HEALEY: CanMNT’s November window key in deciding Jonathan David’s partner

Canada’s arguably never had more quality up front.

Be it Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi or Theo Bair, Canadian number nines have invaded mainland Europe, gracing pitches from Turin to sunny Castellón with their nose for net. They’ve scored some big goals, too, with Union Saint-Gilloise’s Promise David converting in the UEFA Champions League and Oluwaseyi marking a hat-trick in the Copa del Rey. All of this is to say, Canadian men’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch isn’t short of options — the era of the Canadian striker has arrived.

But for all their quality, Marsch’s striker group, which also includes Cyle Larin, who remains an infrequently used substitute for Feyenoord, enters November’s international window in a goalless drought. They failed to score versus Colombia and Australia. And they arrived in Toronto, preparing for another physical contest versus Ecuador, with key offensive players out of form with their clubs.This November window is also incredibly important in the timeline leading to the World Cup as it’s Marsch’s last chance until March to judge his players, and ultimately decide, which forward to pair with Jonathan David.

It’s safe to say that now is the time for players Oluwaseyi and Promise David to showcase their talents. They both enter, alongside Bair, in respectable forms and will look to matches versus La Tri this week and Venezuela on Tuesday as opportunities to solidify their places, especially with less than eight months until the World Cup.

The question, of course, is which player best compliments Jonathan David? He is a key player to Marsch’s match plan, having contributed 11 goals and four assists under him, and able to play as a leading man, distributor or finisher with his skill and creativity. There’s a case to be made that he’s Marsch’s most important player.

Canada’s struggles in recent matches against low blocks can partially be attributed to Jonathan David dropping deep to collect the ball, meaning he’s got further to go to get into dangerous areas. Oluwaseyi certainly looks to complement the Juventus striker’s movement and his worth ethic off the ball — a big part of Marsch’s system — is excellent. Promise David, however, offers something very different with his formidable 6 '5 frame and finishing ability but perhaps lacks the movement needed to push defenders back. Marsch’s shown a willingness to experiment with both but a strong showing from either could go a long way in swaying the gaffer’s mind. They enter this window having scored four (Oluwaseyi) and seven goals (Promise David) respectively across all competitions and were given starts at this summer’s Gold Cup.

Larin, meanwhile, is the veteran of Canada’s striker group but also the least in-form. He’s scored only one goal across all competitions and remains unfavoured at Feyenoord. The 30-year-old certainly isn’t the only player struggling as Jonathan David and Stephen Eustáquio have also found themselves on the bench for their clubs but there’s little doubt about their place within Canada’s starting XI. The same can’t be said of Larin, who has seen his minutes and role diminished as he’s only started one match in Canada’s last eight matches. 

Could a strong November camp keep him in Marsch’s plans? Well, it certainly sounds like it.

”Each guy is a little different,” Marsch told OneSoccer while discussing players out of form. 

“Jonathan’s the type of guy where our relationship is that he doesn’t need me there all the time. He’s super mature, he’s very in control of his own life, he knows how to deal with ups and downs.

“Cyle and I have gotten really close and as much as Cyle is so established, I’m even trying to help develop him even further and I believe in him so much and I know he has so much more to give. I’m trying to push him every day. We have really open discussions about a lot of different things. I know that I can count on him as well.”

It’s possible Marsch decides on a player he can trust on the pitch versus the one with the biggest upside. Larin has undoubtedly been a good soldier for Canada since debuting in 2014. And the time to experiment, as noted by Marsch himself, is nearly at an end with only so many windows remaining before the world descends.

But players like Bair have also made their case, earning a spot back at camp by scoring eight goals in all competitions since joining Lausanne on loan. Daniel Jebbison, a player Marsch himself recruited, is also starting to find his groove in the Championship. Could they be underdogs to make the World Cup roster?

Whoever Marsch names, ultimately, will be about getting the best results once the tournament begins this coming June. And what he’s looking for in this window is a swiftness to fall back into the system and philosophies he’s preached since taking charge.

“How quickly can we shift right away back into the gear that we need to be in to be our best and can we, in a short time frame, be ready in an important match at home and continue to establish our run toward the World Cup,” said Marsch of this window’s tests.

“(Ecuador) presents a lot of challenges.”

Rising to those challenges in these two upcoming friendlies will go a long way in forcing Marsch’s hand. And the fact that CanMNT won’t gather again for several months means whatever impression Oluwaseyi or Larin or Bair make in the coming days will linger. It’ll be interesting to see who gives Marsch something to chew on.