Canucks4Ever
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #221
Ariba is not retiring. Only injuries and body management at his age have kept him out. He came to play Bermuda in March and would have been here for these games had his body allowed it. He will be back in Sept. assuming he is healthy. He is playing some of the best football of his career currently and, after years of carrying the mantle for Canadian soccer alone he is more than entitled to this World Cup qualification run. When it ends he will hang them up...or he will play at the World Cup.I was thinking about that the other day... with how the squad is coming together, who would you sit in the middle of the park if he was brought back in? Even Atiba at this point of his career, is it worth it? For me, I would bring back Atiba for a single home game to give him a proper "send off" game.
Thoughts?
Arfield is a different kettle of fish. All sorts of rumours that he was focused on Rangers title run, Gerrard didn't want him flying all across the world for extra matches at his age, Covid complications for travel, etc., etc. It was also rumoured that he more or less told Herdman he did not want to travel all over the world playing minnows.
Only Herdman knows the real situation with Arfield and he will know the feeling in the locker room towards him as well.
IMO I think Arfield is done. He's been away for over a year now, meanwhile Atiba, Hoillet, David, Davies, Larin have all put the effort in to get across the Atlantic and take care of business. Arfield is good, but he's not that good and if he won't come to play minnows I doubt he's coming to make up the numbers and sit on the bench.
Maybe the team goes to bat for him and says they want him involved. The midfield is already crowded though, so it's tough to imagine MAK, Osorio, Piette et al saying get Arfield in and I'll watch from the side.
If Arfield really wants back in maybe he calls Herdman and says "Hey, I was burnt out, but I'll come lead this B Team at Gold Cup and earn my place back in the first team.". I doubt it though...