Tag: John Herdman

Why Jesse Marsch is perfect for the Canadian Men’s National Team

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Team Analysis

The American coach made his name across an incredibly successful spell at RB Salzburg between 2019-2021, but hasn't been able to hold down the fort since. His brief stints at RB Leipzig and Leeds United showed signs of promise, but also many moments of doubt. So with Marsch being out of a top-tier job for over a year, it comes as a surprise that he would suddenly take over the Canadian Men's National Team. However, Marsch's management style and tactical preferences perfectly fit the current need within the Canadian set-up.

Reflections from Canada’s loss to Croatia – 2022 World Cup

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, Most Recent, World Cup 2022

After taking a few days to reflect on Canada's disappointing loss against Croatia, I have been able to take away many positives from the performance. Kamal Miller won't get much in the way of praise after being hung out to dry at the end of the game, but he had another brilliant performance at the back. Alphonso Davies meanwhile bagged the nation's first goal at a Men's World Cup inside just two minutes of action, waking my neighbours up as I yelled of joy. But in dissecting the game further, it's clear to see that Croatia operated at a higher level, with their fanciful one-touch triangulations causing chaos for Canada every time they had the ball. For what feels like the first time ever, a few things will need to drastically change from a tactical standpoint heading into the next fixture from John Herdman's team. Here are my reflections on Canada's 4-1 defeat to Croatia.

Kamal Miller – Player Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Centre Backs, Most Recent, Player Analysis, World Cup 2022

Canadian footballers operating in the MLS have been notoriously underrated over the years, but now with the nation putting themselves on the world stage, clubs across the globe should start to pay more attention to our greatest players. One of those who has announced himself on the grandest stage is CF Montreal's Kamal Miller. Miller's been arguably Canada's best defender across the two opening group stage matches at the 2022 World Cup, serving as a nice compliment to his defensive partner Steven Vitoria at the back. With a range of qualities on and off the ball, Miller could easily be playing for a club in Europe's top five leagues already. So with that, we aim to strengthen Miller's case for a move across the pond.

Belgium 1-0 Canada – World Cup 2022 – Match Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, World Cup 2022, World Football

Canada's much anticipated first World Cup match in 36 years lived up to the billing, with the Canadians dominating one of the best sides in the world in Belgium. The 1-0 loss will be a slight disappointment for Herdman and his men, but the Maple Leafs will take away the positives from the performance heading into their final two group games. Here is our analysis of Canada's 1-0 defeat to Belgium.

Breaking down Canada’s 2022 World Cup Squad

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, Team Analysis, World Cup 2022, World Football

Canada has officially announced the squad for their first World Cup since 1986, and fans of Canadian soccer will be happy to hear that all of the big names have made the cut. Doneil Henry serves as the only major omission after his latest injury set-back, but even he appears to be set to join the squad in Qatar from the sidelines. So with that, we break down John Herdman's squad heading into a historic World Cup, and what to expect from the Canadians in Qatar.

Football is more about psychology than tactics

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Masterclasses, Sport Psychology

This is not a headline that you would expect to see from a website so devotedly focused on tactics and analysis. But as complex and debatable as this may sound, football is more about psychology than tactics. The best coaches are not always the best tacticians. But the best coaches are always the best motivators. The likes of John Herdman, Emma Hayes, Jose Mourinho and even Jurgen Klopp, rarely ever speak about tactics when expatiating about the game. Instead, they pontificate about the psychology of their teams and players, and their attempts to get the best out of their mentality.

How Canada used the 4-4-2 to success in World Cup Qualifying

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Formations, Most Recent, World Cup 2022, World Football

After thirteen long, hard-fought games, Canada's Men's National Team has officially qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. With 8 wins, 4 draws and just 1 loss in the final stage of qualifying, John Herdman's men sealed their spot with a game to spare, after thumping Jamaica by a smashing score-line of 4-0. In the final stages of the competition, Canada smartly stuck by a 4-4-2 formation, maintaining consistency and chemistry en route to an impressive run to the finish line. Here is our analysis of how Canada used the 4-4-2 to success, and stood strong to stand on guard for thee.