Posted by ian Clarke

December 1 , 2014 Email

Ian Clarke



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As 2014 heads into its final month, we have seen all the summer seasons across Europe come to an end and the fall/winter season is now coming to the mid-way point. It has been a decent stretch of months for Canucks Abroad as younger players have begun to get noticed through good performances. In the UK, Michael Petrasso leads the way, but Dylan Carreiro and Luca Gasparotto are both playing regular minutes in Scotland on loan from Dundee and Rangers, respectively. Daniel Stanese has been a regular with Augsburg II in German, while Daniel Haber continues to see time on the pitch in Cyprus, and Samuel Piette looks to have begun getting playing time with Deportivo La Coruna B in Spain. These are important developments as a few key players have fallen off the radar in recent weeks. The backline has especially had a tough stretch as Marcel De Jong, David Edgar and Andre Hainault are all watching from the bench as their teams continue to get points without them contributing. This is a concern heading into the 2015 Gold Cup and one hopes Edgar and Hainault especially can regain confidence from their managers to start seeing playing time. In Turkey

2013/14 could be deemed a disappointing season for Besiktas in the Super Lig table. With Galatasaray not the powerhouse they once were, and Fenerbahce also far from dominant, there was a real opportunity for another Turkish club to win the title. Besiktas suffered from inconsistent form at home and on the road, but this offseason they looked to have made some shrewd moves that is paying dividends so far this season. In the offseason they let go of Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida, who scored 13 goals, and brought in former Newcastle United and Chelsea striker Demba Ba. Ba has so far been a revelation for Besiktas, scoring seven goals in nine games thus far. This Monday, Atiba Hutchinson’s side went on the road and took all three points courtesy of a Demba Ba brace, in a 2-1 win over Karabukspor. The win did more than signal a reversal of form from 2013/14, but now has put them one point clear of Galatasaray for top of the Super Lig table. With a Cup game looming Thursday against Sariyer, and home games against Trabzonspor, Tottenham, then away to the struggling Gaziantepsor, Besiktas are on the verge of making a claim to usurping their Istanbul rivals. In Japan

It was a peculiar transfer over the offseason to see MLSer Dejan Jakovic leave DC United not for another North America or European club, but head to the Far East and sign on with Shimizu S-Pulse of the J-League. It has been a tough inagural season for Jakovic in Japan’s top flight as S-Pulse have been on the cusp of relegation for some time and their season is now coming down to the final week to determine what division they will be in for 2015. Jakovic was serving a one game suspension this past weekend, a 3-1 loss against Kashiwa Reysoi, and game that would have clinched a spot out of relegation. It now comes down to the final match of the season and they need to come away with at least a point to keep fate in their own hands. Three points ahead of Omiya Ardija, but identical on goal differencial, goals for and head to head results, the final match of S-Pulse season against Ventforet Kofu will determine whether the season is a success or not. S-Pulse have already won away to this opponent, and will be hosting them in the final match. Jakovic should be back in the line-up and hopefully will end the 2014 season looking ahead to prepare for 2015 in the J-League. In Spain

While not groundbreaking news, it looks like according to www.canaldeportivo.com Samuel Piette is starting to make competitive appearances with Deportivo La Coruna B in Spain. Following the footsteps of Julian De Guzman, Piette signed on with Depor’s B team after a roller coaster summer that saw him nearly sign with Borussia Dortmund II, nearly sign with Racing Ferrol, but now is with the second team of La Liga’s Deportivo La Coruna. Piette trained and played friendlies with the club but returned to Canada for a spell through the fall and it was difficult to track his return or whether he was bound to play for the Gallican club. This past weekend he did start for Depor and the B team beat Bertamirans 2-0. With the win, Depor are now unbeaten in five games and within two points of the promotion playoff. Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond: Milan Borjan – Ludogorets (BUL – D1):

Wednesday, November 26, did not play in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League.

Sunday, November 30, did not play in a 5-1 victory over Lokomotiv Sofia. Daniel Haber – Ayia Napa (CPR – D1):

Saturday, November 29, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Nea Salamis. David Edgar – Birmingham City (ENG - D2):

Saturday, November 29, did not play in 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.. Simeon Jackson – Coventry City (ENG – D3):

Saturday, November 29, subbed in at the 84th minute in a 0-0 draw with Walsall. Michael Petrasso – Leyton Orient (ENG – D3):

Friday, November 28, played 62 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. Marcus Haber – Crewe Alexandra (ENG – D3):

Saturday, November 29, subbed in at the 72nd minute in a 1-1 draw with Doncater Rovers. Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):

Sunday, November 29, did not play in a 3-1 victory over Hamburger SV. Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2):

Saturday, November 29, did not play in a 2-0 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf. Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Stuttgarter Kickers (GER – D3):

Saturday, November 29, subbed in at the 63rd minute in a 0-0 draw with Holstein Kiel. Nik Ledgerwood – Energie Cottbus (GER – D3):

Friday, November 28, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Stuttgart II. Daniel Stanese – Augsburg II (GER – D4):

Saturday, November 29, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Greuther Furth II. Iain Hume – Kerala Blasters (IND – D1):

Sunday, November 30, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Chennaiyin FC. Tosaint Ricketts – Hapoel Haifa (ISR – D1):

Saturday, November 29, played 78 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tomer Chencinski – Ironi Ramat Gan (ISR – D2):

Friday, November 28, did not play in a 2-2 draw with Maccabi Yavne. Dejan Jakovic – Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN – D1):

Saturday, November 29, did not play in a 3-1 loss to Kashiwa Reysol. Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):

Sunday, November 30, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Maritimo II. Jordan Hamilton – Trofense (POR – D2):

Sunday, November 30, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Farense. Luca Gasparotto – Airdieonians (SCO – D3):

Next match, Saturday December 6 v Brechin City. Dylan Carreiro – Arbroath FC (SCO – D4):

Saturday, November 29, did not play in a 5-0 victory over Bo’ness United in the Scottish Cup. Samuel Piette – Deportivo La Coruna B (SPN – D4):

Sunday, November 30, started in a 2-0 victory over Bertamirans. Atiba Hutchinson – Besiktas (TUR – D1):

Monday, December 1, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Karabukspor. Lucas Cavallini – Nacional (URU – D1):

Next match, Sunday December 7 v Cerro.