Best Ever Canadian Soccer Player

[Keeper]

This poll happened to be gracing the Sportsnet website. It was too good not to post here.

[One Dart]

Paul Peschisolido? Trolls need not apply.

[CDK]

Easy choice for me.

Name: Branko Segota

Postiton: Srtiker

Born: 06/08/1961 - Rijeka, Croatia

Hometown: Toronto

Clubs: Baltimore Spirit (NPSL), St. Louis Storm, San Diego Sockers, Mew York Arrows (MISL), Toronto Blizzard (CSL), Golden Bay Earthquakes, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Rochester Lancers (NASL)

Capped: u20, u23, B, A.

Notes:

represented Canada at the 1979 World Youth Championnat in Japan and at the 1986 World Cup
has a prolific indoor career as well - 2nd in all-time MISL goals/points, and 3rd in all-time assists

[steve1234]

I can't believe people are voting for Hargreaves. Remember he's the kid who dissowned his country to go play for the his dad's birth nation. This is the same country that coached him from a kid to be the player he is now. Gratitude.

[Keeper]

Fcuk me. He played for Golden Bay? Can I change my vote?

You had me at Srtiker.

[Keeper]

I can't believe people are voting for Hargreaves. Remember he's the kid who dissowned his country to go play for the his dad's birth nation. This is the same country that coached him from a kid to be the player he is now. Gratitude.

And that's exactly why Branko won't be named Croatia's best, either.

[zenga]

Craig Forest hands down the best ever player to play for Canada.

[Reccos]

I think Craig Forrest achieved the most in his now done playing career but I wouldn't crap on Hargreaves for his decision to pursue his career and national play elsewhere.

Let's face it. There have been many top athletes who immigrated to Canada and who chose to take out Canadian citizenship and perform in Canadian colours internationally. To criticize someone trying to do it the other way is unfair.


I thought Randy Ragan might have deserved a place in the poll, but then again I may be biased. He doesn't match Forrest or Hargreaves when you come down to it, but he did perform well for Canada, much like Dale Mitchell who is another outstanding local guy.

[Regs]

Out of all those players listed, how many actually played in a World Cup? 2?

I refuse to put Lennard at the top thus Mitchell it is

Cheers,

~Regs.

[Dapotayto]

Hmmm...I could have sworn that was Hargreaves playing at the World Cup last year. Segota played in '86 as per CDK's post. Is that the two you're referring, uh, to?

[Guinness]

I must agree with this statement...

Let's face it. There have been many top athletes who immigrated to Canada and who chose to take out Canadian citizenship and perform in Canadian colours internationally. To criticize someone trying to do it the other way is unfair.

Take tennis players Mary Pierce and Greg Rusedski... They are still Canadians to me... Case in point... I still cheer for them as a sentimental favourite becasue of the "Canadian Connection", besides Mary has a great arse!!! What about Gold medal winning Olympians Lennox Lewis, Owen Nolan and Daniel Agalia (sp) (who were not even born here)!!! Don't we cheer them on???

Lets face it, we live in a multicultural society and our bloodlines are all over the shop... Love them or hate them, Canadians born here or not, chose to represent us or not are all still CANADIAN!!!

It always takes a typical ignorant cnut like Steve1234 to be negative... Not that being a Celtic supporter has anything to do with it...

One patriot Guinness...

My vote goes to Craig Forrest, but Hargrieves may surpase him by the time his career is out??? I was thinking Tomas Ruzinski should be in this pole after his career ends as well, but than I remembered he wasn't even born in Canada!!!

Ps. Interesting to see 50% of Hargreaves votes have came from keepers...

[Dude]

Have to say Hargreaves...don't know if any of those other players would have cracked England's starting 11. Possibly Forest, thus, close second.

[knvb]

What about Gold medal winning Olympians Lennox Lewis, Owen Nolan and Daniel Agalia (sp) (who were not even born here)!!! Don't we cheer them on???

Lets face it, we live in a multicultural society and our bloodlines are all over the shop... Love them or hate them, Canadians born here or not, chose to represent us or not are all still CANADIAN!!!

To kill Guinness' point. Two words for you... Brett Hull. Another two...fcuking cnut.

[Keeper]

Out of all those players listed, how many actually played in a World Cup? 2?

And how many have won a Champions League title? 1?

[Regs]

Did Hargreaves actually play? I thought he was injured?

I didn't realise Branco played in '86... the 'too' I was thinking of were Lennard & Mitchell

~Regs.

[Dude]

I thought he got a start in the first match...can't recall, and can't be bothered to look it up. I may have it confused w/ a warm up match.

[Rangerforever]

Depends on how you define "best".

Talent?
I'm surprised Radzinski (sp?) didn't make the list.
Segota for sure was fcuking awesome.

My definition of best would be a combination of what the player accomplished away from the national stage along with what his/her committment was to the National team and what accolades they helped the country achieve.

For example, Kenny Dalglish for Scotland.
Represented his country well whilst playing for Liverpool and racking up silverware there while still being committed to the National Program.

In that, Forrest it is in a landslide.
Segota and Lenny Bobbaduzzi in a tie at a distant second.

The girls are too young yet to judge.

RF

[zenga]

I had the opportunity to run into Radzinsky down in the Dominican Republic and we spoke about why he didnt play matches for the National Team, apparently they told him that they would play more games in Europe, and club vs country thing came up.

He is a very nice guy hopefully the next manager of Canada will include him in the squad they needhim if they have any hope to get to Germany.

[knvb]

The girls are too young yet to judge.

And you say you're from Surrey.

I went with lefty as well.

[Captain Shamrock]

Name: Branko Segota

Postiton: Srtiker

Born: 06/08/1961 - Rijeka, Croatia

Hometown: Toronto


Bribes Taken: One


Segota had a lot of skill but was probably the laziest cnut to ever put on a Canadian jersey. Chris Cheuden had more skill than any of those guys but unfortunately for him, he made a lot of bad decisions of the field.

I would have to go with Craig Forrest who single handedly won the Gold Cup for Canada in 2000(was that the year?).

I can't believe someone on TTP would even put Lenarduzzi as a distant second. He was fcuking AWFUL and I'm not saying that because of our history. We would TTP out of him in practice because he was so bad. Rub-bish.


Captain