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    Guest
    The top performance of the year by a Canadian can be a cumulative effort - a season of work - or it can be as simple as an individual play. But it should stand above the rest as a contribution that both individually furthered that player's career or, through their play, raised the standard internationally for Canadian football.
    The winner of the CSN Canadian Performer of 2010 has accomplished both with a year that will become a benchmark of success for many in the year's ahead.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    ATIBA HUTCHINSON
    The Brampton native has had quite a year. Having been regularly linked to English Premiership clubs, making a jump a PSV Eindhoven in early April and then winning the Danish Super Liga Player of the Year (a first for any Canadian) it's hard to remember a year where a Canadian player has done more to raise his, and Canada's profile internationally, through a season of work.
    On the domestic front he won the CSA's Canadian Male Player of the Year - a first in his own career - and he has solidified a reputation among national team fans as a midfielder who is equally strong on the attack as he is at tracking back. At 27, he will certainly be the lynch pin in any run Canada intends to make towards Brazil 2014.
    For all these things, Atiba Hutchinson is this year's CSN Canadian Performer of the Year.
    Still to come
    The winner of the Canadian Club Goal of the Year (Jan. 1)
    The Canadian team of the Year (Jan. 2)
    Canadian Person of the Year (Jan. 3)
    Guest

    Leadership, thy name ain’t DeRo

    By Guest, in Onward Soccer,

    It’s almost certainly not Dwayne de Rosario’s fault (directly) that The Scottish Sun made up a bunch of arse-brained quotes about the Malvern area of Scarborough being a worse gang-infested, bullet-happy den of drug doom than South Central Los Angeles.
    It’s almost certainly not Dwayne de Rosario’s fault (directly) that he wound up getting his shins kicked on a Scottish soccer field without his agent filing the proper paperwork with Toronto FC, Major League Soccer or – apparently – Glasgow Celtic.
    Both incidents seem born of ego and naivety – if not outright ignorance.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    And while I am not one of those reaction-happy fans who think a player’s likeability and morals are more important than his ability to score 15 goals in your average MLS season, there is one position on the TFC squad I no longer wish to see filled by such an obviously self-serving public-relations train wreck:
    Captain.
    It’s becoming clearer by the second that DeRo will not be joining the Green half of Glasgow. He therefore remains one of the very few actual soccer assets on Toronto’s roster. And Earl Cochrane, or Paul Mariner, or Jurgen Klinsmann, or someone else, will have to figure out what to do with him.
    And if soccer, business or sanity reasons don’t allow you to cancel Mister Malvern’s © return plane ticket from Ye Bonnie Wee Highlands, at least toss his armband in the MegaMulcher © before the start of training camp.
    It doesn’t even have to be a demotion. Find a real position for DeRo – and players he can lay the ball off to before he feels he has to hoof yet another outside low-hoper over the enemy crossbar. Ideally, find a guy who can firmly and effectively set him straight when he does that too many bleep-blessed times on the trot.
    That’s a lot to ask, admittedly, from a team whose future is being mapped by a consultant and a company man. (And I like Earl Cochrane a lot, but his exact role needs to be clarified – quickly.)
    The armband is obvious. Deeper decisions about DeRo’s future, though, are going to require some patience and care. The market value of any player – even an outside Golden Boot candidate like DeRo – dries up significantly when the stink of desperation is upon the team trying to unload him. Also, MLS is a squirrelly market that tosses big obstacles in front of rival teams that might actually want to snap DeRo up.
    You could always make him a Designated Player, I suppose, but at least ask around the league and see if there’s even one other team out there that thinks he’s DP material. If there ain’t, Toronto could just end up paying far more money for the same chronic problems.
    How’d we get here? Terrific player, in his hometown, and all this happens. Mo Johnston’s huge-money signings of de Guzman and Mista didn’t help. There are ways, of course, that a good organization can smooth such things, but Toronto FC has yet to prove to anybody they’re a good organization.
    Short of a full-time move to Celtic, I fear there is no easy answer to the current Dwayne de Rosario mess. And that’s a dirty shame, because the last thing this fractured, underwhelming half-roster needs is out-of-control, ill-conceived public posturing from its unquestioned best player.
    From now on, for fans of both DeRo and T.O., the only crime is to be surprised.
    ---
    Problem being, of course, who’s your captain now?
    Many a wise man has been up and down the 2010 TFC roster looking for an armband model. The only consensus heart-and-soul, blood-and-guts, go-get-‘em guy is veteran MLS defender and Team Media Good Guy Dan Gargan.
    Gargan works his tail off out there, and shows all concerned what doing your very best by example looks like. Any serious consideration of Euro vet Julian de Guzman wrecks on the overwhelming consensus that he’s just a bit too quiet, and doesn’t want the extra weight the captain’s burden requires.
    Gargan’s not a glamour guy, but he’s a solid place to start. MLS is still not a glamour league (not that many would suggest the Scottish Premier League is, either.)
    Sooner or later, TFC has to start signing players for 2011. If one of those is a clear, consensus captain, hallelujah!
    Until then, though, it might not be the worst idea to quietly slip the onfield-general reins to a guy who absolutely cares about the crest on the front of his jersey, and can model that for every last soul in the entire organization.
    I don’t think it’s any kind of stretch to say MLS players can relate to Dan Gargan a heckuva lot more easily than they can to Dwayne de Rosario.
    Onward!
    Guest

    No respect

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Christine Sinclair was once again nearly ignored in the discussions to select the Canadian female athlete of the year. Instead, the CP writers went with the feel good choice, figure skater Joannie Rochette.
    Rochette won bronze in Vancouver days after her mother died of a heart attack. It was touching stuff and certainly noteworthy, but having a bronze medallist named the female athlete of the year is beyond insane and speaks of sentimentality of the worst kind. Rochette deserves our respect for keeping her focus during a tough time in her life. She's about the 15th best pick to win the award from an athletic perspective.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    One of those 15 athletes more deserving is Sinclair, who didn't even make the top five in votes. Clara Hughes, Christine Nesbitt, Maelle Ricker and Jennifer Heil all finished ahead. All are wonderful athletes -- I actually consider Hughes to be on a short list of greatest Canadian athletes of all-time -- but few can argue that they are considered to be one of the best 10 players in the world in a sport as widely played as soccer.
    Days before the award was given I was contacted by someone from the CSA. They were clear that they wanted Sinclair to win the award as a soccer player has never been given it. I suggested that they need to push the issue more. Clearly, the remarkable accomplishments of Sinclair are not getting noticed.
    With a World Cup on the horizon there is no excuse for that to continue in 2011.
    Guest

    Where there's smoke...

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Dwayne De Rosario has not trained with Celtic since the initial controversy over his paperwork first surfaced Tuesday -- this despite claims from the DeRo camp that the paperwork was in place prior to his arriving in Scotland.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Earlier this afternoon an official at Toronto FC said that the club and league are still working with Celtic to get an agreement in place to allow him to train with the club. However, that has not yet happened. Once the training agreement is in place this story will likely fade away unless Celtic offers to buy the player.
    With today's news that Celtic has bought Freddie Ljungberg from Chicago one wonders whether they would also be willing to take a flyer on De Rosario. Although the two men play a different type of midfield role, they may view it as redundant to bring in two guys that play in the middle. Celtic may also be sick of DeRo by now. What would have been a nearly unnoticed trial prior to the controversy is certainly going to get attention now. DeRo had best perform.
    We'll update once we've heard more from the club.
    Guest
    This award is designed to recognize an individual who has made the single greatest contribution to the world of football.
    It could be a coach, a player or an administrator - hell, it could even be a blogger - but to win the CSN World Performer of the Year Award, their accomplishment must lift and inspire the next generation of football.
    Last year's winner, author of The Fix, Declan Hill, wrote the damning account of how far football had fallen into the hands of gamblers and his book has been a catalyst for change in UEFA and parts of FIFA.
    We expect that this year's winner will have a similar affect in the years ahead...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    ANDREW JENNINGS
    His Panorama investigation - which aired just days before the World Cup bid announcement - exposed new allegations of bribery, executives allegedly taking kickbacks and the secret agreements FIFA requires every bid country to commit to.
    And when FIFA proceeded to name the massive underdogs, Russia and Qatar, as the future bid cities, over countries such as the USA and England, it was Jennings' report that fueled the fires of dissent and led some of those countries which were short changed to speak openly about a need for bid reform.
    Realistically, for anyone who has followed world football for the past 20 years, Jennings' story only re-affirmed what we've all come to know and have felt helpless about changing. But where his report has had the greatest impact is in the general consciousness. For the first time, casual fans and even non-fans are waking up to the seriousness of the infection at FIFA. People who only tuned in for the party every four years are suddenly taking note of the problem at FIFA and it has emboldened those in the media to start asking hard questions.
    It's led to plenty of denials and dismals on FIFA's front - and will likely seal Sepp Blatter's dismissal at next year's general elections - but much like Declan Hill last year, it will be in the way that this report keeps on a light on FIFA's dealing in the years ahead that will have its greatest effect.
    For that, Andrew Jennings, is this year's CSN World Performer of the Year.
    Guest

    Underwhelmed

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Paul Mariner's all-time record as a manger is 7-6-16. Obviously he was far more successful as an assistant in MLS with New England, but the bottom line is what it is.

    Thirteen results in 29 games. He's been in charge of club for less than a year, most of which was spend in the third tier of English football. Sounds a bit like John Carver.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    If, in fact, Mariner is the guy, then a Toronto fan can be forgiven for feeling a tad bit underwhelmed. It's possible that Mariner could be a great manager. He was a great player. That could be an indicator, but there is very little else to indicate that he's the slam dunk that many are suggesting.

    Preki had a better resume -- a much better resume. Yet we all saw how that turned out. The truth is that outside of a select few guys -- guys that wouldn't know how to spell MLS, let alone be willing to manage in the league -- that you could look at and say with 100 per cent confidence that they could turn things around. Mariner is not one of those guys, no matter how many MLS Cups he lost as an assistant manager.

    Although the timing is interesting, I'm not 100 per cent convinced this is the guy. I asked the club yesterday for comment on the Cochrane as GM story and was told that they had no comment. However, since that story was published I have been contacted by a few people close to the club that are suggesting that TFC isn't as close to making a hire as it appeared yesterday. That's not to say that yesterday's report is wrong, but simply that there is conflicting information being reported (none on record) on the situation.

    The current mess with De Rosario may have changed the playing field too.

    If anyone sees Mariner walking through Pearson International today or tomorrow then maybe this has legs, but until we hear more there isn't much there yet. And maybe that would be OK.
    Guest

    Paul Mariner leaves Plymouth

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    The BBC is reporting today that Paul Mariner has left his head coach post at Plymouth Argyle to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
    Mariner, the former New England Revolution coach, has been linked with a Toronto move dating back to the early Johnston years.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    But the rumour picked up again last week when Soccer By Ives reported that Mariner had once again emerged as a candidate. Sources told Candian Soccer News at that time that Mariner had inquired and met with TFC officials weeks ago but the discussions didn't immediately advance.
    Mariner's sudden departure from Plymouth, coupled with a CSN report yesterday that Toronto FC had made a sudden shift in its front office hunt, certainly suggests he is now on the inside track for a job at Toronto FC.
    Canadian Soccer News will have more on this later today.
    Guest
    In the last post I'm going to make on this mess in a long, long while - the Scottish Evening Times is reporting today that the Dwayne DeRosario trial situation has been resolved 'amicably.'
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Duane Rollins will have more from the TFC side of things later in the day, but for me I'm washing my hands of this whole thing until I hear from DeRosario himself.
    In the meantime, if you're looking for a definitive account of DeRo's time at TFC and the damning account of why he must now go, read Rudi Schuller's piece.
    Guest

    Chasing the story

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    It's been an interesting couple days. Although I've been behind news that's gone mainstream before, the DeRo story is a tad bit more viral than anything I've ever done before. I'm not so cynical as to not admit to feeling a bit of pride at seeing words I wrote re-printed on the BBC and Sky Sports site.
    Of course I've also been criticized -- never by name, mind you -- along with MLSsoccer.com for getting the story wrong out of the gate. Former Toronto Sun writer Steven Sandor went so far as to say that the credibility of the league site (and, by extension, myself) was in question.
    He wrote:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    MLSsoccer got nothing wrong.The quote that is triggering criticism was published in the first article, which was written Monday morning. After waking to the Scottish reports saying that Celtic would be taking a look at DeRo (and having both MLSsoccer.com editors and Ben Rycroft zipping me off e-mails before my breakfast had digested) I made my first outreach to TFC. Things were pretty low key at this point, so a quick e-mail to the club asking for comment was made along with an attempt to get a hold of De Rosario (through his brother). About an hour later I was talking on the phone with Earl Cochrane. The conversation was short and low key. That's when he told me the following:
    This is what people have grabbed onto, in particular when you combine it with the statement that Cochrane made the next day when he admitted that the club and De Rosario's camp had talked about the possibility of him going on trial. Some people have suggested that the two statements are inconsistent.Taken out of context, I understand why they might think that. However, having been involved in the conversation I don't see it in such black and white terms. To me it didn't seem like he had said "Dwayne is never, ever going on trial,"' but rather he was referring to this specific instance. I hung up the phone thinking that I had probably been PR-ed a bit and that it wouldn't surprise me if I was to receive another phone call later in the day saying that the paperwork had gone through and they were now aware of a trial request.
    TFC, like many modern sporting organizations, pretty much never releases information until it is 100 per cent a done deal -- even when you are beating down their door while holding the proof in your hand. That can be frustrating, but you learn to work with it.
    It's actually because of the company's tight lipped tendencies that I believe them when they say that they were blindsided. A company like MLSE, that prides itself on message control (to the point of near obsession), is not going to let this mess slip out -- especially when they have a chance to get a story out ahead of things on the league site (as an aside I DO NOT write for Torontofc.ca, although my articles can appear there. I write for MLSsoccer.com, which is independent of the league -- at an arm's length anyway -- and the team).
    In total I have now written three articles on this. Each has advanced the story. Do I wish I had followed up with Earl on the first article? Maybe, but I'm not sure how I could have anticipated that De Rosario was going to trot out without permission within 12-hours. If I have hindsight, I ask him if there was a chance that things could change between now and the start of camp. I'm sure he would have liked an opportunity to add a caveat.
    You don't really have time for hindsight when you're chasing a story that is happening on two fronts, 5,000 km apart.
    The story has been consistent -- TFC and MLS were not properly informed of DeRo's actions. Once they became aware they had a choice -- go after the player and Celtic for the breach (what would that accomplish), or try and make the best of a difficult situation. They chose the latter. I can't say that I blame them.
    I also can't say I regret anything about the way I have reported this. I do, however, wish the De Rosario camp had returned one of my five attempts to get a hold of them.
    There is still time...
    Guest
    As the European calendar slows over Christmas, few Canadians are making news on the pitch. Off of it however, Dwayne De Rosario has created a shitstorm of such epic proportions that he's probably done more to enhance TFC's profile among average Toronto-area sports fans than the club would by actually winning the MLS Cup.
    Long Balls was never associated closely with phrases such as "strong analytical skills" and "detail oriented" while growing up, so despite spending the afternoon reading numerous reports about De Rosario's adventures, we remain unsure whether he is training with Celtic, whether he's on some kind of trial with Celtic, or whether he's just loitering around their training ground looking for photo ops with Freddie Ljungberg and chatting with Sun reporters desperate for stories over the Christmas holidays.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Whatever it is Dwayne De Rosario is doing in Glasgow, it's a small shame that it overshadows yet another goal on Wednesday afternoon by Canada's ageless (well, actually he's 37) Tomasz Radzinski for Lierse in the Belgium top flight. That's 5 goals in 19 appearances this season.
    On the subject of Canadian footballers abroad in 2011, here are the questions I'm interested in getting answers to.
    What will happen with DeRo at Celtic? Is he good enough - both mentally and technically - to enjoy success in Scotland?
    When will Simeon Jackson score again? (Last goal was October 23.) And when he does will he be able to keep it up and earn a regular spot in the first team at Norwich?
    Will Tomasz Radzinski keep scoring in Belgium? And if he does will he be called to represent Canada at the Gold Cup or against Greece in February?
    Will David Hoilett get more playing time under the new coach-slash-regime at Blackburn?
    Can Jonathan de Guzman keep up his great start to the season with Mallorca in Spain?
    Three Canadian national team regulars play on the top three teams in Bundesliga 2: Adam Straith, Rob Friend, Marcel de Jong. How many of them will win promotion to the Bundesliga and how many of them will get regular playing time there if they do?
    Will Josh Simpson earn a transfer to a "big" club in Turkey like Fenerbahce? He's among the Süper Lig scoring leaders while his club Manisaspor occupies 12th spot.
    Can Kevin McKenna bounce back from injury and get regular playing time again with Koln in the Bundesliga? (He's come on as a sub in their last two matches.)
    Will Serb league regular Milan Borjan become a Canada regular in goal?
    Will goalkeeper Haidar Al-Shaibani break his string of 19 subs bench appearances for Nimes in Ligue Deux and finally play some minutes?
    Can striker Iain Hume maintain the form he's shown with Preston North End in the Championship? Will his loan be extended in the January transfer window or will he return to Barnsley?
    Will Atiba Hutchinson get minutes in his natural central midfield position with PSV Eindhoven, or is he slowly becoming a rightback? (A position Canada needs help at.)
    Will Isidro Sanchez finally break through with Puebla in the Mexican Primera League? And by "break through," I mean sit on the subs bench instead of being left off the team sheet entirely as he has been since September 19.
    My beating-a-dead-horse routine with Sanchez aside, are there any Canadians playing in Mexico or Central/South America who will make us notice them in 2011? This excellent list on the Voyageurs' board shows a handful of Canada-eligible players on youth/reserve teams throughout South America.
    Thanks to everyone who's read Long Balls so far this year. My apologies for being all over the map in terms of which players I'm writing about. It's been a work in progress as I try to make this column informative and at least mildly humorous. All the best in 2011~
    Photo credit: Jean Farrugia
    Guest

    It's time for DeRo to go

    By Guest, in Euro File,

    I'm a huge fan of Dwayne De Rosario.
    Since he emerged on the national team scene in the 1997 FIFA U20 World Cup in Malaysia, I've followed his career with interest. DeRo's talent was obvious to anyone who had watched him play for more than five minutes. A great dribbler of the ball with a canon for a shot and a hunger for goal, he was an extremely rare commodity amongst Canadian soccer players.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    And he was a local boy.
    He played briefly for the hometown side of note, back when that side of note was the Toronto Lynx. He only lasted around half a season with the Lynx, before he was snapped up by a German 2nd division side as a 19-year-old.
    Things didn't work out so well, and he eventually came back to the USL, this time with the Richmond Kickers. It was there that he first displayed his ability to dominate the North American game, and after a breakout season in Virginia, he moved up to MLS with the San Jose Earthquakes.
    It was De Rosario's star turn in Northern Cailfornia that really turned me into a fan of MLS. I had casually followed the league since its inception in 1996 (I can clearly remember Eddie Pope's extra time header in a torrential downpour to win the first MLS Cup), but it wasn't until I had a local hero to latch on to before my interest in the league became a vested one.
    Dwayne De Rosario was that local hero.
    Fast forward a few years, and TFC storms into town. The raucous crowds and fantastic feeling of supporting live, domestic top-tier football were intoxicating, but the local connection was lacking. This despite 2007's Toronto FC being far more Canadian in representation than they have been in any year since.
    What was lacking was a local star.
    Sure, Jimmy Brennan became beloved as the hometown captain of the side, but - God bless him - he was a journeyman midfielder-turned-fullback-turned-centre back who, by the time he made him return to the GTA after many arduous years in the second tier of England (with a brief cup of coffee in the EPL), was much more heart than ability.
    So when news of DeRo finally fulfilling his destiny and coming home to star for TFC hit cyberspace, I was over the moon. I spent the day frantically keeping up with the message board chatter, madly texting everyone I knew with the good news (whether they cared or not).
    De Rosario was going to lead TFC to new heights.
    On the field, he did not disappoint. DeRo experienced a bit of a career rejuvenation with him hometown side, instantly becoming the attacking catalyst that TFC had so sorely lacked. There were questions about him possibly being on the decline after a couple of sublime championship years in Houston, but DeRo put those questions to rest with a 2009 season that not only set the bar for the young club in terms of goals scored, but also granted the Reds their first bit of silverware on the back of one of the most stunning individual performances in the history of Canadian club soccer.
    Yet, throughout such a triumphant (personal) inaugural season, there were rumblings of discontent. Whispers of De Rosario being unhappy with his contract - one which he had signed just months before the season began - were making the rounds.
    It seemed so ridiculous at the time. DeRo was living at home, making the most money he had ever made in his career, and also experiencing many more opportunities for extra income than he would have anywhere else in the world.
    How could he not be happy?
    Julian de Guzman's arrival at the club toward the end of 2009 as the club's first designated player seemed to be the catalyst for DeRo's financial displeasure, although the man himself was almost alarmingly quiet on the situation.
    That is, until he was a guest on The Grill Room with Gareth Wheeler.


    The offseason leading into 2010 was filled with more of what was sadly becoming usual turmoil for TFC. A new coach coming in, players heading out, and supporters growing increasingly restless. Throughout those winter months, what were once whispers about DeRo's monetary discontent had grown into increasingly loud chatter.
    When 2010 started, the issue seemed to die down. TFC under Preki came out of the gates with a stumble, but then found their stride, all the while looking to their new captain - Dwayne De Rosario - to lead them.
    And lead them he did, with goal after goal in the early going. TFC was reaching rarefied heights in MLS, with a lot of that due to the supreme scoring prowess of number 14.
    Life was good for TFC, with the team cruising along in the league, and coasting through the Nutrilite Canadian Championship without giving up so much as a single goal.
    Then the goals dried up for DeRo, and (is is the case), for the team as well. Players got antsy, the fans started grumbling, and yet another TFC season seemed headed for disaster.
    DeRo went a long stretch without a goal, and the team suffered. Some critics pointed to his playing style as an obstacle for team success, that being that DeRo's head down-balls to the wall play disrupted any semblance of team strategy, forcing play to go through him. Thus, if DeRo stopping scoring, no one else on the team would.
    After another forgettable summer, the fall months brought about a bit of a resurgence in DeRo and TFC, and the team had a faint glimmer of hope of still reaching the playoffs. They had to be pretty damned perfect down the stretch for any kind of shot, but the possibility was there.
    And TFC had a new DP to help them along, the $900,000 rent-a-striker known as Mista. Surely things were once again looking up. The Spaniard's arrival pushed De Rosario down to third on TFC's wage chart, with DeRo's buddy JDG heading up the list.
    DeRo seemed to have renewed sense of vigour about his game, and the goals started pouring in again. Mista, on the other hand, struggled to get into form, arriving in town out of shape and clearly rusty.
    It wasn't hard to connect the two things together. Was DeRo's late season run of form an attempt by the captain to drag his team into the playoffs, much like he did on that fateful night in Montreal when Toronto won the Voyageurs Cup for the first time? Or was it more personal than that, with DeRo looking at the ineffective Mista and trying to show his bosses that he should be making that kind of dosh?
    As long as the result kept coming, who cared, right?
    Well, the results dried up, and it became painfully obvious that DeRo was not going to will his side into the post-season. But he would keep scoring, and in a crucial game against his old club San Jose, De Rosario scored a cracker of a goal that brought TFC back into a match in which they were being schooled.
    The BMO Field crowd went crazy, sensing a faint glimmer of hope of a comeback and perhaps a miracle run that would finally see the Reds into the playoffs.
    The implications of that goal were huge for the team, and everyone was so focused on the overall picture that they nearly missed it.

    De Rosario, whilst celebrating an emotion-turning strike that gave his side one final longshot at turning the season around, pantomimed writing a cheque. He did this while facing the MLSE private box at the stadium, ostensibly to make sure his bosses noticed.
    It was only fitting, then, that DeRo's former understudy, 27-year-old Chris Wondolowski, immediately marched down the field and put a dagger into TFC's season, while at the same time all-but-assuring San Jose's return to the playoffs as a post-expansion side.
    And so it was, TFC wouldn't be advancing to the post-season, and DeRo had made his long-simmering displeasure with his contract known in a very public manner.
    That brings us to this week, where it seems that DeRo had arranged a trial at Celtic without fulfilling the requirements asked of him to do so. Whether it is his agent's doing or his own, the fact remains that this current saga in the latest in what has become a disturbing trend for the captain.
    Once again, supporters are talking about De Rosario and his growing discontent, at a time when they should be gearing up for the coming pre-season.
    Part of that is on the TFC management, of course, who created an environment in which failure has become the norm, and the few successes are tainted with selfish outbursts from players in leadership roles.
    In this writer's opinion, DeRo has flagrantly disrespected the team in his latest quest to "train" with the Glasgow giants. Sure, some could say the disrespect has been a two-way street, especially if you believe the stories about a former TFC GM's broken promises (see the Grill Room segment for more on that), but for a team that has publicly stated that it is looking for a clean break from the stench of the past four years, such disrespect from DeRo - from the captain - cannot be overlooked.
    If the supporters can be so divided on the subject - and one visit to the forums will leave no doubt about that - then imagine the effect such constant distractions must have in the locker room.
    It is with much sadness, then, that I humbly submit that this failed marriage between the star player and his hometown team be put to an to end.
    It's such a shame, though. This could have been something very special.
    Guest

    TFC shifts GM course

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    Canadian Soccer News has learned that up until last week, Toronto FC's search for a General Manager wasn't going to fall very far from the tree.
    Two sources, one a FIFA player agent with ties to Toronto FC and the other a respected member of the Toronto soccer community, confirmed to CSN that the next GM for Toronto FC had been slated to be the current Interim General Manager Earl Cochrane.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    But now, the FIFA player agent says, that has changed in the last 24 hours.
    The player agent indicated that he didn't think the Dwayne DeRosario situation was the only influencing factor in the shift in course, but suspected that it was a reason they were now taking a second look.
    "They had someone express interest in taking a larger role just after Christmas and that is who they are currently negotiating with. Cochrane is still the first choice but they're hearing out the new candidate based on his experience and salary expectations."
    The other source told CSN that prior to the latest candidate appearing, Cochrane's role as GM was going to be defined as more administrative - a president of sorts - and that the day-to-day operations and management of first team resources would be controlled by incoming coach Paul Mariner. Mariner is the current skipper of England's Plymouth Argyle and former assistant manager of the New England Revolution.
    The agent, who declined to name the coach, stated that the choice to go with Cochrane was a financial one and that it was designed to free up more funds to be spent on the next manager of TFC.
    Both stated that an announcement of both GM and coach is expected by mid-January at the latest and that they still thought Cochrane, despite the new suitor, would be the final choice.
    CSN will continue to follow this story and will update as information becomes available.
    Guest

    DeRo links edition

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    Since everyone on the planet has an opinion on what's going on with Dwayne DeRosario this morning and it can be difficult to keep up with the tidal wave of information, we thought we'd compile a list of everything that's being said today.
    Later today, we'll have our own analysis on DeRosario's motives and where TFC goes from here, but for now have a look at what's being said around the world about DeRo, Celtic and Toronto FC.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Toronto FC working with Celtic
    MLSsoccer.com
    Celtic told to secure proper trial agreement
    ESPN
    MLS and Toronto FC halt DeRo trial
    STV
    Toronto FC will help Celtic acquire trial agreement
    Sky Sports
    DeRosario not on trial says English agent
    Scottish Sun
    DeRosario only training says English agent
    Toronto Star
    Ljunberg seeking big pay day
    Evening Times
    Guest
    Desperate times call for desperate arguments. And for Chelsea supporters times are indeed increasingly desperate.
    Chelsea was abhorrent against Arsenal on Monday. Didier Drogba was a non-factor. He is also 32 years old and has suffered a broken arm and Malaria this year. If he were a thoroughbred the Humane Society would have stepped in months ago to prevent his owners from racing him. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti spent most of the match scrunched into his trenchcoat scowling with enough fierceness to make the last tortured games of Felipe Scolari's Chelsea tenure look like a cocaine-fuelled touchline party.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Clinging desperately to fourth spot now appears to be Chelsea's best bet, while finding savings grace in the Champions League. And to be fair, landing the big Euro Cup is probably the main reason Roman Abramovich spent so long pursuing Ancelotti in the first place. I've always been suspicious of the solitary Serie A title the Italian brought with him to London after eight seasons with Milan and wondered if he wasn't built more for cup competitions than for a long grinding league season.
    When Milan won the Champions League in 2003 they finished third in Serie A, 11 points off the pace. When Milan almost won the Champions League in 2005 - as in, if they were leading Liverpool 3-0 at halftime in 100 different games in 100 parallel universes they would have gone on to win in 99 of them - they finished in second spot, seven points off the pace. And that's with club officials secretly courting "favourable" refs for their matches. But the most glaring discrepancy comes in 2007, when Milan won the Champions League trophy convincingly despite finishing 36 points back from Inter in fourth place.
    Does the fact that Carlo Ancelotti won Champions League trophies several seasons ago with a different team in a different country while simultaneously stinking it up on the domestic front make a strong case to conclude he can do it this year with Chelsea? Not really, but this is exactly the kind of straw sports fans should cling to.
    If Chelsea can't win the Premier League than I hope Manchester City does. But I suppose the gag reflex inevitably triggered by Man United or Arsenal winning the Best League in the World That Doesn't Feature the 22 Players in the Starting Elevens of Real Madrid and Barcelona would be happily stifled if Chelsea win the Champions League.
    Of course, based on Monday's performance I'm barely expecting Chelsea to get past FC Copenhagen. If they don't I plan on disappearing from the Internet forever.
    Guest

    East side represent

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    This is too easy, but go read this.
    Yes, Dwayne De Rosario just compared Scarborough to South Central L.A. Actually, scratch that. He said Scarborough was worse than that infamous neighbourhood.
    So much for a post career job with the Toronto tourist board.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Our very own Ben Rycroft said that it was the perfect way to end a bizarre day.
    However, for fun, let's objectively look at DeRo's claim. Is Scarborough, and specifically the part (Malvern) of Scarborough De Rosario grew up in, worse than South Central L.A.
    We'll start by touring the respective hoods via Streetview. First Malvern. Then South Central.
    Murder rates are a good gage. According to this Time magazine article there were 331 gang related homicides in L.A. last year. Not all would be in South Central, of course, but it is recognized as the central point of gang activity.
    There were 59 murders in all of Toronto this year. According to this map, one was in Malvern.
    What about other violent crime? I can't find stats specific to neighbourhoods, but Toronto has a robbery rate of 200.7 robberies per 100,000 people. L.A.'s rate is 348.5.
    Disturbingly Malvern is home to several Gorillas and a few polar bears. The Toronto Zoo is located there.
    I'm not about to come right out and say that DeRo may have been exaggerating when he talked to The Sun. I'll let you the reader be the judge of that.
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