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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
5 thoughts on Toronto FC
Some observations on Toronto FC now that they've played four games...
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
