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    Guest
    TFC's opponent on Wednesday in the preliminary round of the Concacaf Champion's League hails from that rare breed of Central American country where beisbol rules the sporting roost. Real Estelí lacks any manner of international pedigree, and one hour of frustrating Google searches later I'm having trouble nailing down any kind of lineup, nevermind a starting one.
    That said, as is customary at Some Canadian Guys whenever Canada or a Canadian club faces opposition that supporters aren't supposed to know about, we've cobbled together a list of fun facts about the club standing between TFC and Concacaf Champions League group stage glory.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    First up. Real Estelí may lack an international record but they boasts an impressive domestic one. They've won the Nicaraguan first division the past five years running.
    The club has a lone previous appearance in the Concacaf Champions League. That was in 2008 and they lost 1-0 on aggregate to the Montreal Impact in the preliminary round. Montreal won the first game 1-0 at home before drawing nil-nil in the away leg, which was played in Honduras for some reason. This was the same year Montreal made its wild run to the quarterfinals.
    Real dominates Nicaraguan football, just like Barcelona dominates Spanish football. And the Nicaraguans have ripped their entire reason for being from the famous Catalan club too. On the official website supporters are thanked for permitting Real to ser algo mas que un equipo de Fulbol.
    The official Real Estelí supporters' club is called the Barra Kamikaze. Based on
    they come off far less terrifying than what I imagine when I imagine fanatical Central American supporters. Not much venom on their official Facebook page either, beyond a picture of an upside down Maple Leaf and some disparaging comments regarding the Canadian male genitalia. Well, if Real fans are having a go at TFC, it's only fair to mention that Real's nickname El Tren del Norte at best lacks imagination and at worst sucks. Nothing monumental has happened in the club's 51-year history that has anything to do with a train, other than the fact the squad probably rides one from time to time to get places. And guess which end of Nicaragua they hail from?
    Prices for tickets for the second leg in Nicaragua come in two levels: $4.20 and $8.40, Canadian currency.
    The results of an online poll taken on what looks to be a broad-based Nicaraguan football portal show 51.4% of respondents believe Real Estelí will beat Toronto FC and qualify for the group stages. Betfair is slightly less confident in the Nicaraguans, giving them 4.6 odds to win against 1.13 for TFC.
    Last but far from least, Real Estelí is embroiled in a full-fledged kit controversy! (Exclamation mark mine.) Supporters erupted in a wild frenzy of Internet fury on Monday when it was reported that Real would switch from their traditional red and white colours for the match against TFC for a blue and white getup, to better reflect the national colours of Nicaragua. But apparently that's not true. So controversy short-lived.
    Guest
    Although they'll never admit it until it is statistically true, Toronto FC are out of the MLS playoff chase.
    With 11 matches to play and only 18 points in hand, the fact that the Reds are ridiculous long shots to make the post-season should come as no surprise to anyone reading this.
    Sure, they could go on an unprecedented run and start ringing off win-upon-win, forcing their way into a race that they seemed out of a month ago. But it's more likely that TFC -- featuring a large number of players who weren't even Reds two weeks ago -- will continue on the steep learning curve that has defined the 2011 MLS campaign, a curve that does not allow for a quick turnaround in an epically bad season.
    But there is still hope for TFC in 2011, and it comes in the form of the CONCACAF Champions League.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    As bad as Toronto have been this year, they've been good enough to win the Canadian Championship for a third consecutive time. What that says about the state of Canadian professional soccer is another conversation for another day. Right now, all the focus is -- and should be -- placed upon the hugely unknown quantity that is Real Esteli of the Nicaraguan top flight.
    While they are hugely unknown, they are not completely unknown to observers of the Canadian game. The Montreal Impact faced the Nicaraguan side during their magical run through the 2008-09 Champions League, with Esteli providing the first international test for Montreal in the same stage that TFC now meets them.
    The Impact edged their preliminary round opponents by the absolute slimmest of margins, a 1-0 aggregate victory over two legs. Montreal won the first leg at Stade Saputo, then squeaked out a scoreless draw in the return leg -- which was actually played in Honduras as Esteli's stadium was deemed unsuitable -- to move on to the group stage.
    What the scoreline doesn't show is how terrible Esteli were. Montreal lack of finishing flattered the Central Americans, to the point where any halfway decent play in the final third would have resulted in a couple of blowouts rather than a nerve-wracking one-goal victory.
    Regardless, that was three years ago, and now Esteli will be able to play in their home venue next week in the second leg. No team should be judged solely on how they were three years ago, so TFC will be looking at this from a fresh perspective. Hell, there isn't even a single player left on Toronto's squad that was around back in August of '08, so the Reds know more than anyone just how much a team can change in that time.


    Real Esteli won the Nicaraguan Clausura at their home (Estadio Independencia) back in May:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm1ue25y5s
    Nevertheless, the experience will be a new one for this current TFC side. For one, this will likely be the only time this year that Toronto will go into a game as the decided favourite, so that'll be a learning experience in its own right.
    For their part, the Reds will need to act like they are favoured, not giving an inch to an opponent that will no doubt be looking for any way to head back home with an advantage. That means going at the Central American side full-throttle from the get-go, getting the reduced, but enthusiastic, BMO Field crowd into the match and keeping them there.
    In light of their upcoming schedule, Toronto will likely want to put this tie to bed early so they can rest a few starters in the return leg. Expect to see a strong starting lineup from Aron Winter, with the Reds putting their best foot forward in the only competition they have left to seriously play for.
    Milos Kocic looks like he'll get the nod for the first time this year, if only to give Stefan Frei some much-needed time off after picking up a knock over the weekend at Kansas City. Also looking likely to return to the lineup are Canadian central midfield duo Terry Dunfield and Julian de Guzman, with Dunfield probably playing more minutes than JDG.
    The new DPs, who have both played a ton of minutes since debuting last week, will probably want to get as much playing time in this one as they can, in order to regain full match fitness. Don't be surprised to see Torsten Frings as a starter again, replaced by de Guzman somewhere around the hour mark.
    If ever there was a time for Danny Koevermans to really put a stamp on this team, it's in this match. A couple of goals either scored or created by the big man will do wonders for a side that faces the most gruelling of trips just to make it to the next leg of this series.
    The back line won't be tested nearly as much as they have in the recent past, but it's still the most unsettled part of Toronto's lineup. Will Ty Harden jump back into the centre? Has the Richard Eckersley experiment at CB ended? What of Eddy Viator, who can play at RB and CB but has looked comfortable in neither spot thus far? And who starts on the left side?
    While it is Toronto's offence that'll likely receive most of the attention on Wednesday night, it is the beleaguered defence that could end up defining the match.
    Scary, huh?

    Toronto FC v. Real Esteli
    Wednesday, July 27, 2011. 8:00pm EDT.
    BMO Field. Toronto, ON.
    Watch: Setanta Sports Canada (replay on Rogers Sportsnet ONE at 11:00pm EDT)
    Listen: Fan590.com
    Rudi Schuller occasionally contributes Toronto FC and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He manages the Euro File here at Canadian Soccer News, and is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.
    Guest

    Aleman is a Whitecap

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Keven Aleman is the future considerations component of the trade that sent Terry Dunfield to Toronto.
    The Vancouver Province’s Marc Weber today confirmed what Canadian Soccer News reported as "likely" at the time. Neither the Whitecaps nor TFC have commented.
    Aleman was released by TFC in the spring after he refused to commit to the club. He indicated at that time that he wanted to try his luck in Europe, with the hope that a strong performance at the FIFA u-17s would attract interest.
    He’s yet to land a club, but is said to have a few trials remaining.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] By trading his rights, Toronto becomes the first MLS side to trade an academy player for a player on the senior roster. Even after they released him, they maintained his MLS rights for three years. Those rights will now move to Vancouver. So, even if he does land with a European club now, there is still a chance he could return to play for the Caps.
    Once the three years passes, he would be subject to MLS’ normal re-entry process, with clubs needing to make a discovery claim for him.
    It’s a calculated risk for the Reds. In Dunfield they know what they have, but there is little upside. Aleman has been called the “next DeRo” by some observers of Canadian soccer due to his offensive flare and skill on the ball.
    That comparison also has a negative spin. A source close to the U-17 program and TFC academy told CSN that he “has a major attitude,” and is prone to “free styling” in training and games.
    Still, even that source admits that he has raw talent. Aleman is by far the best prospect in his age group in Canada. At the FIFA U-17s, Canada’s opposition clearly focused on denying him the ball.
    The knee jerk reaction in Toronto will likely be that the Reds gave up too much for an average player in Dunfield. There is legitimacy in that criticism, but it is also premature to assume that Aleman will be an impact player as a pro. No one thinks he’s ready to make the jump to first team football yet and world football is littered with players that were much more fancied than Aleman that flamed out.
    It’s unlikely Toronto would have gave him up for Dunfield if there wasn’t a fallout over the commitment letter. As it stands, however, he was highly unlikely to return to the Reds. In that light, Toronto can be seen getting something for what was likely going to be nothing. Should the club have held Aleman to the same standard as it does the rest of its academy players? Should they even have those standards? Those are questions that can be answered separately from evaluating the trade. They did and they do – time will tell if it’s the right pathway.
    It will be years before we know who won this trade. In the meantime we can be sure of just one thing -- this is a profoundly interesting trade, unique to MLS and the sport.
    Guest

    Ranking the CCL

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    With the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League about to kick-off CSN ranks the 24 teams involved. See our picks below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    1. Monterrey
    One of Mexico’s all-time great clubs and currently playing at the top of its game. CSN’s (really early) pick for CCL champion.

    2. UNAM
    Not only do they have the best strips in football (no, really), but have also been solid over the past 12-months (last 6-years, really). In a hyper-competitive Mexican league, it’s hard to ignore Pumas.
    3. Morelia
    Not exactly a traditional power, but a club seemingly on the raise. They’re Mexican, so don;t look past them as a possible winner.
    4. Santos Laguna
    Maybe the best overall Mexican team of last 5-years, but they don’t seem to be able to get over the hump in CONCACAF.
    5. Alajuelense
    Lately Costa Rica’s “other” team, but historically every bit a power. The big two in Costa Rica continue to appear as the most likely to end Mexico’s dominance.
    6. Los Angeles Galaxy
    It all comes down to what kind of effort they put into it. If the Galaxy respect the competition, they could easily be this year’s Salt Lake. Few think they will respect the competition.
    7. Motagua
    TFC fans should be familiar with the traditional Honduran No 3. However, they’ve improved in the last 12 months and look to be the best hope outside of Costa Rica, Mexico and MLS.
    8. FC Dallas
    If you want a true sleeper, Dallas might be it. Like in league play they will surprise teams if they don’t play them seriously. Like LA, there is some question as to how much stock they will put into the competition.
    9. Real España
    Not on the same form as Motagua, but the Honduran league can bite you in the you-know-where if you don’t take its teams seriously.
    10. Seattle Sounders FC
    They will take it seriously, but one wonders whether it’s realistic for a MLS team to chase every competition in the way that the Sounders do. That said, they could easily make this pick look foolish.
    11. Herediano
    A wildcard. They got by Saprissa to get into the competition, and that’s something, but they’ve been a clear No 3 or worse in Costa Rica for many, many years. Are they ready to compete with the region’s best? It’s possible, but we’ll need to see more before we’re willing to bet on it.
    12. Puerto Rico Islanders
    This is a team that lives for this competition and plays a style that is designed to frustrate more talented opposition. They do it well and have knocked off some giants (relatively speaking). The issue is that the talent isn’t there to have a real chance of winning. It’s hard to win the way they win and they eventually run out of miracles. No one wants to draw them though .
    13. Colorado Rapids
    They are banged up and unlikely to take the competition at all seriously. An argument can be made for the Rapids to be lower, but on the off chance they do play the first team No 13 seems about right. They won’t though.
    14. Olimpia
    Olimpa remain a power in Honduras, but have not been a major player in the region for some time. Motagua is the team in Honduras to watch this year.
    15. Municipal
    The best team in Guatemala. That’s worth a CCL spot, but one as a well known minnow.
    16. Toronto FC
    An easy draw makes the group stage likely, but Pumas and FC Dallas in the group will be tough. If you’re reading this we likely don’t need to tell you about TFC’s ever changing line-up and defensiveness horror show. The only reason to think Toronto could make a mark in the CCL is because “it’s all they have left to play for.” That’s not enough.
    17. Tauro
    Panama is a baseball country, really. The domestic league is improving (as is the quality of the sport overall), but still a step behind. They will likely rely on the old reliable tactics of sitting back, diving all over and generally annoying the opposition.
    18. Comunicaciones
    A Guatemalan power that had a bit of a step back and is now coming around. But, they are Guatemala. They have enough experience to not embarrass themselves, but are not likely to go far either.
    19. Alianza
    They made their return to the top of El Salvadorian football after a seven year draught. Good for them, but not good enough.

    20. San Francisco
    We hate to stereotype, but we pretty much covered it with the other Panamanian team. San Fransico has some experience and has loaded up domestically, but are still a step behind the top 10 or so. The thing about CONCACAF, however, is most of the next 10 can pull an upset, especially at home.
    21. Isidro Metapán
    Relatively new to the scene, coming from a weak league, and lacking any substantial history. It’s difficult to justify a higher ranking.
    22. Real Esteli
    As outlined in an article yesterday, the Nicaraguan league is likely the second weakest, outside of the Caribbean, in CONCACAF (Belize would be the weakest). This ranking reflects that.
    23. Alpha United
    We’re not going to pretend to know much about the Guyana league, but it is kind of neat that the CONCACAF Champions League includes a team from South America. They played Puerto Rico fairly well in the Caribbean championship, which is all we can really look at. The great thing about the CCL is fans get exposed to teams from different places and Alpha United, regardless of talent, will do just that this year.
    24. Tempête
    They are the three time champions of Haiti. That’s all we have.
    Guest
    By: Martin MacMahon
    Last week, the Montreal Impact announced that the Canadian Soccer Association’s disciplinary committee acquitted captain Nevio Pizzolitto "from any blameworthy act related to the match on May 4th at Empire Field."
    "The committee confirmed that Nevio Pizzolitto did not deliberately spit on a spectator, following a Nutrilite Canadian Championship game."
    Ashley Perry, the fan at the centre of the alleged spitting incident first reported by CSN, says he is "surprised" by the CSA's ruling and that Pizzolitto's "conduct post-incident is deeply disrespectful."
    "I was fully expecting an apology because it seemed like he was going to be moving on from an unfortunate incident," Perry told CSN. "But it appears not."
    "He admitted spitting, I got spat on, and there were multiple witnesses," Perry said. "It's not really that difficult to figure it out."
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Pizzolitto has given few press statements in the days since, but he did give comment to the Montreal Impact's official website.
    "I have never committed an act that could have been disrespectful to the game that I love and represent," Pizzolitto stated on the website. "I am a proud competitor who respects his opponents and its fans. Never would I have wanted to be disrespectful towards a soccer fan."
    Perry had two representatives at the disciplinary hearing in Ottawa, and told CSN that Pizzolitto admitted during the hearing that he did spit – but claims he did not intend to hit Perry or anyone else.

    "Pizzolitto admitted spitting off the raised walkway which – there was no other place to land other than near people or on someone – that in itself should have been seen as intent.
    "He admitted it, the CSA acknowledged it, multiple witnesses including security staff witnessed it, and two people within six feet of me witnessed it … everything doesn’t quite add up to a respectful end to something which is quite harmful to the Canadian game to be honest."
    According to Perry, Pizzolitto claimed during the hearing that Perry was among a group of Whitecaps fans chanting "get out of here Bloc Québécois," a claim Perry denies.
    "Considering he used that as a description of what happened, and then denied intent – it’s almost contradictory," Perry said.
    In Perry's version of events, he was singing 'Au Revoir' along with other Whitecaps fans up at the Montreal Impact players as they crossed the walkways that leads to the player dressing rooms, following the Impact's elimination from the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. That's when Perry claims Pizzolitto looked at him before allegedly spitting in his face. Pizzolitto failed to turn up for the initial CSA disciplinary hearing in relation to the alleged spitting incident which was scheduled for June 27 in Edmonton. The Canadian international was then suspended until his acquittal at the hearing on July 11 in Ottawa.
    The Impact's captain returned to play in Montreal's 1-0 loss to Minnesota on July 22nd and no further action will be taken by the CSA in relation to the alleged incident.
    As for Perry, he says the alleged spitting incident -- intentional or not – won’t stop him from supporting the Whitecaps at Empire Field.
    "Not much would stop me from watching football really. It’s a big part of my everyday life. It does bring into question the integrity of the CSA – that’s the only thing I’d really question – and the integrity of the Montreal Impact … but no, it’s not going to dampen my footballing spirits."
    Canadian Soccer News has requested an official transcript of the disciplinary hearing from the Canadian Soccer Association.
    __
    Martin MacMahon is a broadcast journalism student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He covers Vancouver Whitecaps FC for a number of soccer websites.
    You can follow him on Twitter @martinmacmahon
    Guest

    A different take on Morace

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    As a guy who’s been exploring and writing about coaching a lot lately, I found I had a deep visceral response to last week’s news that the ever-controversial Carolina Morace had resigned as coach of Canada’s women’s national soccer team.
    “She can’t do that.”
    Not in the sense that it wasn’t physically possible for her to scribble the words “I quit” on the back of a Gatorade requisition form and mail it off to Metcalfe Street.
    I mean something more along the lines of “It’s not her decision to make.”
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Yeah, yeah, captain falls on the sword, all of that honourific hoo-hah. Her team flat bombed at the World Cup, and the proper, dignified, responsible thing to do is step away.
    But hold the phone, kids! Morace set off convulsive chaos within Canadian soccer last year when she got fed up with the bureaucrats, and announced she would be leaving the team after the World Cup. Her players threatened to boycott games to support her. The entire upheaval got leveraged into a newer, clearer, better way for our gals to actually get paid – and know how much – for putting on the red and playing for us all.
    And now, in the wake of a flat-out terrible tournament (although they did almost tie Germany in the opening game, let’s not all forget at once), Carolina Morace gets to walk anyway.
    I would have much preferred she cool her jets, and let the CSA decide how much more Morace-ball they actually wanted to play. They went out of their way to keep her content. It should now be up to them whether she stays on.
    An ugly message was left behind after Canada lost to Germany, France and Nigeria at the World Cup: that our gals aren’t good enough, because they weren’t developed properly as kids, and until Canada learns to do that, no coach of any stature will ever make us great.
    Doesn’t Morace’s slow walk into the sunset strongly reinforce that indictment? I’m not saying for a second it isn’t true – just that there might be some very real blame on the coach’s side, as well.
    Cults of personality are far from rare in international soccer. You hire the name, and the name runs the game. Out goes the flame; off walks the name. Nothing new here.
    But I’d still like to have seen how the CSA was going to handle this. The last time a Canadian national team finished dead last at a World Cup was the U-20 boys in 2007. The CSA – with tragic consequence – followed through with a previous promise to promote their coach – dale Mitchell – to the men’s national team. The players were in open revolt before their doomed WC qualifying run was even over. Tomasz Radzinski even wore a “Sack the CSA” t-shirt after the final game.
    The CSA has evolved a lot since then. They’d have been within their rights, I think, to fire Morace outright. Or, they could have held her to her contract, let her build on what she’d already done, and refocus the team for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers.
    No, they couldn’t keep her from quitting. I just don’t think she had the right.
    Soccer can be so infuriating at times. It’s such a low-scoring game, so upsets are always possible. And yet, real quality seems to rise, even in a short, upset-opportunity-filled format like the World Cup. Had Canada equalized against the Germans, who knows how the France game might have gone? I suspect they still get waxed anyway, but no one will ever know.
    And how much is the coach? How much is the players? Again, no one will ever know.
    If the CSA wanted Morace gone, they should have sacked her before she resigned. If they didn’t want to do that, they should have found a way to make her stay and finish the job.
    The only thing we’re really left with now is a bunch of players who have no idea what to do next, and an aching empty feeling of what in the blue-eyed name of hell was that all about?
    Onward!
    P>S>>> The Canadian coaching investigation series will be continuing soon. New interviews are being arranged – OSA and CSA prominently among them. More in a bit!
    Guest

    TFC Released the Gargan

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    According to CBC.ca, TFC has released Dan Gargan. No further details are known.
    Unless Gargan requested the move, it only makes sense if the club is after cap space to make a discovery signing. Gargan was making $70,000. Toronto has not shown enough depth to simply be cutting ties with players.
    More as it is known.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Today, we're joined by the Toronto Sun's general soccer columnist Kurt Larson, to talk about if a 4-3-3 system can work in MLS, if Maicon Santos has become disposable with the arrival of Danny Koevermans and if Toronto's tactics have become obvious and inefficient.
    We'll also talk about Toronto FC's decision to release the Gargan, the CSA's decision to play the first three World Cup qualifying games in Toronto and how the World Football Challenge has been a disaster for MLS' clubs and the MLS brand.
    The archived show is now up
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/24641/july262011final.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>
    Guest
    Trying to beat the heat? Well, our new podcast won't provide any legitimate relief, but at least it will temporarily distract you! In this episode, we talk about Carolina Morace's departure, Vancouver taking a sniff at Owen Hargreaves, the ongoing shit show that is Toronto FC and the prospect of centralizing Canada's 2014 World Cup qualifiers in one city.
    We also hit at Balotelli's antics and mid-season MLS friendlies in general, the Copa America in an alternate universe, the demise of Amy Winehouse, the sordid past of Super Mario, Magpie Chris's new club and we introduce a new feature: Checking In With Ali Gerba... On Twitter.
    Best of all, it comes with a money-back satisfaction guarantee. (Note: Show is free.)
    Some Canadian Guys #33: Summer of our Discontent (mp3)
    Subscribe to Some Canadian Guys Talking About Soccer on iTunes
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Hosers, not minnows, on Wednesday

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    For the most part it was a meaningless game. About six years ago, in the Central American club championship, Honduran giants Olimpia took a 3-0 first leg lead against Nicaragua’s Diriangen home with them. So, when the visitors won 2-1, to drop the tie 4-2, there weren’t too many losing sleep.
    We don’t know how the Nicaraguans felt, but you would hope they enjoyed the moral victory. See, it’s the only international win of the last 10 years for Nicaragua. In total, clubs from the country are a dismal 1W 4D 18L during that time, and on three occasions have not been allowed to enter teams into international competition because of stadium deficiencies.
    This is the situation that Toronto FC faces when it takes on Real Esteli starting Wednesday. It’s been a while since the Reds were clear favourites in a game, but, based on strong evidence, they will be in these two games. If Aron Winter plays his starters there is literally no excuse to not win easily.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Although Nicaragua has never played a MLS side, interestingly, they also drew Canada the last time it was permitted to play in the CCL. Montreal Impact fans will remember their club edging Real Esteli 1-0 on aggregate in 2008. Those that watched that tie will remember that Real Esteli performed exactly as you would expect them to – bunkering, looking for the odd counter and wasting as much time as possible. So, be prepared to be frustrated Wednesday Reds fans.
    Real Esteli has no players of note and play in likely the second worst domestic league in CONCACAF outside of the Caribbean. Yes, Toronto has been poor at times this year, but suggesting that they won’t win this tie is farfetched.
    If they don’t, serious questions need to be asked.
    Guest

    A little clarity thanks to Mario

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Perhaps this comment on The Guardian's The Sport Blog sums it up best. Reacting to the fall-out to Mario Balotelli's audacious/insane/stupid/hilarious back-heel attempt on goal against the Galaxy yesterday a reader called MikkysGel had this to say.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    While some, including ESPN's Taylor Twellman, wanted to turn Balotelli's move into a morality play, and the British tabloids are giving the play more ink than the bombings in Norway, MikkysGel cuts to the chase. It's a lark. All of it. It just took the spontaneous action of an idiot-savant to underline it.
    The European clubs that travel to play in the World's Most Important Football Tournament Played In Seattle On A Tuesday Night In July* are not there to play football in a real way. They are there to shop for the WAGs, see Hollywood, get into shape and sell a few strips to the local yokels.
    Those of us that follow the game in North America closely understand this. However, those of us in that demographic don't go to the overhyped and over-priced exhibitions, instead saving our pennies for the games that matter -- in the league and cup. Trophies not friendlies, to steal a Twitter hashtag.
    The people that do show up are often ignorant of that. Those casual fans buy into MLS' marketing hype and the idea that these games mean something. That's a problem in that it undermines the credibility of MLS. Not only are the local teams losing these game (oh-for the "tournament" so far), but they are being made fun of while doing so. Balotelli, the walking Id that he is, simply made the mistake of crossing an arbitrary line. Give a half-assed effort, but don't go out of your way to show up the opponent. That's especially the case if you're Manchester City, the only club on this tour that realistically can gain a significant amount of new followers (the Real Madrids of the world have a very established fan-base in North America; City not so much).
    The end game for MLS in regards to these games is clear -- up until now they have been profitable. And, many of the games on this tour have been as well. However, there have been empty seats and the MLS clubs are clearly getting more than a bit agitated by the onus of playing them. Seattle's decision to put the scrubs out against Rooney et al, and take the 7-1 beating with a smile, was illustrative of that. A half-full BMO Field for Sporting's 2-1 win over Juventus showed an illustration of where interest is heading in pre-season exhibitions in some markets.
    In summary, the friendlies do nothing for the MLS clubs, aren't being taken seriously by the European teams and do very little to convince non-MLS fans to take interest in the games. There has to be a better way to make some money.
    *or something like that
    If you haven't seen the play, you might want to come out from under your rock. However:


    Guest

    Toronto: That's in Canada, eh

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    How Toronto FC was introduced in Kansas City last night:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q7nPERDs0-8
    I look forward to the TFC stadium staff putting up shots of the former Wizards as hillbillies holding automatic weapons the next time they come to town.
    HT to The Full 90 blog at the Kansas City Star
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Head games

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Over the last four road games Toronto FC has lost by an aggregate score of 14-3. As stupid as it sounds – and trust me, it sounds stupid – the Reds only looked outmatched in two of the four games. In the other two they had moments where they appeared to be on par, if not better, than the opposition – and that includes the 5-0 loss to New York.
    The difference is twofold – defensive terribleness and mental weakness. They are interchangeable.
    And so it was tonight. Defensively it`s a story of missed assignments, poor man-marking and positioning that would make a beer league keeper take up the drink. Every trip into the final third by the opposition is a scoring opportunity. TFC’s back-line is in a short conversation for the worst all-time in MLS.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Part of that is the fault of bad talent evaluation. There is little doubt that Aron Winter and staff own responsibility here. However, it’s unfair to not point out that the club lost two starting defenders. Any club is going to struggle with that type of challenge.
    Of course most club’s in that position wouldn’t react by freezing out a player that started the majority of its games at CB the season prior, but that’s a subject for another day (Nana played for the Earthquakes tonight, by the way).
    Talent deficit problems have an obvious fix – get better players. And, there is still some time to find some this year.
    Mental problems, however, are a different thing altogether.
    It’s hard to think of a team that collapsed as easily or as quickly as TFC has/does (and keep in mind that this author is a lifelong Manchester “typical” City supporter).
    Look at tonight. Toronto was arguably the better team on the pitch until Kei Kamara’s overhead goal. It was a moment of brilliance, a goal that will be in the discussion for Goal of the Year. However, it was just one goal. Good clubs find a way to fight back from set-backs. TFC allowed two more in the next nine minutes.
    Sadly, you can’t buy mental strength during the transfer window. At least not on a MLS budget.
    And until that part of TFC’s game gets fixed fans are likely looking at a lot more nights like tonight.
    Guest
    As soccer fans around the world collectively rolled their eyes at the news that former FIFA vice-president and presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam has been banned from soccer for life, at least one follower reacted with sheer jubilation.
    "Finally, they got that scoundrel! Soccer is saved!" said Brad Henske, 42, of Springfield, Massachusetts. "I sure am glad that whole bribery scare is behind us. Now that they've purged that bum, they can focus on the good of the game!"
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Henske says he wasn't aware of all of the nitty-gritty details of the bribery case against bin Hammam, but expressed absolute faith in FIFA's ability to police its own affairs.
    "He was found guilty by the ethics committee. They wouldn't call themselves 'the ethics committee' if they weren't ethical. Heck, would FIFA even have an 'ethics committee' if they weren't ethical? I mean, then they'd be lying, wouldn't they? And that would be unethical. Which they aren't, because they have an ethics committee."
    Henske briefly stared at some water dripping from his living room ceiling, into a purposefully positioned crock pot, before continuing.
    "Like Jack Warner. He quit because some other bums tried to say he was guilty when he wasn't. So he had to quit to save his reputation. Just like Manny Ramirez. But they never found him guilty, so he's not guilty. That's how the justice system works. Besides, if he was a scofflaw, how did he ever get to be a FIFA vice-president in the first place? Someone would have found him out before he got there, don't you think?"
    It was pointed out to Henske that bin Hammam was also a FIFA vice-president prior to being excommunicated from the world governing body. Henske stood up from his chair, allowed several drips of water to fall onto his hand, then returned to his seat.
    "He's not in FIFA. He never was in FIFA. I don't know who you're talking about."
    Henske was asked for his thoughts on bin Hammam's home nation, Qatar, being awarded the 2022 World Cup at the expense of the United States.
    "Well, it was a vote, and they voted. And that's democracy. So we may not like the results but we have to live with them. Would I have liked the U.S. to win? Sure. But elections don't always go the way you like. Like relationships, and parties. Those don't always go the right way either, do they?"
    As The Reserve Squad attempted to ask a followup question, Henske stood up and began lapping water from the ceiling drip before daintily wiping the side of his mouth with his sleeve.
    "Would you like a snack? I'll go and get you something."
    Henske then relocated to the kitchen. The Reserve Squad quickly saw itself out.
    .
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