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    Guest
    Before the start of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship the four clubs participating signed off on the rules of the competition. Contained within those rules was the following:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    So, the Vancouver Whitecaps would have known what the outcome of an abandoned match would be prior to kick-off last night. It’s likely why they waited so long to conclude the painfully obvious – you could see lightning striking down in Exhibition Place as the Whitecaps coaching staff were walking the pitch trying to convince themselves it was playable.
    Aron Winter was candid after the decision was made. “It’s unfair,” he said. However, he added a caveat. “But we’re following the rules we agreed on.”
    What would have really been unfair was to try and change the rules last night to reflect someone’s perspective of fairness. It would suck to be a Whitecaps fan today, no doubt, but you can’t go changing things on the fly and stopping the game last night was a safety issue, full stop.
    Although it was beginning to look like one of those nights for TFC – they were dominating possession but unable to score – we cannot know how the near 30 minutes left would have played out. Suggesting that Vancouver had the game won is inaccurate, but it is fair to point out that they had the advantage.
    There is a lot to be frustrated about for Vancouver by the way the game played out, but there were no conspiracies at play. It was just bad/dumb luck. And now we have a little more than a month to stew on it and to get excited by the possibility of back to back games, three days apart.
    Note: Does anyone have a link to a highlight of goal line clearence off Joao Plata. If so, could they send it to me or anyone at CSN.
    Guest
    Last night, after most had gone home or taken shelter under the stadium, Hazard Gallery photographer Chris Hazard captured a couple rare shots of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and Canadian Soccer Association officials meeting on the field to determine to fate of the final. The faces of the decision makers tell the story of those caught in a no-win situation.
    CSN will post a full gallery of game shots in the next 24 hours.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Meeting of the minds

    Guilt, frustration and levity.
    Guest
    (Updated May 27, 11:10 a.m.) Sportsnet has clarified their broadcasting situation, telling Canadian Soccer News that CBC will be providing live coverage of the Women's World Cup, while Sportsnet will provide matches on tape delay. A Sportsnet rep also said that details of the Voyageurs Cup replay have not yet been confirmed. This story has been edited to reflect this new information.
    No one knows for sure what's going to happen with the Voyageurs Cup final replay on July 2 as it relates to broadcasting. But ardent supporters of Canadian soccer are aching for the Canadian Championship to get as much mainstream attention as possible, in the hopes of garnering wider recognition for the tournament -- and, by extension, the sport.
    That's why Sportsnet should sell, give or lend its broadcast rights for the replay to the CBC.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    For several years, the public broadcaster has been promoting its Soccer Day in Canada, a summertime offshoot of Hockey Day in Canada that puts the emphasis on the local, grassroots game, as well as showcasing a Canadian pro team in action. The event has traditionally taken place in early July, which would dovetail absolutely perfectly with a July 2 showdown for the Canadian championship. CBC, of course, has unparalleled reach coast-to-coast.
    However, it's worth noting that CBC and Sportsnet will be sharing broadcasting duties for the Women's World Cup and, if CBC is covering all round-robin games live, are currently slated to show USA v. Colombia at 12 p.m. ET.
    It's presumed, at this point, that Sportsnet will retain broadcast rights for the Toronto/Vancouver replay. However, that 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff time conflicts with a Blue Jays baseball game (1 p.m. ET). Considering the team and broadcaster are both owned by Rogers, you'd have to imagine the boys on the diamond would take precedence, which would see the Voyageurs Cup final shuffled off to Sportsnet.
    This is where some teamwork between CBC and Sportsnet could do everyone some good.
    Since they're sharing broadcasting rights to the tournament anyway, CBC could theoretically shift the USA v. Colombia game to Sportsnet (to be shown on Sportsnet One) while the CBC network would pick up coverage of Toronto v. Vancouver. Yes, a FIFA World Cup has much greater significance than a domestic cup final -- and if it were a WWC match featuring Canada, I'd probably be singing a different tune -- but as it is, getting widespread, mainstream coverage of TFC v. Whitecaps does more good for the game in this country than affording the same coverage to a round-robin game that doesn't involve a Canadian team.
    Of course, another good solution would be CBC and/or Sportsnet leaning on the CSA to move the kickoff time from 12:30 p.m. ET to a later hour, possibly 4 p.m. ET. That would allow all events to be covered as originally scheduled, and allow fans in Vancouver to actually, y'know, watch the game.
    We'll see what happens, of course. This is, for now, merely my theorizing and wishful thinking.
    But when life hands you lemons (or a torrential downpour combined with a thunderstorm), you do your best to make lemonade. If CBC and Sportsnet are willing to work together, the completion of this year's Voyageurs Cup final could be some smooth lemonade indeed.
    .
    Guest
    After originally being scheduled for this morning at 11 a.m., the replay of the Voyageurs Cup final has instead been moved to July 2 at 12:30 p.m. at BMO Field.
    Paul Beirne, Toronto FC's director of business operations, said via Twitter that tickets from the original match will be honoured. Several sources confirm that -- unsurprisingly -- weather conditions have rendered BMO Field unplayable today.
    Perhaps, though, there is some good to be taken from this: The Canadian cup will now be decided on Canada Day weekend.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    A full replay is wrong

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    Okay, by the rules as written, there’s no question the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC have to go back to the beginning and do a complete replay of last night’s lightning-interrupted second leg of the Voyageurs Cup final.

    27. f. If the match is interrupted before the completion of normal playing time or extra time (if required) because of extreme weather or for reasons outside the control of the host team, a repeat match lasting 90 minutes shall be arranged for the following day, thus avoiding the considerable extra expense for the visiting team. If it is still impossible to play the match the next day for the same reasons, the match may be postponed by another day, provided both teams agree. If the match can still not be played on the third day, the expenses thus incurred by the visiting team shall be split between the two teams.
    The rule is clear. But I also deeply feel the rule is wrong.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Despite heavy rain and natural fireworks, the Reds and ‘Caps put in 63 minutes of legitimate professional work at the BMO Basin last night. Vancouver – desperately unlucky not to be well ahead after dominating last week’s opener and settling for a 1-1 draw – finally pulled ahead on an Eric Hassli marker, and were half an hour away from their first Canadian club championship.
    Now, it’s as if last night never happened.
    A hugely lucky escape for Toronto FC – potentially – but let’s weigh the pros and cons to the actual game of soccer.
    Both teams have MLS matches on Saturday. Vancouver’s starts a few hours later, but they have to cross the continent to get there.
    Clearly, neither team would choose to play any soccer at all today, but if the pitch is playable at 11 AM this morning, that’s exactly what they’ll be forced to do.
    Wouldn’t it be better, fairer – and more respectful to the effort both sides put out last night – to pick the match up where it left off, in the 63rd minute, with Vancouver up a goal?
    Half an hour’s play today is already a huge ask. An entire 90 minutes seems short-sighted – almost punitive.
    Obviously, it’s not that simple. Inevitably, there will be players who were in the match at the end last night who will not be able to bounce back, physically, in time to go all-out this morning. But can’t a way be found to tinker with the substitution rules, or allow a couple of extra bodies on each bench?
    No, it won’t be ideal. It might not be the cleanest of clean results. But the game that was played last night happened, folks. If the fireworks had held off another 12 minutes and TFC still hadn’t equalized, it would have been official.
    Both the integrity of the competition and the physical well-being of both teams are being compromised by pretending last night didn’t happen.
    Again, under the rules drafted for this competition, there is no choice in the matter.
    But there should have been.
    Last night was a mess, and no mistake about it. But it’s a mess that should be respected – and ought to count.
    Onward!
    Guest

    What's happening?

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    The final leg of the Nutrilite Voyageurs Cup final was called off due to lightning. After a couple of re-starts the game was officially called at the 63rd minute. At the time of the last delay the score was Vancouver 1-0 Toronto.
    That score is now nullified and according to the CSA, and the two clubs, a full 90 minute replay will occur Thursday morning at 11 am EST. The aggregate score will return to 1-1, with Toronto once again holding the crucial away goal.
    If the field is not playable, and given the overnight forecast that is entirely possible, then they will play the next day if both teams agree.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    You can find more of the specific rules here. Page 27. Section 10.5 F
    That is the official word.
    Now, have your say on it. Did the CSA fuck up? Is this another Toronto miracle? Or will Vancouver still prevail?
    Guest

    Exceeding expectations

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    By: Nathan Terlesky
    For the past week, I had been wondering who Coach Harry Sinkgraven would start in goal for the FC Edmonton vs NSC Minnesota game. Upon arriving to Foote Field I was surprised to see that Sinkgraven had elected to bench the recent NASL Defensive Player of the week in favour of starting Rein Baart. Most of the Edmonton Supporters Group quickly braced themselves for a series of bad plays and the destruction of the Edmonton defense at home yet again. Instead, the game progressed with solid keeping from Baart. There were slip ups in the defence, but several players stood out in a solid FC Edmonton win. Since this win also marked the closure of the first quarter of the season for the club, I thought it would be good to evaluate the progress of some of the FC Edmonton players.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Paul Hamilton: The Alberta born product has shown incredible improvement over the first few games. Hamilton showed some nerves initially, and would routinely have shaky back-passes (occasionally resulting in undeserved corners for the opposition). Since the Toronto series, Hamilton has become one of the most solid defensive players FC Edmonton has. Against Minnesota on Monday there were numerous chances broken up by this young player. Hamilton has shown aggression going up to challenge for long balls, and has not made the number of mistakes in recent games as he first was making.
    Kyle Porter: A late addition to the squad, Porter has made his presence known as of late. Most recently he had two goals against Minnesota, while also scoring against Atlanta. Porter is showing an excellent understanding of the field and an ability to read plays; both goals came on second chances against Minnesota. He has found his legs, and is showing an ability to get past the defense and cut in towards goal.
    Paul Craig: Another Canadian just turning pro, Paul Craig has been impressive in the last few games. He has found a bit better range, and is able to get better crosses into the box, resulting in better chances for his team mates. For a smaller player, he is showing some stubbornness in carrying the ball through the pitch as well.
    The entire club seems to be exceeding expectations this year. Many had FC Edmonton in the bottom half of the league, if not at the bottom of the table. FC Edmonton now sits in second place in the league, only 6 points (with a game in hand) behind the seemingly unstoppable Etienne Barbara (11 goals in 8 games) and his Carolina Railhawks.
    Edmonton has shown that they can stand with most of the teams in the league, and appears to be in better shape than was seen against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact. The solid defense of Edmonton, along with the year that Edmonton spent playing together last year, is beginning to paying off with positive results for Edmonton. While the press seems reluctant to showcase the positives of the team, fans are starting to develop, with a good number (an announced 2,260) showing up for a cold wet game later on a holiday Monday.
    Guest
    Physical versus mental.
    Wednesday night's Nutrilite Canadian Championship finale is not without its storylines, the biggest of which seem to be Vancouver's advantageous schedule and Toronto's psychological (and numerical) edge based on a fortuitous away goal scored a week ago.
    Both are legitimate talking points.
    The Whitecaps have seemingly placed all of their proverbial eggs in this competition's basket, resting key players ahead of last week's first leg and now looking to make full use of a week's rest for the entire squad since that 1-1 draw at Empire. TFC, on the other hand, are dog-tired, having traveled the continent non-stop since late April.
    So who is in the driver's seat?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    If you believe Teitur Thordarson, his 'Caps side are in the better position heading into the showdown at BMO Field. His players have been wallowing in relative bliss over the past week, enjoying three days off to do absolutely nothing before returning to the grind of preparing for a cup final.
    A quick recap of the first leg would seem to confirm Thordarson's assertion. The Whitecaps were clearly faster, stronger, and more eager than their Ontario-based counterparts last week, over-running a heavy-legged TFC side that struggled to put two passes together.
    Given the events of the seven days since -- Toronto flying into Denver to play at altitude against a very good Colorado Rapids club while Vancouver enjoyed the trappings of a well-deserved mini-vacation -- things should be pretty much the same when the whistle is blown for the second leg, right?
    Not so fast.
    While the Reds are likelier far worse-for-the-wear than their left coast cousins, Toronto does hold a significant mental edge. You see, while Toronto were undoubtedly under siege from their oh-so-desperate-to-finally-win-the-V's-Cup opponents in the first match, they still managed -- somehow -- to not only keep themselves in the game, but to also score a huge goal to keep terms level.
    In fact, they're better than level, at least where the aggregate scoreline is concerned.
    The 1-1 draw was as good as a victory for TFC, and not only in the "moral victory" sense. Maicon Santos' deft flick past Jay Nolly not only deflated a surging Whitecaps side that had been battering Toronto's backline for most of the second half, but it also provided a lift to Santos and his teammates, who now know that despite Vancouver throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at them, they still had what it took to get out alive.
    And alive, they are.
    Now the stage shifts to Toronto's lake shore, where TFC have not been anywhere near dominating, but they will surely get a lift from the friendly, red-clad crowd. Playing just 72 hours after they slugged it out against the MLS Cup Champs a mile above sea level, the Reds will need any mental advantage they can get.
    This may be a giant red herring, as Vancouver's physical edge may prove too much to handle. Still without bruiser Alan Gordon, and now looking likely to miss Jacob Peterson as well, Toronto could simply be in too rough a shape to handle the 'Caps inevitable uptempo strategy.
    We'll all know for sure at around 10:00pm Eastern.
    Regardless of who wins, it looks to be a doozy.

    Toronto FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    Wednesday, May 25, 2011. 8:00pm EDT / 5:00pm PDT
    BMO Field. Toronto, ON.
    Watch: Rogers Sportsnet ONE, sportsnet.ca, NCC Official Site
    Listen: FAN590.com, TEAM 1410 AM (Vancouver), teamradio.ca
    Guest

    Best. Game. Ever

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    There is little doubt that Vancouver and Toronto are the two epicentres of Canadian soccer.
    The vast majority of national team players over the years have come from one of the two metropolitan regions, both were amongst the cities with clubs still standing at the end of the NASL era, and they are the only two Canadian cities to ever win the championship of an American D1 league.
    For years, Vancouver was where the national team most often played. Now, BMO Field provides a venue that can host the world. Although fans in both cities like to claim that they are the true heart and soul of Canadian fandom, the truth is both have merit in their argument – Vancouver stuck with it when it all seemed bleak, Toronto proved that D1 soccer could draw in this country.
    Through the years the two cities have faced off hundreds of times in games of varying importance. When the time came for Vancouver to book its first ever MLS game, it was only logical that it would be Toronto that should pay the visit.
    Although neither city wants to admit it, and both might argue that another city is a bigger rival (Montreal for Toronto, Seattle or Portland for Vancouver), they are as linked as any two cities in the world of football.
    And after all those games, and all the time that has passed, they will take to the pitch tomorrow for what is likely the biggest match they have ever played.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No, really.
    When you look through the archives there are really only a handful of games that are even in the same conversation. They met twice in NASL playoff action, but never after the first round of the playoffs. Vancouver won the first meeting in 1978 by beating Toronto 4-0. The Blizzard returned the favour in 1983 in what must have been an epic three game series (0-1, 4-3, 1-0).
    There is little doubt that those games would have been special and that the fans that were there must have desperately wanted to win them. But, as stated, they were early in the playoffs and there were still other clubs in the way of a championship.
    That wasn’t the case in 1991 when the two biggest names of the short lived Canadian Soccer League met in the championship game. As was often the case in the CSL era, that day proved to be Vancouver’s, with the 86ers taking the title in a 5-3 thriller.
    That was the only time silverware was on the line at the end of Van City v T.O. – until tomorrow.
    The difference now there is something else on the line too – the CONCACAF Champions League spot. And that makes the difference. Not only is there the fleeting joy of a trophy up for grabs, but also something more tangible.
    So, if you are headed to the stadium tomorrow be cognizant of just how special the game is. The most special ever, even
    Guest
    Through some improbable fluke of good fortune, I've been able to catch each of the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency's first three games of the USL PDL season.
    I like Residency games. It's a heck of a fun night at the soccer park. Outside of Vancouver, the games are usually played in charming little stadiums with fans who you know must be diehards because they're paying cash to watch USL PDL soccer. And the quality of play is pretty good, too. But most important is the opportunity to watch the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps and maybe of the Canadian national team. Most of the Residency players won't make it, but the chance to see the ones who will (not to mention debating which category each player falls into) is a rare privilege.
    It's a privilege not all of us can share, of course, so for the rest of you I present a review of the Residency team's three games so far this season. The Residency team isn't about winning games (although they've compiled a respectable 1-1-1 record); it's about developing individual skills. So I won't waste your time talking about their team play. Instead, I'll focus on a few interesting players who caught my eye, both for good and for ill.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    One of the leading players so far for the Whitecaps Residency has been Alexandre Morfaw. Well, that shouldn't be a surprise. At twenty-two years old, Morfaw is the elder statesman of the team. He rakes in $90,000 per year and had a useful supporting role for the senior Whitecaps last season; he bloody well better be able to handle the USL PDL. So far, though, no worries. Morfaw scored a brace against the Abbotsford Mariners and has looked dangerous in the team's other games as both an individual scorer and a playmaker.
    Morfaw's been fighting his share of injuries (his hand is still in a brace), so his effectiveness is a pleasant surprise. He's made some pretty flashy moves but for the most part he's just been the most fundamentally sound Residency player: staying in position, completing passes, and being in the right place to receive them. Unlike guys like Cornelius Stewart who try to beat defenders six ways from Sunday, Morfaw's gotten his offense by being in the right place at the right time then shooting hard and true. I think I like Morfaw's approach better, just because it'll translate a lot better to MLS when he won't have semi-professional schmucks of defenders up against him.
    Philippe Davies is another Whitecap on an MLS contract who's spent the entire season on the Residency roster. Unfortunately, I haven't been nearly as impressed by Davies as I have been by Morfaw: after the Abbotsford game I actually tweeted that Davies might be the first completely washed-up 19-year-old midfielder in soccer history. As a USSF D2 player, Davies hit beautiful, incisive through passes, made up for his lack of athleticism with bags of common sense, and while he made the occasional mistake was clearly a player to watch. As a USL PDL player, Davies blends in. And 19-year-olds with homegrown player contracts and two seasons' professional experience shouldn't be blending in to USL PDL. He missed the Victoria game through illness but, in the two games he's played, he's been clearly outshone by Morfaw and the younger Bryce Alderson.
    There are things to be said in Davies's defense. He's playing central midfield for the Residency whereas he played right wing for the senior Whitecaps. Central midfield is Davies's natural position (and seems like a better place for his particular skills) but there still will be an adjustment period there. Moreover, Davies is clearly not focusing on offense like he used to. He's cut back heavily on killer balls and charges into the opposing third, and given how enthusiastic he was about offense with the senior team I assume that's deliberate. Instead, he's hanging back and playing much more defense; he's almost in a box-to-box role. USSF D2 Davies was always a defensive liability, but USL PDL Davies is clearly improved. He still can't tackle to save his life but he's finding the right position more often, cutting out passes, and forcing opponents into inferior angles. He's still not exactly good, and it's not enough to keep me from being concerned. But Davies is obviously down with the Residency team to work on weak points of his game: the fact that those weak points are improving must be counted in his favour.
    Michael Nanchoff, Vancouver's eighth-overall pick in the winter's SuperDraft, has spent two games with the Residency team as he works his way back to match shape after a pre-season groin injury. Frankly, it's obvious why the Whitecaps like this kid. He's obviously deeply unfit and has a lot of work to do before I'd be comfortable seeing him play heavy MLS minutes, but the skill, my god! He punched passes through the Abbotsford and Victoria defenses almost at will. He scored a fine goal in Victoria off a free kick, he can cross the ball very well, and his defending was better than I'd been led to believe. It's hard to pick out any physical attributes that Nanchoff has in spades, and the USL PDL level of play obviously flatters him a little, but he thinks the game much better than one expects from a career college player. I find myself looking forward to Nanchoff's debut with the senior team.
    A few of you are doubtless wondering about Bryce Alderson, the reigning Canadian U-17 player of the year and midfield wunderkind. Alderson missed the Victoria game on international duty but was with the team against Kitsap and Abbotsford. Let me put it this way: you probably won't find a pundit in British Columbia who won't speak well of him. The kid is bigger in person than I expected, with his blonde hair making him stand out on the pitch even if his play doesn't. It usually does. Alderson isn't particularly quick and he doesn't use his size much, but when he's playing you can see the wheels turning. He's active, in the best sense of the word. His feet are always moving. When he hasn't got possession and his team's on the attack, he's constantly roaming, his eye on the ball carrier, finding the best angles to get open. When the team is defending he is a tenacious and stalwart contributor. And when he gets the ball he seems to specialize in quick one-touch passes; passes that are far better thought-out and more accurate than one expects from a 17-year-old.
    So far, when I've been watching, Alderson has been quite conservative. But he's also been fairly mistake-free and whenever he gets the ball he advances it. The kid just turned seventeen in February; he's playing in some cases against midfielders six years older than him. I'm not rash enough to expect him to start picking apart defenses yet. I will say, however, that with his sensible style of play, quick reactions, and the good head on his shoulders, I don't think he'd be buried in Major League Soccer if he had to play for the Whitecaps tomorrow.
    Those are the names that have most struck me so far. There are certainly others I have opinions about, but the USL PDL season has months to go yet. Everything in its own time.
    Guest
    A few week's ago, soccer media and supporters alike came out to the Football Factory to tell fans of the beautiful game why local football matters to them and why it should matter to you and those around you.

    The domestic club game is clearly healthy and on the grow in Canada but there remains a disconnect between those fans and fans our of national teams. We created this video as a way to inspire fans who love the game but maybe haven't found a reason to attend national team matches

    The stories are varied but the message was simple: get out and support the Canadian national team.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    After you view this video, please take a moment and send it to five friends who you think would enjoy watching Canada play. Then ask them to send it to five. And so on.

    If you want embed it on your own site, and if you have some objection of linking to CSN, please link to on all your social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook etc..)

    There is a week before Canada plays Ecuador in Toronto and this summer Canada plays USA in Detroit. We're going to be releasing another, longer video before then, but in the meantime, the goal is for the grassroots supporters of our game to take this video out and use it to as a way to turn casuals, who may be sitting on the fence about supporting Canada, into full-on Voyageurs.

    Allez les Rouge.

    ___

    Thank you to everyone who came out and made this possible. If your footage didn't make this video it will be in the second. And thank you especially to the people that slaved over hours of people pouring their hearts out to turn it into something with a message.
    Guest
    Julian de Guzman is much better than most give him credit for. As a defensive midfielder there are few in MLS that can touch him. And, in the modern game, there are few positions on the pitch that are as important as having a good holding mid player.
    Whenever you talk to other players they will tell you that he is gifted. Is he worth the near $2 million a year that MLSE pays him? It doesn’t matter. He is worth a $335,000 cap hit though. That’s all that matters.
    CSN has been a big supporter of de Guzman over his time in Toronto. Time and time again, it’s been argued here that he is one of the most valuable pieces at the club.
    So, it might seem inconsistent to suggest, as we are about to, that it might be time to seriously consider whether to keep him around while Aron Winter builds this club. It isn’t a question of whether he's good enough though – talent and fit are different things. No one here is arguing that de Guzman lacks the former. The latter is the question.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    A couple things are clear five months into Winter’s time with the club. The first is that the club is him. MLSE has decided that it has done its due diligence and has found the right person to lead the team intro the Promised Land. Whenever Winter talks he makes reference to three years – the length of his contract. He says that he is here for a three year project. And he stresses the three part of it with conviction. You get the feeling that he’s been promised that whole three years and that he has told the club to expect no more than it from him. It’s a win-win: Winter proves he’s a manager; MLSE gets its football team back on track.
    That fact leads to the second factor that seems clear. Winter has decided that the way to make TFC a champion in three years time is by putting together a core group of young players now that will be in their prime in 2013. To that end, he`s stayed away from the journeymen pros that could make TFC a better club now and instead focused on players that he feels will be something more than journeymen in three years time, if not as good now.
    That brings us back to de Guzman. Now 30, and coming off knee surgery, you must start to project forward. Will de Guzman still be worth a max cap hit when this club is set-up to be be a championship contender? Maybe, but it’s a bit of a gamble. Football is a young man’s game after all.
    When Winter talks about de Guzman he seems sincere in his appreciation of the player. That sincerity might make him more likely to treat him fairly by allowing him the opportunity to start looking for a last European option. Memories are short sometimes and maybe they have forgotten in Spain that he demanded to actually be paid. It would be too easy to suggest that he might fit well with Mallorca, but...
    You don’t cut de Guzman unless it’s in the best interests of the club. But, as TFC continues to try and build a young core that can grow together, maybe that time has come.
    Guest
    Welcome to this week's Designated Player Roundup, which usually takes a look at how the league's 16 DPs fared over the past week of MLS play. For some background on each of these fellows, check out the first edition of DP Roundup.
    This week, having hit a big (completely arbitrary) milestone like Week 10, let's take a look at the big picture, at how the fellows have performed in 2011 thus far, up to and including Week 10.
    Week 10 (May 16 - May 22)
    Archives: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]David Beckham (LA): When it comes to stats, Becks leads the league in two key categories: assists (six) and yellow cards received (interestingly, he sits atop that list tied with two other DPs). As far as I know he's also tops in terms of "most Spice Girls slept with". He's also scored once in 11 appearances, while continuing to be the guy to look dashing on many of the team's set pieces.
    Juan Pablo Angel (LA): Coincidentally, just as I was writing this entry, former Toronto FC goalkeeper David Monsalve tweeted to someone else, "Medellin is the best city in Colombia for everything!" Does that hold true for MLS strikers? Well, Angel (a product of Medellin) has two goals in 12 appearances this season...
    David Ferreira (Dallas): ... while Ferreira, a product of Santa Marta, Colombia, had three goals in six appearances before going down with a broken ankle that will likely see him miss most of the rest of the season. So Angel has plenty of time to catch up and prove young Monsalve's tweet correct.
    Landon Donovan (LA): Your league leader in goals thus far, Landy has seven tallies in nine appearances, despite having missed a few games due to injury and national-team duty. Whatever expectations you wanna heap on his head, he's living up to them so far this year.
    Julian de Guzman (Toronto): Speaking of injuries, JDG has been reincorporated into the lineup while coming back from off-season knee surgery. In nine appearances he's recorded one assist (it was a beauty) and slowly come back into the sort of form that could see him be a linchpin of his team. In the process he's also picked up five yellow cards, to sit atop that list with ol' Becks.
    Branko Boskovic (DC): Done for the year after ACL surgery, BB had lodged only four appearances in league play (just one of which was a start), though he did score a double for D.C. in a U.S. Open Cup match.
    Thierry Henry (NY): Despite a slow start, his five goals put him behind only Donovan and Charlie Davies at the top of the league. Also, his facial hair is -- according to a meme I'm attempting to create -- a fully autonomous bluegrass band that's going on tour this summer. Get your Face-fur Experience tix while they're hot!
    Rafael Marquez (NY): No red cards. That's all that matters.
    Alvaro Fernandez (Seattle): Somewhat out of necessity, Fernandez has stepped up for Seattle, scoring three goals in 10 appearances, even though he's not really a goal-scorer, per se (he had two in 12 appearances last season).

    Fredy Montero (Seattle): Now, as for someone who is expected to pot goals for the Sounders, Montero has just two in 12 appearances for his club, despite launching a staggering 36 shots (second most in the league) at goal, and a league-leading 16 on goal. Perhaps someone should remind Fredy that the phrase "they don't ask how, they just ask how many" refers to actual goals, not just attempts.
    Omar Bravo (KC): Started splendidly, with a brace in his first appearance. But he made only one more appearance before going down with a sports hernia, finally making his return in Week 10 with a 76-minute start against Seattle.
    Alvaro Saborio (Salt Lake): Has yet to find the back of the net in six MLS starts this season (after tallying 12 goals in 27 appearances last year), though he's been at the forefront of a rather deep team as it's gotten off to a solid league start and had that little ol' run in the CONCACAF Champions League (remember that?)
    Eric Hassli (Vancouver): Unsurprisingly, Hassli is the other DP that has five yellow cards -- while also adding a pair of reds to the mix. To his credit, he's also bundled the ball into the net thrice in seven league appearances to share the team lead with Camilo.
    Andres Mendoza (Columbus): One goal in seven appearances, three of which were starts, totaling just 342 minutes. Put more depressingly, those three starts were his first three appearances of the season; he hasn't started (or played more than 52 minutes) in a game since.
    Fabian Castillo (Dallas): The 18-year-old (!!!) has two goals and two assists in 10 appearances, and speed to burn. He's from Cali, Colombia, so I'm not sure how he fits into the Angel/Ferreira comparison above; but suffice to say, barring any unforeseen disaster, he'll be playing much, much longer than either of those two.
    Diego Chara (Portland): Hey, another guy from Cali! He didn't join the team till a few weeks in, and has only logged 405 minutes in five appearances. (Note that that's still 63 minutes more than Mendoza). His presence has helped guide the Timbers to a surprisingly strong start (17 points in 10 games).
    DP Deathwatch 2011
    1. Andres Mendoza: Yeah, look at the grand scheme, I don't see him getting dislodged from this perch anytime soon. Here's the Simpsons clip.
    2. Branko Boskovic: It seems mean, given that he's on the shelf. But he's 30 and recovering from a major leg injury, so we may well have already seen his final appearance as a designated player.
    3. Rafael Marquez: He ain't going anywhere, but I may keep Rafa here until he gets sent off for cleating someone in the face. It'll happen.
    .
    Guest
    If you look hard enough, you’ll likely find at least one TFC fan complaining that Julian de Guzman has been called up to the Gold Cup. For some it’s club over country, always, no exceptions.
    However, most understand that football, like life, is about compromise. The inclusion of de Guzman in the line-up is a burden for the club, but one that they are prepared to deal with. Country matters too.
    What TFC fans have had issue with in the past is the amount of burden they were asked to carry. When you are forced to coax a retired fullback from a local old boys team to play alongside a scout in a league match then you have a legitimate issue. Yes, that issue is mostly with the league that is forcing you to play on international dates and during continental competition, but that doesn’t mean that thinking national team fans should not have some empathy.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    After all, Stephen Hart does. Today he admitted that he made some compromises in his selections for the Gold Cup out of respect for those teams that that are in leagues that play summer schedules. We don’t know for sure whether Adrian Cann or Greg Sutton might have been given the call if MLS had chose to do the sensible thing and stopped during the Gold Cup, but we can assume that it would have been far more likely.
    The stubborn and blind view that the national teams should take any player they want, regardless of the circumstance is, at best, short-sighted. At worse, its counter-productive. Thankfully Hart understands this.
    Managing a national team is more than just picking your best XI and getting on with it. You must manage much more than that. Player’s egos and club team’s needs all need to be considered at all times. If you fail to do that then you run the risk of a push back at the worst possible time. Hart was clear today that he would be willing to be flexible now, even in his second most important event, so long as it was understood that when World Cup qualifying starts that he would need to be selfish.
    Since Hart is showing them respect now, the clubs will likely respect him then. When the games really matter Canada’s best will be there.
    And no one, anywhere, will complain.
    Guest
    While many Canadians were hazily dragging themselves out of bed at the tail end of a long weekend on Monday, men's national team head coach Stephen Hart was busy announcing the 23-man roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. Thankfully, his announcement cleared up any and all uncertainty surrounding the team and its members going forward. Oh, no, wait, what I mean is that it raised plenty of questions (as these announcements invariably do). Here are some of them:
    Who's the starting keeper for the Gold Cup, Hirschfeld or Borjan?
    Based on his tenure with the national team (33 caps), you'd have to expect that the 32-year-old Hirschfeld comes in as the No. 1. He's earned that spot, after competing for it for years with the likes of Pat Onstad and Greg Sutton. For what it's worth, he did win Gold Cup 'keeper of the tournament in 2002, and is the most experienced 'keeper currently in our worryingly shallow depth pool.
    But since Borjan was unearthed by Hart last year and pledged his allegiance to the Canadian team, the Croatian-born 23-year-old has won over plenty of Canadian supporters, not just for his fealty to Les Rouges, but for raising our hopes (with his strong performances for FK Rad of the Serbian league) that Canada may have found a former-Yugoslavia-born keeper of the future to replace the one that went away.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    While the urge is strong to anoint Borjan as the saviour and give him the starter's job now, the reality is that Canada simply can't afford to alienate Hirschfeld at this point. So expect Lars to start against the U.S. -- but, Borjan needs to get a start in the tournament, not only to give him a first taste of representing Canada in a major international tournament, but -- if we're being totally cynical about it -- to cap-tie him.
    Was al-Shaibani the best choice as a third keeper?
    I'm sure Haidar's a nice guy, but no. Sure, being the third goalkeeper almost always means sitting around scratching one's shins, possibly retrieving water bottles for teammates during the games. But the 27-year-old, who won his first and only cap for Canada last year, has played exactly 12 games for his club -- Nimes Olympique of France's Ligue 2 -- over the past three seasons. Yes, goalkeepers have a much longer shelf life than other players, so it's unfair to write him off already.
    But with Canada's 'keeper pool being as shallow as it is, there would have been some benefit to bringing in one of our really young pups -- think Julian Latendresse-Levesque, Roberto Stillo, maybe even David Monsalve -- just to give them some exposure and time with the national team.
    How will Simeon Jackson be utilized?
    The final two months of Norwich City's ascension to the Premiership showed that Jackson, when he's hot, can be a fantastic goal poacher. Right now, he's hot. Canada, always, needs goals. So you'd think Jacko starts as an out-and-out striker, right?
    Well, Hart seems pretty enamoured of this little system he's cooked up, with Jackson and Josh Simpson out on the wings, flanking a single forward (usually Rob Friend). When asked recently, both Hart and Jackson seemed to suggest this would be the case for the foreseeable future. If that seems, to you, like a monstrous waste of the lightning-in-a-bottle that Jackson has captured, there may be hope: the inclusion of Tosaint Ricketts on the roster.
    Ricketts's speed could mean that he slots into the right-side winger role that Jackson's been filling as of late, allowing Jackson to poach to his heart's content. That's what could happen. What probably will happen? Jackson and Simpson on the wings, flanking Friend/Gerba up top with DeRo as a withdrawn striker. Here's hoping it works.
    Who wears the captain's armband?
    With Paul Stalteri (predictably and rightly) being left off the roster, it seems as though this Gold Cup will see the coronation of a new "full-time" captain. If the armband goes to anyone other than Kevin McKenna, I'll be surprised. If it goes to anyone other than Kevin McKenna who isn't named Atiba Hutchinson, I'll be positively flabbergasted.
    Will Ali Gerba continue his assault on Canada's all-time goals record?
    Damn, I hope so. Big Gerbs, 29, has six Gold Cup goals in his career and 15 overall for Canada, just four short of Dale Mitchell's all-time record. All fat jokes aside, Gerba has caught fire since joining the Montreal Impact for a fourth time (not a typo) last year. He turned down a callup for Canada against Belarus earlier this year in order to focus on the start of the NASL season which -- given his tumultuous (to put it mildly) club career -- is actually a good sign, indicative (hopefully) of a renewed sense of dedication and purpose.
    All signs point to Ali adding to his Canadian goal total at this year's tournament -- but of course, it's still up to him to put the ball in the back of the net.
    Which Dwayne De Rosario will show up?
    One with neat hair, I hope. The final remaining veteran of the nation's Gold Cup triumph in 2000, DeRo has seen (and been in the middle of) plenty over the course of his 55 caps with Canada. Whatever animus existed following the disastrous World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign seems to have dissipated, as DeRosario looked fully willing to buy into Hart's system during an admirable performance in a friendly against Greece earlier this year.
    But he hasn't earned the pejorative nickname "MeRo" for nothing. TFC fans needn't be reminded of the "cheque-signing" motion of 2010, and he's often taken it upon himself (sometimes to his team's detriment) to try and win games all on his own. While no one's denying his talent and dynamism, it's critical for Canada's chances of success in the Gold Cup (and 2014 qualifying campaign?) that De Rosario continue buying what Hart is selling, and utilize his talents to the maximum benefit of the entire squad.
    Where's Iain Hume?
    Good question. Humey -- who's authored the sort of feel-good comeback story that'd make Don Cherry weep -- had 12 goals in 31 appearances for Preston North End of the English Championship this season, including a bushel of them in the campaign's final weeks as PNE fought (unsuccessfully) to avoid relegation. The 27-year-old has two goals in 29 appearances for Canada.
    Rob Friend, interestingly, has the exact same strike rate for the Canadian men's national team over his career. This past year, he scored five times in 25 appearances for Hertha Berlin in their (successful) quest to gain promotion to the 1.Bundesliga. He's also three years older than Hume.
    So who do you go with, their Canada scoring records being equal? The younger, on-hotter-form striker who'll be in the English third division next year? Or the always-seemingly-snakebitten-for-Canada striker whose team will be in the German first division? If you take the sentimental aspect of Hume's recovery out of the mix, it's not as easy a decision as it may seem. But if Friend struggles at the tournament, you can expect plenty of anger about Hume's exclusion.
    Where's David Edgar?
    Is that an actual inquiry as to his location? Because it's tough to know for sure sometimes. After seemingly, finally, nudging his way onto the national team roster earlier this year, the 24-year-old Burnley defender won't be at the Gold Cup. This has upset some fans, especially those who are still stuck in a time warp wherein he's a full-of-potential 20-year-old playing for Newcastle in the Premiership. In the actual current reality, though, he's barely played first-team minutes anywhere for the past three years, which has made it tough for him to remain in top form.
    It's unfortunate that Edgar's career has crumbled the way it has; but if you believe he deserved a spot on Canada's roster, then tell me: Whose spot should he have taken?
    How mad are the managers of seven North American squads right now?
    Probably plenty, but I don't give a damn. TFC fans will grouse (or maybe they won't) about the loss of de Guzman, Whitecaps fans will grouse about the loss of Dunfield, Impact fans will grouse about the loss of Gerba. Meanwhile fans in D.C., Houston, Salt Lake and New York will also have cause to grouse about the loss of Canadian players. Officials and fans in every MLS market will probably have something to bitch about. But their scorn should be directed not at Stephen Hart or Bob Bradley or any other CONCACAF manager; rather, send it to Don Garber, whose league continues to defy logic by refusing to break for the continental tournament.
    Is there any hope Junior Hoilett will ever join the Canadian team?
    Sure, if his England ambitions don't pan out. Those who follow the program somewhat closely didn't really think the Blackburn striker would turn out for the nation of his birth at this tournament; still, it would have been a nice little surprise. Until he turns up in one national team kit or another, people will keep asking the question, and Hart will have to keep providing the same answer he's surely gotten sick of providing by now.
    But one thing's for sure: no one should bank on David Hoilett ever suiting up for Canada. The delusional, idealistic supporter in me still holds out faint hope (this same voice tells me Jonathan de Guzman may come back someday, too), but no amount of speculating, hoping or wishing will change anything. This kid's international future is in his own hands -- and more likely than not, it's in a country that ain't Canada.
    How well can this team do at the tournament?
    Well, there's the $64,000 question, eh? No matter what squad was named, Canada was always going to be in tough against (i.e. probably lose to) the United States, hopefully beat Guadeloupe and have the Panama matchup as the decider of its fate. The Panama game is the third one of the group stage, which will hopefully mean the players have had enough time (well, 180 minutes) to create some cohesion and momentum.
    Trouble is, squeaking out of the group stage would most likely set up a quarterfinal showdown with Mexico (eep) or Honduras (ugh). I've said all along that my expectation for this tournament is a similar fate as 2009: an appearance in the quarterfinals (though hopefully not another 1-0 loss to Honduras on a bullshit penalty call). Anything beyond that is gravy.
    The real purpose of this tournament is to get these players some more games under their belts in the Canada kit, and beside one another, in preparation for World Cup qualifying getting underway later this year. That's when the real big questions will be asked... and answered.
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