Posted by ian Clarke

June 1 , 2014 Email

Ian Clarke



Twitter

@ClarkeRNO Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device

Since Across the Pond first started tracking Canadian players competing outside of North America back in 2009, the last two years has seen what has been a useful addition to the column in a rundown of who we felt were the top five Canadians from the European Fall/Winter schedule. Of course, there are a handful of Canucks competing abroad in summer seasons, however, for the purpose of finding an endpoint in the year, and with the majority of players of particular note wrapping up their campaigns in May, now is the time to look back. However, from the first edition of this recap where optimism was abounds and the list compiled had five solid players who made a real impact during the year, if we fast forward through the doldrums of October 2012 and ensuing dark days post World Cup flameout, the list of real positive season-long performances has been tougher to compile. Part of this is due to an increase in players playing in MLS, but also one cannot underscore the negative impact failing to qualify might have had on the reputations of our Canadian players in their domestic leagues, as well as clubs. See also: Top five Canadians from Across the Pond 2011/12 2011/12 saw great stories such as Milan Borjan’s massive comeback season at FC Vaslui, David Edgar establishing himself at Burnley and topped off by Olivier Occean being the top scorer in 2.Bundesliga and earning promotion to the German top flight. In 2012/13, the list of top senior players grew thinner and more difficult to find five clear cut high performers, with Atiba Hutchinson the best mostly by virtue of being one of only a few playing week in week out at a solid European league. See also: Across the Pond - The best from 2012/13 This season, again, it is truly difficult to carve out five senior players outside of Hutchinson who were in it every weekend in a top league. There are certainly some good stories to watch, with Andre Hainault looking like a mainstay on the backline at 2.Bundesliga side Aalen, Dejan Jakovic re-establishing himself as a starter in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse and Tosaint Ricketts being a free agent after a good year with seven goals for Bucaspor in Turkey. With this in mind, and with the state of the Canadian Men’s National Team in a bit of a transition phase, we’ve decided to amend this year’s edition to look to the future and name who we feel are Canada’s top five youngsters competing Across the Pond. The criteria for the top five is fluid; as it is a mix between solid weekly performances as well as future potential. But either way you cut it, there are some encouraging signs and young Canadians overseas, who if they continue on their current trajectory, could be impact players for the Senior National team. Certainly there may be disagreement and discussion about who is included in the top five, and those who did not make this list should be noted and mentioned. Much like Junior Hoilett, Fraser Aird is one who would have made the top five, but until he dons the red and white, we cannot set up hope and promise where it has let down supporters many times in the past. His teammate Luca Gasparotto had a loan spell this season at Stirling Albion and will be one to watch in coming years. Another centre back, Daniel Stanese just missed out, but his 17 appearances (15 starts) for Augsburg II in Germany, almost all of which consecutively through the winder and spring, and with notable performances such as the final match of the season being a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich II. Roberto Stillo is a keeper to watch, and getting more playing time will be integral to him fulfilling his promise that has seen him be a part of Genoa in Italy, and subsequently have enough potential for Parma to take him on. Keven Aleman has long been a player national team supports have had high hopes for, and he continues his progress at Real Valladolid where one could expect him to see more games with the B team and possibly even first team in the near future considering their relegation from La Liga this past season. Finally, Lucas Cavallini, who was in last year’s top five, has struggled to regain his form seen at Juventud, but is still young and has his career in front of him either in Uruguay, Europe or even back home in North America. With those names in mind of young Canadian players who played well last season, but just missed the cut, the list below is of RedNation's top five Canadians youngsters who competed abroad in 2013/14.



5. Daniel Haber – F – Apollon Limassoli It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for Haber who burst onto the scene at Cornell University, scoring 18 goals as a junior and foregoing his senior season to begin his professional career. Unconventionally for a North-American player, he went straight to Israel’s Maccabi Haifa, seeing limited time, then moved to the one of the most diverse leagues in the world, the Cypriot First Division. Haber joined contenders Apollon Limassol, and while he has yet to find consistency in terms of minutes or goal production, what stood out most was him scoring the tying, extra-time goal in the final match of the season. This could bode well for his reputation with the team and although we have yet to see him emerge as a dangerous threat for the Men’s National Team, he is progressing at a good professional club that will be competing in the Europa League for 2014/15.







4. Randy Edwini-Bonsu – F – Stuttgarter Kickers Is 24 still considered a youngster? While Edwini-Bonsu might not quite make the age requirements, missing it by just over a month, an exception has been made given his last few seasons, as well as how he finished 2013/14. He first really gained attention after being released by the Vancouver Whitecaps and trying his luck in the second division of Finland. With AC Oulu, Edwini-Bonsu was well above the level of his competition, scoring 16 goals in 20 games, and earning a trial as well as contract with 2.Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig. It was a short-lived affair with the promotion-bound club, and he found himself without a team for a part of the 2013/14 season. A trial and place on 3.Bundesliga side Stuttgarter Kickers saw him finish the season with eight consecutive starts. Many might not be overly impressed by this level of competition, however, one must remember that at the age of 29 Olivier Occean began his path in the 3.Liga and in three consecutive seasons had progressed up to the Bundesliga. At 24, Edwini-Bonsu still has room to mature and improve and Germany has been a league where many transfers happen within the country and should he do well, a move up to 2.Bundesliga is well within reach.







3. Caleb Clarke – F – Augsburg II Where are the goals going to come from? The Whitecaps product is among a small handful of Canadian attackers who is laying claim to being the future target man. Those in Vancouver knew what he had to offer, was one to watch, and subsequently this information carried over to Germany and Bundesliga side Augsburg. With Augsburg II for the season, Clarke can be said to have had a successful season, scoring 8 goals in 26 appearances. What is also encouraging about this is he was able to immediately perform well far from home at a young age, and when looking at the senior team, there is not an abundance of goalscorers with Halil Altintop's 10 goals the most among strikers and his main competition on the second team is 25 year old Bajram Nebihi, who only netted two more goals on the season. One would expect Augsburg to see Clarke as a player with potential and someone they would hold on to and develop into a first team player.









2. Samuel Piette – M – Fortuna Dusseldorf It’s a bit hard to believe Piette is still only 19 years of age, as he has been in the Canadian supporters consciousness for several years now. Long touted as a future midfielder for Canada’s senior team, he is fulfilling his potential and following the steps seen from few Canadians before him. Piette was a mainstay for Fortuna Dusseldorf II this past season, playing ninety minutes week in week out for 29 total appearances, but what is most encouraging was by the end of the season he was called up to the senior team and made his first appearances. Piette’s progress and situation cannot be overstated; however, at the end of the year he was looking for a senior team contract and Dusseldorf was not offering one, and he has subsequently parted ways with the club. Given how his season progressed, there should be an adequate suitor for his services and it will be an interesting off season to see where Piette lands for 2014/15.









1. Michael Petrasso – AM – Queens Park Rangers Junior who? Coming in at number one, in part because of how much he has burst onto the scene in England, is former TFC academy player, Michael Petrasso. Those in the know at QPR will have already been aware what Petrasso has to offer, but it was not until he was loaned out to Oldham Athletic and Coventry City this season that other followers of the national team got to see his performances each week. A handful down the wing with good pace, technical skills and ability to score, part of what is most encouraging about this player is at 18 years of age, everyone who has had a chance to have him on their team, wants him. Coventry City tried to extend his loan through the end of the season, former QPR manager Mark Hughes was rumoured to try and bring him to Stoke City, and in the end QPR signed him on for three more years. His 2013/14 season was highly encouraging for the future state of Canada’s attacking options, and should he continue his leaps and bounds in development, either through another positive loan spell or even first team appearances, Petrasso could make a claim as Canada’s brightest talent.







