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    Guest

    Oh yeah...TFC

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Wait, the MLS season is still going on?
    I’m being facetious, of course, but there is a sense of just that in Toronto as TFC prepares to kick its first ball in anger in the Paul Mariner era. Between the Euros and Canada’s World Cup qualifying campaign there isn’t a lot of TFC hype. Even with the coaching change, there simply is very little chatter about the Reds.
    Out of sight, thankfully out of mind, is the typical thinking of the typical TFC fan. 1-0-9 will do that to you. It was a nice break not having to think about the mess that is the Reds.
    The break’s over. It’s time to put World Cup dreams on the backburner and to put down the TV remote to get back to supporting the local game – however painful it may be.
    Re-motivating yourself to watch TFC may be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. There are a few things to look out for. Here are a few:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]1. THE PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS!1!!1!!!
    Ok, that’s a bit insane, but there are examples of teams that have overcome 15 points with 24 games to play – especially when that team has three games in hand (and as many as five games in hand to some teams).
    There are a lot of reasons to suggest it’s not even close to possible. It would be one of the all-time great comeback stories in MLS history if it did, but it’s the fan’s prerogative to believe in the impossible.
    Do yourself a favour and believe a little bit in the impossible.
    2. The push for the faux playoffs
    The far more realistic goal is for TFC to press reset today and use the rest of the way to evaluate whether its sixth head coach is finally the right choice. A very easy way to evaluate that is to see if TFC can finish in the top 10 on the basis of results the rest of the way.
    It isn’t a small sample size – there still is more than half the season left – so it would not be false hope either.
    Would that satisfy many fans? God, no. But, it might satisfy those that are paying extra close attention.
    3. Formation geek watch
    Is the 4-3-3 dead? The 3-4-3? Hopefully, the 5-0-5 is. Regardless, it will be interesting to watch to see what Mariner’s tweaks will be. At the introduction press conference he said that the changes would only be small. However, those that have watched his early practices have said that the formation and the direction is totally different.
    Notably, it’s been said that the Reds are set-up in a 4-4-2. What will that mean for some of the players that were brought in with the offensively minded 4-3-3 in mind? How will Julian de Guzman be used? What about Torsten Frings?
    All are interesting questions that the true soccer geek will be interested to see.
    4. Champions League we’re having a laugh
    It’s a tough draw, but at least they are in with a chance. TFC isn’t down 15 points in its group and all is to play for.
    Bring it on.
    5. Playing for the contract
    As the season progresses it’s likely the only thing left to play for in the standings, but the games will matter for next year.
    It’s imperative that the Reds find out quickly who on that roster is worth keeping and who needs to move on.
    At the press conference Mariner said that he needed to pick the team not based on the name on the back of the strip, but rather on the form that the player is demonstrating. Fans need to do the same thing.
    It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Reds were an unorganized mess under Winter. Our opinions of where players stand should be thrown out the window.
    The start of the season was forgettable, so forget it when evaluating players.
    6. Catch Montreal
    Please.
    Guest
    In this modern age, where technology is king, it's hard to keep a secret.
    When photos of the Whitecaps' third strip started doing the rounds online on April 22nd, after a fan bought one of the strips in a shop on Vancouver Island, the authenticity of the shirt was denied by the Caps FO, pictures were removed from various media and the damage limitation campaign began, so as not to spoil the big unveiling.
    That unveiling took place at BC Place this morning and it came as no surprise to anyone when the same brown and blue strip we saw back in April was revealed to be the Caps' new third jersey.
    The arbutus brown and sky blue strip draws on the forests of BC and Cascadia, to compliment the white glaciers of the home strip and the blue oceans of the away one. It will be worn for the first time against Colorado Rapids in MLS action on Saturday and will be used in three games this season.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Personally, I really like it.
    It's different and it's hard to find anything unique in football these days. I think the colours work well together, but then again, I have a jacket that is in pretty much the same colours so it's not a new look for me!
    Some fans will hate it. Of that you can be sure.
    Brown is a strangely polarising colour when it comes to football strips.
    It's the marmite of sporting colours.
    There haven't been that many knocking around over the years. Some will say there's a reason for that!
    I'm of the age and background when any mention of a brown strip immediately whisks me back in time to Coventry City's chocolate brown away abomination from the 1978-79 season.
    How could anyone get this image of an ageless Steven Lenhart modelling the kit out of their heads? Ok, well it's actually Scottish striker Ian Wallace, but still, it terrified me as a child and is perhaps why Coco Lenhart gives me the creeps today.
    The Admiral strip is a timeless "classic", although you could argue it's timeless due to the fact that it doesn't belong in any time period!
    It was worn by many clubs of the time though around the world. Apart from Coventry, my childhood memories have the likes of Wales and Dundee running out in that strip. Even my own East Fife wore that Admiral striped top from 1977 to 1980. Did anyone else actually make jersey at that time?!
    The Whitecaps themselves famously wore that particular Admiral jersey in 1978, both home and away. Either all white with red stripes, or all red with white stripes. Never chocolate brown though!
    Time and again, that Coventry strip has been voted as one of the worst football strips ever, and that's some feat when you consider some of the monstrosities that have been doing the rounds worldwide over all these years.
    You would think that that would put teams off going for a brown strip but apparently not!
    Even Coventry themselves tried to cash in on the notoriety of the strip by bringing out another brown away strip in 2009 for the club's 125 year anniversary, and like the Whitecaps, they went for the brown and blue colour combination.
    It was either loved or loathed by the fans of the 'Sky Blues'.
    Even Coventry manager Chris Coleman hated it!
    But I'm pretty sure they would all have had to agree it was a damn sight better than the 1978 version!
    The marketing ploy clearly worked with enough fans though and the 1125 limited edition strips sold out very quickly. The Caps will be hoping for the same result with their brown and blue beauty.
    Not many other teams have really wanted to dabble with the brown stuff.
    It's a strange one. I'm sure we all have a lot of brown clothes in our wardrobes, or maybe that's just me!
    It's not the worst colour in the world and as we said, when you look at some of the other hideous designs that have been seen on a football pitch, you have to wonder why there haven't been other clubs that have gone to the brownside.
    The Caps should at least be applauded for trying something a little bit different.
    So who are some of the other clubs that have been down with brown?
    Barcelona, always a popular jersey the world over, had a brown training jersey for the 2008/09 season.
    Funny it's not something you really see people walking the streets in.
    Celtic had an absolutely hideous away jersey for the 1991/92 season that was green, brown and white and looked like it had been designed by a blind person. Or at the very least a colour blind person. Or maybe just a Rangers fan!
    If you have a look at this picture with the Barca shirt on the left and the Celtic one on the right, it's the best example we could give you of how a brown jersey can work and how it just shouldn't even be allowed past the design stage.
    When you look at some of these other brown bombers, you have to say that Caps new kit looks particularly sharp against them and I don't think we'll be looking back in 5, 10 or 20 years time and saying what a horrible jersey we wore back in the day.
    One football club that has embraced the brown is Germany's St Pauli FC from Hamburg.
    The club have played in brown and white ever since Amandus Vierth established that unified colour scheme for the team in 1909.
    With that amount of history they have produced a number of brown kits over the years, some more predominately brown than others. They always seem to make it work too and have some classy jerseys in their back catalogue.
    As you can see below, for the 2011/12 season just past, their home strip was brown and white stripes, their away one was brown and black stripes, and they also had a third one which was brown and red stripes.

    The big advantage of brown is that you are likely to be unique in your League and have very little kit clashes!
    Vancouver Whitecaps are now in that unique band of brown.
    In the build up to the jersey launch, John Furlong declared that this was a <i>"great milestone for the club"</i>.
    Still haven't lost that Olympic trait of hyperbole then John?
    It isn't a great milestone. It's a kit launch, and a third one at that. Not a retro one (that will undoubtedly come in 2014 for the Caps' 40th anniversary). Not a home one or an away one. Just a third kit grab more money from the fans one. That's not a milestone, it's just a sad truth about the modern day game - $$$.
    The Caps will certainly be hoping that the strip is brown sugar and will make some sweet money for them. I think it should.
    At least it's a decent strip and not something hideous like we've come to expect from the Seattle barfing clowns. Let's all be thankful for that at least and anything that adds something a bit different and some character to our club should be welcomed.
    Come on the Boys in Brown.
    <p>
    [** You can find a slideshow of photos from today's launch from AFTN photographer Christopher Vose <a href="
    " target="_blank">HERE</a> **]<p>
    Guest

    A milder sort of Honduras match

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    In the end, all the pre-match angst and anxiety went for naught.
    Canada and Honduras played a functional, unspectacular nil-nil draw in World Cup qualifying at BMO Field on Tuesday night. It was far from a dream result, but there was also no new, dreadful chapter written in Canadian soccer fans’ ongoing, recurring Honduras nightmare.
    Yes, Hondurans flopped like beached sport fish on the pitch from time to time. No, the referee was not having much of a night.
    But no blatant horrors ended up on the scoreboard, a relief after the blatant cheating and bad calls that have marred all recent major competitions where these two sides have clashed. Both sets of fans ultimately melted into the post-match night without major incident.
    We didn’t know any of that, of course, before the match.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Despite all the recent changes and improvements at the Canadian Soccer Association, it would not be right to call Canada oh-twelve the first post-reform Canadian national men’s soccer team. Yes, there have been some important changes, but it will be a year or two yet before the team on the field really starts to benefit.
    (The CSA presently has an official fruit snack, for example, but still no technical director.)
    And so, the tribe gathered in the pre-game pubs, hoping for triumph but well, well aware of the dangers of playing Honduras when it counts.
    Edmonton ’04.
    Montreal ’08.
    It’s a little bit like showing up for the third date with a gal, after each of the first two ended with you being hurled into a dumpster by bikers. After a while, you might hope to wonder why you’re doing this.
    Ah, but this is soccer. This is the tribe. The sweetest wins are the ones that avenge the bitterest defeats.
    While I wouldn’t wish to confirm the rumour that there was an actual bag of urine doing the rounds at Maro, I did actually find myself explaining the context of same to a couple of concerned fan girlfriends. Something about traditional forms of greeting for visiting players in southern nations of the CONCACAF region, and how a single Canadian pee-bag would cut the overall score deficit to 10,000 to 1.
    Again, I don’t wish to confirm this.
    Turned out I was on celebrity watch, as well. All of a sudden, in walks Ontario Soccer Association president Ron Smale, who I’ve never before seen anywhere outside of his office in Vaughan. On the media front, there was a Seixeiro sighting, as well (Alex, I believe). Given that no one outside of the fans ever, ever comes to Maro, this was both surprising and amusing.
    What I began to notice, more and more, was how surprisingly relaxed everyone was. Happy, social, excited in a muted, Canadian sort of way. It no doubt helped that Canada entered the match three points up on the Hondurans, but anti-Honduras sentiment was – like the draft beer at the old Dufferin Gate – running flat and lukewarm.
    It was there in pockets, though. I’ve seen dear friends reduced to jibbering emotional non-function by these matches. No one was actually screaming for revenge, but no one was going to turn down a free helping of it, either.
    At the start of the march, outside the pub, a pair of orange taxi cabs, nose-to-nose, honked loudly as they tried to pass each other. Liberty Street had suddenly been choked down to a single lane by the emerging red soccer mob, and that wasn’t going to stay open for long. Most drivers just stared straight ahead – grim, but not grim enough to invite response – and waited for the madness to pass.
    In the end, a fine showing by the Canadian fans. Yes, there were lots of Hondurans in the crowd – four big flags in the half-empty north end, but the Canucks clearly outcheered the visitors all night. The crowd was announced at just over 16,000, but was actually around 13-5 if you take into account the blocked-off sections and the many completely empty rows on the east side.
    Honduras didn’t offer much. Hurt and rebuilding, they lacked both the fire and treachery that have made them so utterly dangerous to Canadian soccer aspirations in the past. I found myself more concerned about Canada’s Dwayne de Rosario, and just how many times he could whoomph the ball over the south crossbar with Olivier Occean standing – onside and open – just a few yards to his right.
    After the match, Canada coach Stephen Hart had warm praise for the fans, saying they “almost got us there” in a flurry of late-match crosses and corner kicks that twice just failed to produce the winning score.
    And hath we slain Honduras? No. The final match of this qualifying round is Honduras, away, in October. Ghosts are always snarlier close to Hallowe’en.
    But it was nice to leave a Honduras game in a mellow, reflective mood – more irritated about Canadian finishing than by Honduran flopping and refereeing fraud.
    Onward!
    Guest
    <i>We're going to start a new occasional feature today, <b>Pitch Perfect</b>, where we break down various moves of perfection in Whitecaps matches.
    Kicking things off, Steve Pandher takes a look at the move which led to Darren Mattocks fourth minute opener against Houston Dynamo on Sunday....</i>
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>**********</center>
    Coming out of the extended break it was important for the Whitecaps to get off to a quick start against a Houston team that was missing a number of defenders. It didn’t take long as Darren Mattocks converted to give Vancouver the early lead. Here’s a look at how the play broke down from the beginning.

    After winning the ball, Martin Bonjour passes the ball off to John Thorrington who makes a quick run forward evading a Dynamo player. He spots Sebastien Le Toux coming back towards him so Thorrington sends the ball to him and continues his run forward. At virtually the same time Lee Young-Pyo starts his run down the right sideline which Brad Davis doesn’t notice.

    Le Toux collects the ball and readies for the return pass to Thorrington while Lee continues his run past Davis. In moving back to receive the pass Le Toux dragged the Dynamo’s left back, Corey Ashe, with him which leaves a large open space behind.

    At this point Thorrington gets the ball back from Le Toux while at the same time Lee keeps going forward and has already passed Davis on the pitch. Just before Adam Moffat can make a tackle Thorrington is able to put a through ball for Lee, between Moffat and Ashe who is completely out of position.

    Lee has open space to collect the ball as Ashe is up the field and Davis was too slow to pick up on Lee’s run. Sturgis, normally a midfielder, seems unsure whether he should hold his position or put some pressure on Lee. Both Darren Mattocks and Davide Chiumiento start their runs into the box.

    Lee has time and space with the ball, due to Sturgis being caught in no man’s land where he is not attacking the ball. He has also left too much space behind him as well which forces Bobby Boswell to play tighter to Sturgis. Chiumiento slows his run at the top of the box to give Lee another option but it also freezes Creavalle from continuing to the net giving more space to the rookie. Mattocks makes it look like he is about to go inside of Boswell but then moves behind him. Lee delivers a perfect cross which Mattock finishes clinically giving the Whitecaps a vital early lead on the Dynamo.
    Take a look once again at full speed. Deadly. Perfect.
    <center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xzs6EHxd9ZQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>
    <p>
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Ambivalence

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Ambivalent is one of the most misused words in the English language. This morning, following Canada's 0-0 draw with Honduras in World Cup qualifying, seems like a good time for a vocabulary lesson.
    See, the word describes someone being conflicted about something. It doesn't mean indifference, the most common way that it is misused.
    If you're a fan of the Canadian national team you likely feel incredible ambivalent right now. You absolutely don't feel indifferent.
    Two weeks ago had you asked pretty much anyone whether they would have taken four points and three up on Honduras after two games and they likely would have . But, when you were inches from six points up, co-leaders in the group, you can't help but feel a sense of loss.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Still, this is Canada. You understand how much worse it could have been. Four years ago they sat on just one point after two home games. That was an unqualified disaster. This is just vaguely disappointing.
    Beyond the table there is also reason to feel ambivalent about the play. They have now gone more than 270 minutes without conceding. Kevin McKenna and Andre Hainault have been absolute beasts in the back. For four years we've been worried about whether the back could hold up. It has. That's vital and if it continues to play this strongly Canada will be in the mix right up until the final match day.
    They've scored once in those same 270 minutes. The attack lacks punch in the final third. They probably created enough last night to get at least one and the failure to do so left everyone feeling more than a little disheartened. If the impotence on attack continues they won't make this easy on themselves.
    Overall, I think, there are slightly more positives than negatives. Logically, that's understood. Emotionally, however, you can't help but feel a little...uyfjuykfyfuw, however.
    The bottom line is that after two games Canada is still positioned to advance to the hex. Honduras didn't look great and they will likely drop more points moving forward. If Canada can find some scoring boots over the summer (and not lose McKenna or Hainault to injury) then we might be feeling far less tentative come the end of September.
    Until then we will fret. It's what Canadian supporters do.
    Guest

    Post game show - Canada vs Honduras

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    Listen to our 20 minutes podcast recorded in Toronto following Canada's 0-0 tie against Honduras, Tuesday night at BMO Field.
    You will hear Stephen Hart's press conference and comments from Milos Borjan, Olivier Occean, Kevin McKenna and Dwayne DeRosario.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to enjoy the show!
    Guest

    CONCACAF: No respect

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    An off-handed Tweet today led to a long debate with an English Twitter friend of mine about the quality of CONCACAF as compared to the rest of the world.
    Responding to my observation that the AFC has nothing on CONCACAF for ease of World Cup qualification for its top teams @Wanchope_Dickov (It's a Manchester City thing) responded by telling me that I was insane, basically.
    A typical response:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Putting aside the nuance of what exactly “better than” means, I guess I'm blind. Yes, Aruba v Cayman Islands is pretty damn terrible, but those two counties have very little to do with the World Cup Finals. And, my argument was that the upper middle of CONCACAF was better than the upper middle of AFC. Basically, that the teams competing for the final World Cup spot in CONCACAF are better – and have constantly demonstrated themselves to be better – than those same teams in AFC.
    Before I continue this discussion you should know something about Mr. Wanchope_Dickov. He might watch more obscure football than anyone on the planet. His job is a play-by-play broadcaster for a company that is contracted to do webcasted games from all over (including a great deal for CONCACAF.com – the poor bastard has done his share of TFC games). So, he's not a typical fan. He has a perspective that few of us do.
    But, it's still a subjective perspective and CONCACAF always gets the short end when it comes to subjective opinion. That, in turn, makes it difficult for people that support the game in CONCACAF countries to promote and grow the game at home. The struggles here in Canada are well documented, but this country is hardly unique in having a majority of fans focused “over there” rather than here.
    The other area where those subjective opinions hurt CONCACAF is in World Cup allocation. CONCACAF is still stuck on 3.5, while Asia has 4.5.
    This is where I lose my mind. There is literally no objective arguments (outside of population differences) that can be made that justify that extra spot.
    None. Zero. No, really. Go ahead and try and find data to back it up. I'll wait...
    Football fans – like most sports fans, really – prefer the subjective to the objective. Stats are seen as boring, those that use stats to back up an argument are viewed as somehow lacking in passion and/or knowledge of how the game is “supposed to be played.”
    You see this kind of resistance with the Opta stats that are beginning to gain some traction in the football blogging world. The criticism is bunk, of course, but sports commentary has always been based on the mystic rather than the boring reality of actual results.
    Back to the original point: Over the last four World Cup cycles CONCACAF and AFC have played each other twice in intercontinental playoffs. Both times CONCACAF has advanced. If you look at the final AFC team and final CONCACAF team to qualify and then compare their results at the World Cup CONCACAF has been stronger in all four cycles.
    2010 – Honduras 0-1-2 -3; North Korea 0-0-3 -11
    2006 – T&T 0-1-2 -4; Saudi Arabia 0-1-2 -5
    2002 – Costa Rica 1-1-1 -1; Saudi Arabia 0-0-3 -12
    1998 – Jamaica 1-0-2 -3; Saudi Arabia 0-1-2 -5
    That's an overall record of CONCACAF 2-3-7 -11; AFC 0-2-10 -33
    Neither is great, of course, but the apples to apples results aren't close. Using the only equal data available, CONCACAF clearly has better results.
    But, AFC has one more World Cup spot. Subjectively, they must be better.
    Guest
    The international break takes us around the globe this week.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We talk Euro 2012 with Cedric Ferreira in Paris. We talk Canada's MNT with Ben Rycroft returning from Havana and Jonathan Tannenwald wraps up action in the rest of CONCACAF.
    The Impact is about to reopen Saputo Stadium so we still talk a bit of MLS with Marc Tougas.
    Click here to enjoy the show!
    Guest
    When your team is coming off a two week break, you want to see them raring to go and firing on all cylinders.
    And Vancouver Whitecaps fans got just that yesterday against Houston Dynamo at BC Place.
    The Portland game signalled the end of stage one of Martin Rennie's phases for the season. Houston kicked off stage two and it is a stage that will run through to the end of July, when the Caps have another two week break inbetween back to back matches with Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It couldn't have got off to a better start and the win lifts the Caps back into fourth place in the West, two behind Seattle and seven behind RSL, with a game in hand over the top two teams.
    Perhaps more importantly, with the race for the playoffs in mind, the win gives Vancouver a massive nine point lead over Portland and Dallas and an incredible eleven point advantage over the reigning champs, LA Galaxy.
    It wasn't a perfect performance but it was certainly an assured team one, with some fantastic individual turns thrown in.
    There were some great passing moves and the number of chances that the team, is creating is very encouraging, and it will only get better.
    Darren Mattocks is a player that is going to miss a lot of chances over a season, but the fact that he gets himself into those positions is what is particularly pleasing.
    If he misses five or six each match, but nets two or more, then that's fine with me.
    For such a young player, his reading of attacks is exceptional. He knows when to make his runs, when to hold back and that burst of speed he can just turn on is just too much for many defenders to handle. This allows him to create space around him and be in the right place, at the right time.
    Considering he must still be a bit rusty after his burns injury, just wait till he really gets his shooting eye in.
    He has his swagger back, but his feet are firmly planted on the ground, despite what others would like to think.
    That's three MLS goals in two games and doesn't he know it!
    He is clearly going to draw the attention of some of the more robust players in the League.
    Bobby Boswell, and other Dynamo defenders, had a few little jabs and knocks at Mattocks off the ball yesterday.
    He seems to go over fairly easily, and I don't mean that in a Camilo sense, but more that in he doesn't have the biggest build to stay on his feet once clattered.
    It's not something he is probably used to coming from the college ranks, but he is going to need to adapt soon as he isn't likely to get a lot of protection out there.
    Of course, you then have to wonder how long a player like Mattocks can be kept with the Caps and in MLS.
    We want him to develop and keep banging the goals in, but if he does, he isn't going to be here for too long.
    Every team in the world wants a quick striker who can cause problems and put the ball in the net.
    Montreal must be wondering why they passed on the kid.
    The same is true of Gershon Koffie, who had probably his best game in a Caps jersey on Sunday. How long will he stay around in MLS if he continues to develop the way he is.
    He was phenomenal and some of the passes with which he set up Mattocks were world class.
    I wasn't as enamoured with him as some others were after last season. Yes he was good for such an age, but he still lacked a lot of discipline and accuracy when going forward. He seems to have now added both to his game.
    He contributing both goals and assists this season and that's what I love to see from my midfield men.
    Joe Cannon was the other stand out guy yesterday.
    What can you say about the veteran keeper that hasn't already been said?
    Once again, he produced some huge saves to keep the Caps lead intact. He often doesn't have a lot to do in a match and that's the mark of a great keeper, when you can be at the top of the game when needed and cold.
    Other plaudits need to be given to John Thorrington for his first half performance and to Jun Marques Davidson for some excellent covering at the back to allow Y-P Lee and Alain Rochat to advance forward.
    There were no overtly poor performances, but some of Sebastien Le Toux's passes were terrible.
    Too many giveaways from the big man. You can try and place the blame on him not being used to the system he is being asked to play, but to me, that doesn't excuse not being able to pass to a man in the same colour of shirt as your own!
    Le Toux and Mattocks certainly do link up well and are one of the better attacking pairings we've seen this season.
    The danger the Frenchman poses saw him drag players away from Mattocks as he couldn't be left unmarked and that only gave Darren more room.
    Does the rookie play better with Le Toux or Hassli though?
    I'd like to see a full match of Hassli and Mattocks to see what they can bring about.
    It's great having an impact player like Hassli to come off the bench, but the Caps can't afford the luxury of having a $790,000 DP sitting on the bench every week.
    On that salary, it would be hard to see anyone else in MLS taking the risk on him, so will he hang around or will his two wondergoals perhaps have drawn enough attention to earn him a shot back in Europe?
    I don't want to lose the big man, but you also need to see him at his best to keep him here.
    Rennie said post game that there will be some games where he'll want to go with Hassli. Depends on the opponents.
    And where does all this leave Camilo?
    There is a case to argue that the Brazilian is perhaps the most dangerous all round striker that we have on our books. He adds something special.
    He has certainly been a difference maker in many of the games this season and last, but can he play not just in Martin Rennie's style of team, but in any team?
    With discussed several times in this feature this season that he isn't a guy that works that well with others and with that style, it's hard to see exactly how he can fit in to the line-up regularly right now.
    With Barry Robson arriving in Vancouver soon, you would have to think that John Thorrington will be losing his place in the long run.
    I think we'll find that Robson will be eased into the action over that horrendous five game away stretch. Probably coming off the bench initially before settling in.
    Another difference maker is being sought I believe as well, possibly in a DM role.
    Next up for the Caps is one of their most important matches of the season so far as Colorado Rapids come a calling.
    To open up a six point lead over the fifth placed team would be massive right now and give the team a little bit of breathing space before they hit the road, especially if we can also take something from the New York game.
    Let's just hope that the fans come out to see it and can actually make it into their seats before kick off for once.
    What must the players think when they come out to all that empty seating? It's getting embarrassing.
    At least a number of these fans missed the opening goal on Sunday. That cheered me up a little bit about it all.
    But that's something for another day. For now, let's just enjoy a game and a performance that was better and more enjoyable than most of what we've seen at the Euros so far.
    'Mon the Caps.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>AFTN 3-2-1:</b>
    This was a toughie between the top two. I hemmed and hawed between them both but ended up giving the nod to the two goal hero....
    3 points - DARREN MATTOCKS (two goals, dangerous throughout. Just wait till he really settles)
    2 points - GERSHON KOFFIE (a stand out performance. Some great assists and general moving of the ball)
    1 point - JOE CANNON (kept the Caps in the lead before the half and this probably proved to be the game changer. Couple of huge saves)
    <p>
    Guest
    It was a little under four years ago, on an infamous night in Montreal, that Honduras essentially crushed Canada's dreams of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
    Despite an early Adrian Serioux goal, Canada was undone by an injury to Tomasz Radzinski (on a play that could easily have been called a penalty) and a dubious red card to Patrice Bernier. The 2-1 loss didn't officially eliminate Les Rouges, but left them with only one point from their first two games.
    But this time, the tables have turned. Canada is full of momentum after a gutsy win in Cuba on Friday, while Honduras is reeling from an unexpected home loss to Panama. A win for the good guys on Tuesday night wouldn't officially clinch anything, but would boost our advancement chances immensely, while leaving the Hondurans' chances looking mighty dire indeed.
    A draw wouldn't be the end of the world. In fact, most Canadians fans would have been content if you'd told them we'd come out of these first two games with four points. But for once, let's not settle with what will make us content, or what's acceptable. Let's go for their throats. Let's kick them while they're down.
    Let's get revenge for September 6, 2008... and September 4, 2004 and July 18, 2009, and every other time we've been screwed by Honduras (and/or the referees) in a meaningful match.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Now, in fairness, the extent to which we (i.e. the fans) can have an impact on the outcome is limited. We can (and should) pack BMO Field with red and white. We can (and should) make as much noise for the home side as possible. We can (and should) do everything in our power to maximize the Canadian advantage and make life miserable for the Hondurans (both the ones on the field, and the ones in the stands).
    But the responsibility ultimately falls to the players and the coaching staff. Still, the past two games have given us plenty of reasons for optimism in this regard.
    Head coach Stephen Hart has shown some flexibility in his tactics and player selection (necessitated somewhat, of course, by the injury to Josh Simpson), giving starting spots to a few players (Ante Jazic, Tosaint Ricketts) in roles that have been regularly filled by others in recent years (Mike Klukowski, Simeon Jackson). In the cases of Jazic and Ricketts, those choices have looked pretty good thus far.
    An on-form Dwayne DeRosario looks determined to do everything he can to finally make a World Cup, Julian de Guzman looks revitalized, and Will Johnson has certainly been making the most of his first full qualifying cycle with the senior national team.
    Surely the players will be up for it. They know what's at stake. They know what they're playing for. And those who play in Europe, with a summer break ahead, know they can afford to leave everything out there on the field Tuesday night.
    Honduras will be desperate. This could mean an early burst, followed by a cagey withdrawal. Or an out-and-out assault. How does Canada respond? An equally spirited forward push right off the bat? A rope-a-dope approach, sustaining the Honduran pressure and mounting a quick counterattack? Do these squads play for the win? The draw?
    I'm no tactician, and no fortune teller. All we can do is wait and see. The best laid plans can quickly be unraveled by an unexpected injury, an unjustified red card or a mind-boggling referee's decision. As we've seen, all three of those have a tendency to happen when Canada meets Honduras -- and in recent times, they've tended to go against Canada.
    But let's not forget, there was a time when the stars seemed to align in Canada's favour. Consider the events of the
    . And, of course, the most glorious World Cup qualifier (or game of any sort) in the history of the men's national team, .Everything is cyclical. Perhaps this is the tipping point, when things finally start going Canada's way once again. Again, all we can do is wait and see.
    On Tuesday night, the players need to bring their skills and the supporters need to bring their voices. At about 9:30 p.m. ET, we'll know whether this summer will be full of the customary worrying and hand-wringing for supporters of Canadian soccer, or a long-forgotten feeling: Unbridled -- and justified -- optimism and hope.
    One way or another, it's Canada and Honduras. You know something bizarre is bound to happen. Let's just hope that whatever it is, it'll be the Honduran fans howling in outrage about it afterwards.
    .
    Guest
    Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and here is a gallery of some of his photos from the Whitecaps' game against Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>

    (Darren Mattocks opens the scoring in the 4th minute)

    (Gershon Koffie tells Adam Moffat to push off)

    (A Darren double. 2-0 Caps)

    (The Whitecaps answer to Zorro)

    (Harvey makes a three goal win a beautiful thing)
    </center>
    You can view a high resolution slideshow of some of the rest of Christopher's photos from the Houston match <a href="
    " target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.You can view all of Christopher's Whitecaps photographs at <a href="http://www.consulphotography.com" target="_blank"><b>ConsulPhotography.com</b></a>.
    Be sure to check his photos daily, as he is will have regular shots up from training, as well at Caps matches at all levels.
    All of his photos are copyrighted and cannot be used without his permission.
    <p>
    Guest

    Dynamo defence no match for Mattocks

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    It’s felt like an age, but Vancouver Whitecaps got back into MLS action at BC Place this afternoon with a comfortable 3-1 win against Houston Dynamo.
    Houston were a depleted squad, between four players being away on international duty and injuries. This meant a new look and inexperienced backline and Vancouver looked to capitalise with an attacking line-up featuring both Darren Mattocks through the middle and Davide Chiumiento out wide.
    The changes meant the Caps old guard of Eric Hassli and Camilo Sanvezzo had to settle for a place on the bench, and going on today’s performance, they may have to get used to that.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Whitecaps attacks up both wings were going to be the key and it took just four minutes for the Caps to truly test the new look Dynamo defence and the Houston backline flunked.
    John Thorrington set Young-Pyo Lee through on the right with a perfectly weighted pass, which the Korean then whipped across the face of the goal for Mattocks to bury high into the net.
    Mattocks had held his run to perfection to allow him to burst in and lose his defenders to give Vancouver the lead.
    The Jamaican was giving the Dynamo defence all sorts of problems and was getting battered around without any protection. Bobby Boswell in particular was having a lot of digs into the rookie of the ball, which were going unnoticed by the officials.
    Despite looking good going forward, Vancouver only had a couple of wild Mattocks shots to show for their efforts.
    Houston had only been to force a couple of corners in their forays forward, but got an unexpected chance when Joe Cannon fluffed a kick in the 29th minute. The ball went straight to Brian Ching who saw Cannon off his line and decided to try a first time shot, which flew over.
    As the half hour mark approached Lee collected the ball out wide, and was given room to cut inside before blasting over from 25 yards out.
    The Caps were playing some nice football and in a neat move in the 35th minute, both Mattocks and Chiumiento showed some fantastic individual skill but Lee’s ball into the box to Sebastien Le Toux was cut out by the last defender.
    The visitors had their best chance of the match with four minutes of the half remaining. Lee found himself with two Dynamo players on him and was dispossessed by Calen Carr who played a neat backheel to Brad Davis allowing the midfielder to send the ball into the box.
    The cross carried through to an unmarked Boswell at the back and the defender got his weight behind the ball and forced Cannon into a great save to keep the Caps lead intact.
    That was the last real chance of the half and showed Vancouver that they couldn’t rule out last year’s MLS Cup runners up as a threat in this match just yet.
    With no changes at the half, Houston went for a quick equaliser and Will Bruin was close to getting onto the end of a free kick in the six yard box but the danger was cleared.
    The Caps nearly made it two in the 57th minute.
    Thorrington played the ball across the middle to Chiumiento and the Swiss playmaker ghosted past Warren Creavalle before pulling his shot just wide of the right hand post.
    Houston responded with a chance of their own when Bruin ran through but fired over from a tight angle.
    Mattocks had another effort in the 62nd minute when he did well to get onto a Lee cross but the ground took the momentum off his shot and Tally Hall easily gathered.
    Jun Marques Davidson shot wide left three minutes later, after a neat layoff from Mattocks, as the Whitecaps went for that all important second goal.
    It came in the 66th minute.
    Gershon Koffie hit a beautiful curling ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Mattocks and the rookie easily outpaced Creavalle and Nathan Sturgis before slotting home past Hall for his, and the Caps’, second.
    Hall didn’t know much about a Koffie rocket in the 71st minute from just inside the box, but he managed to get his gloves up to parry away the danger.
    Mattocks was looking for his hat-trick and Koffie again sent him through in the 80th minute, but this time he pulled his shot wide of the left hand post from the corner of the box.
    Houston gave the Caps a shock in the 83rd minute when they pulled a goal back.
    Adam Moffat easily turned substitute Jordan Harvey and his shot was deflected by Jay DeMerit out to Brian Ownby. The Dynamo sub centred the ball to Macoumba Kandji, who easily fired home to give the Texans a lifeline.
    Vancouver nearly restored their two goal lead immediately. Koffie once again sent Mattocks through and Hall did well to keep him out from point blank range.
    The Caps weren’t to be denied though and made it 3-1 in the 89th minute.
    Koffie dispossessed Bruin on the right touchline and sent in a low cross to the back post which deflected off Ownby, straight into the path of Harvey and the Caps substitute buried it past Hall to restore the home side’s two goal cushion.
    To their credit, Houston kept pushing and Kandji forced Cannon to make a low save a minute into stoppage time.
    That was the last action of the game and it was an assured and comfortable win for the Caps, moving them back into fourth place in the West and to within seven points of the Real Salt Lake at the top, with a game in hand.
    Stage two is underway and after what we saw on display tonight, there’s a lot to look forward to.
    ATT: 18,811
    FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 3 - 1 Houston Dynamo
    VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Alain Rochat; Jun Marques Davidson, Gershon Koffie, John Thorrington; Davide Chiumiento (Jordan Harvey 78), Darren Mattocks (Eric Hassli 87), Sebastien Le Toux (Michael Nanchoff 90+1) [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Carlyle Mitchell, Matt Watson, Camilo Sanvezzo]
    HOUSTON: Tally Hall; Warren Creavalle, Bobby Boswell, Nathan Sturgis (Brian Ownby 78), Corey Ashe; Calen Carr, Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo (Colin Clark 71), Brad Davis; Brian Ching (Macoumba Kandji 71), Will Bruin [subs Not Used: Tyler Deric, Oscar Recio, Colin Rolfe, Cam Weaver]
    <p>
    Guest
    Every week we feel like doing it, we think of a subject for a football team to be based around, then fill it with our starting eleven of current and recent MLS players with some appropriate name changes, or even better, just as is!
    Your scouting job is to come up with the subs bench, from any player from around the world, and leave your player suggestions in the comments section.
    With a couple of weeks between games, the Whitecaps players have had to find ways to occupy their time. In Greg Klazura's case, he shaved his head, breaking the heart of his <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/gk_Headband" target="_blank">headband</a> on Twitter.
    In honour of his fallen locks, our latest "MLS Team of the Week" is the <b>"Hair XI"</b>...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Dandruff Kennedy (Chivas)
    <b>D :</b> Trim Ward (San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>D :</b> Bob Boswell (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>D :</b> Styler Polak (New England Revolution)
    <b>M :</b> Brad Ringlet (San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>M :</b> Bryce Balderson (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>M :</b> Brian Mullet (Colorado Rapids)
    <b>M :</b> Torsten Fringe (Toronto)
    <b>M :</b> Shave Salinas (San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>F :</b> Joao Plaita (Toronto)
    <b>F :</b> Jonathan Mop-Top (Dallas)
    <b>Manager:</b> Mohawk Johnston
    <b>CEO :</b> Paul Barber
    If you want to see this team in action, we believe there are some friendlies lined up against Columbus Crewcuts and international opposition in Hadjuk Split-ends.
    You're bound to find some highlights online.
    <p>
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    Having struggled to find his scoring touch recently, going goalless in his last six MLS starts, <b>Sebastien Le Toux</b> should benefit from the time off after playing every minute for Vancouver in MLS competition. The Caps need their biggest off season acquisition to lead the attack whether he starts on the wing or as a central striker.
    With the Dynamo’s leading scorer, Will Bruin, listed as questionable with a concussion, it will be up to veteran <b>Brian Ching</b> to provide a presence up front for the Dynamo. It’s been a struggle for the American striker since his return from the Impact and he has only scored once in his nine starts so far this season.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    A player who clearly needed the time off, <b>Lee Young-Pyo</b> started to show his age as the busy month of May concluded for the Caps. He will have very little time to relax as he faces Brad Davis, one of the best left footed midfielders in MLS, who led the league last season with 16 assists. The rest should also allow Lee to help in the attack down the right flank, something that was missing in the last few matches.
    The Dynamo will be missing three regulars along the backline due to World Cup qualifying so it will be up to veteran defender <b>Bobby Boswell</b> to lead the makeshift backline against the Whitecaps. One of his biggest strengths is his ability in the air, whether he is clearing the ball out of the box or as an attacker on set pieces.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    In his first two appearances in MLS <b>Darren Mattocks</b> has shown his pace and his ability to outrun defenders. He was unable to find his touch against Seattle but scored his first MLS goal as a sub against the Timbers, helping Vancouver earn a point against their Cascadian rivals. The big question will be where Mattocks starts as he could be in the middle as a central attacker or using his speed on the wing.
    The league leader in the assist category last season, <b>Brad Davis</b> generates the majority of the opportunities for the Dynamo from set pieces and open play. Despite only picking up two assists to go with his two goals this season, the American winger has the potential to have a breakout performance so the Caps will have to mark him closely.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    5W-4D-3L
    5th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-1 Draw at Portland Timbers
    Houston:
    4W-4D-3L
    7th in Eastern Conference
    Last Match: 2-1 Win vs LA Galaxy
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee), FW Atiba Harris (knee), FW Omar Salgado (foot), DF Michael Boxall (Intl/New Zealand), FW Long Tan (suspended by club)
    Houston:
    Out: DF Kofi Sarkodie (foot), DF Alex Dixon (concussion), GK Erich Marscheider (shoulder), Geoff Cameron (Intl/USA), Jermaine Taylor (Intl/Jamaica), André Hainault (Intl/Canada), Je-Vaughn Watson (Intl/Jamaica)
    Questionable: FW Will Bruin (concussion)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    The Whitecaps return to action after a two week break to face Houston Dynamo, last season’s MLS Cup runner ups. It was a much needed rest for their tired legs after a busy month of May that saw them play eight games in twenty four days. The two clubs split results last year with Vancouver losing 3-1 in Houston but returned triumphing later in the season with a 1-0 win at Empire.
    After the time off expect the Caps to go with a strong lineup against the Dynamo, as Joe Cannon will be called upon to make the start in goal once again. In front of him Jay DeMerit will partner with Martin Bonjour while Alain Rochat and Lee Young-Pyo will play wide on the backline. Depending on how Rennie decides to approach this game it will be either John Thorrington or Davide Chiumiento as third midfielder with the regulars Gershon Koffie and Jun Marques Davidson.
    It gets a little complicated when it comes to who starts up front, as the combinations are numerous. Although he struggled with his finish recently Sebastien Le Toux has played every minute in the MLS this year and his high work rate guarantees him one of the spots. Eric Hassli and Darren Mattocks showed some good chemistry at the end the Portland game but it is unknown how effective Mattocks would be on the wing. Thus, Camilo should be starter on the left side with either Mattocks or Hassli playing the central role.
    This will be the first of three straight games at home before the Caps go on the road for five so getting the three points against a depleted Dynamo lineup is vital. Houston will be missing four starters due to international duty including three from the backline and one from the midfield. It’s the three unavailable defenders that make this game winnable as it is normally the Dynamo’s main strength.
    However, Martin Rennie doesn’t feel the absences will affect the way the Whitecaps approach the match and the tactics they will employ.
    "It won’t affect our planning but it might affect theirs. It affects every team if you lose starting players but we just have to focus on what we’re doing and we know it will be a very hard game. Houston is a strong team and a formidable force."
    Despite what Rennie says, expect the Caps to run their attack through the left side with Houston’s right back spot being patrolled by a rookie. They may also put more crosses into the box with both Hainault and Cameron unavailable for selection. While the Dynamo normally plays a 4-4-2, they may switch to 4-2-3-1 in order to give their backline a little more coverage.
    Defending against the Dynamo will become easier if Will Bruin is unable to start due to a concussion issue, as the sophomore player has score five of the club’s twelve goals this season. Add to that the two goals from Hainault on set pieces and their starters will only have combined for five goals this season.
    However the one player that will have to be tracked closely will be Brad Davis who led the league last year with sixteen assists. He is especially dangerous on set pieces where he is able to find players in the box and score goals on his own from free kicks. Along with left back Corey Ashe, it is the left side of Houston that will have to be closely marked in order to keep a clean sheet.
    A strong start is needed by the Caps who are going to face a side that will most likely play a defensive game and try to grind out a result. The longer the Whitecaps go without scoring the more confidence the Dynamo players will gain making it hard to get the full three points. A result against Houston will get the Caps over the twenty point mark which they didn’t achieve last season until late August when they beat the Dynamo.
    <b>AFTN Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Houston Dynamo 0</b>
    <p>
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Hope

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    It shouldn’t have been unexpected, but it was. Long-time Canadian fans will understand – the Canucks don’t make things easy on themselves. They play down to their opposition and struggle to overcome even the slightest hint of adversity.
    So, doing exactly what they were supposed to do – beating the group’s weak touch Cuba – is viewed as reason for celebration. And, it should be. World Cup qualifying is a grind and getting three points on the road – regardless of who you are playing – is never a sure thing. With the win, Canada can pretty much assure itself a spot in the Hex simply by winning its three home games.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Easier said than done, of course, but when you’re coming off a cycle where you failed to win a game in the semi-final phase, you’ll take the three points and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
    Before the start of this two game set there were many that said that Canada needed a minimum of four points from its first two games. A draw against Honduras will do that. However, with the win on the books Canada can’t afford to think that way. Honduras lost at home to Panama yesterday. A Canadian win Tuesday will bury them and make for a very stressful summer for the Central Americans. If you have a chance to bury a tea in World Cup qualifying, you’d best take it.
    Like the game against the United States there were troubling things about the performance. Goals are not going to come easy. It’s imperative that the strong defensive performances continue.
    With concerns there are also reasons for optimism. Again like in the USA game the best aspect of the performance is the way they competed. For whatever the reason this team seems to be playing with more confidence than previous Canadian teams. That, in turn, is giving them a chance. In with a chance is more than they ever were in 2008.
    It’s one game. Canada still needs to find at least two more wins to escape this round. Fans shouldn’t get carried away just yet.
    But, there is hope – a feeling that has been in short supply in recent years. Hopefully they can build on that.
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