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    Guest

    Weekly Analysis and Commentary Show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    A huge win for Les Bleus keeps their skinny playoffs hopes alive.
    We discuss the Impact's victory pver Columbus on Sunday with comments from Patrice Bernier and Jesse Marsch.
    Marc Tougas compares the recruits brought in by Jesse Marsch and those who came through the Impact's higher management's network of contacts.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Jonathan Tannenwald visits the Zakuani-Mullen accolade, the refereeing irregularities in MLS, John Spencer's sacking and who could be next at the unemployment office and goes over an explanation on why the First XI might not be the MLS Starting XI at the All-Star Game (sorry Duane Rollins... we had to!!!) on July 25 in Philadelphia.
    We go over what the Canucks did abroad last week with Ludovick Martin and we stay abroad to go over the nomination of Louis Van Gaal in the Netherlands and Didier Deschamps in France with our Paris correspondent Cedric Ferreira and chat Hawkeye technology and the transfer market's most recent gems.
    All this and more on this week's 45-minute show!
    Click here to listen!
    You can also catch the SoccerPlus Podcasts by subscribing to Stitcher Radio or on the Canadian iTunes Store.
    Guest
    Complaining about something the CSA did or didn't do is a favourite pastime for Canadian supporters. The latest bugaboo was the fear that the men's national team wouldn't be utilizing the Aug. 15 international date to play a friendly, in preparation for the indescribably crucial pair of World Cup qualifiers against Panama on Sept. 7 and 11.
    So it must have come as a shock to the system when it was confirmed on this site last week that the men's national team would, in fact, be playing a friendly on Aug. 15 against an as-yet-unknown opponent.
    Despite head coach Stephen Hart's concerns that assembling a roster during the 48-hour window would be difficult, CSA president Victor Montagliani told Ben Rycroft that the friendly would be taking place in "this hemisphere" (presumably the western hemisphere), and that four potential opponents were being looked at.
    So while we may have lost the ability to complain about the lack of an Aug. 15 friendly, we've still got plenty of opportunity to complain about the (potential) opponent! Allons-y!
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    First off, let's indeed presume that the hemisphere in question is the western hemisphere, which gives Canada a list of 49 potential opponents (CONCACAF and CONMEBOL).
    Now let's eliminate all of the nations who are already scheduled to play on that date:
    USA v. Mexico
    El Salvador v. Jamaica
    Guatemala v. Panama
    Argentina v. Germany
    Brazil v. Sweden
    Ecuador v. Chile
    Costa Rica v. Peru
    Uruguay v. France
    Paraguay v. China
    Venezuela v. Japan
    Puerto Rico v. Spain (!!!)
    That brings us down to 33 potential opponents. We'll also eliminate Honduras and Cuba from the mix, since they're in our World Cup qualifying group and there's no chance any of the teams involved want to give their opponents an extra scouting opportunity ahead of time. Now we've got 31.
    Of those 31, there are a whole bunch that, let's be honest, wouldn't be worth the time, effort and expense to play a friendly against in this context -- though I'm sure they're wonderful places otherwise.
    In the interest of full disclosure, the teams I'm including on that list are Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    That leaves us with eight: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua and Trinidad & Tobago. So, what could Canada (#68 in the FIFA rankings) gain from facing any one of these opponents?
    Antigua and Barbuda is (are?) ranked #106 in the world but still going in World Cup qualifying, having pulled off a surprising 0-0 result against Jamaica on June 12. Not exactly rife with star power, but will surely have plenty of motivation to get themselves ready for their all-important qualifier against Guatemala on Sept. 7.
    Bolivia comes in at #83 and, as anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of world geography could tell you, is located in South America. Ergo, they'd make a good opponent.
    Colombia currently finds itself at #22 in the world and would give the Canadians a hell of a stern test. Which is the diplomatic way of saying they'd probably win. But Canada would get some experience in dealing with South American heat, crowds, etc. along the way.
    Guyana sits at #109 in the world but is also still chugging along in World Cup qualifying, though they've got a hell of a lot of work to do in a group with Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador. Still, one would imagine that if they exist, Some Guyanese Guys Writing About Football are also calling for the squad to play an Aug. 15 friendly.
    Guadeloupe doesn't have a FIFA ranking, because they aren't part of FIFA, but still magically show up at the Gold Cup every two years and still, somehow, hold their own. Sometimes they do pretty damn well. Those with a rudimentary knowledge of world geography may not be able to find Guadeloupe on a map, but what the hell, they'd probably be game for the friendly.
    Haiti remarkably sits at #62 in the world, despite not having played since last November, when they were knocked out of World Cup qualifying. Don't know how jazzed the Canadian players making the journey from Europe or elsewhere would be about a mid-August trip to Port-au-Prince, though.
    Nicaragua sits at a lowly #142 on the FIFA rankings and is out of World Cup qualifying. Included on this list mostly because playing there could provide some more of that much-valued "Central American experience", and because Grant got really, really drunk there one time.
    Trinidad and Tobago have a whole lot of time on their hands after being shockingly dismissed from World Cup qualifying last year. Playing against the #80-ranked team would give Canada a reasonably-matched opponent, and might give Stephen Hart a chance to visit some of his favourite childhood haunts.
    So, who's it going to be? Who's your favourite from that list? And who's your not-my-favourite-but-the-one-that-I-think-they'll-end-up-playing anyway?
    (Oh, and for the sake of convenience -- and to give us something else to complain about! -- let's just assume that whoever the opponent ends up being, Canada will be playing on the road.)
    .
    Guest
    The Royal Gazette in Bermuda is reporting this morning that Jamaican keeper Freddy Hall will join Toronto FC this week on a trial as he hopes to be re-united with former teammate Reggie Lambe and former coach (albeit for a short time) Paul Mariner.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Hall played under Mariner at Plymouth Argyle two seasons ago. It wasn't for very long, Hall only played with the side during the pre-season, but now out of contract with Northampton Town, the keeper will be among familiar faces once again.
    The reason this may not be just another trialist on the in and out as it has become widely known since Stefan Frei hit the shelf that Toronto FC was actively shopping him around MLS prior to his injury. There were wide ranging discussions with San Jose and New England.
    And while he's still a ways off from returning it's clear given Toronto's salary restrictions and desperate need for defensive re-inforcements that, when he is fit again, his salary (as a likely backup) will become a target. Signing Hall now wouldn't neccesarily seal Frei's departing fate but it would be a clear sign of what Toronto inteneds to do when he returns to health.
    As for last week's speculation, on defender Davide Zoboli, there have been no movements either way. To some, or most, relief.
    Guest
    The Canadian women got the job done in a pre-Olympic tune up against Colombia – barely.
    Big Red only managed a 1-0 win over the 28th ranked Colombians. The South Americans are the third lowest ranked team at the Olympic tournament.
    Christine Sinclair scored Canada’s only goal, her 135th all-time.
    The Canucks next play Saturday against head coach John Herdman’s former side, New Zealand.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: HELP!

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    One win in seven.
    That’s your half-empty look at Paul Mariner’s TFC. Although grinding out four draws (actually two draws, they blew two wins for the other two draws) is better than what we saw under Aron Winter, it’s still hardly reason for much hope.
    Toronto FC is a bad football team, much worse than most people thought they would be based on how they finished 2011 and very much in need of help if it’s to be much better in 2013.
    Having written this column sine 2008 it’s soul sucking to articulate where that help is needed. See, it’s been the same for four seasons. But, to be clear, here it is:
    THEY NEED A DAMN CENTREBACK.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Richard Eckersley is a poor defender as a fullback. Put him in the middle and your average TFC fan is apt to walk away from games with PTSD. And that’s before the dominos that to fall into place and Jeremy Hall ends up at fullback.
    Yesterday afternoon was a nightmare at the back and one that will not end soon without serious help.
    Where is that help going to come from? Not Milan, apparently. Whether it was TFC dragging its feet, or Nesta’s desire to play with his friend, makes little difference. The Impact swept in and offered him something TFC could not. That dream is done and the club’s CB curse continues.
    That leads us to the world of pure speculation – always dangerous. Many are clamoring for Canadian captain Kevin McKenna to come in to save the day. He’d be good. There is literally no evidence he’s interested, going to be sold, or that Toronto would be the MLS destination he’d end up in.
    The other name – and the name that has some merit – is US international Carlos Bocanegra.
    Connections to TFC at this point fall under the informed speculation category. He’s at/was at Rangers and has indicated that he will not take a pay cut to stay with the newco Rangers (brief aside: Division 3. Do the right thing SFA and put them in division 3 where EVERYONE, including the club’s fans, wants them start) and, just recently, he has indicated that MLS interests him.
    As a US international Bocanegra would be subject to an allocation claim. And, this is where it becomes complicated for Toronto. The Reds sit No 2 on the allocation order behind New England.
    That mans Bocanegra is a Revolution if New England wants him. They said today that they do. Toronto’s only hope then is that the Revs are saying such things to drive up the price for a trade.
    If they are, Toronto needs to package up every last resource it has to land him. If Bocanegra decides to come to MLS he will be the biggest fish to land in the league this transfer window. He’s a once in an every three or four season type of allocation.
    He’ll likely make New England dangerous down the stretch.
    On the up note if the Revs do claim him Toronto will move to the top of the allocation pile.
    The last time they were there they ended up with Chad Barrett.
    Guest
    By: Michael Crampton
    Paul Mariner’s travelling Toronto FC road show are set to roll into greater Philadelphia this Sunday for a late afternoon kickoff and, in most un-TFC-like fashion, are actually carrying a bit of momentum away from home. One win and two draws in their last three road games might not sound like much but when you stop to remember the graveyard of expectation that Toronto’s away form has been over their five and nearly a half seasons of existence it’s actually quite remarkable. In a mere six games in charge Mariner has not only lead Toronto to their largest ever margin of victory in a league game away from BMO Field but has managed to make the Reds’ look competitive in every match but one. Whether that improvement continues or the wheels come off the bus against the Union will be the primary point of interest come Sunday evening.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    In terms of opponent, there are two ways you can look at a match between Toronto and Philly right now. The simple and obvious approach is to acknowledge that this is still a contest between the two worst teams in MLS. When the sides met at the end of May in each team’s final game before the international break this was clearly the truth. Both were in terrible form and the Union somehow managed to look worse and lose to “the worst team in the world”. Since then, both clubs opted to use the break to make a change in leadership – it would be interesting to find examples of games around the world where both managers were removed afterwards - and that has resulted in a period of renewal and positive trajectory for Philadelphia as well as Toronto.
    Interestingly, even with the luxury of a gap in the schedule, Philly decided, like Toronto, at least temporarily, to promote from within when looking for their new coach. Many would suggest that it’s simply an easy option devoid of imagination but it’s been a popular response to in-season coaching changes at MLS clubs before and has enjoyed a fair amount of success even in the short term. Frank Klopas in Chicago and Richie Williams in New York both took over historically terrible iterations of those MLS clubs and got them headed in the right direction before the season was over. It took a while longer but Peter Vermes in Kansas City, Ben Olson in DC, and, famously, Jason Kreis in Salt Lake all came from inside those organizations and successfully transformed their teams. So far, and it’s early days yet, both Mariner and new Union head coach John Hackworth seem to be continuing the trend.
    Only an interim head coach officially the move from the departed Peter Nowak to Hackworth has resulted in a more subtle tactical adjustments than the pronounced change from Aron Winter to Paul Mariner in Toronto. The biggest difference seems to have been in the response of the Union’s players. Nowak was a respected coach who brought playoff soccer to Philadelphia in only their second year as an expansion team but his somewhat prickly demeanor and willingness to jettison fan favourite players alienated parts of the support and possibly the team. Competitive in every match since the break the Union have lost narrowly to New York and Houston under Hackworth but soundly beat Sporting Kansas City and recorded an away victory in Los Angeles over a re-emerging Galaxy side in midweek.
    Hence, the other way to look at this match is as, based on form, a battle between two lower mid-table clubs looking to continue their improvement and solidify new regimes. Toronto and Philadelphia may not be elite MLS sides locked in an all or nothing struggle for the playoffs but that doesn’t make the game meaningless. A win for either would be an important step towards moving off the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and convincing skeptical fan bases that a corner has been turned. Players, managers, and both organizations all have something to prove and, sultry conditions notwithstanding, that should make for an entertain contest.
    Guest
    Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and he was down in Carson on Saturday night for the Whitecaps draw with Chivas USA.
    Here is a gallery of some of his photos from the Whitecaps' game against Chivas on Saturday July 7th.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>

    (The first casualty of war is innocence)

    (The wings of an Angel)

    (MLS is so easy, Barry Robson can play with one hand tied behind his back)

    (Good game. Good game)

    (Even his boots attract yellows)

    (Everybody was kung fu fighting)
    </center>
    You can view a high resolution slideshow of some of the rest of Christopher's photos from the Chivas match <a href="
    " target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.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
    If you're a neutral wanting to watch an exciting MLS game, it's probably best to avoid a Vancouver Whitecaps away match.
    The Caps headed back into the Home Depot Center this evening to take on Chivas USA, and it was another defensive display to the fore in a scoreless draw that offered little in the way of excitement.
    As we keep saying, it's not pretty, but it gets the job done.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Vancouver went into the game on a high but tired, after grinding out a huge win in tough conditions in Colorado on Wednesday.
    The performance impressed Martin Rennie enough to name basically an unchanged side, with only Sebastien Le Toux coming in for the suspended Darren Mattocks.
    It was a slow start to the game from both sides, with the Caps setting their stall out early as looking to be organised and hard to break down at the back, but at the same time also looking the far more dangerous team going forward.
    There was little to show for it apart from a half chance for Le Toux in the 13th minute, following good work by Eric Hassli.
    Le Toux had an even better chance in the 35th minute.
    It was route one all the way as a long kick from Joe Cannon was nicely flicked on by Hassli. Rauwshan McKenzie struggled to control it and the ball hit off his head into the path of Le Toux, who hit his first time effort well wide.
    And that was it in a first half low on excitement, with the home side barely in the game as an attacking force.
    The second half started in much the same pace, but Chivas at least gave some early indication of moving out of first gear when Jay DeMerit first had to block a Juan Pablo Angel shot, and then Jose Erick Correa hit a shot over from a corner.
    The Whitecaps had the best chance of the game so far ten minutes into the half.
    A nice fourteen pass move, ended with Davide Chiumiento being put through by a lovely ball from Alain Rochat, and with Kennedy rushing out to close down the angle, Chiumiento ballooned it over.
    Hassli picked up a booking (and another suspension) for what seemed an innocuous challenge on Danny Califf, and with his anger brewing, the Caps made the decision to take him off for Camilo, but not before the Frenchman curled an effort over in the 68th minute.
    Cannon had been a spectator for most of the night, and in an uncharacteristic slip in the 72nd minute, he spilled a low Angel free kick, but Martin Bonjour was quick to pounce on the loose ball and turn the ball behind for corner.
    He made up for the mistake a minute later when he brilliantly tipped a curling Paolo Cardozo free kick over for a corner.
    With Chivas right back in the game, the Caps tried to kick start their own attack and Le Toux flashed a header wide left from a Y-P Lee cross.
    Chivas nearly nicked a late winner with less than two minutes remaining.
    Ben Zemanski found himself free in the six yard box and on the end of a perfect James Riley cross, but somehow managed to sky the ball high and over.
    As the game entered stoppage time, Cannon came up huge once again to keep out Chivas twice in a late goalmouth scramble.
    Neither team were able to carve out anything in the last few moments and although it wasn't one of their best performances of the season, the Caps will go home happy with another away point and their ninth clean sheet of the season.
    The game was there for the taking, but in the end, their exertions from earlier in the week took their toll.
    There is little rest for Vancouver as another match beckons on Wednesday. At least time it is on Canadian soil, albeit in Toronto.
    FINAL SCORE: Chivas USA 0 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 11, 659
    CHIVAS USA: Dan Kennedy; Jorge Villafana; Rauwshan McKenzie, Danny Califf, James Riley; Ben Zemanski, Laurent Courtois (Ryan Smith 46), Nick LaBrocca, Paolo Cardozo; Juan-Pablo Angel, Jose Erick Correa [subs Not Used: Tim Melia, John Alexander Valencia, Blair Gavin, Cesar Romero, Casey Townsend, Alejandro Moreno]
    VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Jordan Harvey; Alain Rochat, Gershon Koffie; Barry Robson, Sebastien Le Toux, Davide Chiumiento; Eric Hassli (Camilo Sanvezzo 69) [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Greg Klazura, Carlyle Mitchell, Jun Marques Davidson, Michael Nanchoff, Russell Teibert]
    <p>
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    While he did not score against Colorado, <b>Eric Hassli</b> played a solid game as the Whitecaps target striker and held up the ball well. He showed effort to win some balls and played the role of playmaker as he tried to find his others on runs into the box. While it seems unlikely that Hassli sees another start in the same week, Rennie likes to have a bigger striker up top, and if he goes with Hassli again, he will be key.
    If he doesn't then <b>Camilo Sanvezzo</b> will get his chance against Chivas USA and will be key. The big question would then be whether Rennie will have the Brazilian start centrally or cutting in on defenders from the left side.
    With Robin Fraser coming over from RSL, Chivas normally plays a diamond midfield where the tip has been occupied lately by <b>Alejandro Moreno</b>. The Venezuelan international is being asked to play the Javier Morales role but has struggled with his playmaking ability which in past seasons has been his strength as an attacking player.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    In the match against the Rapids <b>Alain Rochat</b> was asked to play as a holding midfielder and played impressively, keeping Martin Rivero relatively quiet. He may not return to his left back spot, even with Davidson available after suspension, and may continue in that DM role. If he does return to the left side expect Rochat to play his strong two way style down the left side of the pitch.
    After arriving from Philadelphia <b>Danny Califf</b> has started every game for Chivas USA and has made a difference in the overall defense. If you take out the 3-0 meltdown loss to RSL, the Goats have only given up three goals in five games since Califf was acquired. A physical central defender, he is great in the air in either box and is not afraid to get a little dirty against opposing strikers. Just ask Hassli.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    At the midpoint of the season <b>Joe Cannon</b> is arguably the team’s MVP and top goalkeeper in MLS, as he leads the League with seven cleansheets. The veteran keeper is great at being in the right place at the right time but is also capable of making the spectacular save. More importantly, Cannon always makes the saves at key points of the game, which allows the Whitecaps to keep their momentum going.
    Since arriving from New York <b>Juan Agudelo</b> has two goals and three assists in eight matches across all competitions, but the work may have done damage to his knee as he has experienced swelling this week. With a match coming up midweek for Chivas, the coaches may be cautious and decide to rest the young U.S. international striker.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    8W-5D-4L
    3rd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Win at Colorado Rapids
    Chivas:
    5W-4D-7L
    7th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 0-0 Draw at FC Dallas
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee), FW Atiba Harris (knee), FW Omar Salgado (foot), John Thorrington (quad), Matt Watson (ankle)
    Suspended: FW Darren Mattocks
    On Trial: FW Caleb Clarke
    International Duty: MF Bryce Alderson
    Chivas:
    Out: MF Marvin Iraheta (knee)
    Doubtful: FW Tristen Bowen (ankle), MF Miller Bolaños (hamstring), MF Oswaldo Minda (suspension)
    Questionable: FW Juan Agudelo (knee)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    The Whitecaps return to the Home Depot Center for the second time in three games and hope that this visit will be different than the last one, when they lost to the Galaxy 3-0. Overall this year it will be Vancouver’s third trip to Southern California, as they played and beat Chivas 1-0 in the second week of the season. That game marked the first road win for the organization in their MLS history and got one of the biggest monkeys off their backs early in the season.
    With the second game in the week, there might be some shuffling of the lineup but Joe Cannon will remain in the net for the Caps. The backline will have DeMerit and Bonjour as the starting pair in front of goal while Lee will be on the right side. If Rennie likes what he saw in Colorado, then I could see Rochat staying in the midfield with Harvey on the left side.
    If that were the case, then playing next to Rochat will be Koffie, but if Rochat goes back to left back then Davidson will return from suspension as the holding midfielder and Koffie will move into an attacking role.
    On the left side will be Chiumiento with Sebastien Le Toux returning to the starting eleven for Darren Mattocks.
    One question is will Barry Robson be likely to start twice in a week? Also, while it would seem Eric Hassli is unlikely to start twice in a week in hot conditions, Camilo may not be ready to start due to the knock he suffered early in training.
    With it being the second match in four to be played over two weeks the Whitecaps will continue with their road tactics of playing behind the ball and look for a counter attack goal. With Chivas playing a possession type game, the Whitecaps will have to be patient and not try to chase after the ball. If the Caps can eliminate the top and bottom of the diamond formation it will help in eliminating the chances for Chivas, who are second from the bottom in shots on goal in MLS and last in goals.
    With it being so hot, expect the Caps to try to steal a goal on counter attacks and on set pieces. Whether he starts or comes on as a sub, expect Camilo to make runs across the backline and try to find a soft spot to exploit.
    This will be the official start to the second half of the season for the Whitecaps and a result would be a solid start for Rennie. A win or draw against Chivas and the Caps will hit the thirty point mark this season, which will be another landmark in their push for the playoffs.
    <b>AFTN Editor's Prediction: Chivas USA 0 Vancouver Whitecaps 1</b>
    <p>
    Guest
    TFC's original keeper is hanging his cleats. The news is not surprising, but after 13 pro seasons and a half, Canadian goalkeeper Greg Sutton is about to make public he’s calling it quit at age 35.
    SoccerPlus was told the veteran has already notified Impact head coach Jesse Marsch and the club’s management of his decision, saying he no longer has the motivation to pursue his playing career.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The first keeper in Toronto FC’s history returned to Montreal with his Quebecois wife in 2011 after five seasons in MLS with the Reds and New York Red Bulls. Sutton only played two tough games since returning to the side he led to second division glory in 2004, including his counter-performance on May 26 in Colorado.
    Replacing an injured Donovan Ricketts halfway in the second period, Sutton did not look good on the Rapids’ game winning effort in the dying minutes of the game.
    The three-time All-American from St. Lawrence U. was the only keeper claimed in the 1999 MLS College Draft, a second round pick by the Chicago Fire.
    In 50 MLS starts, Sutton showed a 14-24-15 record with a 1.57 GAA and 11 clean sheets. There’s no way of calculating it, but there’s a strong possibility the head concussion during a Canadian National Team training camp in Florida in June 2007 did reduce his career span.
    Sutton did rebound in 2008 starting 24 of TFC’s 30 games with a 7-10-7 record, 1.46 GAA and six shutouts. Victim of the revolving door policy at BMO Field, he was let go in June 2009.
    The Canadian reappeared in MLS in 2010 with New York, but he played only 13 matches in the Red Bulls’ uniform, sliding behind Bouna Coundoul and Frank Rost on Hans Backe’s depth chart. He was loaned to Montreal’s NASL side in the summer of 2011.
    His only game in 2011 for the Impact was on August 10 at Saputo Stadium where he and his team mates lost a two-goal lead to Tampa Bay in the final five minutes for a disappointing 3-3 tie. Need we remind our readers that Montreal missed the NASL playoffs by one point last season.
    The highlight of his career was during his first stay in Montreal’s D2 side between 2001 and 2006 when he was Most Valuable Goalkeeper four seasons in a row, including in 2004 when he led the team to the D2 title and was picked the league’s MVP.
    On the world scene, Sutton played 16 games for Canada, including seven shutouts between 2004 and 2009.
    WHAT’S NEXT IN MONTREAL
    In this context and facing the under par performance from Donovan Ricketts, it would not be surprising to see the Impact be active on the market to acquire a new keeper.
    One option would be to trade within MLS, for instance to pick up former Impact Andrew Weber, who was recently pushed back to the No. 3 spot on Seattle’s roster. Otherwise, there’s certainly a resume or two from a foreign keeper under study on Nick DeSantis’ desk.
    The Impact does count on one of the best up and coming Canadian product in Maxime Crepeau within its ranks, but in the context of an immediate MLS need, it might seem precipitious to push him on the front of the stage at this time in his journey.
    Guest
    Earlier today, as I reported on CBC, the CSA has already had conversations with FIFA about hosting the next available World Cup. It's still a long ways off but the fact they are already in the planning stages is an indication of the commitment new CSA president Victor Montagliani has to the Canadian national teams.
    And on that note, he put to rest recent fears about preparation in this qualification campaign.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Montagliani confirmed to CSN that the men's national team will play a friendly in August as part of its lead up to the upcoming World Cup qualifier matches. As late as last month it was being suggested that the CSA would not have the funds to be able to send the women's team to the Olympics and arrange a friendly for the men. Something that set off alarm bells around Canadian soccer, when it became apparent that all of Canada's opponents would be playing at least one match. Montagliani says that isn't the case.
    "I can't tell you who the teams are right now that we are speaking to because we are looking at four different countries. But I can confirm that the game will take place in this hemisphere," Montagliani said.
    Given that the international friendly dates are August 14 and 15 - only three days before the start of the English Premier League and around the same time as most of the European campaigns - it's a safe bet to assume that with the fixture location being on this continent that most of the squad will be called from this region as well.
    An official announcement is expected in the next three weeks.
    Editor's Note:
    As there has been confusion over the wording in the second paragraph I would like to clarify a few things. It had been suggested to me last month (from a reliable source) that because the CSA was financially committed to sending the women's team to London that a friendly for the Men's team would not be possible. Stephen Hart's comments about a friendly not being imminent appeared to support that. Victor Montagliani, when asked, confirmed that it was never the case.
    I hope this clarifies any confusion that has arisen from this article.
    Guest
    Every week we bring you our look at the upcoming games that weekend and what we hope to see from those to benefit the Caps to the max, along with what impact the different results from the Whitecaps own match has to our playoff hopes.
    For some background to our feature, see <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3099-Schedule-Dynamics-Adding-Interest-To-MLS-Season" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    The Caps had a bye week last Saturday, but what a midweek! Vancouver’s win over Colorado was big on it’s own, but when you factor in the losses by San Jose and LA, and the draws by Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Dallas, it was huge and gave the caps a nine point cushion over the first team outwith the playoff places.
    With another all-Western encounter this weekend, they need to keep it going and get some more help from the other games. Let’s take a look at what we’re looking for.
    Nine games over this Saturday and Sunday. Four all-Western Conference clashes, with only one intra-conference match up and four all-Eastern ties, so five matches to keep a really close eye on.
    <b><u>Chivas USA v Vancouver Whitecaps</u></b>
    Current Whitecaps Points: 29 (3rd in West)
    If Whitecaps Win: 32 points (Best Case Scenario = 3rd in West, four points behind leaders / Worst Case Scenario = 3rd, seven points behind leaders)
    If Whitecaps Draw: 30 points (BCS = 3rd / WCS = 4th)
    If Whitecaps Lose: 29 points (BCS = 3rd / WCS = 4th)
    Maximum Points Total Possible: 80
    Projected Points Total On Current Results: 58 points
    Playoff Likelihood: 91 - 94%
    <b><u>Sporting KC v Houston Dynamo</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    All eastern clash. No real interest or impact on Caps playoff hopes.
    <b><u>Real Salt Lake v Portland Timbers</u> - Draw</b>
    Another draw for the struggling Saltines (winless in four now) would be just what the tree doctor ordered in this Western family affair. It would allow the Caps to close the gap on RSL to just one point, with two games in hand, whilst dealing another blow to Portland’s playoff hopes.
    <b><u>Dallas v San Jose Earthquakes</u> - San Jose win</b>
    This may surprise some of you, cheering for a San Jose win, but let’s be honest here, the Earthquakes look almost certainties for the playoffs, so we may as well look for them to deal another blow to the West’s basement dwellers, just in case they actually string a run together at some point this season. A draw would be fine too though. Ask me on another day and that might be my BCS! Hell, even a Dallas win might be.
    <b><u>Seattle Sounders v Colorado Rapids</u> - Draw</b>
    Seattle are so far out of their groove they're trying to track down Stella for advice. Now sitting at nine MLS games without a win, they are also in danger of being in a battle for the final playoff spot(s). Let’s keep it that way and keep them nicely behind us. We don’t want the Rapids getting too many points either, as they try and chase down the Caps, but we have enough of a lead over them to let them have one this time.
    <b><u>Chicago Fire v Los Angeles Galaxy</u> - Chicago win</b>
    We want to see this fire out of control and burning this city, burning this city of angels (one for Franz Ferdinand fans there). Kick ‘em hard. Keep them down. And keep the points in Chi-town, in the first of Sunday’s matches. And do it hard and dirty enough that you have some players injured and suspended for next Saturday's meeting with the Caps.
    <b><u>Philadelphia Union v Toronto</u> - Toronto win</b>
    This ‘Battle of the Bad’ would normally have seen us as Union men through and through, but now we have to cross that picket line and wear scabby red to cheer on the FC’s. Why? Well we need Philly to be downright bad and finish as the worst in MLS, or as near as possible, to get the number one SuperDraft pick next year. Down with the Union, but take some TFC players with you for next Wednesday’s game.
    <b><u>New England Revolution v New York Red Bulls</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    Another all eastern clash where we have no real interest who wins, or in any other aspect of this match.
    <b><u>Montreal Impact v Columbus Crew</u> - No impact on Caps, but Columbus win</b>
    Another all eastern clash where we have no real interest who wins apart form hating Montreal and wanting to see what will end up lower – their points total or their home attendances. Crew for the win.
    So that’s what we’re rooting for this weekend. Let’s see how it all leaves the Caps looking come Sunday evening.
    <p>
    Guest
    Our <b>3-2-1 Award</b> is AFTN's Player of the Year trophy.
    After every Whitecaps game we give three points to who we feel was the best Whitecaps player of the match, two for the second best, and then one for the third. You can usually find them in our <i>"In The Cold Light Of Day"</i> pieces.
    Points are tallied up and then, at the end of the season, we have a winner! And this year, we're going to do what we've done for the East Fife players since 2004 and give the winning Whitecap an actual trophy.
    So much silverware for the players to win this season!
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We're not doing an <i>ITCLOD</i> piece after Wednesday's game, making do with our midway season review instead.
    Here's our 3-2-1 for that match:
    3 points - JORDAN HARVEY (A rock at left back. Not something we've said much in his time here, but this was probably his best game as a Cap)
    2 points - JOE CANNON (talking of rocks. The man is a legend, short shorts and all)
    1 point - MARTIN BONJOUR (Found himself in just the right place, as just the right times. Coming back into his early season form. Who needs Bocanegra?!)
    <center>**********</center>
    So, where does that leave the current standings for 2012, at the midway stage of the regular season? Well, we have a new leader...
    <b>Joe Cannon - 21 points</b>
    Young-Pyo Lee - 17
    Davide Chiumiento - 13
    Camilo Sanvezzo - 12
    Alain Rochat - 11
    Martin Bonjour - 7
    Sebastien Le Toux - 7
    Gershon Koffie - 6
    Jun Marques Davidson - 5
    Jay DeMerit - 5
    Omar Salgado - 5
    Eric Hassli - 4
    Darren Mattocks - 4
    John Thorrington - 4
    Jordan Harvey - 3
    Greg Klazura - 1
    Brad Knighton - 1
    Do you agree? It's still early, and we know this point system maybe doesn't take into account a consistent team performer, so who would be your players of the season so far?
    17 Whitecaps players have now earned mentions. Who will step up to the plate and shine in the next few games? Find out in our next update!
    <p>
    Guest
    Last night’s game in Colorado saw Vancouver Whitecaps reach the midway point of their 2012 MLS season.
    And they started it as they begun in March, with a win.
    Seventeen games down, seventeen to go, with still so much to play for. The Western Conference has the makings of getting real close down the road and it will only take a few wins or a few losses to dramatically change the standing of most sides.
    Thankfully, the Whitecaps are right in the mix for post-season action. Keeping there will be a continued challenge, but one which this team is certainly more than capable of achieving.
    They are helped by now having a nine point cushion over the 6th placed LA Galaxy. Three games breathing space at this point of the season is a big advantage, especially during a tough spell of away matches.
    The first 17 games have seen the kind of start we hoped for, but after last season, were a little wary of getting too excited about.
    Eight wins, five draws and four defeats, sees the Caps sitting on 29 points, and already surpassing last season’s overall points total.
    Third in the West, and sixth overall if you were to look at the League as a single table, it’s the perfect starting spot for a second half push.
    That’s our take, what about the boss?
    We asked Martin Rennie how he felt the season had been up to now just before he headed down to Colorado:
    <i>”I think that so far it's been a good first half of the season. The next game can it make it an even better first half of the season, then after that we need to kick on and push forward, but so far it's been a positive start."</i>
    And what of the second half? What are the main changes he’s looking to see in the team moving forward?
    <i>”I think just being consistently winning games and making sure that we're continuing to do the things we've been doing, but maybe be a little bit more clinical going forward and make sure that we manage games well when we're in the lead. Just keep making progress.”</i>
    And therein lies the keys. Progress needs to continue and ultimately, we have to keep our leads and start scoring more for this to happen.
    For a team sitting third in the West, with a joint league best four losses, a goal difference of zero is terrible.
    The fact that when we lose, we lose big, has had a huge part to play in this, but who knows how crucial this could be down the line?
    Eight clean sheets is a tremendous feat. Only five clubs have conceded fewer goals, and Joe Cannon really has been one of the stars of the season, but equally only six clubs have scored less than us and they're all the bottom of their conferences.
    We have to get our strikers working as a unit instead of a set of individuals. It seems rare that we actually have more than one of them clicking on any particular night.
    This is probably Martin Rennie's biggest challenge just now, but if training is anything to go by, then the addition of Barry Robson could be one of the missing pieces. He seems to have already built up an understanding with Eric Hassli and the Frenchman was burying goals all over the place last week from Robson through balls.
    The Caps cannot rest on their laurels. They may be a completely different side, in all aspects, from last year’s unmentionables, but that will all count for nothing if they lapse in the second half of the season.
    Only two of the remaining games are against Eastern Conference opposition, with the final fourteen all-Western clashes where every point will count.
    Vancouver have turned BC Place into a fortress. One home defeat is the joint second best in MLS.
    With eight home games remaining, this has to continue if we are to make the playoffs and then make a run for the Cup.
    We’re averaging two points per home game, if that were to continue, we would have an extra sixteen points, taking us up to 45. This is still shy of what we would need to comfortably make the playoffs, so we need to take points on the road.
    Three wins from eight is a vast improvement on last year, although we must all really stop looking back to last year as we simply can’t compare.
    If it means going to places like Colorado and grinding out a point or three in unspectacular matches, then I will take that any day of the week.
    It gets the job done and that’s the Whitecaps in a nutshell this season.
    They play how they need to in each game and they get the results.
    It may not always be pretty to watch, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
    This squad has self belief.
    As Michael Nanchoff <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3425-Nightcap-With-A-Whitecap-Michael-Nanchoff" target="_blank">told us earlier this week</a>, <i>" Personally, and I think it’s collectively felt as well, I think that we can win the MLS Cup this year."</i>.
    We agree. This team is more than capable of doing just that, but I guess we should see what the second half of the regular season brings before we allow ourselves to get too carried away.
    In Rennie We Trust.
    <p>
    Guest
    Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and he was down in Colorado last night for the Whitecaps win over the Rapids. He'll also be in Chivas for the game at the weekend.
    Here is a gallery of some of his photos from the Whitecaps' game against Colorado Rapids on Wednesday July 4th.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>

    (Barry Robson gets to experience MLS referees)

    (Is that kung fu? No, he's only had one drink)

    (Keep your enemies close)

    (Martin Bonjour is temporarily stunned by Joe Cannon's short shorts and pale legs)

    (Recovered, Bonjour makes the vital nick)

    (Who doesn't want a Davide Chiumiento jersey?)

    (Gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll)

    (Joe Cannon plays 'spot the baldie')

    (Redemption)
    </center>
    You can view a high resolution slideshow of some of the rest of Christopher's photos from the Colorado match <a href="
    " target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.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>
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