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    Guest
    In a three part series, Ben Knight spoke to each of the candidates running in the CSA presidential elections.
    In this interview you will hear from CSA Vice President Victor Montagliani on supporting the national teams through registration fees, the CSA reform process and the proper role for the Association going forward.
    We encourage you to listen to all three interviews and weigh in on who you would choose for president.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/31159/montaglianiiinterviewfinal.mp3%27,initialScale:%27scale%27,controlBarBackgroundColor:%270x778899%27,autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
    Listen to the Dr. Dominique Maestracci interview
    Listen to the Rob Newman interview here
    Guest
    In a three part series, Ben Knight spoke to each of the candidates running in the CSA presidential elections.
    In this interview you'll hear from current CSA president Dominique Maestracci as he lays out his vision for Canadian soccer, talks about funding for the national teams and takes issue with some of the reporting Canadian Soccer News' has done on him over the years.
    We encourage you to listen to all three interviews and weigh in on who you would choose for president.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/31158/maestracciinterviewfinal.mp3%27,initialScale:%27scale%27,controlBarBackgroundColor:%270x778899%27,autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
    Listen to Rob Newman interview here
    Listen to the Victor Montagliani interview here
    Guest
    Back to winning ways and back to keeping clean sheets. This is how we imagined the Rennie revolution!
    Seriously though, it was good to put an end to the two game losing streak that the Caps have been on before the malaise set in. As one of the players commented post-game, losing can become contagious.
    Still a lot of work to do. The midfield still isn't commanding and the defence badly needs Rochat back in there, but this is a season of progress. We can only keep getting better and now have a fantastic base to springboard phase two of the campaign.
    Up to third in the West, fourth overall, and five points behind the leaders. Every point really is going to be vital, as you look at the bunching pack below waiting to pounce on any team slipping.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Constant pressure, but you do get the feeling that this team will thrive in such situations.
    For a lot of the game, we seemed content to just let Dallas control the game and try and break us down. Hard to knock it as not only did it work, but you just didn't get the feeling that the Texans were going to do any damage, despite dominating possession in both halfs.
    That's the difference between last season and the team that Rennie has built. Last year, we'd have folded like a Chinese laundry in those closing moments and given up at least one goal through defensive slackness.
    Instead that laundry is churning out fold-free clean sheets and last night was the fifth in the seven games so far.
    A big difference between last night and Wednesday was having Jun Marques Davidson back in there. There were a few times, especially in the first half, when Jay DeMerit and Jordan Harvey were caught out of position through some rash tackles, but there was no danger as Davidson was back there covering. We seriously missed that against San Jose.
    Harvey played better than Wednesday, but once we get Rochat back, our full backs are going to be amongst the best in the League.
    What can you say about Young-Pyo Lee that hasn't already been said? It's getting harder and harder to find superlatives to describe the Korean. He's a beast out there, in defence and in attack. Can we clone him? Finding that technology should be John Furlong's first task as executive chair.
    Rennie commented post-game that he was interested to see how Lee would cope with the pacey Brek Shea. Amazingly well as it turned out. So much so that Dallas moved Shea to the other wing towards the end of the game. Lee had one uncharacteristic slip midway through the second half, when he gave Shea too much room at a cross, but Cannon was fully up to the task of keeping him out.
    Rennie rang the chances, four of them from Wednesday, and they all seemed to work. He acknowledged post game that you make the changes, they work and you seem like a genius. They don't work and you seem like a clueless clown (I'm paraphrasing!). Them's the fine lines in football.
    Last night it worked, in so much as we got the result, but there was a distinctive lack of bite and spark at times.
    The midfield is very workmanlike, but always seem to be a bit under the radar. They get the job done, without ever seeming to stand out and shine. That's not necessarily a fault, you just find yourself not noticing them on occasions. Unspectacular is the word I'm looking for, I guess.
    Matt Watson came in and gave a good account of himself, more so when playing in a more attacking role towards the end. Gershon Koffie did well, but looks a little lost at times without a more experienced player beside him. He will really start to flourish once Barry Robson is in there with him, and I look forward to seeing that.
    There was one point in the first half when a Dallas defender fell down in front of him. Gershon stood there and didn't move the ball for several seconds, allowing the guy to get back up again and stand in front of him. It's those kind of situation that he needs a Robson or Vagenas type figure to bark at him what the options are, although he should know to be fair.
    Omar Salgado did well in his first start of the season. He showed enough glimpses on the left during the game to show that we may have found the perfect role for him in the squad, but he's still a work in progress. Getting the start will do his confidence no end of good though.
    Sebastien Le Toux was reduced to playing a very deep role last night and it didn't work for him. We negated pretty much all of his attacking threat. He was playing the role that Eric Hassli has been undertaking these last few games, but he didn't produce what Eric does in that situation.
    He needs to be playing up top, but I'm not sure how well a Le Toux-Camilo partnership works.
    It was great to have the wee Brazilian back in the team and he was clearly 'Man of the Match'. His goal was a peach and he caused a lot of problems for the Dallas defence.
    He is still far too focussed on doing it all himself. I don't want to say selfish, but it's borderline.
    He seems to work best up there on his own, which is why I'm not sure how he and Le Toux will gel.
    There were a few occasions last night when if only Camilo had looked up, he would have seen the perfect pass to someone like Salgado, but decided to put his head down and plough through. It worked for the goal, but that was only one chance of many that reaped the rewards.
    Overall, it was a great all round team effort. There were no slackers and everyone pulled their weight. That's pretty much what you want and expect from your team every week.
    It may be the kick up the ass some of the more experienced players need. Once we have a full and healthy squad ready to go, the competition for places is going to be immense and that can surely only be good in raising the team to the next level that they need to be at to properly compete.
    'Mon the Caps.
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>AFTN 3-2-1 :</b>
    3 points - CAMILO SANVEZZO (Ran the show up front and looked dangerous throughout. Need to be less selfish to fully benefit the team)
    2 points - YOUNG-PYO LEE (Once again, a beast. Both at the back and going forward. He has an engine to envy)
    1 point - JUN MARQUES DAVIDSON (Made a huge difference to plugging some holes at the back)
    <p>
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: So, what now?

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Frustration is an acceptable feeling this morning. After 5-years you have every right to want more from Toronto FC than an 0-6 start.
    If you want to blindly rage at the club then that's your right. If you feel you should stay home and withdraw your support, no one is going to tell you that you're wrong to do so. Screaming profanity at the players? Whatever gets you through the day.
    Just don't delude yourself into thinking that, beyond making yourself briefly feel better, it's at all productive.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The club knows it needs to play better. Staying home will just make the stadium one voice quieter and the players feel the losses far, far more intently than you do.
    The importance of the “12th man” is greatly overstated as a positive benefit to the home team. As a negative agent it's just counterproductive. Booing players doesn’t motivate them to play better, it discourages them and makes it more likely that they'll screw up even more by trying to force the issue beyond their skills.
    Staying home doesn't motivate management to increase its support. It motivates them to cut costs or increase prices. Like it or not, it's a business and businesses are going to act in a way that protects their bottom line.
    This is not to say that fans should be passive. Let's repeat that line so it's heard – THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT FANS SHOULD BE PASSIVE. Rather, it's a call for fans to focus their frustration and be thoughtful in their criticism.
    If fans have legitimate grievances, fans should make themselves heard. There are lots of legitimate grievances – pricing (God help them if they try and raise season ticket prices for next year) and the Liverpool friendly the two most notable right now. There are many fans that continue to experience problems with security. There are likely more, but the key element is that management has control over the situation. They have made decisions that some fans disagree with and decisions where there is room for compromise.
    Please note that “losing” is not listed as a legitimate grievance. And in and of itself it isn't. Losing is part of sport. The act of buying a ticket does not guarantee you a winning experience. You have entered into a social contract with the seller – in this case MLSE – in which they provide you with a sporting experience and you, in turn, agree to follow certain stadium rules. That's all.
    Win, lose or draw – it's irrelevant. It's no different that when you buy a ticket to see a play. You may not enjoy the performance, but you know that you will see people prancing about on stage.
    It's in management’s best interest to put a product on the field that the average fan wants to watch – and for most that means a winning team. However, the club isn't even obligated to do that. Buyer beware, who needs RottenTomatoes.com when you have the league standings to give you a completely objective view of where things stand.
    Please do not mistake this as an argument for you to “get over yourself” and to only be positive at the games. Nor, is this a judgment for those that chose to stay home or chose to verbally attack the team while in the stadium. You are the consumer. There is no wrong way to support, or not support, the team.
    Rather, it is a call for focus. Blind rage often leads to rash decisions by management that are focused on the short term. Five years of experience tells me those type of decisions never work out.
    Blind rage is also easily ignored. Blind rage is Doug McSweeny – illogical and based on nothing but emotion. If you truly care about the future of this football team you will fight against the understandable urge for blind rage.
    As stated, there are things fans legitimately should take issue with. Later today I will explore a few of those areas and offer up suggestions for getting them addressed.
    They suck. I get it. That doesn't mean we need to suck too.
    Guest

    Steve Nicol! Come on down!

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    I know something is deeply, severiously wrong in TFC land when I start agreeing with Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It's very, very early in the morning in Peterborough, Ontario, and I am sleeplessly digesting video of Toronto's gut-wrenching 3-2 loss to the honestly-not-very-good Chicago Fire. This runs the season-opening losing skid to six games, including recent losses to the drab-and-dreadful Chivas USA, and a Montreal Impact squad that may yet prove to be one of the very worst teams in MLS history.
    Kelly typically over-reaches off the top, writing off Toronto's playoff chances entirely. Even though MLS is far from the 50-50 coin-toss league it used to be, there are still 28 games left, and there is still some lovely talent on Toronto's roster.
    Where Kelly becomes interesting -- and, I believe, accurate -- is when he starts running quotes. Reeling TFC coach/brainman Aron Winter pretty much says he still has to overhaul his roster. And player after player is graphically depicted showing utter disbelief.
    Clearly, the players think it is the system, and not their own good selves, that is ultimately to blame.
    The video evidence is mixed.
    So hard to watch the start of this -- with returning captain Torsten Frings hairballing up his first touch, gifting the flameless Fire the fastest goal off the top of a match in Major League Soccer history. In front of chasming numbers of empty seats, as well.
    But there is talent here, dammit! Newcomer Reggie Lambe scores a couple of hugely useful goals. The first is a singing strike from well out, catching some poor boob of a Chicago netkeep hopelessly tied to the wrong post. The second is a multi-layered team effort, good enough to count even though the sequence broke down pretty badly in the middle.
    After that, though, both system and squad collapse.
    As Santos Laguna clearly demonstrated in the CONCACAF Champions League -- and as both Montreal and Chicago have painfully reproven -- all you really have to do to utterly can-opener TFC oh-twelve is hoof a long ball from behind centre into the path of a speedy guy who can dribble.
    At that point, it's no longer even a question of whether the bad guys will score. It's more about how much fun will they have doing it.
    But what does Winter -- or anyone else -- expect when a team that chronically can't defend tries to skate through a professional soccer match starting only three defenders at the back?
    Kelly catches player after player carefully choosing their post-game words. He neatly captures both what was said -- and how. For all the chronic differences I have with the man, these depictions have an appalling whiff of truth.
    The hot, popular rumour backstage at BMO Field is that Aron Winter is on the way out. Paul Mariner, TFC's guy-in-the-braintrust-wot-has-actually-helped-build-championship-squads-in-MLS, has reportedly seen more than enough. His boss of choice, former New England Revolution head man Steve Nicol, is deliciously available.
    If you look at TFC's recent form, it becomes all too clear that Winter has fatally face-planted. Forget the league. Look at the CONCACAF stuff. Yes, Toronto iced defending champions L.A. over two legs. But L.A. can't beat a dishrag right now. Yes, TFC drew Santos Laguna at home, but all three Mexican teams Toronto has played in CONCACAF over the years have dogged the away leg.
    But I still love a lot of what's on this roster. Impressive youth. The speed and fearless guile of Joao Plata. Torsten Freakin' Frings and Danny Hi There Koevermans. Fine clutch goalkeeping -- and top-drawer edgy attitude -- from Milos Kocic. Any number of other lads who show pluck and promise.
    Winter based his whole gig on the system. He's boosted the talent level nicely, but the talent is baffled by the system. If Kelly is even halfway accurate this morning, there is clear and mounting evidence that Winter has lost the room.
    It's a room I can't imagine Steve Nicol would have any particular trouble finding.
    And it's desperately long-gone time he got his chance.
    Onward!
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps were keen to bounce back from a two game losing streak and they did just that at BC Place tonight, claiming three vital points in a 1-0 win over Western Conference rivals Dallas.
    Martin Rennie has been unhappy with the performances of late and rang the changes.
    Eric Hassli, Davide Chiumiento, Atiba Harris and John Thorrington all dropped to the bench. Camilo Sanvezzo returned to the starting line up, with Omar Salgado getting his first start of the season on the left wing. Jun Marques Davidson returned to his defensive midfield role, in an attempt to support the back line, and Matt Watson came in to plug the hole in the middle.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Whitecaps had the first chance of the game five minutes in. Davidson weighted a beautiful ball over the Dallas defence for Camilo. The Brazilian did well to control but fired over as he rapidly ran out of room.
    It was only to be five more minutes before the striker got his name on the scoresheet, with the only goal of the game.
    Collecting a short pass from Young-Pyo Lee on the right touchline, Camilo cut inside past two Dallas defenders, ran into the box and curled an unstoppable shot past Chris Seitz and low into the net.
    The Whitecaps were happy with the pace of the game and reduced Dallas to long range shots.
    With 24 minutes gone, Brek Shea collected a throw in, ran at the Caps defence and fired a 20 yard grasscutter (turfcutter?) past Joe Cannon’s left hand post. It was the closest the visitors had come so far and was a couple of feet wide.
    The game fell in to a lull which Shea nearly awoke from when he blasted over from a good position, 14 yards out, in the 40th minute.
    The Caps finished the half in the ascendency but as the second half got underway, it was more lacklustre stuff from both sides, with Vancouver showing very little spark or bite and seemingly happy to let the visitors take the game to them.
    Brek Shea had the first chance of the second half in the 62nd minute, when Lee allowed him a lot of space and he drilled a low shot at Cannon from inside the box.
    Two minutes later and it was the same again, with the same result.
    Vancouver had a great chance to add a second when Le Toux tried to play through Camilo, but he overhit his pass.
    The Whitecaps won a free kick to the right of the box in the 72nd minute when Lee was fouled, and the Korean played a short pass inside to Camilo who fired just past the right hand post from the edge of the box.
    Camilo had another chance for his second three minutes later. Matt Watson broke on the right, hit the byeline, then cut the ball back perfectly to the Brazilian who drilled a low shot towards goal, forcing Seitz into a leg save.
    As the game ticked into the final seconds of normal time, a quick breakaway by the Caps saw Le Toux running one on one at goal with Carlos Rodriguez.
    The Dallas defender hauled Le Toux down for the foul and despite being the last man, only a yellow was produced by referee Edvin Jurisevic.
    It wasn’t to matter as the final whistle soon came and the Caps held out for a much needed morale boosting three points.
    Vancouver never looked in too much danger for the whole match and although a little flat at times, the performance and a return to the clean sheets from earlier in the season will be very pleasing for the Caps management.
    The need to go on now and build upon that in Columbus next week.
    ATT: 18,027
    FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 - 0 Dallas
    VANCOUVER: Joe Cannon; Young-Pyo Lee, Martin Bonjour, Jay DeMerit, Jordan Harvey; Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson, Matt Watson; Omar Salgado (Atiba Harris 73), Sebastien Le Toux, Camilo Sanvezzo (Eric Hassli 80) [subs Not Used: Brad Knighton, Davide Chiumiento, Carlyle Mitchell, Long Tan, John Thorrington]
    DALLAS: Chris Seitz; Ugo Ihemelu, Carlos Rodriguez, George John, Zach Lloyd; Bruno Guarda (Scott Sealy 72), Daniel Hernandez, Bobby Warshaw (Matt Hedges 89), Brek Shea; Fabian Castillo, Blas Perez [subs Not Used: Kevin Hartman, Ruben Luna, Hernan Pertuz, Jonathan Top, Victor Ulloa]
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Another view

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    By Doug McSweeny
    I told that tool Rollins that I'd better not read another positive thing about TFC if they didn't win today. He said that if I thought I could do a better job then I should write Sober Second Thoughts myself.
    Little did he know that I don't need to be sober, or need to think, to give those bastards at MLSE a piece of my mind. Today readers of CSN will get truth, not Rollins' pandering bunk.
    I'm done. This team is the worst soccer team in the world. The world. I spent 400 whole dollars for season tickets. I deserve more. When I watch my other team, Barcelona, I never get this frustrated. Barca gets it. They play with heart, not like those dipshits on TFC.
    TFC needs to be more like Barca.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    There is no reason why Toronto shouldn't win every game. Lots of clubs do. Beer is $13 at BMO Field. The Reds should have enough money to do that too.
    Of course MLSE doesn't want to win. Everyone know that. It's obvious. Winning would cost too much money, or something. All MLSE cares about is making money, and they have suckers like you, so why would they try to win.
    And the DPs they signed – THEY SUCK. That just proves that MLSE is stupid because they spent more than $6 million on three bums.
    We'd be so much better off without a big, rich company owning the team. We'd be better off if a single, passionate owner was there. So what if they didn't have as much money. I'm sure a single owner would have spent the $20 million on the training facility. I don't know why that owner didn't come along and take a risk on bringing soccer to Toronto back in 2006 when no one else was willing to. Regardless, we'd be better off waiting indefinitely for that unknown and possibly non-existent person to materialize.
    We need to stop going. That will show MLSE. If they start losing a lot of money that will make everything better. I just know it.
    I hate it, you know. The losing. It burns. And the Leafs suck too. I don't like basketball, but my buddy Carl tells me the Raptors are a joke as well.
    I just want to win. Why can't we ever win????//?
    It sucks.
    Duane Rollins will return with his sober, Sober Second Thoughts tomorrow.
    Guest
    The Whitecaps play their second match of the week as they look to rebound after a 3-1 midweek loss to Sporting Kansas City. In their two meetings against FC Dallas last year, the Caps were unable to collect a single point losing 2-1 at Empire and then 2-0 on the road in Texas.
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    In addition to his late substitution in the last match, <b>Omar Salgado</b> has played left wing in the last few reserve games with positive results. In his last three appearances against MLS clubs Salgado's crossing has either directly set up a goal or led to one being scored.
    After failing to lead the United States into the Olympics <b>Brek Shea</b> returned to Dallas but was unable to find goals until the last game, when he scored a late winner against the Impact. Shea's combination of skill, speed and size makes him a freak of nature when compared to most young players in MLS.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENCE
    In the last two games the defensive breakdowns were not due to the play of <b>Young-Pyo Lee</b>, as the Korean international has been steady on the right side. He will arguably face his toughest test against Brek Shea and while the youngster is bigger and faster, the veteran will use skill and experience to shut him down.
    After being constantly rumoured to be joining the EPL, including a close call with Blackburn last summer, <b>George John</b> has returned to Dallas for this season, or at least till the summer. The Washington State native has a decent combination of size and skill and has been one of the most consistent defenders for FC Dallas.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    Having only played 30 minutes against KC, <b>Camilo</b> came on as a sub and changed the dynamic of the match as he attacked the backline. It looks as though the Brazilian is over his quad injury, making him ready for the starting eleven, giving Martin Rennie attack options on the wing and up top.
    FC Dallas have been looking for a decent striker for some time and may have found one in Panamanian International <b>Blas Perez</b>. Of the eight goals scored this season by Dallas, Perez has been directly involved in 75% of them, with 3 goals and 3 assists.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    2W-2D-2L
    7th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 3-1 Loss vs Sporting Kansas City
    Dallas:
    3W-1D-2L
    4th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 2-1 Win vs Montreal Impact
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out: FW Darren Mattocks (shoulder), DF Alain Rochat (knee), GK Brian Sylvestre (knee)
    Doubtful: FW Etienne Barbara (groin strain), MF Michael Nanchoff (heel contusion)
    Dallas:
    Out: MF David Ferreira (foot), MF Ricardo Villar (foot), MF Andrew Wiedeman (sports hernia)
    Questionable: MF Andrew Jacobson (hamstring)
    <b>GAME PREDICTION :</b>
    After two straight 3-1 losses, in addition to playing twice this week, Martin Rennie and the Whitecaps are looking to make some changes in order to find a spark in the final third. Some of the changes may have been planned already, but some are due to the inspired play late in the game against Sporting Kansas City.
    Joe Cannon should see his seventh start in goal as well as Lee, DeMerit and Bonjour penciled in on the backline for the same period. There is a small possibility that Alain Rochat, after missing three games due to a knee injury, returns to the left back spot with Harvey returning to the bench. The two central midfielder spots could go to Koffie, Thorrington, or Davidson depending on if Rennie will look to rest Thorrington.
    It gets a little muddier when it comes to the starters on the wings and up top, but it looks as though Camilo will return from injury to play on the right and Omar Salgado on the left. At the striker positions, it looks as though Hassli will be on the bench as the Caps will go with Le Toux pairing with either Harris or Chiumiento.
    The midfield will be available for the taking for the Caps against FC Dallas, as the Texas side could be without three of their best options. David Ferreira and Ricardo Villar look to be ruled out, and Andrew Jacobsen is doubtful to start. As a result of these injuries, the Caps will have to look to defend wide, as FC Dallas will look to work the wing, especially with Brek Shea. Their most dangerous player this year has been Blas Perez, who arrived this year and has made an immediate impact.
    The Caps are looking to change their fortune with a different combination of attackers that will be able finish their chances in the final third. Against KC, Camilo entered the match with 30 minutes to go and created more chances instantly, while Omar Salgado’s cross from the left led to their only score. It will be Salgado who will be lining up against the weakest part of the Dallas backline with their regular starter, Hernan Pertuz, playing despite a knock suffered last week.
    The Whitecaps have another opportunity to prove they can play with the best. They have only collected a single point against 2011 MLS playoff teams so far this term. As much as the first games gave supporters optimism that this was a new beginning, the last two have reminded many of the 2011 Whitecaps. While the players seem to still be buying into the system that Rennie has laid out, it will be the results on the pitch that will prove if things are still progressing.
    <b>AFTN Predicted Score: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 FC Dallas 1</b>
    <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.
    We always try and tie our "MLS Team of the Week" in with the day that we announce it. Today was a problem, as trying to come up with a team based around 'National Pineapple Upside-down Cake Day' was proving somewhat difficult, so thankfully it was also 'Cuckoo Day' today.
    So with this in mind, we thought what better time to bring your our <b><i>"Birds XI"</b></i> and not a member of the CWNT in sight...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Jay Nolly (Chicago Fire)
    <b>D :</b> Adrian Toucann (Toronto)
    <b>D :</b> Condor Lade (New York Red Bulls)
    <b>D :</b> Ostrich Balchan (Columbus Crew)
    <b>M :</b> Dan Parakeat (Los Angeles Galaxy)
    <b>M :</b> Dilly Ducka (Columbus Crew)
    <b>M :</b> Stephen Kingfisher (DC United)
    <b>M :</b> Luis Eagil (Real Salt Lake)
    <b>M :</b> Julian De Gooseman (Toronto)
    <b>F :</b> Chad Parrot (Los Angeles Galaxy)
    <b>F :</b> Cockateal Bunbury (Kansas City)
    <b>Coach :</b> Sand Martin Rennie (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    This team will soon be climbing the pecking order and sitting top of the perch. No doubt ruffling a few feathers along the way and giving away a lot of fowls.
    Shame the Caps don't still have Charles G'Beke and Jonathan Feathers.
    New York's Rafa Marquez nearly made the team, on account of him being one giant tit.
    <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 week's games produced a <i>BCS</i> success rate of 58.33%.
    The Caps lost in midweek, and did more damage to their playoff hopes than anyone else. They can bounce back in an all important Western Conference clash on Saturday, but what are the <i>”Best Case Scenarios”</i> we’re hoping to see in the rest of the week 7 games?
    Eight games this weekend. Three all-Western Conference clashes, two inter-conference match ups and three all-Eastern ties, so five matches to keep a really close eye on, including our own.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b><u>Vancouver Whitecaps v Dallas</u></b>
    Current Whitecaps Points: 8 (7th in West)
    If Whitecaps Win: 11 points (Best Case Scenario = 3rd in West, five points behind leaders / Worst Case Scenario = 5th, seven points behind leaders)
    If Whitecaps Draw: 9 points (BCS = 6th / WCS = 7th)
    If Whitecaps Lose: 8 points (BCS = 7th / WCS = 8th)
    Maximum Points Total Possible: 92
    Projected Points Total On Current Results: 45 - 48
    Playoff Likelihood: 55%
    <b><u>Toronto v Chicago Fire</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    All eastern clash. No real interest or impact on Caps playoff hopes, but we have an interest as it's Toronto. Have to root for a Chicago win in the hope that Toronto's Win-Draw-Loss column will soon turn them into the James Bond team of MLS - 007. Two losses to go!
    <b><u>Columbus Crew v Houston Dynamo</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    Another all eastern clash, with no impact on Caps playoff hopes. Although with the Caps travelling to Columbus next Saturday, a feisty match with Crew suspensions and injuries would be nice.
    <b><u>Colorado Rapids v Los Angeles Galaxy</u> - Draw (LA win close second)</b>
    This all Western clash will test the Galaxy to see if they are back on track after their defeat of Portland. A draw would probably be the best result for the Caps, although if LA are about to get in their stride, a LA win is the close second best result in order to keep points away from Colorado, when every point could count between them and the Caps come the end of the season.
    <b><u>Portland Timbers v Sporting Kansas City</u> - Kansas City win</b>
    West v East, so we need Kansas City to keep their 100% start to the season going at what will be a hostile Piggy Park. Ideally we want the Timbers to take the lead and then blow it again just to hit their morale all the more.
    <b><u>Chivas v Philadelphia Union</u> - Philadelphia win</b>
    The second West v East match-up of the weekend. We keep saying that we don't think Chivas will be anywhere near the playoffs, but they're getting the points on the board. We need Philly to find some away form and get their first road win of the season.
    <b><u>San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake</u> - Draw</b>
    The game of the weekend. First v Second in the West. It's mouthwatering but we badly need it to end in a draw to keep both sides from opening up any bigger gap on the Caps and the rest. Keep your enemies closer is the motto for this one.
    <b><u>D.C. United v New York Red Bulls</u> - No impact on Caps</b>
    The only Sunday game this week and it's an all eastern clash. No real interest in who wins, but New York are a hard team to like.
    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
    By Mike Crampton
    The storyline for Toronto FC ahead of their match with the Chicago Fire this weekend couldn’t be clearer: get points and get them any way you can. With persistent rumors of an ideological battle inside the organization beginning to be reported more openly it’s not unreasonable to suspect that results over the next few weeks could have a lasting impact on the direction of the club.
    Make no mistake: regardless of whether or not his position is being questioned inside the halls of senior management pressure on Aron Winter is building. The viability of the project he was tasked with heading and his own personal suitability for the job have both become topics of heated debate amongst TFC supporters with each successive loss in the league. Reds fans have endured a lot of losing over the last five years and no matter how seductive the vision of long term success proposed by Jurgen Klinsmann looks a season written off at the beginning of summer will be a bitter pill to swallow.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    In some sense the Chicago Fire might be the most fitting opponent at this critical juncture. Interestingly, the Fire only recently went through an eerily similar set of questions regarding the tenure of their previous manager Carlos de los Cobos and what happened in the Windy City could provide useful lessons for followers of Toronto’s MLS side.
    In the fall of 2009 Chicago were a mere penalty shootout away from returning to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2003. It was actually the Fire’s second consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Final under coach Denis Hamlett. Unfortunately for them they ran into the hot hand of Nick Rimando in goal and it was Real Salt Lake who ended up lifting the cup in Seattle, after another penalty shootout, a week later. Hamlett was only the fourth ever head coach at the remarkably consistent club since their formation in 1998 but, amid stories of fights with players and accusations of an unentertaining style that didn’t win at home often enough, the Fire elected not to renew his contract for 2010.
    In January of 2010 the Fire announced the new man to lead them: respected former Mexican international Carlos de los Cobos. Fresh off a relatively successful three year spell in charge of the El Salvadoran national team de los Cobos (in a story that should sound somewhat familiar to Toronto supporters) was expected to bring a more entertaining “Latin-style” possession game to Chicago. While 2010 was expected to be a rebuilding year for the club results were poor from the beginning and the Fire, even with the mid-season addition of two designated players in Freddie Ljungberg and Nery Castillo to supplement American star Brian McBride, ended up missing the playoffs for only the second time in their history. Worse, the style of play envisioned never really seemed to click and home wins remained just as rare.
    The perception among many observers was that de los Cobos, like many foreign managers before him, was failing to adapt to the particular environment of Major League Soccer. His position wasn’t helped during the off-season prior to 2011 when he gave a somewhat infamous Spanish language interview to ESPN Deportes in which he appeared to agree that MLS was a decidedly poor level of play and that he was “used to a different kind of soccer.” It was a statement that might have been absolutely true – one could argue he was caught being too honest – but was seized on by critics as proof of his disconnect from the realities of management in the league.
    Eventually, after a nine game winless run and a record of 1W-6D-4L to start the year, the pressure became too much and de los Cobos and the Fire decided to “part ways” towards the end of May 2011. To put that start in context the Fire were behind first year Aron Winter’s Toronto FC in the standings at the time Carlos was let go.
    Technical director, MLS veteran, and a man long associated with Chicago soccer Frank Klopas was appointed interim coach. It took a little while but eventually the players, including jettisoned TFCer Dan Gargan, responded to his leadership and from late August on ended the season as the hottest team in the league with a 7W-1D-2L run that nearly saw them sneak their way back into the playoffs. Of course the win that kicked off the turnaround just had to be a 2-0 victory over Toronto FC. It was announced that Klopas would be staying on as coach at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
    So as Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire get set to face off for the first time in 2012 it may be worth keeping recent history in mind.
    In team news captain Torsten Frings is expected back for the Reds for the first time since sustaining injury in the season opener in Seattle but Chicago will be able to call on their own new German international defender Arne Friedrich. News out of training Friday is that striker Danny Koevermans has picked up an injury while Nick Soolsma remains out. The Fire had expected to be able to field returning attacker Chris Rolfe but word is that he has also been ruled out with an ankle injury.
    The Fire’s form has been middling so far in 2012 with only one outright victory over a weak looking Philadelphia side to their name along with a couple of draws but, like every team who will visit BMO Field in the coming months, they’ll surely look at the weekend as an opportunity to pick up three road points. Whether or not they achieve that or whether TFC manages to earn their first points of the season will surely prove an important chapter in finding out if Aron Winter ends up the next Carlos de los Cobos to be chewed up and spit out by Major League Soccer.
    Guest
    Before we put up this week's <i>"Best Case Scenario"</i> feature, we wanted to run this little introduction to the section, which was in my Metro column a few weeks back, but some technical problems meant a lot of people didn't get to see it. Just a little background as to why we we've started the feature....
    As much as I wanted Major League Soccer to adopt a balanced schedule again this season, I’ve actually found the new set up of the League to be a lot more interesting and exciting than seasons gone by.
    It may just be down to the fact that the Whitecaps have a chance to do something this year, but I’ve found myself taking a lot more interest in other games around the League.
    I’m watching a lot of other matches this season, looking for scores whilst trying to work out what the best case scenario would be for the Caps in every game.
    MLS’ decision to focus more on the East/West divide has certainly made nearly every match key for a multitude of reasons.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    I still hate the fact that five teams from both Conferences will advance into the playoffs automatically (although that was how it transpired through play last year). When you look at the strength of the West and the poor overall quality in the East, you can’t help but feel that sides are not competing on a level playing field.
    There is a likelihood that there are going to be some good sides in the Western Conference that will miss out on a playoff spot, whilst some crappy Eastern sides, that don’t really deserve a place, will be in the final battle royale, with a shot at the title.
    Without a balanced schedule and a single table, there’s also a chance that some sides in the West will miss out, whilst having a better record than their Eastern counterparts.
    All of this could affect the Caps in a horrible way. Good job we’re going to be in the top four of the West so it won’t really matter! (ahem)
    The reshaping of the schedule, and the playoff qualification criteria, has made for some interesting new dynamics in what we need to see from matches from a Whitecaps perspective.
    The Whitecaps dropping points against a team from the East now isn’t the end of the world. Sure it’s still points lost, but much rather you give them up to a team that isn’t your Conference rival than one that could be going down to the wire with you in the playoff race.
    The Caps need to pick up as many points as they can from any game obviously, but particularly so from Western Conference match ups.
    And that’s where the ‘Best Case Scenario’ factor comes in for non Caps games in every round.
    We’re going to be finding ourselves cheering for some unlikely foes this year. We could even be rooting for Toronto and, gasp, Montreal to win. That’s going to be hard but necessary. I’m not sure that I’m quite ready for that dirty feeling yet mind you.
    In the ideal Caps world, we need western teams to lose, or at best draw, when squaring off in inter-conference rivalries. Eastern sides will have our support all season long in these games and every point an eastern team secures against a team from the west benefits the Caps greatly.
    In all-western match ups, draws are our friend right now. Although we probably know who the strongest sides are going to be come the season end, the starts made by LA, San Jose and the Caps perhaps show that nothing should be taken for granted quite yet.
    Once the season progresses and we start to separate the wheat from the chaff, that whole scenario takes two distinct paths depending on where the Caps are in the table.
    If we’re still at the top of the standings, we will want to see the top teams around us dropping points to those at the bottom to ensure a better seeding. We’ll be cheering on those bottom feeders like there’s no tomorrow.
    If we’re right in the pack, fighting for our playoff lives, then we have to hope that one or two of the teams at the top are running away with it and beating all comers, except us, whilst those around us are drawing in all their inter-conference match ups against everyone else in playoff contention.
    We’ll be glued to our televisions, checking score updates, changes in the table and everything else we can to see how every goal and every game affects the Caps’ chances.
    It all makes for some interesting dynamics and fans should have a lot more interest now in games that they previously wouldn’t have been too fussed watching.
    Just what MLS wanted and although I still prefer a single table and a balanced schedule for complete fairness, the current season should shape up nicely in the interest and excitement stakes.
    We’ve started a weekly <i>"Best Case Scenario"</i> feature on AFTN, so check it out weekly to see what results are going to benefit the Caps most every week and find out who you should be cheering on for the win.
    It just makes all the games that little bit more exciting if you know that the Caps can be the big winners at the end of it all.
    <p>
    Guest
    The Montreal Impact traded forward Mike Fucito to the Portland Timbers in return of a second round pick in 2013 OR an international roster spot, depending on Fucito's performance with his new club.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The 26-year-old Concord, MA native played only the final 26 minutes of the opening game in Vancouver with the Impact's first team. He has since picked up three full reserve matches, including the April 11 clash with TFC's reserve at Downsview where he scored the game's only goal while wearing the captain's armband.
    Fucito was acquired by Montreal on February 17 from the Seattle Sounders along with Lamar Neagle in exchange of American international striker Eddie Johnson, acquired by the Impact through allocation.
    The fourth round (46th overall) Seattle SuperDraft pick in 2009 scored three goals in 24 MLS games in career since 2009.
    SoccerPlus has learned the Timbers have been shopping around for a few days now and other Montreal players (including Miguel Montano and Hassoun Camara) could have been part of the discussions before settling on Fucito.
    Interestingly enough, the Portland Timbers are the Impact's next opponent, Saturday, April 28 at Olympic Stadium.
    Guest

    Frings to return to line-up

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    TFC announced today that Torsten Frings will return to action tomorrow against the Chicago Fire.
    Under Aron Winter TFC has earned 1.35 points per game while Frings has been in the line-up. Without Frings the club has earned 1.0 points per game.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    The Voyageurs have teamed up with the Youth Engagement arm of Toronto Community Housing to send kids to a World Cup Qualifier who would not normally get to go to a game.
    This is a great cause and it's just another way this community is find ways to ensure that Canadian fans will fill Canadian stands at the World Cup qualifiers.
    Take two seconds, slide over to the Voyageurs page and consider purchasing a soccer ticket for an underprivileged kid.
    Fans of today will become the supporters of tomorrow.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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