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    Guest

    AFTN 3-2-1 Latest Standings

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Our <b>3-2-1 Award</b> is AFTN's Player of the Year trophy.
    After every Whitecaps game we give three points to who we feel was the best Whitecaps player of the match, two for the second best, and then one for the third. You can usually find them in our <i>"In The Cold Light Of Day"</i> pieces.
    Points are tallied up and then, at the end of the season, we have a winner! And this year, we're going to do what we've done for the East Fife players since 2004 and give the winning Whitecap an actual trophy.
    So much silverware for the players to win this season!
    The current standings for 2012, after the Seattle game, are....
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Young-Pyo Lee - 15 points
    Joe Cannon - 12
    Alain Rochat - 10
    Davide Chiumiento - 8
    Camilo Sanvezzo - 8
    Sebastien Le Toux - 7
    Omar Salgado - 5
    Eric Hassli - 4
    Gershon Koffie - 4
    Martin Bonjour - 2
    Jun Marques Davidson - 2
    Jay DeMerit - 2
    John Thorrington - 2
    Greg Klazura - 1
    Brad Knighton - 1
    Darren Mattocks - 1
    Do you agree? It's still early, and we know this point system maybe doesn't take into account a consistent team performer, so who would be your players of the season so far?
    I've found it interesting that 16 Whitecaps players have earned mention. A mark of the quality and depth we have at our disposal this season. Long may it continue!
    <p>
    Guest
    No rest for the Montreal Impact starting goalkeeper. Donovan Ricketts was confirmed a few hours ago by the Jamaican Football Federation on the list of players for the June 1 friendly against Panama and the two World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala and Antigua & Barbuba.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Reggae Boyz have convened for training on Monday in Trelawny, Jamaica in preparation for a first friendly against Panama, on May 27 in Kingston, Jamaica. The other out-of-country players called will leave their club on Sunday to join the group.
    Apart from Ricketts, Toronto FC striker Ryan Johnson and midfielders Je-Vaughn Wtson (Houston), Demar Phillips (Aalesunds, D1-NOR) and Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, D1-NOR) will join the national side in time for the June 1 friendly.
    Three other strikers, NYRB’s Dane Richards, Motherwell’s Chris Humphrey and Birmingham City’s Marlon King will fly to Jamaica later this week.
    The Reggae Boyz are set to kick-off their World Cup qualifying campaign at home against Guatemala, on Friday, June 8 and will travel to Antigua & Barbuda for the June 12 clash. The United States complete this qualifying group.
    In 2012, Jamaica has a 4-0-1 record against Cuba, Guyana, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
    Donovan Ricketts, 34 has not played for the Reggae Boyz since the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup tourmanent. Since 1999, he played 16 international matches including 15 starts. He will fight for the starting spot with 27-year-old Jacomeno Barrette from local club Montego Bay and 24-year-old Dwayne Miller of Swedish first division side Syrianska.
    Since the beginning of the MLS season, Ricketts sports a 3-6-3 record with 1,50 GAA and a pair of shutouts in 12 starts.
    Guest
    We haven't brought you one of these for a few weeks, but when we do, we think of a subject for a football team to be based around for our "Team of the Week". Then we fill it with our starting eleven of current and recent MLS players with some appropriate name changes, or even better, just as is!
    Your scouting job is to come up with the subs bench, from any player from around the world, and leave your player suggestions in the comments section.
    It's Victoria Day today. Holiday time! For me, memories of May holidays involve enjoying ice cream in all it's various delightful forms. So what better time than to bring you our <b><i>"Ice Cream XI"</b></i>...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Jay Lolly (Chicago Fire)
    <b>D :</b> Kulfi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>D :</b> Banana Split Attakora (ex San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>D :</b> Float Lechner (New England Revolution)
    <b>D :</b> Corey Heavenly Hashe (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>M :</b> Bobby Conevey (Sporting Kansas City)
    <b>M :</b> Jorge Vanillafana (Chivas)
    <b>M :</b> Shake Salinas (San Jose Earthquakes)
    <b>F :</b> Cam Wafer (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>F :</b> Kenny Scooper (New York Red Bulls)
    <b>F :</b> Long Neapolitan (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>MANAGER :</b> Nick Haagen-Dasovic
    I'm sure this team won't be easily licked, although they may have to play all their games on a Sunday.
    <p>
    Guest
    The champions of Italy announced the dates of their North American tour on their official website on Monday with three games taking them to Washington, Montreal and Vegas to face DC United, France's vice-champions PSG and Spain's champion Real Madrid.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    A few hours later, the French giants who fell a few points short from winning the Ligue 1 title also confirmed their two matches in North American, including the July 31 matchs against the Blanconeri. PSG is to play its other match at Yankees Stadium against UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea on July 22.
    Juve is first expected in the American capital to face MLS' DC United and Canadian internationals Dejan Jakovic and Dwayne DeRosario on July 28.
    Then, as announced on this site a few days ago, the Italians will travel north to La Belle Province to face the French vice-champions Paris St-Germain at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, on July 31.
    The final date on the calendar will pit the Old Lady with Spanish champions Real Madrid in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 5.
    Still no word as of Monday morning on the other projected international club friendly in Montreal opposing AC Milan to Real Madrid.
    Guest
    Today, Danny Koevermans suggested that Toronto FC was becoming the worst team in the world. It seemed like a bit of hyperbole on a first listen, but it got us to think.
    What if he’s right?
    Restricting the search to top flights only and limiting it to current teams we sought out to see if there was a club anywhere in the world in worse shape than TFC. Below the jump, a list of last place teams from either the 2011-12 season or the current 2012 campaign.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]If the teams have played less than 20 games it’s noted.
    Wolves – England – 25 points
    [/url]Racing Santander – Spain – 27 points
    Kaiserslautern – Germany – 23 points
    Cesena – Italy – 22 points
    AJ Auxerre – France – 34 points
    Excelsior– Holland – 19 points
    Gold Coast United – Australia – 20pts
    Dunfermline Athletic – Scotland – 25 points
    Stabaek – Norway – 1 point, nine games
    Orebro – Sweden – 4 points, 11 games
    KuPS Kuopio – Finland – 3 points, 8 games
    Ireland – Carrick – 31 points
    Uniao Leiria – 19 points
    St. Truiden – Belgium – 19 points
    Viktoria Zizkov – Czech Republic – 19 points
    Kapfenberger SV – Austria – 23 points
    NK Varazdin – Croatia – 8 points
    Metalac – Serbia – 15 points
    Kozara – Bosnia-Herzegovina – 19 points
    11 Oktomvri – Macedonia - 16 points
    Doxa Dramas – Greece – 16 points
    Svetkavitsa – Bulgaria – 8 points
    CS Mioveni – Romania – 12 points
    Ermis Aradippou – Cyprus – 7 points
    Costuleni – Moldova – 20 points
    PFK Olexandria – Ukraine – 20 points
    Torpedo BelAz – Belarus – 6 points, 10 games
    Atlantas Klaipeda – Lithuania – 7 points, 13 games
    FS Metta/LU Riga – Latvia – 6 points, 11 games
    Tammeka Tartu – Estonia – 6 points, 11 games
    Ankaragücü - Turkey – 11 points
    Tom Tomsk – Russia – 20 points
    HB Køge – Denmark – 18 points
    FC Sion – Switzerland – 17 points
    Estudiantes Tecos UAG –Mexico - 12 points, 17 games
    Cúcuta – Colombia – 10 points
    Carabobo FC – Venezuela – 8 points, 16 games
    Olmedo – Ecuador – 8 points, 16 games
    Cobresol FBC – Peru – 6 points, 14 games
    Guabira – Bolivia – 8 points, 22 games
    Tacuary – Paraguay – 8 points, 16 games
    Bella Vista – Uruguay – 10 points, 15 games
    Unión San Felipe – Chile - 13 points, 17 games
    Banfield – 10 points, 15 games
    Avaí – Brazil - 31 points
    Consadole Sapporo – Japan – 4 points, 12 games
    Qingdao Jonoon – China – 8 points, 11 games
    Daejeon Citizen – Korea – 8 points, 13 games
    El Daklyeh – Egypt – 8 points, 15 games
    Jomo Cosmos – South Africa – 19 points
    That’s a lot of numbers, but you’ll note that there are no zeros in there. Of course there are some low season long figures. Let’s narrow it down to the worst of the worst.
    Stabaek – Norway – 1 point, nine games
    Orebro – Sweden – 4 points, 11 games
    KuPS Kuopio – Finland – 3 points, 8 games
    NK Varazdin – Croatia – 8 points
    Svetkavitsa – Bulgaria – 8 points
    Ermis Aradippou – Cyprus – 7 points
    Ankaragücü - Turkey – 11 points
    Consadole Sapporo – Japan – 4 points, 12 games
    Cobresol FBC – Peru – 6 points, 14 games
    Add Toronto FC into that mix and you have the Top 10 of football dread. But, does Toronto rank on the very top of the list.
    It’s all subjective, but it has to be close. They can argue that they are better than 0-9, but, then again, if I were better looking, taller, richer and famous I’d be dating Christina Ricci.
    Zero points is zero points.
    Ankaragücü hung those 11 points up in 34 games. Stabaek’s one point is the other in the conversation.
    Ankaragücü had 0.32 points per game. If Toronto wins Saturday it will be on a 0.3 points per game pace. That would leapfrog our Reds over the Norwegians.
    So, there you have it. Right now Toronto FC is, in fact, the worst team in the world.
    Guest
    Gutted.
    Every season, every team will have a couple of games where a draw feels like a defeat. Vancouver Whitecaps gave us that feeling against Seattle Sounders on Saturday.
    These are the games that build the character of a team. Players need to have the joy of winning ugly, and the pain of playing well and not winning, to fully move them on to the next level.
    It's then how they react to such a game, both immediately and in the next match, that shows just what kind of mentally strong team you have.
    After Saturday's game, every player and member of the management team felt the same way. They all know how much these matches matter and were frustrated at throwing the two points away. You can't ask for much more from your players than that.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We hurt. They hurt. One love. One goal.
    Now go out there on Wednesday and take out your anger and frustration on Toronto.
    Overall, it was a great team performance against Seattle and a fantastic advertisement for football here in the Pacific Northwest, but argh, those missed chances really came back to haunt us.
    If we had just taken one of those opportunities before or after half time, the result would have been a much different story. Football is a game of "what ifs" though, and we've stolen a few points ourselves already this season.
    The chance Darren Mattocks blasted over fifteen seconds into the second half was the game changer.
    We go two up there and Seattle are dead in the water.
    Mattocks missed a load of chances. We know it, he knows it, everyone that saw the game knows it.
    You can point fingers all day but how does that help a young player starting his fledgling career? It doesn't, and I really liked how Martin Rennie defended him after the match and took the positives out of his performance.
    What can't be overlooked is the fact that he got himself into those positions in the first place, and with ease. His speed, skill and tenacity caused the Seattle defence a multitude of problems. They clearly didn't know how to handle him and it was a great choice by Rennie to throw the unknown quantity into the mix.
    He was rusty, pumped up and nervous. Once he settles down and gets some minutes and a bit of confidence behind him, he is going to be an awesome asset for the team. His clinical finishing will soon come in MLS and when it does it's going to be devastating.
    Omar Salgado had a good game on the left and linked up wonderfully with Alain Rochat. If he can only work on his control and, in particular, his first touch on through balls, he'll be even better.
    Putting Salgado back in there after the stinker he had in New England will be a huge boost to the young player's confidence, and this is a game where confidence is king.
    Rennie has said from the start that age doesn't matter to him if he feels the player is good enough and on form. Playing two inexperienced strikers on the wings at the same time may have been a small step too far, although you can't say they didn't create and their speed will cause every defence in MLS problems.
    Talking of defensive problems, that was another two poor goals lost by ours.
    Martin Bonjour started the season so solidly, but if you wanted to play the blame game, you could pin both of Seattle's goal somewhat on him.
    It may be time for the Argentinean to get a little break and resurrect last season's successful Jay DeMerit-Carlyle Mitchell partnership.
    Our full backs are amongst the best in the League and I loved seeing another facet of Young-Pyo Lee's play when he wasn't afraid to get involved and go face to face with a couple of Seattle players in the second half. Love his passion and 100% commitment.
    Alain Rochat had a stand out game and what a goal. Not quite sure what Seattle's defence were doing for it mind you. No-one seemed to want to go near him and they let him walk into the box. Even Rochat was surprised by that after the match.
    Our midfield looks so much stronger with Gershon Koffie in it. He has to get the start on Wednesday. From nowhere he seems to have added an attacking quality to his game that just wasn't there last season.
    Keep it going. And the same for Davide Chiumiento, who is lighting the pitch up at the moment.
    He has made it known he feels he should be starting more games. Responding on the pitch the way he has is the best way to assure that.
    The nature of Saturday's draw is what is hard to take, but if you don't look at that aspect of it, the performance our guys turned in against one of the best sides in MLS shows just how far this team has come and how far they could go.
    Martin Rennie wants more though, as he told reporters after the match:
    <i>"I'm not here for us to make up the numbers, or anything like that. We're here to be the best. We're not here to tie games. We're not here to be happy with scoring two goals when we concede two goals.
    We're here to become better and to take over as best we can. Today we could have done that. We could have had an excellent result, so it's very little satisfaction."</i>
    It's great to hear that desire and determination, and he continued:
    <i>"I wanted it to be a win, and it should have been a win.
    It's frustrating that it wasn't, but at the same time, I think if someone had said to me in January you'll have the pre-season that you're going to have, unbeaten and winning a tournament, you'll be in the final of the Canadian Cup, with a game to go, all squared up, you're going to be fourth in the West and right there with the best teams, then would you accept that in January when you're taking over the worst team in MLS? Then yeah, you would grab it with both hands.
    It's definitely not all doom and gloom, but I just want us to be making strides faster than we are and today was a chance for us to make that stride and Wednesday is as well.
    We need to let the feeling of today burn enough so that Wednesday gives us that feeling of winning."</i>
    We shouldn't let any despondency creep in just because we lost two points to our Cascadian rivals. We played well and other results this weekend were pretty favourable to us.
    If we play like that on Wednesday then we'll be lifting our first Voyageurs Cup.
    Frankly, anything else will be deemed as a failure. Vancouver expects.
    'Mon the Caps.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>AFTN 3-2-1:</b>
    3 points - ALAIN ROCHAT (Immense. To have two of the best full backs in MLS on the same team is something we need to fully make the best of)
    2 points - JOE CANNON (Went from doing nothing in the first half to single handedly keeping us in it in the second)
    1 point - GERSHON KOFFIE (He's a difference maker in the middle this year. We missed him on Wednesday against Toronto and his performance against Seattle showed us why)
    <p>
    Guest

    I want to play really bad and win

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    We don't normally post official team videos, but Danny Koevermans post game comments need to be heard. Below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: In poetry

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    We've tried logic, we've tried emotion...let's go with iambic pentameter today
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]


    Red Lament -
    By Duane G Rollins
    The path forward is never clear
    with supposed friends turning away.
    Where once you were forever sure
    now you are riddled with self-doubt.
    What can you do now
    when nothing makes sense
    your self-confidence gone
    no longer yourself?
    Trite suggestions about moving on
    looking for the positive sign
    and believing that it will get better
    will leave you cold and vaguely sad.
    Those that love you most
    weep at where you are.
    They want to fix it;
    loyal they will remain.
    Can there be light in the darkness?
    To that there can only be hope.
    But there is truth in the clichés.
    There will be brighter days ahead.
    OR
    They said they might struggle and they were right,
    but God Damn It did they have to be this shite!
    Guest

    First home loss for Impact vs NYRB

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    For a second game in the last three, Les Bleus can't capitalize on the man advantage. In this postgame show, hear lockerroom comments from Jeb Brovsky, Davy Arnaud, Tyson Wahl and Collen Warner.
    We also offer your reactions from both coaches and a wrap from this week's MLS action and minor league results from Canadian clubs.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to enjoy our 30 minutes show.
    Guest
    Christopher Vose is AFTN's photographer and here is a gallery of some of his photos from the Whitecaps' game against Seattle Sounders this afternoon.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>
    [1-0 Vancouver. Alain Rochat!]

    [Another close call for Darren Mattocks]

    [A unique header from Eric Hassli comes close]

    [Omar Salgado tries to power his way through]

    [Camilo the Magician]</center>
    You can view the rest of Christopher's photos from the Seattle match as a high resolution slideshow <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
    When it comes to MLS games, a lot of Caps fans are more interested in the Cascadian rivalries than the Canadian ones.
    The first Cascadian Cup clash of the 2012 season played out to an exciting 2-2 draw at BC Place this afternoon, as casual fans were left in no doubt as to why these games matter so much.
    It was a game in which Vancouver should have been out of site by half time, but in the end, they finished feeling more like it was two points lost than a vital point won.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Martin Rennie again tinkered with the Whitecaps starting eleven, and Davide Chiumiento and Gershon Koffie both returned to the middle of the park, with Omar Salgado returning to the left wing. The in-form Eric Hassli surprisingly dropped to the bench, allowing number one draft pick Darren Mattocks to make his first MLS start.
    Vancouver nearly got off to a dream start within the first two minutes.
    Sebastien Le Toux went down in the box and the ball broke to Darren Mattocks, who tried to get on to his preferred right foot and allowed Seattle’s defence to close him down.
    The Caps had the chance of the match so far eight minutes in.
    From just inside his own half, Le Toux put through Omar Salgado, whose speed and tenacity took him past Osvaldo Alonso, but he slightly over-ran the ball, allowing Bryan Meredith to come and smother the danger.
    The Caps pressure finally saw the breakthrough in the 12th minute.
    Salgado collected a pass from Jay DeMerit, turned and sent Alain Rochat clear on the left. The left back powered unchallenged towards goal and slotted the ball past Meredith with ease.
    Vancouver were looking the far more lively but struggling to turn this into any real scoring chances, but they could have made it two in the 33rd minute.
    Rochat floated a perfect long ball into the path of Salgado, who shook off the last Seattle defender but pulled his shot wide of the right hand post.
    Seattle just weren’t in the game as an attacking force. Eddie Johnson won a corner for them with six minutes of the half remaining, in one of their few forays into the Vancouver box, but it came to nothing.
    The Caps responded by mounting another attack and Rochat put through Mattocks for a one on one with Meredith, but again he pulled his shot wide of the right hand post.
    As the game entered stoppage time, Johnson miss-hit a shot across the face of the goal but Fredy Montero couldn’t close in to get a foot on it at the open back post.
    The whistle brought to an end the best half of football that Vancouver had played so far in the MLS era. The general feeling was that the missed chances could come back to haunt the home side and Seattle couldn’t play as badly in the second half, and so it proved.
    The second half got underway and Seattle were still finding Mattocks a handful, and he was put through once again after only 15 seconds but fired high and over.
    From nowhere it was level in the 47th minute.
    Mauro Rosales received the ball out left and sent a perfect ball into the middle for Johnson to rise and head home the equaliser.
    Joe Cannon’s first action of the game was to pick the ball out of his own net, but three minutes later he came up with a huge save to keep out Montero from point blank range.
    Seattle kept the pressure on and Cannon again had to be alert to stop a Montero header seconds later, with a fine diving save.
    The visitors were a different team and giving the Whitecaps defence a torrid time.
    Cannon again came up with a huge save in the 57th minute, turning a swerving Montero shot from the edge of the box acrobatically past for a corner.
    Vancouver should have retaken the lead in the 62nd minute.
    Davide Chiumiento got the ball just inside the Seattle box, twisted and turned and played a sublime back heel straight into the path of Mattocks who blasted over in front of goal from seven yards out.
    It was to be the Jamaican’s last action of the game and he was soon replaced by Eric Hassli.
    Hassli nearly made an immediate impact in the 66th minute, flashing a header from a Rochat cross narrowly wide.
    Vancouver had weathered the Seattle storm.
    Hassli almost mirrored his stunning goal from Wednesday night in the 78th minute, but this time he couldn't keep the ball down and on target.
    Two minutes later and Chiumiento came within inches of breaking the deadlock, firing inches past the left hand post and into the side netting, after a nice run and cut inside.
    As with Mattocks, this attempt on goal signalled his last action of the match, making way for Camilo Sanvezzo.
    And what a substitution this proved to be.
    With eight minutes remaining, Camilo sent in a long, diagonal free kick from the left. Gershon Koffie jumped for the cross and may or may not have got the slightest of glances off his forehead past everyone, including Meredith, into the bottom left hand corner of the Seattle net.
    With seconds remaining of the ninety minutes, Montero tied the game up once more. Johnson flicked on a long kick from Meredith and the Columbian took a touch and hit a beautiful curling effort from the edge of the box that left Cannon rooted to the spot.
    Seattle had the last chance of the game in stoppage time when an unmarked Zach Scott headed a Montero free kick over.
    The spoils were shared, in what was very much the proverbial game of two halves.
    Seattle fought back extremely well, and were only kept at bay by some fine stops by Cannon, but Vancouver should have been out of sight by the half.
    It was a great game, but the Caps are left rueing their missed chances and what was ultimately two points dropped.
    Now the focus of attention is firmly set upon Toronto on Wednesday, where Vancouver will have to take such chances if they are to win the Voyageurs Cup.
    ATT : 21,000 (sell out)
    FINAL SCORE : Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 2 Seattle Sounders
    VANCOUVER : Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Alain Rochat; Sebastien Le Toux, Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson, Davide Chiumiento (Camilo Sanvezzo 80), Darren Mattocks (Eric Hassli 64), Omar Salgado (John Thorrington 74) [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Etienne Barbara, Jordan Harvey, Matt Watson]
    SEATTLE : Bryan Meredith; Adam Johansson, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Marc Burch (Zach Scott 85); Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Alex Caskey (Andy Rose 46), Alvaro Fernandez (David Estrada 72); Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson [subs Not Used: Andrew Weber, Cordell Cato, Roger Levesque, Sammy Ochoa, Zach Scott]
    Our photo gallery from the game can be found <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3242-Vancouver-Whitecaps-v-Seattle-Sounders-Photo-Gallery" target="_blank">HERE</a>.
    <p>
    Guest
    By: Michael Crampton
    Don’t look now, whisper it quietly, blink and you’ll miss it but, believe it or not, Toronto FC has only lost one of their last four games. Of course, that loss came in league play against this weekend’s opponent and cemented the club’s newest record of infamy so it doesn’t exactly feel like this is a team that has turned the corner. Zero wins, zero draws, and zero points in the league is a tough reality to swallow regardless of how well the team has been doing in the Canadian Championship. Even if the recent good results came against MLS opponents, until Toronto isn’t doing worse in the league than any MLS team ever, cup success will feel fairly hollow.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Heading into Washington to face DC United for the second straight time in league play it’s hard to know where this match fits in the Red’s season or what it means for the future of Aron Winter. Traditionally this has been a game with goals and with DC’s attack minded squad looking to entertain their home crowd there’s no reason to expect that to change. On the positive side, United has been inconsistent so far this season with only one sequence of back to back wins so maybe it’s actually a good omen that they defeated Colorado in mid-week?
    Toronto on the other hand needs wins and needs them desperately to avoid the rest of 2012’s league season quickly becoming completely meaningless. Logic dictates that they have to go for the win and can’t satisfy themselves with simply trying to cancel United for the 90 minutes. In these respect it has the makings of an entertaining game.
    Meanwhile, divining the meaning of the kabuki theatre that is TFC’s on field leadership and where this game fits into the alleged power struggle inside the front office is virtually impossible. Notwithstanding the more outlandish fan theories floating around TFC internet culture – “Winter wants to be fired”; no, “MLSE wants him to resign!” – it might seem reasonable to assume that no second year head coach could endure an 0-0-9 start. That ignores the CONCACAF Champions League and Canadian Championship success TFC has enjoyed this season though and that the Reds will be playing a decisive second leg in their national championship just four days after facing DC. It’s entirely possible that the worst team in MLS (so far this season) will once again be setting off on a grand continental adventure later this summer.
    One thing that is certain is that Toronto FC will be facing a long layoff in league play after their match against the Philadelphia Union on May 26th. Not only that but, barring another act of God on the weather front, the Voyageurs Cup will be awarded by that point as well. If TFC’s senior management is serious about making a change and replacing Aron Winter then that stretch looks like a reasonable time to effect their decision and bring in someone else with enough time to prepare for the match in Kansas City in mid-June. Would winning back to back games in the league with another Canadian Championship sandwiched in between be enough to save Aron Winter’s job? 2-0-8 is still a very ugly record but firing a coach after back to back wins and a national cup championship seems equally absurd.
    Regardless, the other thing that is certain is that, independent of how he views his future at the club, Aron Winter will put out the best available line-up he can in DC this weekend. His consistent philosophy of “every game is important” has occasionally proved frustrating when supporters wanted him to prioritize one competition over another but, with the team finally showing an indication of finding form, it’s possible that it will serve him well in this instance by allowing a degree of confidence in each other to emerge amongst teammates. News that the team will have to try to win their first league game of the season without injured captain Torsten Frings would normally be disheartening but it’s no different than the situation the same group of players faced in Vancouver on Wednesday night.
    Under more regular circumstances, facing the offensive fire power of Dwayne De Rosario and company, a draw away against DC United would be a suitably good result. At least in terms of stopping the bleeding it’d be hard to call any non-loss a bad result. However, winning really is the only option for this team at this point. Anything less and the math only gets worse from this point forward and Toronto fans might have as few as five meaningful nights left in the entire 2012 season. That’s hard to think about but none the less the reality Toronto FC supporters face; whether Aron Winter is there to face it with them might in part be determined by what happens in DC tonight.
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    This will be the first time <b>Sebestien Le Toux</b> will play a match against his former team as a member of a 'hated' rival when he lines up against the Sounders. In his four games against Seattle in his two years with the Union, Le Toux has recorded a goal and three assists. Apart from the games against FC Edmonton, the Frenchman has played every minute of the season for the Whitecaps and it looks as though he will see the full 90 minutes against Seattle.
    The majority of the attack for the Sounders runs through <b>Mauro Rosales</b> and he is arguably the most gifted player on the pitch for Seattle. What makes him even more valuable is the amount of consistency he brings to every game, even when he isn’t directly involved in the goal. While the stat line is not there for the Argentine winger this year, he finished third in MLS last season with 13 assists.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    Taking on the task to slow down Seattle’s best playmaker will be left back <b>Alain Rochat</b>, who will look to slow down Rosales with solid positioning combined with a little physical play. Since returning from injury, the Canadian born defender has also played centrally on the backline, but he is more effective on the left. It was his long ball late in the game on Wednesday that was perfectly placed which allowed Hassli to score the winner.
    With the defence dealing with nagging injuries and an inexperienced goalkeeper, the Sounders will rely on <b>Osvaldo Alonso</b> to do as much as he can to prevent any chances reaching the box. The Cuban defector is great at marshaling the majority of the pitch and controlling possession of the ball. Once he has control, Alonso will quickly move forward distributing the ball and is even known to score some big goals.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    It was another great game for <b>Eric Hassli</b>, on as a second half sub, as he continued his road to returning from a long slump by scoring another highlight reel goal on Wednesday. The designated player has now scored four times in the last five games for the Whitecaps in all competitions. He still needs to work on his aerial game and avoid getting into conflict with the referees every time he is knocked down.
    Another designated player who had a slow start to the season statswise, <b>Freddy Montero</b> has rediscovered his touch around the net. In his last four appearances the Colombian striker has scored three times and picked up an assist. In the second match last season it was Montero who dominated the Caps, scoring a brace and leading the Sounders to a Cascadia Cup.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    5W-3D-2L
    4th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-1 Draw vs Toronto FC (Voyageurs Cup)
    Seattle:
    7W-1D-2L
    3rd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Loss vs Real Salt Lake
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee)
    Questionable: FW Atiba Harris (quad)
    Seattle:
    Out: GK Josh Ford (knee), MF Steve Zakuani (leg), DF Michael Tetteh (hamstring), FW Babayele Sodade (knee)
    Doubtful: GK Michael Gspurning (hip), DF Patrick Ianni (back), MF Brad Evans (calf)
    Probable: MF Alvaro Fernandez (quad), DF Leo Gonzalez (quad)
    <b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
    The Cascadian rivalry between Seattle and Vancouver resumes once again when the Sounders make the trip up north to face the Whitecaps at BC Place. If not for the stunning goal by Hassli in Seattle, the Caps could have been blanked in the head to head matchup last season. That goal earned them a point but it was a different story when the Sounders closed Empire with a 3-1 win, earning them the Cascadia Cup. By that game, in late September, the team was in shambles, had completely tuned out the coach and was just going through the motions to end their first season in MLS.
    There shouldn’t be any changes in the backline and goal for the Caps as Cannon will start once again in goal with Lee, DeMerit, Bonjour, and Rochat as the defenders. The midfield should see Gershon Koffie and Davide Chiumiento return to the eleven while expect Jun Marques Davidson to keep his spot. There should be some rotation up front as well, with Omar Salgado and Eric Hassli starting, while Sebestien Le Toux remains to face his former team.
    While the Sounders have their fair share of injuries, they are also one of the deepest rosters in MLS. The Caps will have to have to deal with arguably the most skilled pair of strikers so far this season in Freddy Montero and Eddie Johnson. In order to get these talented strikers the service they need, the Sounders build up their attack through the wide areas of the pitch, especially with Mauro Rosales on the right side.
    Similarly, the Whitecaps will have to attack Seattle through their width as well, but for them it will be to stay away from Osvaldo Alonso. The Cuban holding midfielder is great at clogging up the middle of the park single handedly. If they can get past Alonso, then the Caps may be able to get opportunities against a banged up backline and an inexperienced goalkeeper.
    At this point of the season the Whitecaps first priority is to beat TFC next Wednesday and lift their first Voyageurs Cup, advancing the CONCACAF Champions League. However they can’t afford to look past the match against Seattle and start a winless streak in league play. Also a win against the Sounders would be their first against a Pacific Northwest rival in MLS and put the Caps in the lead for the Cascadia Cup.
    <b>AFTN Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 Seattle Sounders 1</b>
    <p>
    Guest
    Every week we’re going to 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's games produced a poor <i>BCS</i> success rate of 40%.
    The Caps defeat in New England saw them waste a huge opportunity to stay close at the top and they now sit nine points behind leaders Real Salt Lake, who don't play this weekend.
    A good midweek saw Portland draw and Colorado lose and Vancouver now need to take advantage of that when they host Seattle this weekend in a huge intra-conference Cascadia Cup match up.
    But what are the <i>”Best Case Scenarios”</i> we’re hoping to see in the rest of the week 11 games this weekend?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Nine games are being played over Saturday and Sunday. Only two all-Western Conference clashes again, four inter-conference match ups and three all-Eastern ties, so six matches to keep a really close eye on, including our own.
    <b><u>Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders</u></b>
    Current Whitecaps Points: 17 (4th in West)
    If Whitecaps Win: 20 points (Best Case Scenario = 4th in West, six points behind leaders / Worst Case Scenario = 4th, six points behind leaders)
    If Whitecaps Draw: 18 points (BCS = 4th / WCS = 5th)
    If Whitecaps Lose: 17 points (BCS = 4th / WCS = 5th)
    Maximum Points Total Possible: 89
    Projected Points Total On Current Results: 55 - 58
    Playoff Likelihood: 67 - 72%
    <b><u>Montreal Impact v New York Red Bulls</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    All eastern clash with, again no pun intended, no impact for the Caps. Always nice to see Montreal lose of course.
    <b><u>D.C. United v Toronto</u> - DC win in physical encounter</b>
    Another all eastern clash which may not affect the Caps playoff wise but could have a big bearing on the upcoming Voyageurs Cup final second leg. We really need a physical game to play out in DC, with Toronto ideally being pushed to their limits and picking up a couple of injuries for Wednesday. Wonder if we can put in some requests. Would also be hilarious to see TFC drop to 0 and 9.
    <b><u>New England Revolution v Houston Dynamo</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    Yet another all eastern clash. Who cares?!
    <b><u>Dallas v Philadelphia Union</u> - Philadelphia win</b>
    Dallas sit five points behind Vancouver in sixth place in the west. Keeping at least that gap this weekend would give the Caps a little bit of breathing space in this busy time of the schedule for them. If we can increase that to eight, it would be a good springboard for the next stage of the season.
    <b><u>Colorado Rapids v Sporting Kansas City</u> - Kansas City win</b>
    Colorado missed the chance to go fourth on Wednesday evening and still sit two points behind the Caps. Hopefully Kansas City can shake themselves out of a three game losing slump to keep the Rapids looking up at us.
    <b><u>Chivas USA v Los Angeles Galaxy</u> - Draw</b>
    You would have got good money on both the Los Angeles teams being down so low in the table at this point. We keep waiting for LA to pick up. Let's hope it doesn't start this weekend. A draw would be nice, but a Chivas win wouldn't exactly be the end of the world either. Let the panic buying begin!
    <b><u>San Jose Earthquakes v Columbus Crew</u> - Columbus win</b>
    Winless in two, let's hope that Columbus can add to San Jose's woes. The respective home and away records don't hold out too much hope, but that's the beauty of football. We could close the gap to three on the Quakes, or end up sitting nine points behind the top two. Come on the Crew.
    <b><u>Portland Timbers v Chicago Fire</u> - Chicago win</b>
    Bottom dwelling Portland are struggling. Winless in three and scoreless in three, let's hope the Timbers don't find their form in time for us visiting them next Saturday. A nice Chicago victory on Sunday, coupled with some injuries and suspensions for Portland would be just what the doctor ordered to hopefully round off a successful weekend for the Caps.
    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

    Impact-NYRB pre-game show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    The Impact are playing their final home game at the Olympic Stadium, hosting the New York RedBulls without Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez Saturday night.
    Listen to comments from team captain Davy Arnaud, striker Miguel Montano, defender Nelson Rivas and Cameroon trialist Timothee Atouba along with head coach Jesse Marsch.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to this 20 minutes pregame show.
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