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    Guest

    TFC transfer speculation du jour

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Let's call this the first in a long line of speculation to come this week.
    But it would seem that Davide Zoboli, a 30-year-old defender from Italy, is on Toronto's radar.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="219863205529399297"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/EoghanMiki">EoghanMiki</a> I don t know I m waiting news this evening or tomorrow morning</p>— davide zoboli (@davide_zoboli) <a href="
    " data-datetime="2012-07-02T19:01:07+00:00">July 2, 2012</a></blockquote><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    Zoboli, who has played for Torino and before that Brescia, was linked to the Toronto club last week when SportItalia reported a transfer was in the works.
    If you read Zoboli's response to the tweeted question, which came in around 3pm ET Monday, he is clearly expecting news within the next 24 hours.
    Guest
    The information has yet to be confirmed by club authorities, but several European sources including Italian daily Corriere dello Sport are announcing Alessandro Nesta is joining Les Bleus on a one-year deal.
    First announced in New York several weeks ago, the 36-year-old AC Milan great turned his back on an agreement of principle with the Red Bulls in late June, citing financial differences. He was even quoted by media outlets that he was questioning the idea of pursuing his career in North America.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    After pushing aside discussions to follow the NYRB path, Toronto FC came back in the race — to the point that TFC invited Nesta to Montreal to attend the Canadian derby match of June 27 at Saputo Stadium.
    Up until that point it was understood that the Impact was not in the picture, at least, not seriously.
    The Reds thrashed the Impact 3-0 and spoiled the local's party that was to be the coming out celebration for Montreal’s first DP signing Marco Di Vaio. Nesta was seen on a terrace by the Impact’s offices with a few sidelined Montreal players shortly after the match. Later that night, the Italians went out together in town where sources say the Montrealers tried to convince Nesta that he would feel more at home in a blue, rather than in a red uniform.
    Nesta then left the country to resume his American vacation.
    On the other side of the equation, TFC did confirm interest in Nesta, but rumours of an announcement on Thursday of last week never materialized. CanadianSoccerNews.com talked earlier today of a disagreement on this issue between the pro-Nesta Bob De Klerk and Earl Cochrane/Paul Mariner, thus explaining the delay.
    Back to the Impact following the 3-0 loss. Club president Joey Saputo reacted strongly to his side’s defeat against the Reds giving instructions to team management to start looking for new players. This, the source tells, launched his team’s bid to bring Nesta to La Belle Province.
    Monday, Montreal confirmed putting an offer to Nesta and several players have told SoccerPlus over the weekend that they are more than confident to see the former World Champion return to Saputo Stadium shortly.
    Whether the much decorated defender joins the Impact or not, we need to ask: Will Alessandro Nesta’s coming to Montreal be good or puzzling for the first-year side?
    Let us first look at the positive aspects.
    He’s 36, but Nesta has sufficient talent and experience to help this club. How can Valentin, Camara or Ouimette not benefit, if not from only training with a guy like that? Furthermore, Nesta simply can’t be considered worse than the four dudes who started the match in DC on Saturday?
    Also, Nesta in blue and white can’t hurt ticket sales. Aside from the opening game and Beckham’s visit at the Big O, the results are not there for the sales team this season.
    Nesta to Montreal makes for great headlines across the soccer world. This will also help the club bury the fact that it currently has the worst defensive unit in all of MLS.
    Furthermore, the club is showing a real interest in shaking things up fast. There’s no way Saputo & Co. will let this team drown without a fight. Montreal loves champions and the Impact’s brass is reacting to make sure the club is on top of things as quickly as possible.
    This final point is a double-edged sword.
    How can you pretend you want to build on the mid and long-term when you have nine guys over 30-years-old in your ranks? Of course they are experienced, mature and what not, but this type of player also takes more time to return from injuries, which are more frequent in a league like ours due to a demanding schedule, long flights, limited training and recuperation time and having to play on artificial turf from time to time.
    How will foreign veterans who have played for the best coaches in the world react under the tutelage of a young, American-trained rookie coach?
    With all the respect due to Jesse Marsch, who will certainly enjoy a long MLS career and who does his best with the tools he has, a winless series will undoubtedly raise comparison. How can this not be when your players have been coached by Carlo Ancelotti, Marcelo Lippi, Cesare Prandelli, Claudio Ranieri, Sven-Goran Eriksson or Jose Mourinho?
    How will Joey Saputo and/or Sporting Director Nick DeSantis react when two or three of these costly players will knock at their door requesting changes? Will DeSantis risk his career and return to the sidelines? Will the club move current assistant coach Dennis Hamlett to the dreaded position for the rest of the season? Will they hire a reputed European coach which is far from they proven way to success?
    The biggest deception in all of this is the lack of strategy and vision in the recruitement of players - this starts by the absence of scouting personnel, as promised before the hire of a head coach a year ago.
    The example of Nelson Rivas jumps to mind. Solid when healthy, the 29-year-old had 90 minutes of first team action in the two previous seasons before joining from Inter Milan. The Colombian is back on the injury list after playing only seven of his team’s 18 games this year.
    The Impact’s gamble is clearly to stake everything on the short-term. As soon as Di Vaio was introduced to the press, Joey Saputo said he would resist popular pressure to buy a second DP right away. With several seats empty in the club’s three games since returning to a refurbished Saputo Stadium and subpar results are not making the pressure go away either.
    From this perspective, the possible arrival of Alessandro Nesta could be a great thing for a club otherwise heading towards a playoff-less opening season. Still, there’s a huge risk the acquisition could be puzzling if they miss the mark.
    To put it politely, the margin of error is thin for the Impact, very thin.
    Guest
    The Canadian futsal team qualified for the CONCACAF championships in dramatic fashion yesterday when goalkeeper Joshua Lemos scored from midcourt with just five seconds remaining in the second game of a two leg tie against El Salvador.
    The goal completed a comeback by the Canucks, who won the tie 7-6 after trailing 4-1 following the first leg.
    There is no time to rest. Canada kicks off the CONCACAF championship tonight at 10 p.m. EDT against Guatemala. They are in a group with the United States and Panama.
    The top two teams in the group advance to the semi-finals and advance to the World Cup, which will be held in Thailand Nov 1-18.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Additional sources close to Toronto FC’s front office confirmed to CSN that the club is chasing Alessandro Nesta. However, there was a suggestion that an internal conflict at the club was holding things up.
    It’s said that Bob de Klerk is driving interest in Nesta, but that one of either Earl Cochrane or Paul Mariner is resisting the move. The nature of their resistance was not indicated.
    The information differs slightly from what CSN was told last week. At that time multiple player agents strongly indicated that a deal was on the table. The agents said that they would be “very surprised” if the deal did not go through.
    An Italian report appeared today that claimed that Nesta had signed a one year deal with the Montreal Impact. The story gave no indication of where the information was coming from, other than that Nesta is friends with Marco Di Vaio.
    CSN will continue to monitor the situation.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    The other side of the hyphen

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Happy Canada Day.
    Our national holiday is much like our nation – understated. People generally don’t party on Canada Day (that’s for Victoria Day) and there aren’t many over-the-top displays of nationalism. In most cases, Canada Day is about face painting and bouncy castles. Multicultural food is sold by new Canadians with small Canadian flag temporary tattoos on their cheek.
    It all wraps up with a sensible fireworks display and ice cream for the kids.
    Nothing wrong with it. It’s just not a day that generally stirs the emotions. Passion is something Canadians have always struggled with. We’re a northern country, former colony and located above the most bombastic culture the world has ever known. We were destined to be subdued.
    Whereas Americans talk about “the 4th” with reverence and anticipation, Canadians kind of go through the motions.
    In an average year the day goes by without much note – newspaper’s run fluff pieces about how nice we are and how wonderful it is that the nice Pakistani family is fitting into rural Canadian life. As stated, Canada Day just kind of is.
    Today, at least in the major urban areas, it runs the risk of being an afterthought. If you are reading this space you are well aware that Spain plays Italy today for the European championship. As always, the Euros have been massively popular in Canada’s biggest cities and have become part of the national conversation.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Most of that conversation centers around our ethnic heritage (both real and imagined). TSN (in)famously asked fans to “put their country’s flag” on a map to indicate what team they were cheering for.
    “Where are you from, no really, where are you really from” is the attitude. Ethnic heritage has been embraced and celebrated all month.
    That’s great. It really is. That we are such a multicultural country is wonderful and, speaking as someone that learned to truly love this game while sitting in the bars and cafes of Toronto during World Cups and Euros, we are truly lucky to be able to watch these tournaments in this country.
    It’s fitting, actually, that the final is on Canada Day, because, to me, the way our cities react to these tournaments is, in fact, part of the Canadian experience.
    I can think of very few if any places in the world where honking Italy fans drive down the same street that disgruntled Portuguese fans walked down one day before. It’s brilliant, beautiful and I hope it never changes.
    That is the Canadian experience. There is one thing each and every fan of the Euros here in Canada has in common – they live here. Their day-to-day experiences happen here and for some of later generations, there is nowhere else in the world where they "fit" as they do here.
    They may be waving the Italian flag, but they are doing so as an Italian-Canadian.
    And, that's my plea for the day – remember what's on the other side of the hyphen. Enjoy the game and celebrate your ethnic heritage today if you are Spanish or Italian, but leave some time this evening to appreciate the country we live in.
    It’s a wonderful country – even if it lacks depth at fullback.
    Enjoy the day and the game (...and Forza Balotelli!)
    Guest
    Canadian head coach John Herdman has had a few recurring messages in the months-long run-up to the London Olympics. He has expressed his belief that, if things go Canada's way, the team can legitimately compete for a medal -- but he's also reminded us that for Canada to enter the true elite of the women's game (along with the Tier 1 teams: USA, Germany, Japan, France), much work remains to be done.
    Looking purely at the scoreline of Saturday's friendly, one could say progress has been made by the Canadian team on that latter front, five months after a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the U.S. in the final of the Olympic qualifying tournament. But on a boiling-hot afternoon at Rio Tinto stadium, the Americans once again showed that they are ranked #1 in the world -- and have been for most of the existence of the FIFA women's rankings -- for a reason.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Canada wasn't played off the field by any stretch of the imagination, though it's safe to say that aside from a 15-minute stretch in the second half, the U.S. comfortably controlled most of the play.
    Still, the case could be made that if not for an easily-preventable moment of miscommunication (Carmelina Moscato's own-goal) and a few debatable decisions (Christine Sinclair's deflected shot that Hope Solo remarkably somehow kept out of the net [or did she?]... Shannon Boxx receiving yellow, not red, for a reckless and retaliatory challenge on Kaylyn Kyle... Amy Rodriguez's late winner that had more than a whiff of offside to it), Canada could have claimed a point -- or all three.
    But if we're talking hypothetically, then we could also say if the U.S. buried more of the dozen or so chances they created, and if Alex Morgan wasn't taken out of the game prematurely after tweaking her knee, the final scoreline could have been much less flattering to Big Red (or Big Blue, I suppose, wearing the Umbro centennial kits as they were). All we have to work with is the actual final scoreline. Two to one.
    As for that "one"... plenty of good news there. Good work by Diana Matheson (damn is it good to have her back out there), an utterly sublime pass by Christine Sinclair and an excellent, composed finish by Melissa Tancredi. Against the run of play? Sure. But we'll take the highlight-reel markers where we can get them. And a confident Melissa Tancredi is a damned fine thing to have, especially since Canada's opponents know by now to mark the living hell out of Sinclair.
    If Canada's to have any success going forward, the goal-scoring needs to be diversified. So to see Tancredi with such a cool finish -- and to see Jonelle Filigno back on the field and battling -- were both very positive signs as the Olympics approach.
    As for that "two"... well, not as encouraging. It was disappointing to see communications break down between two players -- Moscato and goalkeeper Erin McLeod -- with so much experience playing for the national team. And the U.S.'s second goal came after the Americans were allowed a worrying amount of possession in and around the Canadians' penalty area.
    Sure, the player with much of that possession was Abby Wambach, one of the best players in the world... but if Canada is to claim status as a Tier 1 side, and get to the point where medal contention is an expectation rather than a hope, then Wambach is the sort of player that needs to be handled more often than not.
    The heat in Sandy, Utah was clearly stifling, given the number of players from both sides who routinely needed medical attention due to cramping. Perhaps the fatigue from the conditions explained the lack of precision late in the contest, but Canada seemed to be having trouble stringing together simple passes from the get-go. The Americans, buoyed by an enthusiastic home crowd, were applying plenty of pressure -- but then, being an elite side, and performing at the highest level, entails lots of pressure. Always. Coming from all sides.
    This result isn't doom and gloom by any stretch of the imagination. And the Canadians still have a few pre-tournament games, to be played over in Europe, prior to the Olympic beginning. With a round-robin grouping of Japan, Sweden and South Africa, anything is possible. The "swing" game will be the one against Sweden, a side that most would agree occupies space in Tier 2 of the women's game, along with Canada.
    So after today's match, Herdman's points both remain intact. If things go Canada's way at the Olympics, and they make their way into the knockout round, anything truly is possible. And while much work remains if Canada hopes to gain a foothold among the world's elite, we know from today, from last month's friendly from Moncton, and from everything we've seen from this team that they will go out there and compete. They will play, hard, for themselves and for the crest on their jerseys.
    Whatever work remains to be done, at least the team has that solid base to build upon.
    .
    Guest
    By Mike Crampton
    Hope and hype, two dangerous sentiments intimately associated with the early days of Toronto FC, have the opportunity to return to BMO Field this Saturday evening. The hype however is in the form of the visitors and as for hope? Well, there’s nothing Reds supporters are more used to than a letdown! On the back of the club’s best ever result in an away league game but facing one of the Eastern Conference’s better teams only three days later the danger of Toronto following their usual script is pronounced.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Starting to believe that Paul Mariner has turned the side around is surely premature. Granted, TFC have continued their improved form from before the international break and picked up points in three consecutive games. Most importantly they’ve finally started putting themselves in a position to win and never trailed at any point in those three matches. They are, without doubt, scoring goals: 8 goals in four games under Mariner have doubled the team’s offensive production compared to Aron Winter’s 10 league games in charge in 2012. Say what you will about attacking football or clashing ideologies that’s a tangible improvement that cannot be ignored.
    On the other hand, news since Wednesday evening should make it clear that the Reds remain, very much, a work in progress. Indications, as reported on CSN, of a big ticket move for Italian international Alessandro Nesta and a public declaration from Mariner about the position after the draw with New England highlight the desperate need for a capable and experienced centre back. Further, the release of 2011 draft pick Efrain Burgos Jr. and the return of Joao Plata to his Ecuadorian club LDU Quito show that Mariner is only beginning to put his stamp on the side. In addition to centre back, one place that his team will certainly need strengthening is at forward. The move to a two striker system has seen Mariner consistently rely on getting 90 minute performances from both Danny Koevermans and Ryan Johnson and that cannot be expected to last an entire season. Presumably Plata’s departure will make space for a new signing at that position as well but it’s hard to see how the Reds will have the budget space to afford that and a player of Nesta’s calibre at the back.
    While Johnson and Koevermans have been working as an extremely effective strike tandem Toronto’s opponent Saturday night, the New York Red Bulls, can boast an even more impressive one in the form of Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper. While the media attention and hype will undoubtedly (and not unreasonably) focus on the French superstar Henry, Toronto would be well advised to not ignore the danger presented by Cooper. The MLS veteran has been a problem for past incarnations of the Reds on multiple occasions before and currently leads the Red Bulls with 11 goals to Henry’s 9. Supported by the hard running box to box play of Joel Lindpere and Dax McCarty, the speed of Dane Richards on the flank, and the occasional creativity of regular substitute Mehdi Ballouchy it’s not hard to see why the Red Bulls are tied for the league lead in goals for.
    The last time the Reds faced an offense as productive as New York’s at home they were forced into a defensive shell for 90 minutes by DC United and still ultimately conceded two goals during an insipid performance where they barely looked interested. That match dropped Toronto to 0-0-8 in the league and may have sounded the death knell for Aron Winter’s time in charge of the team. To avoid a similar fate on Saturday evening Toronto will have to offer more going forward than they could against United. Fortunately, for all their goal scoring prowess, the Red Bulls are susceptible at the back themselves and have conceded nearly as many goals as TFC (though admittedly over two more games). New York’s other famous designated player, Mexican international Rafa Marquez, is listed as out with a calf injury and will thus be unavailable to organize the Red Bull’s defense or repeat his wonder strike of 2010 against Toronto at BMO Field.
    In the end, the story remains the same for Toronto FC: their young and inexperienced makeshift defense is likely to concede. If the change that has occurred under Paul Mariner continues however and the Reds can continue to find goals they’ll have a chance to earn at least a point. Hope for the season or even for the direction of the club might be beyond reach for many but hope for one evening? Even in Toronto that’s not too much to ask.
    Guest
    Barry Robson has been in Vancouver for nearly two weeks now.
    Despite waking up at 2 in the morning, and still having to live in a hotel as he waits for his stuff to clear customs, Barry and his family are settling in just fine and he's glad to be over in Canada.
    Middlesbrough would have loved to have retained the services of the Scottish international, and there were offers from other clubs in the UK, so what was it that tipped the scale and made Vancouver, and the Whitecaps, his new home?
    <i>"I think a change in football to be honest. I see the quality over here now. I see the players that are coming, not just at an older age, and I think younger players are starting to come. The League's getting bigger and the League's getting better."</i>
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    But football reasons aside, the city of Vancouver itself had a big part to play in it:
    <i>"It's a beautiful city for my wife and children, which are the most important thing to me.
    So it's a combination of both and that's what swayed it for me."</i>
    There haven't been a lot of Scottish players come over to MLS over the years. Barry is just the 15th in total and he will be joining five of his countrymen plying their trade in the League this season.
    How does he think Major League Soccer compares to the game just now in Scotland?
    <i>"Ach I dunno. The Scottish game is not at the best at the moment.
    It frustrates me and annoys me because of the things that Rangers have done. I think the quality has dropped out of it a bit. It's hard for a Scotsman like myself to say that.
    I think there's a lot over there that we can try and get sorted, cos 7, 8 years ago it was a terrific league to play in. And even 3, 4 years ago when I played in it, it was terrific, and I think we need to get the finances sorted out everywhere and get these great clubs going again and make sure that the league stays strong."</i>
    With high profile Scottish players like Barry and Kris Boyd coming over here, it's led to increased exposure for MLS from the Scottish media.
    Is that likely to lead to more Scottish players coming over in the near future?
    <i>"I think so. I know a lot of players have been on the phone to me already trying to come over. A lot.
    Guys want to come and play here. I think it's a big appeal to come over and play in MLS. The crowds are getting bigger all the time, it's lovely stadiums that you're playing in.
    David Beckham's done a lot for it. He really has.
    The pull of the quality of the crowds that's coming into the stadiums they're playing in, you'd be mad not to give it a go."</i>
    Now according to my dodgy stats, Barry is on 99 career goals, so we asked him if that was right?
    <i>"I think so, but I mean the stats are always different.
    Someone said I'd played 40 games for Celtic, the next one said I'd played a 100.
    I got presented with something for 500 games at Middlesbrough no that long ago, but I thought I had more than that as well, so I think you can make it up on that internet! But yeah, we'll go with the 99! (laughs)</i>
    Yeah we'll go with the next one's your hundredth!
    <i>"There you go. That'll be good for the Whitecaps!"</i>
    So how special is it going to be when his first goal for the Whitecaps is also going to be his 100th career goal?
    <i>"Well I made history, I think, at Celtic by scoring the first ever goal with a first touch on the park. The first time in the whole Club's history.
    And I think I scored the quickest goal ever goal at Middlesbrough.
    So coming here and scoring my hundredth goal, that'll be good for the Whitecaps."</i>
    Barry is expected to see some game time against Colorado on Wednesday but acknowledges that he's <i>"not 100% yet"</i> and that he <i>"needs some games"</i> after being off for two months.
    He's raring to go and get playing in his first MLS match, but also cautious so as not to overdo it too early, pick up an injury and then end up missing games.
    As a player with a lot of top level experience, Caps fans will need to trust his judgement and perhaps be patient for a few matches and Martin Rennie is unlikely to push him too much in the next few games unless Barry feels ready.
    So maybe that 100th goal will have to wait until he plays his first home game against LA Galaxy on July 18th.
    Robson got his first experience of BC Place last week when he was introduced to the crowd before the game against New York Red Bulls.
    What were his first impressions of the stadium and the atmosphere?
    <i>"I thought it was a terrific stadium. Obviously I'm not used to playing on turf. That's going to be something totally new and something I'm going to have to get used to. But that's what I have to get used to and it's something you've got to accept.
    I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing in front of the home fans. I thought they were great. I thought they very positive towards the team and very enjoyable, so all in all I was very pleased."</i>
    And the fans are looking forward to seeing Barry in action on home turf too.
    If his link up play with Eric Hassli in training is anything to go by, he could just be the spark that the Caps have been needing in the middle to get firing on full cylinders.
    We'll soon see.
    <p>
    Guest

    Plata recalled by LDU Quito

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Joao Plata is returning to Ecuador.
    The TFC fan favourite Tweeted tonight that he will be leaving TFC to return to his parent club LDU Quito. Apparently the club requested that Plata be returned to them because of TFC's struggles.
    As it stands tonight, he would return to Toronto in 6-months time.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The move is apt to upset fans who grew to enjoy the diminutive forwards effort, but is not likely to have much of an impact on the club – under Paul Mariner, Plata did not seem likely to feature a great deal.
    Where his loss might be felt is in CCL play, where the less physical nature of the competition allowed Plata to shine in 2011.
    The harsh reality is that his size has made it very difficult for him to compete in MLS. Despite being named both the Red Patch Boys and U-Sector player of the year last year, he only had three league goals and was often invisible, especially in road games.
    He is still young and is technically gifted, so a 6-month loan stint could end up benefiting both Plata and TFC, if he does return to the team.
    Regardless, Toronto fans will always hold a soft spot for the player and the highlight goals he scored, including this one:


    In other TFC news, little used midfielder Efrain Burgos Jr was waved. Clubs have to July 1 to wave players, or their entier salary will remain on the cap for the season. Players waved prior to July 1, will only have the salary they have been paid count against the cap.
    Guest
    Every few weeks, whenever we feel like it, we think of a subject for a football team to be based around for our "Team of the Week". Then we fill it with our starting eleven of current and recent MLS players with some appropriate name changes, or even better, just as is!
    Your scouting job is to come up with the subs bench, from any player from around the world, and leave your player suggestions in the comments section.
    Wimbledon is in full flow (c'mon Andy). Two weeks of strawberries and creams, Pimms, women grunting and rain. Lots and lots of rain. You need something to do whilst waiting for the roof to close, so waste some time with our latest "MLS Team of the Week", the <b>Tennis XI</b>….
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>**********</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Jay Volley (Chicago Fire)
    <b>D :</b> Miguel ACEval (Toronto)
    <b>D :</b> Lobby Boswell (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>D :</b> Tybreaker Harden (Toronto)
    <b>M :</b> Breakpoint Shea (Dallas)
    <b>M :</b> Laurent Courtois (Chivas)
    <b>M :</b> Jack Deucebury (Portland Timbers)
    <b>M :</b> Oscar Netcordon (Toronto)
    <b>M :</b> Mehdi Ballboyouchy (New York Red Bulls)
    <b>F :</b> Jonathan Topspin (Dallas)
    <b>F :</b> Sebastian Let Oux (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    The team will play all their home games in Raleigh.
    </p>
    Guest

    Impact vs DC United - Pregame Show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    Corradi, Rivas, Ferrari out with injuries, Bernier suspended... Hapless Montreal hops into DC without much hope.
    Hear what captain Davy Arnaud, defender Shavar Thomas and head coach Jesse Marsch had to say ahead of their clash against the Eastern Conference leaders.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to our 30 minutes pregame special.
    Guest
    Goal difference. It's the fine line between success and failure, as Vancouver Whitecaps U18s and U16s know only too well at the end of the USSDA Academy Playoffs in Dallas this week.
    When the Whitecaps Residency joined the USSDA this season, development was the key, but the dream goal was also for both the U18 and U16 sides to make 'Finals Week' in Houston in July.
    Martin Rennie wants to instil a winning mentality at the Caps, no matter what level the team is playing at, and assistant coach Paul Ritchie flew down to Dallas to be with Craig Dalrymple and the Residency guys for added leadership.
    Both sides gave excellent accounts of themselves and it all came down to goal difference in the end, with the U18s winning their group on it and the U16s finishing unbeaten but in second place in their group by two goals.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It was a tough week and both teams were made to dig deep and fight hard, amid temperatures in the 40's for most of the time.
    Seriously, what kind of benefit do youth players get from playing three games in four days in such intense heat and humidity? At least the organisers had the sense to have water breaks in each of half of all the games.
    The Caps U18s kicked off their playoff week in heartbreaking style on Monday, losing 3-2 to a 94th minute stoppage time winner to Western Conference rivals Pateadores.
    Goals from Ben McKendry and Ben Fisk had put the young Caps 2-1 up, but they wilted in the last 15 minutes and gave up two late goals.
    They may have been down but they were certainly not out and their team unity and strength came to the fore 24 hours later when they hit four past Florida side Weston FC.
    Weston had won their first match of the group, but goals from Ben McKendry, Yassin Essa, Jason van Blerk and an own goal saw the Caps run out easy 4-0 winners.
    Going in to their last match against Texans SC Houston on Thursday, the Caps needed to get the job done in their own game and hope for help in the other group match.
    A third goal in three games from Ben McKendry <i>(pictured left)</i> and a second half strike from Said Jalali saw the Caps win 2-0 over a Texan team that had beaten them in December.
    And the Caps never give up attitude paid off when Weston shocked the defending champions Pateadores 4-0 in the other game, to send Vancouver through to finals week on goal difference.
    With eight goals from two games, including a goal in each match from Ben McKendry, and two clean sheets from Callum Irving, it was a good week's work for the U18s and showed just what a strong bunch this group is.
    Now they have one last hurrah in Houston before they all go their separate ways. It'll be sad to see them break up but let's hope that they can go out with a real bang.
    From the joy of goal difference, to the heartbreak, as the U16s fell just short of joining their U18 team-mates in Houston by two goals.
    The U16s couldn't have asked for a better start, beating FC Greater Boston 2-1 on Tuesday, thanks to a first half brace from Brody Huitema.
    The next day it was a table topping battle between two teams that had won their first group match. The Caps and Charlotte Soccer Academy played out a 0-0 draw, setting up a final day Friday shootout.
    The assumption was that it was all going to come down to goal difference, as the Caps squared off against South Carolina United Battery this morning, and so it proved.
    Vancouver got the job done with a 3-2 victory, thanks to an early goal from Brody Huitema and a brace of penalties from Sebastian Cabrera.
    The Caps were 3-1 up and knew that Charlotte beating Greater Boston 2-0 meant that they had to go for another goal.
    Their attacking left them short at the back and they conceded a second and that was that.
    They can hold their heads up high though, knowing that they remained unbeaten and really went for it in the last game.
    Setbacks and disappointments are as much of a learning point for these young players as winning and they'll now be keen to fight back and do even better next season.
    For the U18s more heat now awaits as they move to the 'final eight' in Houston in July.
    'Finals Week' will take place from July 16th to 23rd, with the U18 Championship being held on July 22nd at Houston Dynamo's BBVA Compass Stadium.
    The Caps U18s have been drawn in Group 1 alongside North Carolina Fusion, Colorado Rapids and Northwest Division rivals De Anza Force, who they have played and beaten twice already this season.
    Four of the eight U18 teams in finals week are from MLS clubs.
    Good luck to the guys. Bring the Cup back to Vancouver.
    <p>
    Guest
    The Oakville Soccer Club in Oakville, Ont. touts itself as "the largest community soccer organization in Canada with more than 12,000 players". The club has also turned out a number of Canadian national team players, and brought hundreds upon hundreds of youngsters to men's national team games over the past several years.
    Now, to celebrate the club's 40th anniversary, they're hosting a special celebrity game, featuring some familiar footie names -- including Jason de Vos, Kara Lang, Clare Rustad and Rohan Ricketts -- and some special guests, including CFL legends Damon Allen, Pinball Clemons and Mike Vanderjagt. And if watching those world-class athletes play isn't enough of a draw, you can also watch them run circles around a bunch of questionably-in-shape soccer media folks, including myself and Rycroft.
    More details after the jump.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The game is on Thursday, July 5 at Bronte Athletic Field in Oakville. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds support the club's fee assistance program. If that program is what it sounds like, then I can tell you from personal experience that such programs do a lot of good, providing soccer-playing opportunities to deserving kids who wouldn't otherwise get that chance.
    All of the other details you'd need are on OSC's website -- and if you can't make it out, I believe the game is going to be shown on television. Which means that my inevitable moment(s) of embarrassment will be broadcast over the air. Sweet. Terrific. Sigh. All for a good cause, right?
    .
    Guest
    In Part One, we established that only three of twenty-five NHL expansion teams since 1967 missed the playoffs in all of their first six seasons.
    Since Toronto FC faces the very real prospect of doing exactly that, the search continues today for the least-accomplished North American big-four expansion squads since 1967.
    It should be noted that playoff spots are not created equal. It’s traditionally been easier to make the post-season in the NHL than it now is in Major League Soccer. Throughout the eighties, sixteen of twenty-one NHL teams skated for the Stanley Cup each spring.
    It is, therefore, a little easier to miss the playoffs six years in a row in MLS – though Toronto FC will be the first, if they don’t pull off a miracle escape.
    That brings us to …
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Major League Baseball:
    For most of the time in question, only four of twenty-four MLB teams made the playoffs. So, to even things up a little, the focus here will be on .500 seasons.
    Kansas City Royals (1969): Topped the .500 mark in years three and five, before falling back to 77-85 in year six. Two seasons later, they began a run of seven playoff appearances in ten years.
    Montreal Expos (1969): Didn’t play .500 ball in any of their first ten years, but were very close (79 wins) in years five and six. Not a bad TFC parallel.
    San Diego Padres (1969): Really, really, really bad ball club for nine straight years. Year six (60-102) was their fourth hundred-loss season.
    Seattle Pilots (1969): Became the Milwaukee Brewers after one dreadful year in Frasiertown. Not as awful as San Diego, but this franchise also didn’t see the sunny side of .500 until year ten.
    Seattle Mariners (1977): Baseball is a tough gig, kids! The expansion Mariners were sub-.500 – for 14 years in a row!
    Toronto Blue Jays (1977): Like many of their expansion cousins, the Jays were sub-.500 for all of their first six years. They topped the mark in year seven, and much, much fun ensued. Toronto FC should do so well!
    Colorado Rockies (1993): Things were very different when baseball finally decided to expand again. Yeah, the Rockies were sub-.500 in year six, but they were above in three, four and five. Year three was an actual playoff run.
    Florida Marlins (1993): Bad, bad, awful year six, at 54-108. Mitigated slightly because they won the World Freakin’ Series in year five. (They were then bland and bad right through year ten. Mitigated slightly because they won the World Freakin’ Series in year eleven.)
    Arizona Diamondbacks (1998): By year six, they were a solid winning team. Three playoff appearances – and they won the World Freakin’ Series in year four.
    Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998): The devil made them do it. Ten-straight awful seasons, the very best being 70 wins in year seven. Dropped “Devil” from their name, and won the American League championship in year eleven.
    The worst of the bunch appears to be the Seattle Mariners. In those first six seasons, by the way, they had only three managers. San Diego – right there with them – also used just three managers. The Pilots/Brewers had four skippers, but the franchise shift likely contributed to one of those changes.
    National Football League:
    Again, playoff spots are scarce. The NFL has this odd notion that, to make it to the post-season, a team should actually be one of the very best in the business. But more teams make it here than in baseball, so let’s just jump in and see what awaits us.
    I’m not going to include the NFL/AFL merger of 1970. The ten teams that came over from the rival league were intact and pre-existing. There was no expansion draft, and they kicked butt from the get-go.
    New Orleans Saints (1967): Here’s what we needed to see, TFC fans. By any scale, one of the very worst expansion teams of all time. In year six, the ‘Aints went 2-11-1. They wouldn’t see .500 till year thirteen, and wouldn’t top 8-8 or make the playoffs for their first two decades.
    Seattle Seahawks (1976): 6-10 in year six, but had two winning 9-7 seasons before that. Made the AFC championship game two years later.
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976): All time record for consecutive losses after a franchise birth – 26. Conference finalists in year four, back in the playoffs in season six.
    Carolina Panthers (1995): Conference finalists in year two. In the NFL!
    Jacksonville Jaguars (1995): Conference finalists in year two. In the NFL!
    Cleveland Browns (1999): Basically awful for eight years, but turned a 9-7 record into a playoff berth in season four. Put up a fine scrap before losing 36-33 to Seattle.
    Houston Texans (2002): Year six was their first .500 season. Won 4, 5, 7, 2 and 6 games out of 16 before that. Texans fans and TFC fans would understand each other well, I think. (Only two coaches, though.)
    The worst of the worst, hands down, is New Orleans. For the record, in those dismal opening six years, the Saints employed just two head coaches.
    National Basketball Association:
    Again, the merger year isn’t being counted. The New Jersey Nets may have been a basket-case basketball team, but they were not an expansion squad.
    Playoff frequency is similar here to MLS, so that’s all we’re going to watch for.
    San Diego Rockets (1967): Now in Houston, of course. Sub-.500 for all six of their opening seasons, but snuck into the playoffs in year two.
    Seattle SuperSonics (1967): Not bad in year five, but awful a year later. Went through five coaches in that time. Very tight TFC parallel.
    Milwaukee Bucks (1968): A playoff team from years two-to-six, with an NBA championship (12-2 playoff run, capped by a sweep in the finals) in season three.
    Phoenix Suns (1968): Like the Rockets, they snuck into the post-season in year two. Had some winning seasons, but season six found them in the middle of a three-year backslide.
    Buffalo Braves (1970): Three horrible seasons, then a decent playoff team in years four, five and six. Were fated to become the Los Angeles Clippers.
    Cleveland Cavaliers (1970): After five losing seasons, the Cavs won their way to the conference final in year six, and would be in the playoffs nine times in eleven years.
    Portland Trail Blazers (1970): Six losing, non-playoff seasons in a row, with four coaches. TFC fans should be delighted these teams are so similar. The Blazers won the NBA championship in year seven, and were in the post-season 27 of the next 28 years!
    New Orleans Jazz (1974): No winning seasons, no playoffs, relocated to Utah for year six, and went 24-58. Burned through five coaches, but two of them were the same guy.
    Dallas Mavericks (1980): Unbelievably bad at the start, a consistent playoff team (under just one coach) by season six.
    Charlotte Hornets (1988): .500 in season six, coming off a decent playoff run the year before.
    Miami Heat (1988): Didn’t win a lot of ball games, but back-doored their way into the post-season in seasons four and six.
    Minnesota Timberwolves (1989): Under four different coaches, they suffered through six useless seasons. Eight-straight playoff runs lay ahead, but it was dismally TFC-like in Minny for a long while.
    Orlando Magic (1989): Lost in the NBA finals to the Houston Rockets in year six.
    Toronto Raptors (1995): Playoff runs in year five and six, capped by Vince Carter hitting the rim with an open jumper that could have put them in the conference final.
    Vancouver Grizzlies (1995): Year six was their “best” in Vancouver (just 23-59), and also their last. Burned through five coaches, too.
    Charlotte Bobcats (2004): Year six was their only winning season, and lone playoff appearance. They were swept.
    The Grizzlies and Jazz are left to fight it out for the worst six-year debut in NBA history.
    Whew!
    That’s a lot of material, and thanks for staying with me this far.
    Yes, I’m going somewhere with this, and I expect to get there early next week.
    Happy Canada Day, everyone.
    Onward!
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps returned to training yesterday and immediately got back into business mode releasing midfielder Floyd Franks and trading striker Long Tan to DC United.
    With a bye week looming, the players were given a mini break after last weekend's heavy defeat in Los Angeles and are now looking to bounce back in the second match of their five game road trip in Colorado on Wednesday.
    The players were looking keen to get back on the pitch, but all that was overtaken by what was happening off it.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Floyd Franks was not at training and it was soon confirmed by the Caps that he had been released.
    No real surprise there. Most of us were expecting it. He just didn't look to be MLS quality in what we saw of him at training, in his two MLS substitute appearances and in his one start in the Voyageurs Cup.
    It's been a frustration of mine all season to see Franks get minutes and appear on the bench ahead of Bryce Alderson, especially after how well the Residency product did in pre-season against MLS opposition.
    Martin Rennie told the media after training that Franks was a player that was used to starting and as he wasn't in the plans to be a starter with the Caps, it was felt to be in the interest of both parties to let him go.
    He did score one goal for the Whitecaps - in a reserve game down in Portland. So did Mustapha Jarju. Must be something in the water down there.
    The other player movement yesterday also didn't come as much of a surprise, as Long Tan finally got his wish and left Vancouver.
    Tan made 17 appearances in MLS for the Caps, with four this year, the last of which came in a brief substitution appearance against New York Red Bulls last Wednesday.
    Traded to DC United for a third-round selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, it's not exactly a deal of epic proportions. At least the Caps can use that pick to get a player that wants to be at the Club and bid his time.
    Tan hit the headlines a few weeks ago with his tweets asking to get away from Vancouver. Suspended by the club for a week, and rightly falling down the striking pecking order, you knew the writing was on the wall, although Rennie has said that the tweet did not play a part. Make your own minds up.
    He was a frustrating player to watch. He struggled in the early stages of the PDL season last year, then found a groove and got some first team minutes. He was quick and caused defences problems. Often that looked to be because he didn't seem to know what he was going to do himself. Then there was that horrible, horrible chipped penalty miss in pre-season down in Orlando.
    At training Thursday he was wearing a different bib to the other players, in what I can only liken to throwball training when the quarterback is wearing a different colour so that people know not to hit him.
    He threw a strop at one point and stormed off, only to be calmed down by Martin Rennie, and he continued the rest of the session off to the side. It was a mark of both his frustration and immaturity. To those of us watching, you knew he was toast.
    Hours later and he was gone to DC, the club where he got his first ever MLS trial - under Tommy Soehn!
    He's not likely to have it much easier there and will be well down the pecking order once again. How long before his next outburst?
    These departures, along with Michael Boxall's last week, leave the Caps with three open spots on the MLS squad. With Caleb Clarke likely to secure a year long loan with German club Rot-Weiss Erfurt next month, that will made four.
    The speculation will now be who will fill them? And will there be any more players heading off to pastures new?
    I think we can almost say for certain, yes to that last one.
    The Carlos Bocanegra rumours are still hanging around and it is widely expected that Rennie will add at least one more holding midfielder to the squad, and possibly two, with another defender expected as well.
    Personally, we're hoping, and expecting, to see top Residency prospect Ben Fisk get rewarded for all of his hard work with a spot with the first team. He can only be signed for the League minimum of $44,004.04 as the club are only allowed to have two Homegrown Players above that and Russell Teibert and Bryce Alderson take those spots. Crazy rules that don't do much to keep our young talent still playing in Canada.
    Rennie was <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?2744-Residency-Prospect-Ben-Fisk-Impresses-In-Whitecaps-Training" target="_blank">high on Fisk pre-season</a> and he has continued to impress in PDL and U18 games this year. With the player not looking at going the NCAA route, it could be a case of sign him or lose him.
    At training Thursday, Greg Klazura played left back in the scrimmage game, with Jordan Harvey on the other side in left midfield. Klazura is more comfortable on the left, and I feel that he's a better player there too. Could this be signalling the end of Harvey and a trade somewhere? If so, we'll be looking at right back cover too.
    As for the training itself yesterday, Hassli, Mattocks and Robson were playing together and looking pretty sharp.
    Robson was playing some great balls through to the big Frenchman and Hassli was duly burying them.
    Could we see a revitalised Hassli with Robson here now? Could this be the vital spark he has been needing? Or will he be the next name on the chopping block?
    Who knows what news the next few days will bring? Speculate away!
    <p>
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