All we are saying...is give us a goal

Canada ran its scoreless streak to 422 minutes today in dropping a 1-0 decision to Jamaica in Kingston. The last goal the national team scored was at the Gold Cup against Costa Rica in the final game of the group stage.

It’s the longest scoreless streak for Canada in 10 years. Between April 6 and Sept 10, 2000 Canada went five consecutive games without scoring for a total of 582 minutes.

Canada’s best chance came late, when Ali Gerba missed from about 8-yards.

It’s hard to evaluate this one, since it was not available to watch in Canada. The Jamaican radio feed that most listened to seemed to indicate a game controlled by Jamaica, but it seemed to be fairly biased for the home side.

Five Canadians – David Monsalve, Massih Wassey, Nana Attakora, Carlo Rivas and Randy Edwini-Bonsu – all received their first senior cap. So, the scoreboard wasn’t really the point.

Still, however, the lack of scoring has got to worry a little. One of the best features of a Stephen Hart lead Canada is that they played a joyful, offensive style in the two Gold Cups he’s been to. So far, not so good.

The green at BMO could bring the Red Devils (which will mean a lot more green)

Yeah, this makes sense.

Manchester United vs Toronto FC. United needs the money. TFC wants to top the Real Madrid game. Hardcore Canadian fans deserve the opportunity to give Owen Hargreaves a geography lesson.

I'll want to see more than a single story from a UK source before I buy the tickets, but a United game has been rumoured for some time.

It's Called Football - Guest Julian DeGuzman

Chad Barrett's broken foot, Thierry Henry staying at Barca, the WPS losing its Sol and the MLS CBA - all on today's show.

And we're joined by Julian DeGuzman from Florida where he speaks on Toronto FC's upcoming season, the locker room at the end of last season, his brother's intentions for Canada and his training camp with Stephen Hart.

Plus he gets into his time at Deportivo (and not getting paid to play) as well as the matchfixing that has plagued Europe.



EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

To listen the Interview Only you can download it on iTunes

Henry staying at Barca for now

I hate DP rumours. They are generally a case of picking a big name out of a hat, matching that name with the city that has the biggest ex-pat population that matches his and speculating away.

However, the Thierry Henry to New York talk seems to have some actual possibilities (and it isn't a case of "hey there are a lot of X people in Y city, therefore Z must be their DP. Otherwise Henry would be linked to Montreal).

At any rate, it seems that you can hold off on buying tickets to see him at your local MLS stadium for another year. He's committed to another year at Barcelona. Apparently Camp Nou has more appeal than Red Bulls Stadium. No accounting for taste, apparently.

No grass yet, but...

From TFC Big Cheese Paul Beirne's Twitter feed:




The under-heating units being installed at BMO Field. The best thing about that photo though?

NO DAMN FIELD TURF.

MLS CBA: Keep on, keepin' on

MLS and MLSPU have agreed to extend the negotiation period to Feb 12 in their effort to find resolution in the MLS CBA impasse. Apparently, there has been enough progress to keep talking and to keep preparing for the season.

You would hope.

There isn't much to say on this. It was always unlikely that something was going to happen on Feb. 1. Today's news likely gives us a hard date now. If there is no deal on Feb. 12 it's probably safe to say the players will be locked out.

I don't know about you, but I always work better under a hard deadline. Hopefully MLS and MLSPU does too.

God rest her Sol

Just a day after the great news that the Atlanta Beat would be the first WPS team to play in its own soccer specific stadium, news is breaking that the L.A. Sol are about to go under.

The Sol are the highest profile WPS team and were the regular season champions last season. Brazilian legend Marta plays for L.A.

If the team goes under its players, including Marta, will be dispersed. It says here that Marta somehow "randomly" ends up at the New York team Sky Blue FC.

Clearly, this is terrible news for professional women's soccer. The WPS was seen as a conservative, responsible effort to bring the women a pro opportunity. If a team collapses in the second biggest market in the U.S. that's going to be hard to overcome.

One thing that has always seemed odd about the way women's pro leagues are structured is that they continue to follow the same model that men's leagues do. As it is clear that these leagues struggle to break through, would it not make sense for the women's leagues to try and think a bit outside the box. Why go to big markets that have a ton of competition? Why not put teams in smaller places that have no other pro teams. Promotion and relegation will never work in MLS. But, why not try it in the women's game? It would award clubs that developed smartly?

The details of how are irrelevant now. The point being that something different needs to happen. One dead league and one dead team after just one year of a second league would indicate that.

Twellman speaks on CBA

“...There needs to be some type of growth...David Beckham comes into this league, Blanco..we’ve got big city teams coming into this league paying $40 million...they you know what, then the union grows, then the CBA grows. It doesn’t go from zero to 100, but that also doesn’t mean that it stays at zero for the next 40 years.”
Taylor Twellman on the American Soccer Show

Do take the 15 minutes to listen to an interesting and wide ranging interview on The American Soccer Show with Taylor Twellman.

Twellman has been more candid than most players throughout the CBA negotiations and this interview is no different. He stresses that the issues at play aren’t about money, but rather “basic rights.” Although he says he is optimistic that things will get sorted out, he does stress that things aren’t solved yet.

In case you think that he’s being naive, he does slip this gem in:

“We want structure. We don’t want the league to go under.”

So, the players aren’t in the boardroom fighting for the removal cap (not that anyone, outside of a few BigSoccer posters here and there, is actually suggesting that they are). He points out that the free agency rights they are after don’t have to drive salaries up (“there is still a salary cap, right?” he asks rhetorically) and that they aren’t after “four year guaranteed contracts at $1 million a year.”

Go have a listen.

It's Called Football - Ante Jazic on CMNT, Preki

Serioux gone? Brennan back? We talk TFC contracts.

Freddie Ljunberg has promised to come back to MLS - and they're going to need him more than ever. We tell you why.

WPS is getting soccer specific stadiums. Seriously WTF?

And Chivas defender and CMNT player Ante Jazic joins us to discuss his upcoming season, what Preki will mean for Toronto FC and what he thinks of Halifax donair sauce.



EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Listen to the Interview Only with Chivas and CMNT player Ante Jazic as he joins us to discuss what Preki will mean for Toronto FC, dismisses the TFC rumours, his upcoming season with Chivas, and what he thinks of Halifax donair sauce.

Subscribe to ICF on iTunes and get the Interviews Only

Impact add a couple internationals

While I was preoccupied with watching the Manchester derby, the Montreal Impact announced the signing of two international players.

Portuguese midfielder Helder Filipe Da Costa Soares and French midfielder/forward Philippe Billy have joined Montreal for 2010.

Both players come from D2s, De Costa Soares in Portugal, playing most recently with CD Feirense and Billy for Stade Brestois 29.

It's an interesting couple moves. Certainly you would think that a couple guys coming over from Europe might do OK in the USSF D2. We'll see.

The great "comparison game" that North America soccer fans like to play could be in full effect here. Is the second division in Portugal as good as MLS? If so, De Costa Soares should rip it up. If he struggles, does that mean that we maybe overvalue anything in Europe. Or, is it all pointless really.

As stated, we'll see soon. Hell, at this point Canadian fans may only have the Impact and Whitecaps to pay attention to if MLS doesn't figure itself out...

Tweet Troubles

A simple, misread Tweet from Gerry Dobson a couple days ago set-off a frenzy of speculation from TFC fans about the possibility of Ante Jazic coming home to Canada to play for TFC.

The Tweet:

Ante Jazic played for Preki at Chivas-thinks he'll be perfect for TFC-tough as nails but fair DeGuzman agrees that's what they need

What Dobson was (clearly, to me anyway) trying to say is that Jazic thinks that Preki will be perfect for TFC. What many others read was that Jazic thinks that he'd be perfect for TFC.

Damn Twitter and its 140 character limits.

At any rate, we asked Jazic directly on It's Called Football last night about the rumour and, well, it sounded like he had no clue what we were talking about. "I'm happy in SoCal," he said.

Not every Canadian wants to come home to play for TFC. In Jazic's case, he may one day not have a choice if he wants to stay in MLS, but it sure didn't seem that he was angling to "come home" (which would be impossible, unless Halifax suddenly got a MLS team).

It just gets worse

Check out Pompey's web site!

Oh, dear...

Edit: Someone paid the bill. It's back up.

The off-season so far

Below is a list of all confirmed incoming and outgoing players to MLS teams, either through international transfer or internal trades. Excluded are 2010 MLS draft picks.
HT

Chicago Fire

In:
Krzysztof Król (Jagiellonia Bialystok - Poland)
Julio Martinez (Leon - Mexico)

Out:
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz - Mexico)
David Myrie (Expansion Draft)
Brandon Prideaux (retired)
Chris Rolfe (Aalborg - Denmark)
Gonzalo Segares (Apollon FC - Cyprus)

Chivas USA

In:
none

Out:
Kevin Harmse (trade w/HOU)
Paulo Nagamura (Tigres - Mexico)
Shavar Thomas (Expansion Draft)
Jim Curtin (waved)
Bojan Steponavic (waved)

Columbus Crew

In:
none

Out:
Alejandro Moreno (Expansion Draft)

Colorado Rapids

In:
Wells Thompson (trade w/NE)
Jeff Larentowicz (trade w/NE)

Out:
Preston Burpo (trade w/NE)
Cory Gibbs (trade w/NE)
Jordan Harvey (Expansion Draft)
Jacob Peterson (trade w/TOR)

FC Dallas

In:
Aziz Ansah (Heartland FC - Nigeria)

Out:
Ray Burse Jr (waved)

D.C. United

In:
Danny Allsopp (Al Rayyan - Qatar)
Christian Castillo (Leon - Mexico)
Floribert N'Galula (Sparta Rotterdam - Holland)
Troy Perkins (Valerenga - Norway)

Out:
Ely Allen (Waived)
Luciano Emilio (Rio Branco - Brazil)
Fred (trade w/PHI)
Andrew Jacobson (Expansion Draft)
Greg Janicki (Waived)
Avery John (Waived)
David Habarugira (Waived)
Ange N'Silu (Waived)
Ben Olsen (Retired)

Houston Dynamo

In:
Kevin Harmse (trade w/CHV)

Out:
Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt - Germany)
John Michael Hayden (Waived)
Stuart Holden (Bolton - England)
Abe Thompson (Waived)

Kansas City Wizards

In:
Stephane Auvray (Nîmes Olympique - France)
Pablo Escobar (Deportivo Cali - Colombia)

Out:
Herculez Gomez (Puebla FC - Mexico)

Los Angeles Galaxy

In:
Alex dos Santos Cazumba (Sao Paulo FC - Brazil)
Vitor Gomes Pereira Junior (Sao Paulo FC - Brazil)
Clint Mathis (trade w/Salt Lake)
Ajose Leonardo Ribeiro da Silva (Sao Paulo FC - Brazil)

Out:
Stefani Miglioranzi (Expansion Draft)
Kyle Patterson (Waived)
Julian Valentin (Waived)

New England Revolution

In:
Preston Burpo (trade w/COL)
Cory Gibbs (trade w/COL)

Out:
Chris Albright (trade w/NY)
Stephane Assengue (Waived)
Jay Heaps (Retired)
Brad Knighton (Expansion Draft)
Jeff Larentowicz (trade w/COL)
Wells Thompson (trade w/COL)

New York Red Bulls

In:
Chris Albright (trade w/NE)
Joel Lindpere (Tromso - Norway)
Roy Miller (Rosenborg - Norway)

Out:
Albert Celades (Retired)
Walter Garcia (Released)
Leonard Krupnik (Maccabai Netanya - Israel)
Jorge Rojas (Deportiva Tachira - Venezuela)
Nick Zimmerman (Expansion Draft)

Philadelphia Union

In:
Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland - Denmark)
Fred (trade w/DC)
Jordan Harvey (Expansion Draft)
Brad Knighton (Expansion Draft)
Andrew Jacobson (Expansion Draft)
Sébastian Le Toux (Expansion Draft)
Stefani Miglionranzi (Expansion Draft)
Alejandro Moreno (Expansion Draft)
David Myrie (Expansion Draft)
Shea Salinas (Expansion Draft)
Chris Seitz (trade w/Salt Lake)
Shavar Thomas (Expansion Draft)
Nick Zimmerman (Expansion Draft)

Out
n/a

Salt Lake

In:
Abe Thompson (Waiver Draft)

Out:
Clint Mathis (trade w/LA)
Yura Movsisyan (Randers FC - Denmark)
Chris Seitz (trade w/PHI)

San Jose Earthquakes

In:
Joey Gjertsen (Montreal Impact)

Out:
Shea Salinas (Expansion Draft)

Seattle Sounders FC
In
none

Out:
Evan Brown (Waived)
Michael Fucito (Waived)
Sébastian Le Toux (Expansion Draft)
Lamar Neagle (Waived)

Toronto FC

In:

Jacob Peterson (trade w/COL)

Out:
Amado Guevara (Motagua - Honduras)
Lesly Fellinga (waived)
Pablo Vitti (waived)

City's Money: Well, drat!

There is little doubt that Manchester United is still a better side than Man City. Most of us didn’t need to see Wayne Rooney’s stoppage time winner today to understand that. The question, however, is whether United will still be City’s better in a year’s time.

There is no clear answer to that and it’s why I’m not currently standing on top of the Bloor viaduct contemplating something silly. Although the Carling Cup run ultimately failed to end City’s famous 34 year trophy drought, it’s hard to rationally argue that it’s anything but a temporary setback. Wembley could come calling this year yet, with a FA Cup draw that is wide open and Stoke City at home next on the agenda.

Two years ago at this time City didn’t play games that were the talking point of nearly the entire football world. Sure the derby provided an entertaining 90 minutes, but it was nothing but a nuisance for United in and around Champions League fixtures. The blue half of Manchester may have played in the same league as the red, but they weren’t in the same league. That’s changed now. Clearly.

This year City has already beaten United, Chelsea and Arsenal. It sits in sixth, but has two games in hand with both fourth place Spurs and fifth place Liverpool and is just three points back of Tottenham and tied on points with ‘Pool. City’s next four games are Pompey, Hull, Bolton and Stoke. That Champions League spot doesn’t look that far off, does it (and if they run all 12 points there, ask me about the title chase)?

So, as I type this I’m filled with hope, rather than dread. People can try and spin yesterday’s loss as more typical City, but there is nothing typical about this City club. For all the criticism of their methods, any claim that the club isn’t making a serious push to be included amongst the elite of England doesn’t hold up to one second of rational evaluation (nor does the claim that they are trying to build a “fantasy football” team. Seriously, I might scream the next time someone makes that claim without backing it up with any sort of hard evidence).

If City had gone on a magically run to the Carling Cup semi-finals in 2005 only to lose to United, I would have been devastated – I would have known that it was a one off, fluke thing. Like Barnsley in the FA Cup a couple of years ago, you would have known that it wasn’t likely to repeat itself. But, now you know there will be another day like this soon enough. And, City could very well win then.

In other words, today wasn’t the ending of a story, it was the beginning.

Come on City!

No live blog today as I want to fully focus on the game. I will be live Tweeting it @24thminute.

What's in a name?

News of the Atlanta Beat’s new stadium got me thinking about crappy names that get thrown onto North America professional soccer teams. In an effort to fit the model N.A. sports fans are used to seeing – City Name, Nickname – there have been some truly awful names thrust upon the soccer public.

So, with apologies to Squizz over at A Few Men That Live In Canada and like To Chat about Kickyball, who created a list of his own which we used on the reward winning Squizz’ seven segment of It’s Called Football, the top 10 worst names in North American pro soccer (list limited to women’s D1 and men’s D2 and above):

No. 10 - Cleveland Stokers
“Hey dude ya wanna go check out the Stokers game?”
“Yeah man, I’m like so stoked..stoked, like, get it?
"Gnarly, dude. Gnarly."

No. 9 - Tennessee Rhythm
A “great” combination of the use of a State's name and non-tangible things as a nickname. Hey mom, wen I grow up I want to be a Rhythm. Aren’t there bears or something in Tennessee. What’s wrong with bears?

No. 8 - Syracuse Salty Dogs
I want to know just how they found out they were salty?

No. 7 - San Diego Jaws
One can only assume that this was named after the movie, rather than the bottom of the owner’s face.

No. 6 - Montreal Impact
Yeah, Mr. Toronto went there. Seriously though...Impact?

No. 5 - Philadelphia Charge
Shirt sponsor = Visa

No. 4 - Bay Area CyberRays
No space. What is a CyberRay anyway? I love it when teams are named after trends. The CyberRays were destined to always be stuck in the '90s. So, maybe it’s good for them the league folded.

No. 3 - Sky Blue FC
What does it even mean? If you don’t follow WPS how would you ever know where this team plays? This name, unlike others on this list, doesn’t sound bad to the ear it just makes no sense (I’m sure there is a story, but with WPS you don’t have time to learn said story).

No. 2 - Jacksonville Tea Men
I only wish I could have been in the stands cheering against a team named the Tea Men. So. Many. Jokes.

No. 1 - Real Salt Lake
The only name that actually hurts the credibility of a league. An absolute embarrassment that never gets easier to deal with. If I ever win the lottery, I’m buying Salt Lake just to change that abomination of a name.

We got the Beat, We got the Beat...WE GOT THE BEAT!

Come on, who doesn't love the Go-Go's?

Proving that you can get stuff done when you (or, more accurately, government and business) really puts (its) mind to it, the Atlanta Beat are set to open their new soccer specific stadium on May 9. Yes, that's right, a WPS expansion team in the American southwesteast* is going to play in its own park. Awesome.

The stadium looks a lot like Saputo Stadium in Montreal now, only it's a tad bit smaller. It will seat 8,300 and cost $17 million USD to build.

Which begs the question, if Montreal's stadium can be expanded to be MLS ready with an investment of about $24 million USD then could this not be a launching pad to put Atlanta near the top of the pecking order for the 20th MLS team?

Remember folks, when it comes to MLS expansion, having a viable stadium plan (doesn't have to be SSS, but it does have to be a workable plan) is the single most important factor in the awarding of a team. Well, second most -- the ability to write a $35 million cheque trumps all.


* My BA? Geography...

Eight hours of staring at Don Garber

Soccer America has a nice summery up of the current status of the CBA negotiations.

The real news, such as it is, is that the players and management are still at the table. An eight hour meeting yesterday and more scheduled for today is promising. It could perhaps suggest that both sides really do understand the need for compromise.

Soccer America takes a similar view of most sites regarding the power dynamic. It says that the players are pretty much powerless and they can't hope for any significant gain from this round of talks. I continue to disagree with that assessment.

Young MLS players continue to make moves overseas and, if the U.S. performs well at the World Cup, the opportunities for Americans to play in Europe could increase even more. Basically the old prejudges about Yanks not being able to play the game are fading away (not sure whether the same thing applies to us Canucks, but that's not the point here). So, there would be options for many of the players moving forward - fight the fight and if you don't win get your agent on the phone with a good long distance plan to Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

The owners, on the other hand, would lose a hell of a lot more money than the players would in a work stoppage. They also have a new stadium in New York and a new team in Philly along with stadium deals in Houston and San Jose that need to be worked out and shovels in the ground in K.C. Oh, and a couple $35 million cheques to cash with one more (Montreal) likely a few weeks away. MLS does not want to lose that momentum, especially in a World Cup year.

A World Cup year...everyone points out that it's especially bad that this hangs over the league in a World Cup year. And, that attitude is right. The big show gives the league an opportunity to capitalize on the exposure that the sport generates during a World Cup. Of that, there is no doubt. But, tell me, what difference does that make to the players? They don't see the gains, the owners do. So, why should the fact that it's a World Cup year matter to the players in this dispute? To me, that's leverage that they have over the owners.

It's clear that neither side wants a work stoppage. But, I'm not so sure both sides stand to lose equally if there is one.

The players are fighting for some pretty basic rights that are enjoyed in football leagues the world over. In spite of all the pro-ownership rhetoric that is out there, I’ve yet to talk to a single player that actually thinks the core of single ownership and cost controls is going to be stripped away in this CBA. Nor, have I heard any player suggest that they are fighting for that. What I do hear is that they want to start down a path that may one day lead to it. Other than a geeky enjoyment of the nuts and bolts of analysing a cap system, I can’t for the life of me understand why any fan of this league wouldn’t want that too. The football sure as hell isn’t going to improve without a change in the business model.

It’s understood that a move away from how things have always been done in MLS is going to take time. But, it is not reasonable for the league to stick its head in the sand and refuse to see the influence the rest of the world has on MLS. A lot of pro-ownership types think that if the players get their way now that the league could be in peril. To me, it’s the opposite. Without a glimmer of hope that this league may one day “take the training wheels off” it’s hard to see how it will ever compete with the Mexicos of the world, let alone Europe, for top players.

And that would be a shame.

Guaranteed contracts for players with X amount of service (say 10,000 minutes of MLS play). Allow players that have been released by teams to sign with any other MLS team for the same or less money, without compensation to the team that waved them. Increase the minimum salary to a liveable wage. Make it a short term (2 years + 1 player’s option) to recognize that the economy might turn for the better soon.

Simple and fair. Now, get it done.

Freddie says Relax

Just reading in Seattle Times that SSFC coaches doesn’t know about my arrival, which surprises me.
Yesterday morning, before the Sounders FCs training we agreed with GM Adrian Hanauer about my future.
Just wanted to give u guys an update, more info to you will follow shortly.

Thanks // F
Freddie Ljungberg on his blog

Other than, based on the grammar and vaguely 14-year-old girl text message-esque style of the post, the fact that it's pretty clear that Freddie Ljungberg writes his own blog, it's unclear what to make of this.

It seems a little dodgy though. The big name DP is refusing to show up from training camp because he's scared that the league might not start in time and therefore he needs to protect himself against a prolonged time without football. "All the best, boys, and all that" Freddie seems to be saying. "But, Freddie's gotta take care of Freddie."

SOLIDARITY!

It does bring up the uncomfortable topic (for the union) of just how you manage a union that has DPs and development players all under the same roof. Their needs are, to say the last, different. It's like working out a single contract for the CEO and the mailroom boy.

In terms of what Freddie's little stunt/misunderstanding means on the pitch...hard to say, really. Did Seattle really benefit all that much from Ljungberg in year one? Sure, he's a good player -- even DP worthy -- but does he bring that much more to the club? Losing the other Fredy would be far more troublesome for Seattle. Spending another $400,000 (that you would save from the cap if Ljungberg walked) might actually make Seattle a better team. Sigi Schmid won a MLS Cup in Columbus without a DP. He could do it in Seattle too.

Ljungberg was a marketing signing for Seattle, only it turned out that they didn’t need the marketing. That will make it a lot easier if he walks.

LOL

Credit where credit is due (however reluctantly given)

I'll fully admit that like all City fans the world over I tend to watch the red team about as closely as I do my own. When I turn on the DVR on Monday to watch the weekend’s games, it's United that will always be first up. So, it stands to reason that I have been extremely interested in the ongoing drama surrounding the financing of the club and the Love United, Hate Glazer protest that is picking up steam.


Of particular interest to me are the efforts of those opposed to the Glazers choosing to wear the colours of green and gold (the club's original colours) as a symbol of their discontent. This form of protest speaks to me because, as you all likely know by now, I was involved in the Canadian fan's Sack the CSA Black Wednesday protest in 2007. The idea of continuing to support the players, while doing something to demonstrate that you are unhappy with a situation is far more impactful than a simple walk out or by staying away.

The View From the North Stand blog has posted video from last weekend’s Hull - United game showing some of the protests in the crowd. As you can see below, there is a smattering of green and gold throughout. This will likely grow as the ideas behind the protest get out.

With Black Wednesday, we knew that breaking through the apathy of your typical casual fan would be next to impossible (it's one of the reasons we chose black as the colour -- although it did stand in contrast with the red that typically would be found in Canadian support, we also knew that a lot of people would just wear black anyway, thus making our numbers look bigger). However, the true victory of that night was the attention it gathered. We were noticeable. The green and gold at Old Trafford represents a tiny percentage of the crowd, but it is noticed. And it will be reported on and the message will get out.

Have a look:


There has always been an element of xenophobia that has made me a little uncomfortable about the anti-Glazer and, at Liverpool, Hicks and Gillette attitudes that are out there. Especially in the early days, it seemed to be as much about hating the Yanks as it was about the actual football. Now, however, it's clear that the Glazers are pretty much using United as a bank. In the current climate, would anyone be shocked to see Wayne Rooney sold in the summer window?

Even in the darkest and pettiest part of my blue, blue heart I do not want to see United ran into the ground, destroyed by greed and stupidity. If my dream of seeing weeping children at Old Trafford watching United relegated on the final day of the season were to happen, I'd want it to be as a result of a Carlos Tevez back heel -- not a 25 point penalty for entering administration and insolvency.

So good on the United fans. I'll even admit that I have a little respect for those wearing green and gold. They are the real deal and they deserve better than what they are currently getting.

The 26-year-old banker who wears his freshly ironed Owen Hargreaves replica jersey to "The FC" games here in Toronto is still a wanker though.

Note: Pitch Invasion has been doing a great job of covering this from a “rational supporter’s” perspective.

Looking at the enemy: Jamaica's line-up for Canada

It will be "experimental" versus "experimental" when Canada takes on Jamaica Sunday. The Caribbean side has called a youthful, mostly domestically based squad for the game.

The players:

Goalkeepers - Dwayne Miller (Harbour View), Duwayne Kerr (Portmore United), Andre Blake (Glenmuir High, Sporting Central);

Defenders- Jermaine Taylor (St Georges SC), Shavar Thomas (Philadelphia Union), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View), John Barrett (St James High), Adrian Reid (Portmore United), Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros), Fabian McCarthy (Seba United);

Midfielders – Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros), Richard Edwards (Harbour View),Nicholi Findlayson (Waterhouse), Je-Vaughn Watson (Sporting Central), Kenardo Forbes (Waterhouse), Lovel Palmer (Harbour View), Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens), Andre Steele (Harbour View), Walker (Jamaica College) Johnson (Manchester High School);

Forwards – Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), Luton Shelton (Valerenga,NORWAY), Devon Hodges (Rivoli United),Navion Boyd (Tivoli Gardens), Mattocks (Bridgeport High, Waterhouse), Deshorn Brown (StETHS) High and Village United) and Peter Keyes (Boy’s Town).

The game is scheduled to kick-off at 6 p.m. EST. In spite of having three soccer focused TV channels in Canada, Canadians will once again need to gather around the ole' computer screen to watch an illegal web feed. On the positive, it, at least, will likely be in English.

In other news sky still blue

Canadian soccer circles are aflutter today with the news of Joey Saputo telling the Vancouver Sun that it was "not of a matter of if, but rather a matter of when" that the Impact would be joining MLS. And it is news that Saputo said it publically.

But, let's be clear on when this story broke. On November 23 Ben Rycroft first reported in his column at Metro and then later reiterated on It's Called Football that a $35-million US expansion fee had been agreed on and that the announcement was likely scheduled for First Kick.

Rycroft went on to say that the only hold up was the Quebec government, who were expected to give the Saputos $25 million CDN to upgrade Saputo Stadium to MLS standards. The team was expected to start play in 2012.

Saputo keeps making noise about Montreal making the jump in 2011, but that doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interest. Unless something happens to the Portland bid that delays it by a year. It would be a mess to try and bring three teams into the league in one year, especially two that need a significant Canadian presence.

It's going to be tough for Montreal to come in as the third Canadian team. With Toronto already on the market gobbling up Canadian abroad players and Vancouver focusing on its academy system, the Impact could really struggle. They do have a limited development system in place with the L'Attak de Trois-Rivières, but it is far less evolved than either Toronto or Montreal. However, in the past, Saputo has suggested that the Impact could enter the league as is and be competitive.

And if by competitive he means "finish with about the same record as the 2009 New York Red Bulls" then he's probably right.

It's Called Football - Ives on TFC trade rumours

Want to play for TFC? All you need is a busted knee and a desire to resurrect your career apparently. We talk the latest trials with Toronto FC.

We also get into the Houston Dynamo and if they can remain the perennial powerhouse they've been after losing so many players in the last few years.

And we are joined by Ives Galarcep of Soccer by Ives and ESPN to talk Charlie Davies miracle recovery, the latest on MLS CBA and he even drops some Toronto FC trade rumours.



EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD

Listen to just the Interview Only with Ives Galarcep of Soccer by Ives and ESPN as he talks about Charlie Davies miracle recovery and whether he's setting realistic goals for a return, what the latest on the MLS CBA negotiations are and he even drops a few hints on some Toronto FC trade rumours.

Subscribe and download the Interview Only at iTunes

Sober Second Thoughts: If it ain't Scottish...

Trader Mo is not always the most popular man in Toronto soccer circles. And there are legitimate reasons to criticise his performance as director of soccer for the Reds -- four coaches in four years, a constant turnover of players and a far too close for comfort relationship with First Wave Sports Marketing (guess who TFC's final pick in the draft this year is represented by).

However, it's Robbie Burns day. And, we have 364 other days a year to rip on Mo.

So...in honour of Scotland's second national holiday, the 10 best things Mo Johnston has brought to Toronto.

No. 10 - Colour

Mo's an interesting cat. With the swagger of a '70s porn star and the confidence of, well, a guy that played for both Celtic and Rangers, Johnston gives soccer a charismatic and compelling face in Toronto. That factor was especially key in the lead-up to the first season, but those of us on the inside of the soccer bubble would be delusional to think that it still doesn't matter.

No. 9 - He makes us think

Before Mo there wasn't anyone that could cause controversy amongst domestic soccer watchers. Sure, the CSA was a constant source of amusement/frustration, but there wasn't anyone that could really bring out passion and debate like Mo. Although I'm on record as saying that I do not believe Johnston is the best fit long term for this city, I do believe that he has helped to light a fire under the soccer community. We think about the game in a way that we simply didn't before TFC and Johnston. And, that's a good thing.

No. 8 - Money for nothing

Mo is a tinkerer. At times it can be problematic, but at other times he does manage to find value out of nothing. He's great at squeezing allocation out of teams and assets from very little. He doesn't always use the acquired assets as well as you would hope, but that doesn't discount his ability to get out there and get them

No. 7 - He's a psychopath (but in a good way)

Mo simply doesn't care who he pisses off. He'll cut a player without blinking and he'll manipulate the MLS rules in ways that would make a lesser man blush. Holding Chicago ransom for Brian McBride was, without a doubt, a crappy thing to do, but it was also the right thing to do. There was to be no special treatment to the US nat coming home. Damn right!

No. 6 - He can find solid players in the draft

Although this is way overstated -- based largely on one pick, Jozy Altidore, that he made for the Red Bulls, Mo does do pretty good in the draft. Four of TFC's starting XI are first round draft picks. You can't deny that.

No. 5 - The Mo Edu Memorial Grass Pitch

There was a fifth first round pick that Mo could have put in the line-up, only he sold him way above market value to Rangers. Getting $5 million for Edu allowed TFC to pay for a new grass pitch. That, in turn, should allow the club to attract better international transfers. Without a doubt, it will allow fans of TFC not to have to watch balls taking stupid bounces on a crappy turf and, most importantly, it will allow TFC fans to remind those in Vancouver that they are the ones stuck with the crap turf in a year's time.

No. 4 - He takes risks

You can think of this as a negative, but Johnston is willing to ring in talented players that have questions -- Laurent Robert anyone. Although many didn't work out -- Laurent Robert, anyone -- it's still better to have a guy willing to try things, than a stand pat sort of manager. That's especially the case in MLS when you often need to be creative.

No. 3 - He can manipulate

When the rules don't suit Mo, he convinces people to change the rules for him. You can trace that feeling of entitlement all the way back to his famous switch in Scotland, but you still see it today. Mo doesn't like the Canadian domestic rule? Convince the league to change it. TFC has issues with the cap? SURPRISE! Stefan Frei is still a Generation adidas player*.

No. 2 - He's not afraid to back off a mistake

Yes, he's made too many errors, but Johnston does not suffer from falling in love with his own players. If he brings in a dud -- even if he's bragged up said dud -- he'll ship him out as quickly as he brought him in. Ideally, you don't have to do that, but in MLS you cannot afford sentimentality. Mo doesn't know the meaning of the word.

No. 1 - He brought the boys home

It was a bit of a learning curve for him, but somewhere between 2007 and late 2008 Johnston finally figured out that it was vital that he stockpile Canadian talent. In that time, he's managed to bring home some of the biggest names in the sport here. As Vancouver and Montreal enter the league, this skill is going to become more and more valuable.

Tomorrow we can return to our normal critiquing of Johnston, but for today let's all raise a glass of the finest Scotch and chase down that haggis.

If it ain't Scottish...

*no, I don’t have proof that anything is going on with Frei’s inclusion in the program for one more year, but...if I were a fan of another MLS team I’d be pissed about this one way underreported story.

Club America, Paraguay star in critical condition after being shot

The hits just keep coming to the football world. Club America and Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas was shot in a Mexican bar last night.

Details are still emerging. I will point you to the places that are best reporting this as the day progresses.

And now for the hard part

The Canadian sub-20 girls remained perfect in group play yesterday with a 3-1 win over Guatemala. With the win, Canada captures Group A with a perfect nine points and waits to see which of the U.S. or Mexico that they will face in the semi-final Thursday.

The winner of each semi-final advances to the World Cup in Germany and will play each other for bragging rights in the final. The losers play for one spot to the World Cup.

According to Carolina Morace, Canada has approved each game out. They appear to be playing very organized, only having allowed a single goal all tournament so far (and that came with a 3-0 lead. They are teens. They lost concentration).

The hard part comes now, however. The women's game is getting better across the board, but there still is a considerable gab between the top of CONCACAF and the bottom. Canada only got by Costa Rica 1-0 and that team won out after playing Canada. That's the type of game you can expect from here on out.

The U.S. has looked unstoppable, outscoring its opponents 10-0 in two games. So, it would appear that Mexico is Canada’s likely semi-final opponent. They will need to beat the Mexicans or, likely, Costa Rica again to make the trip to Europe this summer.

They are favourites, but not of the runaway type.

Jorge Andrade to trial at TFC: moderate risk, exceptional reward

Former Portuguese international Jorge Andrade could be about to make a comeback attempt with Toronto FC. Rumours are circulating in the Portuguese media that he will be in Toronto for a medical on Feb. 1 and, if he passes, offered a trial with the Reds.

Andrade would have likely been DP class just a few short years ago. Since then, however, his left knee has blown up. If the rumours are true, and they are also being reported by Gerry Dobson on his Twitter feed, then it is a solid piece of business for TFC. There is minimal risk in bring in a defender of his potential. At worst, he's lost it and nothing comes of the trial. At second worst, he's using TFC as a jumping back point for his career and will be back in Europe just as soon as he proves that he can still perform (in a physically demanding league). At what's actually worst, he plays three minutes of TFC's season opener and blows his knee out again leaving Toronto short a player and stuck with a $300,000 salary. But, let's not go there right now.

This is MLS. You don't get players that played in World Cups for sides that actually competed to win said World Cups unless there is a serious flaw that makes them available. Bringing in Andrade (if the rumours are to be believed -- remember the strip at the presser rule. It ain't real until you see the player holding up a jersey with his name on the back at a press conference) this isn't a no risk proposition. It's a moderate risk, potentially huge reward proposition.

As for why he'd want to come to T.O.? For those that aren't aware, the city has a massive Portuguese community (almost 240,000 live within driving distance of BMO Field). The GTA would be the third largest Portuguese city in Portugal. He also played at Deportivo La Coruña at the same time as Julian de Guzman. So, there would be some familiarity there.

But what’s driving him most of all is likely to get a chance to prove he can still play. IN many ways the second scenario above might be the best for TFC. He’s just 31. A move back to a bigger league isn’t out of the question. The biggest worry MLS fans have when a guy comes over after spending time in leagues like La Liga and Serie A is that they will float their way through a semi-retirement. So, a little hunger would be a good thing.

Houston: Canada south...

This one is a little less developed than the Kevin Harmse signing (which, you know, actually happened), but there are rumblings that Patrice Bernier is on his way to the Houston Dynamo.

If he does land in Texas, the Dynamo would have - count 'em - four Canadians on the roster. There have been times when it seemed that TFC was struggling to have that many.

There is an interesting sidebar to this. As Vancouver and, we assume, Montreal enter the league those Canadian players are more and more valuable. Could Houston be thinking a bit of a rebuild this year after losing Stu Holden? Grab a couple assets that will be fairly useful in 2010, then look to move them above their true value to Canuck-desperate Canadian teams.

Houston has always been a smart club. And it wouldn't be the worst idea.

His name, for those of you that don't have to look at French on the back of your cereal box, is PAT-reece Burn-YAY. He's even played for the Impact in the past. One would think that Montreal might be interested in a couple years.

Another possibility is that MLS has worked something out with Canadian and American labour lawmakers to allow Canucks and Yanks to be counted the same league-wide. Don’t hold your breath on that one. Or maybe Dominic Kinnear likes poutine. Who knows?

Bernier played for FC Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga since 2008.

Puttin' on a show

Yesterday I spend a goodly amount of time helping the Voyageurs set-up their booth at the Toronto Internernational Soccer Show. They are there to spread awareness of the Canadian national team and to sell a few scarves. Fun times!

There are several other booths there, of course, including one for the Red Patch Boys. You should really take the time today to go out and support the show, so it can grow in years ahead. It's just $12 for the day (or, click here to pay $10).

With that you also get access to the Toronto Invitational Futsal Tournament, which is the biggest futsal tournament in Canada. This will be top class futsal, easily worth your $12.

Have a look for me. I'll be at the Vs booth for a while today.

It's Called Football - New Faces

New faces are joining Toronto FC while promising fresh faces are leaving MLS. Pat Onstad is back with Canada while Greg Sutton appears ready to join the New York Red Bulls.

We're also joined by the Vancouver Whitecaps newest front office face - Tom Soehn (of DC United fame) and he talks to us about his plans for the Caps in MLS, what their strategy for the expansion draft will be and his time under USMNT head coach Bob Bradley.

That and Ben manages to call Bob, "Bill" Bradley one more time.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Listen to the Interview Only as we're joined by the Vancouver Whitecaps newest front office face - Tom Soehn (of DC United fame) and he talks to us about his plans for the Caps in MLS, what their strategy for the expansion draft will be and his time under USMNT head coach Bob Bradley. He also puts out a wish list for an MLS Designated Player

Subscribe and download the Interview Only on iTunes

Subscribe and download the Interview Only for your Zune, MP3 player and tape deck

Another young one lost

Stu Holden appears set for Bolton. Not much more to say other than the timing is either perfect or ominous depending on your position on the CBA debate.

Movin' on up

We had the privilege yesterday of being the first show to interview Kartik Krishnayer after he took over as the PR director for the new NASL. Kartik has never been shy with an opinion, which is why his selection caught a lot of us guard. When I first spoke to him after the announcement, it was pretty clear that he was taken aback a little too.

Predictably, his appointment has caused some to react with petty jealously. Anyone that sticks his neck out as much as Kartik has over the years is bound to have a share of people that are looking to cut it off -- Tall Poppy Syndrome is a term the Aussies use to describe that particularly ugly aspect of human nature. However, to focus on the negative to is to completely lose the plot.

Kartik has captured the blogging Holy Grail. Through hard work and constant networking he's channelled his niche writing into a full-time job. Despite what some want to claim, he hasn't been hired by idiots. Any league that has a Bob Lenarduzzi team in it is worth paying attention to. If the NASL thinks that Kartik is their man, then who are we to judge?

One thing you can't accuse Kartik of is not being passionate about domestic soccer. There is no glory in writing about the USL-1, as he has for years. There isn't much more in writing MLS. Yes, to get where he just got, Kartik had to promote himself. That isn't arrogance, it's self-preservation. Those that have an issue with it need to re-examine just how much importance they are putting on Crystal Palace Baltimore.

What will be interesting to see is just how Kartik tries to integrate new media/social media into his new job. He may be a PR man now, but he'll always have a little bit of blogger in him. The sport needs that attitude and philosophy as it tries to break into the mainstream.

Good bloggers are willing to constantly put themselves out there and to aggressively seek out the information they need. Although PR requires a little more subtly, the tenacity Kartik has shown throughout his time writing so far should serve him well in his new job.

Good luck Kartik. You had better return my e-mails when I come looking for accreditation.

Houston looks to fill its Canuck requirement

Kevin Harmse, late of TFC, is on his way to Houston after Chivas basically gave him away (4th round pick in 2012).

Harmse is just one of those players. Just good enough to contribute in MLS, probably a little too expensive for D2 (where he'd feature more) and not good enough to look beyond. He was a perfect fit in Toronto, where his passport was an advantage. However, his American wife couldn't get work in the Great White North, so he made the sacrifice to move back stateside.

He will become Houston's third Canadian. The San Jose/Houston franchise (and sorry San Jose fans, it's one franchise) has a long and successful history with us Canucks.

Harmse missed the last half of the season in 2009 with an injury.

Jacob Peterson to TFC

From TFC PR:

Toronto FC announced Thursday they have acquired midfielder Jacob Peterson from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for allocation money. Per league and team policies financial terms were not available.

“This is a player that Preki has been wanting for some time,” said director of soccer Mo Johnston. “We’re looking forward to bringing him into camp and getting him working with the rest of the players.”

Peterson, 23, was the Rapids’ first pick of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, (2^nd Round, 21^st overall) and made his professional debut playing 21 minutes on April 8, 2006 against the Columbus Crew. After establishing himself into the first team in his first season with the club, he was named the team’s “Rookie of the Year”. In the 2009 MLS season the midfielder appeared in 23 games with Colorado, making 12 starts and adding two goals and two assists. He missed the last month of the regular season due to injury.

This is a bit of a head scratcher. Peterson is a wing player, which we all know Toronto needs, but he's a wing player that blew his knee out in the final month of the 2009 season. In Colorado it was expected that he might not be ready to play until August. Rapids' fans are suggesting that he's a player that can run really, really fast but can't actually play soccer.

That seems to contradict the information in the press release, which suggests that he'll be in Toronto on Feb. 1 for camp. "Peterson will be in Toronto for the start of pre-season on February 1st," is how it's worded, which, actually, doesn't say anything about him being in Toronto to play at the pre-season camp, does it? Someone stand outside Gate 4 to see if he's limping.

It's also surprising that TFC is using allocation and adding another international spot without first dropping one. That must mean that there is someone going out the door to open up the spot and to cover Peterson's salary. He made a base of $100,000, with a potential of $118,750 last year.

The kids are alright (so far)

So far, so good for Canada at the CONCACAF sub-20 girl's championships. The Canucks got a first half goal from 17-year-old Adriana Leon and held on to beat Costa Rica 1-0.

It was likely a battle of the top two sides in the group. Canada is the defending champions and Costa Rica finished fourth in 2008. The top two teams in the group advance to the semi-finals, where each team will have two chances to win a game to send them to the World Cup.

It was interesting to see a 1-0 score line. By all accounts Canada was the better team, but the gap has closed tremendously from a few short years ago. One of the reasons that it was vital to axe Even Pellerud was that his boot-and-chase style was holding up the tactical advancement of the game and allowing the Central American sides to catch up. They haven't -- yet -- but it's been clear for a while that Canada needed to take a step back to make a development leap. When I asked new head coach Carolina Morace last year whether the scoreboard mattered in the early days of her leadership she was refreshingly candid. "No, not really.” It’s about development.

Morace is in charge of both the full national side and the u-20 team. You get the feeling that she is particularly interested in the kids. The national side is still probably athletic enough to bully their way into the World Cup. If Morace can qualify for the u-20 World Cup the "correct" way, then maybe one day the national team can compete to win the big prize instead of just simply compete.

One player she might be particularly interested in is Leon. In spite of being one of the youngest players in the tournament, she has already shown that she has all that you need to be a star in the game. The last time Canada had a female player with this much potential at this young of an age it was Kara Lang.

Then Pellerud got a hold of her. Lang, now done school, is still looking for a WPS team.

Group B goes today with the U.S. in action against Jamaica and T&T taking on Mexico. You can watch all games live and for free on Concacaf.com.

It's Called Football - Moving up in the World

A new central defender is on Toronto FC's radar but is Mo's radar off once again?

The Vancouver Whitecaps have their ship headed in the right direction as they add on another strong front office member.

With the friendly with Argentina all but confirmed for Canada there appears another is now on the horizon.

And Kartik Krishnayer joins us for his first interview since moving on up in the world - formerly of MLS Talk and EPL Talk and now the Director of Communications for the NASL - and we try to get him to revert to his blogger roots and shit talk everybody.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Listen to the Interview Only as It's Called Football is joined by Kartik Krishnayer who speaks about the future of the NASL, what to expect in the 2011 season, how they'll sell Tier 2 soccer and what he really thinks of Bob Lenarduzzi.


Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on iTunes

Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on everything else

Watch young girls on Internet

^ That's gonna get the pageviews up.

The CONCACAF u-20 girl's qualifiers start today in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Canada is involved in the early action against Costa Rica. The young Canucks are actually the defending champions of this competition, having upset the United States two years ago.

Three teams advance to the u-20 World Cup. There are two groups of four, with the winner of each group advancing to the final (and the Finals) while the two second place teams play for the last CONCACAF spot. The World Cup is this summer in Germany.

The United States, Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago round out the field. Canada's group also has Cuba and Guatemala in it.

Today's game is likely for first place in the group and Canada will be a heavy favourite.

Interestingly, CONCACAF is offering free streaming of the tournament at its website. Credit where it's due, there is little chance that youth tournaments are going to start to be televised anytime soon and, if all goes well with this, the hardcore can watch all the sub-17 qualifiers that they desire.

God help my marriage.

You’re not in Missouri anymore

The Wiz are moving to Kansas! After years of stadium proposals coming and going, it appears that K.C. is set to break ground on a soccer specific stadium. As the title indicates, the stadium will move from the Missouri side of the line over into Kansas.

Apparently, it’s going to be built in a field, across from a furniture outlet store. So, not downtown then. At this point you can’t really complain too much, but you do hope that the Wizards don’t run into some of the same problems that FC Dallas did when they moved things out to the burbs. The fans need to be involved right from the get-go in this to ensure that the transition is smooth.

Regardless, as Dan Loney pointed out brilliantly today at BigSoccer, there is nothing but good news here. By building a stadium K.C. suddenly checks out of the will-they-move-the-team discussions and becomes a more stable addition to the league. Fans in larger markets benefit from a strengthening of the small, because it brings the league closer to financial security and a loosening on central control (in theory, anyway).

TFC fans that travelled to K.C. last year for the home opener came away with an appreciation for the supporters of the Wizards. They’ve put up with a lot through the years and have done so with good humour. They deserve a break and it seems like they may have just got one.

City's Money: Methinks the wanker doth protest too much

Yes, Gary. We feel the same way about you.

City could very well lose the tie, but the point's been made. And surprisingly, it was Alex Ferguson that made it.

------------------------------------van der Sar----------------------------------
Da Silva--------------Brown---------------------------Evans------------------Evra
Valencia-------------Carrick-------------------------Fletcher--------------- Giggs
--------------------------------------Anderson-----------------------------------
---------------------------------------Rooney------------------------------------

That looks suspiciously like an A line-up for United. In the Carling Cup! Against City!! But, remember kids: they don't care about this competition, or the noisy neighbours. The glory that is United has bigger things to concern themselves with like servicing their debt.

As stated, this particular tie is still very much up for grabs and a strong argument can be made that United has the upper hand with the away goal. If the Red Devils win 1-0 they are through. However, one wonders what old Alex is going to do next week, what with City having beaten the top team and hungry Arsenal clipping at their heels on the weekend. Maybe he can save some of his abundant pride by dressing the kids at the home leg -- "See, we don't care," he could claim. But, I'm not sure Rags Nation is in the mood.

When this fixture was first drawn I suggested that it would be interesting and telling to see what United did with its line-up. Immediately, I had some otherwise sane people that happen to support United tell me with certainty that it would be business as usual and that the kids would get their typical run out. City has yet to become a priority you see.

However, for a club that they don't care about, City sure gets talked about a whole lot amongst the United faithful. And it sure didn't seem like an indifferent group of fans, players or management on the red side of Manchester yesterday.

Objectively, I know that City has a way to go before it can legitimately compete with United week in week out. But, it's clear that they are moving in that direction.

It's been nearly 34 years since the Blue Moon last rose. It's pretty clear it won't be long to we see it again. And there isn't anything the arrogant, complaisant neighbours can do about it.

TFC looks to Africa for defensive help

Multiple reports today are suggesting that Egyptian central defender Ibrahim Said (you'll also see it spelled Saied) is set to join TFC.

This is a player that can help the Reds - If his reputation as a hothead, locker room cancer are overstated.

Said plays a tough game and has talent to burn. However, he's been known to have, um, issues with management at his various stops. While at loan with Everton, he is alleged to have falsely claimed that his mother was sick so he could travel back to Egypt to play in a local derby of a team that he supported.

He's bounced around Turkey, Egypt and, most recently, Libya in recent seasons.

As always, one must be careful not to get the name stitched to the back of your jersey until you see an official announcement from the club, but this story is rapidly moving through the Egyptian press. And it seems to fit with what Mo Johnston has been saying recently about having help on the way in the areas that it's needed.

Although it's hard to say whether Said will be a contributor without seeing what he has left (he's just 30, but it's been a couple years since he's been at the top levels), some credit should be given here to TFC management. One of the biggest criticisms of Johnston's style is that he is overly reliant on the UK for international players. British players can clearly play in MLS, but they also coat way too much. The best MLS teams find players from outside of Europe that can contribute for far less money.

Said seems like he might fit that description.

This is a high risk, but potentially high reward move (f it does actually happen).

City v Red Bastards live blog

Without a dream in my heart...

So, City plays United today in a cup semi-final. I know that many of you will be dismissive of the Carling Cup and its significance, but to do so is to dismiss the history of the game. You're missing out.

And besides, if the League Cup doesn't matter why does the infamous sign in the Stretford End say "33 years?"

If you do have an interest in the history of the British game take a look at David Conn's blog piece from today. A City fan growing up, Conn takes us back to the day City beat United in the run-up to the 1974 League Cup. He argues convincingly that it was the day that the two club's fortunes took a split. Perhaps today (and next week's second leg) are the natural outcome of that split -- a destiny more than three decades in the making.

This semi-final, whatever Sir Alex Ferguson or Gary Neville say, does mark a moment of potential historical change. City, 30 years since Allison's return, look finally to be seriously on the rise.United, indomitable Premier League and European champions in the 90s and noughties, appear to be wobbling. As this is turbo-commercialised English football in the 2010s, City's sudden ability to compete is courtesy of the very un-City-like fortune of £400m (so far) poured in by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, whose Abu Dhabi childhood was probably a little different from mine.

If you can't find a way to enjoy today, you probably don't like football.

Bunbury talks (again)

Teal Bunbury sat down with Gerry Dobson to talk all things MLS, Canada and his dad.



All the attention to Bunbury is great. And it illustrates just how important MLS is to the development of the sport here in Canada. Is it the best league in the world that Canadians play in? No, clearly not. But, it's a gateway league for Canadians that might be interested. The attention given to Bunbury doesn't really match the true potential -- this kid is still pretty raw -- but that hardly matters. Let's hope there are 100 more Teal Bunburys in the coming years.

And, yes, he once again declares for Canada. By the time this is done, there will be no doubt where he stands. No Canadian player has ever been asked "the question" as often or as directly as Bunbury has been this past month.

Stop drinkin' the Kool-aid: Petke says "let 'em spend their own money"

"If we get a little more money to each team it should be on the team what they want to bring in and what they want to pay. It doesn't make sense to tell a team like New York Red Bulls..."Listen, hey, you can't go out and get this guy 'cause he's too much money." Well, they own the team, you know. If they want to go out and make (NYRB) the best possible team that they can make it should be on them, 100 per cent. And if a team like Kansas City or Columbus...doesn't choose to do it, then, well, they don't have to."
NYRB defender Michael Petke

Parity is the purple Kool-aid for the typical sports fan. Ownership sells the concept of parity to the fan under the guise that it benefits them. Every team has an equal chance to win, the owners say. Aren't those playoff races exciting!

What ownership fails to mention is how artificial parity brings everything down to the middle and, most importantly, that its true purpose is to control costs -- cost certainty they call it, and it's a very nice piece of business for sports teams.

In the linked interview, Petke asks why teams should be prevented from spending their own money. The answer he would get from many in MLS circles is that they have to be protected from themselves. Left on their own devices, team owners will spend the league into bankruptcy. New York Cosmos is whispered ominously.

The thing is, however, the NASL days are long gone. The sport is at a much different level today in Canada and the United States than it was in 1979 and MLS is in a much stronger position than the NASL was. You could buy a NASL franchise for two used pick-up trucks and a Farrah Fawcett poster. Vancouver just cut MLS a cheque for $35 million. Apple meet Orange. You two have nothing in common other than that whole 'I'm a fruit thing,' do you?

Petke made another important point in the interview. The folks that own MLS teams aren't idiots. The Krafts* are hardly going to run their business into the ground chasing Kaka.

Other bloggers have taken issue with the use of the term "training wheels" to describe the economic restraints placed on MLS right now. Lovers of Kool-aid, they have suggested that the salary cap and economic structure should be embraced and appreciated. The cap is cool!

If you're doing your MBA in sports management, maybe.

There is little doubt that the cap and the single entity model have allowed MLS to grow to a certain point and that the league would have struggled without it. We all get that. And, no one is suggesting a move to a full free market (not even Petke if you listen to what he said carefully) right now. But, it's time to take a baby step.

It can be pretty scary for a kid to take the training wheels off of his bike. They might fall, after all. But, it's important that they are brave and try because you can't stay a child forever.

It's time MLS fans were brave. They might find out that it's easier to stay upright than they think.

*although they do own Kool-aid, so maybe that’s the problem!

It's Called Football Weekly: CBA talk and more

We discuss Landon Donovan's time at Everton so far and whether he'll be staying, whether it's a good idea for Canada to play Argentina and try and talk about how Don Garber can say so much without saying anything at all?

And we also are joined by NYRB defender Michael Petke who speaks about the MLS CBA negotiations, how far apart the league and the union are and what the players are actually fighting for in this deal.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Listen to just the interview as It's Called Football is joined by NYRB defender Michael Petke who speaks about the MLS CBA negotiations, how far apart the league and the union are on the key issues, what the players are actually fighting for in this deal and how they feel about Don Garber getting that rumoured $3 million salary.

Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on iTunes

Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on everything else

It's Called Football - Live Interview

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

New York Red Bulls' Michael Petke will join It's Called Football for a live interview session where we'll talk about the MLS CBA negotiations, what the league's stance is, what the union's stance is and how likely will a lockout be come February.

Join us at 9pm EST tonight for a live Interview Only with Michael Petke. Live chat below

A Hall of an idea

Last week it was announced that new TFC manager Preki has been inducted into the U.S. soccer hall of fame. Although it hardly created the wall-to-wall media coverage that the Baseball Hall of Fame vote received, it did get mentioned in many places and debated amongst the hardcore fandom at places like BigSoccer.

Hall of fames don’t really mean much, but they are useful promotional exercises. When designed well they can also be compelling museums, even for those that don’t generally follow the sport.

I can’t say as I’ve been to the U.S. soccer hall of fame, but I’ve been to Cooperstown, despite not being all that into baseball. I enjoyed it immensely. The Hockey Hall of Fame here in Toronto is great fun and a recommended tourist attraction even for those that don’t know a hockey puck from a cow pattie (or that cow patties are sometimes used as hockey pucks – in the mythical Canada of David Adams Richards mind, anyway. Not sports, but my barley-tolerates-my-interest-in-WWII-history wife claims to have “loved” the Imperial War Museum in London.

The point being that a well maintained museum, which is really what a hall of fame is, can do wonders to increase the profile of a sport and to sell its importance and interest to those that are sceptical. How many future Cy Young winners started on their journey after looking at Babe Ruth’s glove? Wouldn’t it be nice if some Canadian kid had the chance to be inspired by something he or she saw at a Canadian soccer hall of fame?

It’s possible now, I suppose. Said kid will just have to make sure that he or she “called in advance” to make sure they “avoided disappointed by calling three days in advance and waited for confirmation. “

It’s at 7601 Martin Grove Road in Vaughan, Ontario (suburb north of Toronto) for those curious. If you want to book that appointment go ahead and call 905-264-9390, ext. 223.

With respect to the volunteers who keep the hall going, it might be time to reach a little higher. I wonder if there might not be another location – say at a stadium down by the lake – that might make a little more sense to house the museum. Hell, BMO Field is located on the site of the former hockey hall (that’s why the facade above the entrance to Gate 4 is decorated with hockey players. It’s the last remaining piece of the building that was once there) so it would be a return to the building’s roots in a way. It’s wasting away up in Vaughan. Give people a chance to see it. If not directly in the stadium, then there has to be a building down at Exhibition Place that could be converted.

It seems such a simple little thing. Money would be required, of course, but I can’t imagine it would be cost prohibited. If it were down in a location where it could be actually seen, then a small admission charge could off-set the costs

The sport is growing. Its infrastructures need to grow with it.

Argen-freakin-tina!

El primero será el 25 de mayo en el Monumental ante Canadá, en el marco de los festejos del Bicentenario; cuatro días después, jugaría ante Israel en Buenos Aires; el 3 de marzo ya estaba confirmando un encuentro ante Alemania
Anyone speak Spanish?

Because that sure reads to me like Canada is playing Argentina on May 25, which is both exciting and terrifying all at once.. It's likely that Canada is appealing to the Argies because we would likely present with a similar style as Greece (although I'm not sure we will, but don't tell them that). This would be right before the World Cup, so the game would probably feature Richard Hastings trying to defend Lionel Messi.

Fun!

Canada has actually done fairly well against fellow South American power Brazil through the years, even drawing in a competitive game. But, the prospect of playing a world power likely to dress its very best line-up is daunting.

The last time the Red and White had that chance was likely in the run up to the 1994 World Cup when it played Brazil, Spain, Germany and Holland. They lost by a combined score of 8-1, but did manage to stay even with Brazil.

The Brazilians won the World Cup. So, clearly, Canada was just as good as the best team in the world. (That's a joke for those that can't read sarcasm)

The paraphrase Ric Flair, “To be (even remotely close to) the best, you have to (be somewhat competitive with) the best.”

Good on the CSA if this gets booked.

Note: If the game goes, it will be the first game against Argentina since 1937. Canada lost a tight one then, falling 8-1 to the South Americans.

It's Called Football - SuperDraft

Canada announces their roster for the Jamaica friendly and we breakdown Stephen Hart's approach with the selections. Sean Keay joins us from Philly to talk about all the deals that didn't get done at the SuperDraft and what Toronto FC's strategy was in not moving up.

We also get into the latest Simeon Jackson rumour and why moving to another Championship level team is the wrong decision.



EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

Get the Interview Only of Sean Keay from MLSDraft.net as he speaks on how Toronto FC fared at the draft, the rumoured Jimmy Conrad trade and how he had nothing to do with Bill Archer's car getting broken into.

Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on iTunes

Also rate us and write a review on iTunes

Subscribe and download to It's Called Football for Interviews Only on everything else

City's Money: Who do we play after Everton again?

City's Web site has been widely praised for being one of the best in the football world. A nice example of the work they have been doing can be seen below, in this re-cap of City's march to the Carling Cup semi-final. Even if you're not a City fan you can probably enjoy the production.

Wait, there is another draft too?

The second WPS draft goes today in Philly. You can follow it on Twitter here.

The draft goes seven rounds and starts at 10 a.m. EST. I will provide a summary and focus on any Canadians that might make the cut. Kara Lang will probably get a look at some point.

Three Canucks were selected last year -- Christine Sinclair, Kelly Parker and Melissa Tancredi.

Earlier this month veteran Candace Chapman signed with the horribly named Sky Blue FC (Bay Area), where she will join Sinclair next year.

The Atlanta Beat have the first selection. They are expected to pick Tobin Heath.

TFC at the draft: reaction

Some reaction from TFC at the draft. First Zach Herold talks about how wonderful we all are:



Next, Mo Johnston tells us how he got exactly what he wanted:



Finally, Preki says some stuff too:

Jackson chase may be over

Rumours are swirling today that the Simeon Jackson chase is over. Gillingham has apparently agreed to a £700,000 transfer to Blackpool.

Blackpool will give the Gills first refusal rights on a couple players currently on the fringe at Blackpool. Additionally, Jackson will remain with the Gills to the very end of the transfer period as they try and stay up in League One.

Blackpool is currently seventh on the Championship table, one spot out of a playoff spot.

My position on this is well established. Jackson needs to get somewhere that can give him a shot at the EPL quickly. It's fine to "develop" in the CCC another little while. However, if he stays too long at that level he runs the risk of never advancing. He'll be the next Paul Peschisolido. There is nothing wrong with that, but the continuing growth of the game in this country needs a few players at the very top.

Mo says a little on the draft

Like, a very little (from MLS Insider):

SuperDraft 2010: MoJo on Self-Control & Zachary Herold from mlsinsider on Vimeo.