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Aaron Nielsen ,

September 23, 2015 Email

Aaron Nielsen



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The Canadian Men's team will try to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in their history, however, it should be noted Canada won the Gold Medal in 1904. Canada will compete in Group A against United States, Panama and Cuba. Group B includes Mexico, Honduras, Haiti and Costa Rica, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio, while 3rd place winner can also advance with additional playoff games. Based on past CONCACAF Tournaments, other than Haiti and Cuba, Canada looks to be an underdog, but outside Mexico it looks like a tournament that or any country can advance from. The United States does have a number of prospects and we will be profiling them on the ProspectXI website before the tournament, although it should be said that I feel they are a team that can be beaten. Canada are sending an interesting squad including some players who already made their National Senior Team debut. Despite this, I question Canada not putting a greater effort to convince players to play in the tournament, most significantly Cyle Larin. This is needed, especially when Mexico are sending top prospects Hirving Lozano and MLS DP player Eric Torres from the Houston Dynamo. The United States are sending five MLS regulars, while Canada’s MLS players have spent most of their time with reserve teams in USL. Other potential Canadian players who could of challenged for a role with the club but were not called up included Danile Stanse, a regular now with FC Augsburg II in Germany, Keven Aleman who is playing with Herediano in Costa Rica, Tyler Pasher who plays with Pittsburgh; a team fighting for a playoff spot and personally had as successful a season as other USL players invited. Although for me outside of Larin the biggest names missing is Fraser Aird who has played 60 games with Glasgow Rangers and Marco Bustos who after early season injuries has seven goals in 17 games with Whitecaps II in USL. Canada could have also done the same as the United States and bring in players currently playing in NCAA Division 1 soccer including Richie Laryea, who has started out strong for Akron, Kevon Black or Brody Huitema from Duke, or Alex Comsia who has started his first 6 games with North Carolina. One concern for Canada, as expected, most of the team is the same team who represented Canada and struggled at the recent Pan Am Games. While other CONCACAF teams such as Mexico and Panama have stronger teams in this tournament. That being said, no player in the tournament will have as much senior national team experience as Samuel Piette and Canada is sending seven players who are already 22 years of age, which makes them the oldest team of countries who have announced their squads. Here is current Canadian squad with my own updated analysis in terms of how each player has done in club soccer the past couple of seasons. Goalkeepers



Maxime Crepeau, FC Montreal (USL)

Crepeau is a regular for both the Canadian youth national setup and came through the Montreal Impact Academy. The 21-year-old has been FC Montreal’s number one keeper this season, although has only won once in the 11 games he has played in. Despite one win, three ties, and six loss record, Maxime has a good goals against average at 1.18 and also has good save percentage at .776. Crepeau signed a professional homegrown contract with the Montreal Impact in 2013 and has yet to make an MLS appearance and it looks Crepeau will be the FC Montreal keeper for the foreseeable future. Quillan Roberts, Toronto FC II (USL)

Despite Toronto FC II’s struggles this year, Roberts has done well and has out-performed fellow keeper and first round draft pick Alex Bono. Roberts has played in 14 TFC II games, winning three, drawing four and losing seven. Roberts has 1.48 goals against average and a .767 save percentage, which says much about TFC II’s struggles this season. Roberts also played in the USL during the 2014 season with Wilmington, playing in 17 games and also performing well and arguably with Toronto’s first teams struggle in net he should have been given a shot with the first team. Ricky Gomes, SC Mirandela (Portugal)

Canada Soccer has Gomes playing with SC Mirandela, although my own records showing him playing there in 2012-2013 and has since moved to Montemor in Portugal and last played for Deportivo la Coruna "B" team in Spain, although that was in 2014. I have not seen Gomes play or have adequate data on him to give an opinion although playing in Europe might give him the experience to challenge the MLS "B" keepers in Crepeau and Roberts. Defenders



Johnny Grant, FC Montreal (USL)

As I wrote in my annual top overlooked players, where I included Grant in the list, outside of Larin, Grant was the greatest talent I saw in League One Ontario last season. At the time playing with Sigma FC, shortly after my list Grant was signed by Montreal Impact "B" team FC Montreal where he has been starting and playing in 10 games this season. Grant has been used in a full-back role and uses his great athleticism to be a threat with the ball on offense and a good 1v1 defender. FC Montreal has struggled at times and have an issue of not tracking back, which means that Grant has been given a lot of work including on the wrong end of some lopsided scores which is a warning to Canada in this tournament as well. Mark-Anthony Kaye, Toronto FC II (USL)

Toronto FC II has elected to use Kaye fully as a full-back this season, which I'm not sure is his best position. When I've seen Kaye at his best was as a goal scorer at York University or during his loan spell as a winger last season at Wilmington where he scored two goals and two assists in seven games in USL. Kaye has played 22 games with TFC II this season, but has not contributed to the offense outside of two shots on target, and he also looked frustrated at times and been booked 3 times and given a red card. Jackson Farmer, Vancouver Whitecaps II (USL)

Still only 20 years old, Farmer has been a name I have been accustomed to when following Whitecaps soccer. Farmer has played 79 games for the franchise in USSDA, as a reserve player, played games with the U23 team in PDL, and was also loaned out to Charleston in USL last season with he played 4 times. As expected with his history, Jackson has been a key player for the Whitecaps II team this season playing in 22 games so far. A versatile defender who can play center or wide, Farmer provides Canada an asset and could also start as management might have a better sense of what to expect out of the other defenders. Luca Gasparotto, Greenock Morton (Scottish Championship)

Luca went from having success with Ajax in OYSL to signing with Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. At the time, Rangers were in League Two and Luca played four games with the Old Firm club, although since he has been loaned out to Airdrie United and now Greenock Morton. Airdrie were in Scottish League One, a league that has a large amount of amateur players but also a competitive league and Gasparotto did well playing 26 games, scoring two goals and winning player honors with the club. This year he has been loaned out to fellow Championship side Greenock Morton who are in the same league as Rangers. Luca is expected to get a lot of games with Morton, although it is yet to be known if he'll make an impact with Rangers especially at an SPL level. Skyler Thomas, Toronto FC II (USL)

Skyler was another player I have talked quite a bit about during his time with NCAA Division 1 school Syracuse and was drafted by Toronto FC in last season MLS SuperDraft. Thomas also played with Ajax in OYSL, although as he become stronger and a more dominant player, he’s emerged as a pro prospect with Syracuse and also Reading United in PDL where he spent one summer. Thomas was injured at the start of the 2015 season but has since played 21 games with Toronto FC II and his heading ability has also led to him scoring three goals. Skyler has shown the attributes which got him drafted, although he needs to improve on some areas of his game, such as his passing and ball control, to get the call from the Toronto FC first team. Midfielders



Samuel Piette, Racing Ferrol (Spain)

Outside of Larin, Piette might be the Canadian player with the greatest rise during the 2015 season. At ProspectXI we wrote about Piette before joining Canada’s senior team for World Cup qualifiers and Gold Cup after a strong season with Deportivo la Coruna "B" team in Spain. Now on loan with Racing Ferrol, higher expectations will be put on him as he is no longer playing for a feeder team. With Floro a strong believer in building his formations around holding midfielders, Peitte should play a major role with in this tournament and in Canada's qualification games for the 2018 World Cup. Jay Chapman, Toronto FC (MLS)

Chapman should join Piette in a central midfield role. Chapman has had a good season, although has had issues finding consistent minutes spending time with the 1st team and TFC II. He has been the strongest player when playing for TFC II this season scoring two goals in nine games and bringing maturity and direction to the team. Chapman also played 10 times in MLS this season, including one start and shown good signs including an 80% pass completion. Chapman could be asked to play the Hutchison/Johnson role with the U-23 team providing support on offense and defense, which would make him an important player if Canada is to be successful. Michael Petrasso, Queens Park Rangers (English Championship)

High expectations have been put on Petrasso after impressing as a youth player with Woodbridge Strikers and Toronto FC Academy. Moving to Queens Park Rangers in 2013 has brought a mixed bag in terms of development as Petrasso has been caught up in the English Football system being loaned out to a number of teams but struggling to get 1st team games with QPR. Still only 20, Petrasso has shown he is capable of playing English League One including scoring three goals in eight games with Notts County, but has only played once with QPR two years ago. Petrass’so role in 2015-2016 has not been decided with him yet to play a game this season, although he should play a key role in this tournament. Dylan Carreiro, Dundee (Scottish Premier League)

Arguably playing at the highest level of all players on the team with Dundee in the Scottish Premier League, Carreiro has been used as a sub twice this season, although was red carded in his last game. Like Patrasso, Carreiro came from the Toronto FC Academy to Queens Park Rangers route but signed with Dundee at the start of the 2014-2015 season, was loaned out to Arbroath in Scottish League Two and scored five goals in 18 games. If Floro chose to use a similar formation to the senior team Carreiro can join Petrasso on each wing in an attacking midfield role with both players having good speed and agility on the ball. Ben Fisk, Deportivo La Coruna B (Spain)

Challenging Carreiro and Petrasso will be former Vancouver Whitecaps Academy player Ben Fisk, who has played in Spain the last two seasons. Fisk came up through the Vancouver set up as a forward but has developed his game to take on more defensive responsibilities. While with the Whitecaps, Fisk was expected to be a player to make an impact on the first team, including a successful loan spell with Charleston in USL during the 2013 season where he had two goals and two assists in eight games. Fisk left the Whitecaps to sign with Spanish club Coruxo where he had a good 2014-2015 season scoring four goals in 23 games. This season he's joined Deportivo "B" team and started in the club’s first four games this season. Chris Mannella, Toronto FC II (USL)

Depending on formation, Mannella is another player who could get starting minutes in the U-23 tournament in a holding midfield role. Mannella has been highly regarded for his play with Toronto FC Academy in recent years, although for me he hasn't been one who stands out as a starting player in MLS or a comparable league. Mannella has played 15 times with TFC II this season scoring one goal and despite known for being a born captain, he hasn't been as an influential player as expected going into this USL season. Instead, like many TFC II players this season, has looked a bit out of his depth against more experience opponents. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, FC Montreal (USL)

Gagnon-Lapare has worked his way through the Quebec soccer youth system playing with Sherbrooke before moving to the Impact Academy team. He is a versatile player who can take on multiple roles, including full-back, although he’s not a dynamic player especially for one who already has five senior caps at 20 years of age. Gagnon-Lapare has played 16 games for FC Montreal this season, scoring one goal and was also used as substitute twice with the Impact in MLS. Like Mannella, I fear Gagnon-Lapare’s peak level might be USL where Canadian hopes or expectations are much higher and questions might be asked in the future are players playing at a USL level good enough for the Canadian National Team? Mauro Eustaquio, Ottawa Fury FC (NASL)

Part of the Ottawa Fury’s good play this year in NASL can be attributed to the development of Mauro Eustaquio, who has played a key role with the team that currently is in first place. Eustaquio has so far played in 16 games with Ottawa this season after playing eight games with the Fury last season. Eustaquio has a long history of playing youth soccer in Portugal and this training, especially regarding defensive awareness, makes Eustaquio a useful player. Despite being lesser known then some of the MLS academy players, he could play a more significant role with the U-23 and Senior national team. Hanson Boakai, FC Edmonton (NASL)

At 18, Boakai is the youngest player on the team and also a player who could play a key role on the next Olympic Qualifying team. Still being protected by his club team FC Edmonton, Boakai has mostly been used as a late game substitute, although scored his first professional goal this season in his second start against San Antonio. For the last two years Boakai has been the Canadian with the most exciting skill set, however, there still concerns if he will develop the strength to become an everyday starter. It also seems Edmonton are trying to get the most value for Boakai before he graduates to MLS or Europe. Forwards



Caleb Clarke, Whitecaps II (USL)

With Larin not being called into the team and Jordan Hamilton struggling with TFC II, Clarke looks to be the forward Canada will rely on especially if they choose to play only one up front. In a season of struggles for Canadian USL clubs, Clarke is one player who looks already quality enough for the league, scoring seven goals this season and adding four assists in 24 games. Clarke made his MLS debut in 2012 and since been loaned to FC Augsburg II in Germany, and where other Canadians forwards have struggled, Clarke seems to have learned the necessary determination and intelligence needed to be a professional forward in the game. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal Impact (MLS)

With injuries at the forward position, Jackson-Hamel has played a bigger role with his MLS club than was expected playing with FC Montreal in USL. He has looked good when playing with FC Montreal scoring two goals in four games and had six shots on target. While with the Impact, Jackson-Hamel has been used as a late game substitute eight times this season and looked a handful. He has the skills and size you like in a forward and at 21, a player with potential, although there are concerns regarding growth in his current role as a MLS substitute. Molham Babouli, Toronto FC II (USL)

My feelings are mixed regarding Babouli. On one side I'm encouraged that he has been given his opportunity after showing his offensive ability in both Canadian Youth Soccer with Dixie and playing in college. Where my concerns are, is I think he has possibly reached his potential as a professional player. With the struggles of TFC II this year, Babouli is the player the team has depended on more than any other and has scored four goals and added four assists in 24 games. The worry is he has 47 shots and has taken most of TFC II set plays, while there have been issues regarding both his defensive commitment and disciplinary issues. Added, I'm still concerned if he is in a more developed squad, including the Canadian set-up, I’m not sure he will have the same impact offensively and personally would have preferred to see Aird or Bustos on the team.



Aaron Neilsen is a co-founder of Prospect XI (Prospect Eleven), a scouting network and online magazine dedicated to tracking/highlighting young players that refer to as "prospects" as well as their development pathways both within North America and worldwide. Follow PXI via www.prospectxi.com or on twitter @ProspectXI.