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    2013 preview: Toronto FC

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Toronto FC:
    Last Season: 9th in East. Missed playoffs
    Additions:
    Justin Braun (FW) - Trade
    Joe Bendik (GK) - Trade
    Dan Califf (DF) – 2012 Re-entry draft
    Gale Agbossoumonde (DF) – weighted lottery
    Julio Cesar (MF) – Free agent
    Kyle Bekker (MF) – 2013 SuperDraft
    Emery Welshman (FW) – 2013 SuperDraft
    Robert Earnshaw (FW) -- Discovery signing
    ​Hogan Ephraim (FW/MF) -- Loan
    Departures:
    Adrian Cann (DF)
    Ty Harden (DF)
    Dicoy Williams (DF)
    Oscar Cordon (MF)
    Nicholas Lindsay (FW)
    Keith Makubuya (FW)
    Eric Avila (MF)
    Aaron Maund (DF)
    Ryan Johnson (FW)
    Milos Kocic (GK)
    Freddy Hall (GK)
    Quincy Amarikwa (FW)
    Joao Plata (FW)
    Eric Hassli (FW)
    2012 Overview:
    The highlight of the season came early. In the fall-out of one of the worst seasons in MLS history it was easy to forget that TFC was just one good half away from qualifying to the final of the CONCACAF Champions League.
    They defeated David Beckham and the rest of the LA Galaxy in a two game tie a year ago to advance to that unexpected position. Then the Reds played arguably the best 135 minutes of its history against Mexican powerhouse Santos Laguna.
    Then the wheels fell off. Although TFC briefly led the tie with Santos they ended up crashing in a way that would make the 2008 Montreal Impact blush. The dream of CCL glory fell away and the harsh reality of the MLS season faced the club and its fans.
    Harsh it was. A record breaking nine game losing streak to start the season effectively eliminated TFC from the playoffs before the first day of summer. Head coach Aron Winter was canned and Paul Mariner took over.
    And then it got odd.
    After a brief upturn in fortunes, based largely on the form of Danny Koevermans, the Reds actually got worse. Koevermans went down with a season ending injury and TFC forgot how to win. Or even score.
    It was close to unwatchable. The fans turned on Mariner, some even going so far as to loudly criticize his choice of pants on game day. On a less frivolous note, the fans felt that Mariner had an antiquated grasp of tactics and he favoured certain players over others.
    A trade for Eric Hassli was widely criticized, with fans wondering why Mariner was allowed to trade a first round draft pick in 2014 for a player that would have a short term impact on the club.
    The environment was so toxic by the fall that crowds of 15,000 were showing up and Mariner was allegedly challenging fans to fights in the parking lot.
    After TFC limped to the finish line, the process of yet another rebuild began with the hiring GM and President Kevin Payne.
    2013 Squad and Expectations:
    In a word; low.
    In two: Very low.
    Payne has not done a lot to add to the club in the off-season instead, choosing to strip it down to its bone.
    That process started with the firing of Marinier and the hiring of former MLS defender Ryan Nelsen. When hired, Nelsen was still batting relegation in the EPL with Queen’s Park Rangers. When he was hired, it was unclear whether Nelsen would even be with the club on opening night. Although eventually that was worked out another undisclosed issue (rumoured to be related to Nelsen’s work visa) prevented him from working with the club for much of the pre-season.
    That, combined with a lack of signings, has led to TFC starting the season with a roster of just 21 players, who have barely worked with their new skipper.
    Payne has spent most of the off-season trying to reduce expectations. No one is talking playoffs. Quietly, many are worried that the club might be worse than it was in 2012.
    No one wants to talk about what that might mean to the relevancy of the club in the Toronto sports scene – especially competing directly with the suddenly hot again (and Las Vegas favourite to win the World Series) Toronto Blue Jays.
    Prediction:
    The half-full prediction is a slow start followed by a gradual improvement as the club gets used to playing under Nelsen -- and Payne adds pieces in the summer transfer window.
    The half-empty prediction is that Toronto is actually worse than it was in 2012 and will be battling with Chivas USA for last overall in MLS.
    History tells us to expect the latter.
    Guest

    2013 Preview: Vancouver

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Prepared by Michael McColl
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    Last Season: 5th in West. Lost in first round of playoffs
    Additions:
    Paulo Araujo Jr (FW) - 2012 Re-Entry Draft
    Tom Heinemann (FW) - free agent
    Corey Hertzog (FW) - free agent
    Erik Hurtado (FW) - 2013 SuperDraft
    Daigo Kobayashi (MF) - free agent
    Johnny Leverón (DF) - free agent
    Kekuta Manneh (FW) - 2013 SuperDraft
    Nigel Reo-Coker (MF) - free agent
    Brad Rusin (DF) - transfer from HB Koge in Denmark
    Departures:
    Etienne Barbara (FW)
    Martin Bonjour (DF)
    Atiba Harris (FW)
    Michael Nanchoff (MF)
    Barry Robson (MF)
    Brian Sylvestre (GK)
    John Thorrington (MF)
    Tiago Ullises (MF)
    2012 Overview:
    Vancouver made history by becoming the first Canadian team to make the playoffs in Major League Soccer. It was a short lived journey, with a 2-1 defeat away to eventual MLS Cup winners Los Angeles Galaxy in the first playoff round, but the journey itself saw the team make huge strides on the previous year.
    Having finished their inaugural 2011 MLS season with the worst record in the League, the Whitecaps went with a managerial change and Martin Rennie's unique style of motivational coaching saw immediate results, but the team was clearly still a work in progress.
    The transformation in the squad was huge, with 18 players coming in over the year and 18 departing.
    The first thing Rennie wanted to see was the team becoming tighter at the back. His offseason tinkering worked wonders from the off and Vancouver set the record for the longest start to a MLS season without conceding a goal - 427 minutes.
    The first half of the season is what saw the Whitecaps claim that playoff spot, recording 67% of their points total in the first 17 games.
    As the season went on, Vancouver struggled, especially on the road and they won only one of their last 13 games away from home. They played a very defensive game on the road and were so rigid that when they fell behind, they were unable to change shape and tactics to get themselves back into matches.
    Some disastrous mid season squad reshuffling cost the team harmony and creativity and they limped home in the end. It's a mistake which the club have already said will not be repeated this year.
    2013 Squad and Expectations:
    The Whitecaps cannot rest on their laurels and neither can they afford to be seen to be taking a step backwards.
    That means making the postseason again has to be the main goal.
    Martin Rennie has continued to reshape the Whitecaps into his team, with many of the old hands and underperformers being moved on, with the Scot bringing in more players that suit his chosen playing style.
    Brad Knighton established himself as the Whitecaps' number one by the end of last season. He will face stiff competition from Joe Cannon, who is eager to regain his starting spot and has performed well in preseason. Cannon is the better shot stopper, but Knighton's youth and all round goalkeeping ability should just see him with the edge.
    The defence has been shored up further and Vancouver have arguably one of the best backlines in MLS in YP Lee, Jay DeMerit, Andy O'Brien and Alain Rochat. Those may not be the players seeing time in those positions however, with Rochat possibly moving in to a defensive midfielder role and Lee possibly switching flanks.
    Centreback cover seems strong in Brad Rusin and Honduran Johnny Leverón, but the latter can also cover at LB and DM. Lee has indicated that he will not be travelling to games in the east and the right back cover is not overly strong. It may mean that Greg Klazura will finally see some MLS minutes, but he is a player who seems far better on the left. Nigel Reo-Coker may also be another option for Vancouver on the right.
    Reo-Coker, like Leverón, is a player who gives Rennie options in a number of positions. The former U21 England international is more likely to adopt a CM or DM role for the team and help add some much needed creativity and experience in the middle of the park for the Whitecaps.
    The midfield was definitely the weakest link for the Caps last year, but the addition of Daigo Kobayashi should see a lot more flair than we've seen from the team for many a game, whilst Gershon Koffie should continue his development with having these players around him. Canadian Russell Teibert has seen time in the preseason as a CM and Rennie seems quite high on him in this position, so he may finally get some of the minutes that the fans are hoping for, although these may be at the expense of the another fan favourite in Koffie.
    Designated Player Kenny Miller looks like he will be playing a withdrawn striker role, leading as an attacking midfielder at times, and it's hard to see just where the Brazilian Camilo will fit in to Rennie's favoured shape of the team.
    One of Vancouver's keys will be "Rennie's Rockets" - Darren Mattocks, Kekuta Manneh and Eric Hurtado.
    The Whitecaps have put together a very fast, if somewhat inexperienced, attacking force. They have the potential to terrorise defences throughout MLS, but they are untested and will easily be worked out by the opposition. Knowing what they will try and do and being able to stop that are two very different issues though.
    Last season, Vancouver became very predictable by playing the ball through or over the top for Mattocks to run on to. There is no doubt that last season's top scorer will continue to get goals, but he has shown on several occasions that he is easily snuffed out of a game. This will be when Manneh or Hurtado need to step up and take over the threat.
    It's a lot to ask of two rookies, and there may not be too many minutes where both are seen on the pitch at the same time.
    Squad depth may continue to be an issue this year. There is some good depth in the team, but if long term injuries were to kick in at several positions, I'm not sure the squad is strong enough to maintain a top standard week in and week out.
    Expectations are high in Vancouver for the season ahead.
    For me, not reaching the playoffs again would have to be seen as a failure, no matter what else they achieve.
    The club are hoping to win their first ever Voyageurs Cup and place in the CONCACAF Champions League. This will once again be where the depth of the squad will be seriously put to the test and some mid summer strengthening may be required to see them through a busy spell and keep their playoff aspirations on track.
    Prediction:
    The Western Conference will be more hotly contested than ever before. Getting off to another strong start will be key. If Vancouver can manage this, then a fifth place finish could be on the cards once again. You have a feeling this will go down to the wire once again however.
    Guest

    2013 preview: Montreal Impact

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Montreal Impact
    Last Season: 42 points, 7th East, missed playoffs
    Additions:
    Andrea Pisanu FW
    Blake Smith MF
    Fernando Monge FW
    Brad Stuver GK
    Andres Fabricio Romero FW
    Wandrille Lefevre MF
    Maxime Tissot DF
    Departures:
    Shavar Thomas DF
    Evan James MF/FW
    Eduardo Sebrango FW
    Greg Sutton GK
    Josh Gardner DF
    Bernardo Corradi FW
    Miguel Montano MF
    Bryan Arguez MF
    Lamar Neagle MF
    2012 Overview:
    Montreal’s season can be looked at in two parts. Part one stared Jesse Marsch and his effort to conventionally build a solid MLS team that could compete, but who might not be all that sexy.
    Then the owner grew impatient. Joey Saputo took player signing powrrs away from Marsch and started to build a team in his image. It’s become a cliché to joke that the Impact would be happier playing in Serie C, but there is little doubt that Saputo has utilized his connections in Italy to build a team that has a very Old World feel.
    Big name signings Marco Di Vaio and Alessandro Nesta grabbed the headlines, but more important was the solid play of a core of capable MLSers. They paced Montreal to a 5-game winning streak in the second half of the year and, surprisingly, into the playoff conversation (albeit in the periphery).
    The playoffs weren’t to be, but the way Montreal ended the year gave many hope that they might do the trick in season two.
    Splitting opinion on that front was the decision to part ways with Marsch. It was likely for the best – neither side was happy – but it does illustrate a philosophical difference between how much of MLS operate and how the Impact seem to want to do business.
    Can a MLS team be successful by looking outside of the typical methods used in MLS to build teams? It seems we’re going to find out by watching the Impact.
    2013 Squad and Expectations:
    Marco Schällibaum is exactly the type of coach that has failed in MLS multiple times. Yet, the Impact believe that he’s the right one to break that trend.
    Certainly he will get the support needed – for his faults, Saputo does have an undeniable passion and he backs that up with his pocketbook – but it’s unclear whether he knows what it takes to deal with the unique aspects of MLS.
    There are many – mostly Impact fans – that do not believe that MLS experience is necessary to win in MLS. History is not on their side, but, then again, the Impact exceeded all expectations in 2012. Who is to say they can’t repeat the performance again?
    For all of the foreign signings it might be a NCAA player that is the key to a true breakthrough. The Impact need 2012 first Superdraft pick Andrew Wenger to play up to the potential they saw in selecting him.
    They also need the old bodies to stay healthy. Nesta isn’t getting younger, after all.
    With Montreal, it’s hard to see the end result of the team in the pre-season. You just know that Saputo will tinker. In the past, his tinkering has paid off – in D2 Montreal was always a player. Time will tell if it will work in MLS.
    Prediction:
    Perhaps no team in MLS has as much sink or swim potential as Montreal. With the approach they have taken there seems to be equal chance of it blowing up in their face as there is that it will pay off.
    Until a philosophy like Montreal’s pays off – and we can’t stress enough that there is next to no history of that happening in MLS – it’s simply safer to think that more traditional MLS teams (think DC United or Houston) will be more successful.
    A playoff season seems unlikely.
    Or, not. Regardless, Montreal will be fascinating to watch.
    Guest
    Happy New Year!
    Ok, we're a bit late, but better late than never, as we return with our first show of 2013 and it's a MLS season preview.
    How have the Whitecaps done in their offseason rebuild? Will they make the playoffs again? And who are the main challengers in the Western Conference? We discuss all of that and a lot more besides and there's some snippets from Caps coach <b>Martin Rennie</b> and president <b>Bobby Lenarduzzi</b>, but you need to listen right to the very end to get them all.
    Our main guest this week is <b>Rudi Schuller</b> from <a href="http://www.goal.com/en-ca/" target="_blank">Goal Canada</a>. He's here to discuss all things TFC. Well, maybe not all things. We didn't have that much available bandwidth.
    Have a listen. And apologies for the shitty sound at my end of things.
    [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
    Is the Cascadia Cup trademark debacle close to seeing a satisfactory conclusion?
    There are some positive statements coming out of the League's office but is it genuine or is it just a case of smoke and mirrors to get people to stop talking about it and focus on the new campaign? Either way, the battle between the supporters' groups and MLS seems far from over.
    We'd mentioned in our <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4225-Cascadia-Cup-trademark-battle-needs-to-remain-at-forefront-of-our-minds" target="_blank"><u>article earlier this week</u></a> that it would be interesting to get the three Cascadian clubs take on events. So we did our part in that and spoke to Vancouver Whitecaps' President Bobby Lenarduzzi about the whole sorry situation at today's media day.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Can the Whitecaps, Sounders and Timbers get involved and put pressure on MLS or is it a case that they just need to stay on the sidelines and let the two warring parties come to their own resolution?
    <i>"We are aware and we have stepped back from it and MLS are the primary communicators in that regard.
    My simplistic approach on it is without the fans, we don't have a team. Without a team, there's no fans. Without a League, there's no games being played.
    To me, it's a lot of fuss over I'm not sure what and that's in every regard. I just can't see us in a situation where we can't come to a resolution that is good for everyone, because we all need each other."</i>
    The longer the whole thing drags out without any resolution, the further apart both parties appear to the casual observer, and once lawyers get involved in proceedings it's never simple.
    <i>"It's a little unfortunate. So my hope is that we get to a point where we don't jeopardize what we have and we have something very special in terms of our market"</i> added Lenarduzzi.
    <i>"In our own market you look at the uniqueness of attending a soccer match versus any other sporting event and it's different. It's something that when people go to a game for the first time, they like the game but they like the interaction that's taking place.
    So we have this going for us and it would be a shame if we can't get to a point where we all realise that none of us can exist without the other, but we'll leave that up to the League and the Supporters' Groups to sort out."</i>
    Neither party has really shown any sign of moving from their position but when MLS Commissioner Don Garber was asked about it yesterday during his <a href="
    " target="_blank"><i>March To Soccer Address</i></a>, there were what we hoped were conciliatory and genuine words.<i>"I am very confident that we will reach an agreement that will make everybody happy. That will take some of the heat off of this issue, satisfy some of our concerns, but at the same time honour and provide some reverence and support for that great trophy and that terrific tournament."</i>
    The downside of Garber's comments was when he talked about the <i>"caretakers"</i> of the Cup, not as they're known to you and me, the creators and rightful owners.
    The only satisfactory outcome that I personally believe would appease all is that the Cascadia Cup Council will hold the copyright but there will be an agreement with MLS that they will not sell sponsorship rights to the Cup or market it in any way detrimental to MLS values and sponsors.
    Of course, Garber may just being saying what he thinks the fans want to hear to shut them up or just be deluded in thinking that the fans will accept MLS owning the copyright in any way, shape or form. I'm also naturally sceptical of anything that comes out of the mouths of those that run our game.
    As Jonathan Tannenwald quickly <a href="
    " target="_blank">noted on Twitter</a> - Don Garber has not said the words "We are giving up the trademark to the Cascadia Cup."In this case however, I want to genuinely believe that Garber has admitted defeat and was being sincere and we can soon put this episode behind us and get down to what really matters - Vancouver lifting a record breaking fourth Cascadia Cup in October.
    <p>
    Guest
    Just two days ahead of MLS First Kick, Toronto FC's roster is finally beginning to take some shape, the most recent addition being 31-year-old Welsh striker Robert Earnshaw, who confirmed the deal on his Twitter feed earlier this afternoon.
    Earnshaw is one of the players named by team president Kevin Payne as a TFC target during Torsten Frings's retirement press conference on Tuesday. Another of those targets, 24-year-old winger Hogan Ephraim, officially joined the team on loan from QPR on Wednesday.
    Whether either of them will be ready to suit up for TFC against Vancouver on Saturday remains to be seen -- but the Reds could certainly use the help, as a reported concussion to Justin Braun, in addition to the ongoing absence of Danny Koevermans, mean Toronto's options in attack are dangerously thin.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Earnshaw's most productive stretch came in a two-year stint with Norwich City in 2006-07, in which he scored 27 goals in 45 appearances. He had recently been on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv, but failed to make an impact with the team. He also has 16 goals in 58 appearances with the Welsh national team.
    Guest
    By Mike Crampton
    Okay, so I've spent a lot of the last week watching and reading team previews on the MLS official site mlssoccer.com.
    Fundamentally, here's what it comes down to: for the 1,437,482nd time
    TORONTO FC DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MLS PLAYERS.
    They've got an MLS goalkeeper.
    They've (finally) got some MLS defenders.
    They've got ONE MLS central midfielder who's aging (but rugged). And Terry. Give thanks for Terry.
    They've got one emergent MLS attacking player, maybe even a star one day, in Silva.
    And that's it.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Once again, they don't have an MLS coach. Yet. (No one argues that Nelsen doesn’t have potential but that's all you can argue.)
    Everyone else isn't there yet and still has to prove themselves as fundamentally being MLS players. Braun, Morgan, Bekker, all the other draft picks and homegrowns, even Silva more properly belongs in this category but his emergence as an every game MLS player has been accelerated and now basically has to happen by default; all of them are not really full fledged MLS players yet. Most probably never will be. That’s just the nature of blooding young players anywhere in the world but even more so in a competitive and improving league.
    Multiple leaderships have spent so long burning through assets, or tied up okay players on bad (unmovable for value) contracts, that TFC don't have anything left to trade to GET MLS players. Hopefully Hassli works out in Dallas and they get a 1st round pick back in 2014 but that's still a year away and it'd probably be longer than that before we could expect an every game starter.
    Yes, there will be signings; some have already started. You don't free up budget and roster spaces and pile up allocation to sit around not signing anyone. The problem is that foreign signings are so hit and miss. Occasionally you strike gold and add a really transformative player but just as often you strike out and the player is gone in a year after never really adapting and only marginally contributing. I'd love to see league wide stats but my gut says that if you're succeeding on 1 out of 2 international (discovery) signings you're doing pretty well; 1 out of 3 is probably closer to the norm. Every player who ends up being released at year end and leaves on a free is another asset gone begging; particularly if you used allocation to fit them into your salary budget in the first place.
    In Toronto we feel like that's just a TFC thing but I suspect it's pretty true of the rest of the league too. The league rarely pays transfer fees and there's only so much talent waiting around out of contract ready to come to North America for MLS wages who can't find a better deal elsewhere. Many of the biggest successes as international signings have been players targeted years in advance and slowly wooed by the idea of playing in America, for a decent wage, once their existing contract expires. My perception is that’s how different clubs around the league ended up with talents like Javi Morales, David Ferreira, or Federico Higuain: long term courtship built on established relationships. It’s the other big advantage of stability and continuity in leadership. Yes, sometimes you just get lucky and the “hey, I happen to know this guy’s available” approach will work or a great player falls into your lap – Joel Lindpere or Ossie Alonso come to mind – but that doesn’t seem like the sort of thing you should rely on.
    Really, because of the lack of labour mobility across borders in BOTH directions, it's always been domestic talent that has been undercompensated in the league which is why the best MLS teams are built with a solid core of reasonably remunerated Americans. When you use international signings to fill holes in your roster you’re taking a big gamble; one that, most of the time, doesn’t work out. On the other hand, when you build a roster around a few specifically targeted foreign talents you have the luxury, if you’re doing it right and your targets work out, of adding interchangeable PROVEN MLS players around those marquee foreign signings. Suddenly, utility players in the mold of Preki’s “plumbers” start to make a whole lot of sense.
    The problem is that for Toronto FC, with so few MLS players on their roster, they're basically going to have to have a nearly unprecedented run of success in international signings - or some of the kids are going to have to vastly exceed what should be expected of them - to even become a competitive MLS team that can challenge for a playoff spot. I know that's not what 2013 is supposed to be about and yeah, maybe they're doing this the right way, but that's still sad. When TFC parted ways with Aron Winter in the spring of 2012 I was excited because I thought it gave them the best chance at being competitive in 2013... not 2014! But even more management instability since has contributed to pretty much precluding that.
    'Cause here's another sad reality: every season, year after year, SOMEONE has to finish last. It's actually easy to forget that when you're evaluating your own team's prospects. It's possible that TFC could improve, get closer to being competitive, and STILL finish in last place; definitely in the East if not in the league overall. (Thanks Chivas! Though I won’t be shocked if they exceed expectations and aren’t terrible; it happens with at least one team every year. Why not them?)
    Personally, and I consider this on the optimistic side compared to some conversations I've had, I still think that TFC will get back to being "respectably bad" rather than downright awful and finish in the 31-32 point range: 7 wins and 10 draws or 8 wins and 8 draws seems eminently possible. Now I'm no Nate Silver, I can't predict the future, that's a guess, and really just from the gut (and hope); so it probably won't be right. But if you're "projecting" a team to have 31.5 points that means that it's just as likely that they'll end up with 23 points (again) as it is that they will with 40! If things go well they could be in higher part of that range; if they go poorly – injuries to vital players, lack of motivation, or a loss of confidence early in the year - and they're right back into the "embarrassing" part of the range. And even 40 points almost certainly wouldn't be enough to make the playoffs though it would mean the season isn’t over in June (again).
    At this point, if you're being fair, there's no reason to believe that there's any team with a greater likelihood of finishing last than Toronto. At best, even the least prepared clubs only have an equal chance of bringing up the rear as TFC does and almost all of them look to have much higher ceilings. Really, from the hole they've dug themselves before a ball is kicked, any finish outside of last has to be considered success in that sort of scenario. TFC have already finished last overall in MLS twice in their short history and last in the East in half of their seasons of league play! In a league with no relegation TFC are essentially starting the season with the ambition of "staying out of the bottom three". Brutal.
    So, seven seasons in, February not even over, and the "reasonable" attitude and expectation can only be "well, there's always next year." Honestly, I don't think it's ever been this bad. "Darkest before the dawn"? We can only hope.
    Kits are sorta interesting I guess.
    (And the rest of the league will be great to watch this year).
    Guest
    With the 2013 MLS season about to get underway on Saturday it’s time to launch this year’s <b>Last Man Standing</b> competition.
    The competition is open to all fans of all teams. It doesn’t matter who you support, or where you live, so take part today. And yes, there will be prizes!
    Last year Dirty Sanchez 333 walked away with the top prizes. We’re hoping it can last more than five weeks this time around though!
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b>You do have to be a registered member of the site and signed in to be able to take part. All unregistered entries will not count, even if you submit it with your name.</b> This is just for easy tracking and avoid people playing silly buggers! If you haven't already signed up to the site, it's quick and easy, so do it now.
    So what is 'Last Man Standing'?
    Well, it’s a competition we’ve run on AFTN in Scotland since 2010 and launched it here last season. It’s been popular on a number of football websites in the UK long before that.
    With MLS having an uneven number of teams and a sometimes weird and wacky fixtures list, it makes it a little bit more complicated than how we’ve previously run it, but we thought we’d give it a go and it didn’t end up as a disaster.
    The competition will run every weekend from now until we crown a winner, but only when there are at least six MLS matches scheduled to be played over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Midweek games will not be included.
    Here are 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.
    - 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 enter the competition in Week One (this week). Late entrants cannot join.
    - 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 first weekend:
    Philadelphia Union v Sporting KC
    Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto
    Houston Dynamo v D.C. United
    Dallas v Colorado Rapids
    Seattle Sounders v Montreal Impact
    Chivas USA v Columbus Crew
    LA Galaxy v Chicago Fire
    Portland Timbers v New York Red Bulls
    San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake
    <b>The first game kicks of on Saturday at 4pm EDT/1pm PDT, so you have until then to enter the competition and make your first pick.</b>
    Just sign in and simply leave the name of the team you are picking below.
    Good luck!
    <p>
    Guest
    While last week's media hubbub over the Ontario Soccer Association's ongoing implementation of the CSA's long-term player development (LTPD) plan has died down -- as the drive-by commentators have predictably found new sources for their eternal outrage -- there are still plenty of questions being asked about the perennially-contentious plan.
    Presumably to help allay some fears and counteract misconceptions about LTPD, the OSA has released a long statement from its president, Ron Smale, to stakeholders. Its assessment is surprisingly but refreshingly frank and candid about the realities of the sport's current standing and why the status quo needs to change.
    Below are some edited (for punctuation/clarity only, not meaning) excerpts from Smale's message. Except where noted, any emphasis in the quotes is from the original document, not added by me.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    On the idea that LTPD is forcing kids out of soccer:
    Smale gets started right away with the central thesis of his message: That those raising the largest stink about the changes inherent to LTPD are not players, but adults who (it would appear, anyway) are worried about themselves, not their kids. As someone who's been involved with a youth club for nearly all my life, it's a sentiment that rings pretty true.
    On the elimination of scores and standings at younger ages:
    I imagine that the rankings Smale refers to are the ones described by Jason de Vos in last week's episode of the TSN FC podcast.
    On the idea that "kids need to learn how to lose":
    Again, the emphasis in that quote is from the original document; but if it hadn't been there, I'd likely have added it myself. As I said in a post on LTPD last week, everyone knows kids will naturally keep score -- and this is perfectly fine. If anything, it shows that kids naturally have the competitive spirit that some LTPD opponents believe will be snuffed out by shifting the emphasis away from standings.
    On the idea that LTPD removes competition:
    THIS.
    It's the story you'll hear from countless people involved in the game in Ontario -- and other provinces, I imagine, but I can only confidently speak about what I've heard first-hand. But when the president of the provincial association goes ahead and spells it out -- well, that's as clear a sign as you're going to get that the problem is systemic, and change is needed.
    On the idea that LTPD is just for competitive players, not recreational players:
    Emphasis is mine this time, because it's an important point. I've seen countless kids get discouraged, frustrated or just plain uninterested in the game because they're unable to keep up with what's going on around them. This is the house league level I'm talking about. Surely these kids aren't having any more fun "playing soccer" than they would be standing around in their backyard.
    So why not try creating an environment where all kids have the skills to actually participate in the game? That sounds like a lot more fun than the alternative. Smale rightly identifies the coaching issue as a big, BIG one -- but that's another fish to fry.
    On the idea that LTPD is just being pushed by a bunch of academics:
    De Vos makes a similar analogy in the above-linked podcast: Would we throw a kid into a swimming pool and expect them to compete in races before they'd mastered the fundamentals of the various strokes? Of course not. Yet that seems to be good enough for some involved in the game of soccer: Boot it, hoof it and hope for the best so that you can rack up those five-dollar trophies.
    The overriding message appears to be that the OSA will be going ahead with this come hell or high water, and individuals are free to get on board with LTPD or get off the train. It will be interesting to see how Smale's message will be received by the people to whom its message is directed.
    .
    Guest

    Three close to signing

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    At the TFC kit launch last night season ticket holders were told that the Reds are about to sign three players.
    Homegrown prospect Jonathan Osorio, QPR property Hogan Ephraim and supplementary draft pick Taylor Morgan.
    Ephraim would be coming to Toronto on a year-long loan.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Emotional Ramblings: Seasonal Change

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Hallelujah. Gone for another year are the quiet days of the off-season, where supporters can only bicker about their new chant ideas while they wait for news of the next squad changes. You will no longer be forced to tune in to a grainy, poorly produced single camera online stream, that rudely interrupts play with a yogurt advertisement, just to catch a glimpse of your club playing it’s second teamers against a college soccer team. Now you can count the days left on one hand before you get to head down Robson Street to sing for your Whitecaps for another season.
    It’s the third iteration of the MLS Whitecaps, and there is a buzz around the 2013 roster that is very reminiscent of last season’s squad. Although there were some significant changes this off-season, including the shipping out of a Designated Player for the second year in a row, there was a clear intent to maintain a core of players from last season.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    This is the starting XI from the Whitecaps last game of 2012 in LA. Nine remain.

    So, let’s look at the additions and subtractions and consider how it’ll look on the pitch on March 2nd and beyond.
    <b>Players Out:</b> Brian Sylvestre (GK), Martin Bonjour (D), John Thorrington (M), Michael Nanchoff (M), Barry Robson (M), Tiago Ulisses (M), Dane Richards (M/F), Etienne Barbara (F), Atiba Harris (F)
    <b>Players In:</b> Simon Thomas (GK), Brad Rusin (D/M), Johnny Leveron (D), Daigo Kobayashi (M), Nigel Reo-Coker (D/M), Erik Hurtado (M/F), Paulo Jr.(M/F), Kekuta Manneh (M/F), Corey Hertzog (F), Tom Heinemann (F)
    Most of the departures are not entirely surprising. Barbara picked up some injury problems early in the season and never managed to find his form. Sylvestre and Nanchoff never developed as much as the Whitecaps wanted, and Thorrington’s injury issues are well documented.
    Martin Bonjour was an obvious case of salary cap management. A bruising physical centre back, Martin was plenty good to play in the MLS but just wasn't good enough to justify his hefty salary after Andy O’Brien proved to be an excellent partner for Jay DeMerit at a cheaper rate.
    Barry Robson was the only real shocker, considering he did put his stamp on the game on more than one occasion including a dominant performance against the Galaxy at home. Now that some time has gone on, some sound bites from the likes of Jay DeMerit and Bob Lenarduzzi showed that it was perhaps less to do with his actual performance and more to do with his attitude on the pitch and in the locker room.
    The new additions certainly add depth all over the pitch. On the back line, Brad Rusin adds a daunting presence and is quite good in the air. Johnny Leveron may just be the centre back of the future for the Whitecaps, a player who has oodles of experience for his age after playing both for Honduras’ Olympic U23 and 20 senior team caps. Both of these players will slot in ahead of Carlyle Mitchell on the depth chart and will give squad rotation options for Martin Rennie at the back.
    Midfield is the most interesting transition this season.
    Davide Chiumiento was much loved by fans and was certainly the most creative midfielder the Whitecaps had, and while he was full of flair and flash, he lacked consistency and occasionally floated out of games. He will be replaced by Daigo Kobayashi this season. Similar in their highly technical styles, Daigo will hopefully be able to provide consistent creativity, and if this preseason is any indication, he will have a bit more of a predisposition to make a run deep into the box and finish a few chances on his own or look to get on the end of a cross on a smart run.
    Barry Robson’s tenacity and bite in the midfield will look to be replaced with Nigel Reo-Coker. It will be interesting to see which one becomes more effective in the MLS, as Barry Robson was coming off an MVP season for an upper table Championship side despite being on the downhill side of his career. Reo-Coker, on the other hand, is only 28 and is smack dab in the middle of his physical prime. Nigel has also played consistently at a higher level, but it has been a couple of years since he was considered a top talent in the English Premiership. Reo-Coker won’t have the set play ability of Robson, and isn’t known as much for his truculence, but he will certainly be a physical presence in the middle of the park and may be more of a fit into the style the Whitecaps want to play by maintaining possession and unlocking defences with smart passes to the speed merchants up front.
    Erik Hurtado and Kekuta Manneh may be the most interesting new additions to follow. While both are MLS rookies, and it’s always scary to rely on first year players, they both appear to have the tools to contribute immediately. Both have jet fuel in their veins, and both can score. Hurtado is already a grown man and looks strong and able to beat defenders 1v1. Manneh has an absolutely lightning fast first step, and can even outpace Darren Mattocks. Manneh also has very good technical abilities, and still is smart enough to keep his head up and move the ball when it’s best. That all said, a handful of preseason games and a dozen PDL matches is not enough to exactly want to bet the farm on and expect both to have spells of disappointing play at times during the long MLS season.
    In Paulo Jr., Corey Hertzog, and Tom Heinemann, the Whitecaps are really going after depth. All three have something to give, but won’t be good enough to challenge for a starting XI spot too often. Corey Hertzog has impressed this preseason, but he and Heinemann will have a hard time cracking a depth chart at forward that includes a rookie of the year candidate, the 2011 Whitecaps MVP, and a $1.2 million designated player.
    Another exciting consideration is the development of current players.
    Brad Knighton hopes to settle in to a starting position for the entire year and has shown he has what it takes to be given an opportunity as a number one. Gershon Koffie has been the most capable and consistent midfielder for two years running, and has seemed to develop more every game. He still can add more attacking prowess to his game and needs to work on his game to game consistency, but there is no reason to think Koffie couldn’t be an MLS All Star by years end, especially if Reo-Coker can be an influence on the still young Ghanaian. Like Gershon, Darren Mattocks will also be looking for a more consistent 2013, and if he can find it, he may be challenging for the MLS golden boot. Even Russell Teibert is getting a good run out in preseason and if he isn’t loaned out, he may get more of an opportunity to get minutes off the bench.
    One of the main concerns going into the new season is the back line. While a back line of Lee, O’Brien, DeMerit, and Rochat could give any MLS club a run for it’s money, all four are getting a bit long in the tooth, with Rochat being by far the youngest at 30. It would not be unreasonable to expect at least one to have some time spent out of the line up due to injuries, and the drop off in talent is somewhat noticeable. Unfortunately, this is the reality of a salary cap league, and the Whitecaps will have to hope that the four remain mostly unscathed if the team wants to challenge for the top of the Western table.
    My biggest fear is that we again are forced to watch a season with a lack of any creativity. While Kobayashi appears to be a good signing, and the class of Reo-Coker should help the middle of the park, and the speed and youth on the wing should help open things up all over the pitch, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we struggle to score if the rookies fail to take off and we’re forced to rely on a single attacking player again like the beginning of last season.
    All in all you can’t have too many complaints going into March 2nd. On paper, the Whitecaps are better than they were at any point last season and there is some depth to cover squad rotation, injuries, and suspensions. Even better news for the Whitecaps is that their First Kick opponent is barely even able to fill out a 18 man roster, so there should be an abundance of confidence building play with plenty of ‘Caps goals and TFC gaffes to welcome the home crowd.
    We’ll see you at the match this Saturday.
    Damn that feels good to say.
    <p>
    Guest
    Things have a way of coming in threes.
    In the case of Canada's quest to qualify for the 2013 U20 World Cup, it was three games: A disjointed decision against Cuba, a commanding victory against Nicaragua, and a Tuesday-night loss against the Americans that somehow seemed to synthesize the main talking points of the first two games into one performance.
    Defensively, Canada looked dazed and disorganized, just as they did against Cuba (though in fairness, a first-half injury to Doneil Henry surely helped throw things into disarray). On the attack, they had flashes of promise, and even showed some bite when need be, just as they did against Nicaragua.
    But at the end of the day, the team was undone by a devastating finish to the first half, which left them in a 3-1 hole that ultimately proved too deep to dig out of. So as the kids -- yeah, they're just kids, remember -- flock back to their respective club teams, Canadian fans are left wondering: What does this mean for the future?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Before we get too far into that, a quick synopsis of the game, for those who may have missed it. A back-and-forth start was broken open when Canadian midfielder Dylan Carreiro unleashed a strike from 35 yards that left the American keeper wrong-footed. But Canadian fans had just six minutes to feel good about themselves, as Real Salt Lake prospect Luis Gil quickly equalized for the U.S.
    Henry's injury followed soon after, and without falling into the "correlation = causation" trap, let's say the tide turned there. Jose Villareal took advantage of disorganization in the area to score his team's second in the 40th minute, and the real dagger came in first-half injury time, as Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau decided to punch an easily-catchable cross, which ultimately lead to a 30-yard bomb from midfielder Will Trapp that was cruelly deflected into the Canadian goal.
    Canada had a legitimate claim for a penalty brushed aside early in the second half, as Samuel Piette was taken down in the area -- and, naturally, as if to vigorously rub salt into the wounds, the Americans quickly came down the other way and iced the game with Villareal's second. Piette let loose with another one of his suddenly-characteristic long-range strikes 10 minutes later to bring it to 4-2, and an excellent pass from Carreiro nearly led to a third from second-half sub Keven Aleman, but his touch (and/or the bumpy pitch) let him down.
    Caleb Clarke's curled-just-wide effort late in the second half represented Canada's final good chance, as the latter stages of the game devolved into abject chippiness, with centreback Manjrekar James (who'd replaced the injured Henry) being sent off for a "headbutt" (or, really, a forehead rub) on one of his American counterparts.
    Now, it's impossible to adequately judge a bunch of youngster thrown into the crucible of a three-game march to their World Cup dream (or, in this case, downfall) -- either positively or negatively. Still, head coach Nick Dasovic's emphasis on this tournament as a "learning experience" is a reminder that these players, ultimately, are a big part of the pool from which the senior national team will draw in the years ahead.
    Crepeau got criticism for his decision-making on the third goal, but realistically saved his teammates' asses no fewer than three times with top-notch saves. In fact, he's shown himself capable of timely and acrobatic stops on numerous occasions with Canada, and could be one to watch.
    Piette, of course, is already becoming familiar to Canadian fans, as the 18-year-old made his debut for the senior men's national team last summer. After a tough game against Cuba, the central midfielder showed why he's earned the nickname of "Bulldog" with some dogged and determined play in the middle of the park. Those in the Canadian program are high on him, and we can expect to see more of him in the years ahead.
    A few other midfielders -- Carreiro and Alessandro Riggi -- also acquitted themselves well. Carreiro picked right up from where he left off after a strong effort against Nicaragua, not just by scoring Canada's opening goal of the quarterfinal, but with more good movement going forward. Riggi, meanwhile -- despite being subbed out at halftime -- demonstrated some solid technical skills and a couple of incisive passes. Aleman, Riggi's replacement, showed some glimpses of why many Canadian fans are excited for his prospects.
    Ben Fisk was utterly tireless for the Canadian side against the Americans, digging back into the defensive end of things while also being the catalyst for any number of offensive chances. Clarke was once again dangerous up front, and though he didn't find the back of the net on this day, certainly looked capable of it on a number of occasions. It'll be fascinating to watch those two continue to come up through the Whitecaps system.
    It may seem strange to be rolling through a list of positive performances after the Canadian team coughed up its opportunity to qualify for a FIFA tournament. Sure, the emphasis could be on those who struggled, or what went wrong -- but ultimately, what's the point? The tournament is done. The team is done until... well, who knows. And whenever the U20 team reconvenes, it'll bear little similarity to the team that took the pitch in this tournament. Such is the nature of youth teams, after all.
    Remember, too, that Tuesday's game will end up representing the pinnacle for some of these kids. Check the rosters of the last few Canadian teams to have actually qualified for the U20 World Cup -- notice anything? Sure, a few of those guys caught on with the national team; but a good share of them dropped off of the footie map entirely. That's just the way it goes in this grand machine of sport.
    So we could wallow all we want in yet another demonstration of why hardcore Canadian soccer supporters are among the most masochist sports fans on the planet. Or, we could regard this tournament in the way that Dasovic hoped everyone would -- as a learning experience.
    Surely, some day, somehow, all of these painful lessons we've been learning will pay off. It's all about the future, right?
    Which reminds me... qualifying for the U17 World Cup gets underway on April 6.
    To the future!
    .
    Guest

    Lebewohl Torsten

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Chris Hazard photo
    Torsten Frings had the appearance of a man who was resigned to his fate.
    There were no tears, no gulps of breath and no hesitation as the former German international said goodbye to an 18-year professional football career in a nondescript room far from the heartland of the sport.
    “It's an emotional day for me today,” he said without much hint of emotion, “...it's the best for club and me."
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    And, with those words Toronto FC and Frings parted ways, freeing up a DP slot and nearly $400,000 of cap space for the Reds. According to GM and President Kevin Payne, the two sides will continue to work together, albeit informally.
    Payne said that Frings would “help” TFC in Europe in the same way that former Red Amado Guevara is helping TFC in Honduras – a sort of undefined scouting role. Intriguingly Payne also suggested that TFC was looking to establish a relationship with the club most associated with Frings career, Werder Bremen.
    Both Payne and Frings made it clear that the decision was based on the fact that he could no longer help TFC on the pitch.
    “Retirement is best for me,” Frings said, “as I have a life I want after football.”
    Payne indicated that every effort was made to make sure Frings was done as a player. The club had a physician who works with the Raptors and who specializes in hip injuries look at him. The doctor indicated that there as no sure thing when it came to how long it would take for Frings to be fully fit again. So, the decision was made to part ways.
    In the end, Frings time in Toronto will be remembered as not fully formed. The team was terrible and he had clearly lost a step. Still, there were glimpses of his intelligence and technical skill.
    He was at his best when he was cleaning up the mess at the back, despite playing out of his position.
    Although Frings was not successful in MLS, he seemed to enjoy his time here. The only time during the press conference when he clearly showed emotion was when he started to talk about his overall experience.
    "I just want to say thank you to the club, the city. I love Toronto,” he said, adding that he planned to come back frequently in the future.
    With Frings gone it’s time for the rebuild to fully begin. TFC has more than $1-million of cap space and an undisclosed, but ample, amount of allocation.
    The club also holds the No 1 selection in the returning player/US international allocation order. However, with just 16 players with professional experience at the MLS level or higher currently on the roster, the Reds will be starting the season very thin.
    Payne talked about several players Toronto was close to signing, but did not indicate that any were happening today.
    In fact, at one point, Payne suggested that today should be about honouring Frings career. And on that point, he was correct.
    Although Toronto never saw Frings at his best he remains one of the most accomplished athletes to ever play for this city, in any sport.
    And for that we say: Danke, Torsten
    Guest

    It's official: Torsten Frings has retired

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    As expected, Toronto FC announced early Tuesday morning that captain Torsten Frings has retired.
    But Frings is not cutting ties with the club altogether. In the club's release, team president Kevin Payne says that "he has agreed to work with us, particularly in Europe, on future projects. We part as the best of friends and wish him nothing but the best."
    A press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CSN will have more information following the presser.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    It's been a long time coming, nearly 40 years quipped Bobby Lenarduzzi, but Vancouver Whitecaps finally have a training facility to call their own, albeit not a permanent one just yet.
    Phase one of the new National Soccer Development Centre will officially open tomorrow, as the players head back to Vancouver for their last days of training before the new season begins.
    It's a facility long overdue in the city, but the Caps will have to wait around another two years before they get to see their permanent finished article of a state-of-the-art fieldhouse and five new, refurbished or improved soccer fields (three grass and two artificial turf).
    The overall project is projected to cost around $32.5 million, with the Whitecaps contributing $15 million of that.
    The players haven't seen the facility themselves yet, but media were given a sneak peak this afternoon and from what we saw, the guys are going to love their new surroundings.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It certainly beats what they were using at Burnaby Lake and Lenarduzzi is very happy with what the Caps have in this first phase, as he told those present.
    <i>"I'm very, very excited and I know that our players also be very excited. They haven't seen it yet and we're looking forward to unveiling it to them.
    "The players will come in tomorrow for the first time and get a feel for it. Just before the home opener I think is a real nice lift for them. This is the place where they'll spend most of their time.
    "This will be the first step and over the course of the next couple of years we'll be excited to see the evolution of the permanent facility."</i>
    Lenarduzzi added that the club were <i>"laying down some roots and doing the kind of things you associate with good clubs."</i>
    The Caps new facility is currently located beside the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre and aims to meet all the needs of the players as they train up at UBC. Phase one is roughly 4,000 square feet in size.
    As the players come through the front entrance they are met with a boot drop rack and three kit bins where they will dump their gear to get laundered every day.
    From there they head into the locker area, with lockers lining all four sides of the room and televisions high up on the walls to play game tape and tactical videos.
    The keepers are all together against one wall, and this includes a space for Sean Melvin at the moment.
    The rest of the lockers are running in pretty much numerical order, but there are a few quirks here and there. It means that Kenny Miller is beside Darren Mattocks, to work out attacking plans, and Korea and Japan relations are cemented with YP Lee being beside Daigo Kobayashi. Miller also has the pleasure or having the sound system right beside him!
    At the moment there's lockers laid out for all of the trialists as well. The name plaques are easy to change, and with rosters needing to be finalised on Friday, you can be sure that there's going to be some movement in there. Nigel Reo-Coker is such a recent signing he doesn't have locker laid out yet but this is being built this afternoon.
    The coaches have a separate locker room area on the other side, along with offices, technical rooms and a meeting room.
    At the back of the locker room is the treatment area with tables, two bikes, exercise balls, two hot tubs and medical supplies.
    The players also have a lounge to relax in before and after training and the club are looking to keep the players happy and relaxed for as long as they want to stay at the facility during the day, with snacks and lunches available to them.
    <i>"The players will have a place to ideally get to earlier than they normally would, because they're coming to a place where they can sit down and relax, and after training the same would apply"</i> explained Lenarduzzi. <i>"We want to make it feel as much like home as possible. Everything that we have here is exactly what you would need."</i>
    The lounge includes an eating area, full kitchen with smoothie makers and proteins and supplements, couches, big flat screen television, laptop stations and a media area. The players don't have to wash up but they do have to clear up after themselves!
    The facility has a number of simple motivational messages along the walls, including the Caps three core values - "Unity. Winning. Honour."
    There is also a great new mission statement - "To be a champion club on and off the soccer pitch".
    The club hope that all of these statements that they have recently launched will be with them for at least the next decade.
    There is no private gym in the facility but the Thunderbird Arena next door has a large gym and the players will be using that for the time that they are in the facility.
    Although the facility is currently just for the first team, the plan is to move the Residency program there in the fall.
    But enough of my descriptions here's some photos of the new facility for you to see for yourself:
    <center>










    You can find more photos on our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aftncanada/sets/72157632856121985/with/8508912074/" target="_blank"><u>Flickr</u></a> account. You can also view a slideshow <a href="
    " target="_blank"><u>HERE</u></a>.</center>
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