Recently by Jason de Vos
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Soccer
Change nearly here for CSA
Over the last few years, members of the Canadian soccer community have become increasingly disillusioned with the state of the game in Canada. They have voiced their concerns, through this forum and many others, that our game has been hijacked.
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Is winning really developing players?
The world of soccer is continuously changing; news now regularly breaks on Twitter, and rarely does a day pass where a link to an interesting article fails to land in your inbox.
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Player poaching - the underlying message
I had a conversation recently with a parent who had decided to take their child to play for another club. I asked the parent if they would be willing to give me an explanation, and if there was a reason behind their decision to switch clubs.
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Soccer
Poor defending costly for Whitecaps
It was the end of an era for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, as they played their final game at Empire Field before they move to their new home at the renovated BC Place next week.
- Soccer 'Fun' shouldn't be considered foul language in Canadian soccer There are those who suggest that there is already too much 'fun' in Canadian soccer; that there is a recreational mentality about the game, and that our player development system is geared more towards having 'fun' than developing the full potential of the players in the system.I would counter that argument by stating that the concepts of 'fun' and 'development' are not mutually exclusive - they should exist together in a successful player development system
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Soccer
Watching Canada play a unique experience
It wasn't the blowout that many people expected or hoped for, but in the end Canada went home with a comfortable 4-1 victory over St. Lucia at BMO Field on Friday night, as they kicked off their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. For me, the experience was unique.
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Soccer
Toronto FC still needs time
Toronto FC has been very active in the transfer market
recently, bringing in players and shipping them out in equal measure. The
question is are they any better for it?
- Soccer Parental behaviour has to change Over the last few months, I have watched more youth soccer games than at any other time in my life. I have seen thousands of players, of varying abilities, following their passion and pursuing their dream of mastering the beautiful game. It has been nothing short of inspiring.
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Can Japan get the better of the United States?
With the FIFA Women's World Cup coming to a close, it is time to look ahead to Sunday's final between the United States and Japan.
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Americans just never give up
If it is possible to dislike and admire a characteristic at the same
time, that is how I feel about the Americans' confidence. Their
cockiness and swagger, best exhibited by their goalkeeper Solo, can at
times be very off-putting. There is a fine line between confidence and
arrogance, and at times it can disappear altogether when it comes to the
Americans.
But that is also something I admire about them.
Both their male and female players go into games determined to prove
that they are the best in the world, even if they are up against
superior opposition. That confidence is infectious, and it has seen them
pull off some amazing results over the years, including Sunday's
comeback against Brazil.
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Fixing Canadian soccer - a call to action
In the wake of Canada's elimination from the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, there will be plenty of people searching for a scapegoat to blame.
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Still questions to answer for the Americans
Coming into the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, there were serious question
marks surrounding the United States, the number one ranked team in the
world.
Failure to reach the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup meant the Americans
needed to playoff against Italy, the fifth place team from Europe, in
order to book their passage to Germany. The Americans were less than
convincing in that series, only managing to get past the Italians by a
two-game aggregate score of 2-0.
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Early thoughts on the Women's World Cup
Given that every team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup has now played
one game each, I thought it would be a good time for some initial
thoughts on the tournament so far.
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Defensive lapses costly for Canada
The game finished 2-1 for the Germans, which is a credible result for
Canada. It could easily have been more given the offensive prowess of
the host nation. Of concern to Canadian coach Carolina Morace will be the ease with which the German goals were conceded.
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Soccer
Gold Cup memories still fresh
February 20, 2000. In a bus outside Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, a group of men looked at each other in disbelief.
- Soccer Coaching changes can shift Canadian mentality Last week, at the Canadian Soccer Association's annual general meeting, the CSA's manager of long-term player development, Sylvie Beliveau, unveiled the second volume of the CSA's LTPD document.
- Soccer CSA moving in the right direction The Canadian Soccer Association held its annual general meeting this weekend at the Chateau Vaudreuil in Dorion, Quebec. The Quebec Soccer Federation is celebrating its centenary this year, a significant milestone for the game in the province. While the setting of the meeting was spectacular, the AGM itself had more twists than an Alfred Hitchcock thriller.
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Soccer
Elections, change on agenda at CSA's annual meeting
The Canadian Soccer Association is holding its annual general meeting this weekend in Montreal. There are some important topics on the agenda for the AGM, not least of which are the elections for four of the seven Executive Committee members.
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Soccer
Disappointment for Real Salt Lake
Heading into Wednesday night's CONCACAF Champions League Final second-leg match against Mexican champions Monterrey, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer were riding a 37-game unbeaten streak on home soil.
- Soccer A public debate for the CSA Board Last week, Canadians were able to hear the thoughts and ideas of the candidates vying to be the next Prime Minister of our country. As is often the case in these debates, there were points scored and lost on all sides - but at least Canadians got the opportunity to hear it straight from the candidates' mouths.
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Soccer
5 thoughts on Toronto FC
Some observations on Toronto FC now that they've played four games...
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Soccer
De Rosario trade good value for both teams
Toronto FC traded team captain Dwayne DeRosario to the New York Red Bulls on Friday for Tony Tchani, Danleigh Borman and a first round pick in the 2012 SuperDraft. My first reaction? This could be a decent trade for both clubs.
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Soccer
MLS expansion heralds new era for Canadian soccer
Last Saturday, over 22,000 fans packed into Vancouver's Empire Field to watch the Whitecaps, Major League Soccer's latest expansion team, take its first steps in top-flight soccer.
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Soccer
2011 MLS Western Conference preview
When it comes to Major League Soccer, over the last few years it is fair to say that the West is the best.
- Soccer The benefits of no scores, no standings Three years ago, the Canadian Soccer Association introduced "Wellness to World Cup", its long-term player development (LTPD) document. It is a warts-and-all examination of the state of the game in Canada, and casts a critical eye over the structure of Canadian soccer.
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Soccer
MLS playoff change rewards mediocrity
Major League Soccer announced its new playoff format last week, and I have to admit, I'm not that impressed.
Increasing the playoff field to include 10 of the league's 18 teams means that clubs will only have to be average to earn a post-season berth. Rewarding mediocrity is a phrase that springs to mind, and I wouldn't be the first commentator to suggest that this is exactly what the new playoff format does.
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Soccer
Canadian women's team: Dollars and sense
The Canadian women`s team is currently locked in a dispute with the Canadian Soccer Association over compensation. Add to that a threat to boycott the upcoming Cyprus Cup tournament in early March if the CSA does not appease head coach Carolina Morace, and it's fair to say that things are far from rosy right now. While the two issues will be inextricably linked, I am told that they are separate grievances. Until Morace speaks out about what her differences are with the CSA, it would be speculative, at best, to comment on who carries the lion's share of the blame in that dispute. The compensation issue, however, is another matter.
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Soccer
A historic day for Canadian soccer
Today, at a special general meeting held in Ottawa, the delegates of the Canadian Soccer Association voted in favour of governance reform that will bring the CSA out of the dark ages and into the light.The 2012 compromise framework, explained here, was approved unanimously by the delegates. There was an important amendment made to the framework, which will eliminate ALL provincial board members, including presidents, from sitting on the CSA board by 2015.
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Soccer
Kara Lang speaks out on CSA reform
Former Canadian women's team star Kara Lang was in attendance for Saturday's Canadian Soccer Association's Special General Meeting in Ottawa, where the membership of the CSA voted on governance renewal. Lang attended the meeting with CBC Sports commentator Jason de Vos, a former captain of the Canadian men's team.
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Soccer
Q&A: Canadian soccer governance renewal
With less than a week to go until the Canadian Soccer Association's Special General Meeting, where the membership of the CSA will vote on governance renewal, I thought I would take the opportunity to answer a few of the questions that have recently come my way.
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Soccer
Change on the horizon for Canadian soccer
The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is holding a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Feb. 5 in Ottawa. The purpose of the SGM is to vote on governance renewal.
It is, in my opinion, the most important vote in the modern history of the CSA.
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Soccer
U.S. soccer progresses, while Canada lags behind
Last week I attended the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention in Baltimore. It is the first time I have been able to attend the convention, and it was quite the experience.
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Soccer
The magic of the FA Cup
It is the most magical cup competition in the world. England's Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly referred to as the F.A. Cup, is the oldest football cup competition in the world. This weekend sees the start of the third round, where the big boys from the Premier League come into play.
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Soccer
De Rosario: It's all about market value
Up until a few days ago, my blog for this week was going to be all about 2011 - looking forward to the New Year with a wish list for Canadian soccer.
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Soccer
2011 could outshine 2010 for Canadian women
Although 2010 was a banner year for the Canadian women's national team program, 2011 could be even better.
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Soccer
Hutchinson, Matheson were Canada's best in 2010
The Canadian Soccer Association announced its finalists for the CSA player of the year awards this week, so I thought I'd weigh in with my two cents on who should pick up the hardware.
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Soccer
Whitecaps take shape while TFC ship out
The Vancouver Whitecaps dipped their toes into the waters of Major League Soccer on Wednesday when they took part in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft.
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Soccer
MLS Cup offers familiar faces for TFC fans
When the MLS Cup final kicks off on Sunday evening, Toronto FC fans will see a few familiar faces on the field.
Marvell Wynne, Conor Casey and Jeff Cunningham all used to ply their trade on the turf of BMO Field as members of Toronto FC. On Sunday, they will be playing for the biggest prize in Major League Soccer as members of the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas, respectively.
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Soccer
Bunbury decision no surprise
"How can you blame Bunbury for choosing to play for the U.S.? Canada is never going to get to the World Cup."
"At least the kid has some ambition, wanting to play for a winner, rather than settling for a guaranteed place on a team that has no chance of qualifying."
There, I beat you to it.
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Soccer
Canada's women playing inspired soccer
Congratulations, ladies.
Canada's Women's World Cup team qualified for next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup on Friday with a 4-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament. It will be Canada's fifth straight appearance at the World Cup, and it is thoroughly deserved.
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Soccer
Character vital to future of Canadian soccer
The past week was an interesting one in Canadian soccer, and I spent the best part of my two-hour drive home late Friday pondering the significance of the events that transpired over the last seven days.
Martin Nash, former Canadian national team player, called time on his playing career and moved into a coaching role with the Vancouver Whitecaps. "Nashy" was a fantastic player whom I had the pleasure of having as a teammate on the national team. He was one of the most underrated passers of the ball in Canada, and I always felt he could have played at a very high level in Europe if he had only had a little slice of good luck.
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Soccer
Canadian player quota in MLS set to change
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber was in Toronto this week and took the opportunity to have lunch with assorted members of the media. I was fortunate enough to be one of the invitees, and I found the question and answer session to be an informative one.
I have met the commissioner briefly before, but this was my first opportunity to directly question him on all things MLS-related. Garber is an intelligent, articulate man who speaks with passion about the growth of soccer in the United States and Canada, and I left the session with an increased confidence in his ability to lead MLS into the years ahead.
- Soccer Whitecaps, Impact push on in the playoffs Both the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Montreal Impact are through to the semifinals of the USSF Division 2 playoffs, which begin play on Thursday. The Whitecaps are due to face the Puerto Rico Islanders away from home, while the Impact have a date with the Carolina Railhawks at Stade Saputo in Montreal. The second game in each series is due to take place on Oct. 17. Both Canadian teams are riding the wave of momentum, which is always a good sign once a playoff campaign gets under way.
- Soccer Whitecaps and Timbers set to continue rivalry The Vancouver Whitecaps enter their final season of Division 2 soccer hoping to go out with a bang - by winning another championship. The Whitecaps have twice finished on top of the playoff pile in recent memory, lifting the USL First Division trophy in 2006 and 2008. Last season they made it to the final, only to lose to their Canadian rivals, the Montreal Impact. This year's post-season provides an opportunity to add to their trophy cabinet before making the step up to Major League Soccer next season.
- Soccer De Rosario's outburst ill-advised Dwayne De Rosario's goal celebration on Saturday, a mock signature on a cheque, was a rare public display of petulance. De Rosario clearly feels that his value to Toronto FC is not being compensated sufficiently - and he certainly has a case.
- Soccer Red hot Gerba firing on all cylinders When Ali Gerba arrived at Toronto FC in the summer of 2009, he was all set to be the answer to the club's goal scoring woes. After all, Gerba has netted 15 goals in 29 games for the Canadian national team - a better strike rate than any other men's player in recent memory.
- Soccer New beginning for Toronto FC I was once told by a season ticket holder at Ipswich Town that the reason he supported Ipswich is because the club's values reflected his own values. Ipswich is a family-oriented club that has a reputation for nurturing and developing players from their academy through to their first team.
- Soccer Post-match post-mortem from a defender's P.O.V. The day after a match is always the time for a post-mortem; you grab a cup of tea, get together with the coaching staff and watch the game over again, looking for any mistakes that need to be corrected for the next time you take the field.
- Soccer Busy month for Canadian soccer September marks a busy month for Canadian soccer.
- Soccer TFC's latest signing signals new Canadian era Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 is a day that Doneil Henry will never forget. If you are a supporter of Canadian soccer, neither should you. For Henry, it signalled the beginning of his professional soccer career with Toronto FC, when he became the club's first academy player to sign a professional contract.
- Soccer Words of wisdom for Canadian soccer One of my favourite John Wooden quotes is: "Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." Supporters of Canadian soccer would be wise to heed those words of wisdom.
- Soccer Sound advice still rings true At the age of 19, I was given some very sound advice. I was under contract to the Montreal Impact at the time, and during the off-season, I spent six months training with Charlton Athletic in England.
- Soccer Are contracts worthless in soccer? The concept of honouring a contract in football seems to be a thing of the past. Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor claimed this week that, despite only joining the team at the start of last season, he could soon be off to join another club.
- Soccer Time to speak up about state of Canadian soccer I have received numerous requests recently to wade into the murky waters of the ongoing power struggle at the Alberta Soccer Association (ASA). For those of you who are unaware of what has been going on in Alberta, there are two rival Boards vying for control of the ASA.
- Soccer Toronto FC: Mid-season review As we reach the mid-season point in Major League Soccer, it is time to take an objective look back over the first 15 games and assess how Toronto FC has done in all departments thus far.
- Spain finally finds its groove Heading into the World Cup in South Africa, Spain was heralded as legitimate title contenders.
- Argentina powerless against German tactics Germany dismantled Argentina and cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory Saturday, securing a semi-final matchup with Spain in the process. It was as comfortable a victory as Germany will ever have against the South Americans, and while the players will get all the plaudits, their coach deserves a fair bit of praise as well.
- The myth of Cristiano Ronaldo The main problem for Portugal was that such a defensive mindset against Spain minimized the impact of their best player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid star has rarely looked like re-creating his club form for his country at the World Cup, and it is no wonder given the tactics they employed.
- Uruguay, Ghana book quarter-final date The first two quarterfinalists were decided Saturday, as Uruguay and Ghana booked their places in the final eight. Uruguay got the better of South Korea by a score of 2-1, while Ghana needed extra time to best the United States by the same margin.
- Bradley brings best out of U.S. Day 13 of the World Cup is in the books, and the round of 16 is starting to take shape. On Tuesday Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina and South Korea confirmed their places in the knockout phase of the tournament. On Wednesday, we added the United States, England, Germany and Ghana to the mix. The United States finished first in Group C, and in a sense, I am not surprised. I had predicted England to top the group ahead of the Americans, but our neighbours to the south fully deserve the top seed based on what I saw over the three group games.
- Players' antics tarnishing the beautiful game I have been appalled by the dishonesty of some of the players on show at the World Cup. I say some, because not all of the players are engaging in dubious behaviour. The majority of players in South Africa are playing within the rules of the game, and doing so with professionalism and integrity.The players I am referring to are the ones who are feigning injury, diving or intentionally using their hands to gain an advantage. Some call it gamesmanship, others call it bending the rules. I call it cheating.
- One in, one out, one controversy after Day 9 Day 9 at the World Cup delivered plenty of excitement, as one team clinched a place in the knockout stage, and another confirmed its ticket home. The Netherlands became the first country to secure a berth in the round of 16, as its 1-0 victory over Japan, coupled with Denmark's 2-1 win over Cameroon, saw the Dutch sitting pretty at the top of the Group E standings with six points from two games.
- Domenech not alone in French blame game France put in possibly the least inspired performance of the World Cup in their 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday, and they have no one to blame but themselves.
- England should consider 4-2-3-1 Brazilian coach Dunga came under criticism from the press yesterday following his team's 2-1 victory over North Korea. Apparently, winning is not sufficient for the Brazilian media - it has to be done in style, as well.
- Youthful Bavarian Bravado On day three of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we finally saw a game and a performance that was worthy of the hype.
- The good and bad of Group A The first day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is over and the tournament is under way, much to the delight of football fans across Canada. Hosts South Africa scored the first goal of the tournament, a wonderful strike from the left foot of Siphiwe Tshabalala. They had chances to extend that lead, and even after Rafael Marquez equalized for Mexico, the Bafana Bafana could have sealed a memorable victory through a 90th minute Katlego Mphela breakaway.
- Ayew gets his opportunity With a little over a week to go until the World Cup, the 32 teams involved in the tournament have finalized their 23-man rosters. Some players have missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime because they have been deemed surplus to requirements, while others have missed out through injury.
- Soccer Mixed results for Canada's national teams This weekend was a busy one for Canada's various national team programs. Training camps and international friendlies took place around the world, and while the results were mixed, the experience gained was invaluable.
- Injury doubt surrounds Onyewu American soccer fans were given daily updates on the injury status of striker Charlie Davies leading up to May 11th, the day that American coach Bob Bradley named his preliminary roster for the World Cup in South Africa. Used to Hollywood storylines, most U.S. supporters had hope that Davies could pull off a miraculous recovery in time to make the squad. Unfortunately in real life, injuries can and do get in the way of fairytale endings. Davies never made the squad, and his impact on the tournament will be that of a distant memory.
- Soccer An update on governance reform to Canadian soccer At the Canadian Soccer Association's annual general meeting last weekend, delegates voted in favour of a new governance framework that will revolutionize the organization. The decision could prove to be the most important one ever made by the CSA, and the response from the soccer community across the country has been very positive. However, as with any change this important, there are many questions that still need to be answered.
- Soccer Governance of Canadian soccer about to change Change is coming. The Canadian Soccer Association held its annual general meeting this weekend in Winnipeg, and top of the agenda was a proposal to change the governance structure of the CSA. So what exactly is governance?
- Preliminary roster decisions baffling On May 11th, amidst great anticipation, FIFA announced the preliminary rosters for the 32 competing nations in the World Cup. At first glance, some of the selections and omissions left me scratching my head.
- Soccer The many sides of Toronto FC Toronto FC has a split personality. Winless on the road and unbeaten at home, that trend continued on Saturday as Toronto thumped the Chicago Fire by a score of 4-1. Goals from Nick LaBrocca, O'Brian White and a pair of Chad Barrett strikes gave Toronto as comfortable a victory as they've had in their short history.
- Guessing game as roster deadline approaches Let the speculation begin. As more and more teams release their preliminary World Cup rosters, fans and media alike are weighing in with their thoughts on who should or shouldn't be included in the final 23-man rosters for the 32 teams who will compete for the World Cup in South Africa. There are so many storylines to follow that at times it can be difficult to keep track. There are inclusions and exclusions that raise eyebrows, as well as the unfortunate injuries that tend to occur at this time of year. For the players involved, a serious injury this close to the World Cup will ensure that their participation in the tournament is virtually impossible.
- Soccer Impact announcement big news for Canadian soccer The Montreal Impact was officially unveiled as the next Major League Soccer franchise on Friday. The worst kept secret in Canadian soccer was confirmed. In 2012 when Montreal begins play in MLS, Canadian fans will have three solid organizations to support: Toronto FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps (who begin play in 2011), and the Montreal Impact. But what does it mean for the development of the game in Canada?
- That wasn't a foul! "That wasn't a foul, ref - I got the ball!" That is a statement heard over and over again on football pitches across the world, from the amateur ranks all the way up to the elite levels of international football.
- World Cup Trophy more that just a trophy No matter what job you do, there are some days when you come home from work with a big smile on your face. During my playing career, those days usually coincided with a big win - a backs-to-the-wall, grind-it-out, smash-and-grab victory over a superior opponent. When sleep finally comes your way - usually not until the early hours of the next morning - you drift off knowing you've earned your keep.
- Soccer Answering readers' questions I always appreciate the comments and e-mails that are sent in after every blog I write. It only underlines my belief that there is a real passion for the game in Canada, and that there are fans of the beautiful game from coast to coast. This week I offered readers the chance to send me questions on Twitter; there were some excellent ones sent in, and here are a few of the best.
- Doubts surround Charlie Davies When American striker Charlie Davies was involved in a horrific car accident last year, his involvement in this summer's World Cup was immediately called into question. Such were the extent of his injuries that it was felt that Davies would be lucky to ever take the field again, let alone in time to represent his country in South Africa.
- Soccer Montreal joining MLS makes sense for both parties The Montreal Impact face the Portland Timbers at Stade Saputo on Sunday, April 25th in what will be the Canadian club's USSF Division 2 home opener. The Impact goes into this season as defending champions, and they will be looking to repeat that feat once again this year. The Montreal club opened their 2010 campaign on the road last weekend, suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Austin Aztecs. Despite that setback, things are looking bright for club president Joey Saputo and his team. An announcement on Montreal's status as Major League Soccer's next expansion team is looming, and if rumours are to be believed, that announcement could come any day now. The public courtship of MLS and the Impact is complete, and all that is left to do is to make the relationship formal.
- Past performance or current form? A coach's conundrum "Clearly I'm not the coach and I don't make these decisions, but I always err on the side of caution. And what I mean by that is you take the players that are one, playing, and who are playing the best at the time. And I always think that' s the best formula." Those are the words of American star Landon Donovan, and they relate to his thoughts on which players U.S. coach Bob Bradley should consider when selecting his World Cup roster. I have to say that I agree with him completely.
- Can Maradona maximize Messi impact? When the best player in the world sets foot on South African soil at the World Cup this summer, it is logical to assume that his team will be one of the favourites. Isn't it? In the Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Barcelona and Arsenal last week, Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi single-handedly destroyed the English club. His four sublime goals led his team to a 4-1 victory and served to underline his dominance as the world's best player. Yet despite Messi's brilliant form for his club team, we have rarely seen him reach his full potential when pulling on the blue and white jersey of his homeland. It begs the question: how can a player perform heroics for his club team, while at the same time fail to shine for his country? The answer, in my opinion, is twofold.
- Soccer De Rosario has a difficult job on his hands There are people who believe that the role of a captain in football is largely a ceremonial one. They believe that the captain leads the team out of the dressing room, tosses the coin at the start of the game and takes on a more prominent role in dealing with the media. They also believe that there is nothing more to the job, and that it can be done by just about anyone who is assured of a spot in the starting line-up every week. I'm not one of those people.
- Soccer New beginnings for national team stars Two former members of the Canadian men's World Cup team are beginning new careers this week. How they fare in their new jobs will be as much about the networks they can build, as it will be about their individual determination to succeed.
- Pique hitting his peak for Spain With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F and Group G. Let's take a look at some of the players and strategies that might be important from the teams in Group H.
- Soccer Toronto FC needs improvement Toronto FC got their 2010 Major League Soccer campaign underway on Saturday, succumbing to the reigning regular-season champions, the Columbus Crew, by a score of 2-0.
- Players, coaches and tactics all keys in Group of Death With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E and Group F. Let's take a look at some of the key players, coaches and tactics in Group G.
- Soccer 2010 MLS Western Conference predictions CBC Sports commentator Jason de Vos breaks down Major League Soccer's Western Conference for the 2010 regular season.
- Italy should call up Giuseppe Rossi With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D and Group E. Let's take a look at some players from the teams in Group F.
- Soccer Canada's U-17 women are champions Last Saturday was a football fan's dream - non-stop games from morning to night. I watched six of them in total; Everton-Bolton, Stoke-Tottenham, Arsenal-West Ham, Toronto FC-Real Salt Lake followed by New York Red Bulls' opening game in Red Bull Arena against Brazilian side Santos. While there was some fantastic football on display throughout the day, the most entertaining game from a Canadian perspective was the sixth game I watched - Canada versus Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship.
- Soccer Nothing but good news for Montreal Impact The Montreal Impact made some major announcements this week, including the acquisition of a Canadian Soccer League (CSL) franchise and the creation of the Montreal Impact Academy - more on that in a minute. The Impact has agreed contracts with three more players; forward Reda Agourram, goalkeeper Andrei Badescu and midfielder Pierre-Rudolph Mayard have all put pen to paper on new agreements with the club.
- Soccer Carl Robinson reveals reason for Toronto FC departure Last week, in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in 2011, Toronto FC traded veteran Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson to the New York Red Bulls. Media reports suggest that New York will only have to pick up $125,000 of Robinson's salary, with Toronto responsible for the remainder of his contract.
- Soccer Toronto FC - 2007 versus 2010 During a recent golfing trip, three friends of mine - all Toronto FC supporters - and I discussed all things TFC related. Arrivals, departures and prospects for the coming season were all dissected and examined.
- Soccer TFC's poor defending cause for concern Reading too much into pre-season results can be a dangerous thing. On many occasions, teams I have played on have gone on to have successful seasons after poor performances and surprising losses during pre-season. From a player’s perspective, pre-season is all about getting your match fitness and ensuring that you are in peak condition when the season gets under way. Results are always important, but building up an understanding with your teammates takes precedence when there are no points at stake.
- Soccer Congratulations to Christine and the CBA conundrum Canadian women’s national team star Christine Sinclair set not one, but two remarkable milestones this week. She is now the most capped player in Canadian soccer, with 133 games to her credit, and she also reached the 100-goal mark for the national team. In true Canadian fashion, Sinclair deflected the praise for her remarkable achievements:
- Soccer MLS salary cap unlikely to go up considerably “The only way to make a small fortune owning a football club is to start with a large fortune,” or so the saying goes. Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber will be very familiar with that expression, and it is one he will be reinforcing over and over again as MLS negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with its players’ union.
- Stekelenburg is a keeper for the Netherlands With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D. Let's take a look at some players from the teams in Group E.
- Booth a figure of strength for South Africa With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa?
- Muller a rising star for Germany With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A, Group B and Group C. Let's take a look at a few players from the teams in Group D:
- Soccer Derby delight for Liverpool, Chelsea There were some great match-ups this weekend in the English Premier League, with a number of local derbies taking place. Liverpool faced Merseyside rivals Everton, Birmingham battled with Midlands foe Wolverhampton, while Chelsea hosted fellow London club Arsenal. There are always plenty of full-blooded challenges in derby games, as the players realize that those matches, more than any others, mean the most to the supporters. As a player, it is important to treat those games with the same reverence as the fans.
- Soccer No pain, no gain and other thoughts on Canadian soccer Toronto FC gave the media its first glimpse of pre-season training on Wednesday and, for probably the first time ever in a pre-season, Danny Dichio was there with a big smile on his face. Now part of the coaching staff after retiring as a player last season, Dichio was not required to don his running shoes and hop on one of the treadmills to do his VO2 max, a test that calculates an athlete’s ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles. That is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.
- John Terry should quit as England captain There are unwritten rules in every sport, little reminders to athletes that the game should be played in a certain manner, with honour and integrity. You always run out ground balls in baseball. You never look to score in the final seconds of a blowout in basketball. You never walk across another player's putting line in golf, and during the warm-ups, you never shoot high on the goalie in hockey.
- The Dutch get it right with mixture of youth and experience You'll never win anything with kids. Those are the famous words of former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen, spoken in 1995 after Manchester United lost their opening game of the Premiership season, 3-1 to Aston Villa. Boy, was he ever wrong. United went on to win the Premier League title and FA Cup that season after jettisoning some older players in favour of some fresh blood.
- England should take a chance on Baines With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa? Read my previous reviews of Group A and Group B. Let's take a look at the teams in Group C:
- Soccer Big money owners threaten to ruin game Why do ordinarily intelligent, successful businessman become illogical, irrational fanatics as soon as they own a soccer club? You’ve heard the story countless times. A wealthy individual rides in on his white horse, promising financial prudence and stability.
- Peter Crouch the answer for England? A team is only as good as its strikers. Those were the wise words of one of my former managers, and it is not difficult to see the logic behind them. Even with a strong goalkeeper, solid defence and hard-working midfield, a team still relies heavily on its strikers to put the ball in the back of the net. Strikers get paid the big contracts because it is generally their contribution that wins trophies.
- Milito a scoring star for Argentina With the World Cup on the horizon, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding which players are likely to make an impact on the tournament. While most fans are familiar with superstars like Kaka from Brazil, Fernando Torres from Spain or Wayne Rooney from England, what about some of the lesser known players? Which of those players are likely to play a key role for their country in South Africa?
- Soccer Whitecaps put right building blocks in place I used to love playing Monopoly as a kid. There was a certain satisfaction to be gained from the slow, methodical acquisition of assets, and you could almost sense the moment when your holdings would put you out in front for the long haul.
- Tim Howard: Last line of defence for the U.S. The last line of defence. It is never an enviable position in any sport, and in soccer, it takes a certain degree of mental toughness to be a goalkeeper. Every goal conceded is scrutinized and replayed over and over, always looking for the slightest of errors. Positional awareness, decision-making, communication and agility all come into question during this analysis, yet the most important attribute that a top goalkeeper can have is immeasurable.
- Soccer A missed opportunity for U.S. Soccer Federation, MLS Last week, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) stepped in to resolve a dispute between the United Soccer Leagues (USL) and a group of breakaway USL teams who wanted to start up their own league, called the North American Soccer League (NASL). The USSF announced a compromise in which they would create a yet-to-be-named second division league with two conferences – one called the USL and the other the NASL. While I am glad to see that the USSF stepped in to take action - and this move is a good one in the short term - I think they missed an important opportunity.
- Transfer window an opportunity or hindrance? I hate the transfer window. Made compulsory by FIFA in 2002, the transfer window restricts the movement of players to two times per year: one longer period in the off-season, and one four-week period during the season.
- Soccer Is gambling among teammates common in professional sports? A few weeks ago, during a locker-room dispute over a reported unpaid gambling debt, NBA all-star Gilbert Arenas allegedly pulled a gun on Washington Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton. Not to be outdone, Crittenton returned the favour, resulting in a standoff. As shocking as the incident was, I have to admit I wasn’t that surprised.
- Gignac is France's rising star French soccer fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after the World Cup draw on Dec. 4th, as their team was pooled in Group A with South Africa, Mexico and Uruguay. While no World Cup group will be easy this summer, it is certainly a group from which the French will expect to come out on top. That being said, Les Blues hardly bathed themselves in glory during qualifying.
- Soccer My New Year's wish list As 2009 draws to a close, I’ve decided to forego the usual ritual of a New Year’s resolution. I don’t see the point in waiting until tomorrow to do what you can do today, so I’ve never really been into that tradition.
- Soccer needs video replays I have said before that I am all in favour of the implementation of video replays, and nothing I have seen of the AAR experiment has changed that opinion. If anything, it has made my belief stronger. There is so much riding on games today, be it in league competitions, the Europa League, the Champions League or the World Cup. How can FIFA continue to stick its head in the sand by rejecting the use of video replays to aid the referee?
- Landon Donovan making the right move? Last week, English Premier League side Everton finally completed their protracted loan move for Landon Donovan. The American forward will join the Toffees as soon as his work permit is approved and he will remain with them until mid-March, when he will rejoin his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates for their MLS season opener on March 27th. While it may seem like a dream move for Donovan, I am left scratching my head as to the logic behind the decision.
- Soccer Landon Donovan making the right move? Last week, English Premier League side Everton finally completed their protracted loan move for Landon Donovan. The American forward will join the Toffees as soon as his work permit is approved and he will remain with them until mid-March, when he will rejoin his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates for their MLS season opener on March 27th. While it may seem like a dream move for Donovan, I am left scratching my head as to the logic behind the decision.
- Players not saving themselves for South Africa Portugal defender Pepe is out with a knee injury. So too is the Netherlands' Robin van Persie. American striker Charlie Davies will be fortunate to ever return to professional soccer after suffering multiple injuries as a passenger in a fatal car crash. With all of these injuries occurring in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup, it begs the question - do players worry about getting injured prior to a major tournament, and does it affect the way they approach the game?
- England vs. U.S.A. should be a tasty match-up When the World Cup draw was held on December 4th, we saw some intriguing first round match-ups plucked out of the hat. Of course, everyone is talking about the Group of Death, which will see Brazil face North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal in Group G. Most people assume that Brazil will win the group and that Portugal will have a real battle on their hands to overcome Ivory Coast for second place.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian soccer: New coach, new board? With Monday’s announcement that Stephen Hart is having the “interim” tag removed from his job as men’s national team coach, the Canadian Soccer Association is taking a step forward. It might not be the step forward that some people were looking for, but it is a step forward nonetheless.
- The evolution of soccer tactics: balance vs. symmetry I read an interesting article written by Jonathan Wilson from the Guardian newspaper in England. Wilson is the author of Inverting the Pyramid: A History of Football Tactics, and he is well known for his thoughtful analysis of soccer tactics. The article in question discussed the place of symmetry in the evolution of soccer tactics, and raised the point that balance is a much more important tactical consideration than symmetry.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian soccer - Governance Of all the feedback I received in the last six months surrounding the state of soccer in Canada, the most heated centred on the Canadian Soccer Association's Board of Directors. Most fans in Canada believe that the CSA’s board is out of touch with the game in our country and that its sole purpose is to maintain the status quo. It is not difficult to come to that conclusion, as the board is a vague group of individuals who are rarely given any publicity. Who better to vent your frustrations on than those who choose not to respond?
- Soccer Offside - An update on fixing Canadian Soccer Back in the summer, I wrote a series of blogs examining the state of Canadian soccer.
- My lone disappointment - not playing in World Cup Whenever I am questioned about my 18-year playing career, I am inevitably asked if I have any regrets.
- Soccer Time to bring in video replay, with a condition Scandalous. Absolutely scandalous. That is the only way to describe the goal that clinched a berth in the World Cup for France on Wednesday night in the Stade de France in Paris.
- Soccer The CSA's side of the Asmir Begovic story As I wrote earlier in the week, there are always two sides to every story. The Asmir Begovic saga is no different. The other day I relayed to you Asmir Begovic’s side of things. Now I’m going to tell you the story according to the Canadian Soccer Association.
- Soccer The other side of the Asmir Begovic story There are always two sides to every story, and often times those two sides don't match up.
- Soccer What defines a captain? Wearing the captain’s armband is widely regarded as a privilege in soccer, yet there is no clear definition as to what the job entails.
- Soccer Toronto FC's playoff failure is an embarrassment Toronto FC’s 5-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night, and the inevitable playoff failure that accompanied that result, was nothing short of an embarrassment. Everyone who has followed this team since its inception three years ago will now weigh in with an opinion about where it all went wrong and who is to blame. Was it the fault of the players, Chris Cummins or Mo Johnston? Was it a combination of all three? Was it a lack of technical ability on behalf of the players, or were the tactics that were employed the reason for their capitulation in the most important game in the history of the franchise?
- Soccer One week changes TFC fortunes A week is a long time in soccer. It is a saying that I used often as a player when trying to lift the spirits of my teammates, after they had been dropped from the starting line-up or suffered an injury. Things can change very quickly from one moment to the next, and it pays to keep a level head no matter the circumstances. Never get too high when things are going well, and never get too low when things look desperate.
- Soccer Plenty of storylines in World Cup qualifying World Cup qualifying is coming to an end, with only a few places still up for grabs. We've gained some interesting insight into the contenders and pretenders for next year's big event in South Africa, so here's the lowdown on a few things I've seen over the qualifying process:
- Soccer Canada faces challenges with long-term player development plan The Canadian Soccer Association held a press conference on Wednesday to announce BMO as the presenting partner for the “Wellness to World Cup” initiative as well as to introduce Sylvie Beliveau as the new LTPD (long term player development) manager.
- Soccer Intrigue builds in World Cup qualifying The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is just around the corner, and the race to qualify is tighter than ever. There are some fascinating matches coming up in the month of October to whet your appetite.
- Soccer So much going on in the wide world of soccer It has been an interesting week in the wide world of football, and there is plenty to comment on.
- Soccer De Guzman doesn't cure all of Toronto FC's problems The signing of Julian de Guzman as Toronto FC's first-ever designated player can be nothing but a good one for the struggling club. Any time you can pick up your country's best player in the prime of his career it has to be considered a good bit of business.
- Soccer Making a case for - and against - Mo Johnston Football is a game of opinions, and whether you are a player, coach, pundit or a fan, you likely have a strong opinion when it comes to your own team.
- Soccer Young Ipswich goalkeeper wise beyond his years Is being a professional footballer the best job in the world? Ask anyone who has ever had the privilege of earning an income playing the game they love that very question, and they will probably answer, "Absolutely!"
- Soccer A coach's legacy After Canada was eliminated from the Gold Cup by Honduras last month, I was asked by numerous individuals if I thought we should give Stephen Hart the full-time position of head coach of our men’s national team.
- Soccer Gold Cup proves it: Give Stephen Hart the job Once again, soccer fans across the country are licking their wounds after Canada was eliminated from another major competition, as our men’s national team was bounced out of the Gold Cup by Honduras on Saturday.
- Soccer A sad tale about the state of youth soccer in Canada A friend of mine from high school told me a disturbing story the other day. It provides some insight into the state of youth soccer in our country, so I thought I would share it with you.
- Soccer Winners and losers at the Confederations Cup With the Confederations Cup ending on Sunday with Brazil defeating the United States 3-2 in the final, it is time to take an alternative look at the winners and losers of the tournament.
- Soccer Bafana Bafana lacked finishing touch Despite a valiant effort, South Africa was unable to pull off a second upset in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, falling 1-0 to Brazil on Thursday. A brilliant Dani Alves strike was all that separated the two sides at the end of 90 minutes. But more on that in a minute. The Bafana Bafana very nearly followed up the USA's miraculous victory over top-ranked Spain with a shock victory all their own. That they didn't was more down to poor finishing rather than a particularly brilliant defensive display from Brazil.
- Soccer Group A was a prognosticator's dream It isn't often that pundits get all of their predictions correct. More often than not, there is an upset or two along the way that throws a wrench in the works. The inability to correctly predict the future usually gets explained by something along the lines of, “It's a funny old game, isn't it?” When we do manage to get everything right, there is usually a sense of validation that comes along with those accurate predictions. There is generally a sense of satisfaction that comes in knowing you have actually learned something about the game you have worked so hard at for so many years.
- Soccer Bora wins despite result A few days ago, I wrote that there were only a handful of teams in the world capable of containing Spain, the world's No. 1-ranked team, when they are on form. Well, Iraq nearly made me eat my words. For the majority of today's game between these two Group A combatants in the Confederations Cup, Iraq stifled and stymied the stylish Spaniards.
- Soccer Defending 'El Nino' a maddening task If, before Sunday, there existed a football supporter in New Zealand who had never before seen Fernando Torres score goals, well, let’s just say that’s probably no longer the case.
- Soccer Confederations Cup could be a coming-out party for some There will be stars aplenty on show in South Africa during the Confederations Cup, with the likes of Brazil, Italy and Spain all sending strong line-ups.
- Soccer Fond memories of Japan By virtue of winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Canadian men's national team qualified to play in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup in Japan. It was at the time, and remains to this day, Canada's greatest achievement in men's football.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian Soccer - Getting to the World Cup CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. In this final installment, de Vos, a former captain of Canada's national team, takes a look at what Canada has to do to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Canada has only qualified for the World Cup once: the 1986 tournament held in Mexico. Since then, we have made six attempts to qualify for that elusive festival of football, and on every occasion we have come up short. I was involved in three of those qualifying campaigns. I played sparingly in the 1998 campaign, but I had two full attempts at reaching the World Cup in 2002 and 2006. I have been asked many times over the years if I have any regrets about my playing career. I always answer that question the same way; I have no regrets - because I did the very best I could every time I stepped on the field - but I have some disappointments. The single biggest disappointment for me was never making it to the World Cup.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian Soccer - Who's in charge? CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. This week de Vos, a former captain of Canada's national team, takes a look at the governance of Canadian soccer. In April of 2003, the Australian Independent Soccer Review Committee released a report on the governance of soccer in Australia. Popularly known as the “Crawford Report”, it laid bare the problems facing soccer in Australia and put forth a number of recommendations to restructure the game down under. Many of those recommendations were implemented, which resulted in major improvements, including the country’s successful qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Presently, Australia is well on its way to booking a place at next summer’s World Cup in South Africa. If you have never read the Crawford Report, I urge you to do so. It can be found here.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian Soccer – Training and competition CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. This week de Vos, a former captain of the Canadian national team, takes a look at training and competition. It is widely believed that reaching the elite level in sport requires somewhere in the neighbourhood of 10,000 hours of training. If an athlete trained for an hour a day, every day, it would take over 27 years to reach that milestone.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian Soccer - Coaching the coaches CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. This week de Vos, a former captain of the Canadian national team, takes a look at coaching.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian soccer - Player Development CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. This week De Vos, a former captain of the Canadian national team, takes a look at player development.
- Soccer Offside: Fixing Canadian soccer - we're just getting started CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. I would like to start off by thanking everyone for taking the time to comment on last week's blog. Your overwhelming response only underlines my belief that there is a tremendous level of support for the game of soccer in Canada.
- Soccer Offside: Where do we start in trying to fix Canadian soccer? CBC Sports soccer commentator Jason de Vos examines the state of Canadian soccer in Offside, a multi-part blog series exclusive to CBCSports.ca. In part one, de Vos, a former captain of Canada's national team, lays the groundwork on how to fix the game in Canada.
- Soccer With Mitchell gone, who will take over as Canada's coach? Dale Mitchell finally paid the price for Canada's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
- Soccer Expect a 2-team battle in MLS's Western Conference With the Major League Soccer season set to kick off this week, all eyes are rightly focused on Toronto FC. Canada’s only MLS team - for now at least - is considerably stronger this year, and the club's fans from across the country are licking their lips in anticipation of better things to come from the men in red. The additions of players like Dwayne DeRosario, Pablo Vitti and Adrian Serioux, as well as rookies like Sam Cronin, Stephan Frei and O’Brian White, give Toronto a real belief that this season will mark the first occasion that playoff football will come to the Lakeshore in this country’s largest city. While I expect this season to be an improvement on last year for Toronto FC, there are a number of other teams who will also be looking to go one better in 2009. Here’s a look at the teams in the Western Conference:
- Soccer Heartbreak for Impact I have always been the glass-half-full type of person. It’s a choice you make, I suppose. You can be a negative influence and criticize everything and everyone around you; or you can try to be positive, keeping your goals in focus, despite the hurdles that are placed in front of you. It is a philosophy that has served me well over the years, especially in my football career. I’ve lost count of the number of times I could have given up, quit the game and gone back to having a “normal” life. Football can really kick you in the teeth sometimes, and it takes strong character to keep going when all around you seems to be falling apart. Well last night, it all fell apart for the Montreal Impact.
- Soccer Impact face tougher test down in Mexico The Montreal Impact take on Santos Laguna of the Mexican Primera Division in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday. The Impact head down to Torreon, Mexico with a 2-0 lead in hand, and if last Wednesday's meeting between these two teams is anything to go by, the Impact could very well be on their way to the semifinals. The big question on everyone's mind is, "Can the Impact get another result?" Given what I've seen from the Mexicans so far, I don't see why not.
- Soccer Impact winning hearts in hockey country "This is a soccer nation. Not a hockey nation." Those were the words of Montreal Impact midfielder Sandro Grande on Wednesday night, right after his team beat Santos Laguna of Mexico 2-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. That's a pretty bold statement coming from a guy who is relatively unknown outside of Montreal. But how can you argue with him? There were 55,571 fans at the game.
- Soccer Impact set for battle with Santos Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Decisions that once seemed so difficult to make become painstakingly obvious with the benefit of hindsight, and more than a few people over the years have been known to utter the words, "If I'd known then what I know now."
- Soccer Cronin's got guts For the first time in 18 years, I attended the first day of pre-season training without the usual sense of impending doom. They say the anticipation of pain is worse than the pain itself, but having been through 18 pre-seasons, I’d have to disagree. Pre-season hurts and no amount of training in the off-season makes it any less painful.
- Soccer Bye bye Beckham? For those of you hoping to catch a glimpse of David Beckham this summer at BMO Field, you may be waiting for a long time. I don’t think Mr. Posh Spice is going to be coming back to Major League Soccer and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates, judging by the noises being made over in Milan. This week, when Beckham was asked if he would be prolonging his stay in Serie A beyond the end of his loan agreement with AC Milan, he replied, “I can’t say what will happen. My contract says that I’ll be here until March. We’ll have to wait and see.” Doesn’t sound like someone who is desperate to get back to Los Angeles, does it?
- Soccer "Trader Mo" fools 'em all Just when we thought we had him figured out Mo Johnston surprised us all. “Trader Mo”, as he has been affectionately dubbed, was widely expected to deal some or all of his three first-round draft picks in Thursday’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Toronto FC desperately needs an experienced central defender, and likely some more help in front of goal, if it is to push on and have a go at a playoff run. It was expected that Mo would use his draft picks in order to address these deficiencies by trading the picks in exchange for an experienced MLS player, rather than selecting players in the draft to plug the holes.
- Soccer Advice to Mo: Fill the holes without breaking the bank Now that the holiday season has come and gone, it’s time to start looking forward toward an exciting summer of football. Can Toronto FC continue their improvement and give the fans what they have been longing for the past two seasons, post-season play at BMO Field? Will either Vancouver or Ottawa, the two remaining Canadian cities in the running for Major League Soccer expansion, be granted a franchise to rival the Reds of TFC? Will Montreal continue their Cinderella story and knock off Santos of Mexico in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League?
- Soccer Opportunity knocks My parents allowed my brother and I to pursue our dreams, and they supported us both along the way. We were allowed to make our own decisions, right or wrong, and we were able to learn from them.
- Soccer Tough pill, but right decision by Impact group A week is a long time in football. It is an overused cliche, but like most cliches, it has a ring of truth to it. It is one I’ve used myself many times over the years. When you captain a football team, you are often the emotional compass in the dressing room. Week after week, you have one group of players who are happy - usually the ones who are playing - and another group of players who are miserable. You guessed it, generally the ones who are left out.
- Soccer Columbus Crew more than a 1-man show It is tempting to suggest that the success of the Columbus Crew, regular season champions and Major League Soccer finalists, is solely down to the influence of their star player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Schelotto is a shoe-in for league MVP honours, such has been the impact he has made this season. But he has been ably supported this season and his teammates often don’t get the credit they deserve. With the Crew taking on the New York Red Bulls in Sunday’s MLS Cup final (CBC, 3 p.m. ET), let’s take a look at some of the other Columbus players who could have a say in the outcome of the match.
- Soccer The protected 11 - who will they be? The season ends on Saturday for Toronto FC with a trip to San Jose to face off against the Earthquakes. Although it is the last game that the players will be involved in this season, for head coach John Carver and Director of Soccer Mo Johnston, the games are just beginning.
- Soccer Impact gritty, not pretty, in draw with Olimpia It wasn’t pretty, but the Montreal Impact got the job done. The Impact reached the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday night with a 1-1 draw against CD Olimpia of Honduras at Stade Saputo in Montreal.
- Soccer What now for Canada? The Canadian men’s World Cup team takes on Mexico this Wednesday at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton in a CONCACAF Group B World Cup qualifying match. The game is meaningless for Canada though, as we were eliminated from contention following a 3-1 loss to Honduras this past Saturday. Canada now has only a single point from its first four group games. So now what do we do?
- Soccer World Cup disappointment: Canada just isn't good enough We just aren’t good enough.
- Soccer Can World Cup team follow Impact lead? On Saturday, Canada faces a do-or-die World Cup qualifying game in Honduras. If head coach Dale Mitchell is looking for any pointers on what it takes to come home with a victory, he could do worse than pick up the phone and call John Limniatis. For not only does Limniatis know how to win on the road, he also knows how to do it in style. The Montreal Impact head coach led his battered and bruised team into hostile territory once again this week. This time they faced Joe Public of Trinidad, whose coach, Keith Griffiths, boasted that his team would beat the Impact by “at least four” goals when the two teams met in Trinidad. Well, at least he got the four goals part right.
- Soccer Montreal Impact give Canadian soccer fans hope It can’t be easy being a Canadian soccer fan.
- Soccer Credit where credit is due Last Wednesday, the Montreal Impact played host to Mexican champions Atlante FC in Group C action of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. Like many people, I expected the Mexicans to bowl into Stade Saputo with a swagger, strut their stuff for 90 minutes, and jet back to sunny Cancun with a comfortable victory under their belts. Boy, was I wrong.
About the Author
Jason de Vos
Former professional soccer player Jason de Vos brings more than 18 years of experience on the pitch to his analyst role on CBC's Major League Soccer and FIFA telecasts.
De Vos began his professional career with the Montreal Impact before joining Darlington in England in 1996. In 1998, de Vos joined Dundee United of the Scottish Premier League and later moved over to the English Premier League with Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town FC before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season.
The stalwart defender was also captain of Canada's national team from 1999 to 2004. He scored the winning goal in Canada's 2-0 victory over Colombia in the final of the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the only major international tournament the Canadian team has won.
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