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    Guest

    Canadian U23 roster announced

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The CSA announced today the 23-man roster for a pre-Olympic qualying tournament training camp to be held next week in Florida.
    Coach Tony Fonseca has called in a squad based mostly on this side of the Atlantic, and he will trim the final roster by three players ahead of the first Olympic qualification match against El Salvador on March 22.
    Of the 23 players called, only three are currently with European sides as Fonseca undoubtedly had trouble getting Euro-based players released.
    Notable absentees include Adam Straith, Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Roberto Stillo, Joseph Di Chiara and Ashtone Morgan.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Full roster:
    GK- Adam Janssen | USA / Minnesota Stars
    GK- Michal Misiewicz | CAN / FC Edmonton
    GK- Simon Thomas | ENG / Huddersfield Town
    D- Nana Attakora | USA / Unattached
    D- Drew Beckie | USA / University of Denver
    D- Sherif El-Masri | SIN / Courts Young Lions
    D- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Racing Club de Montevideo
    D- Tristan Grant | URU / Club Nacional
    D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
    D- Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Bryce Alderson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    M- Kyle Bekker | USA / Boston College
    M- Philippe Davies | Unattached
    M- Mozesh Gyorio | Unattached
    M- Evan James | CAN / Impact Montréal
    M- Samuel Piette | FRA / FC Metz
    M- Shaun Saiko | CAN / FC Edmonton
    M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / Club Nacional
    F- Marcus Haber | SCO / St. Johnstone FC
    F- Carl Haworth | Unattached
    F- Kyle Porter | CAN / FC Edmonton
    F- Babayele Sodade | USA / Seattle Sounders
    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.
    It's 'First Kick' tomorrow and the cheese-eating surrender monkeys are coming to town.
    If you think about it, Montreal Impact and cheese have a lot of things in common. Their defence is full of holes, some of them are French and the team stinks.
    So, with all that in mind, our "MLS Team of the Week" this time around is the <b><i>"Cheese XI"</b></i>...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>GK:</b> Emmentally Hall (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>D :</b> Shavarti Thomas (Montreal Impact)
    <b>D :</b> Alain Rougette (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>D :</b> Gorgonzola Segares (Chicago Fire)
    <b>M :</b> Dairylee Nguyen (New England Revolution) <i>[one for the UK readers there!]</i>
    <b>M :</b> Nick LaBrocciu (Chivas)
    <b>M :</b> Edam Moffat (Houston Dynamo)
    <b>M :</b> Monterey Jack Jewsbury (Portland Timbers)
    <b>M :</b> Camilo Parmesanvezzo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
    <b>F :</b> Andre Akpaneer (Colorado Rapids)
    <b>F :</b> Camembert Weaver (Houston Dynamo)
    On paper, this team could be really gouda!
    <p>
    Guest

    Toronto drops Caicedo

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Toronto FC announced today that it had parted ways with defender Geovanny Caicedo.
    Caicedo, who only signed on recently, struggled from the outset and it was clear he would not be the centreback solution Toronto was looking for.
    "We are certainly disappointed with this outcome," said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter. "During the preseason Geovanny expressed difficulty adjusting to the style of Major League Soccer. This reason combined with being away from his family, we were willing to accept the contract termination."
    Miguel Aceval and Ty Harden seem to have the starting jobs for now with Adrian Cann and Dicoy Williams waiting in the wings as they both work their way back from injury.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    New Whitecaps Impressed By BC Place

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Vancouver Whitecaps held a well attended Media Day on Thursday at BC Place.
    Whilst members of the media took in informative sessions with FIFA certified referee Bob Sawtell, and a "Xs & Os" tactics/strategy session with Martin Rennie and Jake DeClute, for the new players on the team, this was their first chance to train inside BC Place and experience the pitch.
    We caught up with Matt Watson and Brad Knighton after training, to see what they thought of their new home:
    <i>"It's amazing. Amazing."</i> was Watson's initial thoughts on BC Place.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <i>"Obviously, I'm coming from NASL and he's [Knighton] played in MLS before, but I've never played in stadiums like this.
    When we walked in this morning, I was taking photos on my iPhone and stuff like that. It's just amazing."</i>
    Was today's training the first time both players had even been inside the stadium?
    <i>"It's the first time I've walked inside, yeah"</i> added Watson, but Knighton has experienced BC Place already:
    <i>"I was in for the women's games, a month or two back, but it's nothing like stepping foot on it.</i>
    <i>"When you walk out, like Matt said, bringing your iPhone. I tweeted a picture saying 'stepping into my office', so it's pretty incredible.
    Being around MLS, this is definitely the top facility in North America that I've seen, so I'm looking forward to getting here on Saturday and ready for a big crowd. I'm definitely looking forward to it."</i>
    <i>"The turf's really nice as well."</i> interjected Watson.
    <i>"Yeah, it's actually not bad at all."</i>, Knighton continued. <i>"I'm really pleased with the way that it is and I don't have a problem playing on this day in and day out, I really don't."</i>
    Another experienced player who liked what he saw of BC Place was Sebastien Le Toux, who told the assembled media:
    <i>"It's very big. It's a big field, so I'm pretty happy about it because I like to run! There's lots of space.
    I can't wait for Saturday, to be full. I'm looking forward to Saturday. It's a great stadium."</i>
    With the Caps hoping to have a capacity 21,000 crowd there for 'First Kick' against Montreal, BC Place is certainly going to be rocking.
    Let's hope that the new players adjust to their new home quickly, rise to the occasion and get the 2012 campaign off to an impressive start. We're pretty confident they will.
    <p>
    Guest

    SoccerPlus Extra - March 8, 2012

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    On this week's interview show, we hear TFC's reactions to the 2-2 loss (ahem... tie) against LA, Whitecaps' president Bobby Lenaduzzi and Impact new captain Davy Arnaud
    Hear Aron Winter saying LA looking for excuses when complaining about Rogers Centre's turf. Danny Koeverman saying stuff he should not have said about the Jamaican officials and Terry Dunfield telling us this was one of the best soccer night of his career.
    Montreal's new captain Davy Arnaud on what's the Impact personality will look like on the field starting this Saturday and whether his job will differ now that he's wearing an armband with an expansion club.
    Finally, Whitecaps president Bobby Lenarduzzi revisits the Montreal-Vancouver Rivalry and promises to pass down the request that the national anthem be partially sang in French on Saturday.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    SoccerPlus Extra - March 8, 2012
    Guest
    Toronto sports fans know by now that things tend to work out in a particularly soul-crushing way for their beloved teams.
    When ex-hometown players return to Hogtown in big games, they're usually the ones making the decisive contributions for the visiting side, whether it's Vince Carter torching the Raptors, Mats Sundin getting a shootout winner against the Leafs, or even Toronto-born Andy Williams scoring for Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier at BMO Field a few years back.
    So before the TFC/Galaxy showdown on Wednesday night, it seemed certain that one of the multiple ex-Reds on L.A.'s roster would be the one to break their former fans' hearts. Would it be Edson Buddle? Chad Barrett? Todd Dunivant? Maybe even Andy Boyens?
    But of course, it was none of them. Of course, it was another rightful target of Torontonians' scorn. Of course... as it had to be... it was Landon bloody Donovan.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    I say "rightful target" because, in Canadians' warped sense of self-identification, a person is asking for derision if they are a) good at what they do and American. Also, in a few drunken Canadians' warped sense of reality, a person is asking for aluminum projectiles to be hurled at them if they are a) David Beckham.
    By the time that shameful display came to pass, in the 89th minute, you knew that the cosmic dispensers of karma wouldn't look kindly upon Toronto. You knew that corner would find its way into the back of the net somehow, coming as it did at the end of 40 minutes of sustained pressure from the Galaxy's stacked lineup.
    But why, karma dispensers... why did it have to be Landycakes?
    Or, perhaps... have the karma dispensers done Canadian fans a favour?
    Toronto FC fans -- and the franchise, on their behalf -- have certainly been guilty of plenty of navel-gazing over the last five seasons. The unquantifiable claims of "best fans in the league" rang hollower year over year, with Seattle and Portland joining the MLS family while the empty seats at BMO Field became more and more noticeable.
    Proponents of playing the Champions League clash at Rogers Centre had hoped that such an occasion would give the team and the fanbase a shot in the arm, that it would be an event that could revitalize support and recapture some of the magic from the team's first season in 2007.
    And boy, did it ever.
    The tifo displays, the streamer shower (pre-game, not onto Beckham's head) and the sheer volume reminded everyone in attendance -- and anyone watching on television -- of the passion that exists for the sport within the city. The result, of course, didn't go quite as hoped, but even then, it fits into a recognizable Toronto sports fan narrative: "Dammit. Ah well, we'll get 'em next time."
    When will that "next time" be? Well, the next time a red-clad hometown team gets to square off against that dirty scoundrel Landon Donovan is... Canada v. the USA, June 3 at BMO Field.
    It's a bit of leap to think that fans for whom Wednesday represented their first soccer experience will desperately be clamouring for a shot at revenge against Donovan, and scoop up men's national team tickets in the process. But such a spectacle as last night certainly couldn't have hurt their impression of the sport, or of supporting local soccer.
    Let's say attendance really was 47,000 on Wednesday. It seems legit. Nearly all decked out in red, supporting the good guys. Let's be generous and, off the top, take out half who either can't make it to World Cup qualifiers due to scheduling, or who were really only at TFC/LA as a one-off. Now, let's be extremely generous and say 5,000 people were just there to see, ugh, David Beckham.
    That still leaves 17,500 people. That's nearly capacity at BMO Field.
    Ticket prices are very reasonable for Canada's games this summer. Buy tickets to all four games (friendly v. USA, qualifiers v. Honduras, Panama, Cuba) in the most expensive seats in house, and they average out to less than $40 a pop.
    The atmosphere at the Rogers Centre was surely something rare and special. If you live anywhere near Toronto and want to be a part of something just as rare and special, you have your chance this year. Support this country, against our biggest rival, and then in a trio of crucial World Cup qualifiers. Make yourself heard and seen, and be a part of something special.
    .
    Guest

    Occupy King Street!

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    So there we are, a few hundred happy, edgy Toronto FC supporters, out of the bar and starting to flow down the sidewalks on Duncan Street in the middle of Toronto’s downtown entertainment district.
    It’s the beginning of the official supporters’ march down to SkyDome, for TFC’s gala CONCACAF quarterfinal against Becks, LandyCakes and the rest of Your 2011 MLS Champion Los Angeles Galaxy.
    Four police on horseback just came up Duncan from tiny, hidden Pearl Street, but they don’t want any part of us, and melt away into the lengthening early-evening darkness.
    The first step, of course, is getting off the sidewalks. Occupying sidestreets is nothing new to the Red Patch Boys and U-Sectors of the world. We completely swamp and dominate Atlantic Avenue on a routine and regular basis.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Ah, but Atlantic Avenue is an isolated little road to nowhere that dead ends at the railway tracks at the bottom of the warehouse district. Duncan Street is a whole other shooting match. But now I see cars pulling urgent getaway U-turns – front and back – as the Red mob jumps the curb, finds itself totally blocking the road, and stops.
    There’s a need to consolidate the ground just taken. Having done something, it is now time to do … nothing.
    … But sing.
    “Allez, allez, allez, les Rouges allez!” booms up and out of the Duncan Street canyon. This show plays all spring, summer and fall in the wasteland north of BMO Field, but this is its gala downtown debut.
    Passers-by, grim in their dark greatcoats despite the day’s unseasonable warmth, hold up their phone-cams to video the throating Red loonies in the road. Not a lot of smiles along the sides, but definite curiosity.
    And then, we move. Police escort now. Four of them. On bikes. It’s a reasonably clear sign of non-aggression, very far removed for the horse cops. Twenty years ago, I stood on a high balcony on Charles Street and watched Toronto horse cops clubbing Rodney King protesters across the open fields of St. Michael’s College with truncheons. The bike cops, by contrast, are almost teddy-bear cute.
    Now we move. But there’s only one little block of Duncan Street left – and one big question looming up. What happens when we get to King Street?
    King Street ain’t Atlantic Avenue, kids. It’s a major east-west thoroughfare, packed with cabs, street cars and late-rush-hour traffic. We have to turn right here, and march one block to John Street. We’re going to be forced back up onto the sidewalks, right?
    “Allez, allez, allez,” and the bike cops wheel into action. “Allez, allez, allez,” and they don’t wade into us. “Allez, allez, allez,” and they actually wade into King Street, and yes, yes, YES, they’re blocking it off!!
    “Allez, allez, allez, les Rouges allez!”
    Unbelievable. More wheeling U-turns to get away from us, but now it’s out on King Street. And if you know downtown Toronto, you never want to turn around on King Street. Just no clear rush-hour alternatives. Bad congestion, too many one-way streets; this Wild Red Beast in the road just ain’t good news if you’re trying to get home.
    I can’t even tell you what we’re singing now. I’m slapping old friends on the back, watching the baffled onlookers, enjoying the darting dance of the cute cops as we thunder past the Princess of Wales theatre, marching by the hundreds in one voice right down the middle of freaking King Street at not-quite-seven-PM and nobody can do anything about it but fire up their cameras and gawk.
    Pure sensory overload. We’ve been doing this act for five years, but never down The Great White Way of The Great White North. Broadway, baby!
    T! F!! C!!!
    It’s kind of like the very first moonwalk – beyond incredible, and over so quickly. At John Street, the police guide us left to pour down the two-block boulevard to the ‘Dome. They look efficient, and clearly relieved.
    From here down, it ain’t really news. Blue Jay and Argo fans routinely take over John Street, just getting out of the vast, unfriendly stadium after each and every game. But the singing pounds on, and inevitably it now switches to “Oh When The Reds Go Marching In.”
    Darn right I want to be in that number. I am in that number. At this moment on this day, my few hundred fellow marchers are that number.
    I don’t think the gal in the dark Lexus, hemmed in on the east side of John with nowhere to go, is particularly pleased with all the supporters scarves that are being draped on and pulled across her windshield. But the inconvenience is brief – and the sheer, utter joy of the crowd impossible to miss.
    And then, down at the end of the road, hundreds of TFC fans completely block the intersection of John and Front, leaping up and down, locking arms, hugging, and singing at the top of their lungs. Brooding to the south lies the huge, discomforting concrete chasm, so bleak and unlike the cozy little bandbox that is BMO Field.
    But tonight, this is the park. The teams and match await.
    And so many fans – leaping and exulting – know that anything – anything at all – is still possible this wild and happy night.
    Onward!
    Guest
    Winning some hardware in the pre-season was a nice way to start off Vancouver’s sophomore year in the MLS, and sitting down with Brad Knighton, Matt Watson and Sebastien Le Toux for my sophomore outing of "Nightcap With A Whitecap" might have been the best scenario imaginable.
    Although the three of them had just arrived home from a disappointing loss in North Carolina, their sense of humour was still well intact, and it was all I could do just to keep up. These guys banter back-and-forth like old friends, and occasionally bicker like married couples, with strong friendships developed through time spent playing in Philadelphia (Knighton and Le Toux) and Carolina (Knighton and Watson), as well as sharing plenty of time stuck in hotel rooms together on the road.
    To start things off, it wouldn’t be Nightcap With A Whitecap if we didn’t discuss Favourite Nightcaps and Favourite Whitecaps:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <i>MW: I don’t really drink, but the only thing I do drink is Baileys, so we’ll say Baileys.
    BK: I’d have to say, a White Russian.</i>
    Sorry Sebastien, I heard you don’t drink…
    <i>SLT: I drink sometimes, when it’s a good moment… like, winning. I like wine, but I prefer a very sweet drinks. It has to be sweet.
    BK: He means, a girlie drink.</i>
    Ah, so, something with an umbrella?
    <i>SLT: Yes, exactly. When I can’t taste the alcohol, I can drink it all night.</i>
    I would have never pegged Le Toux for a fruity cocktail kind of guy, but he’s got the je ne sais quoi to pull it off.
    Now it’s time for the hard question. Three guys, new to the team, who are your favourite Whitecaps?
    <i>MW: My favourite Whitecap? That’s hard to say. I would say… Brad.
    SLT: Choose me.
    MW: Ok, Sebastien.
    BK: Oh, it’s that easy?
    MW: I’m going back and forth but I have to say… Brad. He’s hurt, he’s looking right into my soul, I have to say Brad.</i>
    Meanwhile Knighton is casting what can only be described as a sad puppy dog stare across the table, which lasts for a few seconds before they all erupt in laughter – the first of MANY times this will happen throughout the evening.
    <i>BK: My favourite Whitecap would have to be, Joe Cannon. He’s just an all-around Whitecap. He is funny…
    MW: [aside] It’s the goalkeeping club…
    BK: Yes, he’s a goalkeeper, we stick together. So, I would have to say, right now, as of this moment, Joe Cannon.
    MW: Can I change my answer?</i>
    Seriously Matt? Is this because Brad didn’t pick you?
    <i>MW: I want to say, Greg Klazura, because I find him absolutely hilarious. He’s my favourite. He’s my NEW favourite.
    BK: a.k.a. Napoleon Dynamite.
    SLT: Is it my turn? Are you sure you don’t want to change again? My favourite Whitecap? Carl Valentine.</i>
    Hmmm… I know I didn’t specify, but how about your favourite current Whitecap?
    <i>SLT: I love every guy, it’s hard to say one. I would say, off the top of my head, Michael Nanchoff. He’s a funny guy. I like him.</i>
    Now that we’ve got that out of the way, all in all, how are you getting on with the new team?
    <i>MW: Great, really well. Martin [Rennie] brings in players that he knows are going to get along and gel well. He brings in guys that are willing to get along with the other guys. I think it will work out well this year.
    SLT: It’s great because there are no groups. This year, because there is a mix of people who came from new teams, different countries, younger, older, guys from last year who want to do well, we all have the same objective. You never know what could happen tomorrow, but right now, it’s pretty cool.</i>
    How about your wives, girlfriends, families? They can’t be crazy about the constant moving?
    <i>MW: We’ve been moving twice a year for the past six years, but hopefully now we’re settled… for at least a year.
    BK: It’s tough. I don’t know if I can do it many more times. This has been a rough move.
    MW: He’s been on the phone every day, shouting with the moving company.
    BK: I really wanted my family to be here for the opener, and I’ve tried every avenue, but it’s just not working out. They finally picked up our stuff today, but I heard there was a huge windstorm and our TV rolled three times. A brand new, 55” TV still in the box… hopefully it arrives in one piece.
    MW: You know that if they say it rolled three times, it really rolled seven…</i>
    Yeah, Matt, not sure that’s helping.
    As for Sebastien, he made the smart move of simply bringing his luggage and renting a fully-furnished apartment. Perhaps, after spending some time around the MLS, he’s learned a thing or two about how to handle a trade and a move to a new city.
    What do you guys think of Vancouver?
    <i>SLT: Fantastic, wonderful, I don’t have enough adjectives to describe it. I am very happy to be here, discovering another beautiful city.
    BK: It’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever seen or been to.
    MW: Especially coming from Carolina, where there’s not a lot to do. Sometimes you’d be driving around and it would be a ghost town. Not here. If you’re in Vancouver, there are people walking, there are always people around.
    SLT: … And people speak French, it couldn’t be any better!</i>
    Now, other than Vancouver being a beautiful city, it is also home to last season’s worst team in the MLS. What were you thinking when you found out you were coming to Vancouver? Were you scared, unhappy?
    This question is answered immediately with a resounding <i>"NO"</i> from around the table.
    <i>MW: No. Just from knowing Martin’s record previously, he always does well everywhere he goes. He turned Carolina around. I played there before Martin came and that year we didn’t make the playoffs, and he came in, and we were flying straight away.
    I knew he was going to change things up. I know he’s good at motivating the players and identifying strengths – and the chance to play in the MLS – I didn’t even really think about it. All I thought was, 'If [Rennie] wants me to go, I’ll go.'
    BK: Martin has a winning mentality everywhere he goes, and he gets the best out of the players in the locker room. He has an approach with the players that is very unique. The way he motivates the players, and everything in the locker room, is unlike any other locker room I’ve ever been in. I think that’s one area where he’s been very successful. At this level, most of the players are probably the best in this country, or wherever they’re from, and they’ve probably been the best on their team, but to be able to get that extra edge, getting to be one of the better teams in the MLS, I think Martin’s going to take this team to the next level.
    As the results have shown already through preseason, the team has come a lot further already than they did last year. And that’s from the coaching staff, bringing in players that are going to be competitive week in and week out, and I think we have a really deep roster this year.
    Anybody on the roster can play at any minute, and that’s a testament to the coaching staff, and everyone buying in to one goal -- coming to win a championship. Martin wants to win everywhere he goes, and I think that’s the kind of players he looks for.
    It’s very refreshing.
    Everyone is going to be competitive.
    SLT: I was actually very surprised to come here. I was very happy, because I love it here. I hope it’s still going to be the best for me after I play my first game. I feel confident of my teammates and the coaching staff. I’m happy – with a big "H".
    There is a saying we have in French, "What is true of one day is not the same of the next day," and that is very true of Vancouver. You can’t say from one day how the next day will be. I didn’t score a goal after 22 games, but I scored a goal in each of my last 10 games. You never know what will happen.</i>
    So then, Sebastien, as someone who played a lot of minutes in Philadelphia, and as Brad has just mentioned the roster is very deep this year, how do you feel about your playing time for this season?
    <i>SLT: If I’m good, I will play, and I hope to play every game. That’s my hope, but my first responsibility is to help the team win, and if that takes me being on the bench, and I don’t play because people are better than me, then I go for it. Let’s win games. I’m not playing a game to score goals and be the last man standing – I’m playing to win the title and win the Cup at the end.
    If I score zero goals and have zero assists but we are champions at the end, I’ll still sign for it.
    But if I score lots of goals and we still win, I’ll sign for that too.
    MW: That’s a good answer.
    BK: Yeah, that was a really good answer.
    SLT: In the end, I want the cup – we have the potential to do something. We have chemistry.</i>
    I couldn’t agree more. Are you guys excited for Saturday?
    <i>SLT: Excited is too small of a word.
    MW: Ecstatic?
    SLT: Oh, how do you spell that?
    MW: e-c-s-t-a-t-i-c.
    BK: We do crosswords together – Sebastien does the French clues.</i>
    Are there that many French clues in crosswords?
    <i>BK: At least one or two a crossword.
    MW: You should do a section of your column where we ask YOU questions.</i>
    Umm, no.
    <i>SLT: Yes, let us interview you. How much money do you make in a year?</i>
    And, next topic!
    You’re all very active on social media, how does it feel to be so close to your fans and, on the flip side, your haters?
    <i>BK: It’s a lot different now than it has been with previous teams. The media coverage around this team is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
    We were in the airport today, and I got a tweet today – this guy took a picture of me in the airport and tweeted that he saw me in the airport. I wrote him back, and it ended up being the guy who directs the planes. It was him who tweeted me, but I had no idea.
    The amount of coverage here is incredible. There’s stuff going on every day.
    We were out to dinner in Victoria and people were tweeting stuff about us. It’s nice. It’s nice to be able to connect with fans. For example if you need something, like a restaurant, or someplace to go that people recommend that has the kind of food that you like, everyone has been super nice in telling us places to go and where to eat.
    MW: I think it’s cool because I think some people’s perception is that we think we’re “above” them because we play soccer, but I like it because it shows them that we’re just normal people. So if someone tweets me, even if I don’t know them at all, I’ll tweet them back, straight away. Just to let them know that I’m just a regular guy.</i>
    Do you feel a little bit on display?
    <i>MW: [laughing] You have to think before you tweet…
    BK: I feel like everything we do is watched – every step, you have to watch what you’re doing.</i>
    So, Brad, do you feel like all of your penalty kicks are being watched, too?
    <i>BK: I call that my own “Shot heard ‘round the world.” That’s actually the first penalty I’ve ever missed in my life.
    MW: Made up for alllll the other ones…</i>
    For those of you who didn’t watch the Whitecaps play in Carolina on Sunday, ending off their pre-season, you probably still heard about Brad’s kick… Trust me, it’s even MORE painful when he describes it. I actually felt bad asking him about it – but I couldn’t resist.
    <i>BK: I took a penalty last year in our playoff game, so Martin had already signed me up before I even asked if I could take one. All the guys on Carolina knew exactly where I was going to go, so then it was a mind game of ‘the goalie was my backup goalie last year, so he knows where I’m going to go – do I go to the same spot?’ And I changed my mind at the last minute and I said, “I’m just going to rip it down the middle, hit it hard…”
    MW: [laughs] He did rip it down…
    BK: I’ve never seen a ball go so high, so fast, and I think it cleared the trees behind the stadium. So we get in the locker room yesterday and Martin calls over our equipment manager and says to him, "I think you need to go back there and get Brad’s ball, because I don’t think it’s coming back."
    I’ll probably step up and take another one, one day, but I’ll never forget that, especially since it was in front of my fans, my friends, my family, my wife, my mom, my buddies that drove down, my old teammates. The whole stadium was laughing, after I hit it. I’ve never heard an entire stadium laugh after a penalty kick.
    SLT: [joking] So you can say in your story that he can’t handle the pressure.
    MW: I was so upset for him – just because, obviously, I played for Carolina last year, and I know, if that had been me… I would have been devastated.
    SLT: I was very upset for him too…
    MW: You were not upset.
    SLT: No, I was not sad.</i>
    Turns out Sebastien is a pretty funny guy:
    <i>BK: So, I needed 13 tickets for the game in Carolina, Sebastien needed one. I asked him, "Who do you know in Carolina?" He said, "What’s your wife’s name?"
    MW: I heard him say that about three times to different people…
    BK: … because he loved the joke so much.
    SLT: It was a good joke… </i>
    Are you looking forward to Montreal? Your first regular season clash? Any former friends out there you want to take down?
    <i>BK: It’s funny, once you’ve been around this league for a couple of years you have friends on every team because there’s so much “turnover” in this league, so you’ve got friends on every team or guys you know through other people on other teams, so every weekend you see someone you know or are acquainted with. It’s pretty neat.
    SLT: I don’t have any friends in the league.
    MW: I wonder why… I wonder why…</i>
    Any closing comments for your fans before we see you on Saturday at First Kick?
    <i>SLT: Please come more and more to the stadium. We need you. We would be nothing without you.
    MW: I hope to have a great season, looking forward to seeing everyone at BC Place.
    SLT: You’re not speaking from your heart… be Matthew Watson.
    MW: I am being Matthew Watson… Brad, go ahead.
    BK: I’m really excited to be here, I’m really excited for the home opener against Montreal, seeing our fans in full force for the first time is going to be an experience like no other. We have some great fans in Philadelphia and New England, but the fans here are some of the best in the league, if not THE best fans in the league. Hopefully they come out and support us all year, and stay behind us 110% like we know they will, and I look forward to playing in front of them.</i>
    If their chemistry off the field is any indication, when Martin Rennie’s Blue & White Army take to the field on Saturday, it’s going to be a very different squad than what we saw last season.
    Thank you a million times over to Brad Knighton, Matt Watson and Sebastien Le Toux for being incredible and hilarious interviewees, and all around great guys.
    I couldn’t have asked for a better evening; stay tuned for another Nightcap with a Whitecap, coming soon!
    <p>
    Guest

    Occupy the ‘Dome!

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    The driver on my northbound Leaside 56 bus out of East York this morning was wearing a Toronto FC scarf.
    So was the tired-looking Asian chappie, three seats back, who was nervously eyeballing his smart phone for any sudden, alarming moves.
    No, it doesn’t mean Your Toronto Football Club © is front-and-centre and hype, hype, blah, blah, blah and such.
    This was pretty low-key – but every bit as significant.
    For the first time I remember in this town, TFC is becoming an accepted, normal part of the background.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    45,000 people aren’t coming to the SkyDome tonight because TFC is new. They’re coming because the team has been around for years, and this game tonight – this happening tonight – is interesting.
    A steady roster – one that hasn’t been totally blown up since that epic win in Dallas late last fall that earned the Reds tonight’s date in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
    A fine opponent – a David Beckham who can still create lovely scoring chances from the right, feeding fan-foe Landon Donovan and the ever-dangerous Robbie Keane. The defending champs from L.A.. A “bigger-city” opponent – and there aren’t many opponents can roll into Toronto claiming that.
    A big stage – Of course we all love BMO Field, but it’s good to play in the Concrete Chasm every now and then, just to sell 30,000 extra tickets and dig a little deeper into the Southern Ontario subconscious.
    And who cares that TFC hasn’t had much of a preseason? They don’t. They bailed pretty much the entire first team out of the final warm-up match against Vancouver, bringing them north early to get ready for tonight.
    It’s not like they’re all strangers this time. Most of these lads played together last year. And they’ve been exposed to very little inside politics and back-stabbing in the off-season. And instead of a distracted, selfish captain who couldn’t wait to blow town, they’ve got Torsten Freakin’ Frings!!
    The luck of the draw helps them, too. L.A. is in pre-season mode, also. They could – much more easily – have drawn an in-form, late-season Mexican squad.
    Victory isn’t even essential here, though of course it would be lovely. The Galaxy are worthy defending champs, and will be a tough tussle for the entire league in 2012.
    What I want to see tonight – aside from a packed and thumping ‘Dome – is effort. Real, honest, focused, consistent, game-long effort, preferably with some useful attacking creativity lobbed in, just for yoks.
    It’s Opening Day – even if the real Opening Day is seventeen days away. This is where Toronto FC claims its real spot in the local sporting scene – a young, hungry, dangerous team, with solid management, and dependable veteran leadership.
    And if anyone sees former GM Mo Johnston down at the ‘Dome tonight, please just toss him an MLS video game, point him to the subway, and tell him we all said “Hi.”
    Onward!
    Guest
    Welcome to the first installment of the Concacaf Diaries. The goal of this series is to bring CSN readers up to speed on news and developments related to Canada’s main rivals in World Cup qualifying. CSN already does an amazing job covering the domestic soccer scene, and this will be my humble attempt to plug some of the remaining gaps by pulling together the best of the Web’s disparate coverage of the mens’ national team rivals, much of it originally produced in Spanish.
    The coming months are important ones for Canadian soccer -- two crucial World Cup qualifiers in June, and the pre-Olympic tournament for the U23’s coming up later this month. Feel free to pitch into the comment section with ideas or suggestions about websites or news sources you use to scout Canada’s rivals, if you are already doing so.
    And with that...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Honduran manager Luis Fernando Suarez sounded an alarm on Monday about the lack of recent production from his forwards on the national team. But he also came up with a solution. Micro-cycles.
    And by that he meant special mini-training sessions twice a week for a group of players that includes Jerry Bengston, Ruben Licona, Juan Ramon Mejia and Roger Rojas. Tuesday in Tegucigalpa and Wednesdays in San Pedro Sula.
    The brilliant bit about this - at least from a Honduran perspective - is not only that the manager enjoys the luxury of a solid core of domestically based players, but that the clubs are happy to release them during the week. I don’t know if this is a common thing in Central American football, but I can hardly imagine, say, Chelsea or Manchester United allowing their stars to attend invite-only, mid-week training sessions with the England manager simply because they can’t score in friendlies.
    It’s also interesting to note that the Suarez will also lead the Honduran U23 side at the Olympic qualifying tournament this month. I don’t know yet how many members of that youth team will make their way into the senior side for World Cup qualifying come June, but it is a wonderful way to integrate younger players in the national setup.
    Compare all this to the situation facing Canada manager Stephen Hart, who struggles to pull players like teeth from clubs scattered on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It's hard to build cohesion in attack by throwing players together a few times a year.
    So while group-stage rivals Honduras will be preparing for World Cup qualifying by playing a major tournament and holding bi-weekly specialized training sessions, the Canadian men will reconvene in June to play one friendly against the U.S. and then jump straight into two matches that will largely determine whether or not they can advance to the final round for Concacaf qualifying for the first time since 1997.
    Guest
    Normally this space would be used to answer questions from readers about the FIFA Laws of the Game and their application during real-game situations. And it still, theoretically, is. If you've got a question you want answered with sarcasm and soon-to-be-taken-down video clips, hit me up at canadiansoccerguys@gmail.com or @DanielSquizzato on Twitter. But for today, an update on those laws themselves.
    When the International Football Association Board (the hyper-intelligent soothsayers who decide whether to approve changes to the Laws of the Game) got together over the weekend, two items on their agenda were top of mind for millions of soccer fans across the world.
    Would FIFA move forward with goal-line technology? And, what would become of the ban on female players wearing hijabs? We got answers on both of those questions... and a few other interesting tidbits that largely flew under the radar.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    As the universe has a tendency of doing, it was gracious enough to give us a clear reminder of the impending arrival of our robotic goal-determining overlords by creating another goal-line controversy in the Serie A a few weeks ago, when Sulley Muntari's goal was disallowed because the match officials are week, feeble humans with their squishy, non-dust-repellent eyes:


    Well, as you've probably heard by now, two companies have been approved to take part in further testing on the viability of goal-line technology. If one of them passes the sniff test, the implementation of goal-line technology could be approved at the IFAB's next meeting on July 2. If not, well, we'll just have to rely on those dumb, squishy humans for a bit longer.
    The other big one was the ban on hijabs, implemented in 2007 and most notoriously enforced during an Olympic qualifying match last year. This past weekend, the IFAB "agreed to the proposal in principle that headscarves be allowed, pending an accelerated review of health and safety issues". Final approval would also come at the meeting on July 2.
    The hijab issue simply cannot be extricated from other, way-beyond-soccer matters such as religion, culture, secularism and feminism. Because if this were just about the safety of players, as FIFA insists, then there'd be no hullabaloo. And the ban likely would have been overturned already (or never instituted in the first place), as a new generation of "sports hijabs" are perfectly safe for on-field use -- probably safer than having a long ponytail, when it comes down to it.
    So let's leave it there, and get back to the meat of the on-field matters.

    You know those "good sportsmanship" dropped balls, where one team doesn't bother contesting it, and the other team is supposed to just give it back to them? Well, apparently, that unwritten rule was being taken advantage of to the extent that the IFAB thought it prudent to approve a written rule on the subject.

    "Law 8 now clearly defines the action that should be taken by match officials, should the ball be kicked directly into the goal from an ‘uncontested’ dropped ball." What will that action be? Yellow card? Free kick? Candy? Can't wait to find out.
    FIFA: "Hey IFAB."
    IFAB: "Sup."
    FIFA: "You know how, in knockout games, where teams play an extra 30 minutes?"
    IFAB: "Yeah."
    FIFA: "You know how that's, like, the equivalent of playing another third of a match, in a very physical and demanding sport?"
    IFAB: "Yeah."
    FIFA: "And players can get, like, tired. Especially since we make the top players run around non-stop, year-round in all sorts of made-up competitions and needless friendly tours so their club owners can 'build their global brand.'"
    IFAB: "So?"
    FIFA: "So, how about in those knockout games, if we let teams make an extra sub? Y'know, four instead of three?"
    IFAB: "Nah."
    FIFA: "OK, that's cool. Also, where can I buy an XXXL-sized money clip in this town?"
    FIFA: "Hey IFAB."
    IFAB: "Sigh. Yes, FIFA?"
    FIFA: "You know how..."
    IFAB: "Get to the point."
    FIFA: "Well, you know a player who stops a goal or obvious goal-scoring opportunity has to endure 'triple punishment' - a sending off, a penalty kick for the opponent and a suspension? That's kind of unfair, don't you think?"
    IFAB: "Nah. The opponent could always miss the resulting penalty, resulting in the goal-denier being hailed as a national hero."
    FIFA: "But that outcome is so infrequent. Why would we make decisions based on events that happen very infrequently, or don't really have any impact on the result of the game?"
    IFAB: "That reminds me, I found you a new money clip. They didn't have XXXL; is XXXXL okay?"
    FIFA: "Yes. Yes it is."

    And scene.
    Guest
    After an agonizingly long wait, the new season is finally upon us.
    And what better way to kick it off than in front of a massive crowd, against a glitzy opponent, and for a chance to move on in the region's championship?
    Toronto FC has been building to this day ever since the stars aligned in a Dallas suburb back in October. With no playoff action -- yet again -- to tide eager fans over, the focus immediately shifted to the successful CONCACAF Champions League group stage, where Toronto overcame big odds to advance to the knockout stages.
    The only problem, of course, is that there was a five month gap between the round robin and tonight's quarterfinal opener -- an excruciatingly long time to try to hold the momentum of what was a thorough thrashing of FC Dallas in the final CCL matchday of 2011.
    TFC took the extended time off to re-tool and try to take another step forward in realizing the amibitious vision that was set for the club when Aron Winter was hired. The core remained, and a few pieces were shipped in and out.
    In the meantime, we learned that the Reds will take on MLS Cup champs LA Galaxy, who are nearly as strong now as they were when they ran roughshod over the league for most of last year.
    But the question that everyone wants to know the answer to is, "Is Toronto FC ready?"
    We'll find out in very short order.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Much has been made of TFC's abbreviated preseason exhibition schedule, which saw the Reds play only four games as a full squad. Winter elected to spend the first three weeks of training camp in Toronto, waiting until the team headed to Orlando to start testing his side in friendlies.
    While Toronto's unorthodox preparation has come under scrutiny from some quarters, Los Angeles has had no lack of games in its training regiment. After winning MLS Cup back on November 20, the Galaxy immediately embarked on a three-game tour of Australasia. The team then took the mandatory offseason break before playing another nine exhibition matches, culminating in last weekend's final of the Desert Diamond Cup.
    Yet despite all of that prep, Bruce Arena has yet to see his preferred starting XI together for a single minute of game action so far this year. Loans of Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan to Premiership clubs have kept the two designated players away from the Galaxy for the entire build-up to this match, while defender Omar Gonzalez, who would have been a massive thorn in Danny Koevermans' side in this series, injured himself in his first training session while on loan in Germany.
    Add in the returning Edson Buddle and Juninho, a couple of new centre backs, and the ever-changing right back situation, and all of a sudden LA doesn't look as stable as a heavy favourite should.
    Keane joined the Galaxy camp after the preseason mastches ended, while Donovan has been laid up in bed with bronchitis. Both should be in the starting lineup tonight, but one has to wonder whether chemistry issues with a new strike partner (Keane) and lack of fitness (Donovan) will hamper either man.
    Throw in the fact the David Beckham, who has looked superb throught the preseason, is said to be nursing a slight injury, and what the 46,000 on hand at the old SkyDome could see is the entire Galaxy "Big Three" performing at less than 100 percent.
    That said, all three are pros who have been around the block in these types of games, so they'll be dangerous even at a lessened capacity. The real worry for LA will be in the backline, where former Red Andy Boyens and/or rookie Tommy Meyer will be called upon to patrol the middle of defence.
    Either man could be paired with AJ DeLaGarza, who at 5-foot-9 isn't exactly a garguantuan figure as a central defender. Likely to line up on the right side of LA's back four is either Dan Keat or Sean Franklin, depending on the extent of Franklin's injuries (he's also missed considerable time in the preseason thus far). Keat is a converted midfielder who has been tried at right back in training camp by Arena, and if he starts, you can bet that Winter will have Joao Plata testing out his defensive skills at every given opportunity.
    Despite the turmoil at the back, LA still comes with many experienced weapons that could severely test a TFC side that is still themselves looking for cohesion. Chilean Miguel Aceval looks set to be the newbie on Toronto's back four, joining stalwarts Richard Eckersley, Ty Harden and Ashtone Morgan in a defensive corps that will need to improve over last year's dreadful form in a hurry.
    Aceval's ability to form a coherent central defence partnership with Harden could be the story of the game for TFC, as LA has the weapons to turn the party sour in a big way.

    Notes: - Julian de Guzman and Nick Soolsma will both sit out while serving yellow card suspensions, while Eric Avila is cup-tied to FC Dallas and has been ruled ineligible for the remainder of Toronto's tournament.
    On LA's end, new midfielder Marcelo Sarvas played for Costa Rican side Alajuelense in the group stage and, like Avila, cannot participate in any more matches in the current edition of the Champions League.
    - In addition to being broadcast across all four Sportsnet channels, the game will also be streamed live at Sportsnet.ca. In a move that screams "2007", there will be a secondary stream focused exclusively on David Beckham.
    Projected Starting XI:


    Toronto FC (4-3-3)
    Frei
    Eckersley ----- Harden ----- Aceval ----- Morgan
    Frings ----- Dunfield
    Silva
    Johnson ----- Koevermans ----- Plata
    Los Angeles Galaxy (4-4-2)
    Saunders
    Franklin ----- Boyens ----- DeLaGarza ----- Dunivant
    Donovan ----- Beckham ----- Juninho ----- Magee
    Buddle ----- Keane



    Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
    Wednesday, March 7, 2012. 8:00pm EST.
    Rogers Centre. Toronto, ON.
    TV: Rogers Sportsnet (all regions)
    Webcast: sportsnet.ca
    Audio Webcast: FAN590.com
    Rudi Schuller contributes Toronto FC, MLS, and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams, and he has spent time as soccer editor for Reuters' online publications. He has also contributed to Goal.com and other soccer media. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.
    Guest

    Arnaud's our man

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    It was a badly held secret with all the posters and the promotion with the guy himself front and center, Davy Arnaud is the first captain in the history of the Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The announcement was made during the first training session of this final week of preparation for the Impact. Arnaud was the captain of Sporting Kansas City for the last two seasons and was acquired by Montreal.
    Ironically, the man with a French name stops the series of Quebec-born captain with the club in recent years in lower-tier leagues, including Nevio Pizzolitto, Mauro Biello, Nick DeSantis and John Limniatis among others.
    Our reporter Raphael Larocque-Cyr was at the training session and brought us back comments and reactions from: Jesse Marsch, Davy Arnaud and Canadian international Patrice Bernier.
    SoccerPlus Extra - Captain Davy Arnaud
    Guest
    This week, our comments and analysis show is entirely devoted to preview the 2012 MLS season.
    Our cast members answer the following questions:
    Who will be the Impact's MVP?
    How many wins the Impact will pick up this season?
    In which position will they end up in the East?
    Who will qualify for the playoffs in both the East and the West?
    Which team will surprise the most?
    Which team will disappoint the most?
    Our experts' panel this week is made up of:
    Marc Tougas, Canadian Press Montreal
    Fred Lord, TVA Sports
    Pascal Milano, LaPresse.ca
    Mathias Van Halst, ImpactSoccer.com
    Jonathan Tannewald, Philly.com, Philadelphia, PA
    Lisa Erickson, CenterLineSoccer.com, San Jose, CA
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    We also discuss the importance the culture of honour within a sports organization to build a solid club and reap long-term success.
    We invite you to answer these questions in the coments below and compare them with our panel.
    Enjoy our show!
    SoccerPlus - March 6, 2012
    Guest

    2012 MLS preview

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    MLS preseason rankings below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No 1 - LA GALAXY (1st West – MLS Cup and Supporter’s Shield Champions)
    IN
    Andrew Boyens D/M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - CHV)
    Pat Noonan F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - SSFC)
    Marcelo Sarvas M (Free - LD Alajuelense)
    Jose Villareal M (Homegrown)
    Nick Noble GK (Free - Ljungskile SK)
    Yuri Gorentzvaig F (Supplemental Draft - AA Flamengo)
    Edson Buddle F (Free - Ingolstad)
    Kyle Nakazawa M (Trade - PHI)
    Bill Gaudette GK (Free - Montreal Impact D2)
    OUT
    Gregg Berhalter D (Retired)
    Donovan Ricketts GK (Trade - IMFC)
    Miguel Lopez M (Loan end - Quilmes)
    Jovan Kirovski M/F (Retired)
    Frankie Hedjuk D (Released)
    Dasan Robinson D (Retired)
    Yuri Gorentzvaig F (Released)
    Chris Birchall M (Released)
    Ryan Thomas D (Released)
    Dustin McCarty M (Released)
    Nick Noble GK (Waived)
    Outlook: The Galaxy are clearly the class of the league still. The only question is whether a championship hangover will slow them down. It might, but there is more depth and more talent than any other team in MLS. They will win the Supporter’s Shield. The playoffs, as always, are a crapshoot but the experience is there. This club is now looking towards long-term legacy – is it the best MLS team of all-time.
    No 2 - REAL SALT LAKE (2nd west)
    IN
    Eduardo Fernandez GK (Homegrown)
    Enzo Martinez M (SuperDraft - UNC)
    Diogo de Almeida D (SuperDraft - SMU)
    Sebastian Velasquez M (Superdraft - Spartanburg Methodist)
    Emiliano Bonfigli F (Supplemental Draft - Manta FC)
    Jonny Steele M (Free - FC Tampa Bay)
    Leone Cruz D (Free - SSFC)
    Terukazu Tanaka D (Free - Yokohama)
    OUT
    Collen Warner M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Tim Melia GK (Free - CHV)
    Robby Russell D (Trade - DCU)
    Jean Alexandre M (Trade - SJE)
    Andy Williams M (Retired)
    Nelson Gonzalez M/F (Loan end - Quilmes)
    Blake Wanger D (Free Agent)
    Rauwshan McKenzie D (Free - CHV)
    Arturo Alvarez M (Free - Paços de Ferreira)
    Chris Agorsor F (Released)
    Donny Toia M (Released)
    Outlook: If anyone can take down the Galaxy it’s like the classy and deep RSL. This is the final stand of the small market MLS success story. RSL has got to where it is through solid management and attention to all 24 roster spots. They won’t be distracted by the CCL this year either. If LA is the clear No 1 in the league, RSL remains behind but a clear No 2.
    No 3 - SPORTING KC (1st east, MLS Cup finalist)
    IN
    Seth Sinovic D (Trade - IMFC)
    Paulo Nagamura D (Trade - CHV)
    Bobby Convey M (Trade - SJE)
    Dom Dwyer F (SuperDraft - USF)
    Cyprian Hedrik M (SuperDraft - Costal Carolina)
    Michael Thomas M (Free - Ljungskile SK)
    Jacob Peterson M (Free - SJE)
    OUT
    Ryan Smith F (Trade - CHV)
    Seth Sinovic D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Scott Lorenz D (Free - Ft Lauderdale Strikers)
    Jefferson M (Free - Bahia)
    Craig Rocastle M (Free - Thrasyvoulous Fylis)
    Milos Stojcev M (Waived)
    Davy Arnaud M (Trade - IMFC)
    Shavar Thomas D (Free - IMFC)
    Omar Bravo F (Transfer - Cruz Azul)
    Daniel Cyrus D (Released)
    Outlook:
    Young and coming on. KC went from ugly stepsister to the sexy best friend to your out of town cousin seemingly overnight. They are the class of the East. The biggest question is the maturity of its start players. Still, in an otherwise terrible Eastern conference they are likely one good day away from winning the MLS Cup come next November.
    No 4 - SEATTLE SOUNDERS (3rd West, US Open Cup champion)
    IN
    Michael Gspurning GK (Free - Skoda Xanthi)
    Marc Burch D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - DCU)
    Adam Johansson D (Free - IFK Goteborg)
    Christian Sivebaek M (Transfer - Midtjylland)
    Andrew Duran D (SuperDraft - Creighton)
    Babayele Sodade F (SuperDraft - UAB)
    Jason Banton M (Supplemental Draft - Leicester City)
    Cordell Cato F (Free - Defence Force FC)
    Eddie Johnson F (Trade - IMFC)
    Andrew Weber GK (Free - SJE)
    OUT
    Kasey Keller GK (Retired)
    James Riley D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Tyson Wahl D (Trade - IMFC)
    Terry Boss GK (Retired)
    Taylor Graham D (Retired)
    Nate Jaqua F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
    Pat Noonan F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - LAG)
    Miguel Montano F (Released)
    Erik Friberg M (Transfer - Malmo FF)
    Jason Banton M (Waived)
    Michael Fucito F (Trade - IMFC)
    Lamar Neagle M (Trade - IMFC)
    Outlook: I think they’ll win the USOC again since they clearly care about it more than anyone else. And, they’ll be good. But, Seattle has always lacked…something when push came to shove. The talent is there, the intangibles not quite. The Sounders will need to prove that they belong on a short list of title contenders.
    No 5 - FC DALLAS (4th West)
    IN
    Blaz Perez F (Free - Indios)
    Hernan Pertuz D (Free - Independiente Medellin)
    Matt Hedges D (SuperDraft - UNC)
    Carlos Rodriguez D (Free - Tauro FC)
    Alex Lee D - (Supplemental Draft - Maryland)
    OUT
    Edson Edward D (Waived)
    Jeremy Hall D (Trade - TFC)
    Maicon Santos F (Free - DCU)
    Maykel Galindo F (Free Agent)
    Marvin Chavez M/F (Trade to SJE)
    Jackson D/M (Loan - Cruzeiro)
    Josh Lambo GK (Released)
    Daniel Cruz M (Free - Deportivo Cali)
    Jack Stewart D (Loan end - MN Stars FC)
    Outlook: If David Ferreira is back then so is Dallas. The club slumped down the stretch last year with too many games and too much pressure on the top players. Ferreira changes that. Dallas is a dark horse – if any team is to emerge from the second tier to win a championship it’s this club.
    No 6 - DC UNITED (2nd east)
    IN
    Robbie Russell D (Trade - RSL)
    Nick DeLeon M (SuperDraft - Louisville)
    Maicon Santos F (Free - FC Dallas)
    Danny Cruz M (Trade - HOU)
    Emiliano Dudar D (Free - BSC Young Boys)
    Hamdi Salihi F (Free - Rapid Vienna)
    Marcelo Saragosa M (Free - Ravan Baku)
    Andrew Dykstra GK (Free - Charleston Battery)
    OUT
    Charlie Davies F (Loan end - Sochaux)
    Santino Quaranta M (Retired)
    Marc Burch D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - SSFC)
    Clyde Simms M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
    Brandon Barklage M (Free Agent)
    Steve Cronin GK (Free Agent)
    Devon McTavish D/M (Retired)
    Joseph Ngwenya F (Free Agent)
    Jed Zayner D (Free Agent)
    Blake Brettschneider F (Released)
    Outlook: With a full year of a settled DeRo, DCU looks like the only side that could challenge KC in the east. There are holes – big holes – but the dynamic attack makes a run through the weak east seem possible.
    No 7 - HOUSTON DYNAMO (3rd East)
    IN
    Nathan Sturgis M (Trade - TFC)
    Colin Rolfe F (SuperDraft - Louisville)
    Macoumba Kandji F (Trade - COL)
    Brian Ching F (Trade - IMFC)
    Erich Marscheider GK (Free - Colorado Rush)
    OUT
    Brian Ching F (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Francisco Navas M (Free - Deportivo Cali)
    Evan Newton GK (Waived)
    Carlos Costly F (Waived)
    Hunter Freeman D (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - COL)
    Jason Garey F (Free - Carolina RailHawks)
    Eddie Robinson D (Retired)
    Danny Cruz M (Trade - DCU)
    Outlook: The Dynamo are good. They aren’t MLS finalist good and that they went that deep in 2011 blinds people to the true standing of the club. Solid throughout and with a star in Brad Davies a chance to replicate the late season charge. It’s hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice though.
    No 8 - RED BULL NEW YORK (4th east)
    IN
    Conor Lade D (Homegrown)
    Jonathan Borrajo D (Free - HamKam)
    Markus Holgersson D (Free - Helsingborg)
    Kenny Copper F (Trade - PTFC)
    Ryan Meara GK (SuperDraft - Fordham)
    Jeremy Vuolo GK (Free - AC Oulu)
    Wilman Conde D (Free - Atlas)
    Victor Palsson M (Free - Hibernan)
    OUT
    Alex Horwath GK (Free - Wilmington Hammerheads)
    Mychel Jones D (Waived)
    Tyler Lassiter D (Free - Wilmington Hammerheads)
    Marcos Paullo M (Waived)
    John Rooney M (Free - Orlando City)
    Teddy Schneider D (Waived)
    Stephan Auvray M (Released)
    Carlos Mendes D (Re-entry Draft Rd1 - CLB)
    Greg Sutton GK (Free - IMFC)
    Chris Albright D (Free - PHI)
    Bouna Coundoul GK (Free Agent)
    Frank Rost GK (Free Agent)
    Carl Robinson M (Retired)
    Tim Ream D (Transfer - Bolton)
    Matt Kassel M (Released)
    Sacir Hot D (Released)
    Outlook: Who knows? The enigma of MLS, the Red Bulls could shut everyone up and charge to the front of the pack. That said, they are the Red Bulls – the only 1996 team without a trophy. Don’t bet on that drought ending soon.
    No 9 - COLORADO RAPIDS (5th West)
    IN
    Hunter Freeman D (Re-Entry Draft - HOU)
    Tony Cascio M (SuperDraft - UConn)
    Jaime Castrillon M (Free - Independiente Medellín)
    Kohei Yamada M (Supplemental Draft - Thespa Kusatsu)
    Martin Rivero M (Loan - Rosario Central)
    Luis Zapata D (Free - Deportivo Pasto)
    OUT
    Sanna Nyassi M/F (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Danny Earls D (Waived)
    Miguel Comminges D (Waived)
    Michael Holody D (Free Agent)
    Caleb Folan F (Free - Birmingham City)
    Macoumba Kandji F (Trade - HOU)
    Outlook: The Rapids will have the same season they always have. They will take advantage of a remarkable home advantage to capture a low playoff seed and hope they can goon their way to the title game. It works about once every 15 years.
    No 10 - PORTLAND TIMBERS FC (6th West)
    IN
    Jose Adolfo Valencia F (Transfer - Santa Fe)
    Brent Richards F (Homegrown)
    Andrew Jean-Baptiste D (SuperDraft - UConn)
    Hayner Mosquera D (Transfer - La Equidad)
    Kris Boyd F (Free - Eskişehirspor)
    Franck Songo'o M (Free - Albacete)
    Joe Bendik GK (Free -Sogndal)
    Ryan Kawulok D (Supplemental Draft - Portland Univ)
    OUT
    Kevin Goldthwaite D (Retired)
    Adin Brown GK (Released)
    Rodrigo Lopez M (Released)
    Peter Lowry M (Released)
    Ryan Pore M (Released)
    Spencer Thompson F (Released)
    Brian Umony F (Free - Becamex Binh Duong)
    Kenny Cooper F (Trade - RBNY)
    Outlook: A lot depends on whether they were able to upgrade the back-end. Regardless, it seems that the second year Timbers will be similar to the first year version. Good at home, struggling on the road and not quite good enough to make the playoffs.
    No 11 - TORONTO FC (5th East)
    IN
    Jeremy Hall D (Trade - FCD)
    Reggie Lambe M (Free - Ipswich Town)
    Luis Silva M (SuperDraft - UC Santa Barbara)
    Aaron Maund D (SuperDraft - Notre Dame)
    Geovanny Caicedo D (Free - LDU Quito)
    Miguel Aceval D (Free - Universidad de Concepción)
    OUT
    Matt Gold M (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
    Demitrius Omphroy D/M (Waived)
    Kyle Davies D (Waived)
    Leandre Griffit M (Waived)
    Javier Martina F (Waived)
    Eddy Viator D (Waived)
    Gianluca Zavarise M (Waived)
    Danleigh Borman D (Free - SuperSport United)
    Mikael Yourassowsky D (Waived)
    Andy Iro D (Released)
    Peri Marosevic F (Released)
    Elbekay Bouchiba M (Waived
    Outlook: Mediocre, which in Toronto will be cause for celebration. If the back-line is even a little bit better than in 2011, the Reds should make the playoffs in the weak East. If the backline is much better they might push it a bit higher. At this point, we’ll err on the side of caution (we will have a more extensive preview of all three Canadian teams over the next week)
    No 12 - CHICAGO FIRE (6th East)
    IN
    Jay Nolly GK (Trade - VWFC)
    Kheli Dube F (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - NER)
    Rafael Robayo M (Free - Millonarios)
    Federico Puppo F (Free - Danubio)
    Austin Berry D (SuperDraft - Louisville)
    OUT
    Gabriel Ferrari F (Released)
    Cristian Nazarit F (Free - Deportivo Cali)
    Baggio Husidic M (Free - Hammarby IF)
    Jon Conway GK (Retired)
    Alec Dufty GK (Free Agent)
    Diego Chaves F (Free - Club Deportivo Palestino)
    Mike Banner D (Free Agent)
    Outlook: Chicago came on in the second half last year and likely represents the biggest challenge to TFC’s drive towards mediocrity. Ultimately, the club needs a breakout performance to make a true run.
    No 13 - COLUMBUS CREW (7th East)
    IN
    Carlos Mendes D (Re-entry Draft Rd1 - RBNY)
    Matt Lampson GK (Homegrown)
    Milovan Mirosevic M (Free - Universidad Católica)
    Olman Vargas F (Loan - CS Herediano)
    Ben Speas M-F (Homegrown)
    Ethan Finlay F (SuperDraft - Creighton)
    Aubrey Perry D (SuperDraft - USF)
    Kirk Urso M (Supplemental Draft - UNC)
    OUT
    Josh Gardner D/M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Santiago Prim M (Free - Rampla Juniors)
    Dejan Rusmir M (Waived)
    Andres Mendoza F (Free - Atlante)
    Kevin Burns M (Free Agent)
    Jeff Cunningham F (Free - Comunicaciones)
    Emanuel Ekpo M/F (Free - Molde FK)
    Robbie Rogers M/F (Free - Leeds United)
    Conor Shanosky D (Loan - Ft Lauderdale Strikers)
    Outlook: The Crew have done things on the cheap for years. They make do with squeezing a lot out of players that few expect much from. There were signs last year that the bubble was bursting. MLS isn’t a league that you can get away with that philosophy anymore and the Crew look poised to crash down the standings in 2012. They might win the Trillium Cup.
    No 14 - CHIVAS USA (7th West)
    IN
    Ryan Smith F (Trade - SKC)
    James Riley D (Trade - IMFC)
    Oslwaldo Minda M (Free - SD Quito)
    Miler Bolanos M (Free - LDU Quito)
    Casey Townsend F (SuperDraft - Maryland)
    John Alexander Valencia D (Free - Atlético Junior)
    Marvin Iraheta M (Free - Cosmos U23)
    Peter Vagenas M (Free - VWFC)
    Rauwshan McKenzie D (Free - RSL)
    Cesar Romero F (Free - TSG Thannhausen)
    Tim Melia GK (Free - RSL)
    OUT
    Zarek Valentin D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Gerson Mayen M (Trade - IMFC)
    Justin Braun F (Trade - IMFC)
    Paulo Nagamura D (Trade - SKC)
    Andrew Boyens D/M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - LAG)
    Simon Elliott M (Free Agent)
    Chukwudi Chijindu F (Free Agent)
    Zach Thornton GK (Free Agent)
    Mariano Trujillo D/M (Free Agent)
    Marcos Mondaini F (Free - Emelec)
    Sergio Arias GK (Free - Irapuato)
    Michael Umana D (Free - Communicaciones)
    Victor Estupinan F (Free - Universidad Catolica)
    Bryan de la Fuenta D (Free - Club Tijuana)
    Chris Cortez F (Waived)
    Outlook: An invisible team, playing in front of invisible fans without a noticeable plan. Chivas were most successful when they played a garbage game under Preki. Since he left, they lost what identity that had and have floundered since. There is no indication that will change this year.
    No 15 - SJ EARTHQUAKES (8th West)
    IN
    Shea Salinas M (Trade - VWFC)
    Jean Alexandre M (Trade - RSL)
    Marvin Chavez M/F (Trade - FCD)
    Victor Bernardez D (Free - Indios)
    Sam Garza F (SuperDraft - UC Santa Barbara)
    Sercan Guvenisik F (Free - SC Preußen Münster)
    Tressor Moreno M (Free - Santiago Wanderers)
    Cesar Diaz Pizzaro F (Supplemental Draft - UC Riverside)
    OUT
    Bobby Burling D (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Bobby Convey M (Trade - SKC)
    Matt Luzunaris F (Free - OCSC)
    Chris Leitch D (Retired)
    Jacob Peterson M (Free - SKC)
    Scott Sealy F (Free Agent)
    Andrew Weber GK (Free Agent)
    Outlook: Something has got to give in San Jose. They have a couple pieces, but they lack enough. Frank Yallop seems to be stuck in a management style that worked in the early 2000s (when he had Landon Donovan and DeRo on his side), but is unable to evolve.
    No 16 - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (9th West, Voyageurs Cup champions)
    IN
    Bryce Alderson M (Homegrown)
    Young Pyo Lee D (Free - Al-Hilal)
    Lee Nguyen M (Free - Becamex Binh Duong FC)
    Matt Watson M (Carolina RailHawks D2)
    Martin Bonjour D (Free - Rampla Juniors FC)
    Darren Mattocks F (SuperDraft - Akron)
    Gienir García D (Supplemental Draft - Cruz Azul Hidalgo)
    Brad Knighton GK (Carolina RailHawks D2)
    Jun Marques Davidson M (Free - Tokushima Vortis)
    Sebastien Le Toux F (Trade - PHI)
    Barry Robson M (Free - Middlesbrough) [JULY]
    Greg Klazura D (Supplemental Draft - Notre Dame)
    Etienne Barbara F (Free - Carolina RailHawks)
    OUT
    Jeb Brovsky D/M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Alex Morfaw M (Waived)
    Nizar Khalfan M (Waived)
    Bilal Duckett D (Waived)
    Omar Elmasri D (Loan finished)
    Shea Salinas M (Trade - SJE)
    Jay Nolly GK (Trade - CHI)
    Greg Janicki D (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
    Peter Vagenas M (Free - CHV)
    Jonathan Leathers D (Free Agent)
    Gienir García D (Trade - IMFC)
    Mustapha Jarju F (Free - RAEC Mons)
    Philippe Davies M (Released)
    Lee Nguyen M (Waived)
    Outlook: Yes, the preseason was strong, but that really doesn’t mean much. They have too far to overcome from the finish last year and have made too many changes to reasonable expect a contending season. The lack of depth at the back is the biggest issue. The Caps have two guys in key defensive positions on the wrong side of their careers and they play on fake grass. They are one injury away from another long year. The law of averages gives them the V-Cup.
    No 17 - PHILADELPHIA UNION (8th East)
    IN
    Nizar Khalfan M (Waivers - VWFC)
    Josue Martinez F (Transfer - Saprissa)
    Jimmy McLaughlin M (Homegrown)
    Gabriel Gomez M (Transfer - Indios)
    Porfirio Lopez D (Transfer- Dalian Shide)
    Chandler Hoffman F (SuperDraft - UCLA)
    Greg Jordan M (SuperDraft - Creighton)
    Raymon Gaddis D (SuperDraft - West Virginia)
    Lionard Pajoy F (Free - Itagüí Ditaires)
    Chris Albright D (Free - RBNY)
    Krystian Witkowski M (Supplemental Draft - Marist)
    Antoine Hoppenot M (Supplemental Draft - Princeton)
    Chris Konopka GK (Free - MLS Pool)
    Cristhian Hernandez F (HomeGrown)
    OUT
    Justin Mapp M (Expansion Draft - IMFC)
    Juan Diego Gonzalez D (Waived)
    Thorne Holder GK (Waived)
    Stefani Miglioranzi M (Free Agent)
    Levi Houapeu F (Released)
    Ryan Richter M (Released)
    Morgan Langley M (Free - Harrisburg City Islanders)
    Joe Tait D (Released)
    Veljko Paunović F (Retired)
    Faryd Mondragon GK (Free - Deportivo Cali)
    Sebastien Le Toux F (Trade - VWFC)
    Kyle Nakazawa M (Trade - LAG)
    Nizar Khalfan M (Released)
    Outlook: The Union lost the plot. They went from a promising team to one that was completely overhauled in the off-season. In some ways they are an expansion team again. In fairness, they were terrible during the second half of the year in 2011. Something had to give. But, this was too much. No team with this much turnover can expect to compete right away.
    No 18 - NE REVOLUTION (9th East)
    IN
    Clyde Simms M (Re-entry Draft Rd2 - DCU)
    Fernando Cardenas M (Free - America de Cali)
    Jhon Lozano D (Free - America de Cali)
    Kelyn Rowe M (SuperDraft - UCLA)
    Tyler Polak D (SuperDraft - Creighton)
    Jose Moreno F (Free - Once Caldas)
    Saer Sene F (Free - Bayern Munich II)
    Lee Ngyuen M (Free - VWFC)
    OUT
    Alan Koger F (Waived)
    Otto Loewy D (Waived)
    Andrew Sousa M (Waived)
    Franco Coria D (Loan end)
    Milton Caraglio F (Free - Rangers [CHI])
    Monsef Zerka M (Waived)
    Rajko Lekic F (Free - Lyngby)
    Kheli Dube F (Re-Entry Draft Rd2 - CHI)
    Ryan Cochrane D (Free - San Antonio Scorpions)
    Pat Phelan M (Free Agent)
    The Revs are the poster boy team for MLS 1.0 thinking. They rely on the draft to stock the team, only signed a DP this year when they would have lost their only worthwhile piece (that is fading) and there is little chance of an upgrade in the summer window. They will be near the bottom until new, committed ownership comes on board.
    No 19 - MONTREAL IMPACT (10th East)
    IN
    Nelson Rivas D (Free - Internazionale)
    Evan Bush GK (Montreal D2)
    Hassoun Camara M (Montreal D2)
    Sinisa Ubiparipovic M (Montreal D2)
    Brian Ching F (Expansion Draft - HOU)
    Zarek Valentin D (Expansion Draft - CHV)
    Justin Mapp M (Expansion Draft - PHI)
    Jeb Brovsky D/M (Expansion Draft - VWFC)
    Collen Warner M (Expansion Draft - RSL)
    Josh Gardner D/M (Expansion Draft - CLB)
    Sanna Nyassi M/F (Expansion Draft - COL)
    Seth Sinovic D (Expansion Draft - SKC)
    James Riley D (Expansion Draft - SSFC)
    Tyson Wahl D (Trade - SSFC)
    Gerson Mayen M (Trade - CHV)
    Justin Braun F (Trade - CHV)
    Bryan Arguez M (Ft Lauderdale Strikers D2)
    Davy Arnaud M (Trade - SKC)
    Donovan Rickets GK (Trade - LAG)
    Ian Westlake M (Montreal D2)
    Miguel Montano M/F (Free - SSFC)
    Greg Sutton GK (Free - RBNY)
    Patrice Bernier M (Free - Lyngby BK)
    Felipe Martins M (Free - FC Lugano)
    Andrew Wenger D (SuperDraft - Duke)
    Callum Mallace M (SuperDraft - Marquette)
    Gienir García D (Trade - VWFC)
    Shavar Thomas D (Free - SKC)
    Eddie Johnson F (Free - Peubla)
    Michael Fucito F (Trade - SSFC)
    Lamar Neagle M (Trade - SSFC)
    Eduardo Sebrango F (Montreal D2)
    Matteo Ferrari D (Free - Besiktas)
    Evan James M (Supplemental Draft - UNC-Charlotte)
    OUT
    James Riley D (Trade - CHV)
    Seth Sinovic D (Trade - SKC)
    Brian Ching F (Trade - HOU)
    Eddie Johnson F (Trade - SSFC)
    Ian Westlake M (Released)
    Gerson Mayen M (Waived)
    Outlook: They are an expansion team. And they look like it. Then you have the possibility of Joey losing his mind and doing something insane in mid-season. The Impact might end up with the worst expansion record since Chivas demonstrated that Mexican reserve players weren’t good enough for MLS.
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