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CANADIAN COACH LOOKS FORWARD TO PLAYING ARMENIA, AFTER PIECING ROSTER TOGETHER
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/676137--canadian-coach-looks-forward-to-playing-armenia-after-piecing-roster-together
Feb 24 2012
TORONTO To paraphrase Trooper, the Canadian men's soccer team will be
in Cyprus next week for a good time, not a long time.
With the FIFA calendar showing just one international date, clubs only
have to release their players 48 hours in advance. And some of them
didn't even want to do that.
So coach Stephen Hart, facing a Feb. 29 friendly with Armenia in
Limassol, is making do with a 17-man roster.
Hart reckons he will have "probably a session and a half" with his
players before the game. Some clubs, he said, wanted to know exactly
when Canada was playing so they could calculate when to release the
player 48 hours beforehand.
"Putting this team together was extremely difficult," Hart told a
media conference call.
Injuries and players still in MLS pre-season - Hart elected to look to
Europe for his squad - were other reasons why assembling the squad was
challenging.
In Europe, some teams are fighting for survival as their season winds
down. There is pressure on coaches to maintain position and for
players to earn playing time and possible new contracts.
"It's a difficult time at the moment,"Hart said. "But I'm glad to have
the game. There's certain players playing together that I'm happy that
they're available.
"So all in all, I'm looking forward to it."
With Serbia also playing a game in Cyprus in the same window, Hart
said he looked into a game with them but was told "absolutely not" by
players' clubs.
The Canadian roster contains 15 European-based players. The exceptions
are Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman and defender Nana Attakora,
who is out of contract and had been training in Scotland.
Hart noted Armenia seemingly has not had problems getting its talent
released. It is bringing 31 players to its Cyprus camp.
Canada is ranked 71st in the world, compared to No. 41 for Armenia.
The Armenians finished third with a 5-3-2 record in their UEFA 2012
qualifying group between Russia and Ireland. But they led the group in
scoring with 22 goals.
"I watched two of their games. I was very impressed," Hart said.
"A very attacking team, love to come forward, will put you under a lot
of pressure. ... It's a game that's going to test how well we defend
as a team and also how we are able to attack a team that is putting us
under pressure. So I thought it was a good game."
Hart has taken the opportunity to call up 17-year-old midfielder
Samuel Piette, who represented Canada at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in
Mexico last year.
Piette plays in the FC Metz system in France.
"He had a very good camp (with the under-20 team), showed very good
qualities," said Hart. "At the time, I said to myself if I do get the
opportunity, I'd like to bring him in with the senior players and see
how he settles into the midfield.
"This seems to be a good opportunity to bring him in, see how he does
in training. It's only a couple of days, I know that, but it will give
me a good gauge for him."
Unlike some other clubs, PSC Eindhoven was happy to have midfielder
Atiba Hutchinson called up. Hart said the Dutch side recognized that
Huthchinson, returning from injury, needed some games.
"They were very supportive," said Hart.
Midfielder Marcel de Jong (FC Augsburg, German) was unavailable
through injury, as was forward Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fuerth,
Germany) who has been hampered with a foot injury.
The Canadian Press
From: Baghdasarian
Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/676137--canadian-coach-looks-forward-to-playing-armenia-after-piecing-roster-together
Feb 24 2012
TORONTO To paraphrase Trooper, the Canadian men's soccer team will be
in Cyprus next week for a good time, not a long time.
With the FIFA calendar showing just one international date, clubs only
have to release their players 48 hours in advance. And some of them
didn't even want to do that.
So coach Stephen Hart, facing a Feb. 29 friendly with Armenia in
Limassol, is making do with a 17-man roster.
Hart reckons he will have "probably a session and a half" with his
players before the game. Some clubs, he said, wanted to know exactly
when Canada was playing so they could calculate when to release the
player 48 hours beforehand.
"Putting this team together was extremely difficult," Hart told a
media conference call.
Injuries and players still in MLS pre-season - Hart elected to look to
Europe for his squad - were other reasons why assembling the squad was
challenging.
In Europe, some teams are fighting for survival as their season winds
down. There is pressure on coaches to maintain position and for
players to earn playing time and possible new contracts.
"It's a difficult time at the moment,"Hart said. "But I'm glad to have
the game. There's certain players playing together that I'm happy that
they're available.
"So all in all, I'm looking forward to it."
With Serbia also playing a game in Cyprus in the same window, Hart
said he looked into a game with them but was told "absolutely not" by
players' clubs.
The Canadian roster contains 15 European-based players. The exceptions
are Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman and defender Nana Attakora,
who is out of contract and had been training in Scotland.
Hart noted Armenia seemingly has not had problems getting its talent
released. It is bringing 31 players to its Cyprus camp.
Canada is ranked 71st in the world, compared to No. 41 for Armenia.
The Armenians finished third with a 5-3-2 record in their UEFA 2012
qualifying group between Russia and Ireland. But they led the group in
scoring with 22 goals.
"I watched two of their games. I was very impressed," Hart said.
"A very attacking team, love to come forward, will put you under a lot
of pressure. ... It's a game that's going to test how well we defend
as a team and also how we are able to attack a team that is putting us
under pressure. So I thought it was a good game."
Hart has taken the opportunity to call up 17-year-old midfielder
Samuel Piette, who represented Canada at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in
Mexico last year.
Piette plays in the FC Metz system in France.
"He had a very good camp (with the under-20 team), showed very good
qualities," said Hart. "At the time, I said to myself if I do get the
opportunity, I'd like to bring him in with the senior players and see
how he settles into the midfield.
"This seems to be a good opportunity to bring him in, see how he does
in training. It's only a couple of days, I know that, but it will give
me a good gauge for him."
Unlike some other clubs, PSC Eindhoven was happy to have midfielder
Atiba Hutchinson called up. Hart said the Dutch side recognized that
Huthchinson, returning from injury, needed some games.
"They were very supportive," said Hart.
Midfielder Marcel de Jong (FC Augsburg, German) was unavailable
through injury, as was forward Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fuerth,
Germany) who has been hampered with a foot injury.
The Canadian Press
From: Baghdasarian