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    An April Fool? Nope, DeRo traded

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    It's being reported that Dwayne De Rosario has been traded to New York. CSN will be at BMO Field for 2 p.m. to get the official word from the club.
    I can say that they have not been returning calls this morning, which is against form.
    Watch the @24thminute Twitter feed for instant information. An update here soon after.
    UPDATE (5:50pm):
    MLS has made it official. Dwayne DeRosario has been traded to New York for Tony Tchani, Danleigh Borman and New York's first round pick in the 2012 Superdraft. A Sober Second Thoughts will follow later tonight.
    UPDATE (3:47pm):
    Toronto FC management had little to say today on the Dwayne DeRosario trade. Aron Winter has refused to comment on the situation until after the Chivas game tomorrow. Sources have told CSN that a deal remains in place to send DeRo to New York but that there are legal and contractual agreements holding up an official announcement.
    UPDATE (1:23pm):
    Multiple news organizations now reporting that Dwayne DeRosario has been traded to New York for Tony Tchani, Danleigh Borman and a first round pick in the 2012 SuperDraft.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Today, we're joined by Tyler Green, host of Full Time and Whitecaps FC Daily on the Team 1040, to talk about Teal Bunbury's return to Canada, the 'Caps injury woes and if the latest signings will help with their depth issues.
    And obviously, with the news of the day, we spend a lengthy amount of time talking about the Dwayne DeRosario trade rumours, what that means for the club against Chivas and we also get into a little about the CSA's latest proposal to CWNT coach Carolina Morace.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/22567/april12011final.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
    .
    Former TFC Director of Soccer Mo Johnston is leading a group that has purchased the club from MLSE.
    The deal is part of a three way switch that sees Rogers buy MLSE and then immediately swing the soccer club to the Johnston group.
    "Why would we want a soccer team" a Rogers executive told CSN. "Canadians don't like soccer. NFL football, on the other hand -- as we see with the Bills in Toronto series -- is where we want to be."
    It's been suggested that Rogers is in negotiations with the City of Toronto to buy BMO Field and operate it as a NFL facility. It only makes sense, the Rogers executive said.
    "We'd have to put a proper field in -- top notch FieldTurf -- and push the ends back a bit, but it's totally doable. We're even open to the possibility of letting the soccer team still play there. We're not unreasonable."
    A source close to the mayor's office said that Rob Ford is "ecstatic" about the idea.
    It was said that Johnston has been lying in the weeds waiting for an opportunity to purchase TFC since he was fired last year. The Rogers executive said the sold the club way below market value because they wanted to give it to someone that "clearly understands the local market and has only the best interests of TFC at heart."
    A TFC source said that the front office is "in chaos" today.
    "People are getting their resumes updated, that's for sure," they said. "The soccer guys in particular are worried. There are eight trialists scheduled to show up tomorrow. No one knows what to do with them."
    An undefiled man with a Scottish accent answered the phone at the Mo Johnston residence. He refused to confirm his identity but did say that "karma's a bitch" before hanging up.
    Toronto fans are not reacting well. A Red Patch Boys spokesperson said that several protests were already scheduled.
    “We’re not going to sit down and take this,” he said before trailing off. Weeping, he then said that the group would have no further comment.”
    U-Sector announced that it was disbanding.
    “We’ve been around for 10 years and have never seen a winning team,” senior member Ryan Keay said. “But this is a step too far.
    “We’ve stopped believing.”
    Guest
    CSN has learned that Toronto FC will be removed from MLSE to facilitate the sale of the company.
    “Rogers thinks soccer sucks,” a TFC source said. “In meetings to sell one guy even asked if TFC was ‘a girl’s team, or something’.”
    “It’s for the best, really.”
    After the split the Leafs, Raptors and Marlies will be sold to Rogers, while TFC will be purchased by another group. There is no word as to whether the new owners plan on keeping the same management team in place.
    A full announcement for the ownership change is expected within the hour.
    As to who is in that ownership group, the source was still reluctant to say anything.
    “We’re all on edge here,” they said. “It’s scary. We have a feeling things are going to get really unpredictable so no one wants to stick their neck out.”
    We will continue to follow the story as it develops.
    Guest
    A source close to TFC has told CSN that a "surprising" announcement is expected today regarding the MLSE ownership situation.
    "It's not what we were expecting, that's for sure," the insider said. "It will be interesting to see how the fans react."
    Earlier this year it was announced that the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan was looking to sell MLSE. Rogers was thought to be the leading contender to buy the company.
    However, the insider said that Rogers would not be involved in the announcement today.
    "Right now we need to be careful because all the details have yet to come out," the insider said, "but if what's rumoured comes to pass fans will know the party involved."
    CSN will continue to follow this story as the morning progresses.
    Guest
    So, here’s what I can tell you about what’s been going on behind the scenes in the CSA reform battle for the last six weeks:
    - The official deadline to make amendments to the CSA’s mid-May annual general meeting came and went tonight.
    - No motion to reintroduce full CSA reform – provincial presidents removed, taking effect this year, not next – has been filed.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    As you might recall, the full reform package (as well as an amended one that would also have become law in May) died when Alberta stand-in representatives Scott Chen and Ray Calvin – the last men left standing from the deposed Mario Charpentier coup d’etat – voted nay for “the good of the country.”
    This, despite the fact that every Alberta district that wired in an opinion urged them to vote “yes.”
    An anonymous source close to events told Canadian Soccer News tonight that nothing can be done to revive full reform until the Alberta Soccer Association holds its own AGM on April 16.
    It is roundly believed both Chen and Calvin will be dismissed that day. But who takes their place – and whether the new ASA will be pro- or anti-reform – is too unclear tonight for any of the reformers to step up and throw the dice.
    So – it’s dead, right?
    Apparently not. I’ve been told tonight the matter can be reopened on the floor of the actual CSA AGM.
    The basic operator:
    - A vote of 50% + 1 (based on each province’s percentage of registered soccer players) is needed to put full reform back on the CSA AGM agenda. I can’t confirm whether that still holds beyond tonight, but I have been assured by a well-placed source that there is still a constitutionally legal way to proceed.
    - A vote of 67% would then be needed to pass the original reform package into law. Full reform would then take effect almost immediately.
    - The biggest obstacle remains … Alberta.
    - Quebec and Nova Scotia also voted against the full package, but 50% + 1 can be attained without them, if enough other provinces sign on. But barring an unforeseeable change of heart in either Halifax or Quebec City, the 67% needed to seal the deal cannot be reached without Alberta switching sides.
    That’s all I’ve been able to wrestle onto the record for tonight. There is deep silence on all sides of this story, and by present Canadian soccer standards, it’s been holding quite effectively.
    The reform story is far from dead – but it’s going to be asleep at least another week or two.
    Onward!
    Guest

    A defender, man

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    TFC has signed Jamaican international Dicoy Williams from the second best named club in CONCACAF, Harbour View FC (the best is clearly Joe Public).
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    I should have a chance to chat with him tomorrow and will have more insight then.
    On the surface he seems like a lock to slot in above Dan Gargan on the depth chart. Actually, it’s not clear what Gargan’s role with the club can be under this system.
    Release the Gargan?
    Guest

    Meet your FC Edmonton

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    No one that cares about soccer in this country wants FC Edmonton to fail. Everyone in the country is terrified of what is about to happen.
    With less than a month until the club takes on TFC in a cup tie, let’s have a look at what the club looks like:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Keepers: Rein Baart is a 38-year-old that has played in one competitive game since 2007, Lance Parker last played game 18-months ago and didn’t get off the training pitch for Miami last year and local product Jaswinder Gill might have a future, but the future isn’t here yet.
    Defenders: Alex Surprenant was a Montreal Impact depth player for the better part of two seasons and André Duberry has never played professionally before.
    John Jonke is from Scarborough, so that’s something, but he failed to stick in Finland and is basically a PDL player. Niko Saler is another local product without pro experience and Paul Hamilton claim to fame is a CIS MVP season. He comes via Vancouver. Speaking of Vancouver, Antonio Rago is young, but hasn’t played higher than the Whitecaps academy.
    Midfield: Paul Matthijs has played in the Eredivisie, but he is 35. Shaun Saiko is maybe the most interesting player here having played in the Middlesbrough system.
    Chris Lemire is a journeyman that actually played for the Edmonton Aviators (so he should have an idea of what he’s in for) and Conrad Smith is making the jump straight from CIS soccer.
    Mutanda Kwesele is a Portland Timbers reject and Chris Kooy is a young Albertan with his first pro club.
    Meanwhile Dominic Oppong played USL-2 last year and Sam Lam had a good run at the University of Alberta while Shawn Chin was playing community college soccer in Alberta two years ago.
    Forwards: Alex Semenets is a Whitecaps academy prospect (that the Caps didn’t want). Michael Cox is another kid from Alberta with his first pro club (which is why no one wants to see this team fail...), but Daniel Antoniuk is a career D2-er – so, one of the most accomplished players on the roster.
    Kyle Yamada is another player that had his most success in that underrated (*cough*) community college league and Paul Craig was a great player for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
    It’s a young team – and that’s good, so long as the club sticks around long enough to make it matter. For that to happen, however, this club is going to need to do enough to convince a reluctant soccer market (based on history) to accept the game this time.
    As for the NCC game...
    The last time TFC played a team that looked like this they won 6-1.
    Guest
    Like the popular snack mix, I'm going to break down these news hits into the flavoured Shreddie (the best part), the Cheerio (you never see it coming), the pretzel (you've got to acknowledge it, like it or not) and that cheese-stick thing (what the hell is it?).
    The Shreddie: World Cup, here we come! ... well, maybe.
    A win over a non-FIFA-sanctioned French protectorate, and Canada's into the knockout round! Whoo! Well, it's not that simple for Canada's U20 men's team. Though they've qualified for the quarterfinals at the CONCACAF U20 championships, they'll still need a win against Costa Rica on Friday night if they hope to avoid Mexico in the next round.
    A win against the Jr. Ticos would set up a date with either Cuba or Trinidad & Tobago, with a berth in this summer's U20 World Cup on the line. Anything less and they'll need to get through the Mexicans to qualify.*
    Canada v. Costa Rica is being streamed at CONCACAF.com Friday night, and we'll also be hosting a live chat here at Canadian Soccer News. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Cheerio: Movement in Morace morass
    It's often said that no news is good news; but in this case, vague, minimal news could be good news for the women's national team. The Canadian Press reported earlier this week that the CSA has sent a formal proposal to disgruntled head coach Carolina Morace, in an effort to have her renege on her vow to leave the team following this summer's World Cup.
    The details of the deal aren't yet public, but CSA president Dominique Maestracci told CP that the proposal includes some clarity on monetary compensation for the players, which has been a key sticking point throughout the months-long controversy surrounding the team.
    It serves no real purposes to point fingers or assign blame at this particular juncture (there will be plenty of time for that in a few months). For now, the prospect of a resolution surely bodes well for Big Red, who need as few distractions as possible heading into their highly-anticipated appearance in Germany 2011.
    The Pretzel: We don't like that Boon-boo-ree
    Get ready, Vancouver. Teal Bunbury is coming to town.
    Long-time Whitecaps fans likely don't need much of a primer on who he is. But if you're a newer fan who reveled in the chance to hate on Toronto in the Caps' season-opener, then you're in luck, as you'll get a similar opportunity for rage expulsion on Saturday.
    The Sporting KC striker is, of course, the son of Alex Bunbury, a legendary member of the Canadian men's national team. Teal was born in this grand old country of ours, though he did spend a large amount of his upbringing south of the border. Nevertheless, he made appearances for Canadian youth teams, and told several members of the Canadian soccer media that he felt Canadian, when questions of his national allegiances came up late in 2009.
    Then, last year, he answered the call from the American men's national team. And that, as they say, was that.
    To be clear, Teal isn't Owen Hargreaves, or Jonathan de Guzman, or that Bosnian goalkeeper. He's his own man, in his own circumstances. And I'm not deluded enough to think that anything he did was meant to intentionally spite Canada or its long-suffering soccer supporters.
    But this is one of the few times that those long-suffering supporters will get the chance, live and in person, to make themselves heard to a player that turned his back on Canada.
    So if you'll be out at Empire Field on Saturday, there will be plenty of people from coast-to-coast living vicariously through you once Bunbury steps out on the pitch.
    As I said, get ready.
    The Cheese Stick: Do you have election fever?
    "No one’s ever run for office on the basis of Canadian success in international soccer."
    That odd throwaway line shows up in a Globe & Mail article by Jim Stanford about the government's performance during the recent recession.
    He's right, of course. I don't imagine that Stephen Hart's choice of formation will be much of a talking point during the upcoming leadership debates. But I'm not sure how I feel about the line. On the one hand, any publicity is good publicity, right? (I mean, even if it's as a punchline in an article about the economy, it's still a CanMNT reference in the Globe.)
    On the other hand, Stanford's obligatory reference to "our glorious domination of world hockey" irks me in ways I can't articulate in a single sentence. So I'll just let it stew for now.
    But what do you think?
    *The U20 scenarios are based on the assumption that Mexico will beat Trinidad later on Friday night. If the Soca Warriors somehow pull off the upset, everything's thrown for a loop.
    .
    Guest
    Hardcore Canada supporters spend a lot of time whinging about the fact that the only people who truly pay attention to Canada friendlies are hardcore supporters. But sometimes toiling in obscurity has a silver lining.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Since taking the reins of Canada two years ago, Stephen Hart has enjoyed the luxury of time. As in, time to experiment in matches where nobody gets too worked up over the results. Contrast this with the situation unfolding in Honduras, where Hart's counterpart Luis Suarez finds himself engulfed by a shitstorm of criticism from enraged scribes and Internet users following his first two matches in charge, a 4-0 loss to South Korea and a 3-0 drubbing from China. No, this cowboy has not had a pleasant first crack at his horse.
    The fact that Honduras had five of its European-based Legionnaires along for the trip seemed to anger supporters even more, as presumably the team was at almost full-strength. Suarez pointedly tried to downplay expectations for this "Asia tour," but he works in an environment where "what have you done for me lately?" is the only question asked.
    As aesthetically bad as a combined 7-0 scoreline over two games may look, it can hardly be used as a basis to pass judgment on the coaching skills of Suarez. And as aesthetically good as those scores look from the perspective of embittered Canada supporters, a dispassionate observer would conclude that the Hondurans will surely have their act in far better shape for the Gold Cup. The bottom line for Honduras from these two friendlies is literally the bottom line: $300 thousand big ones into the coffers of the FA.
    While Honduras supporters were watching their side get its ass handed to itself by China, Costa Ricans were celebrating the opening of their new national stadium, which completely coincidentally, was paid for by China. The Ticos pulled off a 0-0 home draw against a Lio Messi-less Argentina, thanks to the industry of keeper Keilor Navas Gamboa.
    Perhaps the biggest knock-on from this match is that the Costa Rica FA is now considering suing its Argentine counterpart for fielding what was essentially a B-team. The decision to sit Messi looks dubious now that Barcelona has confirmed that he's not actually injured. A newspaper report today suggested that the Costa Rican FA is reviewing the fine print contained in the contracts governing friendlies it signs with other nations. Apparently Argentina was required to bring its star players to the game, but not required to play them.
    And finally despite enjoying more of the ball, suffering from poor refereeing and shanking a penalty off the crossbar, El Salvador lost 3-2 to Jamaica in a battle of Concacaf middleweights. By the end of the match the Salvadorian home supporters were chanting for the return of manager Carlos De dos Cobos, who led them to the Hex in 2010 World Cup qualifying. New York Red Bull Dane Richards scored twice for Jamaica, who seem to have their counterattack perfected on this occasion, scoring three goals in their first four attempts on goal.
    Guest
    The Whitecaps made an interesting move today, officially signing central defender Mouloud Akloul to an MLS contract. Akloul has been around the team for quite some time, as he signed with them near the start of last year's Division II season, and he even made a quick impact, scoring in his debut against AC St. Louis. Unfortunately for him, that was the extent of his impact on the team last year, as he fractured his ankle later in that match and was out for most of the rest of the season (he did make one more appearance near the end of the year). Thus, unlike most of the other players coming from the Whitecaps' Division II roster, we haven't seen much of Akloul in the blue and white so far.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    That doesn't mean he's an entirely unproven player, though. Akloul is 28 and has had a varied career so far, playing everywhere from his home country of France to the United Arab Emirates. In his limited Whitecaps action at the Division II level, he was certainly impressive at both ends of the pitch, so we'll see if he's able to translate that to the MLS level.
    However, it's notable that the Whitecaps have signed another defender. If you look at their <a href="http://whitecapsfc.com/roster">roster</a>, it's rather heavily stacked towards the back end. Some of that includes players like Wes Knight, Blake Wagner and Kevin Harmse who can also play in midfield, but most of the questions this week centred around how the club would handle injuries and suspensions in midfield and up front, not if they needed another man at the back. Akloul is also the 29th player on the MLS roster, so it looks like the Whitecaps <a href="http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Mind+boggling+making+roster/4273935/story.html">have one spot left</a>. It's going to be interesting to see how they use that.
    Guest
    Coming into this first MLS season we were all hoping for a situation more like Seattle's first season rather than Toronto's first. Things looked quite promising as the 'Caps recruited players a year in advance of their big league return. With a core of all-star players from last years team and some impressive youth they further bolstered their lineup with the addition of with international experience in the form of American centre back Jay DeMerit .
    Hunger, passion, a desire to win at all costs, and play for your teammates is certainly not a characteristic that the Caps are short on. We saw it on Saturday when Designated Player Eric Hassli came running to the defence of fellow strike Atiba Harris when referee Yader Reyes failed to maintain control of the match. Philadelphia's defensive pairing of Danny Califf and Carlos Valdez repeatedly got away with malicious tackles that would be a red card offence in any other league in the world except for maybe Scotland. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Hassli is suspended and unavailable for Saturday's game. DeMerit, Harris, Chiumiento, Thorrington, Selinas, Nanchoff, and Nolly are all nursing injuries. Baby Jesus is off with the U-20 Canadian Nationals and Omar Salgado is off with the Americans. Phil Davies was recently abducted by aliens.
    Nizar Khalfan scared the crap out of me last week, gone was the ever dangerous force that we'd seen all preseason and against Toronto, and back was the speedy winger with a lousy first touch from last season. Maybe his brain got on a plane and left for Tanzania even though he wasn't released to join his national squad. Blake Wagner will likely be bumped back up to the midfield with Rochat likely moving back to the left To be fair nobody looked good against Philly except for Joe Cannon.
    There should be an air of fear swirling around the club right now. While we are strong and deep in the back four, that really seems like where it abruptly ends. With 2 games in 5 days and the serious lack of warm bodies on the sidelines my fear stretches well beyond Kansas City and to Wednesday when we face a suddenly improved New England team. We could easily find ourselves with a record of 1-3-0 by this same time next week.
    I could just be fear mongering but I seriously doubt it. These next 4 games will be a strong test of this clubs character. If they can tie themselves to the mast and weather the storm that will be these next 2 games they will see a terrible team in Houston and will at least have have a few fresh sets of legs back for there April 20th match with Chivas after the U-20's ends.
    Guest
    Former Toronto FC defender Adrian Serioux made his first appearance on Gol TV this week, along side Lee Godfrey on Toronto FC today.
    Sources within MLSE have told Canadian Soccer News that may not be the only role Serioux plays on Gol TV this year.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Since TSN announced its broadcast team this year would be Luke Wileman and Jason DeVos, questions have lingered as to who would call the games on Gol TV this season.
    DeVos, who is still under contract at CBC and will work the Women's World Cup for them this summer, will not be returning to the MLSE-owned channel.
    Wileman, who has become the play-by-play voice for TSN's MLS broadcasts, will continue to call the limited games on Gol TV this year but this season will be his last.
    And it appears Serioux, who has been a free agent since Houston declined his contract option and he wasn't picked up in the re-entry draft, is now in line for the Gol TV colour commentary role.
    If it goes through - and the MLSE sources say the details have yet to be finalized - it will be interesting to see how the former Red and national team player adopts to his new role. He was never the most outgoing of guys and in fact, he was pretty introverted anytime he was interviewed - but then most players make a habit of trying to say as little as possible in front of reporters.
    But what do you think? Do you like to see former members of the team and natives of the city return to take on broadcasting roles? Or would you rather leave it to the professionals, regardless of their connection to the club?
    Guest

    Julian's team?

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    At training Monday he was likely the world’s best paid ball boy.
    As the rest of the TFC reserves played a spirited 3-on-3 drill de Guzman stood on the sideline of Toronto’s Cherry Beach training pitch. The pitch was the dreaded FieldTurf. Toronto wasn’t about to put its designated player onto the plastic stuff.
    So, he stood there in the cold ready to retrieve any AWOL balls that might venture his way. None did, so he eventually went back to the bus to wait.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Waiting is what every TFC fan has been doing to see how JDG fits into the new system. There is little doubt that he struggled a great deal last year and he has a long way to go to win back the confidence of many of the Reds’ faithful. However, those that know de Guzman’s game (at least what his game was pre TFC) tend to think that TFC has lucked into the perfect DP for Winter’s 4-3-3.
    The system demands a ball winner and a player that can find the open options. Even in his worst moments of 2010, de Guzman was effective at doing just that. The problem last year was completing passes and finding that open man. How much of those issues were players around de Guzman not having a clue? There is your question.
    In 2007 de Guzman was the best player on a mid-table La Liga team. You don’t forget how to play the game. It says here that de Guzman could have a MVP type season under Winter. Since he plays a game that doesn’t generate headlines he won’t be appreciated, but make no mistake there is no player on TFC more important to success in 2011 than de Guzman – not Frei, not DeRo, not a yet to be signed European DP.
    JDG is a DP. It’s time he stepped up and played like one. Everything is in place for him to do so and if he doesn’t then, well, the boo-birds will have been right all along.
    He says he’ll be ready by mid-April. Hopefully that’s true because the quicker TFC finds out what de Guzman can do the better.
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