Sons of El Pescadito: A Thread for Pure & Uncut CONCACAF-ery.

Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
We have a problem here at Breakfast with Gazza. We lack a repository for the bottomless well of insanity, chicanery, shithousing, and general nonsense that CONCACAF routinely provides.

There is a lot of CONCACAF this year:
  • CONCACAF Men's Olympic qualifying tournament (ongoing)
  • WCQ
  • CONCACAF Nations League SF+F
  • Gold Cup
  • CONCACAF Champions League
And of course, there's craziness on the league level as well.

Here's a very CONCACAF story from a couple of days ago. Half of Haiti's team hadn't cleared COVID protocols so they started their game with 10 players, but by the 22nd minute, they were able to put a real GK on the field after his negative result came back.

View: https://twitter.com/si_soccer/status/1373028498990850048
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Great call. Arnold's newsletter is the best one-stop shop for CONCACAF stuff.
 
RSN Diaspora

RSN Diaspora

molests goats for comedy
SoSH Member
Jul 29, 2005
12,111
Washington, DC
CONMEBOL!

(I might be the only one who remembers the great CONCACAF! mishap of the World Cup threads, in which case this is horribly unfunny)
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
World Cup qualifying is underway!

It looks like Paramount+ will have all the matches which is a nice surprise. I might check in on Canada-Bermuda tomorrow.
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
They’re currently mid-table in Liga MX, so that checks out.

UNAL’s top all-time leading scorer also signed from Marseille (and represented France in Euro 16 while playing in Mexico) so I’m sure that helps a ton with their recruitment of Thauvin.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Domer said:
They’re currently mid-table in Liga MX, so that checks out.
Click to expand...
Ok fine, be that way. The CONCACAF thread is not supposed to be a place for sober analysis.

Liga MX clubs do have somewhat mercurial performances up and down the table because of the small-sample size Apertura/Clausura. Tigres are 5th across the 2020/21 season — and last winter finally helped Mexico not embarrass themselves at the CWC!
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
Titans Bastard said:
Ok fine, be that way. The CONCACAF thread is not supposed to be a place for sober analysis.

Liga MX clubs do have somewhat mercurial performances up and down the table because of the small-sample size Apertura/Clausura. Tigres are 5th across the 2020/21 season — and last winter finally helped Mexico not embarrass themselves at the CWC!
Click to expand...
You’re not wrong, but let me point out that Tigres needed a miracle goalkeeper equalizer against Alianza to make the Champions League quaterfinals, then won the abbreviated tournament at a neutral site, where MLS players like BWP were already out-of-contract. Full credit though for beating Palmeiras and holding their own against Bayern in the World Cup. That was truly well-deserved.

For whatever reason, the Monterrey clubs Tigres and Rayades seem to take international competition more seriously.
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
I’m highly enjoying this Santos-Rayades quarterfinal first leg right now. The stadium looks about half full and it’s created a good atmosphere. I would love to see more Liga MX matches in English, unfortunately their tv landscape in America is pretty fractured.
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
High drama at the Azteca. Cruz Azul have equalized the two-legged tie on a soft penalty call in the 80th minute. They would advance as the higher seed if the score holds. Should be a crazy final ten minutes. Glad I dug out my rabbit ears for this, as my streaming service doesn’t carry Univision.

Edit: if both teams score, Toluca advances on away goals (if I understand it correctly), so they just need a goal, doesn’t matter if they concede once!
 
cromulence

cromulence

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2009
7,490
A melee breaks out as Mexico and Costa Rica approach penalties. Amidst the chaos, Step 1 of the Anti-Discrimination Protocol is activated, presumably because of the chants from the El Tri fans. I'm watching the Spanish broadcast so I'm slightly confused.

CONCACAF!
 
Section30

Section30

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2010
1,285
Portland OR
Does the five stretcher, 3 yellow card, 14 foul performance by Honduras qualify as "normal CONCACAF"? asking for a friend from Australia.
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
Cellar-Door said:
View: https://twitter.com/cboehm/status/1401368632106627072


T&T is out, but at least the post-mortem is good
Click to expand...
Wow, a Grantland Rice-esque lead

"In the fading sunlight of Nassau this evening, a generation of Trinidad and Tobago footballers passed noiselessly towards their doom at the Thomas Robinson Stadium."

It’s hard to understate what a disaster this was for TNT. On the penultimate match day of stage one, all bottom seeded nations (all of whom are from the Caribbean) play their final game of the first group stage against the top seeded side in that group.

The final scores in these other 1 v. 5 matchups tonight were: 7-0, 7-0, 8-0, 13-0, 10-0.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Senator Donut said:
Wow, a Grantland Rice-esque lead

"In the fading sunlight of Nassau this evening, a generation of Trinidad and Tobago footballers passed noiselessly towards their doom at the Thomas Robinson Stadium."

It’s hard to understate what a disaster this was for TNT. On the penultimate match day of stage one, all bottom seeded nations (all of whom are from the Caribbean) play their final game of the first group stage against the top seeded side in that group.

The final scores in these other 1 v. 5 matchups tonight were: 7-0, 7-0, 8-0, 13-0, 10-0.
Click to expand...
T&T have been on the decline for a while for a variety of reasons, but the failure here is epic. The last CONCACAF matchday is set up so that the top seeds face the second seeds. In every other group, the top seed is #1 either on points or GD, so they only need a draw. In Group F, T&T are five points behind St. Kitts & Nevis.

It's a bit crazy because there are some (relatively speaking) much tougher second seeds out there, like Guatemala or Suriname (who are going to be a CONCACAF mid-major now that the country changed rules about dual nationality so they can recruit scads of Eredivisie players).
 
dirtynine

dirtynine

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 17, 2002
8,875
Philly
Pretty big Canada-Suriname WCQ tonight. Only one can progress towards the Octagonal (there's more to do for the winner), so somebody's World Cup 2022 campaign ends tonight.

Ultimately, If Canada win or draw, the Reds will progress, but if Suriname triumph by any scoreline, they will move on to the next round and Canada’s WCQ campaign will come to an end. It’s totally in Canada’s hands now, but [Coach] John Herdman will surely be wary of Suriname’s dynamic style of play.

The eventual winner of Group B will face either Haiti or Nicaragua in the second round, which will be in the form of a two-legged tie.
Click to expand...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/preview-canada-face-suriname-to-determine-who-advances-to-the-second-round-of-wcq/ar-AAKO9fL

I don't think there's any reasonable way to watch this match from the US, but there are probably stream options out there.
 
DJnVa

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
55,474
dirtynine said:
Pretty big Canada-Suriname WCQ tonight. Only one can progress towards the Octagonal (there's more to do for the winner), so somebody's World Cup 2022 campaign ends tonight.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/preview-canada-face-suriname-to-determine-who-advances-to-the-second-round-of-wcq/ar-AAKO9fL

I don't think there's any reasonable way to watch this match from the US, but there are probably stream options out there.
Click to expand...
I think it's on Paramount+

EDIT: Or what @Jimy Hendrix said.
 
Last edited:
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
dirtynine said:
Pretty big Canada-Suriname WCQ tonight. Only one can progress towards the Octagonal (there's more to do for the winner), so somebody's World Cup 2022 campaign ends tonight.



https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/preview-canada-face-suriname-to-determine-who-advances-to-the-second-round-of-wcq/ar-AAKO9fL

I don't think there's any reasonable way to watch this match from the US, but there are probably stream options out there.
Click to expand...
TB mentioned upthread that Suriname has started aggressively courting Eredivisie players and is a rapidly improving side. It’s a tough draw for Canada. I wouldn’t be too upset if Canada were eliminated while Akinola (who could theoretically play tonight) was still national team shopping.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
By the way, here's a list of former players born in Suriname:

Edgar Davids
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Clarence Seedorf
Aron Winter

Surinamese-born parent(s)

Ruud Gullit
Patrick Kluivert
Frank Rijkaard
Virgil van Dijk
Georginio Wijnaldum
Sergino Dest


If you can recruit players a tier or two below these guys, you can do a lot in CONCACAF.
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
Tangled Up In Red

Tangled Up In Red

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2004
4,594
Potrero
Yikes, thanks.
As someone who doesn't watch MLS and can only evaluate him based on his transfermarkt value -- roughly the same as Dike & Pefok, and a little more than half of Sargent, where might he sit in the pecking order if he stays?
 
Senator Donut

Senator Donut

post-Domer
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2010
5,773
Tangled Up In Red said:
Yikes, thanks.
As someone who doesn't watch MLS and can only evaluate him based on his transfermarkt value -- roughly the same as Dike & Pefok, and a little more than half of Sargent, where might he sit in the pecking order if he stays?
Click to expand...
There was a quote going around Twitter that implied Akinola could decide to play for the CanMNT as early as tonight, but that has since been clarified.

View: https://twitter.com/alexgangueruzic/status/1400905570828242944


It’s a pretty crowded position at this point with Dike, Hoppe, and Sargent, among others. In my head, his impressive 2020 season leapfrogs him ahead of other u23-eligible players like Ebobisse. His speed definitely gives him a dimension that others don’t, which is helpful on a limited 23-man roster for a tournament.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Akinola can't just suit up for Canada on a whim. He has to file one-time switch paperwork with FIFA which can take a couple of weeks.

Tangled Up In Red said:
Yikes, thanks.
As someone who doesn't watch MLS and can only evaluate him based on his transfermarkt value -- roughly the same as Dike & Pefok, and a little more than half of Sargent, where might he sit in the pecking order if he stays?
Click to expand...
As you probably know, TM values outside the Big 5 leagues are basically a wild-ass guess.

Akinola brings something different than all the guys you mentioned. I see him as a Charlie Davies type — makes good runs and has the speed to burn defenses, physically pretty strong and stoutly built. I'm not sure he offers a ton in the buildup, at least yet.

My ranking of our forward prospects changes weekly. For now, Akinola is behind Sargent, Dike, Pefok and maybe a few others (Zardes? Hard to know) in Berhalter's mind. However, I don't think anybody in the forward pool has separated themselves from the pack in a big way. This is part because we have a variety of prospects, and in part because Sargent's stint at Bremen hasn't been particularly good for his development, so he's not the stone-cold lock at forward that we hoped he would be at this point. One thing that will help Akinola at least be a situational player is that there is not a ton of competition for "pacy forward", unless you try Jordan Morris up there when he gets healthy. Akinola can also play on the wing, though he isn't as good there.

Akinola is at a tough decision point. It clearly makes sense for Berhalter to call him into the Gold Cup team, which would permanently cap-tie him to the US. He needs to make a bet as to whether he can be a part of the USMNT going forward or whether he's better off taking his chances with Canada (though it's not a cakewalk to win playing time at forward for them right now by any stretch).
 
Kliq

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
24,173
Canada has some really legit attacking talent, especially if Liam Miller gets going and reaches his potential.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
It doesn't look like there will be any upsets tonight, barring any late theatrics. Curaçao held on to a draw against Guatemala, thus winning the group on goal difference. St. Kitts lost to T&T, but had already clinched. Haiti beat Nicaragua.

Canada, El Salvador, and Panama have multi-goal leads. If results hold, the second round matchups will be:

#1 St. Kitts & Nevis vs. El Salvador
#2 Haiti vs. Canada
#3 Panama vs. Curaçao

The USMNT opens the Octagonal on the road against the winner of #1 and then hosts the winner of #2.
 
trekfan55

trekfan55

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 29, 2004
11,879
Panama
Titans Bastard said:
It doesn't look like there will be any upsets tonight, barring any late theatrics. Curaçao held on to a draw against Guatemala, thus winning the group on goal difference. St. Kitts lost to T&T, but had already clinched. Haiti beat Nicaragua.

Canada, El Salvador, and Panama have multi-goal leads. If results hold, the second round matchups will be:

#1 St. Kitts & Nevis vs. El Salvador
#2 Haiti vs. Canada
#3 Panama vs. Curaçao

The USMNT opens the Octagonal on the road against the winner of #1 and then hosts the winner of #2.
Click to expand...
Panama looks like they are finally hitting a good stride. They usally blow gaes like these.

The new coah is Danish-Spanish and they have turned over most of the team.

Here's hoping for a good run.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
El Salvador up 3-0 early in St. Kitts. Former US U17 winger Josh Perez scored the second.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Curaçao and Panama are duking it out for a Octagon slot right now. It's 0-0 in the second half which means Panama would go through, but Curaçao would have the edge on away goals if they score.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 15, 2002
14,663
Panama survives.

Canada's up next. A draw vs. Haiti in Bridgeview, IL will be enough to do it.
 
67YAZ

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
9,636
Titans Bastard said:
Panama survives.

Canada's up next. A draw vs. Haiti in Bridgeview, IL will be enough to do it.
Click to expand...
this one snuck by me! But it is an absolutely perfect day for a match here - right now it’s about 75 and clear skies. Would have been a wonderful chance to see Davies & David in person. C’est la vie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom