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    Guest
    Hard as it may be to believe, the Olympics are nearly here -- as evidenced by the release of Canada's 18-player squad in the women's soccer tournament. Big Red faces a daunting opening match (against reigning World Cup champions Japan) on July 25, before going to battle with South Africa and Sweden.
    Head coach John Herdman's roster selection is as follows:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    GK- Karina LeBlanc
    GK- Erin McLeod
    CB- Candace Chapman
    CB- Carmelina Moscato
    CB- Emily Zurrer
    FB- Robyn Gayle
    FB- Lauren Sesselmann
    FB- Chelsea Stewart
    FB- Rhian Wilkinson
    M- Kaylyn Kyle
    M- Diana Matheson
    M- Kelly Parker
    M- Sophie Schmidt
    M- Desiree Scott
    F- Jonelle Filigno
    F- Christine Sinclair
    F- Melissa Tancredi
    F- Brittany Timko
    As one would expect in a tournament of this magnitude, there are no huge surprises or brand-new faces. Still, the list does present a few intriguing points of consideration:

    At the striker position, Christina Julien is out, while Jonelle Filigno is in. Herdman said in the run-up to the Olympics that Filigno would only be included on the roster if her ankle injury was sufficiently healed that she would be able to contribute. If healthy, which this move suggests that she is, Filigno likely presents a more dangerous attacking option than Julien, who has occasionally been let down by a lack of clinical finishing in the past year.
    Another attacking option would have been Chelsea Buckland, but she will unfortunately be out for the Olympics and beyond after tearing the ACL in her left knee several weeks ago.
    After being left off the qualifying tournament roster in favour of 22-year-old Shannon Woeller, Emily Zurrer has earned her way back onto the senior roster. Zurrer, who turns 25 next month, has plenty of experience with the national team, including patrolling the Canadian backline during the 2008 Olympics.
    Speaking of Olympic experience, 12 of the 18 players on the roster took part in the Beijing Games. The Olympic neophytes are Lauren Sesselmann, Chelsea Stewart, Desiree Scott, Kaylyn Kyle and Carmelina Moscato.

    So what do you think? Does Herdman have it right? Any glaring omissions from the roster? And how will this team do when it's all on the line next month?
    .
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Sucker!

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Watching TFC reminds me of
    .I wrote them off for the tenth time today
    I thought about what the tifo would say
    But then they scored
    I lost my nerve
    I took them back and bought a new shirt
    I don’t think I’m alone. We’re in an unbalanced relationship with the Reds and we’re well aware of it. We spend hours out of every day telling all our friends about how we need to move on – and those that don’t really know them the way you know them agree 100 per cent – but when it gets right down to it we just can’t.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]In your mind you even have sometimes. You’ve convinced yourself to accept the healthier, but less dramatic, relationship you’re in (Euro/South American club), you can’t help yourself.
    Even though there are times when they can make you feel lower than low, the opposite can happen too. No one can make you feel as alive as they do. It’s precisely because of the fleeting nature of those good times – it’s rarely predictable when the good days will come – that you keep going back.
    Nothing you’ve ever experienced feels as real or as awesome as when you even get the smallest bit of reward from them. Nothing. It’s irrational, and you know it. No one else does it to you either. Just them. Anyone else and you’d have moved on years ago.
    They know they have you too. Everyone knows they have you and that you will pretty much take any amount of abuse. They make you weak. They make you a sucker with low self-esteem. They know that they can knock on your door at any time and, well…
    But, is there a breaking point? Is there a time when you stop being so dumb and grow a pair? If there ever was it’s now. Turn the tables and make them think about it for once. The few times you have done that in the past they have come back stronger. They have, briefly, given you the upper hand.
    You’re smart enough to understand that they can only give you so much right now – there are limits to what they are capable of providing for, likely, a few more years yet. But, you can demand a little more.
    For now, “a little more” doesn’t have to be every week, and there doesn’t need to be any consistent expectation, but you need to have your damn mind blown when it does happen.
    They’ll still be playing you, but if the good times are hot enough it will sustain you through the indifferent efforts. After all, you may be dumb, but you’re not a dweeb – you’re just self-aware enough to realize that you’re not going anywhere because you like the abuse.
    So, you might as well make dessert. Besides you are damn good at it.
    Guest
    Starting today it's "Residency Week" here on AFTN.
    And there's no better time, as the Whitecaps U18's and U16's flew out of Vancouver this morning and headed to Dallas for the USSDA playoffs.
    We have a lot planned for you, but don't worry, we'll still be bringing you loads about the MLS Caps as well.
    Coming up this week are exclusive interviews with Residency Head Coach Craig Dalrymple, top U18 goalkeeping prospect Callum Irving and U16 goalscoring phenom Brody Huitema.
    We're also going to begin our in-depth countdown of the best young Caps talent at the moment, and a couple of surprises we don't want to spoil just yet, as we aim to bring you unparalleled coverage of the Whitecaps Residency program.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Let's kick things off tonight with a look at how both Caps sides got to the playoffs and the games and opposition that they will face now that they're there.
    It's been a tremendous first year in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) for the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency teams.
    As the first Canadian sides to enter the system, they've set a high standard for others to follow, and Montreal Impact will make their debut in USSDA next season.
    Both the Caps U18's and the U16's won their 'West Conference - Northwest Division' Championships, and they did so in some style.
    The U18's were strong from start to finish over the course of the ten month season.
    They started with a 5-1 win over Real Salt Lake AZ in September and never really looked back. The were unbeaten in their first nine games and ended the season with only one loss in their last eleven matches, scoring 19 goals in their last three.
    Those results helped them to first place in the Northwest, four points clear of second place California side De Anza Force and ten points clear of third place Seattle Sounders.
    Overall, they played 26 games, winning 18, drawing 3 and losing 5, for a 57 points total and a 2.19 points per games played ratio (PPG).
    That latter statistic is important in the USSDA and we'll explain why later.
    The Caps scored an impressive 80 goals and conceded 41 over the course of the ten month season, with their biggest victory coming with a <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3302-Whitecaps-hit-eleven-past-Seattle-Sounders-in-USSDA-action" target="_blank">9-0 drubbing of Seattle Sounders</a> at SFU on June 3rd.
    The Whitecaps used 17 players over the course of the season, with Wesley Cain, Ben Fisk and Carlos Patino being the only players to play in all 26 games. Tim Hickson, Ben McKendry and Alex Rowley played in 25 matches and Daniel Stanese had the most actual starts with 24, closely followed by Ben Fisk on 23.
    When you consider that the team played back to back games on five weekends in California and Florida, that's pretty impressive going. I never want to hear a first team player complaining about too many games in a short space of time again!
    The goalscoring was phenomenal.
    Caleb Clarke scored 24 goals in 23 appearances, and Yassin Essa netted 18 in 24, including two consecutive hat-tricks to round the season off.
    The U16's were also strong from the start, losing only one of their first eight games, and beat Seattle Sounders to the top spot in the eight team Northwest Division by six points.
    Overall, they played 26 games, winning 17, drawing 3 and losing 6, for a 2.08 points per games played ratio.
    The Caps scored 57 goals and conceded just 22 over the course of the ten month season, with their biggest victories being two 5-0 away triumphs over the Californian Development Academy in September and San Jose Earthquakes in February.
    The U16's used 24 players over the course of the season, with no player being ever-present. Quinton Duncan and Mitch Piraux played in 25 of the games, with Piraux and Jackson Farmer having the most starts with 24.
    The goalscoring sensation of the team was undoubtedly Brody Huitema, who scored 20 goals in 22 games and got a lot of attention from scouts. The next highest was Sebastian Cabrera with 8.
    Winning their respective Divisional Championships guaranteed both the Caps U18 and U16 sides a spot in their first ever USSDA playoffs.
    The first round of the playoffs are being held in Frisco at the FC Dallas Sports Park complex this week, from June 25th to 29th.
    32 teams have made the post-season at both age levels and are split into eight teams of four. The top two sides in each of the ten USSDA Divisions automatically qualified, along with 12 wild card spots awarded to the teams with the best PPG ratio.
    The eight group winners will then be heading back to Texas from July 16th to 23rd for Finals Week in Houston.
    Let's hope both Whitecaps teams will be there.
    On paper, the Caps U18's have the easier of the two playoff groups and are top seeds in Group 2. The U16's have a slightly harder task.
    Being Divisional winners only guarantees you a spot in the playoffs, it doesn't guarantee you top seeding when the groups are drawn, as Residency Head Coach Craig Dalrymple explains:
    <i>"(Winning your division) guaranteed you a playoff spot, but they seed the teams across the country based on points per game ratio or average.
    The U16 program was seeded ninth, so the top eight seeds in the country were the first teams in each group and we were the ninth, so unfortunately we fell into the second round of teams getting selected.
    But that's just stats. At the end of the day we're ultimately confident we'll go there and have success."</i>
    That's what you like to hear.
    As is the fact that both teams aren't going there just to make up the numbers and enjoy the experience. They're going there to win:
    <i>"Martin Rennie's philosophy is to develop a winning mentality and winning coaching.
    The players have earned the right to go to the national stage and now they have to flick the switch from development and putting performances in, to now winning games, and that's ultimately the last test of their development."</i>
    So who are our lads up against in their quest for glory?
    The U18's have been drawn against Pateadores, Weston FC and Texans SC Houston.
    All three made it through to the playoffs in wild card spots thanks to their overall PPG ratio, and the Caps have played all bar Weston FC already this season, so have a little bit of an idea what to expect.
    First up on Monday are Pateadores, who hail from around Irvine, California and are the reigning U18 Playoff Champs. They play in the SoCal Division of the Western Conference and finished fourth in their division behind LA Galaxy, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake. Their 1.63 PPG average saw them make the playoffs and give them the chance to defend their title.
    The Caps have played them once this year, beating them 1-0 in a close game in Surrey on March 31st, thanks to a 73rd minute Yassin Essa goal. That was the last loss for Pateadores, who come into the tournament unbeaten in five.
    The next day, Weston FC are the opponents. Hailing from near Fort Lauderdale in Florida, Weston also finished fourth in their Division, the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference, with a GGP of 1.76.
    It might all come down to the final match on Thursday against Houston Texans Soccer Club, who finished in third place in the Texas Division of the Central Conference.
    They just missed out on an automatic qualifying spot in a division won by FC Dallas. They got in with their 1.87 PPG ratio and head into the playoffs unbeaten in their last six matches.
    The Texans will feel comfortable at home, in the surroundings and heat. They also have the advantage of being one of the few teams to beat the Caps this season, winning 3-1 at the Florida showcase in December, despite Yassin Essa giving the Caps a 1-0 lead at half time.
    Let's hope for some revenge when it really matters.
    The U16's have been drawn against FC Greater Boston, Charlotte Soccer Academy and South Carolina United Battery, none of whom have faced the Caps this season.
    All three sides automatically qualified for the playoffs, with Greater Boston and South Carolina winning their respective divisions.
    The Battery are first up on Tuesday, having won the Southeast Division of the South Conference with an impressive PPG of 2.16.
    Charlotte Soccer Academy are next up on Wednesday. Charlotte finished a distant second in the Atlantic Division of the South Conference, with a PPG of just 1.56. On paper, this should be the Caps easiest match but Charlotte have only one loss in their last eight games.
    The U16's third and final group game is on Friday against Greater Boston, who head into the playoffs on a four game winning streak. The Massachusetts side narrowly won the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference ahead of the New England Revolution, despite having a worse PPG ratio of 1.81.
    A tougher group than the U18's but certainly one that is very winnable.
    Both the Whitecaps teams have the players and abilities to make it through to Finals week. What is going to be the real test for them is not so much their opponents as the blistering Texas heat, with temperatures expected to reach highs of around 35 degrees every day and possibly into the 40's. It's going to feel in the 40's no matter what.
    With the U18's having two games kicking off at 6pm local time and one at 9am, they might miss the worst of it. The U16's have a tougher 9am, 4.30pm and 6pm schedule. Missing the worst of it of course means temperatures only in the very high 20's!
    Vancouver will be playing sides that are used to such heat and humidity and if they can overcome that, then I think we'll be looking at two group winners and players that will be able to handle whatever MLS or NASL throws at them down the road.
    No matter what happens to both teams in the playoffs, we should all be proud of what they've achieved and the development we've seen from them this season.
    They've done themselves proud and they've done Vancouver Whitecaps proud. You can't ask for more than that.
    We'll have updates from Dallas here on AFTN throughout the week, but Caps fans can get real-time updates through US Soccer's Twitter account <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ussoccer_ynt" target="_blank"><b>@ussoccer_ynt</b></a> and look out for the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23AcademyPlayoffs" target="_blank"><b>#AcademyPlayoffs</b></a>.
    <p>
    Guest
    As they say, the message is everything. More importantly, managing your message is everything. And in a season that is all but over there is only one thing that matters from here on in, keeping Toronto fans engaged.
    There is a way to do that correctly and then there is a way that it is being done. So, for your reading pleasure I present: 'Things I don't want to hear a Toronto coach mention for the rest of the season.'
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    "Effort"
    Talking about effort is nauseating. I assume that week in and week out the team is trying hard. I don't need to hear about how this week's effort was better than last week's effort. Or, how next time you're going to try to put in a better effort. Or how the other team's effort was better than yours. These are professional athletes. I just assume they're working hard. And if they're not putting in the time, why are they out on the pitch anyways? If you have a little kid and he comes up second in a race or whatever, that's a time when you can tell him, "Hey, little guy. You put in your best effort. You'll do better next time"
    But this isn't the school yard and your fans are not little kids. So, just assume we know you're trying hard.
    "Playing for contracts"
    This messaging usually comes out towards the end of the season when it becomes apparent that Toronto is not going to make the playoffs. Granted, it's going to come a lot sooner this season but let's not wait and just skip over the whole 'they're playing for their jobs' mantra. They should all be playing for their jobs. All of the time. If they aren't, then you aren't doing your job as a manager and an organization. If players are going to be pushed, they need to feel like at any moment some younger talent is going to come along and relegate them to the bench.
    Every position should have some level of depth where a player is at least challenging for a job. Don't have the money to bring in someone? Have an academy kid in. He is going to be working his butt off anyways to just get a chance at a contract. But just in terms of storyline, playing for contracts is played out. You turn over the entire squad every season anyways, so it will likely be of little interest.
    "Playing for the badge/the jersey/the fans"
    Normally, as a fan, this is something that I would adore hearing from players. It creates a connection, however fleeting, and furthers the idea that they're here for something beyond just their paycheck. It gives a purpose and a place to supporters who live it each week. But given that I've heard every manager in Toronto's short existence say it now, it's kind of lost its appeal.
    In fact, when I hear it on TFC PR TV, it really just comes across as some gimmicky marketing stunt. It feels cheap and it rings hollow. And, worse, by using it in that way, it perverts the values most around this community hold. If you really want to create a connection, make people feel like this club is not just there to take their money, go out and reward your customers for their continued loyalty. I said it last week, roll back or freeze ticket prices.
    What is worth hearing
    In reality, the only thing worth talking about for the rest of the season is how you plan to improve this team. Not vague, ambiguous statements about steps forward, steps back, please step away from the ledge - specifics on where Paul Mariner and Co. plan to take this club in the next six months. Hell, the next six years. What positions are you going to replace? Who are you actively seeking out? How is your pragmatist style of route one football going to improve the current lot of fortune?
    Results and performances, not catch phrases are what matter - because when all the gimmicks are gone, the marketing plans deployed, the season ticket renewals underway, the only thing that is going to resonate at the end of this season is where the team is at in its current re-development. The sooner you get around to telling the fans this, the sooner they can make up their mind if this is something they want to continue to support.
    But make no mistake, the message is as muddled as its ever been. Changing that won't fix the squad but it might help to fix the relationship your customers currently have to it.
    Guest
    You're going to have these nights and it's how you bounce back from them that really matters.
    That seems to be message coming out of the Whitecaps after last night's poor showing against the LA Galaxy.
    And so it should be.
    Games like this can only be used as learning points and development for the team to move forward.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We're still sitting third (at least until after today's Cascadia derby), have a seven point cushion for a playoff spot, have played some lovely football all season and have some really exciting talent.
    It's easy to get a bit down after a dismantling like that, but we certainly shouldn't be hitting any panic buttons just yet.
    There are concerns though and it's up to the management team to quickly address them.
    It was the worst we've seen the Caps play all season and hopefully that is as bad as it gets, as LA tore our defence to pieces in that first half.
    It was a DIY disaster at the Home Depot Center. They did it to themselves.
    We should be getting used to these games against LA now mind you. They seem to have our number in MLS action.
    Three games, three losses, no goals scored and ten against. Scary stuff.
    And it could have been a lot worse if the Galaxy had taken their chances, and if we hadn't regrouped for that second half and they seemed to take their foot off the gas a little.
    That is pretty much the only positive we can take from the evening.
    Our defence has been stellar all season, yet last night they were communicating as if they had never seen each other before.
    Martin Bonjour had a mare, and Jay DeMerit wasn't far behind him.
    It was as if the pair were saying to Martin Rennie, "Bocanegra's a great idea".
    How can a defence that is amongst the best in Major League Soccer, and one that has recorded seven clean sheets, have a goal difference of minus one??!
    No team sitting third in the West should have a minus goal difference!
    The simple answer is when we lose, we crash and burn big time.
    We've only lost four times this year, but they have been by margins of 3-1 (twice), 4-1 and 3-0.
    Brutal.
    It's hard to find players that actually get any pass marks.
    We had four strikers on the pitch in that second half and offered hardly any attack.
    Darren Mattocks just wasn't getting the supply he needs and Sebastien Le Toux was MIA for most of the match.
    At least Camilo provided a little spark when he came on.
    The midfield were dominated and will now be weakened, with Jun Marques Davidson's suspension and another possible injury to John Thorrington. Barry Robson's going to get thrown straight into the mix whether that was the original plan or not.
    How someone who is still technically in pre-season shape and form going to handle the heat and altitude in Colorado for his first match in MLS?
    The worst aspect of the loss was that the Galaxy are right back in the playoff mix again.
    They were always going to be.
    I've been waiting weeks for them to finally click and hit their stride and now, with three wins on the trot, they're starting to climb the table and are sitting fifth.
    We're now looking at six teams battling for the five playoff spots (I still think Chivas will slowly start to drop off).
    It doesn't take much of a run, good and bad, for the West to really tighten up. The last few weeks of the season could be epic, with all to play for.
    Last night's loss wasn't how you really want to start a five game road trip, but it sets up the next match for being of huge importance.
    It could still be shaping up for ourselves and Colorado to be battling it out for the last playoff spot.
    We have a seven point lead over the Rapids, but they have a game in hand. They win that and win on July 4th, and we're looking at a one point cushion and we have horrible goal difference.
    Not much room for error then.
    Getting anything out of the game in Colorado is now the number one priority in this tough spell of games.
    With the heat, altitude, injuries and suspensions, it's going to be difficult, but it's going to be the mark of just how much of Championship contenders this Vancouver Whitecaps side really is.
    'Mon the Caps.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>AFTN 3-2-1:</b>
    Possibly our hardest one yet. Not even sure about it without watching the game again and I don't want to do that!
    3 points - JUN MARQUES DAVIDSON (worked extremely hard covering at the back)
    2 point - YOUNG-PYO LEE (worked hard up and down the right wing, with little to show for it. best of a bad bunch at the back)
    1 point - CAMILO SANVEZZO (at least added some spark for second half)
    </p>
    Guest
    I got nothing. So allow Bill Murray to demonstrate what all TFC fans feel after every game day.
    Again.
    And again.
    And again.
    And again.
    And...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]


    Part II later today after I work up the energy to talk about it. Again.
    Part III Thursday morning...
    Guest

    Calamitous Caps lose heavily in LA

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Vancouver Whitecaps headed to LA tonight and a lethargic display saw them torn apart by a resurgent Galaxy side, who comfortably made it three wins in a week.
    Many felt this was a great test to how far the Caps have come this season. We can only hope it wasn't.
    Vancouver went with the line up that beat Colorado last Saturday, but they looked like a different side from the off and went down to a 3-0 defeat that could have been a lot worse.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The opening minutes had little of note, bar a few Galaxy corners and an early booking for David Beckham.
    The home side got the breakthrough though in the 16th minute when Beckham hit a corner deep into the box and onto the head of Hector Jimenez.
    His downwards header, led to some penalty box pinball and Joe Cannon did well to keep a goalbound deflection out, but he could only palm the ball into the path of Mike Magee, who had the easy job of tapping in the opener.
    It was poor defending from a normally solid Whitecaps backline.
    LA nearly made it two in the 29th minute.
    Jay DeMerit was caught sleeping and dispossessed by Landon Donovan. The Galaxy captain bore down on goal, one on one with Cannon, but pulled his shot wide left when he should have at least got something on target.
    It didn't matter as LA did add a second a minute later.
    After neat movement and six passes, Robbie Keane collected a short pass from Donovan and the Irishman waltzed through three Caps players before easily slotting past Cannon.
    It was more terrible defending by the Caps and Martin Bonjour, in particular, was left completely flat footed.
    Things went from bad to worse for Bonjour two minutes later after he completely misjudged a harmless long punt, allowing Donovan to go one-on-one again with Cannon, but this time he pulled his shot right and into the side netting.
    Vancouver already looked lethargic and a spent force and when LA made it three before half time, it was well and truly game over.
    Once again, defensive errors were to blame.
    DeMerit was again caught sleeping, this time on a long through ball, and this allowed Keane to get goalside of the Caps captain. DeMerit did well to close down but Keane's shot ricocheted of his left arm and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
    Up stepped Donovan and this time he made no mistake down to middle to make it 3-0 after 41 minutes.
    LA kept the pressure on straight from the kick off and Magee forced Cannon into a save with a long range effort.
    The Whitecaps had hardly spent any time on attack it seemed, but tried to get some kind of offense going in the closing minutes of the half.
    Davide Chiumiento fired into the side netting in stoppage time, but that was by far the closest the visitors had come to troubling the Galaxy goal.
    What Martin Rennie could say to the team after that first half performance, it's hard to imagine, but the key for the second period was not to have a display that would seriously knock their confidence going forward and hamper their goal difference in the process.
    Things didn't start off much better for the Caps as the second half got underway, with John Thorrington limping off within three minutes with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
    Camilo was the replacement and he nearly pulled one back in the 52nd minute after collecting a pass from Sebastien Le Toux and curling an effort just past the right hand post.
    The Caps bad night continued in the 62nd minute when Jun Marques Davidson picked up a booking for a tough tackle, ruling him out of the next match in Colorado.
    Camilo had another chance in the 69th minute but hit his 25 yard free kick straight at Josh Saunders.
    Keane had the ball in the net again for LA with nine minutes remaining but the linesman had quickly put his flag up for offside.
    Camilo was really the only player on the Caps attack that had any spark of danger about him and he forced Saunders into a diving stop as the game moved into stoppage time.
    The second half felt like a going through the motions exercise, but at least Vancouver didn't lose another goal and go into any worse goal difference of minus one.
    The Whitecaps now go into an eleven day break before returning to their road trip with what is another crucial match-up against Colorado.
    The team responded well after their last break and came out all guns blazing and this was Vancouver's first defeat in six games. That's the positive way to look at this performance and move on.
    A similar lethargic performance against the Rapids will certainly be punished and will make the second half of the season a lot more difficult for the Caps.
    We can only hope that this off day was a blip and not what lies in store on this five game road trip.
    ATT: 21,529
    FINAL SCORE: Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
    LOS ANGELES GALAXY: Josh Saunders; Todd Dunivant, A.J. DeLaGarza, David Lopes, Sean Franklin; Mike Magee (Bryan Jordan 75), David Beckham, Juninho, Hector Jimenez (Michael Stephens 65); Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan (Chad Barrett 90) [subs Not Used: Brian Perk, Tommy Meyer, Bryan Gaul, Marcelo Sarvas]
    VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Alain Rochat; Jun Marques Davidson (Eric Hassli 66), John Thorrington (Camilo Sanvezzo 49), Gershon Koffie; Sebastien Le Toux (Michael Nanchoff 85), Darren Mattocks, Davide Chiumiento [subs not used: Brad Knighton, Jordan Harvey Carlyle Mitchell, Floyd Franks]
    <p>
    Guest
    It's either one of the worst kept Whitecaps transfer secrets ever, or a rumour that has grown more arms and legs than a mutated octopus.
    The 'Carlos Bocanegra to Vancouver' transfer saga has gone on for months now, with Scottish media reporting this week that it is basically a done deal.
    As soon as the plight of crisis club Rangers became unmanageable, clubs and fans all over looked at what Gers players could be pillaged if they went to the wall.
    That time has now come, and it may be very vulturesque, but considering the way the Old Firm have plundered the talents of smaller Scottish League clubs over the years, it is also very fitting and enjoyable.
    Carlos Bocanegra is genuinely one of the few prize catches, but landing him may not be quite that easy.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    At 33 years old, you're looking at a player who still has a lot to give and has invaluable experience at the top levels of the game.
    He's played in the English Premiership, in France and in Scotland. He's played in European club competitions and has over 100 international caps for the US.
    He is the Captain of his country and the Vice-Captain of his club.
    Bocanegra could easily go and play again in the Premiership, or elsewhere in Europe. He is sure to be in demand.
    At some point in a player's life though, he's going to either want to go home, or, as in the case of someone like Barry Robson, start a new life for his family in the last few year's of his playing career.
    Bocanegra left the US to go and play in England in January 2004. He was 24 and has been away from his home for over eight years now. The time may be right for him to return to North America and play out his career in Major League Soccer.
    Under <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/2012-mls-roster-rules" target="_blank">MLS Roster Rules</a>, Section 2A "Allocation Ranking":
    <i>"The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day when the discovery period opens in December. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account.
    Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is the other club’s ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season."</i>
    Unless you've been living in a glass bubble for the last few months, you'll have seen all the rumours around of Bocanegra making the move to Vancouver to partner his friend Jay DeMerit in the centre of the Whitecaps defence.
    The Caps are currently number one in the "Allocation Ranking" and would have first choice on Bocanegra. They could sign him, trade him or simply pass.
    There were some concerns that his previous club of four years, Chicago Fire, may still hold his MLS rights, but this was earlier confirmed not to be the case after he was transferred to Fulham for a cash fee.
    All good news for Vancouver Whitecaps, but it's still not all that simple.
    Here's one of the many new twists in the Rangers saga that has come out today.
    Two Rangers players, Sone Aluko and Rhys McCabe, are <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18560798" target="_blank">reported</a> to have said no to a new contract with the "newco" and say they are walking away.
    They have lodged official objections from their lawyers and are said to be actively seeking new clubs.
    They are the first of possibly many players to do so, although some, like former Scottish international Lee McCulloch, have pledged their future to the new Gers.
    Bocanegra has given no indication either way, although he <a href=" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2149587/Carlos-Bocanegra-threat-quit-Rangers.html" target="_blank">previously said</a> he would quit the club if he was asked to take another pay cut.
    Players moving on is where it all starts to get a bit cloudy and complicated.
    Under European Law, there are two ways to read how footballers are affected.
    One is that their contract is automatically transferred to the "newco" as long as the same terms are offered. The other is that as it's a different business, they can walk away.
    The new owners of Rangers say the former, the players' union (PFA Scotland) says otherwise and that the players can walk away as free agents.
    Nobody knows for 100% certainty.
    It falls under the edict of the 'Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006', or TUPE as it is now commonly part of the Scottish language with all this. TUPE is the UK's implementation of the EU's 'Business Transfers Directive'.
    Rangers players will now likely be a test case, with the club saying that they just can't walk away and are likely to challenge it in a court of law.
    If it was only to be these two players, they may not bother. McCabe is not a big star and Aluko's contract was thought to be expiring this summer with an option anyway.
    If others now start to quickly follow, as is expected, and especially some of the more valuable assets like Bocanegra, then they won't just sit back and allow that without some kicking and screaming.
    This will all take weeks, if not months. Like so many things with this Rangers farce, it leaves the game in an absolute mess.
    So what happens to the player?
    Players' registrations lie with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and they have made no comments on the matter at all.
    It is now up the SFA to decide if the contracts can be released or transferred. If there is then a dispute then FIFA, and undoubtedly the courts, would get involved.
    So if the Caps want the US international how can they get him?
    Well the easiest option would be that they just simply pay Rangers a transfer fee.
    But why would you do that if you could get the player for nothing? Never mind giving money to a club that has cheated and cost many other clubs and businesses a lot of money.
    All the Rangers players that want to leave may be granted a temporary transfer.
    What that means is that if Bocanegra says he wants to go, then the SFA will say ok and the Caps can sign him.
    It would then be up to Rangers to go after the player and the Caps for compensation.
    If nothing can be worked out, then FIFA will get involved, and the unlikeliest of all outcomes would be that he would have to move back to Scotland.
    There has been a similar situation in the past involving a Scottish club, known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster_ruling" target="_blank">Webster Ruling</a>.
    In summary, Andy Webster was a Hearts player that used updated FIFA transfer regulations in 2006 to invoke freedom of movement rights under European Union laws to leave the Scottish club and join Wigan Athletic in the English premiership, despite still being under contract.
    Hearts fought the move and initially refused to release his papers and FIFA intervened.
    Hearts valued the player at £5 million. FIFA awarded them £625,000 as a transfer fee, to be paid by Webster and not Wigan. The Court of Arbitration for Sport then got involved after Hearts appealed, and reduced the fee down to £150,000!
    As you can see, it was a complete shambles then and still is.
    Getting Carlos Bocanegra to Vancouver would not be without it's headaches and possible legal wrangling, but to add a player of that quality, to already one of the best defences in MLS, it is more than worth administrative hassle involved.
    Will it happen? Will it happen soon? Watch this space...
    <p>
    Guest

    PreGame Show - Impact vs Houston

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    This game is presented as the return of Andre Hainault and Brian Ching to Montreal, but it's mostly a "six-point match" with playoff race implications for the Impact.
    Listen to our 20 minutes show where you will hear the Impact's sporting director Nick DeSantis comment on Bernardo Corradi's season-ending injury and the repercussions of this situation on the salary cap and verbal agreement for him to stick with the Impact for the rest of the 2012 season. Also, you will hear from captain Davy Arnaud, midfielder Felipe and coach Jesse Marsch on Saturday night's game.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to the show.
    Guest
    By Mike Crampton
    A little over two weeks after the announcement that Paul Mariner was taking over as the seventh head coach of Toronto FC the Reds’ new boss will face the prospect of his side playing in front of a stadium full of TFC’s own fans for the first time Saturday evening. Barring the sort of turnaround comeback miracle run that only happens in cliché sports movies the result of that match against the New England Revolution will have little influence on the outcome of the Reds’ season. If you’re only interested in whether or not Toronto FC finally makes the MLS Cup Playoffs I’m afraid that Saturday’s match is likely relatively meaningless.
    On the other hand, it’s not hyperbole to argue that this match, an otherwise random game in what has amounted to a one win, one draw, and ten loss season to date, might be one of the most vital home games in TFC’s history.
    Simply put: Paul Mariner needs his team to show up. The level of skepticism felt regarding his appointment and the direction of Toronto FC has not allowed him the usual honeymoon period new coaches enjoy. Many Toronto fans, outraged over the instability and constant turnover in the leadership of the club and sold a glitzy plan about the future of team only to see it seemingly abandoned, may finally be on the verge of walking away. Those fans need to see wins, regular and convincing wins, if they’re to be convinced that the change to Mariner was anything more than the last ditch flailing of an incompetent organization undeserving of further support.
    Further, amidst the tempered enthusiasm of a record setting Champions League run and another Canadian Championship success, it has largely escaped notice that TFC has only scored three goals at home in six league games. Victory over Philadelphia before the international break may have averted making even more embarrassing history but, even then, Toronto supporters only got to see their team lead for the last few minutes of a game. Say what you will about the value of non-league competitions (and it’s worth noting that Toronto supports those tournaments more robustly than just about any other MLS market) the bread and butter of any club, anywhere in the world, is the steady diet of weekend home games that keep regular fans coming back. Arguments over the questionable nobility of sticking with a loser aside, one win, three goals, and about five cumulative minutes in the lead is not the sort of thing that makes a season ticket feel very rewarding.
    Saturday’s opponent being the New England Revolution probably doesn’t help matters. While the subplot of Paul Mariner’s first home game being against the club who’s most successful period he was intimately associated with is interesting most Toronto fans can barely, if at all, remember the years where New England were one of the most consistent forces in MLS’s Eastern Conference. The Revolution’s decline at the end of the Steve Nicol era – post-Mariner it should be noted – has left a mental image of them as one of the more stodgy, boring, and beatable sides TFC will face over the coming months. The reality is a little different.
    A surprise to virtually everyone and written off by pundits at the start of the year new head coach Jay Heaps has quietly transformed the Revs into a respectable mid-table outfit more than capable of playing eye pleasing football and surprising opponents. After a slow start to the season – an away victory in LA was seen more as an emblem of the Galaxy’s decline than the Revolution’s rise – New England has ridden a run of healthy form over their last five games to lift themselves to the fringes of the Eastern Conference playoff race. It’s the sort of first (or second) season most Reds fans had probably hoped for when Aron Winter was appointed back in January of 2011.
    Fortunately for Toronto, New England’s anchor and most recognizable face Shalrie Joseph has been listed as unavailable due to an adductor strain. Joseph’s partnership in the centre of the Revs’ midfield with American international Benny Feilhaber has been the base that Heaps built is team around. With that tandem broken up for the game TFC’s chances have risen significantly. That said, Heaps has been able to unearth a surprising amount of talent and get the most out of new players like Lee Nguyen, Fernando Cardenas, and French striker Saer Sene. Sene was plucked from Bayern Munich’s reserve side as an international signing in the winter and has already scored 7 goals in 13 league appearances. Replacing Joseph won’t be easy but New England is a more talented side than they were given credit for at the beginning of the season and will provide a stiffer test than most Toronto supporters anticipate.
    Paul Mariner’s 4-4-2 arrangement of TFC got goals and just barely hung on for a draw in Houston. It’d be too early to call anything a trend but a win and a better performance against New England would be a hopeful indication that Wednesday night’s positives were more than a fluke. Toronto’s fragile defense – Adrian Cann is still listed as out though it will be interesting to see if Mariner trusts Dicoy Williams to start – may have problems dealing with New England’s attack so goals will likely be necessary. If the new formation can keep creating chances at the rate it did in Houston (and even Kansas City) that will be possible and maybe Toronto fans will get to see some of the exciting attacking football they were promised a year ago.
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    After serving his suspension against New York, <b>Darren Mattocks</b> should return to the starting lineup against LA. The Jamaican’s pace should test the Galaxy’s backline, which likes to play a high line when defending and has conceded a high number of goals this season. Rennie’s hope is that Mattocks will show the same finishing ability that he displayed against the Dynamo rather than what he showed against the Sounders.
    There were questions as to whether <b>David Beckham</b> still has enough in the tank to make a significant contribution to the Galaxy this season. While it was a slow start for the former English International, he has been able to increase his production lately with 1 goal and 3 assists in his last four starts. Beckham is also playing more centrally this year for LA instead of the normal right midfield position he has played in past years.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    With the Galaxy playing an attacking style of football it will be up to <b>Joe Cannon</b> to be the last line of defense for the Caps. So far this season the veteran keeper has been one the best players for Vancouver and could arguably be the club’s MVP. Cannon has done well in organizing the backline and is not hesitant to come off his line when challenging attackers and crosses.
    Having played in every minute this season for the Galaxy, right back <b>Sean Franklin</b> has become one the most reliable players for Bruce Arena. He loves to get forward on the attack and has a high work rate that allows him to track back quickly when their end needs to be defended. The California native was named as the 2008 MLS rookie of the year and is considered one of the best young defenders in MLS.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    Except for a few hiccups against the Rapids, <b>Martin Bonjour</b> has had a good run of performances in recent games. He was already on his way to a 'man of the match' performance with his defensive play against New York. As a bonus he scored a goal in the 75th minute, off a Chiumiento cross, with a finish that normally comes from a striker.
    Since coming back from the U.S. national team <b>Landon Donovan</b> has been the Galaxy’s best player, especially in their last win against RSL where he scored two goals and had an assist in a 3-2 win. With a number of injuries to their forward ranks, the American could play as a striker or wide on the left wing. Last season Donovan burned Vancouver in their first meeting, as he picked a brace and a helper in a 4-0 win.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    7W-5D-3L
    3rd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-1 Draw vs New York Red Bulls
    Los Angeles:
    5W-2D-8L
    7th in Eastern Conference
    Last Match: 3-2 Win at Real Salt Lake
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee), FW Atiba Harris (knee), FW Omar Salgado (foot)
    Doubtful: MF Matt Watson (R ankle sprain)
    Los Angeles:
    Out: DF Andrew Boyens (hernia), FW Edson Buddle (knee), FW Adam Cristman (concussion), DF Omar Gonzalez (knee), MF Dan Keat (knee), DF Leonardo (knee)
    Questionable: DF Bryan Gaul (facial fracture), MF Hector Jimenez (quad), FW Pat Noonan (quad), MF Kyle Nakazawa (back)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    Vancouver Whitecaps hit the road after three straight home matches to face the Los Angeles Galaxy in Southern California. It is the first matchup this season between the two clubs but the second time the Caps will play in the Home Depot Center, having defeated Chivas USA for their first road win in franchise history. The Whitecaps were dominated last season by the Galaxy losing 4-0 at Empire and then 3-0 on the road.
    The starting lineup will be similar to the one that defeated Houston and Colorado as Darren Mattocks returns from a game suspension to start up top as their striker. Beside him on the wings should be Davide Chiumiento on the left and Sebastien Le Toux on the right side.
    Two of the midfield spots will go to Gershon Koffie and Jun Marques Davidson while the third starter will be either John Thorrington, if he is rested enough, or Michael Nanchoff.
    The backline will be similar to the majority of games this season, with Martin Bonjour partnering Jay DeMerit, while Alain Rochat will be on the left and Lee Young-Pyo on the right. No surprise with who starts in goal as Joe Cannon continues to start in every MLS game this year.
    Of the Galaxy big three, only Donovan can be considered a guaranteed starter as Robbie Keane may not be ready to play coming back from Euros and David Beckham may not be able to start for the third time in a week. The Brazilian central midfielder Juninho is another player to be wary of, while Mike Magee will be a threat for LA on the wing.
    When the Caps go out on the attac,k expect a number of early long balls to Mattocks in order to test the Galaxy who like to play a high backline. Even if the tactic doesn’t work it will force LA to back up which will give more space in the middle of the pitch for the midfielders to work the ball up. The Galaxy are strong on the outside so it may be more difficult for the wide players to make runs down the sideline and get their crosses into the box.
    The Galaxy are the last team in MLS that the Caps have yet to get a result against, going pointless against them last year. A solid effort by the club could also reverse the upset feelings the players had after a match that felt more of a loss than a draw. A win or a tie would also extend their MLS unbeaten streak to six and would be a good start to Vancouver’s five game road trip.
    <b>AFTN Prediction: Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Vancouver Whitecaps 1</b>
    <p>
    Guest
    The Euros are still in full flow and whenever there’s a major football tournament my thoughts always turn to Panini sticker albums.
    Ah, that wonderful smell of the adhesive.
    I never ever finished them. Always a couple short, with the best intentions of sending off for the ones I needed, but never ever got round to it.
    My mum would bring me home a couple of packets with her shopping every week. Such excitement opening them and if you saw some shiny foil in there, well wow!
    You'd carry your doublers around everywhere with you, ready for swapsies in the vain hope of getting some obscure card you needed from some obscure kid that you'd just randomly bump in to outside of shops that your folks had gone in to.
    Got, got, got, need, got, need, got, got.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Few friendships were born out of this routine, you knew it was just business.
    It also seemed impossible to complete your collection. Some stickers just didn't seem to exist. Others, mostly of eastern European teams it appeared, had obviously been the results of the repeat print button being stuck at the printers.
    You'd hear the rumours that somebody knew someone who knew this kid that had the complete set, but you never saw the proof.
    There are some out there who will have no idea what I’m talking about, so let’s have a quick history recap to explain.
    Panini stickers are a huge deal around the world, especially in Europe and South America. Kind of like a cult kids classic, which many of us still carry on into adulthood (or force your own kids into adopting the hobby, when it’s really just an excuse for you!).
    Panini have produced stickers, or figurines as they know them by in Italy where the company started, and sticker albums since 1961.
    Collections on a whole host of subjects have been produced over the years and in particular football.
    Originally they consisted of cards which needed glued into albums. Panini then made the revolutionary change of producing self-adhesive stickers in the early 1970’s and a craze was born which has continued to today.
    The huge turning point in Panini’s popularity came in 1970 when they produced their first ever album for a football World Cup.
    The ‘Mexico 70’ album was also their first collection where stickers were sold outside of Italy and adopted their now traditional multi-language notes and captions.
    The albums grew in size and sticker count and the collection produced for the last World Cup in South Africa consisted of 640 stickers.
    So if you’ve never seen a Panini sticker album, what did they look like inside?
    Whether club or country, the team stickers usually consisted of around 20, with player headshots making up most of those. There were always two special ones though – the squad photo and the rarest of all, the foil club crest.
    For the international tournament versions, you would also get sections of posters, stadia, host cities and mascots.
    My brain is going into sentimental overload just thinking about it all!
    For more background, check out a <a href="http://aftncanada.blogspot.ca/2010/04/swapsies-not-same-in-this-modern-age_19.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> I wrote about how our modern lazy ways has taken a lot of enjoyment out of Panini sticker collecting - <a href="http://aftncanada.blogspot.ca/2010/04/swapsies-not-same-in-this-modern-age_19.html" target="_blank">CLICKY</a>.
    Also check out Sonja Missio's <a href="http://www.90minutesofhopp.com/2012/06/modest-proposition.html" target="_blank">90 Minutes of Hopp</a> blog for a modern day swap alternative she's trying to set up.
    I’ve never collected the ones for the Euros, it’s always been World Cup ones for me, as the Euros have never really grabbed my attention all that much.
    I still have my albums from the 1986, 1990, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups. None of them finished of course, bar the last one (see the above article), and only last week bought some incomplete albums from the 1982, 1994 and 1998 finals.
    I had to get them incomplete, partly for cost, partly so that they wouldn’t look out of place with the others, but primarily because I’m a saddo that wanted the fun of tracking down the missing stickers on ebay or wherever and acting like a kid again!
    As that kid, I also collected the ones for the English football league. Can't remember if they did a Scottish one or if they did, if I even collected it. Sadly, and very very regrettably, they're long binned.
    Nowadays, you can get them for the World Cup, the Euros, Copa America, the UEFA Champions League, club football and more, including their first ever Olympics album for the 2012 ones in London.
    There have been a lot of albums produced for individual leagues around Europe and also for individual clubs.
    The official <a href="http://www.paninionline.com/collectibles/institutional/bt/uk/index.asp" target="_blank">Panini website</a> has over 30 national sites you can browse through. If you're wanting a St Pauli sticker album, that's your place to go.
    With such a market of Panini mad fans, there is a huge opportunity for Major League Soccer to give itself a massive promotional boost both here and abroad by signing a tie up deal with Panini to produce a MLS sticker album.
    And you know what sticker fans, such an idea is not outwith the realms of possibility, as the company already have firm footholds in North America and with North American sports.
    Panini acquired an exclusive license to produce NBA stickers in early 2009. A few months later, they bought over an American trading card company and with it, they inherited the rights to NFL licenses.
    In 2010, they added the NHL to their list of licenses acquired.
    MLS are missing out big time in the opportunity to grow their “brand”, and the entire League, both at home and worldwide.
    A MLS Panini sticker album could be sold around the world if they wanted, but ultimately it would most likely just be kept to the North American market.
    A lot of Panini fans elsewhere would want it though. Something new for their collections.
    It happened with the 1990 “Story of the World Cup” set which was exclusive to South America but is now a popular item on ebay.
    Looking at it from a domestic level, it would be a great opportunity for MLS to get their teams and their players out there.
    Kids love collecting such stuff and what better way for fans of all ages to fully learn about the other players and teams in the League.
    How many casual fans could actually name that many players from outwith their market, never mind know what they look like?
    Just imagine the excitement as a kid rushes into his local store and buys a packet of stickers. Eagerly they tear it open and sees the face of Steven Lenhart peeking out at them!
    Hmm, ok, a bad example. That might give him nightmares.
    Kris Boyd. No. Wait.
    Adam Moffat. Hmmm, that might just be me.
    Davide Chiumiento. There ya go.
    It can only be a win-win situation. More brand awareness nationally and internationally and added revenue to boot.
    Considering the other leagues and sports that Panini produce sticker albums for, it would also put Major League Soccer in amongst the big boys and help shake off the less salubrious tag that the League has when it comes to quality from some.
    If MLS want to become one of the top Leagues and destinations in the world as Don Garber says, this is a step towards it.
    Only once your face has been immortalized a little sticker have you truly made it!
    I have stickers of Jay DeMerit and Young-Pyo Lee to prove it. Not to mention Carl Valentine and Bobby Lenarduzzi. Barry Robson has also been immortalised in sticky form.

    All it would need is interest from Panini (why would they turn down a cash cow?), and agreement from MLS and the MLS players union.
    If you’re keen on the idea, then let’s do something about it and email Tanya Rojas, who is the Consumer Products Coordinator at MLS: <b>tanya.rojas@mlssoccer.com</b>.
    Include a link to this article, asking, nay demanding, a Major League Soccer Panini sticker album.
    Send a copy to Panini as well through their customer service page <a href="http://www.paniniamerica.net/custserv.cfm" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
    Then sit back and wait for the chance to add a Russell Teibert sticker to your album. You know you want to.
    The campaign starts here!
    <p>
    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>.
    <center>********************</center>
    Last weekend saw a good BCS return for the Caps of 60%, hugely assisted by their own win over Colorado to move up to third in the West.
    A mixed bag of midweek results (20% BCS), but the Caps still sit third and now have a nice eight point cushion to sixth place.
    This weekend they face what is possibly a resurgent Los Angeles Galaxy side, who at the very least have their confidence back after two consecutive wins. The gap between the sides is currently nine. Make that twelve and you’re looking at a huge advantage for the second half of the season. Cut it to six and then the Galaxy are right back in the playoff mix and breathing space has just been snuffed out.
    But what are the <i>”Best Case Scenarios”</i> we’re hoping to see in the rest of the week 16 games this weekend?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Nine games are being played over Saturday and Sunday and every one is an intra-conference clash, five eastern and four western. So only four matches to keep a really close eye on, including our own.
    <b><u>Los Angeles Galaxy v Vancouver Whitecaps</u></b>
    Current Whitecaps Points: 26 (3rd in West)
    If Whitecaps Win: 29 points (Best Case Scenario = 3rd in West, four points behind leaders / Worst Case Scenario = 4th, nine points behind leaders)
    If Whitecaps Draw: 27 points (BCS = 3rd / WCS = 4th)
    If Whitecaps Lose: 26 points (BCS = 3rd / WCS = 4th)
    Maximum Points Total Possible: 83
    Projected Points Total On Current Results: 56 - 59 points
    Playoff Likelihood: 88%
    <b><u>Toronto v New England Revolution</u>
    <u>Philadelphia Union v Sporting Kansas City</u>
    <u>Montreal Impact v Houston Dynamo</u>
    <u>Chicago Fire v Columbus Crew</u>
    - four all-eastern clashes with no impact or interest to Caps</b>
    <b><u>Real Salt Lake v San Jose Earthquakes</u> - Draw</b>
    Huge game between the top two in the West. They’ve been out in front early and haven’t shown too many signs that that is going to change any time soon. With so much of the season left to go, we need to keep our friends close and our enemies closer. At some point, it’s going to be good for the Caps if one team starts to beat all comers and takes points of our playoff rivals, but for now it has to be a draw that we’re cheering for.
    <b><u>Dallas v Chivas</u> - Draw</b>
    Dallas have been very poor and Chivas are continuing to surprise. There’s still enough time for either team to put a run together that could threaten the Caps, so both of them losing points on Saturday is ideal for now. A Dallas win wouldn’t exactly break my heart right now either mind you. They haven’t won in ten games so I wouldn’t go putting money on that outcome!
    <b><u>Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders</u> - Portland win for playoffs, draw for Cascadia Cup</b>
    The first Cascadian derby of the season not to involve the Caps! You never really want to see either of these teams win, so it’s a tough one. Portland are an absolute shambles at the moment and the least likely threat to the Caps playoff hopes, so a win for the Timbers wouldn’t be too bad and would keep Seattle below us for sure. On the other hand, a draw would help the Caps in their quest for the Cascadia Cup. Playoffs are the more important factor though, so it’s Timbers for us.
    <b><u>New York Red Bulls v D.C. United</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    The other Sunday game is an all-eastern clash with no impact on the Caps playoff wise, but could be an interesting battle between two of the top sides out east.
    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

    Beyond the Montano incidents

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    Montreal is talking about the Impact again, but, once again, it's for the wrong reasons. The player in the middle of the storm this time is Colombian striker Miguel Montano, a young player that the club has a hard time with and has struggled to find the right punishment to deal with his antics.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The latest case: In an unfortunate incident a few days ago a Société de Transport de Montréal employee reportedly refused to serve the player -- returning his money as he was trying to buy tickets to take the subway -- because he was not speaking French. Correctly, Montano and a teammate (ironically a Frenchman) lodged a formal complain with the STM who opened a formal inquiry.
    This incident should have never been made public, until Montano decided to vent his frustration on the Web.
    "They are so racist in Montreal. They did not want to sell a subway ticket to me because I did not speak French," he wrote (in Spanish) on his Twitter account.
    The rest is history. The tweet went viral and was picked up by several news outlets in and outside of Montreal. Montano apologized on Twitter before his account was shut down.
    In an official statement sent to the media a few hours later, the Impact talked about an "unfortunate incident" experienced by the player who "spoke out of emotion on the incident via Twitter, but then followed up with an apology affirming that Montreal is not a racist city."
    Thanks for the apology, Miguel, but how can the Impact’s French-speaking fans not be aggravated by the club’s lack of punishment for a player who decided to sling mud on the city and its linguistic majority’s reputation on a stroke of keyboard?
    A fuss out of nothing you say?
    Not when the league is making worthy efforts to charm French Quebecers by hiring stringers to produce French content on its official Website.
    Not when a club using the fleur de lys in an attempt to sell tickets since and, more recently, using the famous and historically heavy Je me souviens motto for a match played on the eve of La Fête Nationale.
    Do you believe they are targetting New Quebecers and English Montrealers with this advertising campaign?
    Nope!
    Why not sanction him right away for his flagrant lack of sensitivity at a very bad time of the year, which insulted a large part of the Impact's target market -- a market it needs to fill the new stadium?
    It would be interesting also to find out how the club’s current vice president, a former PQ leadership candidate, reacted to the news. The man certainly hasn’t lost all of his political conviction.
    A PRECEDENT
    Earlier this season, league authorities suspended Houston midfielder Colin Clarke for three games after he called a CenturyLink Park ball boy a "faggot" for not returning the ball conveniently for a throw-in. The slur was caught by nearby television microphones and the comments when viral.
    The next day, Clarke was apologizing on Twitter, saying he let "his emotions get the best of him" and he went the extra mile by publicly committing to become an advocate of homosexual rights in soccer.
    These excuses did not overturn his three game suspension.
    A SECOND PRECEDENT
    It is not the first time that a MLS player crosses the line on Twitter this season. In early June, Vancouver Whitecaps’ backup striker Long Tan complained, without naming anyone, of the lack of utilisation by head coach Martin Rennie.
    "What are you expecting from me? I do not understand”, he vented. Nothing really nasty, but still a public critique of his coach.
    On this basis, the player was indefinitely suspended by the Caps. He resumed play about two weeks later as a sub in the home game against New York.
    BEYOND MONTANO
    Last week, SoccerPlus learned that Montano punched two of his teammates, including captain Davy Arnaud, at training June 8, as well as making disrepesctful comments to his coach in front of teammates.
    Can we remind you that Canadian international and Montreal-based midfielder Sandro Grande was kicked out of the club a few years ago for going against the “club’s philosophy” after a skirmish with his own captain during an away game. The scene was caught by a local photographer and out went Grande.
    You don’t need an MBA to understand that this impunity do not reaffirm the coach’s authority within his locker room.
    Montano is very talented on the field, no doubt about that, but he’s also out of help’s reach from the positive influence of would-be mentors such as Eddy Sebrango and Nelson Rivas.
    The Colombian is on his way out of town, there's no doubt about it. However, the lack of an announced sanction following those two incidents indicates once more that the club’s president really needs to surround himself with advisors that will lead his efforts and investments in the right direction that take place within reasonable deadlines and avoid the masquerades like those the Impact experienced last season and are dangerously popping out again in recent weeks.
    Guest
    I talk about Owen Hargreaves too much. Of my obsessions, he’s right there in my top five (I won’t disclose the other four on that list, but if you follow me on Twitter you can probably figure it out).
    About once a month I tell myself that it’s time to move on and let the anger go. When he signed for Manchester City I had a bit of a crisis of faith. I got over it – it helped that he didn’t play much – but I held my nose for each of those four appearances.
    Hargreaves is the embodiment of that girl (insert gender/orientation of your choice here, but this is my obsession so it’s a girl...) in high school that broke your heart – you know the one. She flirted with you just enough to give you hope, just enough to make you think maybe and then...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    She took the cooler, better looking and more fancied guy to the prom. You could see it coming for months – it hardly mattered that you gave her all the attention and that he didn’t really care about her – but it still was a kick in the gut. Of course she had every right to go with him. Yes, she had a better chance at being Prom Queen with him. Still, it felt like a betrayal – your friends telling you that you should have worked out more, dressed better and bought a better car if you wanted to win her heart didn’t help.
    You kind of wanted to punch them, actually.
    Even now, years later, the memory still burns. You’ve had your heart broken again – in some cases by those that you had more substantial and longer relationships with – but the first one always hurts the most.
    There are no mature, be-the-bigger-person-hope-they-are-happy instincts with the first. Just bitterness and resentment. Yes, you laughed when you heard that prom-boy left her. You don’t claim to be mature or rational about her.
    If you ever got the chance to tell her how much she hurt you you’d be all over it. Circumstance has prevented you from doing so, but, man...if only.
    What were we talking about again? Oh, yes. Owen ****ing Hargreaves.

    Apparently he thinks he can still play. MLS is an option, he says.
    Please, God, tell me Columbus needs a broken holding midfielder.
    One game. One corner kick in the southeast corner. Please. I need the closure. I promise I won’t rush the pitch.
    In theory.
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