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    Guest
    Every week we feel like doing it, 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.
    It's Halloween and hopefully all of the horror is reserved for tonight and not tomorrow down in LA.
    We want to get it all out now, so with this in mind, our latest "MLS Team of the Week" is the <b><i>"Halloween XI"</b></i>…
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Tally Hallow's Eve (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>DF :</b> Ghoulee Young-Pyo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>DF :</b> Patrick-or-treat Ianni (Seattle Sounders)
    <b>DF :</b> Steven Pumpkinney (Chicago Fire)
    <b>DF : </b> Gorey Ashe (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>MF :</b> Jack-o-lantern Jewsbury (Portland Timbers)
    <b>MF :</b> Terror Dunfield (Toronto)
    <b>MF :</b> Eric Evila (Toronto)
    <b>MF :</b> Macoumba Candy (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>FW :</b> Calen Carrve (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>FW :</b> Brian Witching Hour (Houston Dynamo)
    The scariest part of the above is how frightening Houston Dynamo seem to be!
    We were going to go with the obvious of KC's Chance 'Michael' Myers, but since he'd already made our earlier <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?2675-Team-Of-The-Week-Horror-XI" target="_blank">Horror XI</a>, we thought we'd give someone else a, um, chance.
    <p>
    Guest
    There is little doubt that TFC’s 2012 season was a disaster. Flippantly, the answer to “what went wrong” might as well be “everything.”
    However, we need to break it down further than that. It’s useless to just say everything sucked. If we want to understand how things can be better then we need to look deeper than that.
    There are no simple answers. If there were it would be easy to fix it. Below the jump, five of the six biggest factors in TFC’s terrible season of 2012. We will highlight the No 1 reason why TFC failed in part three of our season review: What Went Really Wrong.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Miguel Aceval and Geovanny Caicedo
    In the pre-season there was hope. It seems absurd now, but there was. And, most of that hope was centred around that fact that TFC fans had been led to believe that the long-standing centreback issue had finally been resolved.
    The reason for that optimism? Miguel Aceval and Geovanny Caicedo.
    They seemed perfect. Both South Americans – the long suggested promised land for successful and cap-friendly MLS players – and both with international caps.
    If you assumed that these two were legitimate then it was not unreasonable to suggest that TFC was ready to finally break through. They did finish 2011 strong, after all.
    Caicedo didn’t even make it past the pre-season. Aceval was released in mid-season.
    And we wait a little longer to solve the centreback issue.
    Injuries
    Some will want to paint this as an “excuse.” That’s a tad bit unfair.
    The better way to describe it is as a “reason.”
    TFC was without all three of its designated players for long stretches of the season. That’s, well, insane. It also goes a very long way to explain the terrible winless streak to end the year.
    Is it the only reason why TFC was as bad as it was? No, clearly not. But, it was a reason and to ignore it is to be disingenuous.
    Aron Winter
    The Dutchman was not up for the job. He tried to put a square peg (MLS players) into a round hole (possession based Total Football rah, rah, rah). More damning he refused to budge from his philosophy even when it was clear that it wasn’t working.
    Painfully clear that it wasn't working.
    No, painfully clear.
    0-9 clear, even.
    Winter’s inflexibility was incredibly damaging and TFC is still paying for it.
    Paul Mariner
    Not that Mariner fixed it.
    Mariner came in with a certain mindset and appeared to be equally inflexible -- just in a different way. He ran Julian de Guzman out of town (who was overpaid, but still above average for MLS) and seemed to favour simple, bread and butter guys over skill players (where, for instance, was Eric Avila?)
    His style was effective when Danny Koevermans was there to score goals, but once Danny 2.0 went down with injury he seemed lost.
    This space has been clear in its position that Mariner needs to be given a full off-season before he can truly be judged, but it is totally fair to place some blame for the current TFC mess at his feet.
    He’s on the clock. He needs to fix it. Quickly.
    PANIC!
    TFC has been incredibly inconsistent throughout its six years. With one exception.
    When the clock hits 85 minutes it’s TFC Crap The Bed Time!!11!!1one!!
    It’s bizarre. Predictable. And frustrating.
    It’s unclear what the problem is – Confidence? Fitness? Satanic curse?
    Who knows?
    Regardless, the Reds continue to leak goal in the last few minutes of games. From the early days it’s been a massive problem and until it gets fixed the Reds will never advance past their current disaster state.
    Guest
    This is Carl Robinson's sixth season in Major League Soccer.
    Having spent three seasons at Toronto, he obviously never experienced the playoffs as a player there, but he did at New York Red Bulls in the last two seasons.
    This year, the Whitecaps assistant coach will be tasting the playoffs for the first time from a management point of view and AFTN's Christopher Vose caught up with Carl after training to get his thoughts on the LA game.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The first thing we wanted to know from Carl was does his preparation change for these games as a coach instead of a player?
    <i>"It's no different. It's my third season on the trot that I've reached the playoffs, obviously the first one as a coach.
    The desire's there. The belief's there. Obviously it's important that we maintain focus because anything can happen in playoff games."</i>
    With everyone seemingly writing off the Whitecaps in the playoffs, how does it feel to be the universal underdogs going in to the game?
    <i>"Great. Football's a funny game. Everyone knows that on any day, anyone can beat anyone.
    They've beaten us twice at their place, so I'm sure that they'll believe that they can beat us, but we certainly have an inner belief that we can beat them."</i>
    Carl played against LA a number of times as a player. How did he find that experience of playing against the Galaxy?
    <i>"It was great. It was always exciting because they've got good players. They've got some of the big name players in the League.
    But it shows where you are as a player, because if you can compete against the best players, which they certainly have, then you're going in the right direction."</i>
    If the Whitecaps can overcome the odds and get past the Galaxy, the Supporters Shield winning San Jose Earthquakes will await.
    With what would be three games in a week, how well prepared would the Caps be for such a quick turnaround?
    <i>"We take each game as it comes. Obviously we're not looking too far ahead as it's a massive game for us Thursday, but in our minds we know then that we match up well against San Jose, but that's not in our thoughts at the moment."</i>
    With Martin Rennie and Paul Ritchie being alongside Robinson in the dugout, there was obviously a lot of banter around the recent Scotland-Wales World Cup qualifier (as we <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3826-Celtic-pride-and-bragging-rights-on-the-line-for-Whitecaps-coaches" target="_blank">spoke with him about before</a>).
    Rennie was obviously a bad loser and sent Robinson off to Honduras immediately after Wales' win on a scouting mission to watch the Canada game there. Does Robinson have any ill feelings towards the boss for sending him across the world and dampening his bragging rights?
    <i>"(laughs) No, not all. Not at all. It's part of the job, finding players. There's good players all over the place, so it's important that we make sure that if we identify a player, wherever he may be, we go and watch him."</i>
    And the Whitecaps fans want to go all over the place to watch their team too.
    With a couple of hundred fans heading down to LA for the club's first MLS playoff match, does Carl have a final message for the travelling support?
    <i>"Just keep doing what you've been doing. You've been fantastic all year for us through some ups and downs.
    It's important that you're there. We appreciate you travelling with us and we'll do our very best to get us through to the next round."</i>
    <p>
    Guest

    Mariner: "I'm very good at my job"

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Paul Mariner is confident that he's the man to lead TFC.
    "Yes, " he said bluntly when asked if he felt he'd be back in 2013. "(I'll be back) because I'm very good at my job."
    Mariner was speaking at the year end press conference, which was held today at the Downsview Training facility. All quotes are from that press conference.
    TFC fans looking for a contrite Mariner will be disappointed. He confidently stated his intentions and belief in his ability to finally deliver a playoff spot for the Reds.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    "We've known for a while what we need and where we're going to get it" Mariner said, adding that he felt that TFC currently has seven legitimate MLS starters on its roster. He did not indicate who those seven players were.
    Aron Winter was front and centre throughout the press conference, with many participants implying that his methods were behind the team's struggles this year.
    Richard Eckersley pointed to fitness as a major issue. "If we have a proper pre-season (next year) under (Mariner) maybe things will be different," he said. "I think (back) to the pre-season and we weren't anywhere near the level of fitness (needed)."
    Mariner refused to directly speak to the pre-season preparation saying that he was not involved in planning it. He did promise that the Reds 2013 pre-season would be vastly different than it was in 2012.
    Winter was criticized diring the pre-season for only scheduling a handfull of friendlies in the lead up. Both Mariner and Eckersley suggested that the early season fixture congestion was a significant factor in the team's 0-9 MLS start.
    Mariner agreed that it was "vital" that TFC be in a playoff hunt next season and said that work had already started. Director of Team and Player Operations Earl Cochrane suggested that they would decide within "the next 2-3 weeks" which of the current players will be invited back to camp next year.
    Cochrane added that they has "lots" of cap flexibility and suggested that the No 1 SuperDraft pick and No 1 position in the allocation order should produce two valuable assets for next season.
    "We're not that far off," Cochrane said.
    Guest

    SoccerPlus - MLS Playoffs Preview Show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    This show is exclusively tuned into the 2012 MLS Playoffs with our guest commentators Raphael Larocque-Cyr, Patrick Leduc & Jonathan Tannenwald.
    Can LA defend its title, will New York finally break out, can Seattle do without Eddie Johnson, will DeRo's absence be felt in DC, can Vancouver surprise... All these questions and more on this week's show.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen.
    Guest

    In The Cold Light Of Day: The LA blueprint

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Enjoy Saturday's defensive display against RSL? No, me neither, but we better get used to it, for what it lacked in excitement it made up for in effectiveness, and it is what is felt to be the blueprint for what lies ahead in Los Angeles on Thursday evening..
    Although I dearly want the Whitecaps to take the game to LA, realistically I know that isn't going to happen.
    The plan is clear. Pack the defence, pack the midfield, try and hold tight and then use our pace to hit on the break.
    Caps players and management have already come out and said the win is what matters and how they get it is all that's important, not how beautiful it is to watch.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    I'm fine with that. I don't care how we get there, as long as we get there (however unlikely that scenario looks right now).
    For the second week running, Vancouver Whitecaps had an important spot to secure. This time the team turned up and that Voyageurs Cup top seeding for next year is in the bag.
    The draw, couple with Dallas' tie on Sunday, has meant that the Caps have qualified for the playoffs with a four point cushion. Hardly in by the back door as some want to claim.
    Philadelphia's surprise loss to New England also handed the Caps the fifth pick in next year's SuperDraft. Might not mean much, but who knows, especially if someone else really wants it when it gets to that stage.
    So a few positives coming out of the weekend's results.
    Martin Rennie had two main options heading into the Salt Lake game - play a strong line-up to try and build momentum and a winning team dynamic, or rest players and go with the fringe guys.
    Rennie took the bold step to risk injury and suspension to try and get some team momentum going and it worked, to an extent.
    The draw and the performance has given the team a lift and showed that they can grind out a draw on the road against one of the top teams in the West.
    But there is also despair in the fact that this was a weakened Real side and once again there was no creativity or attacking threat, especially in the midfield, and we could only muster one shot on goal.
    Mattocks and Richards may have huffed and puffed, and their pace did cause problems, but they showed no real likelihood of breaking the deadlock, apart from the offside goal. It seems that it doesn't matter who is in there, we can't be creative.
    Much has been made about Kenny Miller and Camilo not scoring, but Darren Mattocks hasn't exactly been doing the business of late either. None of them can without the proper service from the middle and the wings. Offseason moves in this regard will be interesting.
    Los Angeles are going to pose a far greater attacking threat than Real did on Saturday night. They're going to be faster and attack in waves. Can the Caps really hope to hold on for 120 minutes and get to penalties?
    When you consider that LA have only failed to score in one home game this season, and that was on May 5th against New York when the team still wasn't firing on all cylinders, then you can't see them not scoring.
    The problem the Whitecaps have, as has been the case in several games this season, is that they put out a defensive line-up, fall a goal behind and the team out there is incapable of switching from defensive mode to full on attack.
    I would expect to see Saturday's starting line up being the preferred one on Thursday, but with the one change of Barry Robson coming back in for Matt Watson.
    Richards will likely play deeper in a five man midfield, joining the lone striker Mattocks when he can.
    Watson was invisible in Utah. Most of the midfield were. Gershon Koffie had another off day and how John Thorrington won 'man of the match' plaudits I just don't know.
    Y-P Lee and Jordan Harvey were tested and looked shaky at times when Real attacked up both flanks. The same kind of display in LA and the Galaxy will rip us apart time and again and then it's up to finishing and goalkeeping as to whether we can keep ourselves in the game.
    We also gave away a couple of silly free kicks at the weekend and we have to prevent LA getting anything on the edge of the box.
    But all hope is not lost.
    If you watched the LA-Seattle game on Sunday, that Galaxy defence is certainly there to be exposed, especially on both wings and with crosses into the middle.
    That's how we have to play it.
    We need to tear up both wings and whip balls into Mattocks to allow him to use his freakishly high jumps. He certainly has the ability to easily outjump the LA central pairing and Saunders looked anything but unbeatable in the LA goal and struggles when coming out for crosses.
    I would love to see us bring Jun Marques Davidson back in, put Alain Rochat back at left back and let him and Lee go for it up the wings, whilst Davidson and Thorrington provide defensive cover. Even put Martin Bonjour in there and play five across the back and go 5-4-1, breaking with a 3-5-2.
    Not going to happen but it would have an impact.
    You don't want to be pessimistic, but you have to be realistic. If the Caps go into LA and play defensively, they're going to get burned by three or four goals.
    All season long, I've planned and budgeted for watching the Caps in the playoffs, but I can't justify spending all that money to see a team that looks so devoid of any creative flair.
    I just don't feel the current team and playing style will turn in a performance that would make me feel justified in going. Full credit to the couple of hundred that are and let's hope the guys rise to the occasion and leave me with egg on my face, but also with a giant smile and a trip to San Jose.
    Win or lose, I just want them to do the fans and the Whitecaps playoff pedigree proud by putting in a performance we can all look back on with pride. Anything less will be totally unacceptable.
    To quote Sir Alex Ferguson whilst manager at perennial underdogs East Stirling: "Stand up, be counted, demonstrate your desire".
    That's all we ask for and that's all we expect.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b><u>AFTN 3-2-1 v Real Salt Lake:</u></b>
    Hardly anyone stood out, so here goes...
    3 points - ANDY O'BRIEN
    2 points - JAY DEMERIT
    1 point - BRAD KNIGHTON
    <p>
    Guest
    The short answer is not much. It was a terrible season with very few positive moments, but it’s disingenuous to suggest that there were no high points. Not many, sure, but some.
    So, before we spend the rest of the week wallowing in the crud that was TFC 2012, let’s take a few minutes to remember a few positives.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The continued growth of the academy
    The Academy opened its $20-million academy this year and, if you believe in a youth development philosophy (and believe that TFC believes in an youth development vision), then you have to take that as the single best thing to happen at TFC this year
    The teams had a decent run too, both against other MLS academies and in the Canadian Soccer League. The senior team finished in a solid playoff position and remained competitive even after many of their key players left for their NCAA season. The junior academy only lost one game all year. It came in the playoffs, with many of the players that helped the club to an undefeated season unavailable.
    The strength of the academy is not measured in wins and losses, however. It’s about producing first team players.
    And, there the jury is still out with one exception...
    Ashtone Morgan
    Morgan continued to solidify his position as a starting fullback for the Reds and has now advanced to a point where few look at him as an “academy graduate” anymore. He’s just a player and one the best examples of the benefit of MLS academies.
    The first game of the year
    It seems surreal now to think that TFC played the Galaxy at Rogers Centre this season – the mess the year ended in feels disconnected from that start. So, it’s worthwhile to remember how excited the crowd was and how relevant TFC felt that day.
    Hopefully, it won’t be remembered as the club’s last great moment.
    The brawl at BMO
    If the highlight of the season for less involved fans was the Galaxy game at the Dome, the hardcore’s peak came two weeks later in the most spirited game likely ever played at BMO. TFC and Santos’ 1-1 draw was as exciting a sporting contest that has been played in this city in years. It was hard-fought, edgy and the crowd that was there was as intense as any crowd to ever watch the Reds.
    The team showed up too. Santos is arguably the best club team in North America over the last 5-years. Yet, on that night TFC likely deserved a better result.
    The brawl at the end was awfully cathartic as well...
    Luis Silva
    Not since Stefan Frei showed up has a draft pick excited Toronto fans as much as Silva. Some may argue that he’s the only worthwhile piece from this season – that’s a tad harsh – but he is certainly a player that looks like he’s going to have a long MLS career.
    It’s imperative that, for once, Toronto makes sure that career is here.
    Tomorrow: What Went Wrong
    Guest
    It, mercifully, is done.
    For four months and a bit we do not have to torture ourselves with TFC. For some, they may never do so again (although, respectfully, if you’re still reading now you’re not likely going anywhere).
    It’s hard to imagine a worst season. Ever. Anywhere. Surely it can’t get worse moving forward.
    Clearly, there is a lot of work to be done in the off-season. It’s also clear that few are ready to talk about those details. Most who still have the energy to talk about TFC are going to want to beat the dead horse for a while yet.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    To that end, here at CSN, we will review the season for each of the next five days in our annual end of season dissection. The format will be the same as it was last year. In part I we will look at What Went Right (because there were a few things that were positive and it’s disingenuous to only wallow in the…). Part II will look at What Went Wrong, Part III is What Went Really Wrong (a look at the single biggest factor for TFC’s failure in 2012) and Part IV is the player’s Report Card. We will wrap up in Part V with a look ahead in What’s Next?
    The first part will be up tomorrow, with an additional part running each day of the week. We will also preview the rest of the MLS playoffs.
    As for today…what more is there to say. There was a period of good play (the last 20 to 30 minutes of the first half), but largely it was a forgettable game spent chasing an opponent that was just better.
    Toronto wasn’t good enough when fully healthy. With the amount of players unavailable the last few weeks they are barely watchable.
    And now we don’t have to for a long time.
    Guest
    By: Michael Crampton
    More than any other side, the fate of the 2012 Columbus Crew truly represents what a remarkable season it has been in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference this year. Even with one game left to play against Toronto FC, the Crew’s season is essentially over: a rollercoaster away loss to DC United last weekend means that they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007. For Crew supporters that will surely be a disappointment but even the most uncharitable Red would be forced to concede that the Crew have not had what would conventionally be considered a poor season.
    With a draw or win against Toronto, Columbus will finish the season with at least 50 points. In any other year that would probably see them fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals rather than watching from home. In fact, the Crew have already surpassed their points total from 2011 and their 14 wins are three more than Toronto FC has amassed in the last two seasons combined! If you accept the premise that the objective of every MLS team is to make the playoffs and compete for an MLS Cup championship and that anything less is a failure none of that may matter but it’s a level of “failure” that Toronto supporters would likely be jealous of.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    So, while Toronto limps into the final game of the season just looking to lower the curtain on a horrible league campaign the Crew will be left wondering what could have been. The summer recruitment of Argentine designated player Frederico Higuain sparked a four game winning streak that closed the gap on the playoff positions but uneven form at the beginning of the season and the breakneck pace of the East’s playoff teams left too much ground to be made up.
    Where the Crew have not failed to pick up points is in their games against Toronto FC. The Reds did manage to end their all time winless run against Columbus with a 4-2 victory at Crew Stadium towards the end of the 2011 season but in two meetings so far in 2012 the Crew have taken maximum points in both. Even though it wouldn’t be enough to make the playoffs the Crew can actually become the fourth team, along with Chicago, Kansas City, and DC, to take 9 points off of TFC in 2012. It’s an embarrassing statistic and highlights just how far Toronto has to go to make up ground on the better teams in their conference.
    With no league positions on the line and not even the dubious honour of the Trillium Cup still to be decided one would expect that the thoughts of both teams’ management will have already turned to 2013. Sadly, for both teams, injuries will prevent a number of players from having any opportunity to earn minutes at the end of the season. Dedicated Toronto fans have become intimately familiar with the MLS Injury Report over the course of 2012 and can now add Darren O’Dea to the list of expensive injured Reds but young academy graduates many supporters had hoped to see have also been hampered by injury for much of the season. While Doneil Henry made his return against Santos Laguna in Champions League action in midweek, Keith Makubuya is listed as Out with an ankle sprain and Matt Stinson as Questionable as he continues to deal with a quadriceps strain that has essentially seen him kept out of action since summer.
    On the other hand, it may be hard to believe, but as long as Toronto’s injury list has stretched, Columbus’ currently lists more players including notable names like Chad Marshall, Will Hesmer, and Danny O’Rourke. Injuries have not defined the Crew’s season in the way they have for Toronto but Columbus head coach Robert Warzycha will not have all the options he usually would. Whether the Crew have a young starlet of their own waiting to make his debut and turn heads now that the pressure of needing results has eased remains to be seen.
    In the end, it’s time to close the book on 2012 for both teams. For the fans of both it’s time to move on. It may be a cliché but it’s also true: there is always next year.
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps ended their 2012 MLS regular season with a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake in Utah tonight.
    The draw will at least give the Caps a little confidence as they face their first MLS playoff game next week, but they will need to put in a more creative performance to try and get anything from the game against the Galaxy.
    The point also secures the number one seeding in next season's Voyageurs Cup and a favourable two legged semi final tie against FC Edmonton.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Disappointed by last week's lacklustre performance against Portland, Martin Rennie rang some major changes dropping Camilo Sanvezzo and both Designated Players, Barry Robson and Kenny Miller, to the bench.
    Rennie seemed keen to get back to the basics that produced a winning first half of the season, with a more defensive line up looking to play tight and use the pace of Darren Mattocks and Dane Richards to hit on quick breakaways.
    The plan worked to an extent, in what was a somewhat effective, if somewhat unspectacular and uninspired, performance which still lacked creativity and service from a midfield that was posted missing for most of the game.
    Whether what he saw tonight was enough to maintain this line up against Los Angeles on Thursday is now the burning question. You have to think not.
    It wasn't exactly a performance to set hearts a fluttering, but if the Caps want to try and grind their way through to a penalty shoot out, then they put in some good practice.
    Salt Lake had the first real shot of goal when Alvaro Saborio drilled a low long range effort wide of the left hand post in the sixth minute.
    Vancouver were happy to sit back and try and hit on the break, but these opportunities were quickly shut down and the home side looked the more dangerous.
    Brad Knighton had to be quick off his line to collect a Jonny Steele cross in the 16th minute, with Saborio coming in at the back post.
    The Whitecaps quickly broke up field and Dane Richards showed the danger that the speedy Caps attack poses for any defence, as he twisted and turned in the box before firing a shot into the side netting.
    Darren Mattocks' pace caused Kwame Watson-Siriboe to give away a free kick in the 28th minute, but RSL keeper Kyle Reynish was untroubled as Alain Rochat shot past the left hand post.
    Mattocks won another free kick eight minutes later and this time Rochat did manage his shot on target, but it was an easy save for Reynish.
    Real responded by going immediately up the field and forced Knighton to tip over a Saborio shot, after the Costa Rican had got in behind Andy O'Brien.
    The game was threatening to burst into life, with both teams getting a bit fired up, and Kenny Mansally had the last real action of the half when he fired wildly over in the last minute of regulation.
    Unfortunately the second half started in pedestrian fashion, with neither side showing much urgency or effort.
    Mattocks had the ball in the net in the 57th minute, rising well to head home a Rochat free kick from the right, but referee Baldomero Toledo ruled it out for offside.
    The home side turned up a little bit of pressure at the hour mark approached and after a couple of squandered opportunities, the ball came to Fabian Espindola who headed over.
    The game fell back into a bit of a lull, but Luis Gil forced an easy save out of Knighton in the 69th minute with a low drive.
    The Jamaicans made way for the Scots as the second half ticked by and Barry Robson nearly made the difference in the 82nd minute when he sent a great free kick into the box but O'Brien just couldn't get on the end of it.
    Robson again delivered a dangerous cross into box in the 89th minute, this time a corner. Gershon Koffie rose well but headed into the side netting.
    Real were still looking for the full three points and nearly got it seconds later when substitute Sebastian Velasquez fought strongly to get past Y-P Lee on the touchline and sent a dangerous ball in to Saborio, but his close range shot ricocheted off Jay DeMerit for a corner.
    Vancouver were happy to see out the three minutes of stoppage time and they did so with ease to earn what was a vital away point.
    Voyageurs Cup seeding aside, the draw tonight will at least give the Caps camp a little confidence as they head to LA.
    They've reminded themselves that they can compete with one of the best, albeit weakened, teams in the West.
    The Galaxy now pose a completely different and more difficult proposition. It won't be easy and the Whitecaps really need to step up their game, from what they've shown for weeks now. In particular a midfield needs to turn up.
    To quote Dostoevsky - "to live without hope is to cease to live".
    It's a one off Cup tie and, in theory, anything can happen and you have to have hope. In reality though....
    FINAL SCORE: Real Salt Lake 0 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 20,507
    SALT LAKE: Kyle Reynish; Tony Beltran, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Chris Wingert, Kenny Mansally (Will Johnson 78); Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy (Sebastian Velasquez 63), Jonny Steele, Luis Gil (David Viana 71); Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola [subs Not Used: Nick Rimando, Paulo Jr, Yordany Alvarez, Enzo Martinez]
    VANCOUVER: Brad Knighton; Young-Pyo Lee, Andy O’Brien, Jay DeMerit, Jordan Harvey; Alain Rochat, John Thorrington, Matt Watson, Gershon Koffie; Dane Richards (Kenny Miller 78), Darren Mattocks (Barry Robson 71) [subs Not Used: Joe Cannon, Martin Bonjour, Jun Marques Davidson, Russell Teibert, Camilo Sanvezzo]
    <p>
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    If the Caps are to make any noise in the playoffs then they must get <b>Darren Mattocks</b> as close to the form he showed in the middle part of the season as possible. They need his pace and finishing against the Galaxy, so a solid showing against RSL will give some confidence to the rookie.
    In any other year <b>Alvaro Saborio</b> would be in prime position to capture the Golden Boot in the MLS but he will have to settle for second due to Wondo’s amazing year. The Costa Rican striker has had his best season in MLS with 17 goals and is a handful for opposing defenders in the final third.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    Since arriving in MLS and starting games on a regular basis, <b>Andy O’Brien</b> has provided the backline with a calm and stability. There were few goals allowed early in the season before he was signed, but now it seems to be more by design.
    He may not get the accolades of his fellow central defenders but <b>Nat Borchers</b> is one of the best in MLS having been named 'defender of the year' three times. The normally reliable player has dealt with a few injuries at the beginning of the season but looks to finally be in form going into the playoffs.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    After having a terrific game against Chivas, <b>Dane Richards</b> went on to scoring for Jamaica and helping them advance to the final stage of World Cup Qualifying. It may have been a mistake to put him on the bench against Portland as when he came on it provided a spark in his teammates.
    While he doesn’t have the stats of his striking partner <b>Fabian Espindola</b> is a very dangerous player for the Utah club. He is a perfect complement to Saborio up top as he is a playmaker as well as a finisher, with three goals and three assists in his last four starts.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    11W-9D-13L
    5th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Loss vs Portland Timbers
    Real Salt Lake:
    17W-5D-11L
    3rd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 0-0 Draw vs Seattle Sounders
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    None
    Real Salt Lake:
    Out: GK Lalo Fernandez (wrist)
    Questionable: DF Chris Schuler (quad), MF Ned Grabavoy (quad)
    Probable: DF Kwame Watson-Siriboe (R leg strain), DF Jamison Olave (L quad strain), DF Tony Beltran (R knee soreness)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    Vancouver Whitecaps enter their last match of the regular season having booked a spot in the playoffs but shaken due to the result against Portland. They have a chance to regain some confidence when they travel to Utah to face Real Salt Lake. In their previous two matches this season the teams have split their meetings, with each side winning their home games.
    While I do see them going into the game with a similar look, there may be some changes in the eleven, but Brad Knighton should see the start. The backline will look the same with Lee Young-Pyo, Andy O’Brien, Jay DeMerit and Jordan Harvey on the last line of defence for the Whitecaps.
    It does get a little murky as you move to the midfield as Alain Rochat may be rested due to the knock he received in the last game forcing him out. It may force Rennie to use Gershon Koffie as the holding midfielder with Barry Robson playing more of an attacking role, but Jun Marques Davidson may also see a return to the position he played for most of the season.
    The wings may go to more of a traditional type with Darren Richards and Russell Teibert both getting a call. The striking duo might also change if Mattocks is healthy enough to take place of Camilo and line up next to Kenny Miller.
    It won’t be easy to gain any traction against RSL as Rio Tinto is a tough enough place to play, but Real are looking to enter the post season on a hot streak, winning four of their last six games. They are also looking to secure the second spot in the Western Conference and are currently tied with Seattle. A win will be vital for them.
    For the Caps it is mostly about gaining confidence and momentum going into the playoffs as the first team in Canada to accomplish that feat in MLS. The team is also looking to secure the top seed in next year’s Voyageurs Cup which is currently tied between themselves and Montreal, although the Impact hold that crucial tiebreaking edge.
    Vancouver have been virtually written off by everyone before the playoffs begin. Whilst that can help a team by removing any pressure, the Caps badly need a creative performance in Salt Lake that at least gives the squad a measure of confidence and gives them some self belief back before they face the gauntlet in LA.
    Whether they have this ability to turn things around on the other hand is still the big question, the answer to which will shape people's overall perception of this season's Caps and may go a long way to determining how next season's squad will look.
    <p>
    Guest
    Don't miss our 10 minute interview with FC Edmonton GM, Joe Petrone talking about his team's future with more Canadian content and a possible move up the football ladder for Canadian offensive midfielder Shaun Saiko. Petrone also answers
    We also discuss the value of a Copa America hosted in the U.S. in the coming years with Brazil-based Canadian coach Marc Dos Santos. We look at the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS Playoffs with Raphael Larocque-Cyr and Jonathan Tannenwald and we cross the pond to discuss this week's action in European cup tournaments with our French correspondent Cedric Ferreira in Paris.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    All this and more on this week's show (part deux!).
    Click here to listen.
    Guest
    Don't worry, this time Christine Sinclair and the acronym FIFA are being used together in a positive way: The captain of the women's national team has been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon D'Or as women's player of the year.
    In addition, Canadian head coach John Herdman has been shortlisted for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football, with the winners of all awards to be announced on January 7.
    Sinclair has previously been under consideration for player of the year in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008, but given her heightened domestic and global profile following the Olympic Games, this may represent her best chance at winning. She is up against some high-powered competition, including Marta (who won five straight times, from 2006-10), Homare Sawa (last year's winner) and Abby Wambach (who is nudging ever so close to Mia Hamm's all-time goal-scoring record).
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    While her hat-trick performance in the Olympic semi-final will certainly have endeared her to many voters, Sinclair's reaction in the game's aftermath (and her subsequent four-game suspension by FIFA) could have had a chilling effect on her chances of gathering support.
    Also, while her individual performance will long be remembered, the unfortunate reality is that it ultimately wasn't enough to lift the team to victory in that game. Though that's not Sinclair's fault it will, rightly or wrongly, create doubt in the voters' minds. Remember, too, that voters won't be making their decision based solely on one performance in the Olympic Games (if they were, Carli Lloyd -- whose brace won the gold medal for the USA -- would be a shoo-in).
    Still, Sinclair will likely be among the top three vote-getters (whose names will be revealed next month) and has a realistic chance of winning the award. In fact, this almost feels like one of those years where, like at the Academy Awards, a long-running star is given their reward for a career-long body of work. And if that is the case, Sinclair is certainly in the discussion. But then, so is Abby Wambach (who came third in voting last year, but has never won the top award).
    Maybe this award will end up being Canada's revenge?
    As for coach of the year, I won't claim to know enough about the work done by all of the candidates to make a conclusive prediction. But looking simply at what Herdman has been able to do in the short time he's worked with the Canadian team (going from a dead-last finish in the 2011 Women's World Cup to a 2012 Olympic bronze medal, with pretty much the same group of players), his performance has been nothing short of remarkable.
    The work done by the coaches and development systems in France and Japan have also turned the women's game on its head; but those transitions have come over the course of several years, and both appeared to culminate in 2011. When it comes to 2012, though, it's tough to find a story that tops what Herdman's been able to do with the Canadian squad.
    It would be fantastic to see both Sinclair and Herdman receive FIFA's top honours -- and without being a cheerleader or a blind patriot, I think I'm on safe footing in asserting that it's not ridiculous to envision one or both of them winning. If I had to stake cash on one of them, though, given the circumstances, it would likely be Herdman.
    Still, best of luck to them both.
    Guest
    <i>"Sing When You're Winning"</i> is our look at some of our favourite football related songs.
    Whether that means songs by proper bands about football, songs by themed bands about football, or songs by teams and players about themselves, you'll find them all here. (If you missed part one, then you'll find it <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3847-Sing-When-Youre-Winning-The-Referees-Alphabet-Half-Man-Half-Biscuit" target="_blank">HERE</a>)
    We continue the series with a song by an Irish band we've seen countless times live over the years - <b><a href="http://www.sultansofping.com/" target="_blank">The Sultans Of Ping</a></b>.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Sultans Of Ping FC (as they were first known, before dropping the FC, then the 'Of Ping', before adding that back in again) came from Cork and were around the first time from 1988 till 1996, before taking ten years or so off and reforming for the occasional gig here and there and even some new material.
    The band were big football fans and drummer Morty McCarthy was editor of the Cork City fanzine <i>"No More Plastic Pitches"</i>, a fact which got us talking to him a lot at the Sultans' gigs when he was often manning the merchandise stall before/after they went on. They even gave away free football cards of themselves with their <i>"U Talk 2 Much"</i> CD single.
    Their first album, <i>"Casual Sex In The Cineplex"</i> had a few football themed lyrics scattered through it (and I'm sure another song or two will feature in this section as we go on).
    None more so than <b><i>"Give Him A Ball (And A Yard Of Grass)"</i></b>.
    The song is a tribute to the legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough and is named from a quote he gave about his Scottish left winger John Robertson:
    <i>"John Robertson was a very unattractive young man. If one day I was feeling a bit off colour, I would sit next to him. I was bloody Errol Flynn compared to him. But give him a yard of grass and he was an artist. The Picasso of our game".</i>
    The song was given away as a promotional flexi disc by the band (and possibly with a Forest fanzine at the time) and subsequently featured as track seven on their debut album.
    You can buy <i>"Give Him A Ball (And A Yard Of Grass)"</i>, or the entire album, on iTunes on the following link (and every purchase helps AFTN): http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=8srB3CXczv8&offerid=162397&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=3664&RD_PARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Falbum%252Fcasual-sex-in-the-cineplex%252Fid259700485%253Fuo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30
    Not only is the song named after a Clough quote, it's also full of other gems inspired from Cloughie quotes from over the years and carries some messages I'm sure we can all relate to.
    Here's a video of the audio of the song from the album, with the lyrics below so you can sing along!
    And as a bonus, there's also a live version of the song from 2008. It's more distorted, but you get to see just what a showman lead singer Niall is!
    Enjoy!
    <center>

    </center><center>

    </center><center>Give him a ball and a yard of grass
    He'll give you a move with a perfect pass
    Give him a ball and a yard of space
    He'll give you a move with godly grace
    ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
    He's a nice young man, with a lovely smile
    He's a nice young man, with a lovely smile
    He's a nice young man, with a lovely smile
    He's a nice young man, with a lovely smile
    Scout him out
    Give him a ball and a yard of grass
    He'll give you a move with a perfect pass
    Give him a ball and a yard of space
    He'll give you a move with godly grace
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends (ace)
    Give him a ball and a yard of grass
    He'll give you a move with a perfect pass
    Give him a ball and a yard of space
    He'll give you a move with godly grace
    If god meant the game to be played up there
    He would've built goal posts in the air
    If god meant the game to be played up there
    He would've built goal posts in the air
    If god meant the game to be played up high
    He would've built pitches in the sky
    If god meant the game to be played up high
    He would've built pitches in the sky (die)
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends
    A man can have no greater love
    Than give 90 minutes to his friends (ace)</center>
    <center>**********</center>
    Remember, you can buy this track, or the entire album, on iTunes on the following link (and every purchase helps AFTN): http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=8srB3CXczv8&offerid=162397&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=3664&RD_PARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fca%252Falbum%252Fcasual-sex-in-the-cineplex%252Fid259700485%253Fuo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30
    <p>
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