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    Guest
    The Impact remains undefeated in Florida and Canada's U-20 Nats falter in CONCACAF opener.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    On this week's show, we revisit Canada's 2-1 loss to Cuba with Raphael Larocque-Cyr. Jonathan Tannenwald talks on the US shallow 2-1 win over Haiti in the first game of the tournament and talks about the repercussions of the late return of Landon Donovan for LA Galaxy, but mostly for USMNT.
    Dave Lévesque (Journal de Montréal) talks about the Impact's last two games he witnessed in Florida against Philadelphia and DC United and he tells us which Academy players and trialists he expects to stay on or leave as the season begins on March 2.
    Marc Tougas (CP) offers a very positive look at the Impact, Olivier Occean's suspension and more and he tells us about the return of the PLSQ's defending champions that were left for dead just a few weeks ago.
    We also discuss the first edition of Expo Soccer Montréal with the event's founder and president, J.P. Proulx.
    We also talk UEFA Champions League with Vincent Destouches (985sports.ca).
    All this and more in our 46 minutes show: Click here to listen.
    Guest
    Before Johnny Leverón departed Honduras on Monday, he spoke with some members of the media at the airport about his move to Vancouver.
    The Honduran website <a href="http://www.diez.hn/Inicio/Ediciones/2013/02/17/Noticias/Leveron-viaja-para-unirse-al-Whitecaps#.USLvTh0p_N4" target="_blank"><u>Diez ran a piece on his departure</u></a>, with video of his impromptu airport press scrum.
    It was all <strike>Greek</strike> Spanish to us, so we got AFTN translator Maria Lopez to tell us just what he said.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We've tweaked tiny bits of it to make it run better in English, but tried to keep it as true to the original as possible, quirks of language and all.
    It's not the most earth shattering of interviews, but there are a few interesting snippets in there.
    There may just have been a language difference, but it does seem to indicate that he wanted to come to MLS and wanted to see what his options were here, so Vancouver may have laid discovery rights on him to snag him ahead of other teams, although it may only be an initial one or two year contract.
    It's also good to see the player do his research on the Caps before he came. He will certainly find some Spanish speaking friends on the team and I'm sure he'll soon fit in to the team and the city.
    Anyway, here's the interview:
    Host: Johnny Leveron has his luggage ready to prepare himself for a whole new adventure. This time his destination will be Canada, and the team’s name is Vancouver in MLS. The Honduran tells us he feels very excited for this new project. Coming up next, take a look at what Johnny told us.
    Johnny Leveron: First I have to do a test. I have to do a physical test, medical tests and all routine I imagine it must be. That is why they called for me. To go take these tests and well, from there take a look at what is their decision, if all is settled. But practically everything is all finalized.
    Reporter: Johnny what influenced the decision that took you to MLS?
    Johnny Leveron: More than anything, truthfully, the first idea was to stay in the same team, but to tell you the truth we couldn’t get to an agreement with the team Motagua. And this opportunity presented itself to me going to the MLS. We were looking at the alternatives with the people from there, to see with which team I could play on. The same MLS team gave me an opening to be with them. More than anything what influenced me was my hopes and the hope of going abroad. It was that more than anything. That and also the team wanting me on their team. Some way or another is what they, or what I, will give to the team. Those will be the things that we will workout with them, about money, the years I plan to be with them.
    Reporter: Do you feel motivated by this project?
    Johnny: Truthfully, yes of course, yes. To tell you the truth I have always wanted to do this, go abroad. This a great team, a team that is just getting to the MLS, but either way it is a team that is aspiring to do greater things. And well lets hope I can be a part of that.
    Reporter: How is the physical part going?
    Johnny: Good, good. We have never stopped working, we have never… although we haven’t been on any game playing against another team. I have been practicing to my own rhythm, but either way I never stop practicing.
    Reporter: The tests, medical tests when will you have them done?
    Johnny: To be honest I really do not know. First I am travelling there and when I get there I am at their orders, to see what is needed, so that I can integrate myself with the team.
    Reporter 2: Besides the physical test and the contract being signed, do you have to do a sports test?
    Johnny: Well, more importantly I have to do the physical tests, that is right now the most important and from there everything is fixed.
    Reporter 2: What do you know of your new team, any good or bad coaches, any Latin Americans on the team?
    Johnny: I think there are a bit more Latinos. I have been looking and reading a lot about the team, and how they bring lots of Hispanics to the team but well right now I am only thinking on getting to know the team when I get there and take a look at which of them I can get familiar with.
    Reporter: What are the intentions of the contract, how long are you playing for them, two seasons or two years?
    Johnny: There are a lot of ideas going around, one or two years that is what is still on the table, but like I am telling you, the tests are the most important for now.
    Reporter 2: Also, more importantly it depends on your part because you might be called to play for you home country.
    Johnny: Let's hope. Let's hope I can be with my home country team again, because truthfully, that is, as a soccer player, that is what you hope to do once in your life. God bless, they call again and that moment will come whenever it comes.
    Reporter 2: Who is your manager or did you represent yourself?
    Johnny: My manager is Eduardo Pedemonte. He is this one we have been fixing up things with, also with the company Bay Soccer. We have been working with them and let’s hope to continue working with them, if all goes well.
    Reporter 2: And does he travel with you or you meet him there?
    Johnny: He travels with me, with all of us on the same plane. I am sure he will be here anytime soon.
    <center>**********</center>
    Johnny Leverón trained with the team in Charleston this morning. His medical obviously went well! He is likely to be a few weeks away from full fitness however.
    He may get a brief run out against Houston Dynamo tomorrow, but if he doesn't I'm sure we'll see him in Whitecaps colours against Chicago Fire on Saturday or Carolina RailHawks on Sunday.
    Don't forget to read our profile of Leverón and look at where he might fit in and whose expense <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4206-Johnny-Leveron-joins-Vancouver-Whitecaps" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
    <p>
    Guest
    Nearly a year after their medal-winning performance at the London Olympics, the women's national team will finally get their homecoming with a "friendly" against the U.S.A. at BMO Field on Sunday, June 2.
    While the focus in the Canadian women's program is ostensibly centered around the 2015 Women's World Cup, this game will seemingly exist outside of that narrative. It's being billed by the Canadian Soccer Association as "The Rematch" -- a shot at redemption after the heartbreaking Olympic semifinal loss against our cross-border rivals, and an attempt to capitalize on the excitement and goodwill generated by the team during their run last summer.
    But that rivalry has been rather lopsided historically (Canada has only three wins and five draws in 52 matches against the U.S., and haven't beaten the Americans since 2001). The last two showdowns on Canadian soil have both been comfortable 4-0 wins for the Yanks. So head coach John Herdman will be temporarily suspending his strategy of testing younger players in the run-up to 2015.
    "Not this game," he said at a press conference Tuesday. "I think this game is quite special for Canadians, and I think there's only a set group of players that are ready to play this game. Some of the younger players we've been immersing, it's OK in China at a friendly tournament (last month). But coming up against the best players in the world, these teams can destroy you in seconds. That's the quality, and they have a mindset that they are unforgiving. I think the Canadian public deserve the opportunity for us to get out there and really try and do something quite special."
    Indeed, it will be a special night for the team and its supporters -- but given that Toronto won't be serving as a host city in the 2015 Women's World Cup, why use it as the venue for a heavily-hyped match such as this? I asked CSA general secretary Peter Montopoli about whether thought had been given to having this match in one of the six host cities, in an attempt to build up to the 2015 tournament.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    "Yeah, there was thought," he said. "It comes down to what's the best opportunity for success for our team, and also, secondary, from a revenue perspective. And this certainly was the best location, the best venue for us in that period of time on June 2. A lot of it depends on timing and availability, and we found for us, that this was the right call for this."
    The "revenue perspective" in question is almost certainly the fact that -- as originally reported here on CSN last month -- under a revised agreement with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (the operators of BMO Field), the CSA must sell 16,000 tickets per year to national-team games at BMO Field to avoid facing a financial penalty. Given the lingering excitement around the women's national team and the cross-border rivalry, there's a good chance that mark will be surpassed on the evening of June 2.
    But is selling out the stadium a reasonable expectation? And what of fans elsewhere in the country; can they expect to see the women's national team visit any time soon? I followed up with an exclusive one-on-one conversation with Montopoli to try and answer some of those questions:
    John made reference to having 23,000 fans out there (earlier in a press conference to announce the match). Is that something you're hopeful for, a sellout or close to a sellout at BMO Field?
    We believe there's enough interest and appetite for this match, and for the women's national team anywhere in Canada. We're pushing for a sellout for that match, certainly, and we believe there's enough interest to sustain that.
    Is the CSA going to be working with the Voyageurs in the same way they did during the men's World Cup qualifying campaign?
    Yes. A lot of the same plans that we've kind of fine-tuned over the course of two years will come into play. We'll take advantage of that for 2013. That's why we're excited.
    And I presume you'll be working with Umbro in the same way, to reach out to clubs and sell tickets?
    Yeah, we'll work with Umbro, we have our own ticket-sales club campaign. We have a number of things in the hopper that we hope we can take advantage of for ticket sales.
    In terms of games the team has going forward, it has been reported (here at CSN) that Canada has another friendly lined up in France in April. Is that something you're able to comment on at this point?
    It's something that we're very close to, we just haven't been able to finalize all the details. Hopefully we'll be able to announce that shortly.
    You said it's the CSA's goal to have the women's national team play in each of the World Cup 2015 host cities prior to the World Cup -- is that correct?
    Yes ... We want to take them across the country. In 2012, we actually ended up playing in two of the six venues. We played in British Columbia, in Vancouver, for the CONCACAF (Olympic) qualifiers, so there were five matches there. We played in Moncton, so that's two of the six. Ottawa doesn't have a building, and Winnipeg is still building. So really that takes us down to Montreal and Edmonton. Certainly we like to play in Toronto. So when it came down to that decision, you're looking at the opportunity and the availability. And the other piece was where the U.S. (team) was located, and quick entry... It worked out well for Toronto.
    I get the sense there will be fans -- particularly in Vancouver -- who might feel a bit aggrieved about having this game in Toronto. They might look to the fact that there was the successful CONCACAF tournament in Vancouver and may have thought this could have been a game that would have been hosted out there.
    Yeah, you know, I think you always have to take into consideration the opponent and where they're coming from. Certainly the United States preferred an east-coast environment this time around. Not to blame them, but when we play them, they ask us what's best for our location. But hopefully we'll have the opportunity to announce more matches before the year is out, and hopefully the other FIFA World Cup cities will have the opportunity to host.
    Is there a chance the team will play more games on home soil in 2013?
    Certainly that's what we're trying to work on right now. We've had some difficulty because the European countries have a lot of their World Cup qualifiers ongoing, and so to get them to play on a FIFA matchday is becoming very difficult, because they're playing already. So we're trying to work on something for later in the year, hopefully we'll have some more announcements. We want to be playing more at home.
    Tickets go on sale to the public via Ticketmaster on March 22, with information about tickets in the supporters sections being provided by the Voyageurs (and, shortly thereafter, in this space). For those unable to make it, the game will be broadcast live on all Sportsnet stations.
    We now know that Mission 2015 gets officially underway on June 2. It's us, it's the Yanks -- we all know what's at stake.
    Now, let's just hope the referee isn't from Norway.
    .
    Guest
    Can we take a moment to talk about hate?
    It's not a subject that sports fans or officials like to address. However, it's a core part of the collective experience of watching and participating in sports.
    Teams hate other teams; fans hate players; players hate other players and so it goes and goes.
    Hate, hate, hate.
    There is love, too, but truth be told love plays a smaller role. In fact, sometimes the most hate is directed towards those that we also claim to love – here in Toronto we know that phenomena all too well.
    It's hard for non-sports fans to understand the hate. It seems irrational because most often, it is. It especially seems irrational when you realize that the hate makes sports more enjoyable to most fans.
    What's good about seeing your team win if you can't also see fans of your rival burning with rage at the victory? That's half the fun.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    To that end, derby games are relevant far beyond the communities they take place in because of the edge – and the spectacle that creates – that surrounds them.
    The visceral nature of this can be intimidating to many non-sports fans, but most of those who enjoy it understand that there is a large amount of theater involved.
    The hate isn't real. On a personal level I, as a Manchester City supporter, may hate Manchester United, but outside of the 90 minutes on game day, I can count several good friends who just happen to have terrible, Red taste in football teams.
    See, like most fans in the world, I understand the difference between real hate and sports hate. And, I know that the two realities should never meet.
    Which brings me to last week's news that former MLS and US international forward Robbie Rogers is gay. He went public with his orientation on his personal blog. At the same time he announced that he was stepping away from the game for a while to discover himself.
    He's just 25. And, despite some set-backs in his career of late, he still has a great deal to give back to the sport. If he does return he will become the first openly gay footballer to play at a level where there is widespread attention (there are some out players at very low levels of the sport).
    It would be significant. It would be especially significant if he did so back in the United States, where gay rights are increasingly becoming a hot button political issue.
    It would also be a personal challenge. Sadly, there remains a vocal minority of fans that don't understand that it is OK to “hate” Rogers because he played for the Columbus Crew, but it is most certainly not OK to hate him because of who he loves.
    We all want to think that we are able to ensure that our sports hate doesn't cross over into creating a truly hateful environment. Those who stand in the stadiums want to think that we can create an intimidating environment for players, but not one that actually drives them away from the game.
    And, for the most part, we do. There are lines that don't get crossed (and, speaking from experience, homophobic language is one of those lines). But, it's a delicate balance.
    At times like this we should all take some time to reflect on why no active player is out and on what our role is in creating an environment that doesn't feel safe for gay players (and we all know there are more).
    When Rogers made the announcement the response was universally positive by fellow players. Although it would be somewhat naive to think that there wouldn't be some push back in the room it seems that the real problem goes far beyond the immediate participants – and it involves you and I.
    It seems that now more than ever it is imperative that fans keep our hate in its proper perspective.
    Guest

    Johnny Leverón joins Vancouver Whitecaps

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    With Honduran media reporting it as a done deal for weeks now, the Caps finally made it official today - 23 year old defender Johnny Leverón is now a Vancouver Whitecap.
    Leverón headed out of Honduras on Monday to join his new teammates at their training camp in Charleston, telling reporters that he was looking forward to starting a new adventure. You can read a translation of his impromptu airport press scrum <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4210-Johnny-Leveron-Vancouver-is-a-team-that-is-aspiring-to-do-greater-things" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
    The signing looks to be another shrewd pick up by the Caps, who are getting a young talent, in his prime and with so much future potential. Leverón is a left-footed centre back, who is very comfortable on the ball and good at moving it forward. He can also play at left back and as a holding midfielder.
    Exactly where he will fit into the team and what that means to others is now the interesting aspect that will soon play out.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Leverón comes to Vancouver with a wealth of international experience, having played for the Honduran national team at every level of his development, including 20 senior caps and three goals.
    Last year he captained and played every minute for Honduras in all four of their games at the Olympics in London. He has also represented his country at the 2009 U20 World Cup and the 2007 U17 World Cup.
    He has played once for Honduras in their current quest to reach the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil, playing the full game in their 2-0 home defeat by Panama in June last year. He was most recently involved as an unused sub in Honduras' 8-1 drubbing of Canada in last year's World Cup qualifier, but didn't feature in the Los Catrachos squad that beat the US 2-1 earlier this month.
    At club level, Leverón made 83 appearances, scoring nine goals, for Honduran Liga Nacional side C.D. Motagua over four season. He was recently released by Motagua after negotiations for a new contract fell through and comes to Vancouver as a free agent.
    Rennie told <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TEAMRadio-WhitecapsFCDaily" target="_blank"><b>Whitecaps Daily</b></a> yesterday that the club have been tracking Leverón for <i>"a long time"</i>.
    Paul Ritchie watched the player in last year's Olympic qualifiers and <i>"really liked him from that moment"</i>. The Caps continued to monitor him in the Olympics and then at club level in Honduras and got good references from their trusted contacts down there, making the signing a reality.
    He has now joined up with the team in Charleston and has less than two weeks to find his feet and gel with his new teammates before the new season kicks off on March 2nd.
    Where he will feature this season is already the main talking point, especially with the addition of Nigel Reo-Coker also expected imminently.
    With a centreback pairing of Jay DeMerit and Andy O'Brien, you would have to think that opportunities for Leverón at that spot this year will be limited to injury and suspension cover.
    Looking ahead, he is perhaps being viewed as the replacement next year if one, or both, of the veterans move on. It also opens up the possibility of using DeMerit as trade bait depending on how he performs this season.
    Slotting Leverón in at left back, with Alain Rochat as the defensive mid, is also another serious possibility and the one which I think the Caps will go with. Rennie really seems to like Rochat in that role, but the pair can interchange for various games, which is giving Vancouver some great options back there.
    This addition may now see Nigel Reo-Coker on the right wing, and as back up for Y-P Lee, or finding a central midfield role. We're certainly needing an experienced, solid head in there.
    Leverón's signing takes the Caps squad to 27 officially. Simon Thomas and Reo-Coker would take that to 29, so something has to give you would think and Jordan Harvey looks like he will be the odd man out at the moment.
    He doesn't have the vision that many other players have in his positions and although he is a good squad player to have and bring in, he is also someone who could start with a lot of MLS teams and will surely be used by the Whitecaps to get something more worthwhile back in return.
    Carlyle Mitchell must also now be wondering where he will fit in to the Caps plans. He had an excellent game against the College of Charleston on Sunday and many were singing his praises. I think the Caps will keep him around. He's cheap, still has good potential and a loan deal could be on the cards.
    It's not ideal making such late additions to a squad that has bonded so well, but Johnny Leverón certainly looks to be a worthwhile one.
    <p>
    Guest
    Much like the geopolitical history between the two nations, the recent soccer history between Canada and Cuba has been, suffice to say, complicated... and a bit strange.
    Last year alone, we saw Canada's Olympic dreams essentially evaporate on a last-minute set piece, Lars Hirschfeld being sent off on a glorified cow pasture in Havana, and the frostbitten Cubans contesting a World Cup qualifier with zero subs due to a bevy of pre-match defections.
    So, what did the latest installment -- the opening of U20 World Cup qualifying on Monday night -- bring us?
    Oh, you know, just a Mexican marching band regaling the crowd with hits ranging from Gangnam Style to Rihanna's We Found Love as Cuba took advantage of an utterly disjointed effort from the Canadian side, casting severe doubt on the Baby Reds' hopes of earning a spot in Turkey 2013.
    No matter the age level, no matter the gender, no matter the competition... Canada just never, ever, ever makes it easy on their supporters, do they?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It was a game of two halves, the same as every other non-knockout soccer match ever played. The first saw some promising play from the likes of Keven Aleman and Zakaria Messoudi, both of whom showed the sort of skill on the ball rare to Canadian internationals. But while they and others showed brief moments of individual flash, a distinct sense of non-cohesion afflicted the Canadian side throughout the game, with passes being mis-hit and several instances of communication gone awry -- with sometimes devastating consequences.
    A curiously bumpy pitch in Puebla, Mexico didn't exactly help things -- nor would adjusting to having a marching band blasting Party Rock for no particular reason, I'd suppose.
    Perhaps Canada's best chance of the first half came on a free header from Michael Petrasso that would have eluded the keeper and found the back of the net, if not for that meddling Cuban defender's boot. Instantly, anyone who's ever watched a Canadian national soccer team knew the spurned chance would come back to bite us in the ass.
    So, naturally, it did.
    As the second half began, with things still scoreless, Canada got much more direct, with one-on-one attacks in the midfield being largely replaced by a whole lot of hey-let's-move-it-around-at-the-back-for-a-while-then-thump-an-aimless-longball. Whether this was an intentional reaction by head coach Nick Dasovic to some of the more shall-we-say selfish play in the first half, I couldn't say... but it was too stark a change to really be a coincidence.
    The result... well... Canada was slow and ponderous in its attempts to create scoring chances, and was ultimately punished by a few bad decisions and preposterous defensive breakdowns. As I remarked on Twitter during the match: If you've followed Canadian soccer for any amount of time -- heck, even if you've just been following Canada's recent showdowns with Cuba at various levels -- you've seen this game multiple times before.
    It was -- to put things in a mild and friendly manner, because what the hell, shitting on them isn't going to accomplish anything anyway -- a tough game for a number of the Canadian kids, among them Doneil Henry, Marco Lapenna and Samuel Piette. On the other hand, all three subs -- Alessandro Riggi, Caleb Clarke and Stefan Vukovic -- brought their own energy to the game... but that was by the time things were, more or less, decided.
    Vukovic did manage to nab Canada's consolation goal on a rebound in the dying minutes of regular time. And hey, who knows, maybe that will have some ultimate impact on goal differential and whether or not Canada can complete the suddenly-Herculean task of escaping as one of the top two teams in this three-team group.
    It was an ugly game, and an ugly result, but it's moronic and counterproductive to make broad and sweeping pronouncements about the individual careers of any of these players or the program in general based on one result. Go ahead and do it if it makes you feel better, by all means -- and please be sure to note that it's not "one result" you're upset about, but a seemingly unending stream of similar performances and similar results, even as the personnel and circumstances change.
    Yet the reality is still that a victory on Friday against Nicaragua probably still gets Canada through to a win-and-you're-into-the-World-Cup game next Tuesday. Now, sure, to presume Canada is automatically poised for victory against a largely-unknown Nicaraguan side, after what we saw Monday night, is the height of Canadian navel-gazing delusion. And perhaps that's a trap many of us fell into prior to the Cuba match, overrating our own kids based on their supposed pedigree and our general desperate hope for a Canadian team that doesn't make things so damned difficult on themselves and on us.
    Or maybe -- just maybe -- this is a team of talented youngsters who, for whatever reason, simply didn't "click" on Monday night, but have better things in store. Maybe Dasovic learned enough from the grotesque outcome to make sufficient adjustments. Maybe this will be one of the rare times where strange things happen around a Canadian team and they actually work out in our favour at the end of the day.
    Anyway, come Friday, let's all find our comfort zone between the totally Polyanna-ish nonsense and unshakeable fatalism and watch a bunch of kids pull on the red and white, and fight for their footie dreams. They'll either accomplish what they're aiming for or they won't. But there's still talent in the squad, and if everything goes right, they still could have a conceivable chance of success.
    Stop me if you've heard that one before.
    .
    Guest

    Torsten Frings and TFC in 2013

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Torsten Frings is back home.
    Toronto FC says that the former German international is home to deal with personal matters, but that hasn't stopped the rumour mill from buzzing that this is the end for Frings. He was already slow by the time hip surgery knocked him out of the back half of 2012. Now, fans and media are openly wondering if he's close to good enough to still compete in MLS.
    Not technically. He's clearly the most intelligent player that has played for TFC. His vision and awareness are dramatically superior to almost every other player on the pitch when he plays.
    Physically, it's a different conversation. He clearly conserves his energy for long stretches of the game. That can lead to him being a defensive liability at times. There is only so much that smarts can make up for. Sometimes a younger, faster player can burn a player – even one that has played in the World Cup for Germany.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Paul Mariner was widely criticized last season for daring to suggest that Frings was at fault for a goal – “I don't appreciate him diving in like that,” the embattled skipper said. Mariner was criticized for beer prices, bad weather and the election of Rob Ford too. That doesn't mean that he wasn't on point on that day.
    There was and is a strong argument that can be made that Canadian plumber and all around try-er Terry Dunfield was and is as effective as Frings in the holding midfield position.
    At times. And it's the “times” that make it hard to imagine the 2013 season without Frings. As stated, he has a quality that can't be measured. Although I'm a big proponent of advanced stats in soccer, and in pointing to empirical evidence to make an argument about a player's effectiveness, Frings does seem to tap into that undefined “intangible” characteristic that the more romantically inclined like to point to.
    Frings has already said that 2013 will be his last year in the sport. He would like to go out strong with TFC. He legitimately seems motivated both from a personal level (if you were Frings would you want your last moments as a player to be associated with the ****show that was TFC in 2012?) and on a team level – he does seem to care about his teammates. So, hopefully this is just a personal matter and not a deflection while the team works out the buy-out.
    Yes, the DP slot and near $400,000 cap space he would free up could be useful, but, bluntly, the club already has lots of cap space, allocation and a DP slot to work with. It seems unlikely GM Kevin Payne will have spent all the money by March 2 so there is no rush to rid the team of Frings.
    He probably needs to be managed in 2013. However, half a season of a fresh Frings – along with a veteran day-to-day presence in training and in the room – could help a great deal. That's especially the case with inexperienced head coach in Ryan Nelsen taking over. Many people seem to be in a rush to throw everyone associated with TFC 2012 overboard, but the simple truth is someone has to fill out the roster and it does no one any good to actually be worse in 2013.
    Unless Frings is completely fried physically he will be far more useful to TFC on the pitch than the cap relief he represents to the club would be.
    Guest
    UPDATED 16/2:
    Looking at Vancouver Whitecaps' offseason transition, the glaring holes in the squad have continued to lie in the midfield and in securing strong right back cover. Both of these issues may now be solved in one fell swoop, but will it bring some fresh problems of its own?
    Last season saw disappointing dominance, production and creative flair from the midfielders, and love him or loathe him, the departure of Barry Robson only weakened this further.
    The excitement generated by the addition of Japanese playmaker Daigo Kobayashi is all well and good, but he can't be expected to do everything on his own and clearly further additions and strengthening of the midfield were needed.
    As <a href="http://www.prostamerika.com/?p=76678" target="_blank">Prost Amerika</a> first reported Thursday, the man the Whitecaps have pinpointed to help fill in some of the missing midfield puzzle pieces is former England U21 international Nigel Reo-Coker.
    And that deal to bring the former West Ham and Aston Villa star to Vancouver is now close to being finalised. The Whitecaps have now made an offer to the player but are still awaiting the official acceptance. Barring any more snafus, Reo-Coker is expected to join up with the Caps in Charleston midweek.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Nigel's future was as good as sealed when Portland Timbers finally stopped being the main stumbling block to the deal in time for the Caps imposed noon deadline on Friday. Martin Rennie played hardball and got his man.
    The Caps have had productive discussions with Reo-Coker and his agent for the past week, but there has been a series of delays as a result of Portland holding the player's discovery rights. Prost reported that the Timbers made an offer to the player, but it wasn't deemed acceptable and after discussions with Martin Rennie, he only wanted to head north to Vancouver, citing the greater professionalism shown by the Whitecaps.
    As you can see from the photo above, he's already bought a hat in preparation.
    Apart from the Cascadian rivals, no other MLS teams had made Reo-Coker an offer. What the whole sorry situation has shown is just how flawed the discovery rights process is, but that's one for another day.
    Reo-Coker has played at the top level of the club game in England, with European experience in several UEFA Cup matches. He has also won international honours, earning 23 U21 Caps for England. He captained that side and has also had spells as captain at West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton. He was also named on standby for the senior England World Cup squad in 2006.
    He's a central midfielder, more defensive, but very much a box to box player with the ability and pace to tear forward (although some fans of his most recent clubs may disagree with that summary!). He can also play on the right wing and even right back if the need arose, and has played a lot of his career out of position. Versatility and experience much needed in Vancouver's squad right now.
    The 28 year old is currently a free agent and will initially make the move to Vancouver on a lower salary, with a move to Designated Player status next season if the signing proves to be successful. Basically, it's a year's trial to impress before paying out the big bucks, which is sensible and should give Vancouver a player very eager to impress.
    The Caps are likely to pick him up for under $300,000 in the first year, which would be excellent business for a player with his track record.
    It's a move beneficial to both parties and we've already seen enough failure to perform with some of the Caps other big money signings of late that it's worth taking a wait and see approach this time.
    Reo-Coker's recent form, and past problems, could see him being very hit or miss in MLS, but with the potential to be just what the team is needing.
    The Whitecaps are getting a player who will be known to many, but he's far from being a household name. Rightly or wrongly, the fact that he has 205 appearances and seven seasons in the English Premiership will be enough to excite some in the Vancouver fanbase and immediately put pressure on him to perform.
    More importantly, the Caps are getting a player who at 28 is still in his prime, with hopefully a lot left to give, and not another UK player coming to the end of his career and looking for one last payday. Reo-Coker still hopes to force himself back into international reckoning, whether that may be with England, Sierra Leone or the US, most probably the latter.
    He was most recently linked with a move to EPL side West Brom, but also with some League One sides. He also turned down a chance to play in Turkey with Süper Lig sides Bursaspor and Kasimpasa in the summer, and Dinamo Moscow, Sevilla and Hamburg were reportedly interested, but no deals were forthcoming.
    So his talents have been in demand it would appear and the fact that he has chosen to make Vancouver his new home says a lot about Martin Rennie and the Whitecaps right now, especially as they're not splashing the cash from the outset.
    He's an experienced and versatile player who can be the right sort of leader on the park. One that doesn't have to wave his arms around and berate his teammates to get his points across.
    He has been described as being both a strong character and moody in the past and there have been some issues at his previous clubs, where there has seemingly been some <a href="http://www.lionofviennasuite.com/2013/1/13/3871900/nigel-reo-coker-fans-aston-villa-west-ham-united-bolton-wanderers-ipswich-town" target="_blank">bitterness</a> on both sides. He also isn't afraid to call out his fellow players, as his Ipswich team-mates <a href="http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/nigel_reo_coker_lays_into_town_team_mates_i_haven_t_come_here_to_be_made_to_look_like_a_fool_1_1684126" target="_blank">found out</a> during his loan spell there last year. This can play out both good and bad. You would have to think that the Caps will have learned from Robson's mistakes and will advise him accordingly.
    Those familiar with Reo-Coker's career may remember him being tagged as part of the "Baby Bentley Club" at West Ham during some turmoil when high profile players were accused of being more interested in the money and lifestyle than playing for the cause.
    You always worry about UK players seeing MLS as some kind of cash cow but coming to Vancouver for lower money, coupled with this recent <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4563464/Nigel-Reo-Coker-slams-agents.html" target="_blank"><b>interview</b></a>, where he slams agents for touting him for too much money and stresses there is more to his footballing decisions than financial rewards now that he is a married man, shows a more mature side of the player.
    It has been six years since those earlier days, so hopefully that will allay the fears of some. Martin Rennie also seems to like to take players with past issues under his wing.
    Whilst at Bolton, Reo-Coker played in the infamous game against Tottenham that saw Fabrice Muamba collapse. He was the first person that got to Muamba that afternoon and helped out on the pitch. An incident like that is bound to make you re-evaluate your life and what you want from it, something I'm sure he'll be questioned about a lot when he gets to Vancouver.
    For the player, a move to MLS will help him get his career back on track after his star has perhaps started to wane after the promise of his early career. Reo-Coker himself feels that he is <i>"just reaching the peak of my game"</i> right now.
    It's a career that started in the youth ranks at Wimbledon before making the first team for the Wombles and a subsequent transfer to West Ham for £575,000 in 2004.
    After three and half years at Upton Park, including a promotion campaign and FA Cup final appearance, Reo-Coker was transferred to Aston Villa for £8.5 million, where he spent four full seasons.
    After a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8263129.stm" target="_blank">training ground bust up with manager Martin O'Neill</a> in 2009, he fell out of favour before reviving his Villa career when Gerard Houllier took over as manager the next season.
    He joined Bolton for a year when his contract expired at Villa Park, playing in all bar one of their Premiership games, but triggered a relegation release clause in his contract when they went down last season. Ironically, he then found himself in the Championship anyway with Ipswich Town on a three month deal, making 11 goalless appearances, the last of which came in the FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa on January 5th.
    Ipswich saw him as no more than a squad player and their offer of another short term contract on a reduced salary was rejected by a player who still feels he has a lot to offer at the top level.
    The question now for the Whitecaps is does he?
    Will this be another Andy O'Brien style pick up or another foreign flop? The Whitecaps really can't afford the latter, from a performance and a PR point of view. Any attitude or disharmony in the dressing room also cannot be tolerated.
    As a fan of both of his London sides, I saw Reo-Coker in both his youthful glory and in a bit of a form slump, and although he has never been prolific in the goals department (just 23 in 382 overall club appearances, with him often playing defensive roles), he certainly adds a bit of flair and some much needed authority in the midfield.
    He is/was fast, and as long as that hasn't deserted him, will add yet another speed factor to Vancouver's attack, whether through the middle or up the right wing. It's also good that he would be coming to Vancouver in his mid-season, hopefully meaning he is fit and ready to go from the off. We can't afford any more passengers taking weeks to get up to game shape.
    A midfield trio of Reo-Coker, Kobayashi and Koffie certainly has an exciting feel to it. Add in some pace on the left wing and we're looking dangerous. Slotting him in as right back, even to cover Lee's rest days, with Alain Rochat as defensive mid, and we're then looking tight and fast on the wings.
    Reo-Coker describes himself as <a href="http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3069748,00.html" target="_blank"><i>"someone who gets emotionally involved everywhere I go"</i></a> and he would certainly be coming to a market where he will find love back if he produces on the pitch and gives his all for the club. If being the key word there.
    He loves being part of a club that feels like family and must be happy in his work. He had that at Wimbledon and he had that at Villa, both were clubs where he arguably performed at his best. Vancouver should be an ideal fit and as such, hopefully we would see a return to that form of old.
    The addition of Reo-Coker takes the Caps MLS squad to 27. Factor in goalkeeper Simon Thomas (and the fact that Honduran media are still reporting the transfer of defender Johnny Leverón as a done deal), and that's not leaving much opportunities for the likes of Ben Fisk, Dever Orgill and the other trialists to make the cut, or much wiggle room for the Whitecaps to do much else.
    It would also raise questions as to the roles in the squad of the likes of Jun Marques Davidson and Jordan Harvey. If Leverón also comes, then you have to add Carlyle Mitchell to that list.
    With the recent failures of high profile signings in Vancouver, the signing of Nigel Reo-Coker would be heavily scrutinised from day one. There won't be a lot of time given to him to settle in from some quarters, but he strikes me as the kind of player that will thrive on such a scenario and I like the leadership qualities he will bring to the team, as long as he leaves any attitude back in England.
    He has/had the ability to make a big impact in this League. Whether he still has it or is on a downward career spiral is what we now need to see. The latter would be a disaster for the Caps as we've said.
    Good players don't become bad players overnight, but we've seen enough UK players struggle in MLS to have genuine concerns as to how this could go. There have obviously also been successes, and the Nigel Reo-Coker of old certainly had the skills to be another one of those.
    Where would he fit into the Whitecaps team?
    The natural answer that jumps out is defensive mid, allowing Rochat to return to left back and Lee to right back.
    Don't be surprised though if Martin Rennie has at least an initial look at him as right back, especially if he joins up with the team in Charleston. That would keep an attacking presence on that wing, let Lee play left back and keep Rochat as DM, which is a position that Rennie clearly likes him in. It also would see the Caps have a good back up at least for Lee for when he doesn't travel or misses out fort other reasons.
    Right back may also prove to be Reo-Coker's best position now that he is in his late 20's, and he has played it before, albeit only as cover when the need has arisen. If it works, then great, if not, then he'll find a place in midfield.
    He may not be the final piece to the Whitecaps jigsaw, but if he comes here with, and maintains, the right attitude, Nigel Reo-Coker could certainly be a very important part of it.
    <p>
    Guest
    Whenever we feel like doing it (and we haven't done one for a while, much to everyone's relief I'm sure, but hey, it amuses me!), we think of a subject for a football team to be based around, then fill it with our starting eleven of current and recent MLS players with some appropriate name changes, or even better, just as is.
    Your scouting job is to come up with the subs bench, from any player from around the world, and leave your player suggestions in the comments section.
    Valentine's Day. Does anyone actually love the day apart from card shops and florists?
    We wanted to tell you we loved you all (hic) and get all romantic with you with our latest "MLS Team of the Week" - the <b><i>"Valentine's Day XI"</b></i>…
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Kevin Heartman (ex FC Dallas)
    <b>DF :</b> Zarek Valentine (Montreal Impact)
    <b>DF :</b> Drew Amour (Colorado Rapids)
    <b>DF :</b> Adrian Canndles (ex Toronto)
    <b>DF :</b> Connor Laid (New York Red Bulls)
    <b>MF :</b> Lovel Palmer (Real Salt Lake) [one for the single guys out there]
    <b>MF :</b> Brad Ring (San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>MF :</b> Andy Rose (Seattle Sounders)
    <b>MF :</b> Macoumba Candy (ex Houston Dynamo)
    <b>FW :</b> Calen Card (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>FW :</b> Kris Boyd (ex Portland Timbers)
    Few exes there. Quite fitting for a day about love and relationships.
    And why Kris Boyd? Because he's over-rated, you pay an inflated price for him and at the end of the day he's isn't worth the money. Just like everything on Valentine's Day.
    Wonder if Kenny Miller might make this team next year...
    Anyway, forget all this romance nonsense. Happy Carl Valentine's Day everyone.
    <p>
    Guest

    People always fear what they don't understand

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Soccer fans at a hockey game. Oil and water?
    We got a little indication in Vancouver last night as a group of Whitecaps fans, mostly Southsiders, decided to take in a Canucks game and tried to add a little soccer style atmosphere to a usually quiet Rogers Arena.
    It had mixed results. But it's certainly got people talking.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Canucks earned a narrow 2-1 victory over Minnesota Wild. They now sit five points back of Chicago with 36 matches still to play. Should they catch the Blackhawks, it would be their third straight President’s Trophy as league champions. Still reading??!
    In many ways, it was a typical night for the boys in blue. It was their 414th sellout on the trot. They’ve now won their last six matches. And as ever, there was a goaltending controversy with Roberto Luongo getting the nod over Corey Schneider. Yawn.
    The night also featured a special appearance by their ‘noisy neighbours’, who made the short march to the westside of the upper bowl. We spoke to one of their number, Kristjan Aug, after the match.
    <i>"It’s a great community to be a part of. We are always supporting the Whitecaps first, trying to have fun, do as many social activities as we can, but it’s always Whitecaps first. It’s great to be part of the family."</i>
    On Tuesday, the family as he calls it, was 75-strong, with many more following at home and on twitter. As a group, they marched into the stadium, their chants and their songs filling the concourse until they reached their seats in the upper bowl, taking the last several rows of their section.
    <i>"Well, going to Rogers Arena, I was hoping that we could provide some atmosphere, supply some energy, and some chants that maybe the other Canucks fans haven’t seen yet. We had a great time, certainly did most of the chants we were hoping for. It was pretty much a positive response."</i>
    To that end, they sang new songs such as "We all dream of a team of Sedins" put to the tune of ‘Yellow Submarine’ by the Beatles; and Southside classics, like ‘Boundary Road, take me home, to place where I belong, Vancouver, pretty mama, take me home, Boundary Road," which is set to the tune of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver. There was also a wonderful tribute sung to the sadly departed Rick Rypien.
    And they were a hit - at least at first.
    <i>"The people in our general area, around our section, they took a pretty positive response, clapped along with us, maybe they didn’t follow along with the lyrics or the chants, but we weren’t expecting that. Certainly they clapped along, joined in, as much as they cared to participate with, but yeah, it was a fun time in the general area."</i>
    If Rogers Arena is the successor to the Pacific Coliseum, then perhaps it is fitting that a Roman proverb comes to mind, 'Damnant quod non intellegunt,' which can be translated as 'people always fear what they don't understand'.
    <i>"Well, there were certainly some issues with security. They thought we were standing more than we should have. We definitely had a little bit of a talk with security, but nothing more than I would have expected."</i>
    <i>"It seemed to be a little bit of a learning curve for them. By them, I say the Canucks fans in general. They were a little bit more reserved than we normally are. We’re normally outgoing, singing and chanting, and all that kind of stuff. They’re more used to sitting back and watching the game. There was a bit of a culture clash there, but they certainly enjoyed it, joined in with us, and it was a good time overall."</i>
    For Kristjan Aug, it was an eye-opening experience that will not be soon forgot. He had come to Rogers Arena to broaden the horizons of his neighbours, exposing them to supporter culture. In his view, the Arena did not need to be quiet, sombre, and reserved, as it so often is. This was a sporting event, an opportunity to show true passion, and he would encourage others to do likewise.
    <i>"I wasn’t overly impressed personally with security and the way they treated us. Just in general the way they treated us. They sort of viewed us as outsiders rather than participants. That’s the way they seemed to look at it, that 'we were there to cause a ruckus', and we really weren’t. We were there to support the team and they didn’t really understand the supporters’ culture versus the fan culture."</i>
    In hockey as in football, or any other sport, athletes are influenced by their surroundings. They play inside a stadium, populated by real people, who urge them onward. They hear the crowd, and when they’re tired, when they want to give up, to quit, or give less than their best; that noise, that little bit of encouragement, it can spur them to push past the pain and on to greatness.
    <i>"In supporters culture, we really get behind the team and make noise and just cheer them on, whereas in the fan culture, where you’re kind of there more to watch it than support it. I’m not sure that really makes a whole lot of sense, but we’re there 100% behind the team, making sure that they know we’re there for them, rather than ourselves."</i>
    The night also gave the travelling supporters a new appreciation for what they have at BC Place.
    <i>"I’m just glad that we have the security that we have at BC Place. Those guys are fantastic. Every once in a while people complain about BC Place security, but I’m so glad that we have those guys compared to the guys at Rogers Arena. It’s just the way that Rogers Arena treats supporters and fans that make noise, get behind the team, and support them. I would not go back myself personally. I’m so looking forward to March 2nd."</i>
    Strong words, but they should not be misconstrued as any kind of resentment towards the Canucks players, management, or their fans. Kristjan's issue is with the security of Rogers Arena and their handling of the situation. It’s probably safe to say that everyone can agree that it could have been handled better.
    <i>"Canucks supporters are great. Don’t get me wrong. They really are. They are among the best supporters in North America for a hockey game. They do make noise, they’re all behind the team, and I have zero problems with that. But the way security treated us is something we need to work on."</i>
    It should also be said that there were encouraging signs. Many of the season ticket holders and the casual fans seemed receptive. For most of them, it was a new experience to see people standing, chanting, and singing at Rogers Arena. Those are usually reserved for the national anthem, goals by the home team, or any particularly impressive segment of play.
    <i>"The Canucks fans themselves, the guys five, six rows even in front of us, they were joining in on our chants, songs, and clapping. People were participating and that’s what I loved about them. We were there to provide a completely different kind of support of the team, and they were all for it."</i>
    With 75 dedicated supporters, used to standing, chanting, and singing for 90 minutes at a time, a 60 minute hockey match should have been a walk in the park, even if it does take the better part of three hours to play it.
    <i>"I loved it, and they loved it, and it was fantastic until security and Rogers Arena staff, and VPD even, stepped in on it. It was fantastic up until that point. And they kind of spoiled the mood. People didn’t get back into it. The second and third period, there was kind of a downward spiral; it just didn’t work the same as the first period."</i>
    At the end of the day, it was a great day to be a Vancouver Whitecaps supporter. They exited the Arena as they entered it, with their heads held high, secure in the knowledge that they had represented the best part of being a supporter. They stood, as much as they could. They sang, in support of the Canucks. And they raised the bar, showed the neutral that there was something more, that you didn’t have to observe in polite silence, but could express your support and have fun doing it.
    <i>"Yes, we did show that people can be energetic and supportive and all that kind of stuff. Certainly, we accomplished that, we did. People know us; the Team 1040 was talking about us for hours. People have seen how fan culture can be in hockey, they’ve seen YouTube videos of the Swedish and Finnish national leagues, but they haven’t realised what it can be like in Canada. And we have shown them that yes, it can happen here."</i>
    To some, football is synonymous with hooliganism, and it always will. But one of the supporters’ favourite chants is beautiful in its simplicity, "We don’t riot!". On match days, hundreds descend upon the downtown streets, peacefully marching to the home of the Whitecaps, BC Place.
    <i>"On the negative side, they’ve seen that yes, we may or may not be a loud, boisterous crowd. Mind you, we didn’t swear at all tonight. I guarantee you that we did not swear tonight. But people have seen us as sort of a loud, boisterous crowd, and a lot of people in Canada want to watch hockey, stay down, stay quiet, and that’s fine for them."</i>
    Though the night may not have been a resounding success, it was still a good day. Some people may not have liked what they did, but they could not have acted any other way. They are not just fans, they are supporters and they make no apology for that.
    <i>"In the end, it was positive. Did we accomplish what we wanted to do? I’ll say yes and no, because we did show what we could be capable of. But at the same time, we did dismay a lot of people, because they want to sit down and be quiet, and we didn’t want to be. So you can take from that what you will."</i>
    <p>
    Guest
    TV SPOILER ALERT: This post contains minor spoilers about the most recent episode of The Walking Dead.
    Hope can be a dangerous thing.
    Yes, it can provide comfort and strength to those going through difficult times. But when hope transforms from wanting something to be so, to believing something will be so simply because we want it to be, it robs us of our critical thinking and our healthy, natural skepticism.
    We see it everywhere, from politics to pop culture. In the most recent episode of The Walking Dead, a character successfully placates a panicked mob, worried about their safety from flesh-eating zombies, with nothing more than rousing (albeit empty) rhetoric. I haven't read the graphic novels, but I'm going to guess most of those folks are still gonna end up getting bit.
    Still, for the moment, they had hope.
    And when it comes to Toronto FC's impending seventh MLS season, so -- for some reason -- do I.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    To be sure, Toronto FC fans have plenty to fear heading into 2013. For six years, the devastating losses have piled up like shotgun-blasted walkers. No matter how many times things seemed safe, the foes have found ways to breach the Reds' defences. Like the survivalists wandering through post-apocalyptic Georgia, the TFC faithful can be forgiven for feeling, above all else, a profound sense of fatigue and fatalism.
    But still, hope remains.
    Stefan Frei has once again suffered a painful, early-season injury -- and though not as devastating as the leg injury that kept him out of most of the 2012 campaign, a broken nose is no laughing matter. While Milos Kocic performed admirably after being anointed Toronto's #1 last year, he's now gone, leaving newcomer Joe Bendik as the ostensible top dog in Frei's absence. So, can a 23-year-old who's made 14 appearances in the last three seasons do the job?
    We hope so.
    After a rocky introductory period, new head coach Ryan Nelsen is getting a chance to settle into his role in Toronto, presumably with the full backing of team president Kevin Payne. Of course, Payne has experience finding and grooming new coaching talent -- Bruce Arena and Ben Olsen being the two most oft-cited examples -- but, as infomercials for weight-loss products will tell you in the fine print, past experiences do not guarantee future results. Can Nelsen pull off a quick personal turnaround, and give the team what it needs to produce a respectable season?
    We hope so.
    For the first time in the team's existence, defence appears to be an area of strength for Toronto FC, with Darren O'Dea and Danny Califf anchoring a starting back four that will presumably also include a maturing Ashtone Morgan and a finally-back-in-his-natural-position Richard Eckersley. But both O'Dea and Eckersley have encountered some criticism for the size of their contracts (which aren't their fault, of course), while there are still question marks around the team's defensive reserves. Can this be the year defence isn't the Achilles heel for TFC?
    We hope so.
    Can Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans get (and remain) healthy enough to produce at a level commensurate with their status as designated players?
    Can Justin Braun rediscover the form he had in four seasons at Chivas USA?
    Can Luis Silva avoid the sophomore slump, and build upon what he was able to show in 2012?
    Can someone, anyone, make enough of an impression as a trialist or academy graduate to, y'know, help fill out the roster a little bit?
    Can Payne find a new designated player that will be a true difference-maker for a team desperate to get over the MLS playoff hump?
    Well... we hope so.
    Hope isn't going to win any games, nor is pessimism going to lose games. Much like living through the zombie apocalypse, no one really knows how they'll react to being a fan of a team like TFC until they've actually experienced it. And when you're splattered with the accumulated psychological detritus of seasons one through six, no one can blame you for your approach to the team's present and future, whatever it may be.
    After all, even the most reliable and decisive character in The Walking Dead is beginning to lose his grip on reality. There's really only so much an individual can endure before they realize their attempts to predict or shape the situation around them are utterly futile.
    At that point, all they've got left is hope.
    And hope, remember, can be a dangerous thing.
    .
    Guest
    First game, first win for the Impact in Orlando, Florida as the team launched its preseason calendar on Saturday in a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    La Presse's Pascal Milano tells us what he saw in this opening match. Phillip Dos Santos talks from Mexico as the Canaidan U-20 national team convenes to prepare for the CONCACAF Championship at the end of the month. Marc Tougas discusses the need for the MLS star players to make themselves more available for the good of the North American game, Vincent Destouches talks UEFA Champions League, Jonathan Tannenwald weights the US MNT performance in Honduras and we hear from player agent Kevin Antunes about a great opportunity for 16+ years old players to try out in Portugal.
    Click here to listen to our 46 minutes show
    Guest
    It turns out that everyone's initial understanding was correct: Olivier Occean's six-game suspension must be served during "official" matches -- which, in the CanMNT context, mean World Cup qualifiers or Gold Cup matches.
    Confusion was created as a result of the fact that FIFA permitted Christine Sinclair's four-game suspension to be served during "non-official" matches, since the CanWNT doesn't have any official matches between now and the 2015 Women's World Cup. Occean's punishment, however, is in line with the normal procedure for a sanction of this sort.
    While the 31-year-old striker has already served one game (Canada's final qualifier, down in Honduras), he won't be available to take part in this summer's Gold Cup (unless Canada carries him on their roster and makes an unexpected run to the final). He might, however, be eligible for selection in friendlies (of which Canada has at least one coming up next month).
    CSN is awaiting verification on that point and will update this space once the information is received.
    .
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    It appears TFC academy will be looking for a new league in 2013.
    As Ben Rycroft reported earlier, the CSA is not going to sanction the Canadian Soccer League in 2013. They have made that decision based on recommendations in the Easton Report. As per those recommendations the CSA has indicated that division 3, semi-pro soccer will be organized at the provincial level rather than at the CSA level.
    The CSL has also failed to appropriately deal with proven match fixing, and failed to meet CSA division 3 requirements. The most notable violation of the CSA rules is a failure by the majority of teams to pay players a minimum requirement.
    The CSA directed the CSL to apply to the Ontario Soccer Association for sanctioning for 2013. However, it seems unlikely that the OSA will sanction the CSL as a professional league.
    The OSA is working towards launching the new Ontario 1 league in 2013 and rules prevent the provincial body from sanctioning more than one pro league.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Sources stress that the CSL will operate in 2013, but that the only way it could do so as a professional operation is if the OSA changed its rules to allow further sanctioning.
    There is no indication that the OSA is going to do that.
    The CSL could also apply to operate as a men’s recreational league, or it could operate as a rogue league. Individual teams currently in the CSL would be free to apply to Ontario 1, so long as they meet the league requirements.
    Playing in a rogue league would be a non-starter for TFCA and it’s highly unlikely that men’s recreation league would be a good fit for the club. Thus, it seems highly likely that TFCA will need to find a new league for 2013.
    Reached for comment, TFC indicated that no decision had been made yet.
    “We are working with the Ontario Soccer Association to ensure the best possible development environment for our Academy players at every age level and will collaborate with them in finding the right solution,” the club said in a statement.
    Of interest is the fact that the club did not mention the CSL in the release.
    Additionally, the club said that they were actively working to ensure that TFCA players were not exposed to matchfixers.
    “We will also use the resources Major League Soccer dedicates to our First Team, including the Soccer Security Agents the League has identified, to ensure our Academy players are fully informed of the potential for undue or inappropriate influence by outsiders over matches in which they compete.”
    Guest
    Dever Orgill is a familiar face in a preseason sea of hopeful newcomers hoping to earn a place on the Whitecaps MLS squad.
    It's been two and a half years since the Jamaican was last part of the Whitecaps set up, but the Residency product, who made 15 appearances for the Caps in their USL/NASL days, is back at the club and a serious contender for a spot on Vancouver's MLS squad for the forthcoming season.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Orgill was an electric and an exciting talent for the Caps from his earliest Residency days. A handful for defences, he was also a handful for management with his questionable on-field temperament.
    Like many players, the impetuousness and mistakes of youth have been replaced by a more mature approach to the game as he has got a little older. He's 22 now and settling down with his Vancouver fiancé and becoming a father have all helped, but taking some time away from the professional game here has also played a part.
    And getting away from it he did, turning out for Division 2 VMSL team NVFC Campobasso last season, a third tier side in the local leagues.
    When the Whitecaps released Orgill in July 2010, following a training ground clash with 'Big Z' Tsiskaridze, he decided to return to his native Jamaica and signed with St George's SC of the Jamaican National Premier League the following month.
    Dever takes up the story:
    <i>"Right after I got released in 2010, I went back to Jamaica. I wanted to get the national caps in. What happened was I signed for a club there and got stuck in a contract and had to wait out that contract for two years.
    So when I came back, because I was in a contract, there was no way I could go professional at that time. I just had to play amateur, because if I had played professional I would have got in trouble for that.
    I wanted to get the caps for the national team, which I did, so that's been accomplished."</i>
    Dever made his full international debut for the Reggae Boyz in October 2010, aged just 20. He now has two caps to his name, to go with his honours at U20, U17 and U15 level.
    With such a pedigree Orgill clearly stood out at VMSL level and his goals helped guide NVFC Campobasso to promotion to Division 1 and secured the BC Provincial 'B' Cup (regular AFTN readers will remember we <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/tags.php?tag=nvfc+campobasso" target="_blank">covered the team's run</a> last year).
    It was a great season for Orgill personally.
    <i>"Yeah it was. My idea was to help that team go to Division 1, which we did accomplish that as well."</i>
    So contract issues aside, how did he end up going from playing internationally for Jamaica to the Vancouver Metro Soccer League?
    <i>"What happened was a friend of mine played for that team and he asked me to come and join them. Which made sense because there's no point in me wanting to get back in soccer if I don't stay fit.
    I played those games to keep fit and come back and play stuff like this, like getting back into the Whitecaps. So while I was out there waiting, I was playing and trying to prepare myself to get back into the professional environment."</i>
    It's Dever's second training camp in the last few months. Towards the end of last year he headed east to Edmonton to try his hand at cracking the NASL side's squad, but it wasn't a trip that went well.
    Is FC Edmonton still an option for him if it doesn't work out here, or is that off the table just now?
    <i>"No. What happened was I was in Edmonton and things didn't work out. I got to that camp but I was injured though. It was a bad camp for me.
    I thought I did well, but it wasn't good enough for the coaches I guess. Maybe if I was fit, it would have been a better trial."</i>
    Shaking off that injury, he soon got a call from the Whitecaps to come into their preseason camp, and although he started the camp off still nursing the effects of his injury, he now seems to be in full flow, banging in two goals in yesterday's game against Trinity Western University, and is determined to make an impression amongst the Caps decision makers.
    With the MLS season just around the corner, what is Orgill looking to get out of this camp with the Caps? Is it a MLS contract or would even a PDL one do for now?
    <i>"Right at this point I'm looking towards the MLS contract because I believe I can play at that level and I think the coach has seen some of that or else they wouldn't bring me into this.
    What I have to do is just keep doing what I do and scoring goals is what I do. If I keep doing that, I should be ok."</i>
    There may be a more serious side to Orgill's game now, but he still knows how to have fun and stand out when he's playing, whether that be his bright yellow boots or his customary celebratory backflips when he scores.
    Watching Dever against TWU, you could certainly see that old swagger back and he was clearly enjoying himself out there.
    Is he enjoying his football more right now that perhaps he was a few years ago?
    <i>"Right now I'm enjoying it more than I did. What happened was when I was out of soccer I really realised how much I missed it. That's where I want to be.
    Professional soccer is what I always wanted to play so getting back into the environment and playing is more than wonderful for me."</i>
    Having his countryman Darren Mattocks there with him has helped Orgill fit right in, with the pair often seen sharing a laugh and a joke at the end of training.
    <i>"Darren Mattocks and me are a lot alike. He's a player I look up to as well. We're around the same age and stuff.
    What Darren accomplished with the Whitecaps last year was really a heads up for me too. He's a very signature player, goalscorer and stuff like that.
    We're from the same country. It's good to have him around. He kind of has me under his wings. We work together. If I get the chance to play with him, it would be great. I know him from back in Jamaica. He's a great goalscorer and everything.
    For me right now, I'm just looking forward to maybe joining him if that's possible."</i>
    We're certainly hoping it is and are rooting for Dever to secure another contract with the Caps. The man tasked with deciding Dever's future with the Whitecaps is, of course, Martin Rennie.
    He's liked what he's seen so far, but is still cautious and needs to look at him a lot more before making any final decisions.
    <i>"He's got a chance because he's in the group right now. He's done quite well today and today was only the second day that he's really been able to train because he was injured.
    We'll maybe give him a bit more time, but today was good. A good day for him.
    I think right now we just monitor it. You don't judge it on one game against Trinity Western, which is kind of second string, so we'll judge it over a little bit longer.
    But he definitely deserves the chance."</i>
    Whether Orgill makes the cut this time around or not, the Caps will still be keeping tabs on him and Rennie confirmed that the club do hold his MLS discovery rights.
    Orgill should find himself on the upcoming trip to Charleston and Carolina. With five games scheduled, there should be some more opportunities for him to show Rennie what he can offer the team.
    With speed, composure in front of goal and a great scoring record, we may have a Jamaican duo at the Whitecaps once again this season, and with the other speed merchants in the squad right now, that would be more than a handful for any MLS defence out there.
    <p>
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