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    Guest

    Offward! (for a while)

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    Hi, everyone:
    Due to a serious illness in my family, I am not presently able to give Onward! the time and attention it requires.
    I hope this will only be a short break -- ideally just a couple of weeks.
    Please know I'm still out here, and that I plan to return when I reasonably can.
    Onward! // Ben
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Building support one fan at a time.

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    One day Canadian national team fans won't have to talk about attendance.
    They will - the fan is always going to be confused that not everyone in the country shares their passion for the team and the demographics of the nation will ensure that there will always be a significant amount of people in the stadiums not cheering for the home team. However, the day is not far off when the numbers in the stadium will be OK.
    And OK is fine. Especially if you were around the team in the bad old days when they played steel drums at halftime of World Cup qualifiers to make the away support feel at home. If you were around then, you understand how much better it is today. There are supporters. They are identifiable and they play a significant role in the stadium. The idea that there could be a 2000 seat supporter’s section full of rowdy Canadian fans was absurd just a decade ago. But, that happens now. It will only get bigger.
    But, let’s be honest here. The crowd will still disappoint on Sept 7. Those close to the situation have told us that there will be about 1000 away fans at the game. The supporters section for Canada will be full, but the rest of the stadium is always a crapshoot. There will be red seats visible no matter how hard supporters try to get butts into the stadium.
    It’s important that Canadian fans not get discouraged that they can’t turn things around overnight. We are Canada. We are coming at things from many significant disadvantages and the work done already should be celebrated.
    However, we still need to keep pushing.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Not that anyone reading this needs to be told, but it's important that the fans keep trying to sell tickets. We are walking examples that put to rest the notion that no one cares about the national team in Canada. No amount of marketing money can have the same impact as a passionate fan talking one-on-one with a fan of the game that has not yet experienced the rush of supporting your country in the stands.
    The Canadian national team is like an indy rock band that finds fans one at a time through word of mouth. However, once you expose a reluctant fan to the product they generally come back again and they pass on the mp3 on to another friend. The band grows bit by bit until it suddenly breaks through to the mainstream.
    A couple personal stories to illustrate how sharing the passion can reach people:
    In 2007, I was living in St. Catharines, Ontario. There, I tended to watch big football games at The Celtic Pub, which was a Celtic supporter's bar, but also served as a meeting point for all fans of the game in that city regardless of who they cheered for (well, with one notable exception...).
    They would play any game that you wanted, so long as they got the channel. However, when I walked in and asked for the semi-final of the '07 Gold Cup to be put on I was given a puzzled look.
    "Canada? The gruff Scottish fellow said. "Ok, but why? "
    He wasn't hostile, just genuinely confused that I would choose a Canada game over other options.
    However, as the game went on more and more of the men at the bar started to pay attention. They were asking questions about where the players were playing and were impressed by the answers. By the time Atiba Hutchinson was robbed they were screaming at the TV, irate at the call. Even though they were mostly ex-pats and supported another national team there was no hesitation to cheer for Canada as well. They just needed the push.
    The general consensus amongst the men at the Celtic Pub that day was that Canada was way better than they thought. Misperception corrected, they all said that they would give the national team a try moving forward.
    Flash-forward to this past weekend and I'm involved in a conversation with a Manchester City fan at the City bar Opera Bob's following the game Sunday. The topic of conversation had turned to Canada and my claim that Canadian national team games offer the best display of talent BMO regularly sees (admittedly the local 11 make that distinction easy).
    He was convinced that I was out of my mind, suggestion that Canada had several players that weren't even playing professionally. Even after I had explained that wasn't true he remained unconvinced. The idea that Canada could have players playing at a high level seemed to be beyond his comprehension. At one point he argued the New Zealand's national team was "way" better than Canada, based only on the fact that they were in South Africa. That a good amount of New Zealand’s players play at a professional level below MLS didn’t matter to him.
    The point of this story isn't to make fun of the fan's lack of understanding of international football, but rather to illustrate the key component of his ignorance -- lack of exposure.
    The only way to convince him that Canada was worthwhile is to show him. If you just get him into the stadium then he can see with his own eyes that there is nothing that beats watching international soccer live – especially if it’s in support of your country.
    This story has a happy ending. Partly based on my conversation, plans were made to gather a group of regulars from the bar to go to the Panama game.
    The hardest part has been accomplished. Chances are that at least some of that group will become fans of the program in a more involved way moving forward.
    Who knows, one day down the road they might even find themselves convincing a new fan to come out to the stadium to watch Les Rouges.
    Guest
    Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and here is a gallery of some of his photos from the Whitecaps' game against Portland on Saturday August 25th.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    For a full high quality slideshow of all of Christopher's Portland photos, click <a href="
    " target="_blank">HERE</a>.<center>********************</center>
    <center>
    ("Let's all do the Koffie. Let's all do the Koffie. Na na na na. Na na na na)

    (That pesky MLS sniper seems to have claimed another casualty)

    (Nagbe makes it 1-0 Portland)

    (Miller buries it for 1-1)

    (And but for a helping hand, could have had a second)

    (Andy O'Brien brings a great save out of Ricketts)

    (It's ok. Don't worry. Joe has it....oh)

    (The wide eyes of a bewildered rookie)
    </center>
    You can view all of Christopher's Whitecaps photographs at <a href="http://www.consulphotography.com" target="_blank"><b>ConsulPhotography.com</b></a>.
    Be sure to check his photos daily, as he is will have regular shots up from training, as well at Caps matches at all levels.
    All of his photos are copyrighted and cannot be used without his permission.
    <p>
    Guest

    An opportunity too obvious?

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Let’s start with the bad news. CSN has been told that TFC is not interested in Carlos Bocanegra. Now, it’s a single voice, and it hasn’t been confirmed by enough people to report it as being anything more than one person’s opinion, but it’s out there.
    However, for the sake of sanity, let’s assume it isn’t true. Maybe someone wants us to think they aren’t interested so there isn’t a disappointment like when the Olof Mellberg deal fell through (you know, when Don Garber absolutely did not block the deal because he was afraid that it would set a bad precedent for paying defenders, and the majority of the league’s owners did step up to support a franchise that put an awful lot of cash into their pockets back in 2007. Like then).
    Let’s pretend that Toronto has someone in Scotland right now trying to rescue the US international from the Scottish third tier.
    We should pretend that because if it isn’t true than why the hell aren’t they?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Without an explanation from the club Toronto fans would have every right to be confused. On the surface the series of events that lead to TFC having the first allocation pick when he potentially comes available seem a bit too good to be true. It’s not like historical football clubs go bankrupt and fall into the third tier every day, thus forcing their players to scramble to find new clubs. Without Rangers going down, Bocanegra is likely a couple years from returning to MLS. Now, it seems like a logical place for him to go.
    Some may question how he could transfer in to MLS as the window has closed, but Rangers have been letting their players out of contract when they find clubs. So, he’d be a free transfer and, as such, could join a team up until the roster freeze Sept 16.
    For six years Toronto has struggled – struggled beyond comprehension – to find a centreback. They have played Marco Velez and a way-past-his-prime Nick Garcia at the back. They’ve had a fullback there for long stretches this year. It’s been a problem.
    It’s possible that they will never have this clear of a shot at a player like Bocanegra ever again. Really. Bocanegra is the type of player that would thrive in MLS and is a player that would start on every team in the league. He’s exactly the type of player that TFC has never had and he would instantly take the Reds to another level.
    Star centrebacks in MLS are rare and they are game changers. Unless Bocanegra has made it clear beyond a doubt that he will not play in Toronto, then TFC needs to be doing everything in its power to make this signing. If he has made himself clear, and that’s more than possible, then the club might want to tell fans that. Although it would be frustrating, fans are better able to cope with a player not wanting to come than the team not trying.
    Maybe there is something that fans don't know. Maybe there is a deal in place that will sent him elsewhere. Maybe he hates hockey. Who knows? However, this makes too much sense.
    TFC has spent 6-years looking for a centreback. One just fell from the sky. They need to take advantage.
    Guest

    Toronto's on the clock

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The New England Revolution added a former MLS all-star today when they signed Colombian international Juan Toja.
    The move has direct implications to Toronto FC as the Reds now move up to No 1 in the allocation list. That means Toronto will have first shot at a US national Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the league after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee.

    Vancouver now sits 10th on the list, with Montreal at 16th.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Canada would have won, if only Jacklyn Sawicki had played.
    That isn't true, of course, though you can expect to hear it today if you wade into the social media circles where Canadian supporters tend to dwell.
    The reality is that, while Sawicki is definitely a talented player, there is no human being who could have single-handedly closed the gap in technical proficiency between Canada and North Korea on the day.
    So as Little Red heads home, having failed to achieve its pre-tournament goal of advancing from the group stage, all eyes are on the future. In particular, which of these young ladies will be a part of it for the Canadian senior team?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Ten years ago, in a previous incarnation of this tournament, Christine Sinclair and Kara Lang emerged as "can't-miss" prospects for a Canadian team that lost in extra time in the championship final. Of course, both Sinclair and Lang went on to fulfill the promise they showed. But the future, in this case, isn't so easy to predict, for these players or this team.
    The demolition of Argentina is hardly worth remembering, since that squad (which finished the tournament with a -18 goal differential in three games) isn't the type that Canada will need to beat in order to get where it hopes to be in the global game. The more realistic peers are the likes of Norway (who outplayed Canada) and North Korea (who outclassed Canada).
    These players are mostly teenagers, of course, and so it feels somewhat wrong to criticize them too harshly. Still, a pat on the head and a "way to go" would be demeaning and condescending, and not be especially productive in helping the program improve. Quite simply, Canada entered the tournament with a goal and failed to achieve it.
    U20 head coach Andrew Olivieri will, in a few weeks' time, be sitting down with senior national team head coach John Herdman to map out a plan for the future of the program, in the run-up to the 2014 U20 Women's World Cup, and the 2015 Women's World Cup, both to be held in Canada. Suffice to say, they'll have plenty to talk about.
    See, the failings of the Canadian developmental system -- about which followers of the men's team have raised concerns for a very long time -- aren't restricted to one team, or one gender. Even at the senior women's level, there are concerns that the women's game is passing Canada by (a point that's been glossed over by the other-worldly skill of Sinclair, and the unexpected bronze medal). And we saw that on display for the U20 squad as well, as the North Koreans ran circles around the tired Canadians, completing non-stop one-two passes that Canada rarely had answers for.
    This is not to say we should throw up our hands in defeat. Far from it. In spite of the system, rather than because of it, Canada continues to produce players with good individual skill. Sawicki, for one, showed great flashes during her one game in the tournament, prompting many fans to question her exclusion from the subsequent two.
    Sabrina D'Angelo looked confident and composed in the Canadian goal, and could likely be counted on to join the senior national team as a third keeper, or in the event of an injury to Erin McLeod or Karina LeBlanc. Adriana Leon showed a physical presence, good finishing and an ability to connect midfield and the attack (in the same way Sinclair has been utilized in the last 12 months). Vanessa Legault-Cordisco, Shelina Zadorsky and Rachel Melhado were, by and large, solid on the Canadian back line.
    Plenty of other players showed flashes as well. Danica Wu produced some terrific moments in the centre of the Canadian midfield, Christabel Oduro was a beast against Norway and Christine Exeter's goal against North Korea showed an impressive mix of strength, composure and finishing. Jenna Richardson showed off a great work rate and ability to get into scoring positions (though not necessarily to finish them off).
    So, yeah, the bath water of Japan 2012 is being dumped on the lawn, but many of the babies are worth holding onto.
    Something Canadian fans must be aware of, though, is that there is currently no "next Christine Sinclair". There is no player, ready to be unleashed, upon whom Canada can pin its hopes for the next decade. Summer Clarke is a good goal-scorer for the U17 team, and perhaps we'll see her put on a show at Canada 2014 (or Azerbaijan 2012, for that matter). But no matter what becomes of any of these players, Canada's future success will hinge on maximizing the potential of all the players that Canada has at its disposal -- and that starts from the earliest stages.
    The Canadian Soccer Association's "Wellness to World Cup" program, and a renewed emphasis on long-term player development, is aiming to address this in the years ahead. But there's been plenty of pushback from self-interested clubs and parents, uninterested in anything beyond their little snowflakes piling up those U9 championship trophies. That battle will continue to be fought.
    Therefore, there's only so much Olivieri, Herdman and their staff can do in the immediate future. There is talent to work with, right here and now. And there was certainly technical proficiency on display at the 2012 U20 Women's World Cup. But what some hoped would be a raucous follow-up to Canada's unexpected success at London 2012 instead turned into something quite familiar to Canadian supporters: A grim reminder of how much work remains to be done.
    A valiant effort by the ladies in red at Japan 2012, to be sure. But the senior national team set the bar higher for all Canadian teams. We should no longer be content to merely be participants; we should be aiming to seriously compete in every tournament we enter.
    And while none of us can predict the future, it's safe to say that things will need to improve if Canada, as a soccer nation, hopes to consistently fulfill that long-held potential.
    .
    Guest
    In the end Paul Mariner appeared to choose the CCL. Despite speculation – and some strong rumours – that he might not go full out against Santos Laguna on Tuesday, it seems like the opposite will be true.
    When TFC’s line-up for Saturday’s borderline meaningless game against Houston was released you could almost hear the supporters sign in relief.
    No Torsten Frings and no Eric Hassli. No hope as well some thought.
    Turns out the latter wasn’t the case. TFC gutted out a road draw, which means little to them but a great deal to the team in orange. Playing spoiler doesn’t exactly get the fans fired up, but it’s all the Reds have now -- that and players trying to impress to return in 2013.
    The core of the team is basically understood for next year.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Darren O'Dea, Ashtone Morgan, Danny Koevermans, Ryan Johnson, Doneil Henry, Torsten Frings, Stefan Frei, Logan Emory, Richard Eckersley, Terry Dunfield and Luis Silva are all very likely to be back. You can probably add Reggie Lambe and Quincy Amarikwa to the list, although they would be a step below.
    Additionally, we can see the writing on the wall for a few players. Eric Avila, Ty Harden and Dicoy Williams are most likely gone.
    Putting aside the homegrown players – they will all be with the club until their initial contracts run out -- there are several bubble players that will be looking to make an impression down the stretch.
    Adrian Cann – He is not one of Mariner’s favourites and costs a bit more than some like. Has he ever fully recovered from the knee injury? Cann is in tough to return, but he is a scrappy veteran so he should not be counted out.
    Jeremy Hall – He’s young, but he’s failed to make a significant impression. The lack of depth at fullback is his biggest help.
    Eric Hassli – Probably the highest profile decision will be whether to retain Hassli. He’s already shown both sides of his game while at Toronto, scoring and sending a few balls into the lake. Hassli may be asked to come back as a non-DP. This will be Mariner’s biggest test of the off-season.
    Milos Kocic – His inclusion on the bubble list may surprise some, but there are some on the club that have not been happy with his overall play. CSN has been told by several people that there is no debate as to who TFC’s top keeper is – it’s Frei. Kocic is cheap now. TFC knows they will probably need to give him more if he is going to stick around, especially with triplets on the way. He will be in a battle for the 2013 back-up roll for the rest of this season.
    Freddy Hall – He’s likely a step below Kocic, but the team may view him as better value if Kocic can’t play at his current salary.
    Aaron Maund – Mariner is attempting to convert him into a cheap holding mid. If he succeeds he’ll be back as a depth player.
    Joao Plata – He’s not around, but it’s no sure thing Plata returns to the club in January. This is not a player that fits into Mariner’s system and the way his leaving was handled left a sour taste in the mouth of the front office (blame for the PR aspect of the move can be shared, but Plata and his representatives deserve to be criticized for speaking out before the club had a chance to act).
    Andrew Wiedeman – He’s going to need to show a little of the finishing Mariner seems to think he has to be back. Other areas of his game are clearly subpar.
    Guest
    Four years ago, the Canadian quartet of Dwayne DeRosario, Julian de Guzman, Atiba Hutchinson and Patrice Bernier was lauded by many as "the best midfield in CONCACAF" as the team went into battle in World Cup qualifying.
    That combination has yet to see the field together in Canada's quest towards Brazil 2014, but with all four healthy and playing regularly, it seems inevitable that the grand reunion will occur on Sept. 7, when Canada gets back at it against Panama.
    But four years is a long time, especially in the world of sports, and all four of those men have gone through massive changes since Canada's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for South Africa 2010. Let's take a look at exactly how far the lads have come, and whether they may be able to finally deliver on all the promise they held back in 2008.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Dwayne DeRosario
    Where was he? Heading into World Cup qualifying in 2008, DeRo's club career was coming along swimmingly. His Houston Dynamo were coming off back-to-back MLS Cup championships, with DeRo playing a starring role each year (he won MLS Cup MVP in 2007, the first Canadian player to do so).
    Where did he go? Late in 2008, after Canada's World Cup qualifying campaign had come to a premature end, DeRo was traded to his hometown Toronto FC. What should have been a glorious homecoming for a talented Canadian player, of course, ended in eventual disappointment. Miracle in Montreal, Celtic trial, cheque-signing motion, trade to New York. You know the deal.
    Where is he now? Searching for his 100th career MLS goal as a member of D.C. United, a club where he seems to have found a level of comfort and success.
    Julian de Guzman
    Where was he? Fresh off being named MVP of Deportivo La Coruna in Spain's La Liga, as the club qualified for the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) for its 2007-08 campaign.
    Where did he go? In 2009, he decided that as a professional athlete, he'd kind of enjoy being paid for his services, and said as much. His club, evidently, had other ideas. As did other clubs on the continent. So, he took a nice, big paycheque to become the first designated player in Toronto FC's history. What should have been a glorious homecoming for a talented Canadian player, of course, ended in eventual disappointment. (Notice a pattern here?)
    Where is he now? Plying his trade for FC Dallas after a salary-dump trade by TFC in early 2012.
    Atiba Hutchinson
    Where was he? In the middle of his four-year tenure with F.C. Copenhagen, which had already included some European success (including a victory over Manchester United in the Champions League).
    Where did he go? After a few more successful campaigns in Denmark, including winning the league's player of the year honours in 2010, he moved on to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. But knee troubles soon followed; he picked up an injury playing at the 2011 Gold Cup and needed surgery, ruling him out of most of Canada's 2014 World Cup qualifiers to this point.
    Where is he now? Fit again and thriving at PSV, including potting a rather dandy goal this weekend.
    Patrice Bernier
    Where was he? Prior to Canada starting the third round of qualifying in 2008, Bernier made a move to F.C. Nordsjælland in Denmark, after a year with Kaiserslautern in the 2.Bundesliga.
    Where did he go? Bernier spent three solid years with F.C. Nordsjælland, winning two Danish Cups, but suffered a fractured fibula in 2011. The injury ruled him out of the Gold Cup for Canada, but he did complete a move to another Danish club, Lyngby, before signing a deal to join his hometown Montreal Impact upon their entry to MLS in 2012.
    Where is he now? After taking some time to work his way into the club, Bernier has become the Impact's talismanic leader as the team looks to challenge for a playoff spot in its expansion year.
    Still the best midfield in CONCACAF?
    Well, no one's making that claim anymore, but the quartet still has plenty to offer. DeRosario, at 34, is still one of the most dangerous offensive threats in a constantly-improving league, while 32-year-old Bernier has indisputably proven that he came to Montreal to play, not just sell jerseys. Hutchinson, 29, is not just supremely talented but versatile, having stepped in at right back for PSV on numerous occasions. And though de Guzman, 31, picked up his fair share of detractors during his time at Toronto, he's regularly managed to find another gear when wearing the national-team jersey.
    Who's pushing them for playing time?
    With Josh Simpson still out after suffering a broken leg earlier this year, the most likely candidate to push the above four for playing time is 25-year-old Will Johnson, who's become a fixture for Real Salt Lake and the senior national team in the past four years. Johnson could still be a starter, if DeRosario (as some would expect) lines up as a striker rather than a midfielder. A resurgent Terry Dunfield could also get consideration, but ultimately falls lower on the depth chart than the other aforementioned midfielders. Samuel Piette, 17, could be one for the future -- but not the present.
    Can they get the job done?
    Yet to be seen, of course. But with the possible exception of Hutchinson, this is the last realistic chance that these players have to qualify for a World Cup. All have long and illustrious careers with the national team, all have plenty of familiarity with one another (though in one instance, that may not necessarily be a good thing) and all know what needs to be done to compete in the bizarre little world known as CONCACAF.
    In 2008, things quickly fell apart and the team mutinied under then-head-coach Dale Mitchell. Current head coach Stephen Hart -- who has been around the team, and these players, for a half-decade -- seems to have buy-in from the squad and its veterans. Of course, that could all change if results go sour once again.
    Either way, these four know what's on the line, know what needs to be done, and know that it's their last chance to do so. Can they erase the ghosts of years gone by for the Canadian national team? We'll get our biggest and best clue on September 7.
    .
    Guest
    .jpg]It was D-day for Vancouver Whitecaps in Portland last night. Defensive mistakes, disciplinary problems and a distinct lack of team chemistry all came together for another derby day disaster
    <i>"We’re in a bad spell just now. We’re not playing to the standard that we were before. So it’s going to be a good test for our character, to see how we bounce back.
    It’s one of those things where we have to dig really deep now. We’ll get criticism for that, understandably so. I think we deserve it based on that performance. That wasn’t anywhere near the standard we would expect from anybody and we have to turn it around."</i>
    That was the thoughts of Caps coach Martin Rennie as he spoke to reporters immediately after the loss in Portland.
    Strong words. Honest words. And they need to be as the natives are getting restless.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Three defeats in a row, two of them in derby games, and some woeful and lacklustre performances does that and rightly so.
    The current Vancouver Whitecaps team we are watching is a shadow of it’s former self and their early season success. So what’s gone wrong?
    Too many changes to the squad? Too many suspensions? Poor player performances? Poor management?
    All of the above? We have a winner.
    Rennie went on to describe the current losing streak as <i>"a tough little run"</i>, whilst Joe Cannon described the team as being in a <i>"funk"</i> as <i>"the stakes have got magnified"</i>.
    It’s really hard to think that this is the same team that impressed against San Jose, Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake recently and had us contemplating third, and maybe even second, place in the West.
    Now, holding on to fifth spot is going to be a huge challenge and the game against Dallas on September 15th could make or break us and our season.
    The Caps haven’t suddenly become a bad team overnight. The quality is still there, they’re just not playing as a team.
    Kenny Miller got his first Caps goal last night in Portland but is still not firing on all cylinders. He is playing far too deep and getting little support for what he is looking to do and how he needs to play.
    He struggled with who he had around him. He missed having Darren Mattocks to interchange with. There is no spark, no chemistry, between him and Camilo yet. Will there ever be one?
    I’m not sure Miller and Camilo can play in the same team.
    Camilo reverted back to trying to do it all by himself, but when he was the best offensive layer, it’s hard to knock that too much, but it really doesn’t help the team effort.
    Dane Richards struggled to get into the game and find room, but was rejuvenated when Mattocks came on and he found his speed again.
    A lack of speed was just one of many things evident in the Caps team for the whole game.
    We knew it was going to be a bit more defensive being an away game, but when you go a goal behind you need to be able to make the necessary switch to move away from that and this is one aspect where we really struggle time and again. We can’t seem to react quickly enough and make the necessary tactical changes.
    The Caps needed to have an impact player to come off the bench and try and be a game changer. That was just what we were bemoaning a few days ago.
    For this game it was going to be Camilo, Richards or Mattocks. The general thinking was Camilo, but as he impressed in training, Mattocks was the one to make way.
    We needed to have someone, anyone, come off the bench and make the difference. We hadn’t expected it to be with a red card.
    After picking up another stupid card, and probable two or three game suspension, Mattocks is going to now fill that sub role for most of the remainder of the season and Miller will get the nod as our starting striker.
    If Mattocks can’t change that aspect of his game, you could see him being the latest name to be shipped out.
    The discipline of the squad has been brutal in recent weeks.
    Regular readers will know that I like a player with a bit of bite. One who likes to put himself about a bit. A good, old-fashioned hardman, but one that can do it subtly or as subtle as you can with all the cameras around.
    Leading with your elbow and kicking a player in their chest is not the way to go about that. I can easily handle a player losing out for yellow card accumulation when it’s a build up of some good, robust challenges.
    Discipline has been a big talking point this past week and it continued post-game following Mattocks’ latest sending off and forthcoming suspension.
    Kenny Miller told us after the game that these decisions and suspensions are things<i>"that help a team build and come together"</i>. Let’s hope so, as we badly need both of those things right now, with emphasis being on the 'team' aspect.
    The dismantling of a successful, and winning, team mid-season raised eyebrows at the time. Now that it’s all starting to go a little wrong, questions are being asked more loudly and if it keeps going, the knives will be out. Maybe not for Rennie but for the players that have come in. Rennie will get a lot of the flak though too and if we don’t turn this around, he deserves it.
    The general feeling from within the Caps camp is that the players have had more than enough time to gel and integrate into the team and the systems. So is it the wrong players, the wrong systems or both that are the reasons for our downfall?
    It’s not all bad news for the newbies, as Andy O’Brien looked fairly solid at the back. Unfortunately O’Brien, and those around him, seem to have no pace at all back there at this stage of the season. Our attacking fullbacks are fairly non existent right now.
    The game deciding goal came from a mistake from Joe Cannon, but he has saved us point after point this season that there will be no finger pointing there.
    Our midfield was dominated and posted missing by a poor Portland team that simply had our number, had pace and looked like the only team that was going to win the game from very early on.
    Barry Robson has had a poor last couple of games. A lot of that is due to having to carry the rest of the midfield, who have been far too defensive.
    Whatever is the cause(s), the hole in this sinking ship needs plugged real soon or we could see a major collapse.
    Confidence and momentum can do so much for a team in the final stretch of the season. Vancouver are lacking both right now.
    Finding them again at the right time could set the Caps up nicely for a serious playoff push. Every team goes through a rough patch. We just have to hope that ours doesn’t come at the wrong and costly time of the season.
    This is the fine line that the Whitecaps now need to cross and soon.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b><u>AFTN 3-2-1:</u></b>
    A hard one and very open to debate and interpretation, but…
    3 points – ANDY O’BRIEN (was looking good back there and had a few dangerous forays at the other end of the pitch as well before his injury)
    2 points – CAMILO SANVEZZO (the main danger in attack for the Caps for most of the game and we use that word loosely. At least he tried, if maybe a little too hard on his own)
    1 point – JAY DEMERIT (hard to pick a third but Jay put in a mostly solid display in his first game back from his concussion. A few mistakes here and there but who didn’t have those?)
    <p>
    Guest
    Another Saturday, another Cascadian derby, another defeat for the Whitecaps and another suspension looming. It’s all getting a bit too familiar as ten man Vancouver went down 2-1 to Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field.
    There were some surprises before kick-off with Martin Rennie deciding to drop Darren Mattocks to the bench as an impact sub and going with a Scottish pairing of Kenny Miller and Barry Robson to try and kickstart the Vancouver attack.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Portland, on the other hand, kept one of their own Scots, Kris Boyd, on the bench for the whole match.
    Vancouver had the early pressure from the opening seconds but Portland had the first shot on goal when Darlington Nagbe was allowed to power into the Caps box before blasting over in the fourth minute.
    Portland were looking the more likely to score and Franck Songo’o forced Joe Cannon into an easy stop at his near post in the 14th minute, before Nagbe had a shot deflected for a corner three minutes later.
    With Vancouver playing deep, Portland were finding it easy to control possession and try and get the breakthrough. They nearly got it in the 27th minute when Bright Dike got on the end of a Songo’o cross and rose unchallenged between Jay DeMerit and Alain Rochat to crash a header off the right hand post.
    DeMerit was in the thick of the action in the 35th minute when he pulled down David Horst as a corner came across, but the referee thought otherwise and there was no penalty awarded.
    The Caps finally mustered a shot on goal in the 37th minute when Camilo drove straight at the Portland keeper. At least it was something.
    The home side finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute in a neat move that ended with Jack Jewsbury play a perfect ball inside to Nagbe and the Liberian easily shook off Y-P Lee before slotting home past Cannon.
    As the half entered stoppage time, it was looking like a long second half slog for the Caps but up stepped Kenny Miller to grab a huge first goal for Vancouver.
    Portland were unable to clear the ball from a Caps attack and as it fell to DeMerit, his diagonal cross box pass landed perfectly at the feet of Miller, who had time and space to easily fire past Donavan Ricketts for the equaliser.
    That was the last action of the half and Vancouver went in somewhat fortunate to be on level terms.
    With no changes at the half, it was still all to play for and Vancouver came close to taking the lead five minutes in.
    A dangerous corner from the right found it’s way through to Andy O’Brien in the six yard box and Ricketts responded brilliantly to keep out the defender’s diving header.
    It was goalkeeping of another kind that saw the Timbers retake the lead in the 55th minute.
    As Songo’o curled in a seemingly easy to take free kick, the normally reliable Cannon fumbled the ball and allowed it to somehow get away from him and into the net.
    It was the Cameroon player’s first goal in MLS and he’s not likely to get more of a gift than that.
    The Caps looked for an immediate response and John Thorrington hit a cutback from Miller past the right hand post two minutes later.
    O’Brien was having a solid game for Vancouver at the back, but looked like he tweaked his hamstring mopping up a Portland attack and was soon substituted for Martin Bonjour.
    Dike forced his way clear into the Caps box in the 64th minute, but wasted his chance to strike a decisive blow when he shot wildly wide.
    Cannon had another nervy time in the 69th minute when he couldn’t properly collect a Dike header from a Songo’o free kick, but Jun Marques Davidson cleared the danger.
    Portland kept the pressure on and Nagbe saw his goalbound effort deflected for a corner moments later.
    The Caps had their best chance to date to restore parity in the 74th minute.
    Dane Richards was rejuvenated by the introduction of Darren Mattocks as a sub and the Jamaican waltzed his way into the box before seeing Ricketts close him down and block his shot.
    The ball broke the Camilo, who took a step inside, but he could only watch on in agony as his goalbound effort was headed off the goal-line by Steven Smith.
    Vancouver kept on the pressure and Kenny Miller headed an effort wide before a long range Barry Robson shot was parried by Ricketts for a corner.
    As the Whitecaps pushed for the equaliser, their chances were dealt a fatal blow when Mattocks was sent off for leading with the elbow in an aerial challenge with Horst in the 84th minute.
    As referee David Gantar was talking to Mattocks, the replay was shown on the screen, the Timbers fans reacted, Gantar looked over to his linesman who indicated a sending off. So apparently we now have video replay in MLS.
    Portland sensed blood and sub Danny Mwanga easily forced his way into the box, then crossed for Sal Zizzo who shot just wide, as Nagbe raced in to try and turn it in.
    The Timbers easily saw the game out, and dealt another blow to the Whitecaps in their race for the playoffs.
    With discipline now becoming a regular talking point in Vancouver, it’s not going to get any easier with two more away games coming up.
    September 15th in Dallas is now looking massive.
    FINAL SCORE: Portland Timbers 2 -1 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 20,438 (sell out)
    PORTLAND: Donovan Ricketts; Kosuke Kimura, Hanyer Mosquera, David Horst, Steven Smith; Darlington Nagbe (Lovel Palmer 90+2), Jack Jewsbury, Eric Alexander (Rodney Wallace 79); Sal Zizzo, Bright Dike (Danny Mwanga 86), Franck Songo’o [subs Not Used: Joseph Bendik, Kris Boyd, Mamadou Danso, Mike Fucito]
    VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Jay DeMerit, Andy O’Brien (Martin Bonjour 61), Alain Rochat; Jun Marques Davidson, John Thorrington (Darren Mattocks 65), Barry Robson; Camilo Sanvezzo, Dane Richards (Atiba Harris 85), Kenny Miller [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Jordan Harvey, Russell Teibert, Matt Watson]
    <p>
    Guest
    We haven’t done this for a few weeks, but 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.
    Summertime has a few good weeks left in her. From my point of view, one of the worst aspects of summer (apart from the heat!) is having to deal with all the bugs.
    With this in mind, this week’s "MLS Team of the Week" is the <b><i>"Insects XI"</b></i>…
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Donovan Crickets (Portland Timbers)
    <b>D :</b> Young-Pyo Flea (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>D :</b> Gnat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
    <b>D :</b> Ante Jazic (Chivas USA)
    <b>D :</b> Connor Ladybug (New York Red Bulls)
    <b>M :</b> Junebug Marques Davidson (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>M :</b> Michael Roach (New England Revolution)
    <b>M :</b> Luis Silvafish (Toronto)
    <b>F :</b> Omar Slugado (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>F :</b> Cam Weevil (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>F :</b> Babayele Sodaddylonglegs (Seattle Sounders)
    A possible team name would be Chicago Fireflies.
    If you want to see this team in action, we believe there is a friendly lined up against Grasshoppers of Zurich.
    At the game, listen to the fans chanting "earwig-o, earwig-o, earwig-o".
    <p>
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    Returning from a one game suspension, <b>Barry Robson</b> will try to bring some energy and creativity that was missing from the Seattle game. With the Whitecaps missing Koffie from the line-up, Rennie may have the Scottish international play a deeper role against the Timbers but he will still have the freedom to attack the final third.
    One of three Timbers to score more than one goal (Boyd-7, Jewsbury-2) <b>Darlington Nagbe</b> has scored five times this season, including one in each of his last two starts. However the club needs the sophomore to contribute as a playmaker as well, as he has yet to register an assist after 13 in his last year in Akron and 3 assists last season.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    Having missed the last two games due to a concussion suffered against RSL, the Whitecaps will welcome back <b>Jay DeMerit</b> to lead them as their captain against Portland. In the first match between the teams, DeMerit did a near perfect job in marking Boyd but let him free for one moment which is what all it took for the Scot to find the net for the Timbers.
    The addition of former Ranger <b>Steven Smith</b> has solidified the left side of the backline for Portland after inconsistent play last season. The Scot is a very solid left back that is strong at both ends of the pitch and is especially dangerous going forward. His attacking ability may be neutralized if he has to deal with the pace of Dane Richards for the full 90.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    He may not have been able to score against the Sounders but <b>Darren Mattocks</b> was arguably the most dangerous Whitecap on CenturyLink Field. The rookie scored his first ever MLS goal, which stole a point for Vancouver, against the Timbers when they faced each other earlier in the season. Mattocks will have to adjust his runs for his start in Portland due to the smaller pitch at Jeld-Wen Field.
    It’s hard to imagine naming a winger with a goal and two assists as a hot player but when <b>Sal Zizzo</b> has picked up that line in his last two games it makes it an easy call. After coming on as a sub for most of the season, Zizzo has started the last two games and been causing problems for the opposition defenders.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    10W-7D-9L
    5th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 2-0 Loss at Seattle Sounders
    Portland:
    5W-6D-13L
    9th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 3-2 Loss at New York Red Bulls
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: FW Omar Salgado (foot
    Probable: DF Jay DeMerit (concussion symptoms)
    Suspension: CM Gershon Koffie
    Portland:
    Out: DF Chris Taylor (hip), MF Diego Chara (suspension)
    Probable: MF Kalif Alhassan (patellar)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    After another loss to the Sounders, the Vancouver Whitecaps remain on the road and face their second Cascadia rival in as many weeks when they face the Portland Timbers. This will be the Caps second trip to Jeld-Wen Field this season, after a late goal by substitute Darren Mattocks allowed the club to escape with a point in May.
    There will be some modifications to the starting eleven with a few players returning from injury and suspension and one having to sit out one game due to the MLS disciplinary committee. In goal Joe Cannon will have Jay DeMerit(injury) and Martin Bonjour(suspension) return to the centre of the backline while Alain Rochat and Lee Young-Pyo once again start as the full backs.
    The midfield will be missing Gershon Koffie but welcomes back Barry Robson, who will start alongside Jun Marques Davidson as the two holding midfielders. Camilo, Kenny Miller and Dane Richards will play in front of them and will most likely interchange roles in the attack. Darren Mattocks will most likely be the striker up top but could also drop back or play out wide.
    Because of the dimensions of the field, Vancouver will play a compact midfield and try to force the Timbers attack out wide, where they will need to close down on the wingers. Tracking Boyd will be a major key for the Caps, as he proved in their last game when he was able to capitalize after being shut down for most of the game.
    One of the keys for the Caps will be how quickly Robson can transition from defending to attacking, especially if he is asked to play a deep role. The attackers for Vancouver will need to test Donovan Ricketts regularly, as the newly acquired keeper is known to make mistakes handling the ball.
    The backline of Portland is not particularly fast so they can be exposed by the pace of both Mattocks and Richards. Expect some long balls to be sent in to the Jamaican attackers and even if they prove to be unsuccessful, the attempts will soften up the opposition and keep them on their back foot.
    While this match is not a must win for the run to the MLS playoffs, the Whitecaps do need a result if they wish to remain in the running for the Cascadia Cup. A win would vault the Caps into the top spot with both of their remaining games to be played at BC Place. It would also be the first victory for the organization against a Cascadian rival since joining MLS last season.
    The Whitecaps are sitting on a two game losing streak and have yet lose three games in a row this season. They are playing the worst team in the Conference but the Timbers are a rival so they can’t be taken lightly. Also without three points the perception that this team is in trouble will continue among fans and pundits which could start to seep into the locker room.
    <p>
    Guest
    It’s exciting times for women’s soccer in Canada. Fresh off the bronze medal performance in London the program has never had a higher profile.
    In just two years Canada will be hosting the FIFA u20s as preparation for the big event in 2015 – the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
    As said, exciting times.
    But, is the women’s game healthy? It seems like an absurd question – were they not just the darlings of the Canadian Olympic team? Is Christine Sinclair not a household name now? – but those close to the game in Canada have concerns.
    The car may have just got a shiny, bronze paint job but there is still rust underneath. That’s the opinion of many. Despite Canada having tremendous natural resources, and equal acceptance of the women’s game alongside the men, it remains rooted in the second tier of international teams. More concerning is that youth results suggest Canada's standing is trending down, not up.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The fear is that by the time 2015 rolls around the situation will be even worse and Canada will fail to fully take advantage of the opportunity hosting the World Cup should provide.
    Bill Ault is deeply involved in the women’s game and is a professional coach with more than 20-years experience. He has been one of the strongest critics of how the game is being developed today.
    Ault urges Canadians to look past the excitement of the Olympics and instead take a hard look at what’s happening with the current u20 side, who are currently competing in the World Cup in Japan.
    “Technically we aren’t up to the task,” he said following the Canadians 2-1 loss to Norway at that World Cup. “It’s frustrating because you look at the players and you know that they have more.”
    Ault says the issue is deep rooted, but simple to identify.
    “It’s a technical thing, but it’s also a belief thing. We don’t demand enough from our players – especially in women’s game. Coaches are failing the girls at the youth ranks. They simply do not challenge them or offer constructive criticism.
    “They don’t know how to react to (criticism) because they never face it,” Ault says.
    The result is that they fail to listen to outside voices and, as a result, do not improve areas of their game that need to be improved.”
    The “old, old, old” problem prevents Canadian teams from meeting their potential, Ault says.
    “Our players are limited technically which makes them limited tactically. It could have been so much better by now.
    “We have produced some great players, but we could have produced a lot more. But we didn’t ask enough”
    The problem could have been that we thought we had arrived a decade ago, but ignored that the rest of the world might want to join the party.
    In 2002, a country watched with awe as a young group of Canadians nearly won a world championship on home soil at the FIFA u19s. That golden generation is the backbone of the current senior national team.
    But, how golden are they? it may seem harsh, but the bronze medal run was the first significant thing they accomplished since 2002. We should not dismiss that 3rd place finish - it's an accomplishment that can never be taken away from them - but it also must be viewed soberly by those in the position to shape program in the lead up to the World Cup.
    Bluntly, the run was not a case of a team finally breaking through after years of being close. Rather, it was a team catching a lot of breaks and managing to win the right game at the right time.
    Let's remember Canada finished third in its group. In standard World Cup play their tournament ends there. Then they get what was perhaps their biggest - and least noticed - breaks when Great Britain beats Brazil. Team GB was essentially England, a team ranked below Canada in the rankings. Suddenly, Canada only needs to get past a team it has always handled to guarantee themselves a medal game.
    To their credit they played their most complete game of the tournament against the hosts.
    What followed was the game everyone remembers. The Canada v USA game was exciting and intense and featured one of the best single performances of the Games (all of them, not just the soccer tournament) by Christine Sinclair. Her hat-trick almost allowed Canada to pull off a major upset.
    But they didn't. Canada lost that game. They did so by allowing the Americans to come back three times and to score at the death. Yes, there was a strange call that went against them, but it is foolish to say Canada lost because of the call. They lost because the US is better and even when they got the best performance of Sinclair's career they still couldn't win.
    Canada was spirited and fought hard. It was everything Canadians love. For those old enough to remember classic Canada v Soviet hockey battles -- when the Red Menace would pepper 50 shots at a dazed, but hard working, Canadian team who gamely held on -- the narrative was familiar.
    Canadians have always embraced hard work over skill. And the women gave us just that against the Americans.
    But. They. Lost.
    Again.
    It's been a decade since Canada beat their rivals. That semi-final may have been their best chance for a while to do so again.
    As for the the bronze medal game against France it was terribly one sided. Most understand that France wins it 99 out of 100 times it's played, likely going away. But football is a funny game and on that day Canada had its moment.
    It was a fun ride, but, objectively, a mediocre performance. Canada finished third. They were far from the third best team.
    And the golden generation will be three years older by the time the World Cup kicks off. In London, only four players on the squad were younger than 25. The core of the team, including Sinclair, will mostly be on the wrong side of 30 by the time the World Cup starts.
    But the biggest concern is the lack of players challenging them from below. With the current u20s looking likely to crash out at the group stage, Canada will have gone two straight u20 cycles finishing outside of the world’s top 8. Outside of Jonelle Filigno there does not appear to be a single breakout player from the 1990 class or younger.
    The world is catching up. According to Ault hosting the World Cup may have came too late for Canada – the window of opportunity for winning a World Cup having been self-sabotaged by a soccer system that is obsessed with participation rates and has constantly failed its elite players.
    When Canadian teams go to World Cups you never hear them talk about winning. Rather, you hear about making it out of the group stage. Ault is frustrated by that lack of self-belief.
    The raw talent is there, Ault says. The winning attitude is not.
    “There is no excuse for the women’s teams not to want to win tournaments,” he said. “We should have been in top 2-3 in world throughout the last decade.”
    The biggest problems can’t be fixed in time for 2015. There, Ault sees a top 8 finish for Canada, but unless something significant changes between then and now anything more is an unrealistic expectation.
    Canada’s best hope lies in John Herdman, Ault says.
    “He’s installed a balance and belief and I think he can get more out of that. He needs to get even more out of them if we are to be successful in 2015.
    “I’m afraid we’ll lose him.”
    Ault says he is concerned that a lack of progress on the development and player identification system in Canada will cause it to lose a young talent like Herdman, who may flee for a country that will give him more resources.
    If that happens it would be a continuation of a trend that has held back the game for generations. Nothing frustrates Ault more than watching players and coaches leave the country for opportunities elsewhere – opportunities that should be available here, but simply are not.
    “If you’re an American that wants to get into coaching there is an easily identifiable pathway you can follow – a progression to the highest level,” he said.
    “Canada still often relies on volunteer coaches”
    However, there could be an opportunity. Although the technical staff associated with the senior women need to view the bronze medal with sober detachment, the rest of the country does not and will not.
    A 14-year old sitting at home watching the Olympics does not much care about the systemic issues facing Canadian soccer. She only cares that Diana Matheson is her favourite player.
    Ault says the CSA needs to take advantage of the opportunity London has provided before the moment has passed.
    Focusing on the u17 team, Ault suggests that try-out camps should be held across the country in every major city. Finding players – and not losing them to other systems – has always been the single biggest failing of the Canadian soccer. For once women’s soccer has Canada’s attention. It’s imperative they take advantage.
    “(Players) would be lined up around the block (to try out),” Ault said. “There is talent out there. There is another star we just have to find her.
    “For the first time young Canadian girls are dreaming of playing for the national team”
    Guest
    The Conference Board of Canada released a neat report* yesterday, speculating on what the market for pro sports could look like in Canada come 2035. Hint, if you like pro sports it will look good!
    Three more NHL teams. The return of Major League Baseball to Montreal and the NBA to Vancouver. A whopping seven more CFL teams from coast to coast. And finally, three more MLS sides, in Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
    But as usual soccer in Canada gets ghettoized. The authors trot out the diversity card as a premise behind their conclusion. Now, it's by no means malicious. The economists responsible for this report aren't journalists scared about something they don't entirely understand. But they do get caught up in the same tired narrative. From the report:
    The thing is in this case they're just plain wrong.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    A look at the latest data from Statistics Canada shows the three biggest sources of immigration to Canada are South Asia, China and the Philippines. Add in immigrants from the U.S. and South Korea and you're at 45% of all immigrants who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006. And their percentages of the total are growing. Immigration from many European countries, such as Italy and Portugal, has long since slowed to a trickle. Overall immigration from Europe accounted for about 15% of the total during this period, the majority of it from what was traditionally known as Eastern Europe.
    Yes, I understand that soccer is relatively popular in South Asia, China and the Philippines. But not nearly as intensely popular as it is in Europe, South America and Africa. Five years of boots on the ground in South Korea tells me that soccer remains a relatively novel popularity in East Asia. Yes, yes.. Drogba, Anelka and the millions flowing into Chinese soccer notwithstanding. It's a growing sport but I still doubt the young Chinese men immigrating to Canada now are bring the same degree of passion for Shanghai Shenhua as Europeans did for Juventus or Benefica in the 1960's. In fact, it's more likely Chinese would arrive with a passion for basketball, but that wasn't mentioned as a possible reason the NBA could return to Vancouver.
    Soccer is popular in India, but not nearly as popular as cricket. And I'm vaguely aware that soccer is not worshiped in the Philippines with anything like the intensity it is elsewhere in South-East Asia. Feel free to disagree in the comments section.
    The point is, I believe it's inaccurate to say that "most immigrants come from countries where soccer is the traditional favourite sport." But back to the Conference Board report:
    Again. An assumption I just don't believe is correct. I can't speak to the situation in Vancouver or Montreal, but would anyone argue the initial surge and relatively sustained popularity of TFC has been driven in any major way by South Asian, Chinese or Filipino immigrants? All of whom are represented in massive numbers in the GTA? Lacking empirical data on the subject, anecdotal evidence tells me that crowds at TFC games remain predominantly white, albeit nowhere close to as white as a Toronto Maple Leafs game.
    From TV numbers for both European and MLS matches to attendances at domestic games, we can see that Canadians are supporting soccer. Not always local soccer, but soccer nonetheless. For a long time, the huge wave of post-WWII immigrants from southern Europe and Great Britain and their Canadian-born adult offspring were the main source of soccer interest in this country, especially in its largest metropolitan areas. That's where the stubborn "multicultural/ethnic" media narrative came from, but we're beyond it now.
    To keep associating soccer with immigrants masks the slow-but-steady inroads the sport is making into all facets of the population and inaccurately reflects the reality of immigration to Canada today. Most of all it's just a lazy assumption: all those people from "abroad" piling into Canada means we'll soon have a lot of soccer fans! The Conference Board economists should have stuck to rising population and disposable income projections as credible reasons why Canada could eventually support more MLS teams. That would have made a lot more sense.
    *The Conference Board's site is down at this moment. I'll post the report as soon as possible.
    Guest
    This weekend’s match between Vancouver and Portland could prove pivotal in the grand scheme of things, for both clubs as they push forward with their individual existences. It is no secret to fans in the Pacific North West that both squads find themselves reeling as they enter this weekend.
    Vancouver powered out of the gates and found themselves in fourth position in the (West) table mere weeks ago. After a string of injuries, suspensions and international departures, the Canadian part of this expansion brotherhood is in a tailspin. Pundits and punters alike have begun to push the panic button.
    As the Whitecaps search desperately for the prescription for their recent poor form, hapless Portland present a possible golden apple that Vancouver so desperately needs.
    The plethora of problems North of the border pale in comparison to the pandemic issues at hand for last place Portland. Perceived strengths and poorly constructed plans have put Portland in position to plan a party, celebrating the first overall pick in this post seasons Super Draft.
    Many people will point to a recent drop in production by Designated Player Kris Boyd. After a 2 goal output on July 15 against the LA Galaxy, he has not managed to pot a goal in the clubs last 6 matches. The Scottish import found himself riding the pine as the team played in the Big Apple last week.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Putting all the blame on one player is foolhardy and Portland’s owner Merritt Paulson tried to make the preemptive strike dispatching the team’s head coach early on July 9th , as they struggled to compete.
    The decision polarized commenters and supporters alike. Gavin Wilkinson who piloted the Timbers during their USSF D2 days has been thrust back into his role as head coach and one has to wonder how long he has to right the ship. The man placed in charge of preparing the club for their big league premier is left to pick up the pieces. After a disappointing second term, the question I present is how long does he have? Ownership has stepped up in support of Wilkinson but at some point the bleeding has to be put to an end.
    This is where the perfect storm is made.
    A derby day victory at home in front of the peanut gallery would certainly provide the opportunity for Wilkinson to regain some confidence among his players. Despite being out of the playoff picture, his club still needs to perform in front of the paying customer. The Oregon based outfit can not afford to treat this match as a trial for next season. There is a lot more on the line here. This game will be about pride.
    Enough about Portland, they are not the only ones who look to profit from this perfect storm.
    This is where all hell breaks loose
    The Whitecaps are desperate for a strong performance as they look to stay in the playoff hunt, pressing to make the post season in their sophomore campaign.
    After a disappointing string of play as of late, they are presented with an opportunity to get back on track against a paltry Portland club. With the flags waving and the Timbers Army singing, this should produce an atmosphere second to none.
    John Thorrington is the educated prediction to fill in for the suspended Gershon Koffie. The perpetually injured veteran is looking to bounce back from a series of set backs that had kept him off the pitch for most of the summer. His tendency to get stuck in and play the physical game is sure to draw some additional attention from the officiating crew. Not to mention the ire of the pantheon of green and yellow.
    On the subject of green and yellow, the Jamaican pairing of Dane Richards and Darren Maddox will look to speed past the pathetic Timbers defence and get points on the board, having been stymied the previous week. If the speedsters find their stride it could be absolute pandemonium.
    The potential for some consistency from the Whitecaps fullbacks is an important talking point this week.
    The possibility of another viewing of Bonjour and O’brien, presents a savory package for Vancouver fans. The gaffer will look to shore up any inconsistencies that have popped up as the present slide has taken place by creating some familiarity. Jay DeMerit’s “untimely” concussion has interrupted the normal cohesion at the back. Last week’s suspension did little to help with forming a solid backline partnership in the captain’s absence.
    While Carlyle Mitchells efforts last week were a pleasant surprise (for the most part), but the more reliable pairing of Bonjour and O’brien should relieve any added pressure on poor Joe Cannon as he looks to add another clean sheet to his stats.
    It’s a game with endless possibilities and this is a powder keg match if ever there was one this season. Last place Portland playing for pride, and the Whitecaps trying to end a painful slide.
    A playoff position on the line. Players fighting for jobs on next years squad.
    I present you with the Perfect Storm.
    7:30 p.m., Saturday August 25. Jeld Wen Park, Portland Oregon.
    This post was brought to you by the letter P
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