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    Guest
    The change continues in Edmonton after the Eddies' last-place finish in the NASL last season.
    The team announced on Monday that it has parted ways with general manager Tom Leip, who had joined the team in May 2011, while also announcing that his replacement will be made known by the end of the week.
    "This is not a situation where we have to do an extended search," team owner Tom Fath said in a statement.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The news comes a month and a half after Colin Miller was named the team's head coach, taking over from Harry Sinkgraven.
    The team's release did suggest the new GM would be someone with deep ties to the local community, as made evident in a quote from Fath.
    "Our next general manager will be given the crucial task of working towards a permanent facility that the community can enjoy and FC Edmonton can call home, while at the same time working with our technical staff to ensure success on the field."
    FC Edmonton currently plays at Clarke Stadium, but has also played at Foote Field and Commonwealth Stadium since the team's founding in 2010.
    CSN will provide updates when more information becomes available.
    Guest

    A Few Good Wingmen

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    When Martin Rennie took charge of his first Vancouver Whitecaps training session back in November 2011, he knew that he had inherited a squad that favoured the 4-4-2 formation, made famous throughout the nineties and the noughties. Wisely, he continued this policy, opting to gradually mould the squad in his own image.
    New players were brought in and while the defensive issues were quickly resolved, the midfield proved to be more difficult as the only proper winger he had at his disposal was the then 18-year old Russell Teibert and former manager Tommy Soehn had converted him to a left wing back the previous season. Soehn preferred John Thorrington and Shea Salinas in the role.
    Rennie recognised Teibert’s potential, but he was not ready. He needed experience. Rennie’s assistant, Paul Ritchie, spoke with Teibert throughout the year, giving him some personal coaching. Bobby Lenarduzzi, President of the Whitecaps, said that he <i>"has committed himself to becoming a better player"</i>, and bought into the additional training provided to the young players.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    He expects Teibert to challenge for a starting spot, but a loan deal to FC Edmonton remains an option. At this stage, <i>"he can’t sit on the bench all year. He’s going to need some playing time, and the NASL has proven that it’s a good league to earn your stripes in."</i>
    Forward Omar Salgado used the 2011 off season to bulk up, adding one and a half stone (21 lb) of muscle to his 193 cm (6’4”) frame. He displayed a maturity in his approach to training, and was rewarded when Martin Rennie asked him to train as a left winger. Regarding the transition, Lenarduzzi remarked, <i>"I feel like we saw glimpses of what could be a very good position for Omar, and I’m excited about the fact that he . . . provides us with the kind of production from the left flank that without him, we’re probably lacking."</i>
    On the right, Rennie converted French forward Sebastien Le Toux, and although he had the speed, stamina, and a certain willingness to try, he didn’t have the crossing ability, and more often than not, his first touch let him down. When Le Toux was transferred to New York Red Bulls in exchange for Dane Richards, Rennie had gained an orthodox right winger, only to see him slip through his fingers when the Jamaican agreed to a move to English Championship side Burnley.
    On the eve of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Lenarduzzi spoke of the need for <i>"someone from the right flank that could either, get to the byeline and get crosses in, or who is just a good crosser of the ball that can get them in from different areas of the field"</i>.
    In Erik Hurtado, the 5th overall selection in the draft, the Whitecaps got their man, although he will face stiff competition from trialist Paulo Araujo Jr, formerly of Real Salt Lake.
    When you look up front, Kenny Miller and Darren Mattocks are as different as can be, but there are two things they have in common. They are not poachers and they both depend on crosses. They need effective wingers and they might have had them if Omar Salgado hadn't suffered a fracture in his right foot in early June, while on international duty for the United States U20 squad.
    As Lenarduzzi puts it, <i>"He’s still in the brace and our expectation is that he will be clear to train around February 1st. There were some complications with the injury, but fortunately nothing that serious. It’s been a long haul for him and for us, but I can assure you that he’s very eager to get back at it."</i>
    This may represent Russell Teibert’s best chance to claim the spot on the left wing, although the Canada squad didn’t do him any favours when they called him up for friendlies against Denmark and the United States. He won’t be returned to the Whitecaps until February 1st, the same day that Omar Salgado is expected to return to training. While Omar Salgado’s position in the squad is assured, the Whitecaps have options when it comes to Russell Teibert.
    Colin Miller, an assistant coach during the Whitecaps inaugural MLS season, is the acting Canadian national team manager, and was recently appointed manager of FC Edmonton. He is known to be a great admirer of the man that supporters fondly refer to as the "Canadian Soccer Jesus". Tom Fath, co-owner of FC Edmonton, has had discussions with the Whitecaps on this very subject, as Lenarduzzi explained:
    <i>"Now that Colin’s there it ideally enables us to look at situations where we can loan players out. If we don’t feel they’re going to get the playing time with us, and they do need playing time. We know Colin, so there’s a level of comfort there.
    What is probably most pertinent is that we find creative players. We feel we need more creativity in our attack."</i>
    With Salgado and Teibert, Hurtado and possibly Araujo, the Whitecaps may finally have that.
    To think that when Martin Rennie arrived on that cold November morning, John Thorrington and Shea Salinas were presented as wingers. How things have changed.
    <p>
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps open their third MLS preseason on Monday with a number of questions lingering at each of the positions.
    Will any of the high priced DPs be with the team at the beginning of March? Will the young wingers provide enough attack and service from the wide areas? Where is the creativity in the middle of the park? Who starts in goal? And most importantly, how does Rennie put together a competitive side that can perform better than last season under their current cap situation?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    With the Caps admitting that it was a mistake in making so many changes during the summer, this camp will be especially important. The aim has to be reduce mid season turnover and have the right pieces in place for the majority of positions from the start. Then use the transfer window to strengthen and improve hopefully just a few positions for the late season push.
    Taking a look at the 35 man preseason roster, there are clearly going to be some more additions and changes. Who should feel secure? Who is on the bubble? And who are on trial as they look to find their way onto the final MLS squad?:
    <u><b>STRIKERS</b></u>
    <b>Secure - Darren Mattocks, Caleb Clarke
    Bubble - Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo
    Trialists - Corey Hertzog, Tom Heinemann, Dever Orgill</b>
    If Rennie plans to go with a lone striker then the favourite will have to be Mattocks, who is capable of scoring in double digits if he can stay healthy and out of trouble with cautions. There are rumours that both Kenny Miller and Camilo could be moved, but if they are to remain it will be up to them to earn time on the pitch. One player who could replace Miller on the roster is Canadian striker Rob Friend who may be joining the Caps after playing the last five and a half seasons in Germany.
    The Caps have a number of trialists coming in at the striker position. Tom Heinemann, former Columbus Crew who played under Rennie in Carolina, and Corey Hertzog, former Red Bull who was signed as a GA player, will try to make the roster and give Vancouver size up front. A surprise addition to the preseason roster is Dever Orgill who played for the Whitecaps back in the Division 2 days and has been plying his trade in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League (VMSL) of late. He also took part in the FC Edmonton combine at the end of last year.
    It will be interesting to see if Homegrown product Caleb Clarke gets more time with the first team or possibly goes on loan after getting limited minutes in his first year. There is a chance that Clarke could be loaned to a club in North America or across the pond, where he was close to securing a spot in Germany before an injury brought him back to Vancouver.
    <u><b>WINGERS</b></u>
    <b>Secure - Omar Salgado, Russell Teibert, Kekuta Manneh, Erik Hurtado
    Trialists - Paulo Jr., Evan James, Ben Fisk</b>
    The left wing spot will be waiting for Omar Salgado, who seemed to find a rhythm in his game before suffering a season ending injury whilst on international duty. Behind him on the depth chart is Residency product Russell Teibert, who was starting to see some time on the pitch late in the season.
    On the other side it is wide open with new draftees Erik Hurtado and Kekuta Manneh looking to make an instant impact with the first team. There is also former RSL player Paulo Jr who was picked up on re-entry waivers and has yet to be signed to a contract.
    A couple of Canadians are in camp on trial with Residency product Ben Fisk being an ideal fit in Rennie's system. Similar to Clarke, Fisk was close to a loan deal in Germany last season after his impressive run in the USSDA playoffs. Former Impact draft pick Evan James is also in camp with the Caps but will be joining the team after his time away with the Canadian national team.
    We'll have some thoughts of Bobby Lenarduzzi on this position up on AFTN later tonight, so check back.
    <u><b>CENTRAL MIDFIELD</b></u>
    <b>Secure - Gershon Koffie, Matt Watson, Bryce Alderson, Jun Marques Davidson
    Bubble - Barry Robson
    Trialists - Crispin Olando, Jacob Lensky</b>
    The only clear starter for the Whitecaps in the midfield going into this preseason is Gershon Koffie who continued to grow into a bigger role last season. Designated player Barry Robson might be considered another starter if the rumours of him leaving are proven untrue.
    One of the Caps' best players at the end of the season was Matt Watson but was it enough to earn him a spot in the starting eleven? On the other end Jun Marques Davidson was a consistent holding midfielder from the start of the season but was relegated to the bench by season's end. The youngest player on the roster was Bryce Alderson and his age seemed to play a part in the Residency alum not seeing any time on the pitch.
    A couple of midfielders will be joining the Whitecaps camp as Jacob Lensky continues his trial from last season. The Caps are also bringing in Kenyan Crispin Olando, who some reported was to be signed to a contract but will be coming in on trial.
    <b><u>CENTERBACKS</u></b>
    <b>Secure - Jay DeMerit, Andy O'Brien, Brad Rusin
    Bubble - Martin Bonjour, Carlyle Mitchell</b>
    The one position where there are very few questions when it comes to who will be the starters when the season kicks off. Both Jay DeMerit and summer acquisition Andy O'Brien had excellent seasons along the backline where they took turns leading from the back.
    The questions come to the bench players as the Caps recently signed Brad Rusin, former Railhawk captain, who returns after a couple of seasons in Norway. He may have been signed to be a replacement for Martin Bonjour who had a solid season but may be too high priced for a backup. Carlyle Mitchell, with his minimum price, is also in camp and his salary may give him an advantage in holding onto his spot.
    <u><b>FULLBACKS</b></u>
    <b>Secure - Y.P. Lee, Alain Rochat, Jordan Harvey
    Bubble - Greg Klazura
    Trialists - Andres Fresenga</b>
    The Whitecaps breathed a sigh of relief when Young-Pyo Lee announced that he was returning for another season at the right back position. There is word that Lee will not be playing games on the east coast so the Caps have brought Canadian Andre Fresenga, who has been playing in Uruguay, on trial with the hope that he can be a spot starter to give Lee more rest and with a view to possibly taking over from his next year.
    The left side will be manned by Alain Rochat, who started at left back for most of the season before he moved to midfield in a holding role. If Rennie decides to move him there then it will be Jordan Harvey who will be tabbed for that spot as he did late last season. There is also a hold over Greg Klazura who is a natural left back but spent most of last season learning the right back position.
    <b><u>GOALKEEPER</u></b>
    <b>Secure - Brad Knighton, Joe Cannon
    Trialists - Simon Thomas, Sean Melvin</b>
    Like every other position the goalkeeper spot went through changes during the season and with both returning the competition should be wide open. Joe Cannon was named the starter out of last year's camp and was considered by most to be the MVP of the first half. He faltered late in the summer and was replaced by Brad Knighton who proved to be a very capable MLS keeper which may put him in a slight edge in this camp.
    The Caps have two young keeper in as trialists with residency product Sean Melvin and former Jay Nolly backup Simon Thomas attempting to secure the number three spot.
    <center>******</center>
    So what are your thoughts on the training camp roster? Who deserves their shot and what areas do the Caps still need to keep looking to strengthen?
    <p>
    Guest
    An eventful 2012 is over. There’s been highs, there’s been lows, successes and failures, and generally the feeling that the Whitecaps have something good to build on even further in 2013.
    Pierce Lang and myself are joined once again by AFTN writer <b>Steve Pandher</b> to pick over the bones of this year in the last part of our three part podding extravaganza. Apologies for the delay in the uploading of part three - technical issues.
    This episode we take a look back at the months of September to December, when the Whitecaps got their season back on track just in time and made MLS history before the next round of roster roulette got underway.
    We also decide upon our <i>’Sweet Ride Brain Freeze Of The Year’</i>.
    Have a listen and have a wonderful and safe New Year, wherever you may be listening.
    [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 below.
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    Guest

    SoccerPlus in Indianapolis (3 shows)

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    Hello from Indy! Here are three shows, brought to you by Evangelista Sport recorded on site of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft and NSCAA National Convention.
    In the first show, you will hear from Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello on how Montreal prepared for the SuperDraft and how he looks to learn from new head coach Marco Schallibaum in the coming weeks and months.
    Also, NASL's new commissioner Bill Peterson tells us about the recent expansion of his league, naming two Canadian targets as the circuit looks to expand from 12 teams (in 2014) to 18 in five to 10 years.
    Former Chicago Fire GM and the new Indianapolis NASL expansion side GM Peter Wilt gives his the American perspective on how his former protege Jesse Marsch ended his stay in Montreal.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to this first show.
    The second show is a summary of Draft Day with comments from Raphael Larocque-Cyr and Jonathan Tannenwald as well as Impact pick Brad Stuver, sporting director Nick DeSantis, Toronto pick Kyle Bekker, Whitecaps president Bobby Lenarduzzi, commissioner Don Garber, Alexis Lalas (ESPN) and Paul Gardner (World Soccer).
    Click here to listen to our second show.
    Our third show offers you the first predictions for the 2013 season a few days away from the opening of training camps. Also, we catch up with Canadian Men's National Team's interim head coach Colin Miller, we discuss Canadian expansion for the USL's Premier Development League and you will hear a clip from a long interview with the founder of Soccer America, Clay Berling, talking MLS and Don Garber.
    Click here to listen to our third show.
    Guest
    Lost somewhat in the hubbub of the MLS SuperDraft and the realization that the season isn't really that far away has been the fact that the men's national team is playing! This month! Twice! Yeah!
    Of course, were Canada's first games of 2013 actual World Cup qualifiers, anticipation would be at a fever pitch. As it is, though, the team is in full-on rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the inexperienced (to put it lightly) squad named by interim head coach Colin Miller for the upcoming games against Denmark (Jan. 26) and the U.S. (Jan 29).
    Of the 22 men named, only five were on the roster for Canada's 8-1 catastrophe in Honduras (only three of them actually played), while 10 have never played for the senior men's national team before.
    So, who the heck are these guys?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    First, the 22-man roster, which you may dissect at your leisure:
    1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
    2- M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
    3- FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
    4- CB- Nana Attakora | FIN / FC Haka
    5- CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / D.C. United
    6- M- Philippe Davies | USA / Richmond Kickers
    7- M - Terry Dunfield | CAN / Toronto FC
    8- CM- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
    9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf
    10- F- Frank Jonke | FIN / FF Jaro
    11- M - Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    12- M- Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault |
    13- CB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
    14- M/F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / D.C. United
    15- M- Emmanuel Gomez | ARG / Club Atletico Griffa
    16- M - Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC
    17- F- Kyle Porter | CAN / FC Edmonton
    18- GK- Roberto Stillo | ITA / Genoa CFC
    19- M- Evan James
    20- D- Mason Trafford | FIN / IFK Mariehamn
    21- FB- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Racing Club de Montevideo
    22- GK- Simon Thomas
    A quick primer on the 10 newbies (note my non-use of the word "youngsters")...
    Philippe Davies: Vancouver Whitecaps fans will remember the 22-year-old Quebec native as the guy who was there to fill out a Canadian roster spot during the 2011 season. He's since moved on to the Richmond Kickers of USL Pro, after a decent showing with the Canadian U23 team that attempted to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. Total of 25 caps with Canadian youth teams.
    Kyle Bekker: If you followed the MLS draft, you surely know the name. Picked #3 overall by Toronto FC earlier this week -- the highest a Canadian has ever gone in the MLS SuperDraft -- the 22-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has been lauded for this technical skills in the midfield. Started all four games in the Olympic qualifying tournament last year.
    Frank Jonke: The 27-year-old from Pickering, Ont. is a relative unknown outside of the Voyageurs message board, but has had success as a striker with several teams in Finland in the last five years. His most proficient stretch came in 2009-2010, when he scored 22 goals in 41 appearances for AC Oulu (coincidentally, he was then replaced by another Canadian who went on a scoring tear, Randy Edwini-Bonsu). The 6-foot-3 target man has no past experience with the Canadian program.
    Emmanuel Gomez: Fear not, Toronto FC fans, it's not one of the Gambians. This Emmanuel Gomez, who generally goes by Manny, is a 25-year-old who grew up in Victoria and is currently playing in Argentina (though evidently there's some confusion -- to me, anyway -- about which club). He was overlooked for inclusion on the Canadian side at the 2007 U20 World Cup, and told his hometown newspaper at the time that he "wouldn't be completely surprised if (he) was chosen in two or three years." It's been a bit longer than he expected, but he's getting his shot.
    Kyle Porter: The only member of FC Edmonton (the team Miller will take over as head coach this year) to make the cut, the 22-year-old Toronto native has come through the Whitecaps residency program, as well as having made 10 appearances for Canadian youth teams.
    Roberto Stillo: The 21-year-old goalkeeper from Mississauga, Ont. has made several appearances for the Canadian youth system in the past and has been in the system of Genoa for several years, and has even cracked the roster of the first team in Serie A (though he's way down the depth chart).
    Evan James: The 22-year-old from Toronto was drafted first overall in last year's MLS Supplemental Draft by the Montreal Impact, but failed to crack the roster and has since been released. Another member of Canada's Olympic qualifying squad last year, he scored a smooth goal against Cuba in that tournament. Earned a call-up to the men's national team for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago last summer, but didn't get onto the field.
    Mason Trafford: The 26-year-old defender, who grew up in North Vancouver is another familiar face to Whitecaps fans, as he made 37 appearances for the team in 2008-09 after several years in the residency program. He has spent the past several years in Finland, but says he's "done" with the country and is exploring new options, including a possible return to Canada's west coast.
    Andres Fresenga: One of Canada's most promising prospects coming out of the Olympic qualifying tournament, the 20-year-old fullback from Toronto is currently with Racing Club de Montevideo in Uruguay (one of two top Canadian prospects playing in that country, the other being Lucas Cavallini), but has recently been linked with a potential move to the Whitecaps.
    Simon Thomas: The 22-year-old goalkeeper from Victoria is yet another product of the Whitecaps residency, who had a brief sniff with the Whitecaps senior team several years ago before moving on to Huddersfield Town in League One. He was part of the Canadian squad during last year's Olympic qualifying tournament.
    Considering that some of the others -- Attakora, Teibert, Henry, Stinson -- have each only earned a handful of caps (at most) with the senior national team and yes, calling the side "inexperienced" at this level would be a supreme understatement.
    Still, the only way to move forward is to know exactly what you have at your disposal -- and for Miller and his (temporary) bosses at the Canadian Soccer Association, that process starts now.
    .
    Guest
    News out of Kenya this morning is that 25 year old international defensive midfielder Crispin "Alphie" Olando is joining the Whitecaps for six months.
    According to an <a href="http://www.futaa.com/football/article/olando-set-for-mls-stint" target="_blank"><b>article on FUTAA.com</b></a>, your number one news source for football in Kenya, Olando flew out of Nairobi on Thursday to complete the deal with Vancouver.
    But before you get too excited that we have another Gershon Koffie heading our way, not only is it still unknown whether the deal is for a MLS contract or a six month evaluation with the Reserves (we'll have to wait to find out, but my feeling is that it will be the latter), the player comes to Canada with more than one kind of baggage.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Olando was released by his last club, Tusker FC in December and has been plagued with injury problems these last few years.
    Tusker are the reigning Kenyan League Champions but according to <a href="http://www.michezoafrika.com/kpl/why-tusker-dropped-crispin-olando/9725" target="_blank">reports on Michezo Afrika</a> Olando was released when he refused to sign a new contract extension, with his current one expiring at the end of the year.
    The midfielder missed a lot of the most recent Kenyan season due to a broken metatarsal bone he suffered in April that kept him out for two months.
    He had only just returned to the team after a previous <a href="http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-21874/mariga-has-surgery" target="_blank">lengthy spell out injured</a>.
    The player suffered a hamstring injury in October 2011 and a hip and back injury in February 2012, before returning to action in April last year. He played one game, earned 'man of the match' honours and then suffered the metatarsal injury in training days later and there has also been reports of a knee injury.
    This all sounds a bit worrying and hopefully the Caps haven't picked up someone to fill John Thorrington's spot on the treatment table.
    He then floated in and out of the first team and wasn't in his best form, but has been described in the past as a "commanding" figure in the middle of the park, something the Whitecaps have been badly needing, and was deemed instrumental in Tusker's 2011 Championship win.
    Following youth development at the JMJ Football Academy, Olando joined Kenyan Premier League side Thika United before joining Tusker FC in time for the second half of the 2010 Kenyan season. Stats aren't that readily available for his two and half years with the table topping Brewers, so we've no idea how he did.
    What we have found is that he is something of <a href="http://www.futaa.com/football/article/kpl-defenders-slapped-with-the-most-yellow-cards" target="_blank">card magnet</a>, another worrying aspect for a career in MLS.
    He was <a href="http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-98735/joining-tusker-not-me" target="_blank">reported</a> to be interesting top KPL sides Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Sofapaka and Bandari before landing his working visa and six month trial with the Caps. The first three of whom finished directly behind Tusker in this year's Kenyan championship, so he was in demand in his own country.
    Olando has been on the fringes of the Kenyan national team, <i>'The Harambee Stars'</i>, and has been called up to several squads over the years, with a break inbetween. Many of this peers felt his international recall was long overdue and again although stats are sketchy at best, he has been capped and played in their 2014 World Cup campaign.
    A third worrying aspect of the player is that he seems to have an attitude and has been accused of not always giving 100% in matches. Another <a href="http://www.futaa.com/football/article/the-other-side-of-midfield-diamond-crispin-olando" target="_blank">article on FUTAA.com</a> saw his Club coach address these issues and he described Olando's performances as having <i>"swayed like a pendulum"</i>.
    Were the Caps aware of all of these issues after having watched his performances on video? You have to hope so.
    As we've seen with some other African players that have come to Vancouver though, what you see on video, doesn't always play out the way you expect it on the pitch.
    Who knows how this will play out, but if he stays healthy and turns out to be anywhere near the quality of Celtic's Kenyan midfield maestro Victor Wanyama, then the Caps may have got themselves a find for a very low risk move. It's certainly worth the gamble.
    <p>
    Guest
    The Vancouver Whitecaps came into the 2013 SuperDraft with an idea of picking two players in the top ten. However after making a trade with TFC on the draft floor they ended up picking their two players in the top five. They traded an undisclosed amount of allocation along with their tenth pick to move to the fourth spot which was previously owned by New England Revolution.
    It was clear that the Whitecaps wanted to increase the pace in their attacking ranks with the selections of Kekuta Manneh and Erik Hurtado. Both players have speed and while they are listed as forwards they have the ability to move out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, which is where Martin Rennie has already stated he sees their immediate future at the Caps.
    Each player has taken a different developmental path in their rise to joining their first professional club.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b>Kekuta Manneh FW-MF/Austin Aztex (PDL) - 4th SuperDraft pick overall:</b>
    The Whitecaps took the youngest player available in the draft, with the Gambian born player Generation Adidas player just turning 18 in December.
    Having moved to the US from Gambia aged just 15, Manneh joined and trained with a couple of academies before joining PDL side Austin last year. He went on to score 12 goals in 13 games and contributed nine assists.
    He has also scored 58 goals in the last two USSDA seasons for Texas Rush and Lonestar SC and was named to the USSDA U-15/16 Development Academy Best XI for the 2010-2011 season.
    Before he moved to America he played professionally in the Gambian First Division for Steve Biko FC, which made him ineligible for NCAA schools. Manneh has also been capped by The Gambia at U20 level.
    While pace is the most obvious aspect of his game, Manneh has a goal scoring touch around the net and is a strong player relative to his age and size. He has the ability to play multiple positions, including both wing spots, but he primarily played as a striker with his youth teams.
    An added bonus for the Whitecaps is that the Texas native since 2010 is in possession of a green card, which will make him a domestic player and not take up an international spot.
    He has trained with a number of professional teams, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Borussia Mönchengladbach, but there will be a learning curve for the youngster when it comes to the every day life of a professional especially in the strength department.
    Vancouver took a good look at Manneh a couple of months back when he spent a week training in Vancouver and getting to know the city and what are now his new team-mates. This summer also saw him train with LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers, but he has now made Vancouver his new home.
    <b>Erik Hurtado FW-MF/Santa Clara (NCAA) - 5th SuperDraft pick overall:</b>
    With the second of back to back picks the Caps continued to add pace to the attack with the selection of Erik Hurtado. The native of Beaverton, Oregon spent the last four seasons with Santa Clara of the NCAA West Coast Conference and played with the Portland Timbers U23 team in the PDL.
    He found the net six times, with one assist, in 10 PDL appearances for the Timbers last season.
    Portland had attempted to put a claim in for the WCC 'Player of the Year' but were denied by MLS as he had only played for them after he enrolled in college. Once it was denied Hurtado moved up the draft boards and it was clear he would be a top ten pick, with many feeling that he was one of the few players in this year's draft that was ready to start in MLS action.
    During his four years at Santa Clara, Hurtado recorded 33 goals and 20 assists. 15 of those goals, and seven of the assists, came during his senior year.
    Those achievements have seen him named to the All-West Coast Conference team in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and he has featured as part of the US National Team U18 set up.
    During his time in college Hurtado played as a striker, but he has all the attributes that could see him become the ideal right winger in Rennie's system. He has the ability to score from the wide parts of the field, in addition to the pace and energy he brings to the pitch.
    If he is able to add the ability to provide service from the wing, which he displayed at times while at the combine, then Hurtado could start from day one.
    <b>Overall Analysis:</b>
    The Whitecaps were clearly going for speed and athleticism with their two picks and it was a trade with TFC that helped Rennie secure the players they wanted.
    Hurtado is the more polished player that should contribute immediately and be more of a long term MLS player for the Caps if he meets his potential.
    Manneh could end up being the best player in the draft, as he has the highest upside in the draft as well as being the youngest. Having already stated that he wants to play in Europe, the Whitecaps may look at this selection as an opportunity to develop and sell which would give them ten times the amount of allocation money they spent to trade up for the pick.
    The addition of Brad Rusin seemed to lessen the need for depth at CB but another factor could be the impressive play of residency alum Daniel Stanese in his first year of NCAA play.
    The creative midfield player that everyone wanted in the draft will obviously come through the transfer market.
    It is clear from this draft that Rennie isn't gun shy when it comes to identifying, then acquiring, the players he wants even if it means giving up assets. The next step for the club is now to find those final couple of players, especially a creative midfielder, who can help these picks excel in their first year.
    <p>
    Guest
    With all the SuperDraft attention this week, it would be easy to have missed this story on FIFA security director Ralf Mutschke essentially waving the white flag on their ability to combat matchfixing.
    In an interview with the assembled press, the former German Interpol officer told reporters that FIFA had been involved in 20 match-fixing investigations in 2012. And in the same breath of admitting the problem could get worse, with a number of little known national leagues already vulnerable to corruption, said, "realistically, there is no way" FIFA can tackle organized crime.
    That's a terrifying admission and one that has implications for Canada.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Since the CBC story last year showed how vulnerable the Canadian Soccer League was to the whims of these fixers, the line from the Canadian Soccer Association has been to defer to FIFA. In an effort to follow up, initially I was told the CSA were waiting on an investigation report from FIFA. A short time later, I was then told no report was forthcoming in the near future, or perhaps at all. The line then became that they were passing all the information on the OPP and local law enforcement and leaving it up to them. After several months of trying to reach someone at the OPP who may be handling the case, I have yet to find anyone who has handled anything on the matter.
    In October, CSA president Victor Montagliani told me this:
    FIFA's Mutschke is currently holding security meetings with officials from around the world - including Canada - to discuss what can be done to assist in prevention. The CSA told me in October that they plan to bring on this security adviser following these meetings. Given Mutschke's declarations though, an adviser would really just be a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done.
    Especially when you consider this report from Interpol that says that matchfixing generates hundreds of billions of Euros a year. FIFA is committing $28 million in response and pledging to work alongside Interpol in stamping out this massive problem. But, again, drop in the bucket.
    The CSA may not be equipped to deal with the depth and scope of the fixing in Canada, but one thing is clear: I saw first hand over the last few years the conditions that create an enviroment ripe for matchfixing. There are things that can be done to confront it.
    As a result, here are three things that Canadian soccer can do right now, with little effort, to ensure what happened here, never happens again in Canadian soccer.
    1) Create a player's union/council.
    Canada maybe the only country in the world without one. Elsewhere, when a player isn't being paid the money he is owed by a club, he can go to the player's union/council to act on his behalf in retrieving those funds. Without one, Canadian players are forced to look elsewhere to help pay their bills. For most in the lower leagues, that usually means picking up work whereever they can get it. For some, it has meant turning to the lures of matchfixing. A major complaint I have heard repeatedly from players in these lower leagues is that they get jerked around by their teams. Whether that means seeing excessive fines, or changing their contracts mid-way through the year, fixers are aware of who is and isn't getting paid. They're being targetted based on that. A player's union/council obviously won't stop the fixers from approaching players but it could help them to say no when they are solicited.
    2) Create an anonymous tip line
    Perhaps the most frustrating thing during the investigation of the CSL was the number of people who came forward and told us what they know, got cold feet and the begged us to not use what they'd shared. Whether it was by intimidation or, as it was in most cases, out of their own self preservation professionally, the similar thread between all of them is that they wanted to remain anonymous. You can't underestimate the social and professional impact a player, coach or official will go through when they're seen to be a 'snitch.' In one particular case, a player told us that his teammates had warned him that he'd likely never play again if he spoke out on the record. It was enough to convince him, despite assurances otherwise, that he had made a mistake by just telling the truth on what he'd seen go on. In some parts of the world, these tip lines even include financial reward for information leading to arrests. That may not be possible in Canada but the least we can do is provide some cover for those who are trying to do the right thing
    3) Deal with the CSL
    Since the documentary, despite plenty of evidence presented on the show and followup stories, there have been no lifetime suspensions for players, no discipline taken against the CSL, no internal investigation and, really no action taken at all. It's time for FIFA, the CSA and all on those on decision-maker front to start taking ownership of the situation and stop passing the responsibility on to the next man. As I've written before, by not dealing with it on a criminal level and on a soccer level it sends the wrong message to players, owners and even fixers. Is Canada open for business when it comes to matchfixing? The very fact that Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble went out of his way to single Canada out in this BBC report, on the scale of matchfixing facing the world, should be reason enough to cause the CSA to finally act. Finally taking action won't stop matchfixers from coming to Canada to seek out easy profits, but trying and failing is a world better than not trying at all.
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps came away from the 2013 MLS SuperDraft with two excellent prospects after two top five picks, following a late trade with TFC.
    What the Caps did with those picks was to add some blistering pace to their attack in forwards Kekuta Manneh and Erik Hurtado, both of whom we should expect to see terrorising the wings in MLS at various points this season and beyond.
    Manneh is an 18 year Gambian who can play as an out and out striker or as a winger. He has electric pace, a great eye for goal and is a really exciting pick for the Caps. He spent last season with Austin Aztex where he recorded 12 goals and nine assists in just 13 games at PDL level.
    Hurtado is 22 and primarily a right winger, but is another who is versatile and could be used in a number of ways. He joins the Caps following four standout seasons at Santa Clara University and a spell last season with Portland Timbers U23 side in the PDL, where he scored six goals in ten appearances.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We'll have more detailed profiles on both of these players later today, but for now, scroll to the bottom for a look at Manneh scoring four goals for Austin against Daytona Dutch Lions in May.
    In a conference call to media after the draft, Caps coach Martin Rennie couldn't hide his delight at getting both of the players he had his eyes on:
    <i>"Really happy to pick up the two players.
    In our squad at the moment we have a solid group of players but we wanted to add pace and excitement in the final third of the field. We feel with these two players that we've definitely managed to do that.
    They've got attributes that can't be coached with their pace and their ability to change direction quickly and their hunger for goals. The other things that they don't have yet, we feel we can coach and help them improve on.
    So we're really pleased to get them."</i>
    And Rennie isn't simply looking at both of these players for the future. He feels both can see a lot of minutes this season:
    <i>We think that they can have a big opportunity to make a difference to our team right away but also have a huge potential to give use even more in the future."</i>
    The Caps traded away their 10th spot with TFC for allocation money to be able to secure their two favoured players in one quick swoop, as Rennie explained:
    <i>"These were the two players that we wanted to get out of the draft and once they were both available at that point then it made sense for us to do that trade.
    In the end we got the two players that we sat last night and said if we can come out of the draft with those two players we'd be very happy and in the end we are."</i>
    Manneh was officially the fourth pick of today's draft and has been on the Caps radar for a while and is a player that Bobby Lenarduzzi describes as having <i>"unlimited potential"</i>.
    Having trained with the Whitecaps for a week a couple of months ago, his talent has also seen interest from others, with training spells at LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers last summer, along with time at Liverpool and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
    Manneh is now a Whitecap though and the good news for fans is that the Gambian U20 international holds a US green card and won't be taking up an international spot on the squad.
    As for Kekuta himself, the player seems delighted to have ended up in Vancouver:
    <i>"I'm very excited to get drafted by the Whitecaps. I'm really happy that they chose me.
    I've been to Vancouver two months ago and trained with the team. I like it. It was exciting and I got to know some of the guys there.
    I feel like the happiest guy right now in the world."</i>
    His fellow newbie Hurtado also echoed those thoughts:
    <i>"I'm so excited to be drafted to Vancouver. It's a dream come true to play professional soccer. I'm going to give it my all and give 100% and step on the field and represent the Whitecaps as best as possible."</i>
    One of the Caps' biggest problems last season was the lack of goals, not helped by a lack of creativity in the middle and on the wings.
    Manneh and Hurtado, along with Omar Salgado when he recovers full fitness, should add some of that creativity out wide and hopefully add some goals in the process.
    Rennie will now fill the midfield voids with some experienced talent and I would expect at least one announcement in this regards by the end of the week.
    The two new additions does raise even more questions about the future of Kenny Miller in Vancouver.
    The young guns can certainly learn from a wily old veteran but playing second fiddle is certainly not what Miller had in mind when he made the move over the Atlantic.
    Rennie wouldn't be drawn on speculation today but Miller wasn't mentioned once when he talked about striking options this year, so draw your own conclusions from that.
    For Vancouver to really challenge for the honours this season, they need to add more lethal weapons and creative flair. They've done that in small part today.
    When training starts on Monday, there will undoubtedly be more.
    <p>
    <center>

    </center>
    Guest
    Toronto FC selected two Canadians with their first round selections in the MLS SuperDraft.
    Midfielder Kyle Bekker went with the third pick and Emory Welshman went at No 16, after Toronto traded down three times.
    Bekker is the highest Canadian ever selected in the draft.
    The Reds traded the No 4 selection to Vancouver for the No 10 selection and allocation.
    They then flipped No 10 to Seattle for even more allocation.
    The Bekker pick might surprise some. Going into the combine he was not ranked nearly as high as he went. However, he was voted as the combine MVP and TFC was far from the only team that had him in the top five going into the draft.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    They may have been the only team that had him at No 1, which is what allowed them to make the move last night to get allocation from New England.
    He's a box-to-box midfielder and most expect him to get regular time immediately. One NCAA expert described him as playing like former Reds midfielder Sam Cronin, only with more attacking dynamism. He's good on the set piece.
    Like Cronin, he's seen as having above average intelligence. He could be a leader sooner rather than later.
    Welshman is more of a long-term project, but he did perform well in the combine and came through the system with Bekker. The Reds felt that Welshman's long-term ability was as good as the American prospects and therefore it made sense for them to get as much allocation for him as possible by trading down to the last possible spot before Montreal might take him.
    Both players will be paid a relatively low salary as well, which is a factor.
    Although we will not know how much allocation TFC received it's estimated to be at least $200. Based on salary projections the Reds should have close to $750,000 yet to spend this off-season.
    Guest

    New England Revs up to No 1

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Toronto FC has got its money.
    The Reds were widely seen as shopping the No 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft for allocation money and they were able to make a move tonight with New England for the No 4 selection.
    TFC now picks No 3 and No 4.
    The flop of picks effectively changes little for TFC. It’s highly likely that they will still get the same two players with No 3 and No 4 picks as they would have got with the No 1 and No 3 pick.
    So, basically, Toronto is getting some bonus money for doing the same thing it was always going to do.
    Speculation is that TFC will select Andrew Ferrell with the No 3 selection and Canadian Kyle Bekker at No 4.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Moving on down the draft

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Soccer by Ives has confirmed that there is merit to a rumour first reported on the @24thminute Twitter feed yesterday.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Wild rumour: Colorado trades allocation and No 6 & 25 to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TFC">#TFC</a> for No 1. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TFC">#TFC</a> then flips No 6 and 25 to Vancouver for No 5. 1/2</p>— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) <a href="
    " data-datetime="2013-01-15T19:58:50+00:00">January 15, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    Although it's important to note that it is still in the rumour stage, the trade does make a lot of sense to all three teams.
    Toronto wants Andrew Farrell and will pick him at No 1. However, the Rapids want Walker Zimmerman and Chivas is on record with their desire to select Carlos Alvarez at No 2. Therefore the Reds can get Farrell at No 3 and gain allocation.
    By flipping the No 6 pick for Vancouver's No 5 selection, TFC gets the first crack at the top Canadian prospect in the draft, Kyle Bekker. Vancouver gains an additional second round pick and still likely gets the player they were looking at anyway (thought to be Eriq Zavaleta).
    The only wildcard in the deal would be New England. The Revs could jump ahead and select Bekker at No 4, but his international status is likely to scare them away.
    We will continue to follow the rumour.
    Guest

    Five SuperDraft questions facing TFC

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    With just one day to the 2013 MLS SuperDraft there are still plenty of questions facing Toronto FC. Let’s look at the five biggest:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    5 - Should they draft for need or the draft best player?
    The cliché answer here is that you always draft the best player available. As with all clichés there is some truth to it. However, there is also a reasonable argument to be made that TFC needs to address several key areas and their drafting history over the past few years has failed to do just that.
    Namely, they have frustratingly passed over several defenders in favour of players that played in positions where the Reds were less dreadful.
    Although Toronto has added some more defensive strength this off-season, it’s still a major question mark. You can never have enough centrebacks, really. Should TFC prioritize getting more defensive help tomorrow?
    4 – Is TFC even prepared to utilize the assets it has?
    The majority of the draft work was done by people that have either been fired from the organization, or who have been pushed to the side with the new hirings. Basically, TFC enters the 2013 draft in the same situation that it entered the 2011 draft – days after making a major front office shuffle.
    In 2011, they were upfront that they weren’t going to be able to be fully prepared.
    Head coach Ryan Nelsen is AWOL and the No 2, Fran O’Leary, was evaluating non-scholarship college athletes less than 6-weeks ago.
    One person at the combine described the TFC evaluation team as “a disaster” to CSN in an e-mail this week. Others have simply suggested that Kevin Payne wll be running the draft for TFC “without a parachute.”
    Does that mean it will be a disaster? No, but it’s disingenuous to ignore the possibility that the quick turn-over might not have an effect on TFC’s performance at the draft.
    3 - Is Kyle Bekker really that good?
    The Canadian midfielder has been the talk of the combine and has some people talking about the possibility of him being a top 3 pick in the draft.
    That would be a remarkable rise. He was a borderline first-rounder at the end of the NCAA season.
    There has been enough good things said about Bekker by American observers to not completely dismiss his rise up the draft order. However, one must also be careful to balance out the role excitement has played in Canadian observers overestimating his value.
    If you believe the hype, TFC might want to grab a local kid that plays a role they need help with. However, if you believe he’s improved, but is still a mid first-round pick then…
    4 - Should TFC trade down the draft?
    There has been a lot of noise over the past couple days that TFC is prepared to move either the No 1 or No 3 pick to get more allocation money.
    A more casual fan might question the move – Canadian sports fans have been trained to think of draft picks like gold, which is overstating their importance in MLS. However, there is some logic to it.
    The biggest factor at play here is Chivas USA and their determination to only select Mexican-American players. Since they are on record with that desire (in fact, they’ve said directly that they are drafting Carlos Alvarez), teams can safely assume what they are going to do with the No 2 pick.
    Since it’s generally believed that the best Mexican-American players in the draft aren’t worth the No 2 selection, TFC in essence holds the top two “true” selections. They can trade one of those picks and still get their preferred player.
    A lot of speculation is centered around Colorado. The Rapids pick No 6, but the player they want won’t slip that far.
    Unless…
    1 - What should TFC do with the No 1 pick?
    …TFC trades them No 1 or No 3. Again, No 3 might be as good as No 1 for the Rapids if the two clubs work together to make sure that they leave the choice of the other team alone.
    The thinking is that Colorado wants Walker Zimmerman, a young defender that is seen as the best long-term prospect in the draft, but who might not be ready to step in in 2013. Toronto is after more immediate help and that is likely Andrew Farrell.
    Toronto trades No 3 to Colorado for No 6 (and gets allocation, which is tougher to get in 2013 without extra expansion allocation floating around) and then selects Farrell at No 1 (TFC will want to promotional push of having the No 1 pick on the roster). Then Chivas overpays for Alvarez Colorado gets their man and TFC still has an opportunity to grab another top prospect at No 6 (maybe even Bekker!).
    That’s the thinking, anyway. In less than 24-hours we will find out what the reality is.
    Guest
    Sure, Norway -- coached by former CanWNT gaffer Even Pellerud -- may have been crowned the champions of the four-nation Yongchuan Cup. And winning stuff is, generally speaking, better than not winning stuff.
    But claiming a trophy (or medals, or a crest, or whatever) wasn't current CanWNT gaffer John Herdman's priority coming into this competition, nor will it be at the Cyprus Cup in March. His priority was to incorporate some fresh faces into the lineup, try some new tactical approaches and lay the foundations for the team's quest towards the 2015 Women's World Cup.
    While the fact that two of Canada's three games weren't televised makes it impossible to accurately judge the extent to which those goals were met, the results (a win, loss and draw amongst a grab bag of opponents) suggest some positive early returns.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The tournament provided some invaluable experience to a trio of teenagers. Centreback Kadeisha Buchanan started two of the three games, and came on as a second-half sub against South Korea. While a senior national team fielding a teenager is hardly rare, a manager placing their faith in a 17-year-old at the all-important centreback position is impressive, especially considering one of her defensive partners missed most of 2012 due to injury, and the other played CB for the first time just last year.
    Ashley Lawrence, the two-time reigning U17 women's player of the year, entered all three games as a second-half substitute. While it would have been difficult for a player of her age, in her position (central midfield) to make a major impact given the circumstances, hopes remain high for what she could bring to the table in years ahead -- hopes that Herdman himself has publicly expressed.
    Last but not least, there's Nichelle Prince, who collected just about a half-hour's worth of field time over the course of three games, but did manage to score her first senior national-team goal, a consolation tally against South Korea. No better way to make a name for yourself than getting on the score sheet, and the speedy winger did exactly that.
    It's always difficult to tell which youngsters will actually make the jump to full internationals, so there are no guarantees about these three, or any other young players. But at least Herdman now has a clearer picture of exactly what he's working with from the U17 squad.
    And that's to say nothing of the U20 crew, upon who Herdman also relied in Yongchuan. Adriana Leon played the full 90 minutes in all three games, scoring her first goal for the senior squad in a 1-0 win over China. Midfielder/striker Christabel Oduro also started all three games, while U20 captain Shelina Zadorsky earned her first senior cap, against the South Koreans.
    Now, scoring two goals in three games and coming second at a four-nation tournament where you're the highest-ranked participating team (Canada #7, Norway #12, South Korea #16, China #17) is hardly a cause for unbridled celebration. While Christine Sinclair surely has several great years left, her ability to pluck goals out of thin air is not something for which a team can easily compensate. So Herdman's long-term hope is to instill a new attitude in the squad, one of constant forward momentum and a hunger for getting into the attacking third.
    Perhaps he saw that on display at the Yongchuan Cup. Perhaps he didn't. Perhaps he saw the promising beginnings of his plan coming to fruition; perhaps he's been left scratching his head and wondering "what have I gotten into?"
    We've got no way to know for sure. But after the way he transformed Canada from a last-place finisher at the 2011 World Cup to a podium finished at the 2012 Olympics, and given the glowing reviews he receives from anyone and everyone who's worked with him, it's safe to say he's earned our trust.
    So Mission 2015 rolls ahead, leaving Chongqing in the rear-view mirror. Next stop: Cyprus.
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