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    Guest
    Sometimes, things have a way of cancelling each other out.
    A "controversial" (to use the preferred euphemism) penalty kick for Montreal in the first half of Saturday's showdown at the Big O was cancelled out by an, ahem, controversial penalty gifted to Toronto in the second half. The impressive, coordinated support from the hometown Ultras was, to some extent anyway, cancelled out by the several thousand (not 5,000, but a massive turnout nonetheless) traveling TFC supporters.
    Even the early, precautionary removal of Alessandro Nesta was cancelled out by a resolute and organized Impact squad that bent, but didn't break, amidst a late-game push by the visiting Reds.
    And while losing to a natural rival like Montreal is always going to sting for the Toronto faithful, that disappointment is somewhat cancelled out by the realization that the Impact are looking -- so far, anyway -- like a legitimate force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Head coach Ryan Nelsen could be forgiven for taking the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to his squad selection, coming off last week's surprising victory over Kansas City. But this time, the script was flipped, as TFC found themselves at the receiving end of a penalty decision and a bit of opportunism combined with a smooth finish by an opposing striker.
    Yes, some fans (guilty as charged) argued bitterly at the time that Marco di Vaio's tally should have been called back for offside. And while there's a chance it was (even freeze-frame replays proved inconclusive), it's the sort of play that ultimately falls within the officials' acceptable margin of error. Besides, even the hangover-nursing red-clad hordes would likely concede the Impact were full value for the win on the day.
    It helps, of course, to know that Toronto will have at least four more opportunities this year to cancel out Saturday's result, with two more MLS regular-season games and two Canadian championship tussles to come against Montreal.
    By the time those fixtures roll around, TFC could (stop me if you've heard this one before) look very different: Danny Koevermans, Luis Silva and Julio Cesar could all be back from injury and be regular starters, while president Kevin Payne may have pulled the trigger on the additional player acquisitions he's mused about (including one or two new designated players, maybe?)
    Meanwhile, we'll see whether Montreal (currently sitting alone atop the league table, albeit at a very early juncture) will have fallen back to earth, particularly as the rigours of an MLS season begin to take their toll on the many pairs of 30-something-year-old knees on the Impact roster.
    For where these two teams sit right now, Saturday's result seemed correct... but the MLS campaign is still very young, and there's plenty of time yet for unexpected events to cancel that result out entirely.
    .
    Guest

    Whitecaps set to become loan arrangers

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    <i>[updated]</i>
    Vancouver Whitecaps look set to continue to work their roster with three young Canadians heading to the state of Carolina on loan.
    The club was initially thought to be set to announce that they will be loaning midfielders Bryce Alderson, Ben Fisk and striker Caleb Clarke to the RailHawks of the NASL, but it now looks like they will be heading to Charleston Battery in USL Pro instead.
    All three players are products of their Residency program who are in desperate need of minutes with a professional side to continue their development at such a crucial stage of their fledgling footballing careers. With no easy answer to this continuing plight for the Caps young talent, that Club have proactively sought out what they feel to be the best environment to continue to develop these players for the future.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Unfortunately, last season Clarke saw very limited action while Alderson didn’t make an appearance with the first team. The story with Ben Fisk is another matter as it has long appeared that they are interested in him but they have yet to come to an agreement that sees him joining the MLS squad.
    With Clarke and Alderson being loaned out, it will open up two more spots on the 30 man roster, and with Carlyle Mitchell already in Edmonton, the Caps have room to add three more players if they choose to do so and the salary cap allows. These loan moves will have no difference on the salary numbers as both contracted players were Homegrown and didn’t count against the cap.
    The continuing argument these past two years is that many rate the Whitecaps' homegrown players higher than some of the current players on the roster, but the Caps can somewhat afford to leave those other players on the bench or in the reserves. A player like Caleb Clarke has a lot invested in him by the organization and can’t be wasted on the bench, getting minimal minutes like ‘hired guns’ Tom Heinemann and Corey Hertzog will be this season. That is not development and that will not help the players of the Caps in the long term.
    However, there are no guarantees that the three young players will be handed playing time in Carolina.
    If they headed to the RailHawks the club have veteran players that have experience. They currently have two former Caps on the roster with Nicholas Addlery and Floyd Franks, as well as former MLSers <a href="http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?id=115&playerID=411" target="_blank">Zack Schilawski</a>, <a href="http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?id=115&playerID=297" target="_blank">Nick Zimmerman</a> and <a href="http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?id=115&playerID=375" target="_blank">Austin Da Luz</a>.
    The RailHawks face a 26 game season in NASL action, split between the new look Spring and Fall schedules. Factor in US Open Cup games and friendlies and there will be a lot of opportunities for Alderson, Clarke and Fisk to gain valuable experience and developmental minutes over the coming months.
    Charleston Battery will also play a 26 game season in USL Pro, and Fisk has already made an appearance for them in a friendly yesterday.
    Some will snipe about the Whitecaps loaning out and not playing Canadian talent, whilst keeping American draft picks in Vancouver, but those that do are missing the bigger picture.
    Full details of the loans are not yet known, and while there are no guarantees for the three loanees, the deal would not have been finalized if there weren’t some assurances from the clubs.
    One thing is for certain, the players will get more minutes and development in the NASL/USL Pro set up than they would be getting with the way the Whitecaps are currently structured. All three will come back better players and that can only be good for Bryce, Caleb and Ben and the Caps themselves.
    We wish them all well and will be providing regular updates on them throughout the season.
    <p>
    Guest
    Anyone who remembers Ben Knight's excellent work two years ago covering the governance reform process within the Alberta Soccer Association knows how messy and complicated that process got.
    So with the implementation of the CSA's long-term player development model becoming a hot-button issue in recent months, many around the country have surely been wondering: What will Alberta do?
    This week, we received our answer -- and for LTPD advocates, the news is largely positive.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    In a release earlier this week, the ASA said it would begin implementing elements of the CSA's LTPD plan but, unlike the Ontario Soccer Association, they would not be eliminating scores and standings for U12 ages and below (which is a recommendation rather than a requirement) -- not yet, anyway.
    While the elimination of scores and standings at U12 and below is just one element of a broader player development plan, it has been jumped upon by pundits and commentators in Ontario and beyond -- and it's been used by some to improperly portray the LTPD plan as some attempt to "bubble wrap" kids or deprive them of the ability to compete.
    For instance, even though the ASA isn't even following the OSA's lead in the scores/standings issue, that was still the focus of a CBC radio interview with ASA executive director Richard Adams. In the interview, Adams correctly notes that players and parents will always have a vague idea of scores and standings, whether or not leagues keep track officially. And though he's only given six minutes, Adams does a good job of explaining what's been going on in Ontario, as well as the differing approach in his province:
    The ASA has chosen to focus upon a "phased in approach" that emphasizes coaching courses and development. This, of course, is crucially important to the entire process; while those defending the OSA's implementation plan have insisted that eliminating scores and standings at U12 and below will help shift the focus onto improving players' skills, the reality is that without adequately prepared coaches, it's all ultimately a moot point.
    Adams noted that the ASA will take a look at whether the elimination of scores and standings is something they would also like to pursue, and presumably the aftermath of Ontario's decision will guide those discussions to some extent. But it's important to note there's no attempt here to cast either the OSA or ASA as taking the "right" approach -- the right approach is whichever one ensures maximal buy-in from soccer teams, parents and coaches, with the ultimate aim of reaching the goals of the LTPD plan.
    In other words, it's important to remember that the elimination of scores and standings is nothing more than a means to an end.
    Taking Canadian soccer from a clearly dysfunctional system to one that helps ensure the health of our professional and national teams while also creating a fun and rewarding experience for the overwhelming majority of kids who'll never aspire to play at the top level... well, it's a massive (and massively complicated) undertaking.
    But while their approaches differ slightly so far, it is encouraging to see officials in two of the country's largest and most powerful jurisdictions getting onboard with long-term player development. Here's hoping all other provinces and territories (and their members) follow suit.
    Guest

    Montreal vs Toronto Pre Game Show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    The Reds are in town to kick off Montreal's home portion of the 2013 season.
    In this show, you will hear from Hassoun Camara, Patrice Bernier, Marco Di Vaio, Mauro Biello and Marco Schällibaum, and from our reporter Raphael Larocque-Cyr.
    We also talk about the biggest MLS rivalries with Jonathan Tannenwald who also discusses Joey Saputo's comments on a Montreal radio station about fans identifying better with the current team.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to our 40 minutes show: SoccerPlus - Montreal v Toronto Pre Game Show
    Guest
    There has already been much comment in Toronto about how the 2013 season of TFC seems to be an attempt to reset to 2007. With a return to 2007 prices, at least for season ticket packages, the argument goes that fans should reset their expectations. 2013 is essentially a second attempt at starting an MLS club in Toronto and TFC might best be thought of as a brand new expansion team.
    Now, ahead of the first Montreal versus Toronto meeting of the new season, the story, as in 2007, is once again all about the fans.
    Back in the early days of Toronto FC it was the fans that gave the team its identity: sold out season tickets, packed stands for every game, a bustling secondary market with frankly ridiculous mark-ups from face value, and an entire end of standing fans. All of this was new and exciting and had never been seen together before in Major League Soccer.
    Yes, Danny Dichio scored that goal and etched his name in Toronto soccer folklore but it wasn’t the goal itself that was memorable; it was the fans and their reaction that made the moment. Not just the seat cushion frisbees but the emotion, the pure unbridled passion for the team, that made it obvious that something special had happened in Toronto.
    Somewhere along the line it all went a bit off the rails.
    Not all of this was simply down to the failures, the anger, and the inevitable loss of shiny newness at Toronto FC. By 2012 MLS had become a very different league than the one that the original TFC side began play in back in 2007.
    Expansion in the Pacific Northwest, even Philadelphia, added clubs with vibrant fan cultures – in some cases much older than Toronto FC’s – that in many ways far outstripped what had happened in Toronto. Rebranding (and a new state of the art stadium) in Kansas City resurrected a mostly moribund franchise and showed that MLS could work even in the league’s oldest markets. More stadiums opened and clubs like Real Salt Lake were able to use success on the pitch to consolidate their place in their community.
    While some of the old leaders of North American fan culture like DC United and Chicago, that Toronto FC fans had followed in the footsteps of, may have seemed to flag the truth was obvious: Toronto fans, even if they had maybe overestimated their own significance in the beginning, were no longer special.
    So we come to the first 401/20 Derby of 2013.
    The front offices of both the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC deserve credit for helping to facilitate what is expected to be the largest group of travelling support (for a league game at minimum) in league history. As part of MLS’ “Rivalry Week” promotion this was a game that could have been lost in the shuffle but has now been turned into something special. Once again, as in the beginning, the fans have made that possible.
    Of course, there’s still a game to be played and, fortunately, there are more than enough interesting sub-plots to explore in that regard as well.
    The central question that fans of both clubs and observers from around the league will be hoping to find more evidence of an answer to is, for each club in their own way, “are these teams for real?”
    It’s early, early days but, at the moment, Montreal are a revelation. Two road victories in two of the most hostile stadiums in MLS have not only equalled the Impact’s total number of road wins in 2012 but vaulted them to the top of the league table.
    Yes, part of that is simply down to MLS’ unbalanced schedule but a third win in their home opener would consolidate a position of strength from which to base the rest of their season. It’s not possible to make the playoffs on points earned in March and April alone but you can certainly make your job over the rest of the season much easier.
    Marco Schallibaum has the Impact playing highly organized counterattacking football capable of slick and incisive breaks from positions in their own end. Whether or not that was a specific adaptation to the necessities of playing on the road or evidence of their general philosophy of play remains to be seen. Toronto, strangely, might provide an interesting test as, away from home, it’s not likely that they’ll be as adventurous as both Seattle and Portland were prone to be.
    Regardless, so far Schallibaum seems like the sort of foreign coach who could succeed in MLS: his hiring fits with the culture that the club wants to create and he’s not trying to revolutionize MLS. Instead, he so far seems to be using the parts he’s been given to optimize a strategy that will give them the greatest chance of success.
    On the Toronto side, “for real” is a much lower bar to reach for. Simply put: after two games under Ryan Nelsen fans of the club are excited by the possibility that the team might not be terrible in 2013.
    Both Vancouver and Sporting Kansas City are expected to be sides either in the mix or serious contenders in 2013. To have come away from their opening two fixtures with three points and to not have been embarrassed in either game is already a victory for the TFC’s new regime.
    What is unclear however is how much of that was down to Toronto FC and how much of that was down to their opponents. Did TFC successfully use good organization and appropriate tactics to make two pretty good teams have two pretty mediocre games or did both the Whitecaps and Sporting manage to have off days?
    A result in Montreal would go a long way towards suggesting the former over the latter and that, while they might be unlikely to be playing much pretty soccer in 2013, that TFC might just be able to stay competitive over the course of the season. For a lot of fans that would be pretty good for an “expansion season”.
    Guest
    With the Whitecaps seemingly unrivalled in Major League Soccer this weekend, the spotlight is on the fringe and reserve players as they get put through their paces in three friendly matches against top local university sides over six days.
    This is an opportunity for some to convince Martin Rennie that they don't just deserve to be in the gameday eighteen, they should be starting. For others, it's a chance to break into that eighteen, whilst others still are wanting to show that they deserve to be part of the Whitecaps MLS squad this season.
    Or at least that's how it should be. There wasn't much of it on display in Thursday's 3-0 drubbing by CIS Champions UBC Thunderbirds.
    Sure, it's only one game, it's early in the season, and there's still an air of unfamiliarity amongst the players, but the nature of the defeat does raise some initial questions as to whether the 2013 Whitecaps currently have the quality of depth that the team will need to reach their goals this season and where is the hunger from these guys?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    But let's get something out of the way first of all. UBC played a great game of football and thoroughly deserved their victory. They bossed the game, were physical where it mattered, looked more creative, took their chances well and showed what quality there is at the top CIS level. They have a number of quality players that deserve to be given a look at the next level.
    The footwork shown by Sean Haley for the second goal, as he waltzed through four Caps players, would have earned him MLS 'Goal of the Week' honours most weeks.
    UBC not only outshot the Caps (12 to 10), but they did what the Whitecaps fail to do time and time again - get their shots on target. They outdid the Caps eight to three in that regard.
    Let's take nothing at all away from the Thunderbirds. The Whitecaps played badly primarily through UBC playing so well. A view echoed by Martin Rennie, who spoke to the UBC guys after the game. So what did he tell them:
    <i>"Just well done. I was really impressed with how they played. We're building a great partnership here with UBC and there's a lot of respect from us to them and towards their team and that respect grows even more when we play in a game like that, that's played with a great spirit and a great intensity.
    "They've obviously had a very good season and they're a solid team, so I just wanted to encourage them and congratulate them. No-one likes to lose, but how you lose is important too."</i>
    But there's no getting away from it, this was a woeful performance by the Caps. Matt Watson is probably the only player who came away from the game with pass marks, and that's just for his second half performance. He had the Whitecaps best scoring chance of the game, cracking a fierce 30 yard drive off the right hand post.
    This wasn't a weak or third string Whitecaps side out there. The Caps used 15 players, 11 of them have MLS minutes under their belt, three of them this season.
    For those that haven't already seen it, this is how the Caps lined up:
    Brad Knighton; Greg Klazura, Johnny Leveron, Adam Clement (Ethen Sampson 57), Jordan Harvey; Matt Watson, Russell Teibert; Erik Hurtado, Camilo Sanvezzo (Paulo Jr. 67), Kekuta Manneh (Tommy Heinemann 61); Corey Hertzog (Caleb Clarke 75)
    What's perhaps most scary about this line up is that if Martin Rennie put this team out to face Edmonton in the Voyageurs Cup, you wouldn't bat an eyelid.
    So what went wrong?
    Well for starters, UBC played as a team. The Whitecaps played as individuals that simply did not look to be on the same page. Communication was non existent.
    There's that early season rustiness of course, but UBC are just back for their spring schedule too and haven't had an intense two month training camp under their belt. Every player is going to have off days and you can throw up arguments like it being the first time many of the Caps team had played a full 90 minutes in a long time, but that's just excuses and when the whole team is playing like that, then there's something not right.
    UBC were more up for the game. You expect that. This is a bunch of college guys up against professionals, with a chance to put themselves in the shop window.
    But as we outlined above, all of these Whitecaps had their own point to prove and there is no excuse for any of them not being 'up' for a game like this. This is exactly the kind of game that I want to see players go out and try and impress the hell out of their boss. They're not going to get better chances to do that.
    Games like these show the character and attitude of a player and some of them frankly didn't look like they wanted to be out there.
    Camilo struggled to get past the UBC backline on so many occasions, and this is the guy that we are probably going to have in the team against Houston with Kenny Miller being away on Scotland duty. I know he's a player that often needs the big occasion to see the best out of him, but it is concerning.
    Corey Hertzog was hardly noticeable for the time he was out there and Tommy Heinemann lasted all of 15 minutes before seeing a straight red for first elbowing and then pushing Thunderbirds defender Will Hyde. Are either of these guys really going to offer more than someone like Caleb Clarke this season? Will any of them even see many MLS minutes?
    UBC easily negated the speed of Erik Hurtado and Kekuta Manneh, both of whom were playing at a supposedly higher level than this last season. Hurtado looked lively in the opening minutes but then soon fell into the rut of the rest of the team and Manneh had a first half chance which he blasted over.
    If this was a good look at the depth of the Caps midfield and attack this year, it was a bit of a worry. After all the good things we've heard about Russell Teibert this preseason. he played particularly poorly, maybe hindered by picking up a booking in just the sixth minute for a crunching tackle.
    The defence looked a little slow and were often on the back foot and it wasn't Brad Knighton's best game in a Caps jersey. He looked a little bit frustrated out there, exemplified when he charged after a UBC player after a collision in the box. It can't be easy when just a few weeks ago you thought you were the number one keeper but now you're playing against a college team in the pouring rain. Again, this shows a player's character. How well do they handle such adversity?
    Adam Clement's addition takes the MLS squad back up to 29 after Carlyle Mitchell's loan to Edmonton, and he had a quiet game. He looks a big lad back there and mobile too. Johnny Leveron was dwarfed beside him and although he didn't excel, he did show some touches that showed his international calibre. They were few and far between though. Greg Klazura was getting beat and caught out at right back at times and I much prefer him on the left. This is when getting him more meaningful minutes last season would have helped.
    I still think we'll see Jordan Harvey traded, maybe with at least one other, and depending on what we trade for, this may help our depth issues and hopefully add a little bit of experience at lesser money.
    Additional depth may also come from the MLS transfer window, which is still open until April 15th. Still plenty of time to see Peter Odemwingie camped in the BC Place car park.
    Whether we add to the current depth now, or in the summer, you feel it is still needed.
    Martin Rennie tried to put a positive spin on proceedings, but he was clearly raging at times, leaving his seat in the stand to go down and shout on the touchline:
    <i>"Winning the game 3-0 isn't as valuable to us as losing the game 3-0 at this stage, especially when there is nothing really on the line."</i>
    Although I understand where he's coming from, this group of players should not be losing a game like this 3-0 and certainly not with the performance that they put in.
    But Rennie did also have some words of caution for players who may feel they can just turn up to games likes this and go through the motions:
    <i>"The players who are not playing in the first team need to realise that one of their responsibilities is whatever game they're playing in they have to show up and represent the club well."</i>
    With basically the same squad of players now heading to Victoria on Saturday to take on the UVic Vikes, what I'm most interested in seeing is how they personally bounce back as both individual and as a team.
    The team had a whole different intensity when they came out for the second half against UBC. It would have been an interesting Caps dressing room at half time.
    This next game will show just what mindset our fringe guys are bringing to the team this year. They should come out all guns blazing with many points to prove.
    SFU are then up on Tuesday, in what will be another game against a side who will certainly be up for causing an upset and especially keen to go one better than UBC.
    So should we read too much into this game?
    Probably not (I know, I could have saved you reading 1600 words there!), and although it's far too early to describe our depth as a major concern (I'll reserve full judgement till I see it tested in MLS action), there are some initial worries and some questions do need to be asked.
    These games are more about getting playing time and developmental minutes than the result, but you at least want to see the right attitude out there and leave with some feeling that there was some actual development!
    Were they just caught cold by a team more eager to perform? Why were they not as eager? Do we have a group of fringe players who can turn it on and turn it off? How will they now respond to such a defeat?
    Most importantly, can we rely on our depth players to come in and do a job when injuries and suspensions call on them? And do we have the players to sustain a possible extended season with Champions League and playoff games, and all the issues those can bring?
    From Thursday's showing, the answer is no. It's now up to all of these players to go out in the next games and show that this is the wrong perception. That the UBC game was a freak result and that Martin Rennie has put together a squad with just the right level of depth, talent and desire to succeed. That if we were to put this team out in the initial stages of the Voyageurs Cup, that they will be able to get the job done.
    What we don't want to go through is another summer squad overhaul, but if some of these guys don't shape up, then they'll most certainly be shipped out. That thought alone should surely be enough to see them raise their games.
    Let's see what Saturday brings.
    <p>
    Guest
    34. The number of games in a MLS season, Caleb Clarke's number, and the latest episode of our podcast.
    We have a variety of guests this week for your listening enjoyment.
    <b>Paul Mullen</b>, the executive director of BC Soccer, joins us to discuss the role of the association in the game here in BC and throughout Canada. We discuss player development, the Provincial Cup and a lot more.
    Turning to MLS matters, <b>Jeremiah Oshan</b> from <a href=" http://www.sounderatheart.com/" target="_blank"><u>Sounder At Heart</u></a> joins us to preview the first Cascadia Cup clash of the season between the Sounders and Timbers on Saturday.
    But don't worry Caps fans, you're covered too with a healthy dose of comment from MLSSoccer.com's <b>Martin MacMahon</b> and an unhealthy dose from myself and Pierce.
    We also take a look at the Whitecaps poor showing in the 3-0 defeat to UBC and have some post-game soundbites from <b>Martin Rennie</b> and UBC star, and Whitecaps PDL captain, <b>Gagan Dosanjh</b>.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    And there's still time for our latest <b>Sweet Ride "Brain Freezes of the Week"</b>.
    Have a listen.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    You can listen to this week's podcast (and the previous ones) on iTunes <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/westcoastsoccerweekly/id491781299" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> or download it for your later listening delight <a href="http://westcoastsoccerweekly.podbean.com/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> or have a listen on one of the players below.
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    Guest

    Last Man Standing 2013: Week Three

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Carnage! That's what last weekend's results brought to our <i>"Last Man Standing"</i> competition.
    46 entered. Only 3 remain, with 32 people biting the dust in week two.
    And if it hadn't have been for Roy Miller's last ditch moments of madness against San Jose, we'd have crowned our winner in Week Two, before I'd even finalised the prizes. Never had a week like that in my four years of running this. Crazy!
    So, who will be AFTN's 2013 Canadian Last Man Standing?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Here's who's left in:
    <b>Chad B</b> / <b>peter3</b> / <b>TFCfan4life</b>
    So just to confirm, no-one else can take part this season and yes, we may consider running a second one in the summer, either just for fun or for some more prizes.
    For those still in, here's a recap of the basic rules....
    <b><u>COMPETITION RULES:</u></b>
    - Every week we will list the eligible fixtures and you pick one of the teams involved that you think will win.
    - If that team wins, you are through to the next round. If they lose or draw, then you are out of the competition. If a game is abandoned or postponed and not played that same weekend, you will luck out and go through!
    - You will only be able to pick a team once, until you have selected all 19 teams, so choose your weekly selection wisely. You don’t want to be left with the crappy teams playing the top ones if you can help it! He who dares, wins.
    - The exception to the "pick only once" rule will be towards the end of the first 19 week cycle when you might only have a selection(s) left that have bye weeks. In such a scenario, you are free to pick a team you have already selected for that week only, but that team cannot be selected for a third time later.
    - We will be keeping a running tally of who has picked what team.
    - You have to have entered the competition in Week One and still be in it to continue to participate.
    - Selections must be made before the first game of that week kicks off. This time will be clearly laid out.
    - Anyone posting their entry after the first kick off time any week will automatically be knocked out.
    - The thread will be closed for new posts and amendments after the first game has kicked off.
    - Anyone selecting a team they have already selected in a previous week will be disqualified. If you notice you have selected a team you've already picked, you have until the first game kicks off to change it.
    - If you fail to make a selection in time one week, you are automatically eliminated.
    - The competition will run up until we have crowned the winner. In the unlikely event that we are still going at the end of the regular season, we will carry it on into the playoffs on a knockout basis. If there are only a handful remaining we may give prizes to all. This will be entirely up to our discretion, but we will keep you posted.
    - The winner will be the last man/woman/alien standing, who will then have the crown until next season. (Note – there is no actual crown, although if I end up winning I will buy myself one).
    - Prizes are football related memorabilia from over the years, some, but not all, will be of a Whitecaps nature, so if you don’t want that either don’t enter or sell it on ebay!
    Long winded, but hopefully that will explain all you need to know for those of you unfamiliar with such a competition.
    <center>**********</center>
    So, with all that out of the way, here are the nine eligible fixtures for this third weekend, and remember you can't select a team you've already picked:
    New York Red Bulls v DC United
    Sporting KC v Chicago Fire
    Montreal Impact v Toronto
    Philadelphia Union v New England Revolution
    Columbus Crew v San Jose Earthquakes
    Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids
    Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers
    Dallas v Houston Dynamo
    LA Galaxy v Chivas USA
    <b>The first game kicks off on Saturday at 9.30am PDT / 12.30pm EST, so you have until then to enter the competition and make your first pick.</b>
    So just sign in and leave the name of the team you are picking below. And if you're still having log-in problems, we will take your entry if you leave your user name.
    Good luck!
    <p>
    Guest

    Onward to Qatar!

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The men's national team has officially confirmed a second friendly during its training camp in Qatar later this month (they'll play Japan on March 22 and Belarus on March 25). The largely Europe-based 21-man roster is below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
    GK- Tomer Chencinski | ISR / Maccabi Tel Aviv
    CB- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
    CB- André Hainault | SCO / Ross Country FC
    CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / D.C. United
    CB- Adam Straith | GER / FC Energie Cottbus
    FB- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
    FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Samuel Piette | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
    M - Julian de Guzman | GER / SSV Jahn Regensburg
    M- Atiba Hutchinson | NED / PSV Eindhoven
    M- Will Johnson | USA / Portland Timbers
    M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
    M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
    M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CYP / AEK Larnaca FC
    F- Stefan Cebara | HUN / Zalaegerszegi TE
    F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | GER / Eintracht Braunsweig
    F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Stevenage FC
    F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
    F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf
    CSA technical director Tony Fonseca will serve as the interim head coach for these two games, as the association continues to search for a full-time replacement for Stephen Hart.
    Guest
    <i>"Sing When You're Winning"</i> is our look at some of our favourite football related songs.
    Whether that means songs by proper bands about football, songs by themed bands about football, or songs by teams and players about themselves, you'll find them all here. (If you missed them, catch up with <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3847-Sing-When-Youre-Winning-The-Referees-Alphabet-Half-Man-Half-Biscuit" target="_blank">Part One</a> and <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3869-Sing-When-Youre-Winning-2" target="_blank">Part Two</a>)
    We continue the series with not just one song but two from the early eighties, and it's a battle for love v hate on the terraces.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    English football terraces weren't a fun place to be at times in the 80's. Lots of hate, lots of venom, lots of fighting, but also the chance to find the love of your life - if you looked very, very carefully!
    And such themes were reflected in the music of the time.
    <a href="http://cockneyrejects.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Cockney Rejects</b></a> came out of the post punk era, with their brand of "Oi" music, a lot of which was heavily influenced by football.
    Avid West Ham fans, the band even had a UK Top 40 hit with their version of the Hammers <i>"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"</i> anthem as the team won the FA Cup in 1980 (I still have the 7" proudly in my collection).
    That same year they released the football hooligan themed 7" single <i>"We Are The Firm"</i>, the b-side of which, <i>"War on the Terraces"</i> was another song about the violence off the pitch.
    It reached number 54 in the UK charts, but captures the mood of that section of the football supporters at the time. Have a listen (and sing along with the lyrics below!):
    <center>

    </center><center><i>Go!
    It's a dark place over there
    The seats, and the stands are bare,
    But you remember not long ago,
    All the times that we battled there.
    The sun, it shines right on the gutter,
    And you remember that he was there,
    And you should know, right there in the fold,
    that you grabbed him by his hair.
    War on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    It was war on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    The local pub, it stands silent
    And all of this town, will be soon
    and you remember the pints we would sink
    and sing "the fuzz is watching you"
    You remember them wagons, that took us straight down the nick
    When we would sing back to them, don't it make you feel like a prick?
    War on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    It was war on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    So you're looking up, at the terrace,
    and smile, it breaks your face.
    And to the younger generation, we'll be here to take your place.
    War on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    It was war on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    It was war on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    It was war on the terraces
    War on the terraces
    War!</i></center>
    Those days are past now. And in the past, they must remain. But it wasn't all about hate on the football terraces those days. You could find love too, but that was never destined to end well!
    Norwich band <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sdrinking" target="_blank"><b>Serious Drinking</b></a> are another group whose lyrics have been heavily influenced by football over the years.
    They took their name from the headline of an interview with The Cockney Rejects in Sounds magazine in 1981 and a year later they released their debut EP <i>"Love on the Terraces"</i>, the title track of which was a loving response to the Rejects' violence filled picture of the terraces.
    <i>"Love on the Terraces"</i> made number 38 in John Peel's 1982 Festive Fifty and tells the tale of young love at the football. It still makes mention of the fighting and even name checks The Cockney Rejects too, but ultimately it's about seeing a cute girl, then as violence erupts around you, she steals your heart and then your programme!
    There's actually different versions of the track but "MkI" is by far the best. Have a listen (and again, the lyrics are below):
    <center>

    </center><center><i>Her name is Sharon,
    She came from Southend,
    Her sister Karen,
    A little skinhead,
    She liked football,
    She liked snooker,
    She liked A Certain Ratio,
    She liked the Cockney Rejects.
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces.
    At the stadium,
    By the river,
    Buying a programme,
    And a silk scarf,
    She had a nice face,
    And blonde hair,
    She wore a tracksuit,
    She was beautiful!
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces.
    I got to halftime,
    Same as usual,
    And then the brass band,
    Or a Norwich disco,
    The match got lively,
    And a goal went in,
    Another fight broke out,
    Then I saw Sharon.
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    No, I'll never forget the day I found it
    Just under the tea stall by the Barclay stand,
    As my mates indulged in mindless violence,
    And the main stand was reduced to total silence
    It was love at first sight,
    As the gangs began to fight,
    But I couldn't give a toss
    Cos this match will be their loss
    It was love at first sight,
    As the gangs began to fight,
    But I couldn't give a toss
    Cos this match will be their loss
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Me and Sharon (love on the terraces),
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    I gave 100 percent (love on the terraces),
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    She'll never walk alone (love on the terraces),
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    She nabbed my programme (love on the terraces),
    She broke my heart (love on the terraces),
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    Love, love, love on the terraces,
    [Full time whistle],
    Love, love, love on the terraces.
    </i></center>
    So there you have it. Love v Hate. You can pick what one you prefer.
    We'll have more in this section soon, with more from Serious Drinking coming up later in the series.
    For now, you can buy these tracks on iTunes on the following links (and every purchase helps AFTN!):
    THE COCKNEY REJECTS - "War on the Terraces"
    SERIOUS DRINKING - "Love on the Terraces"
    <p>
    Guest
    We're clearly entering dark days for the women's national team -- with a 1-0 loss to England on Wednesday in the final, Canada is now in the midst of its longest Cyprus Cup championship drought in tournament history...
    ... oh, it's only two years? Hmm. Maybe we'll be alright, then.
    A second-half strike from Rachel Yankey was enough to give her squad some retribution for last year's Olympic quarterfinal -- and while this was meant to be the space for another "mostly fabricated synopsis" of the match (in line with the ones from Canada's first, second and third games of the tourney), the truth is that a loss kinda saps your willingness to read one, and my willingness to write one.
    So, instead, let's see what lessons -- if any -- we can draw from a tournament we could barely see, and what it might mean for Big Red in the coming years.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Now, if you're desperate for some very basic game details right now, you can get them from the CSA's Twitter stream, which is where any of us have gotten live game info from during the tournament. The biggest talking points from the match -- other than the result -- are that Sophie Schmidt and Carmelina Moscato were both substituted out of the game due to injuries (update via CSA: Moscato suffered a rib injury; Schmidt was taken out as a precaution).
    But as for the tournament as a whole, some other talking points we'll be left with:

    The kid is alright: The fact that 18-year-old Kadeisha Buchanan started every game, including the final, in the centre of defence is a testament to the promise that head coach John Herdman sees in her. It will be interesting to see whether she gets a shot in Canada's upcoming friendlies, including the high-profile showdown with the U.S. in June.
    The three-headed beast: A new combination appears to have been solidified in the Canadian attack, in the form of Christine Sinclair, Jonelle Filigno and Adriana Leon. Leon, still just 20, has a skill set comparable to Melissa Tancredi's, while Filigno has a wealth of national-team experience despite being just 22. While the attack fell short in the tournament final, the idea of these three clicking together in the future is a tantalizing prospect for Canadian fans.
    Stuck in the middle: In the last few years, the makeup of the Canadian midfield has become as reliable as clockwork: Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt and Desiree Scott, usually accompanied by Kaylyn Kyle. And while those four featured heavily in the Cyprus Cup (though usually only three of them at a time, thanks to the aforementioned three-headed beast at forward), Herdman also attempted to integrate a pair of youngsters, Ashley Lawrence and Christabel Oduro. Another two to keep our eyes on in the run-up to 2015 (and, in Lawrence's case, next year's U20 Women's World Cup).

    Now, the biggest talking point from the Cyprus Cup is the fact that Canada is still in the Cyprus Cup.
    The tournament's been around for six years, and Canada's made the final each time (winning it thrice). Canada came into this year's tournament as the highest-ranked team (#7 in the world, according to FIFA), with #8-ranked England right on their heels. Those who've seen highlights of Canada's games have noticed there have been literally no spectators visible in the stands; when I joked that the attendance for Canada's opening game was 25, one national-team player said she'd be surprised if it were that many.
    Herdman said prior to the final that he was happy Canada was playing England in the final, as they were the toughest opponent available. He's said on numerous occasions since his hiring that he wants Canada playing the most difficult opposition available, as frequently as possible, as a means of preparing the team for future Olympic tournaments and World Cups.
    He's right, of course -- and that's why I'll repeat what I've been saying for years: Despite the result in Wednesday's final, Canada has outgrown the Cyprus Cup. It's time to get back to the Algarve Cup.
    The Algarve Cup, which has been played since 1994, can be considered the Champions League compared to the Europa League that is the Cyprus Cup. The 2013 Algarve Cup final was also played on Wednesday, in which the USA (world #1) earned a 2-0 win over Germany (#2). Other participating nations included Japan (#4), Sweden (#6) and Norway (#12) -- who defeated the reigning World Cup champion Japanese by a score of 2-0 in the round-robin stage.
    The Algarve Cup is an invitational tournament in which Canada hasn't participated since 2003. But it has history. It draws crowds -- and the world's top teams. And, perhaps most appealing to Canadian fans, its games are regularly available via web streams.
    That's right -- no more following games via live tweeting. And no more insufferable "mostly fabricated synopses".
    There are surely backroom reasons for why Canada hasn't been at the Algarve Cup in a decade. Perhaps Canada wants to be there but hasn't gotten the invitation. Perhaps the CSA prefers the Cyprus Cup for its own reasons. I've never gotten a clear answer to that on the occasions I've asked before -- but with increased coverage of, and interest in, the women's national team since London 2012, undoubtedly it's a question that will be asked more frequently.
    Still, a second-place finish at any tournament for a team in transition is nothing to be sneezed at (we are Canada, after all), so kudos to the ladies for their efforts over the past week and a half.
    And Big Red won't need to wait long for another shot at the English -- the two teams will face off in a friendly on April 7, a few days after Canada matches up with France, on April 4.
    Here's hoping there'll be some way to watch those games live -- because it's been far too long since we've been able to see our Olympic medalists do what they do best.


    .
    Guest

    Mostly west coast Gold Cup for Canada

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Canada will play all three of its group games in the west, it was announced today.
    The schedule:
    Sunday, July 7: Canada vs. Martinique (2:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 p.m. ET) and Mexico vs. Panama (5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m.) at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
    Thursday, July 11: Panama vs. Martinique (5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET) and Mexico vs. Canada (8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET) at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
    Sunday, July 14: Martinique vs. Mexico (1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET) and Panama vs. Canada (3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET) at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colo.
    The Reds would play in the east if they were to make the quarters. Baltimore and Atlanta are the locations.
    The semi-finals are in Dallas, with the final set for Chicago.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Standing down

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    Dear folks, dear friends, it is time for me to go.
    After twelve and a half years of all-in internet soccer writing, this is the final edition of Onward!
    There are many reasons for this decision, but they pretty much all boil down to one:
    I’m done.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    CSA reform is taking shape. A good soccer man is president. Alberta soccer is delivered from its various scandals. The Old Boys, the Ancient Fiefdoms, are now just individual voices. The real power, the make-or-break decision-making and back-room power-broking continues to be routed away from the self-serving glad-handers of the past.
    Oh, and Tom Anselmi's not Toronto FC president anymore.
    I didn’t actually do any of that, but I know I helped. I’ve learned, over and over, over all these years, to never, ever, ever take “trust me, I know what I’m doing” for an answer.
    The basic Onward! formula – lift the rock, shine the light, hold – has undoubtedly helped wrench the decision-making out of the backrooms, and onto the computer screens of Canadian soccer fans everywhere. It has been my great honour and joy to have been any little part of that.
    And now, with a bold new generation of soccer writers on the web, it is time for me to pass the torch.
    I’m smiling now, because so much has been accomplished – despite the fact that I never really intended to be a soccer writer at all. I took the job – at Sportsnet.ca in 2000 – as a lacrosse writer for whom lacrosse writing wasn’t even paying the gas money to get to lacrosse games.
    To give you a sense of how isolated things were then: One morning in the early 2000s, I was helping a dear friend sell her stained-glass jewelry at Toronto's St. Lawrence Market. Dick Howard (journalist, CSA official) wanders over and looks at the glass. I turn to my friend and whisper "There are two and only two Canadian soccer columnists, and they are both standing at your glass table."
    For the first few years I wrote that column, I remained a lacrosse writer who also had a job writing about soccer.
    That changed – hugely and happily – in the spring of 2007 with the arrival of Toronto FC.
    Chronicling that huge happy explosion of soccer fandom – from the inside, for the mass media – was one of the most electrifying, utterly enjoyable writing gigs there ever could have been. I made so many dear friends. And though I don’t see them all as often as I like, I am – and will remain – U-Sector till I die!!
    I’d like to get a couple of things on the record, before I take my leave.
    - It helps to be an outsider:
    Sportsnet.ca is a mainstream sports site now, but for its first few years the goal was very different. The original plan was that all the columnists would be fans, instead of journalists. I had a friend designing the site, and they couldn’t find any lacrosse and curling fans who could write. That got me eight years of work – and also shifted me to soccer.
    Even in my thirteen months at the Globe and Mail, I was encouraged to take an outside perspective. Of course, it’s a little bit hard for outsiders to stay employed when the economy crashes and print media gets caught in the avalanche. Soccer ceased to be a job at the end of 2008 – but many great days were yet to come.
    Canadian Soccer News, the ultimate outsider, suddenly sprang up as the embodiment of everything I’d ever tried to do. Fans become journalists. The game goes under the permanent microscope of the very folks who love it most.
    I could never have written the Alberta and CSA election stories in such minute detail in the major media. They have buildings, staff, ink and newsprint to pay for. Lengthy, multi-part governance yarns won’t do that.
    - Don’t do – or accept – favours:
    Way, way back, when the plans for what ultimately became BMO Field were first unveiled, I asked ranking CSA honcho Kevan Pipe a question at a press conference. I didn’t like his answer, so I asked the question again. I didn’t like that answer either, so I asked the question a third time. I still wasn’t satisfied, so I had the freaking nerve to ask one of Canada’s highest-ranking soccer officials the same question – four times in a row – with all the major media watching. (Got a good quote, too.)
    You can’t do that if you’re giving and receiving favours.
    For all the years that I threw bombs at the CSA, what were they going to do? Ban me from the stadium? I was favour-proof because I never, ever needed to be in the stadium to do what I do. It helps, and it’s great fun, but it’s more a luxury than a necessity.
    Understand: I was nice to lots of people in my soccer years. But I never had to be. Yes, I took sides, and threw blocks for people or ideas I believed in. But I never asked for anything in return.
    Canadian soccer had far too many secret networks and back-door dealings when I arrived. I resolved on day one to never, ever be part of that.
    - Trust your gut:
    I had a few key “informants,” whose perspective I greatly appreciated. But I wasn’t about to take anyone’s word for anything. What emerged was a kind of emotional detective work. Yes, the nuts-and-bolts facts mattered, but you can’t always get those right away.
    It became clear that if this guy says this, this other guy agrees, and that chappie over there says it’s rubbish, the story is true. Then it’s just a matter of making lots and lots of public noise until the facts fall out of the tree.
    When you’re wrong, you have to admit it quickly, openly and whole-heartedly. I ended up making excellent contacts that way, with people who five minutes earlier thought I was an arrogant ignoramus.
    ---
    The very week I wrote my first soccer column – nominating Prince Charles for the then-vacant role of England manager – the Canadian United Soccer League story broke.
    This glad-handing, “trust me, I know what I’m doing” delusion of a plan to pull an eight-team professional league out of a leaky hat represented everything I had ever hated about the misplaced priorities of Canadian soccer. It turned out its own front man – Gerry Gentile – completely agreed. He told me years later, and was nice enough to repeat it that night on the FAN 590’s Soccer Show.
    That was a major high point.
    Shining the light on the CUSL taught me everything I needed to know to go after the CSA board structure and president, bad owners, idiotic regulations – most of what was keeping Canadian soccer from even being pointed in roughly the right direction.
    But now? Imagine if Don Quixote sat astride his horse, and there were no more windmills left to charge after.
    In the last three and a half years, my life has hugely changed.
    I’m hardly ever in Toronto on match days now, having found love in the calmer, quieter lakes, rivers and lovely soft, sweet energy of Peterborough, Ontario. Whether I move there, or remain in my Toronto home of almost 54 years, all that remains to be seen.
    As many of you know, my beloved and inspiring mother passed away recently. I find myself at a unique turning point. I truly don’t know where my life is going now, so I am simply going to go about my business for a year or so, and see what schemes and opportunities emerge.
    To do this, I have to stop wrestling with the ongoing exorcism that is professional writing.
    I’m going to throw myself into my other passions (playing children’s music in the mornings, doing social work in the afternoons). I’m sure I will write again. But I don’t know when, and I can’t even imagine about what.
    Right now, my family needs me. My sweetie needs me. I need me.
    Twice now, in two different sports, I have started writing all alone on the Internet, and ended up inspiring the next generation of Canadian lacrosse and soccer writers. I am immensely pleased with all that has happened – just as I know I am no longer able – or willing – to keep making all the required anonymous sacrifices to keep Onward! afloat.
    At this point, I need to single out Ben Rycroft. His inexhaustible courage and belief mark him as the next great Canadian soccer scribe. It is to him, specifically, that I pass the torch.
    There are too many others to name, and I would hate to accidentally miss anyone. Duane and Squizz are the ones I have walked the most happy miles with. Dave Bailey, too, who first put me in a soccer broadcast booth way back in the late-eighties Toronto Italia days. And Nigel Reed, for all those appearances on The Soccer Show.
    To one and all, my grateful thanks.
    I will be around – and I’m sure I’ll still have a quarter-way entertaining perspective on things. There are also four full years of Onward! archived on this site. Please feel free to browse. A lot of fun went into them.
    There are no words to adequately thank you all for the kind support you have given my words over these grand and unforgettable years. I have been prouder than proud to speak for Toronto and Canadian soccer fans, in whatever little way I ever could.
    I have no idea where this goes from here, but one more great and wondrous journey starts … now.
    Signing off, and standing down.
    Onward!

    Guest

    SoccerPlus - (Weekly Show - March 12)

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    The Impact returns from a very surprisingly fruitful West Coast trip.
    Les Bleus are stunningly standing first in the Eastern Conference after picking up six points in a pair of unfriendly stadiums in Seattle and Portland.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We discuss that trip with Marc Tougas, Jonathan Tannewald and Raphael Larocque-Cyr and we talk UEFA Champions League with Vincent Destouches.
    All this and more in this week's show.
    Click here to listen: SoccerPlus - March 12, 2013
    Guest

    TFC officially leaves CSL

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Toronto FC made it official recently and has told the CSL their Academy side would not be returning for the 2013 season.
    As has been reported previously here, the OSL is the likely next destination for the Academy this year.
    The CSL also announced they have not confirmed the number of teams that will return for this season after the CSA recently informed the league it was pulling its support.
    After initially denying a CBC report that detailed why the CSA had cut ties with the CSL, the league is now threatening to take whatever action neccssary and admitting to their new status.
    CSN will add a new wrinkle to the CSL saga in the days ahead.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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