Ca-na-da!

Just finished watching my country Canada claim their first ever point at U-17 World Cup level with a 2-2 draw against England!

...all thanks to to an 85th minute leveller by 2nd-choice keeper Quillan Roberts that beat Mackem academy kid Jordan Pickford. How do keepers bounce back from embarrassing goals like that? (See what I did there?)

 

Hey, I'm Canadian as well.

Nice to see Canada get a good result, but against England... doesn't everyone?

 

Some goal for him to score! Fair play to Canada, I'm guessing you went in as total underdogs...

All the poor results from our youth system must SURELY go a long way to giving the FA the boot they need to start actually concentrating on building from a young age...Having people turn down U21 tournaments when not injured is a disgrace and brings the whole international system into disrepute!

Well done on getting a draw though lads!

 

We fall down at a grass roots level. Youngsters should be learning tekkers and ball control, power and strength which are previlent in the Premiership and lower leagues will come as they grow and get bigger but they need to have the skills first.

 

I love Canada, went to Toronto, Montreal & Quebec last year. I'd put Toronto as the best foreign city I've ever visited by a long way.

 

Never been to Canada, but Sydney has got to be up there...The nicest place I've ever been to do without a doubt!

 

In all fairness, England was the better team, and really looked threatening down the left. As well they were attacking from the back rather than resorting to long ball tactics -- both teams for that matter.

But I agree with what you said, and the commentators reinforced that point throughout the match...that the real challenge will be developing these players in the next few years when their senior opportunities will be blocked due to high-cost imports and transfers (most of the kids were from academies of big EPL clubs). Credit to Crewe Alexandra though for having two players on the pitch who've already made appearances in their senior team.

 

I'm hoping to do a road trip this winter. It's a toss up between Australia and the USA. USA would be cheaper but would rather do Australia inc. Sydney!

 

If you do the USA road trip then try to fit in Chicago and Austin.

Chicago is immense but if your going in the winter it will be bitterly cold.

Austin is really laid back and will be warmer.

 

I love Toronto and hope to move back there (though I'm from bumfucknowhere Ontario) when I finish my masters here this summer, and I'm glad you loved your visit. I often worry that people just visit Toronto or Niagara Falls and do the tourist trap stuff and don't really get the best experience

 

Cheers for the advice OT, there's so many places to see and routes to pick it's a hell of a decision trying to pick one.

There's not many foreign cities that I've thought that I could happily live, but I could certainly live in Toronto. From my experience the Canadian people are first class. We made our own way on our travels between the three cities so was good to see a few places that you wouldn't get to on tours. I'd have loved to really get out into the middle of nowhere but we didn't have the time last year.

 

I'm from Toronto, but grew up in Vancouver. I can recommend both, but a trip out across the rockies is a must, finishing up in Vancouver.

 

Two of my friends have just emigrated to Vancouver so that's definately a plan for future holidays. Last year was our first visit to Canada so we only done part of the East.

 

Seconded. Chicago is hands down my favourite American city, followed by Boston. Though I've really only done from Illinois out to the eastern seaboard and south to Florida. Still need to make it out to the west coast (San Fran, Portland, Seattle), and down to Texas.

 

The rockies over towards the west coast are immense. Somewhere like Lake Tahoe is possibly the most gorgeous place I've ever been

 

It's always good to have some locals to stay with and to show you around. If you can, try the interior of British Columbia - depending on time of year, as Winter conditions would limit transportation so best bet would be summer. There's plenty of beautiful spots and it's warm and there's galcier fed lakes nestled in the mountains to cool off in. Also, there's some great wine tasting to do there.

If time allowed, start in Alberta and work your way through the rockies, Banff, Jasper etc, through to the Okanagan and then spending the last part in Vancouver and the surrounding area.

 

What's the latest time in the year you'd go on a trip like that? Mid / Late September? Don't mind the cold but obviously getting restriced by snow etc would be a nightmare.

 

I would go in September, and hope there's been a bit of an 'indian summer'. Either way, take a good rain jacket and a brolly - most of the lower mainland (Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley) is a rain forest, so you should feel right at home! You can get some glorious weather as well, but that's if you're lucky - September would be mild at the most. I would avoid October for the interior, as the altitude can bring early snowfall and fairly difficult driving conditions.

 

Cheers for all the advice! My lunch breaks over so I've got 3 hours to sit at my desk and think about possible trips! Defo look into these tonight.