I shouldn’t worry because:
At the same time, much like with Eustaquio, this is just an important reality check for Laryea, who is getting a taste of life in England, where managers are notoriously tough nuts to crack.
Especially on a team in great form, one that is currently 5 points off the promotion spots (with 2 games in hand) and into the Quarter-finals of the FA Cup, having lost just one game since Laryea’s arrival, that’s only made things harder.
And with Middlesbrough’s wing backs, Djed Spence and Max Lowe, finding themselves in excellent form, that also hasn’t made things easier for Laryea, either, as he’s had to patiently wait for their form to drop, which hasn’t really happened.
But there’s no reason why that chance shouldn’t eventually come. Yes, it’s hard not to worry about not making the bench, but managers either really love or hate subbing on full backs and wing backs, and Laryea’s manager, Steve Cooper, looks to be in the latter camp.
Although it might be tough, he just has to keep on grinding, and his opportunity will come. Plus, with Spence and Lowe both on loan (while Laryea is on a permanent deal), things are in his favour long-term.
So while his next camp with the CanMNT will also be like Eustaquio’s, at least in the sense of the ‘form vs club’ debate, this was always a move that was done with the long-term in mind, which is important to remember no matter how frustrating the present might seem.
Verdict: Not worried, just keeping a careful eye.
Jonathan David’s recent slump:
I should worry because:
But shifting the attention from two players who aren’t really playing, we’ve then got one who is playing, but has been struggling, which is Jonathan David.
And by struggle, I mean struggle, as after scoring 16 goals in his first 27 games (all competitions), he was on an 8-game scoreless run (also all competitions), dating back to December 22nd, before snapping it with a goal in his most recent Ligue 1 game.
That’s a big worry, as David had just been rounding into form for Canada as of late, scoring goals in 4 of his last 6 games for country, finding some of his best form at the National Team level recently.
So considering how good he was doing at the club level, it felt like that positive run for Canada was just a reflection of the work that he was putting in each week with Lille, which was exciting to see.
But given his form as of late, it has to be concerning, as the last thing that you want to see from a striker is a run like this, especially with some big games looming. Given how important David was to Canada’s success in that 9-point window sans Davies, they can’t afford to have him firing blanks, making his recent form a bit of a worry.
I shouldn’t worry because:
Yet, if you’re judging David by goals, that’s also probably not a fair indication of his profile, because while he’s a #9, and will always be (often unfairly) judged by goals, he always brings a lot to the pitch even when he’s not scoring.
And especially on this Lille side, which has been all sorts of inconsistent after their surprise title-winning run last year, that’s also made it hard for David to get the service he needs to score goals, as he often goes stretches without touching the ball in games, often having to drop deep to do so.
Plus, with some of the opponents on that dry spell being PSG, Chelsea, Marseille and Lyon, that’s only made things harder, because while David typically loves to score in those types of games, Lille only picked up 4 out of a possible 12 points from those matches while scoring just 3 goals, showing why it’s been harder for David to stamp his influence on those matches.
Because of that, it’s been hard to be too down on David, because while you’d like to see him scoring, he was certainly doing a lot of good things in those games.
And lastly, there’s just the reality that David is also a very streaky goalscorer, as we have to remember that in his debut Ligue 1 season he went his first 13 games without scoring, before finishing the year as one of the top scorers in France.
So while it hasn’t been fun to watch at times, the fact that he scored recently is a great step, and given that he’s been doing a lot of the little things that make David, well, David, it’s hard to be worried about him ahead of this next window.
Verdict: Not worried in the slightest.
Cyle Larin’s goalless run:
I should worry because:
And in a similar vein of Canadian strikers who are getting minutes but not really scoring, we’ve got Cyle Larin, who despite being Canada’s leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers, is scoreless in his last 9 games for Besiktas.
On a Besiktas team that has taken a bit of a step back after a huge 20/21 season, one where Larin was the top scorer, that’s been a bit of a worry to see, as while Larin remains as a key part of that side, he just hasn’t been able to replicate the form that had Europe talking last season.
With his contract expiring in a few months, that’s a bit of a worry, as it remains to see if some of the teams that were previously interested in him, which included some English Premier League and Ligue 1 clubs, might still want him if he’s not scoring.
So heading into this camp, knowing that drought is still hanging around, along with the looming contract situation, is a bit worrying, as you do wonder if that could affect Larin’s headspace ahead of some big games.
I shouldn’t worry because:
Yet, at the same time, all of that isn’t actually as worrying when you scratch below the surface.
For example, Larin’s drought might seem rough, but it’s worth noting that of those 9 games where he hasn’t scored, he came off the bench in 5 of them. Plus, when you factor in that he had COVID in between there, along with a thigh injury, that also hasn’t helped.
So even though he’s on a drought similar to David’s, he’s played a lot less minutes over that span, making it less ominous than upon first view.
Plus, it’s worth noting that Besiktas is also struggling massively, sitting 7th in the league, while also completely out of the cup and out of Europe (they did win the Super Cup, though), a far cry from last year, where they won the league and cup double.
Because of that, it’s too hard to be worried about Larin, especially given his injury and COVID woes, of which you hope are behind him now, allowing him to get back to scoring.
And, at the very least, you can count on the fact that when he puts on the Canadian shirt, he should score, as despite going through all sorts of runs of form these past few years, he’s scored 15 goals in his last 15 games for Canada, going on a run that has now propelled him to be the top all-time CanMNT scorer.
So if all else fails, and he’s unable to bust his slump before this March camp, as long as he’s healthy, it feels like a pretty good bet that he’ll find the net in some fashion for Les Rouges, at least.
Verdict: Not worried yet.
Tajon Buchanan’s lack of production:
I should worry because:
Otherwise, continuing on the theme of droughts, we’ve got another player who hasn’t seen one of his shots ripple the back of the net in a while, and that’s Tajon Buchanan, who in 7 games for his new team, Club Brugge, hasn’t scored yet.
He does have 2 assists, which is good, but for someone who scored 9 goals last year for the New England Revolution (and a further 3 goals for Canada), his lack of goals is a bit of a worry, especially considering that he’s a key part of this Canadian attack.
Obviously, just the fact that he’s on the field is nice to see, of course, but considering that Canada’s other main attacking options are also out of form, you’d like to see Buchanan maybe have a goal or two already to his name here.
On a Brugge side that has been rolling through teams since his arrival, scoring 17 goals in the 7 games he’s played since he’s arrived, to see him not score yet is always a bit of a surprise, making one wonder when it’ll finally come.
I shouldn’t worry because:
There is literally nothing to be worried about with Buchanan so far, which made it quite hard to keep a straight face when writing that last section, especially if you’ve been following the 23-year-old’s progress at Brugge.
Yes, he is yet to score, but he’s also playing left wing back, and is adjusting to playing on a very good team in a solid league.
As seen with Laryea and Eustaquio, it isn’t always a given to transfer to a club like that and slot right into the lineup, so the fact that he’s done so rather seamlessly is key, and is a great sign of the sort of growth he’s shown the past few months.
So if anything, his 2 assists in 7 games actually look pretty good when you realize that he’s been playing wing back, especially since it’s the first time he’s really played the position for an extended amount of time, and is doing so on a new club in a new league.
And based on how he’s slowly grown into the role, you do feel like when he gets fully comfortable, a few goals will be on the horizon, as he always seems to be knocking on the door offensively for Brugge.
Because of all that, it’s very hard to be worried about Buchanan right now, lack of supposed goals aside, although it’ll be interesting to see what role John Herdman will have him playing in this next camp.
Verdict: Not worried whatsoever.
Atiba Hutchinson’s thigh:
I should worry because:
Going from one of the more recent additions to the CanMNT in Buchanan, we’ve then got the longest-tenured (and current most-capped) player in Atiba Hutchinson, who despite just turning 39, is continuing to tick away for Besiktas.
But despite having a really solid season, that hit a bit of a damper this week, as it was revealed that he has picked up a thigh injury, of which Besiktas announced he has begun treatment on.
And considering his age, an injury like that is always a worry, as it can often take a bit longer for muscles to recover, meaning that if it’s a serious thigh problem, that could rule him clean out of this next camp.
For a Canadian team who already has Eustaquio not playing at the club level, that’s far from ideal, because even if Hutchinson makes it back for this CanMNT camp, there’s a possibility that he misses some games before then, which considering his form, is frustrating.
So while it’s too early to see if he’ll be back in time, that news was a bit tough to swallow if you’re Canadian, as you’ll hope that it's far from serious.
I shouldn’t worry because:
At the same time, while it’s a bit of a worry to read news like that, it’s worth noting that it’s actually not the first time that he’s dealt with a thigh injury this season, so it’s not a new issue or anything.
And while that is a bit of a worry to read at first glance, on each of the other two times that he injured his thigh, he only missed one and two games, respectively, which considering that Besiktas has two games before the March break, would be ideal to see a similar diagnosis.
So even though any injury to Hutchinson at this stage is never good to see, he takes fantastic care of his body, as there is a reason he’s been able to already play 30+ games for club and country this 21/22 season.
Therefore, while it may be a stressful next few days and weeks of waiting to see how serious the injury actually is, it already looks like it shouldn’t be too serious, making it hard to imagine Hutchinson being anywhere but with Canada in a few weeks, where he’ll (hopefully) get to celebrate a long-awaited qualification to the World Cup with this team.
Verdict: Moderate cause for concern.
Alphonso Davies’s absence:
I should worry because:
Lastly, it feels fitting to finish off with Davies, because while it feels inevitable that he won’t be in this camp, he’s still a big part of this team, no matter his health status.
At the same time, it is a bit worrying to be keeping an eye on said status right now, because while it’s good that his myocarditis was detected, given that it is a heart-related issue, it feels like a return is still a while away.
Given that it’s already been well over 6 weeks and he’s yet to resume any sort of soccer activities, that makes him a huge doubt for not just this window, but starts to make him a doubt for the rest of the FC Bayern season, too, which would be a big blow for both teams.
As a result, it’s been tough to go with weeks without news on Davies, as you can’t just help but wonder when that day he’ll be cleared to return will be, with each passing day suggesting that it might not be until next season.
I shouldn’t worry because:
Despite that doom and gloom, however, all of the experts close to Davies are suggesting that he’s on the right track, and in certain cases, ahead of where he needs to be, which is huge.
With it being a heart issue, you don’t want to rush something like this, and with it being detected so early, it looks like this treatment should ensure that he doesn’t have any issues in the future.
So even though it’ll be unfortunate not to see him in the Canadian red until likely June at the earliest, you have to be encouraged about what Bayern’s been saying right now, giving hope that he can return before the end of the campaign.
Throughout this process, he’s been praised for his professionalism, so you just know that when he’s back, he’ll throw himself into the sport as hard as ever, ensuring that he returns better than ever.
Because of that, we’ll be waiting patiently for when that day comes, whenever it may be, knowing that he’ll be in full health and ready to tackle whatever challenge comes in front of him on the pitch next.
Verdict: On the right track.
Looking Forward:
So overall, while it hasn’t been a great few weeks for a lot of key CanMNT players, it’s hard to sound the alarm bells in many of these situations here.
You do have to be concerned about the health of Davies and Hutchinson, of course, but other than them, the rest are going through pretty normal instances of adversity, of which they should hopefully come through strongly.
Obviously, you’d love to have as many of these players in form as possible for this camp, no doubt, but sometimes you need to go through a rut like this in order to climb out stronger. (and, hey, it’s not too late for some of these guys to get in form for that, too).
Plus, there are some pretty crucial CanMNT players, such as Milan Borjan, Sam Adekugbe, Jonathan Osorio and Junior Hoilett, who are all in good form at their clubs, so it’s not as if this next Canada roster is going to be completely devoid of good players in form.
As a result, while it feels like things are a bit gloomy in CanMNT land right now, given where the team is at in the Octo standings, and the depth of this squad, there is no reason why this can’t be a solid March window, especially if that January window was to be any indication.
Richie Laryea in action for Canada in October (Keveren Guillou, IG: @kevereng)