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    Guest

    Kara Lang prend sa retraite à 24 ans

    By Guest, in Le12eJoueur,

    La canadienne Kara Lang annoncera sa retraite ce mercredi après une carrière de 8 ans au sein de l'équipe nationale.
    Âgée de 24 ans, elle a longtemps été écartée du jeu pour des blessures au genou et avait même du subir 2 opérations pour des ligaments croisés antérieurs déchirés.
    Lang aura joué 92 matchs avec l'équipe nationale (34 buts) en plus d'avoir pris part aux Coupes du Monde de 2003 et de 2007 ainsi que les Jeux Olympiques de Beijing en 2008. L'équipe nationale perd une très bonne joueuse, et ce, à quelques mois du début de la Coupe du Monde 2011.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Elle aura marqué son dernier but contre la Guyane lors de la Coupe Concacaf de 2010.
    Kara Lang fera l'annonce officielle demain après-midi chez elle à Oakville, Ontario.
    Vous pouvez certainement lui souhaiter une bonne et heureuse retraite via twitter
    À lire également : Canadian soccer star Lang to retire
    Guest
    Author’s note: Mario Charpentier is 1st vice-president of the Alberta Soccer Association. He is considered to be the man in charge of soccer in Alberta, following the deposing of ASA president Chris Billings last April.
    Hello again, sir.
    Well, my first attempt at getting your side of this story went unanswered.
    That’s cool. I give everyone a second chance.
    Here’s yours:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    (As before, any answers you offer will be on the record, and will be published on this site. You can always reach me – benknight103 at yahoo.ca)
    1) You’ve been called – on multiple fronts – a “professional volunteer.” Are you, in fact, earning a living from your soccer work?
    2) Why did you feel it was necessary to remove Chris Billings from his elected role as Alberta Soccer Association president?
    3) Why has it been necessary to suspend so many people – and districts – since you became acting ASA president?
    4) Doesn’t the sheer number of suspensions – and the fact that medals were actually withheld from youth players at tournaments in the affected districts – suggest that a new election needs to be called?
    5) What role – if any – did you play in recent changes to the proposed CSA governance model, which would now allow three provincial soccer association presidents to retain their seats on the CSA board?
    6) Is it your ambition, or intention, to hold one of those three seats?
    I hope you understand that this is now a very public discussion, which will continue whether you answer these questions or not.
    Soccer people throughout Alberta – and across Canada – are deeply concerned about the present ASA situation, and its implications for the future of soccer governance in this country.
    I am trying very hard to keep an open mind in this matter, sir. Your prompt and honest response will help things greatly.
    Onward!
    Related:
    Alberta: Bound
    An open letter to Mario Charpentier
    An open letter to Chris Billings
    An open letter to Mike Traficante
    Guest
    "Then they come to the right place"
    Those words, spoken by Aron Winter, as he described the Toronto Football Club’s desire to become the Total Football Club.
    Since Jurgen Klinsmann’s hiring, TFC has spoken (loudly) about their need to define a club philosophy – for now and the future.
    And while many in the media mocked Klinsmann’s words that day – scoffing at how you can’t define a club before you build it - it’s become no secret this winter that Toronto had settled on Total Football as its style of choice.
    So, while this may be a case of putting the cart before the horse (but the writing is on the wall if they’re hiring two guys from Ajax), today we’re going to take a look at what Total Football is and how it’s played.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Tomorrow, in another tactics column, we’ll explore who in Toronto’s current player pool is equipped to play such a style and who is going to struggle.
    First thing to know – total football is like few other styles. It is designed to be a free form formation where any one player can slide in and out of a position and be replaced by another.
    It relies heavily on the concept of every player being able to play multiple positions and puts tremendous emphasis on not just physical fitness but technical ability. As much of it is a counter-attacking style, any team that is lacking on the technical front – or prone to giving away the ball - will be left with big gaps in its shape.
    This is traditionally countered by playing a more zone style of defending - where in the team lays in wait - allowing the other team to attack while the formation is recovered. But, if the ball is lost in the attacking end, a Total Football team will also revert to a man-on-man style, each player applying high pressure to regain possession.
    Players with a high football IQ and strong vision on the pitch are need to succeed at Total Football, as it requires a great deal of improvisation. Players need to see where the opposition is weakest and adjust on the attack. Simultaneously those that aren’t immediately involved in the forward push will fill the holes created - holes where their own defense would be prone to breaking down. Call it preventive medicine.
    The Barcelonas of the world have bastardized the style, traditionally a 4-3-3, in recent years. Their style, sometimes confused with Total Football, relies more on possession and employing 2v1 attacking options.
    – where you’ll often see a defender race forward down the flank, making one-two-passes with the mid, then the striker, before crossing it into the box – is the most common counter tactic you'll see used in an MLS version of Total Football. Given the relatively inexperienced level of play in MLS and the high level of technical skill required to play true Total Football, it’s conceivable to imagine a hybrid of the two played at BMO Field in the years ahead.
    Picture a possession oriented, counter-attacking football style with certain players filling out the fill and float roles.
    Tomorrow we'll explore who on the Toronto Football Club belongs on the Total Football Club.
    Guest

    Transfer Talk: Beckham seeks loan deal

    By Guest, in Euro File,

    David Beckham just won't give up.
    After a harrowing 2010 that saw the Englishman miss out on the World Cup and most of the MLS season due to an Achilles injury suffered while on loan at AC Milan, Beckham is once again looking for a loan deal to a European side in hopes of impressing England manager Fabio Capello.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The newest club to be linked with Golden Balls is Tottenham Hotspur, although Newcastle United have also been reported to be interested in the 35-year-old's services.
    Beckham has apparently asked LA Galaxy for permission to seek a loan, but the Southern California club is not surprisingly hesitant to allow him to go. As with anything else the Spice Boy does, this latest loan desire is making waves in the world football media, but Ives Galarcep explains why Becks needs to get over himself and show loyalty to the club that owns his contract.
    If all else fails, Becks can just pull a Dwayne De Rosario and "train" with a Euro side, permission or not...

    Other transfer and loan talk around Europe on Monday: England

    Brad Guzan was loaned to Championship side Hull City from Aston Villa, and he recorded his first win for the Tigers today.
    Bolton Wanderers are keen on bringing in Arsenal's Carlos Vela on a loan deal. Owen Coyle will look to bring in the Mexican on a similar deal to that of Jack Wilshere last year. Bolton is also linked to FC Utrecht's Michael Silberbauer, although Coyle is less open about his desires to bring in Silberbauer.
    QPR have signed midfielder Tommy Smith from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.

    Italy

    Manchester United have loaned striker Federico Macheda to Sampdoria for the remainder of the season.
    Defender Andrea Rannochia has joined Inter Milan from Genoa. Inter announced on their website that Rannochia signed a five year deal.

    Spain

    Malaga signed Brazilian forward Julio Baptista to a three-and-a-half-year deal. He was previously with AS Roma in Italy.
    Adil Rami has signed for Valencia but will remain at French club Lille until the end of the Ligue 1 season.

    France

    Bordeaux have loaned striker David Bellion to his former club Nice for the remainder of 2010/11.

    Turkey

    Besiktas have signed the Portuguese trio of Simão, Hugo Almeida and Manuel Fernandes. Fernandes is on loan from Valencia, while the other two are now property of Besiktas.

    Guest
    At CSN headquarters, there wasn't much debate about who the 2010 Person of the Year was. Find out who the runaway pick was below the jump:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Carolina Morace
    One year ago at this time people were starting to ask questions. Although no one longed for the return of Even Pellerud's terrible, negative football the simple truth was that the Canadian women were tumbling down the FIFA rankings and looked a long way from being contenders at the World Cup. It was partly to be expected. When Carolina Morace took over the role as head coach of the women's program she told everyone that would listen that she wasn't going to put results ahead of development. Beating up Haiti 7-0 might temporary make you feel good, but it does nothing long-term.
    (And besides, the 7-0 thrashings were starting to become 1-0 nail biters. CONCACAF was catching up, to say nothing of the rest of the world)
    But then something magical started to happen. Starting with the Cyprus Cup last winter and continuing all the way to São Paulo in December the women started to win - and win with a flare and confidence that few Canadian teams, at any level or gender, have ever displayed. Canada wasn't winning because Christine Sinclair was a strong and athletic woman (although she is), they were winning because she's a strong and athletic women with tactical awareness that was surrounded by a group of young Canadian women that played football, rather than an all-star version of high school soccer.
    The women are the senior CONCACAF champions. They are ranked in the top ten of the world (and might bump up a spot or two yet before the World Cup) and they are currently on an undefeated streak that includes two results against Brazil in Brazil. The Americans still cast a large shadow over them in the region, but based on results in 2010 the two programs are going in opposite directions (the USA continues to trot out the same group of increasingly older women and play the same version of athletically charged soccer than gave them success in the 1990s, but with increasingly less success -- not no success, the Americans still have an incredible amount of resources to draw upon, but there is a reason Germany is the clear favourite for 2011 rather than the traditional power Yanks).
    The success of the Canadian women can largely be traced back to one person -- Morace (and those in the CSA that fought for her to be hired. It wasn't as easy a battle as you would hope). When it came time to name the Canadian Soccer News Person of the Year, the debate wasn't very long. In 2010 there was really only one choice. The person who has done the most for the betterment of Canadian soccer in 2010 is Carolina Morace. She's an early favourite to repeat in 2011 too. With a World Cup opener against Germany on the schedule it's all in front of Morace and the women.
    The women dominated the CSN awards in 2010. Although some may view that as us being politically correct, such an attitude is barely worth debating. If anything supporters of the women's program could take issue that Sinclair didn't win the Player of the Year too (although I do maintain that Atiba Hutchinson was the right pick). The women won as many CSN Awards as they did for one simple reason.
    The earned them. And that's especially the case with Morace.
    *Photo from the Canadian Soccer Association
    Guest

    A Winter wonderland

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The first rule of the Aron Winter rumour is that there is no Aron Winter rumour -- that's the official line from TFC, although they did use ellipsis in the e-mail they returned. "We won't be commenting today..."
    This is happening. Credit should go out to the club for keeping it on the down low -- there was no hint of this hire until this morning when the Dutch press picked up on it. Although they were whispering last week that they would be doing something soon. Christmas came and went without Jürgen Klinsmann's promise being kept. Officially. However, it takes time to make an international hire and it's difficult to do things during the Holiday season (and the local media pays less attention) so a first week of January hire should appease all but the most persistent Chicken Littles that every little thing is gonna be alright.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The MLS transfer window is still 12 days away from opening and the draft is 10 days off. Earl Cochrane and Jim Brennan were told back in November to act as if they were primarily responsible for the draft preparation anyway so the club really isn't behind. As Ives Galarcep told CSN last month, the Red Bulls operated in the early part of last off-season without a manager and it didn't hurt their re-building efforts. Toronto fans can be forgiven for being cynical -- the last three re-building plans didn't go so well -- but there is an important factor missing from the Reds' front office now. Hint: it's Scottish.
    With the caveat that this isn't coming directly from the club, the structure I've heard mentioned today is as follows. Winter is being brought in as the Director of Soccer (Mo's old title), but will perform a more exhaustive role than Johnston did over the past three years (think more Alex Ferguson, less Mark McCullers). Paul Mariner will head up the coaching staff and perform a role that's less than a manager but more than an assistant (and he'll be well paid to do so). Ajax youth academy coach Bob de Klerk will be the first assistant and the current staff will be offered reassigned roles with the club (expect Danny Dichio to return to an ambassador and academy role with Nick Dasovic to possibly be put in charge of the reserve side, which will have an increased importance in 2011). Earl Cochrane will likely retain his title of General Manager, but his role will be almost entirely administrative.
    As stated, the above information does not come from the club, but rather from a few sources close to the club. There is a degree of informed speculation involved.
    Clearly this has the potential to be a good hire. It's not a cheap one. Whether or not it works out is next to impossible to know at this point because MLS is simply not predictable in that way. What might be a wonderful idea in another league could be a bust here. However, the inclusion of Mariner seems like a brilliant insurance policy. Getting him to come back in a role that isn't top dog was a coup and it provides Winter with MLS knowledge (from somewhere other than Toronto - i.e. successful MLS knowledge) that it can draw on first hand. That's important and it subtracts from the issue of having a MLS newbie in charge.
    After a season of frustration and anger today's news represents the first bit of hope for Reds fans in a while. Hopefully for them the fifth time is the charm as TFC tries to finally live up to the potential of this market.
    Guest

    TFC going Dutch

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Multiple sources are confirming today that former Dutch international and Ajax assistant coach Aron Winter will be the next manager of TFC.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Paul Mariner will likely join him as an assistant along with Ajax youth academy coach Bob de Klerk.
    There is no word on what will happen to the interim staff.
    More as it develops
    Guest
    For most of us, the first Monday after the New Year means getting back to the routine after a festive holiday season. Whether it's a return to the classroom or the boardroom, the fact remains that the daily grind has returned.
    In European football circles, it means the mid-season transfer window has opened, and with it a mad flurry of player movement is about to begin.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Perhaps better than the actual transfers though are the rumours. Agents, managers, owners, and players themselves tend to use this time of year to float some of the most cockamamie stories in sport just to create buzz and/or leverage, and the first big rumour to make waves may just be the most ridiculous of them all.
    Blackburn Rovers have made a £130,000-per-week offer to Ronaldinho.
    Venky's Ltd., the new owners of Rovers who gained notoriety last month by stunningly sacking manager Sam Allardyce, has apparently not gotten enough of the headlines. They have reached out to 'Dinho's management with the bid, which is part of a two-and-a-half year contract offer to the Brazilian star.
    Ronaldinho is on his way to Brazil to negotiate with a few interested clubs after having received permission to leave his current club AC Milan. He will likely end up with a club in his home country, but any team looking to secure his services in the current window - and that includes Blackburn - will also need to agree to a transfer fee with Milan.
    It's fair to say that Blackburn haven't really got much of a chance, in fact I'd say that LA Galaxy would still harbour more hope of signing the two-time World Player of the Year despite having pretty much bowed out of the race about a month ago.
    Still, it makes for some good discussion.

    Canadian Soccer News will be staying on top of the transfer news and rumours throughout the current window. Look for frequent updates in the coming weeks.
    Guest
    In case you've been splayed on a couch re-hydrating yourself since Saturday and missed it, Iain Hume has officially sealed his transfer to Championship side Preston North End.
    Is this a good move for Hume?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    He's scored four times in 14 appearances for PNE during his three-month stay, and North End chairman Maurice Lindsay seems to like him, telling the club website: "His effervescent qualities and energy have brought something different to our squad." Of course he has plenty of motivation to say such a thing, having just signed the lad.
    My biggest concern is that PNE sit at the bottom of the Championship and I don't like to see Canadian internationals get relegated. It would be better for Iain Hume's career to play in the English second division than to play in the third.
    He had one appearance for Barnsley as a sub before going on loan to PNE in September, and Barnsley is only seven points out of the Championship drop zone itself. If time on the pitch ranks as the most important criterion, the move makes sense. I just hope PNE turn their season around.
    Guest
    Of all the year-end awards that the CSN editors debated over, the Canadian Team of the Year was far and away the quickest decision.
    An award that can go to either club or country, at any level, it rewards the accomplishments of the Canadian team that has done the most in their league, competition or season to further the game here
    This year's winner is...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    CANADIAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM
    It had been a generation since the last time the Canadian Women's National Team won the CONCACAF title and it was a year when the American women did not even participate.
    Not to undermine that accomplishment in 1998, but 2010 was starkly different. The Canadians railed off five straight wins, including two against Mexico, scoring 17 goals and not conceding a single marker along the way to capturing the CONCACAF title and securing a birth in the 2011 World Cup. And despite being placed in the group of death in Germany 2011, it speaks volumes that expectations are higher than they've ever been for the Canadian Women.
    To say this program has turned a corner in the last year would be a gross understatement. Carolina Morace has dragged the women's program out of the dark ages of dump and chase into a fully formed, possession oriented squad. One, that had the nerve to push forward in the final moments of the Four Nations Cup against Brazil - in Brazil - to ensure a win. And one that, in the opinion of the CSN editors, has thrillingly yet to fully show their potential.
    That's why this year's CSN Canadian Team of the Year goes to the Women's National Team
    Guest
    A week ago we selected a goal from each of the major clubs in Canada and asked you to vote on which one you thought was the best.
    The response was overwhelming in favour one and, as a side note, it was our favourite too.
    Here is the CSN Canadian Club Goal of the Year winner...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]


    ROCCO PLACENTINO
    For his left footed volley/thunderbolt against the Austin Aztec. The 30-yard inswinger cross pulls away from Placentino and would have made it difficult enough just to get a touch on, but coupled with how he hits it coolly in stride made this definitive choice for The CSN Canadian Club Goal of the Year
    (Start the video at 0:45)
    Guest

    Happy New Year

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    What we do here is for the fans by the fans and at the end of the day, it's you that gets us up at 2 a.m. to do podcasts, or write for 24 hours straight, or call out some of the most powerful soccer people in this country.
    And whether you rip us, rile us or respect us, Canadian Soccer News thanks you for your continued support.
    2010 was a good year for our team at Canadian Soccer News - I can't wait to show you what we're going to roll out in 2011.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Allez-les-Rouge
    Guest

    MeRo or DeRo?

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    As I reported on MLSsoccer.com today, DeRo was back on the training pitch for Celtic today. With the club and league working with Celtic to get the proper paperwork in order this story has pretty much reached an end unless De Rosario is offered a contract by the Scottish giants.
    At this point he'd better hope that he is because it seems unlikely there are too many MLS clubs -- Toronto included -- all that enamoured with having him back. If he ends his trial with Celtic and they say thanks, but no then he's going to have to put his tail between his legs and beg forgiveness. Although there area great deal of TFC fans that are willing to look the other way with him right now, his golden boy image has taken a hit.
    The name MeRo is getting traction.
    Canadian fans outside of Toronto are generally ambivalent about the situation. They recognize that De Rosario is likely in the wrong (or poorly advised anyway) and that he should have made sure the paperwork was in place before he stepped on the pitch. However, many also view this as an opportunity for him to play at a higher level, which may help erase some of the more frustrating habits he's developed playing in MLS over the years. In turn that will make him a better national team player.
    Guest
    Comme je n'ai droit qu'à 5 photos par article, voici la deuxième partie de ma rétrospective 2010, plus axée sur l'Impact de Montréal.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Simon Gatti, Eduardo Sebrango et moi-même quelques minutes après l'annonce de Don Garber. L'Impact de Montréal dans la MLS. Enfin.

    Rocco Placentino et Ronaldinho s'échangent leur adresses courriel avant le match Impact-AC Milan au stade Olympique.

    L'équipe de l'Impact lors de son dernier match de saison régulière au stade Saputo.

    Match amical entre Canada U17 et l'Académie de l'Impact. Beaucoup de talent sur le terrain.

    Philippe Eullafroy présente la nouvelle structure de développement de l'Impact de Montréal. Celle-ci sera mise en place dès 2011.
    Guest
    Une rétrospective en photos de ma première année en tant que soccerblogueur au Québec.
    Dans la première partie, j'y ai mis quelques photos de mes 30 jours passés à suivre les matchs de la Coupe du Monde dans les différents cafés, restaurants et bars de la ville.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    J'ai passé la Coupe du Monde sur un Bixi. Meilleur moyen de transport de l'été.

    Un partisan italien a vite quitté la Petite Italie après la défaite face aux Slovaques

    Des espagnols célèbret la victoire de l'Espagne en Coupe du Monde sur la rue St-Laurent

    Un des très bons côtés d'aller suivre le match Brésil-Pays-Bas au Bayou Brasil.

    Fair-play entre un néerlandais et un brésilien.
    J'ai également pris quelques vidéos, dont un spectacle de mi-temps de la part de quelques brésiliennes.
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