As the month of May comes to an end, thus wraps up what is for many fans around the world, the end of the football season. With so many eyes on Europe as the focal point for the sport, it seems natural that when discussing the calendar year it goes from the end of August to May, often finishing with the Champions League.
For supporters of the Canadian Men's National Team, a year is tougher to define. With players competing all over the globe, from England and Germany, to Norway and United States, the different seasons in which the sport is played is covered by everyone in the squad.
2011/12 had it's ups and downs for Canadians Across the Pond. From a slew of Canucks beginning the year in England to only a couple being able to finish the season out, to Germany where surprise additions to clubs, and performances, have bolstered our national team pool.
When looking back over the last twelve months or so, it's tough to pin down who are the top Canadians who played overseas. The debate is more complicated than simply who had the best form or whose team is playing at the highest level. The realities of our the national team pool is that players in various divisions, in any league, could end up being integral components.
Trying to determine who are the most notable players over the last year begins first and foremost with how that season will benefit the Canadian National Team program. Other factors that weigh in this list are individual and team performances, as well as looking ahead at the trajectory certain players are ascending in their careers.
A few players who could be considered, but just missed making the list, are Tomer Chencinski, who went from complete obscurity last spring, to finishing his season in Finland as team MVP and securing a move upwards in league competition to Sweden's Allsvenskan. His emergence gives supporters and Stephen Hart someone to keep an eye on as he has shown an ability over the year to punch well above his weight through determination.
Atiba Hutchinson might be a controversial omission from this list, but with only 14 games in the season, and PSV Eindoven missing out on a valuable Champions League position, he loses exposure that could have lead to one more high profile move in his career. His form regained over the last two months of the season will be critical to Canada being competitive in early June, and is something to be very optimistic about through the summer and next season with PSV.
With those names out of the way and perhaps some of the criteria better explained, here is RedNation's top five Canadians from Across the Pond over the last year:
#5 Milan Borjan
Roller coaster doesn't even begin to describe the last year for Milan Borjan. His move from FK Rad in the Serbian Super League to Sivasspor in Turkey's Super Lig was one of the more high profile Canadian transfers in 2011. Added in that goalkeeper has been a position that has lacked quality depth of late, this was seen as the required level to ensure he could become the number one heading into this summer's qualifying round.
Early days showed Borjan hanging in with a high level of opposition, even securing a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Fenerbahce in Istanbul. However, it became clear through the fall that Turkey might have been too much of a jump for him, as he began to struggle with the high paced attacking style seen in the league and errors cost him his place to such an extent that he was not listed in squad and many did not know if he was ever going to see the pitch again.
A March loan to FC Vaslui in Romania looked to be the perfect solution as a new manager in Augusto Inacio slotted Borjan into the number one keeper role and Vaslui, who were on the periphery of a Europa League position. Borjan would go on to start sixteen matches, earning seven clean sheets and helping propel his side to finishing in second place and securing a Champions League position in the final week of play.
If Borjan can make his move permanent, a year's exposure in Europe's elite tournament could see him getting noticed from some bigger clubs, as the shorter his stay in Eastern Europe these days, the better.
#4 Simeon Jackson
At first glance, one might think that Jackson's 2011/12 season might have been a slight disappointment given on and off runs in the starting eleven, and only three goals. What many forget is the mental fortitude Jackson has demonstrated throughout his career, as well as an uncanny ability to punch well above his weight and hold his own in divisions that were deemed too competitive for him.
At only twenty-five years of age, he was able to prove that the was not out of his depth in the Premiership, and while three goals is nothing to get overly excited about, showed flashes of dynamism and in the last match of the season, continued to cement himself as someone who is clutch right down to the final week.
The precedent of North American players traditional age to peak, and the fact he was able to perform at this level bodes well for the years ahead. Two notable players, Tomasz Radzinski and Clint Dempsey are examples of North Americans who did not become Premiership impact players until their late twenties. Add in the impression he has certainly made on manager Paul Lambert as a clutch performer, this season will do him well for the rest of his career as Lambert is sure to move upwards, whether it be with Norwich City or a bigger club.
#3 Randy Edwini-Bonsu
Much like Borjan, Edwini-Bonsu showed exceptional mental toughness through the last year to put himself in a position where if all continues upwards, he cannot be denied as someone to make Canada's senior team. After being cut from the Vancouver Whitecaps in late April 2011, there was not much hope someone who could not make it in MLS would take significant steps in their career any time soon. However, they say sometimes you have to take two steps backwards to move one step forward.
Signing on with AC Oulu, in Finland's second division, would not often be seen as a shrewd career move, but it was a gamble he took and it paid off. Sixteen goals in twenty games earned Edwini-Bonsu a handful of promising trials throughout the fall, most notably with Eintracht Braunschweig in the 2.Bundesliga. His fine scoring form and blazing pace carried him through his trial and ultimately earned him a contract.
Add in his appearance with Canada's U23 team, Edwini-Bonsu also proved he is a player that is able to make an impact on the international stage. His skillset caused all kinds of problems in CONCACAF, and specifically US defenders, and it is not much of a speculation that had he not received a red card, could have made a difference against Cuba.
Edwini-Bonsu now needs to keep his upward ascent with Braunschweig. While it was disappointing to some he did not receive a call-up to this summer's qualifying matches, he has proven to be mentally tough over the year and shown he can overcome adversity. Much like Olivier Occean, he will need to make himself undeniable through performances next season, and given his perseverance over the last year, the odds are in his favour.
#2 David Edgar
As the 2007 U20 captain, and long-time Newcastle United product, it feels as though Edgar has been around forever. However, limited time with the Magpies and a move to Burnley that saw similar minutes kept him on the outside of any National Team call-ups. Burnley's move down to the Championship gave him a window to get some more time but it was not until this year that he was able to take hold of the centre back position with the Clarets and not let go.
An early season injury gave Edgar the chance to start, and he proved what many had seen over the years and that is he's fully capable at competing week in week out. Forty-four appearances through 2011/12 gave Stephen Hart a much need option on the backline, and his game against Puerto Rico at right back was a sign that he is able to be an impact player for the red and white.
Looking at the backline for Canada, most eyes go to the fullback position to question who is going to hold down the flanks. However, in reality, the team is also one or two injuries away from being in a dire situation when it comes to centre back. This is why Edgar's coming out in 2011/12 with Burnely is so important for the team this summer and foreseeable future.
Edgar's potential pairing with Kevin McKenna can allow Dejan Jakovic to return to form, as well as Andre Hainault to remain in his current club position with Houston at right back. Now Canada's backline is beginning to look much more solid and composed of in-form players in their natural positions.
#1 Olivier Occean
One of the best parts of tracking Canadian players in Europe over the last year was looking for, and more often than not, confirming that Olivier Occean had scored for his domestic club, Greuther Furth. Like so many Canadian players, it was thought his goal scoring rate in the 3.Liga at Kickers Offenbach could not be sustained when he moved up a higher division to 2.Bundesliga.
Occean became the featured striker for Furth throughout the year, finishing his goal tally one higher than the year before with seventeen that tied him for league leading scorer and help Furth not only gain promotion to the Bundesliga, but win the 2.Bundesliga title as well. His goal against Hoffenheim and Furth's impressive run in the DFB-Pokal hopefully shows both Occean and his club will be able to hang with Germany's top clubs.
It is not often that Canada has an in-form striker, and one that will be competing in one of the highest leagues in the world. The Bundesliga will certainly be a massive step up, but especially for now and this round of qualifying, Occean is in top form and needs to be taken advantage of. Furth play a very direct style and the vast majority of his goals were inside the 18-yard box on the run of play. It will be interesting to see if the plan will be for either Canada or Occean to adapt to one or the other.
|