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    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    It will be the home debut for <b>Dane Richards</b> and he will most likely start in the match against the Galaxy on the right side of the midfield. The Caps will look for his pace on the pitch to provide width, which should stretch the LA backline and give more space to the attackers in the middle.
    Since being excluded from the Olympic team <b>David Beckham</b> has been on a mission to prove the decision makers wrong. He has been playing a central role, which has given him more chances on goal from distance, as was seen against Portland on the weekend.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    In the previous matchup with the Galaxy, the defending champs ran all over the Caps in the midfield, so a strong performance from <b>Jun Marques Davidson</b>, partnered with Gershon Koffie, is needed. For the most part this season, Davidson has done an excellent job controlling the tempo of the game as well as providing great coverage for the backline, but he will need to play his best game this season against LA.
    A touch under 5'10" <b>A.J. DeLagarza</b> doesn’t possess the physical attributes of a typical MLS centrehalf, but the three year veteran has performed at very high standards thanks to his athletic ability. He will be in charge of keeping tight lines and will contribute his timely tackles in an attempt to shut down Mattocks.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    Since <b>Jordan Harvey</b> has come to start at left back, with Rochat moving to the midfield, he has had his best stretch of performances as a Whitecap. If the Galaxy decide to start Juninho and Sarvas in the middle then Harvey will most likely have to match up against Beckham. It will be vital for the defender to not give up any room that would allow the midfielder to send a cross into the box.
    Since returning from Euro 2012 <b>Robbie Keane</b> has been a force in the attack for the Galaxy, picking up five goals and two assists in the five starts. The Irish international struggled at the beginning of the season but seems to be turning it around as LA is looking to continue their rise into the playoffs.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    8W-6D-6L
    4th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Loss at Chicago Fire
    Los Angeles:
    8W-2D-10L
    5th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 5-3 Win at Portland Timbers
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: FW Eric Hassli (ankle), FW Omar Salgado (foot)
    Doubtful: MF John Thorrington (quad)
    Questionable: FW Atiba Harris (knee)
    Away with U18s: MF Bryce Alderson, FW Caleb Clarke
    Suspended: DF Alain Rochat (1 game)
    Los Angeles:
    Out: DF Andrew Boyens (hernia), FW Edson Buddle (knee), MF Dan Keat (knee), DF Leonardo (knee)
    Questionable: DF Omar Gonzalez (knee), MF Mike Magee (shin), MF Kyle Nakazawa (back), FW Pat Noonan (quad)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    The Whitecaps return home after five games on the road with a difficult task in front of them as they face the defending champs LA Galaxy. It was five games ago when the Caps were completely dismantled in the first half for three goals, in what the Galaxy said was their best 45 of the season. Vancouver was in fact lucky that they didn’t allow more goals as there were a number of chances that missed the target by the slimmest of margins.
    While there have been some significant changes since the Whitecaps last played at BC Place, the backend remains the same as Joe Cannon will start in goal once again. The backline will have Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour in the middle with Young-Pyo Lee on the right. There was a chance that Alain Rochat would return to the left side but with him being suspended Jordan Harvey will start for the fifth straight game.
    The midfield will see Jun Marques Davidson partner with Gershon Koffie as the holding midfielders with Barry Robson playing in front of them. Up front Darren Mattocks will look to test the backline with his pace and will be flanked by new acquisition Dane Richards on the right and Camilo Sanvezzo on the left.
    In three MLS meetings against LA, the Whitecaps have failed to pick up a point and been outscored by a margin of 10-0. It looked as though the Caps may have bridged the gap when it came to talent from the first to second year but their first meeting showed there was still work to do.
    In order to slow down LA, the Caps must keep moving when defending and not get flat footed watching the designated players work their magic. While it won’t be easy, the best way to handle their opponents will for the Caps to hold onto the ball as much as possible. If they can keep the ball away from the stars the better chance they have to keep the Galaxy off the board.
    It will be interesting to see how much of a factor Richards will be in his first start as a Cap and the Jamaican could make an impact immediately. His pace down the wing will put pressure on the left side of the LA defence, forcing help to come from other parts of the pitch. When that happens it will give the other attackers like Robson and Mattocks more space around the box to make plays.
    The match will also be the home debut of Barry Robson who has yet to play a match in BC Place for the Whitecaps. He has played better with every start and is coming closer and closer to hitting to the target for his first goal, which will be the <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3410-Barry-Robson-chats-with-AFTN" target="_blank">100th club goal of his career</a>. It will also be his job to find the right pass in the final third in order to get his teammates a better chance to score.
    With so many people sadly coming to this game just to watch Beckham, the Whitecaps have a chance to display their improved quality from last season in order to attract more people into attending more matches in the future. A poor performance by the team and these people won't show up again until the next star shows up, which really is their loss and not the Whitecaps.
    <b>AFTN Editor's Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 3</b>
    <p>
    Guest
    Strong rumours are suggesting that Olof Mellberg is prepared to turn down the Reds offer for a return to the Premiership.
    Toronto has offered the Swedish international a Designated Player contract. Although the exact figure of the deal is unknown, it is said to be "lucrative."
    At this point Toronto has played its hand and is at the mercy of Mellberg. If he decides to come to MLS it will be with TFC.
    However, rumours in the UK are strongly suggesting that David Moyes is considering making an offer to Mellberg, although he has yet to formally approach the former Villa man. The lure of playing at the highest level is causing Mellberg to hold off on making a decision regarding Toronto.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    By Mike Crampton
    Fourty minutes into the match against the New England Revolution on the weekend a Toronto FC supporter could be forgiven for feeling something rarely experienced in 2012: optimism. Coming off a dramatic home win over Vancouver the team was leading, from a better goal than regularly seen from any version of TFC, and, while the defence already looked stretched on a few occasions, had created two more great scoring opportunities. Blown breakaway aside Danny Koevermans was having a particularly energetic and effective game and there was a sense that if Toronto could win there, in a venue where they’d never won before under five other coaches, maybe things really were beginning to turn around.
    Then disaster struck.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    If the New England game was the first game of the post-Julian De Guzman era then Wednesday night’s game versus the Colorado Rapids will be the first game of the Danny Koevermans-less era. In the space of about two days Toronto FC went from having three of the league’s best remunerated Designated Players available for selection down to just one. One of those players is gone because the club decided it was in their best interest; the other most certainly isn’t. The effect was obvious and dramatic.
    While Toronto FC provided a battling, backs to the wall performance and managed to hold on to their lead thanks to some last ditch defending and spectacular goaltending they never looked like the team they had in the first 40 minutes. Whether you credit Toronto’s vastly improved league results under Paul Mariner simply to Koevermans’ return to form or credit his return to form to Mariner’s move to a more direct system is irrelevant. The indisputable fact is that Koevermans had been a vital part of what had been working for the Reds over the previous eight and a half games. He will be missed and his goals, movement, and general ability to create danger for opposing defences will have to be replaced for Toronto’s improvement to continue. How that can be done remains to be seen.
    So it is in this context that TFC arrives at the game Wednesday night against the Colorado Rapids. Under other circumstances the outlook would surely be more positive. Past performance may not accurately predict future results but the 2010 MLS Cup Champions return to the field where they won their first league title, a mere two years ago, in absolutely terrible form. The Rapids have lost five their last six league games, three in a row leading into this match, and two of those losses – one home and one away – were to the same Vancouver team Toronto just beat. Colorado’s most recent loss came at home to an FC Dallas team that TFC managed a draw against on the road only two weeks ago. That run has seen new head coach Oscar Pareja’s side drop out of the Western Conference playoff positions and fall four points behind a resurgent LA Galaxy.
    The interesting subtext to the game is the different philosophical direction the two clubs now appear to be heading. Pareja’s objective in Colorado has been to improve the aesthetic qualities of the Rapids’ play while maintaining the results of his predecessor. Gary Smith’s robust physical side that ran, grappled, and kicked their way to a title has been morphed into a more open, free flowing attack. While Smith lined his teams up in a consistent 4-4-2 with two strong defensive midfielders at the heart of the team Pareja has experimented with 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, and even 4-3-3 and keeps preaching the virtues of possession over tough tackling and hard running.
    In some ways it’s a more restrained approach, starting with a better team, to what Toronto attempted under Aron Winter. When Omar Cummings and Connor Casey are both available Pareja still tends to line the team up in a 4-4-2 and the spine of the team remains very similar to Smith’s through Jeff Larentowicz in midfield, Drew Moor and Marvell Wynne at the centre of the defense, and Matt Pickens in goal but the shadings are different. Pareja signings like Argentine Martin Rivero and Colombian Jaime Castrillon in midfield have brought a South American influence to the team in an attempt to achieve his vision. It seemed to be working early on but it will be interesting to see if Pareja sticks to his guns with the team in a rough patch and needing results or opts to allow the previous regime’s players to return to their more natural kick and run tendencies.
    Guest
    One of the hot topics amongst fans at Residency games is always which players do we think can go on and become professional footballers, either with the Whitecaps MLS squad or somewhere else in the world.
    That got me thinking. Who are the top prospects in the Whitecaps Residency program and how would you rank them? So looking at only the current U16s and U18s who have not signed a MLS contract, that's what we've done.
    We've delayed part three to tie in with the USSDA Finals Week, which started yesterday with a fine 4-1 victory for the Caps U18s. So now, we continue our top twenty countdown of Residency talent with a look at numbers 4 to 10.
    We'll conclude the feature with a more in-depth look at the 'top three' at the end of this week, as well as bringing you coverage of how the Caps U18's do in the finals.
    The rankings are a snapshot of where the players are in their development combined with the potential they show to develop into professional footballers.
    You can find Part One of the series HERE and Part Two HERE.
    10 - Marco Bustos
    POS: CM
    HT: 5'6"
    YEAR: 1996
    HOMETOWN: Winnipeg, Manitoba
    2011/12 STATS (REG SEASON): 24GP, 13GS, 4G
    ANALYSIS: One of the most well-known U16 players in the Whitecaps program, as Bustos is famous for his trial with Liverpool in 2010. The attacking midfielder plays a central role on the pitch where he displays excellent vision, distribution and is very dangerous when delivering the ball on set pieces. While the Manitoba native has great potential to excel in the game, like many young players he will need continue to work on his consistency.
    OUTLOOK: The youngest player in our top 10, Bustos is still eligible for the U16 level but might see himself bumped up to play U18.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "An up and coming kid who is very highly skilled. Technically sound at a young age, it will be exciting to see how he develops in the next year or two with the Whitecaps."
    9 - Spencer DeBoice
    POS: MF
    HT: 5'9"
    YEAR: 1994
    HOMETOWN: Surrey, BC
    2011/12 STATS: 24GP, 18GS, 7G
    ANALYSIS: The most improved player on the U18 team since the beginning of the season, DeBoice has become one of the Residency’s most exciting prospects. He shows great pace on the left side of the pitch where he loves to take defenders one on one. DeBoice is developing an ability to control the ball in tight spaces on a consistent basis and has displayed a strong left foot.
    OUTLOOK: DeBoice is eligible to return to the U18 team and if he returns look for the local product to start on the left side of the midfield.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "Spencer is a dynamic attacking player with a solid left foot, which provides fantastic service into the box. He shows his love for the game when he plays but will need to continue to improve his decision making skills."
    8 - Carlos Marquez
    POS: FW
    HT: 5'9"
    YEAR: 1994
    HOMETOWN: Richmond, BC
    2011/12 STATS: 21GP, 15GS, 8G
    ANALYSIS: Marquez is a very instinctive striker who is able to find separation space when attacking in the box. He possesses a high work rate for a forward which enables him to work for the ball and convert his chances. In addition to playing striker, Marquez has the skill set to play as an attacking midfielder, centrally or on the wing.
    OUTLOOK: Eligible to play for another year at the U18 level, Marquez will be looking to be the main goal scoring threat.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "He is a skilled attacking player who has a good sense for the goal. Carlos may need a little work in his link play between himself and the midfielders."
    7 - Ben McKendry
    POS: CM
    HT: 5'11"
    YEAR: 1993
    HOMETOWN: Vancouver, BC
    2011/12 STATS: 25GP, 20GS, 2G
    ANALYSIS: McKendry is a holding midfielder who is good on the ball and has excellent distribution ability. He is also a physical player who uses that ability in establishing his presence on the pitch. While McKendry normally plays a defensive role, he will venture forward where he shows some attacking ability. He has had an outstanding run in the USSDA playoffs, scoring in all three games in Dallas and continuing that in the first Finals Week game in Houston.
    OUTLOOK: Another graduate of the residency program, McKendry will be heading south to New Mexico of the NCAA where the Whitecaps will retain his homegrown rights.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "One of the best passers on the team, Ben is big and very cultured in the way he plays the game. Considering his size his biggest challenge will be to up his physical game and get more stuck in when tackling."
    6 - Sam Adekugbe
    POS: DF
    HT: 5'10"
    YEAR: 1995
    HOMETOWN: Calgary, Alberta
    2011/12 STATS: 20GP, 20GS, 1G
    ANALYSIS: The highest ranked player from outside BC, Adekugbe has played at multiple levels of the club from the U16 level to making an appearance for the Whitecaps Reserve team. He is a very athletic player with good technical skill and is able to get up the field where he delivers a good ball into the box with his left foot. In addition to playing as a full back Adekugbe has also filled in as a central defender when required.
    OUTLOOK: After playing for the U16 team this year Adekugbe will be moving on to the U18 level where he looks to be a starter on the backline.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "The one player, at this point, of the U16 group that you can definitely say has a bright future in the game if he continues to develop at the pace he has so far. Sam shows composure beyond his years as he has a cultured left foot but needs to work on playing with both."
    5 - Yassin Essa
    POS: MF/FW
    HT: 5'7"
    YEAR: 1994
    HOMETOWN: Surrey, BC
    2011/12 STATS: 24GP, 16GS, 18G
    ANALYSIS: Essa is a player who has taken his game to another level, especially his finishing ability, after scoring 18 goals in the regular season. He has excellent pace, is a highly technical player who displays creativity in tight spaces, and delivers a good ball going forward. The only question for the three time starter at the U17 World Cup for Canada is his consistency and his ability to handle physical play of the higher levels.
    OUTLOOK: Essa will most likely return to the U18 team but may also explore professional options in North America or overseas.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "Yassin is a super skilled, energetic player for the residency program who is sometimes on and sometimes off. When he’s on, Essa is a fun player who has great passion for the game but needs to be more consistent to be successful."
    4 - Brody Huitema
    POS: FW
    HT: 6'1"
    YEAR: 1995
    HOMETOWN: Chilliwack, BC
    2011/12 STATS: 22GP, 21GS, 20G
    ANALYSIS: The highest ranked U16 player on the list, Huitema has been a goal scoring machine for the Residency program. Physically mature for his age, he holds up the ball well and shows the ability to be a clinical finisher around the net, including being strong in the air. Huitema can create his own chances as well as having the knack to find his teammates making their runs into the box.
    OUTLOOK: He will be moving on to the U18 program and has already accepted a scholarship offer from Stanford of the NCAA.
    SCOUT'S TAKE: "Brody is just a physical specimen who has a lot of tools but is still young and will need to continue to become sharper around the net. He’s had huge success scoring but if you’re going to move up to higher levels, you will get less opportunities so you have to take advantage of every one you get."
    We will round of our countdown later this week, with a more in-depth look at our top three.
    Guest
    It seemed as though, for the umpteenth time, captain Christine Sinclair would rescue her Canadian side.
    Sincy's 137th international goal was an injury-time equalizer on Tuesday that, had that result stood, would have pushed Big Red to penalty kicks with Brazil to determine the winner of the Matchworld Women's Cup (a four-team pre-Olympic tournament in Switzerland).
    But that warming, familiar feeling lasted only a few moments, as the Brazilians snapped back almost immediately with the winner at the death, leaving Canada with a sour taste -- and some questions to answer -- after their final pre-Olympic tune-up match.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The most troubling question -- as posed by Steven Sandor -- is, if Canada's Olympic opponents can shut down Sinclair, where will the team's goals come from? Sinclair is the club's current and all-time leading goal scorer by such a preposterous margin that it's not even worth quantifying, and you can assume that the #1 priority of any of Canada's opponents is to formulate a plan to shut her down.
    Canada has played four friendlies in the last two and a half weeks, in the final leg of their Olympic preparation. The team has five goals in that time, three of which came from Sinclair. One of the other goal scorers, Melissa Tancredi, is the natural choice to pick up the slack from Sinclair (and scored a cracker against the U.S. last month), but beyond her, the attacking options are thin -- especially considering Chelsea Buckland's injury, and Jonelle Filigno's ongoing recovery from an injury of her own.
    Another question is in goal. While head coach John Herdman clearly favours Karina LeBlanc, the fact that teammates took goal kicks for her against Brazil suggests that perhaps the ankle injury she picked up during pre-Olympic camp might not be fully healed. Thankfully, Erin McLeod is more than capable of stepping in at a moment's notice, but with only two goalkeepers in camp, any hint of an injury to one of them is worrisome.
    But let's not take a complete doom and gloom approach. While last year's Women's World Cup has surely taught Canadian fans a lesson about tempering their expectations, the reality is that for whatever issues the team may have, Herdman's staff has put a tremendous amount of work into preparing the team for London 2012 -- and yes, Sinclair remains one of the greatest women's footballers to ever play the game. And whatever flaws there may be in the FIFA ranking system, Canada remains positioned at #7 in the world.
    So after Tuesday's result, the outlook remains much the same as it's been since Canada's Olympic opponents were named. The group-stage opener, against reigning World Cup champs Japan, will be a very difficult one. A win is the expectation against a largely-unknown South African squad. And the make-or-break showdown will see Canada go up against a team they've matched up well with over the past several years, Sweden. That one, ultimately, could go either way.
    No one should be under any delusions that this team will march unimpeded to an Olympic medal. In fact, making it to the semi-finals would, all things considered, be an unexpected and uplifting accomplishment.
    But given everything that this roster of young women has been through over the past two years, it's safe to say they've got all the motivation they need to perform for each other. Whatever questions may encircle a team, whatever deficiencies a squad may possess, sometimes -- just sometimes -- nebulous concepts like "heart" and "determination" can win the day. We see stories like that all the time at the Olympics.
    And maybe -- just maybe -- we'll be seeing Big Red write a similar one in a few weeks' time.
    .
    Guest
    Another reminder for Montreal that playoffs are not an easy target for a MLS expansion side.
    This week we return to Philly to talk with Jonathan Tannenwald about Montreal's heart-breaking 2-1 loss to the Union.
    Marc Tougas discusses the latest on the Impact's first season. We discuss the week for Canadian players abroad and we go across the Atlantic to talk transfers with our Paris-based correspondent Cedric Ferreira.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    All this and more on our 45 minutes weekly show.
    Click here to listen.
    Guest
    Kenny Miller joins a growing band of current and recent internationalists at Vancouver Whitecaps, and he has no plans on retiring from the national team now that he has moved to pastures new.
    Miller is the current captain of Scotland and is looking to add to his 60 international caps and play an active role in Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers, which get underway in September.
    Historically, when Scottish players make the move overseas, especially outside of Europe, they tend to get a little bit forgotten about by the Scotland manager.
    A ten hour flight every few months could soon to start to take it’s toll on Miller, but for now he has no intention of stopping wearing the navy blue of Scotland, telling AFTN that he <i>"definitely"</i> still wants to be involved with the national team:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <i>"Obviously there will be conversations to be had with the manager with regards to the travel, which will be a lot more from what it would be from just going from down south.
    But I'm hoping to still play a part, a big part, in the World Cup campaign that's upcoming."</i>
    Has he spoken to Scotland boss Craig Levein about the move to Vancouver and how it might affect his future international career?
    <i>"We were wanting to get this all finalised and confirmed before I had that conversation.
    But we have had a conversation with him already and he's quite happy for me to play it however I want to play it."</i>
    As a Scot, this is very pleasing to hear. Miller has been consistently the guy that’s got goals for the national team and we need him firing on all cylinders if we are to make it out of a tough World Cup qualifying group A.
    As a Whitecaps fan, this could be bad news.
    Martin Rennie has added two current internationals in the past week, with Dane Richards still very much in the international plans of Jamaica.
    Looking at the World Cup qualifiers for the remainder of this season, both players have potentially four games each that will take place during the Whitecaps' season.
    Scotland have matches against Serbia and Macedonia at home in September and games away to Wales and Belgium in October, whilst Jamaica face the US home and away in September and then Guatemala away and Antigua and Barbuda at home in October.
    At least none of the dates fall on days that the Whitecaps are scheduled to play, due to MLS finally starting to properly acknowledge the international calendar.
    Scotland also have a home friendly against Australia in August and an away one in Luxemburg in November that I wouldn't expect Miller to fly home for.
    If both Miller and Richards feature for their countries, and possibly even Barry Robson, Jay DeMerit and Darren Mattocks, this could leave the Caps short of manpower depending on travel situations, or at the very least with some tired players, for the important regular season run in and then the playoffs.
    We asked Martin Rennie if this was something that concerned him?
    <i>"No, not too much.
    I think, obviously, all the clubs have got one or two international players and things like that.
    We just have to manage it when that time comes.
    I think having players of that quality you're going to maybe miss them occasionally here and there, but I don't think it's a major problem for us."</i>
    It’s a bit of a double edged sword.
    You want the players to perform to the max and impress. If they do, then they will be away on international duty.
    As Rennie says, we need to cross this bridge when we come to it and hope that if there is time missed through tiredness or travel, the players that do need to come in rise to the occasion.
    That’s why it’s important to see some squad rotation now. You can’t expect these guys to come in, play cold and be at the level we'll be looking for in what could be some crunch games.
    For now, let's just enjoy the wealth of international talent and experience that the Caps currently have and see where they can take us.
    <p>
    Guest

    I'm on a boat

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    I was and am a big supporter of Julian de Guzman during his time in Toronto. He was often under appreciated for his role on the field. The designated player tag comes often at the peril of its recipients and JDG, as the first DP with Toronto, certainly became a victim of that status.
    Even when his critics were at their harshest - calling him uninterested, overpaid and a piece that didn't fit - I tried to point out his benefits. A defensive midfielder often goes unnoticed and if they're doing their job, it's a fair bet that's what they'll be - unnoticed. That's why, in the interest of fairness, as the Julian era begins to be dissected and the history written, that I feel it's neccesary to provide some balance to that context I have carried.
    This kind of reporting does not come easy - too often the press can get carried away in a singular incident, building it beyond its moment into something far worse - but I feel this carries some weight.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    On June 23, Toronto took on New England. It was just the third game since Aron Winter had been fired after a disastrous start to the 2012 season and Paul Mariner was now in charge. The Reds carried the play for much of the match and led 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes. In the 71st minute, some awfully pedestrian defending by DeGuzman directly allowed New England back into the game with their first goal. Most already know the end of this story and the Revolution equalized in the closing moments. For supporters, who had seen much of the same the week before as Houston stormed back from a two goal deficit, it was flooring. You could feel the collective air - bouyed by Armed Forces day - sucked out of the stadium that day.
    As Toronto fans went home dejected by another gut wrenching finish, the Reds first ever designated player went out on the town to party.


    As I said off the hop, the press can have a tendency to blow things beyond proportions. But given that for the second game in a row Toronto had given up a late game two goal lead, in a season where there was very little to cheer for and any result would have been a reason to celebrate, to see their star (and sometimes captain) throwing a blow out cruise party following the disappointment certainly sent the wrong message.
    It will lend fuel to the fire that during his time in Toronto he was less than committed to his craft and more interested in the lifestyle it afforded him. It perhaps even lends context to Paul Mariner's cryptic, somewhat disparaging, comments about the player since his departure.
    It matters little now that he has moved on to another squad. Less than three weeks after the 'De Guzzi Boat Party' he was shipped off to Dallas for a prospect and what largely amounts to salary cap space. Those that saw him for the player he was will continue to follow that line of logic. Those that didn't will just use this as another reason to say good riddance.
    One thing is clear though, Julian's time in Toronto wasn't black and white, despite what the immediate historians would have you believe. He was neither deserving of the local whipping boy tag, just as he was never the under appreciated football saint some wanted him to be. Myself included in the latter.
    Julian was Julian. A talented local player, towards the end of his career, who could never have, and didn't, live up to the hype that comes with that status.
    He wasn't the first to follow that storyline. But, as it did with Dwayne DeRosario, this one too ends on a 'Lonely Island.'
    Guest
    A record-breaking losing streak to begin the season. Another coaching change. Three players arrested for public intoxication. A designated player hitting his stride, then tearing apart his knee and going out for the season.
    It really doesn't seem as though things could possibly get much worse for Toronto FC. But if there's one thing that Toronto sports teams actually are adept at, it's finding new ways to frustrate and befuddle their curiously-loyal fans.
    This ain't rock bottom, TFC faithful. You can always dig deeper. Well, until you hit the planet's molten core and are incinerated -- a fate that hardcore Reds fans have surely contemplated during some of those long afternoons at BMO Field. In any event, here are 10 ways the 2012 season could get even worse for TFC:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Kevin McKenna signs with Toronto. Whoops, sorry, this should actually be under "ways things could get worse for the Canadian men's national team." Or "ways things could get worse for Kevin McKenna".


    Julian de Guzman wins the MLS Golden Boot. After being traded away from his hometown team, the new FC Dallas midfielder goes on a completely unexpected and uncharacteristic scoring tear, just as a thumb in the eye to his former club. It'd take some good fortune, and injuries to 238 other MLS players, but hey, anything's possible.


    New format for 2013 Voyageurs Cup. Toronto FC replaced in competition by Victoria Highlanders FC.


    Milos Kocic finally lets reporters know what he really thinks. About everything. The team's #1 goalkeeper finally steps over the line that he dances along every time he has a microphone near him, delivering a profane, 15-minute tirade about everything he's seen and experienced during his time in Toronto. After his prompt firing, Toronto turns to its new #1 keeper, (insert name here).


    M L $ E COULD CONTINUE OWNING THE TEAM and running it into teh ground b/c they hate soccer and all they care about is money and blah blah blah conspiracy theories blah blah baseless ad hominem attacks against people I've never met blah blah sponsons towrads etc.


    TFC Academy gets accidentally bulldozed. Following constant delays and confusion about the future of transit due to ongoing ideological battles at City Hall, a bored and possibly-drunk worker at the site of the new Downsview Park subway station goes for a late-night bulldozer ride. Hilarity/property destruction ensues.


    The Blue Jays make an honest-to-goodness run at the playoffs. Since pitching is important to a baseball team's success, and pitchers need to have working arms in order to be effective, you probably shouldn't bank on this one happening. But if the city's sports buzz wholeheartedly shifts to the local baseball squadron, TFC will sincerely wish they'd pick up a few bouncy castles from Dallas in that de Guzman deal.


    The franchise further exhausts and dispirits their already depleted roster with a meaningless cash-grab of a mid-season friendly. On turf, against an opponent that will pack the stands with locals who'll gladly go hoarse supporting a team from across an ocean, but won't spare a thought for the club representing the city they live in. Oh, wait a minute.


    Torsten Frings gets hurt against Liverpool. Ha ha, just kidding. No one you've ever heard of will play.


    TFC somehow, against all odds, climbs back into contention. But then gets officially eliminated from playoff contention with a last-minute loss at home. On October 20. Against Montreal. With the goal coming in the 95th minute from the Impact's late-season acquisition, Chad Barrett. On a play that should have been handled by a... wait for it... central defender.

    While "top 10 lists" make for good click candy, surely you folks have some additions of your own. Let's hear 'em.
    .
    Guest
    Kenny Miller has wanted to play in Major League Soccer for a while.
    As Vancouver Whitecaps unveiled Miller as their third Designated Player this morning, the Scottish striker told reporters that playing in MLS was <i>"something I've definitely wanted to do at some point of my career"</i> and that he's talked to his wife and agent about it for a couple of years now.
    Having just moved to Cardiff City last summer, he still had a year to go on his contract there, but Miller revealed that the only move that would have interested him, was one to MLS.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    After speaking to Barry Robson about his move here, he got his dream and the Caps got their man.
    Miller has played in North America before. He was part of Celtic’s tour in 2006, that saw them play in Boston, New York and Washington, and then in 2007 when they took on Chicago Fire and also were the opponents for the MLS All Star Game in Colorado, where Miller featured as a second half sub.
    Most recently he played in Scotland’s 5-1 thrashing by the US in Jacksonville in May, but we don't like to talk about that around these parts.
    He may be a little familiar with the States, but he told us that wasn’t the case with north of the border. What did he know about Vancouver before coming here?
    <i>"I've never been to Canada or Vancouver, but every single person that I spoke to in regards to coming here before I came, the first thing they said was what an amazing place to go and live. You'll enjoy it, you'll love the city.
    Anybody that had any comments to make on the city, it was all positive.
    Also my agent's been here a few times as well and he's filled me in with how good a place it is to live
    My mind was pretty made up, there was no' really any decision to make or any concern about moving here."</i>
    Miller has had a spell overseas before, spending just under six months in Turkey at Bursaspor.
    It’s never easy making the decision to move abroad, especially for the first time, and Kenny found it hard to settle, not helped by the fact that his wife and young daughter could not be over there with him for the whole time.
    Did his experience in Turkey not make him wary of looking at another overseas move and coming here?
    <i>"No, not at all. It's a far different move to Bursaspor from where I was.
    Obviously there's a few friendly faces out here already. I've played with both Carl Robinson and Paul Ritchie at some stage of my career.
    Barry Robson making the step just a few months before me was always going to make the move a lot easier and far more easier to settle into something that both myself and my wife have talked about and we're both thoroughly looking forward to it."</i>
    He won’t have too much trouble settling in.
    Barry Robson has described his initial move here as a bit of a <i>"culture shock"</i>, but there are a lot of similarities between Vancouver/BC and Scotland and I found it very easy to adjust when I made the move over five years ago.
    Having familiar faces and accents around him, with his good friend Robson and the management team of Rennie and Ritchie, will help him settle in here a lot quicker.
    And that can only be good news for the Whitecaps and the fans, who are keen to see the goals tally increase.
    As much as Kenny Miller <i>"would love to get in"</i> to the game on Wednesday, he won’t feature in the gameday eighteen for the match against LA, but may feature at some point on Sunday against San Jose.
    Miller knows he still has to work on his fitness to be up to what is going to be immediately expected of him.
    He is coming to the Caps following the longest close season of his career, so fans cannot expect him to be at the top of his game right away. That won’t stop some judging him immediately none the less.
    Time and patience is the key here to getting the best Kenny Miller on the park that we can:
    <i>"It's going to take just a little bit of time and maybe just a little bit of careful thought rather than just rush in and get in as soon as I can, which I would love to do, but I've got to try and play it clever and play when I'm ready to play."</i>
    When he does hit his stride, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in MLS, and since that is likely to come in time for the playoffs, this could be a very good bit of business indeed for the Caps.
    <p>
    Guest
    Danny Koevermans is out for the rest of the year. Over the next few days Toronto fans will speculate on what that means from a tactical perspective (early interpretations are PANIC and WE'RE DOOMED, D O O M E D!!1!), but for now a quick look at what Toronto might do from a pragmatic perspective.
    Initially, nothing. However, as the injury is a long-term one Koevermans can be placed on the long-term injury list. They do that if and when they have a player to replace him on the roster. That will give Toronto some flexibility in how they can address his loss.
    The long-term injury rule:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Thee is no specific reference to the designated player rule in the rule, which forces us to speculate (CSN does have a request for clarification into the league). However, if DPs are treated in the same way that international slots are it would mean that Toronto could add a mid-season DP to replace Koevermans, in addition to a DP to replace Julian de Guzman (i.e. find a striker AND a defender).
    However, Koevermans salary will remain on Toronto's cap. So, it seems like a stretch to think that they would have the room. And, they would still need to get back to three DPs when Koevermans returns.
    It is worth noting that a half season DP cap hit is just $175,000. It might be workable, especially if it was a player that they knew was moving on at the end of the year.
    Eric Hassli, anyone?
    Guest
    In the 24th Minute’s original form it had a larger mandate. Rather than just writing on Canadian national team and TFC issues I also covered MLS as a whole and occasionally touched on supporter’s issues. This post is in that tradition.
    There is a bond that connects MLS fans that is not really found in other leagues. Facing a hostile and ignorant general sports culture towards the sport we love, we all have similar experiences and have shared the same frustrations.
    That’s why, when the mask of rivalry is stripped away, most MLS fans would share a drink (or 10, we are football fans after all) with one another and get along like long-lost brothers and sisters while doing so.
    I once arranged ticket and watched game in the U-Sector section of BMO Field with a member of the Hudson Street Hooligans. Last Wednesday drinks and war stories were shared at Toronto’s Dunn Right Inn between TFC fans and a group of guys who were on a MLS Road Trip, and one of my favourite MLS memories of all-time was sharing several post-game beers with two Fire supporters in the parking lot of Toyota Park following a 2010 game.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]For 90 minutes once a week we are rivals. The rest of the time we’re the same, despite the massive geography of this league. We share a language (DPs, allocation money, SuperDraft, etc) and a passion for our beautifully flawed sawker league.
    That’s especially the case for those that choose to stand on the front lines of the league’s supporter’s sections (this is not a knock on those that don’t, but rather an effort to point out that the experience is different). We’re marketed by the clubs, used as a selling point to prove that North America gets it, and we are often taken for granted because we’re loyal to a fault and the club’s can safely assume that we will put up with a lot.
    Most of us that have spent some time in the trenches can also share war stories about clueless front offices and overzealous security. I’m not talking about legitimate security issues (fighting, lighting of flares, etc), but rather pedantic and inconsistent enforcement of rules that aren’t even always rules in the first place.
    It’s because of this that many MLS fans feel compelled to support fans of other teams when they are involved in an incident that appears to have been dealt with in a heavy-handed or unfair way.
    Take the current battle Colorado Rapids fan Teddy Montoya is having with the Rapids front office.
    Following a penalty call against the Rapids, Montoya was said to have yelled that the call was “fucking bullshit.” Allegedly a security guard deemed that to be worthy of ejection and, later, of a lifetime ban from the stadium. The lifetime ban was because of information that was in a file that the Rapids security kept on members of the Rapids supporters.
    It’s said that Montoya was never informed that he had security incidents logged against him. So, he had no way to adjust his behavior in regards to swearing (and, honestly, there but for the grace of God goes each and every person who has ever been in a supporter’s section).
    To be clear, no one is claiming that the Rapids do not have the right to enforce anti-swearing rules in their stadium. This particular incident seems exceptionally mild for a stadium ban and a strong argument can be made that the Rapids are clueless when it comes to fan relations (an argument that could have been made pretty consistently since 1996), but it’s their stadium and they can do with it what they please, however shortsighted their actions may be.
    What people are reacting to is the arbitrary nature of this ban. Regardless of legal ability, do the Rapids not have a social contract with their fans that they should be held accountable for – especially when they permit a special section in their stadium for supporters that has loosened behavior rules.
    In Portland last week, Timbers fans displayed a sign that simply said “free Teddy” in solidarity with supporters in Colorado and Montoya. RSL fans did a similar thing at a game there.
    Perhaps Toronto supporter’s group leaders may wish to follow their lead on Wednesday when the Rapids visit Toronto.
    UPDATE
    Toronto fans added their voice to the growing choir Wednesday night.

    *Credit for the screen captures here and here
    Guest

    The anatomy of a turnaround

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The San Jose Earthquakes are on pace to tie the all-time single season points mark. If they keep up their two points per game pace the rest of the way, they will finish with 68 points, which would tie them with the 1998 LA Galaxy.
    It’s a remarkable turnaround. The Quakes finished 2011 with 38 points. Yesterday they captured their 40th point of the season.
    Let’s look at how Frank Yallop put together the roster that has become the most surprising of 2012.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Listed in order of most minutes played to fewest (International and Generation Adidas slots indicated):
    Defender Justin Morrow -- 2nd Round draft pick 2010– loaned to D2 while developed)
    Defender Steven Beitashour -- 2nd Round draft pick in 2010
    Forward Chris Wondolowski -- Trade with Houston for Cam Weaver in 2009
    Goalkeeper Jon Busch -- Signed as a free after being released by Chicago in 2010
    Midfielder Rafael Baca (Mexico) – discovery signing, mid-season 2011
    Midfielder Sam Cronin - Trade with Toronto for allocation money in 2010
    Defender Jason Hernandez -- original expansion draft pick in 2008
    Midfielder Ramiro Corrales – discovery signing in 2008
    Midfielder Marvin Chávez (Honduras) – Trade with Dallas for allocation money in 2011
    Defender Víctor Bernárdez (Honduras) – Discovery singing in 2012
    Forward Steven Lenhart -- Trade with Columbus for the 2011 15th draft pick (Justin Meram) and allocation
    Forward Simon Dawkins (England) – Loaned from Spurs in 2011, extended in 2012
    Midfielder Khari Stephenson (Jamaica) – discovery signing in 2010
    Midfielder Shea Salinas -- Trade with Vancouver for allocation money
    Forward Alan Gordon -- Trade with Toronto (along with Nana Attakora and Jacob Peterson) for Ryan Johnson in 2011
    Midfielder Tressor Moreno – loaned from Santiago Wanderers in 2012
    Defender Ike Opara (GA) -- 3rd overall pick in the 2010 Draft
    Goalkeeper David Bingham (GA) -- Acquired via weighted lottery in 2011
    Forward Sercan Güvenışık (Turkey) – Discovery signing in 2012
    Forward Sam Garza (GA) -- 6th overall pick in the 2012 Draft
    Midfielder Brad Ring -- 2nd round draft pick in the 2009 Draft
    Forward Cesar Diaz Pizarro (Peru) – Discovery signing in 2012
    Midfielder Jean Alexandre (Haiti) – Trade with Salt Lake for a 2012 Supplementary Draft pick, loaned to D2 currently.
    The first thing that jumps out is the lack of big names. The Quakes have been helped in that regard by Wondolowski. No one could have predicted his form when the trade was made with Houston, so the Dynamo can’t feel too bad by the fact Weaver only has 10 goals for them since the move (Wondo has 18 this year).
    Another fact that’s reinforced is how important it is to keep a core together for a while. The roster by year acquired:
    2008 -- 2
    2009 -- 2
    2010 -- 6
    2011 -- 6
    2012 – 6
    With 10 players having played at least three years with the Quakes familiarity has been allowed to develop. The numbers are even more impressive when you only look at the top 11 minutes earners:
    2008 – 2
    2009 – 1
    2010 – 4
    2011 – 3
    2012 – 1
    Seven out of 11 with three years or more in San Jose.
    Another thing that jumps out is that the Earthquakes have not used any single type of method to find players. The roster by way acquired:
    Draft -- 5
    Trade -- 7
    Discovery -- 6
    Loan -- 2
    Other – 2
    That’s a pretty even distribution (although a special hat tip for still having an original Expansion Draft pick hanging around – he should be the one to accept the MLS Cup…).
    The one really exceptional thing to jump out is how successful they have been in trades. With the exception of the Gordon, Peterson and Attakora for Jonhson swap the Quakes have been far and away winners on every trade they’ve made
    They’ve acquired a couple key pieces for allocation money (including, TFC fans well know, Sam Cronin), which speaks to another factor.
    The Earthquakes have opted to go after established MLS players, or young domestic players with a good college pedigree, rather than the big name splash. As a result that’s allowed the Quakes to use allocation money as trade bait.
    That’s the third, less sexy, use allocation can have. In addition to paying down cap hits and transfer fees, allocation can be a good way to pry solid MLS players away from teams that are fishing for stars.
    That’s a lesson many in not just Toronto, but also Montreal and Vancouver might want to learn.
    The final point we can draw is to look at the lack of reliance on international players. To borrow an old Canadian Football League adage, the team with the best (domestics) wins. Domestic players are more stable and generally stick around longer. That, in turn, allows clubs to keep a core together long enough to grow and succeed.
    There is, of course, more than one way to skin the cat. But, history tells us the most likely way to succeed is to follow the model used by San Jose.
    The “Canada factor” (smaller domestic pool, reluctance of some Americans to play in Canada) might prevent Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver from following that model. However, we won’t know until one of the three teams tries to build things that way.
    Current evidence – with seemingly a DP signing a day in the Great White North – suggests we’ll be waiting a while.
    Guest
    Reports are beginning to trickle out on the severity of Danny Koevermans' knee injury, which he suffered in weekend game against New England.
    Koevermans' told De Telegraaf in Holland today that it he was fearing the worst.
    "I felt immediately that it was not right," Koevermans said. "The pain was enormous. I did not even need an MRI to know that my ACL was torn."
    TFC has yet to confirm the severity of the injury but an official announcement is expected in the next day or so. Depending on how bad the tear, an ACL injury can typically mean the end of a season for the player. When Adrian Cann tore his ACL, it took over a year for him to return to playing action. At 33-years-old, Toronto's designated player would be looking at a similar recovery time if it is revealed to indeed be a tear.
    CSN will have more on this story as it develops.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    As we reported and analysed <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3482-Scottish-international-Kenny-Miller-set-to-join-Whitecaps" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, Kenny Miller has joined Vancouver Whitecaps.
    Scotland’s national team captain has joined the Caps from Championship side Cardiff City. As always with the Whitecaps, terms of his contract were not disclosed but it is thought that Cardiff waived any transfer fee for the player in order to get his salary off their books to allow for new signings.
    Miller joined Cardiff last summer for a fee of £900,000 and has been reported to have been on a salary of over $2 million with the Bluebirds and will become the Caps third Designated Player.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The striker comes to Vancouver with an impressive record of 187 goals in 547 Club appearances for Hibernian, Stenhousemuir, Rangers (twice), Wolves, Celtic, Derby County, Bursaspor in Turkey and Cardiff City. That works out at a goal every three games.
    In addition he has found the net 16 times in 60 appearances for his country.
    Head coach Martin Rennie is delighted at adding another experienced head to the Caps squad.
    Miller joins his Scottish international team-mate Barry Robson in Vancouver.
    Robson <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3410-Barry-Robson-chats-with-AFTN" target="_blank">told us last month</a> that "a lot" of Scottish players had been on the phone to him to discuss making the move to MLS, and Miller spoke to Robson before deciding to come to Vancouver.
    The new signing is delighted to be in pastures new:
    Miller flew into Vancouver yesterday to finalize personal terms and will join his new teammates at training this morning. He is not eligible to play for the Caps until his International Transfer Certificate is received, but these things usually don’t take long.
    Welcome to Vancouver Kenny. Looking forward to having a double Scotch for the remainder of the season.
    <p>
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