VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
Was 2017 a Success for Vancouver Whitecaps? – Eighty-Six Forever
Continuing our year-end review, the staff gives their take on whether the Vancouver Whitecaps 2017 season should be looked at as a success or not.
What’s on tap: Roster updates, World Cup draw, and more – Whitecaps FC
From roster updates in Major League Soccer to the draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, here’s what’s to look out for this week in MLS and abroad.
Should they stay or should they go? Whitecaps face tough choices on contract extensions – Eighty-Six Forever
With the first contract deadline day looming only days away, it’s crunch time for the Whitecaps’ front office to figure out who will be on the roster next season. Manager Carl Robinson has hinted that there will be substantial changes to the roster next season and one move has already been made official: the team will part ways with veteran shot stopper David Ousted for 2018.
Vancouver Whitecaps: Plan B – Soccer Shorts
Given that it seems certain that Carl Robinson will be back as coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018 (barring the unlikely, but still just possible enough to be cruel, divine intervention of the Welsh FA) maybe it’s time to find a compromise between the way he wants to play the game and the way we want to watch?
Houston Dynamo keep accomplishments in focus, but cling to belief – MLS
A year ago this time, the Houston Dynamo found themselves deep in offseason mode. They had just announced Wilmer Cabrera as the club’s next head coach, and were trying to retool a roster that finished last in the Western Conference.
Altidore, Giovinco set to re-enter the fold in Eastern Conference Championship – Toronto FC
Back at full strength, Toronto FC are expecting a very different match come Wednesday.
MLS Cup win would put Higuain firmly alongside Schelotto in Crew lore – ESPN FC
It’s never easy being compared to a legend. It’s even tougher following one.
Toronto FC need Sebastian Giovinco & Jozy Altidore to fire them back into form – Waking the Red
Toronto FC’s 2017 playoff campaign is yet to catch fire like the one in 2016 did.
‘TEAM OF DESTINY’: Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney says hard work, not destiny, will see Reds through – Toronto Sun
Soccer fans in the Lower 48 have labeled the embattled Columbus Crew the “Team of Destiny” during these playoffs, an odd moniker given the club, more than anything, appears destined for relocation.
‘A NO-BRAINER’: Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley tips coach Greg Vanney as league’s best – Toronto Sun
Without cameras and recorders in his face, Greg Vanney would probably pick himself. His players certainly would.
New MLS money structure will help teams retain star players – Metro
In an effort to add more talent, MLS might be adding another mechanism by which to keep young rising stars within the suddenly burgeoning league. Another source of allocation money, Metro has learned, could help the league add and keep young stars within MLS by offering more salaries that can better compete on the international transfer stage.
Anthony Hudson is exactly what the Rapids need – Burgundy Wave
The offseason for fans of the Colorado Rapids is marked with a hurry up and wait mentality. But it looks as if our wait for a manager is probably over, with Anthony Hudson likely crossing the Pacific to make his home in the Rockies to coach our beloved boys in burgundy. I’m encouraged, in an offseason that’s needed some encouragement.
Report: MLS offers Columbus opportunity to get into expansion race – Massive Report
NBC4’s Dan Pearlman has confirmed that the league is offering to put the Crew into the expansion race if the team leaves.
Robert Lewandowski, wife eye ‘dream’ move to Los Angeles – SBI
Robert Lewandowski and his wife, Anna, have set their sights on Los Angeles. Speaking to Business Insider Poland, the wife of the Bayern Munich star says the two are hoping to move to Los Angeles before the end of the forward’s career. Anna Lewandowska is a health food blogger that owns her own company, Foods by Ann.
BC SOCCER NEWS
VISL Division 1 Results and Standings – November 27 – BC Soccer Web
Week 12 results from Division 1 on Grey Cup weekend.
Best is best at AAA soccer championships – Tri City News
Quinn Desaulniers scored on a penalty kick with less than five minutes left in the second half to give the Dr. Charles Best Blue Devils a 2-1 victory over Panorama Ridge and the BC Secondary Schools Soccer Commission provincial AAA championship, Saturday at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
Nine Whitecaps FC players and two academy partners called up to Canada U-17 women’s national team camp – Whitecaps FC
Canada Soccer announced on Friday that nine Whitecaps FC players and two academy centre partner players are among 27 players who are taking part in the final U-17 women’s national team camp of 2017.
VMSL Round-up: Rovers Tigers drop more points as Pegasus tie it up at the top – AFTN
Well, better late than never, and it doesn’t get much later than just a couple of hours before this weekend’s matches kick off, but here’s our round-up of all the happenings in Week 11 of Vancouver Metro Soccer League (VMSL) action.
STA scores surprise bronze at AA soccer provincials – North Shore News
The upstart St. Thomas Aquinas Fighting Saints tackled a string of must-wins and big wins over the past three weeks to end up as the bronze medal winners at the senior boys AA provincial championships.
Public weighs in at RDN rec open house – Parksville-Qualicum News
Attendees who spoke with RDN staff at Oceanside Place included residents representing both adult and youth hockey associations, youth soccer, swimming and synchronized swimming, and Parksville Curling Club executives.
Whitecaps FC name Reynold Stewart associate head coach of Kootenay programs – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that Reynold Stewart has been appointed as an associate head coach of the Kootenay Academy Centre in Nelson, BC.
Canadian legends Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil team up for Individualized Coaching Program – Dasovic-Neil Coaching
Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil have teamed up to provide training programs for players & coaches. The programs specialize in individual, positional, age, and gender specific training for players, with a combined technical and physical focus while providing education and mentorship opportunities for coaches to improve their skills and deepen their knowledge base.
BC Soccer Web’s 2017 Soccer & Sports Book Recommendations – BC Soccer Web
Over the years, there have been many books on soccer and sport that have given us joy, laughter, and much to think about. We’re happy to share these with you. We’ll be updating this list as new titles become available, so keep checking.
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP PHOTOS: Vancouver Utd. 3, Mid-Isle Mariners 1, July 30, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
2016-2017 BC Soccer Year in Review – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is proud to release their 2016-2017 Year in Review after another successful year of soccer. The #respectall initiative, High Performance License, Club Charter Program activity, along with the delivery of hundreds of coaching courses and referee clinics this past year highlight some of the successes.
BC PROVINCIAL WOMEN’S A CUP PHOTOS: Surrey United 1 NSGSC Renegades 0, May 13, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
2017 VISL JACKSON CUP PHOTOS: Nanaimo Utd. 2 Cowichan LMG 1 (XT), April 2, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you. The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!
Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.
The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.
Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.
Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
FC Edmonton withdraws from North American Soccer League – FC Edmonton
Owners Tom and Dave Fath announced today that the club is leaving the NASL and discontinuing professional franchise operations effective immediately.
FC Edmonton ceases operations – Edmonton Journal
Brothers Tom Fath and Dave Fath poured their hearts, souls and millions of dollars attempting to make professional soccer viable in Edmonton. Unfortunately in the end, the ball was taken away from them.
Fath: FC Edmonton will not return in any league unless Edmonton proves soccer can be sustainable – the11.ca
We are no longer a team or a franchise in any professional league,” said Tom Fath. He said that the team will “look at its options” going forward. But what it doesn’t mean is that FC Edmonton is a slam-dunk entry into the Canadian Premier League, either. That league is expected to get off the ground in 2019, but Fath said if he is to reactivate the professional part of the franchise, he needs to know things will be different.
FCE’s move to cease operations is a bad sign for CanPL, Edmonton World Cup boosters – the11.ca
One thing, though, I have never seen Tom Fath do is bluff. He’s never purposefully laid out claims to the media only to further some kind of agenda. He does not negotiate through the press. So, when he very bluntly put it out there Friday that not only was FC Edmonton ceasing its pro operations, there was no guarantee that it would be revived to join the Canadian Premier League, there was absolutely no reason to take it at anything else but face value.
Erin McLeod savours return to Canada roster after long layoff – Sportsnet
It’s been 21 months and 27 matches since Erin McLeod was last in the Canadian goal. Back from her third knee surgery, the 34-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., is savouring her return to the national team ahead of Tuesday’s soccer friendly with 14th-ranked Norway in Marbella, Spain.
Canada Soccer holds final National EXCEL U-17 camp of 2017 in Burnaby, BC – CSA
Canada Soccer has invited 27 players to the final U-17 women’s camp of 2017 being held from 22 – 29 November, as it continues to prepare for next April’s CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship in Nicaragua, which serves as the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018.
Córdoba, Western Halifax FC highlight Night of Excellence – CSA
Jhonattan Córdoba and Katherine Bearne have been named Nova Scotia’s Senior Players of the Year. The duo were recognised at the annual Soccer Nova Scotia Night of Excellence in Halifax.
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USL, NASL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
NASL Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal Issues Statement On Club Announcements – NASL
North American Soccer League (NASL) Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal released a statement on Friday following the announcements made by FC Edmonton and the San Francisco Deltas.
SAFC Re-Signs Goalkeeper of the Year Restrepo – USL
San Antonio FC announced on Monday the club had re-signed 2017 USL Goalkeeper of the Year Diego Restrepo for the 2018 season pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Atlanta United’s USL club all about developing youth – AJC
Dedication. Development. Distance. Those are three of the many paraphrased reasons that Atlanta United is launching a yet-to-be-named USL team that will play at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, according to Five Stripes Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Football’s gender pay gap worse than in politics, medicine and space – The Guardian
Salary survey finds combined pay of those in top seven women’s football leagues equals that of a single male footballer, Neymar.
Westfield W-League Round 5 review: Four teams end the weekend tied at the top – Vavel
Rachel Hill scored her seventh goal of the season, but the Glory still fell to Canberra. Four teams sit at the top of the ladder with nine points apiece.
Ann-Katrin Berger: Birmingham City Ladies goalkeeper diagnosed with thyroid cancer – BBC Sport
Birmingham City Ladies goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
NCAA tournament quarterfinals recap – The Equalizer
Missed this weekend’s quarterfinals action? No worries. Here’s all you need to know about how next weekend’s College Cup participants punched their tickets to the final weekend of the season.
Women’s College Cup: Final Four Preview – Last Word on Soccer
The field is set for the Women’s College Cup with the semifinals kicking off Friday, December 1st in Orlando City Stadium at 2 PM PST. This year’s final four teams feature two from the Pac-12, one from the SEC, and one from the ACC.
Life on the fringes: Emily Kenshole’s W-League story – The Roar
Geelong-born and bred football star Emily Kenshole has had a memorable 2017 season. She was chosen as the WNPL goalkeeper of the year after an outstanding season for Geelong Galaxy United. She also saved a penalty against Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna in the dramatic WNPL grand final penalty shootout against South Melbourne in October.
NWSL: Salt Lake City franchise already showing promise – MLS Multiplex
While things have ended poorly for FC Kansas City, the Real Salt Lake franchise is hitting the ground running.
For Mexico’s Female Soccer Players, Professional Recognition At Last – Fronteras
In Mexico, the fight for women’s equality hit a milestone this year. For the first time, the country saw female athletes play in a professional league of its most popular sport: soccer.
S. Korea’s women footballers vow to win regional title – Yonhap
South Korea, led by head coach Yoon Duk-yeo, will compete at the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship in Chiba, Japan, next month. Yoon’s side will open the competition on Dec. 8 against Japan. They will then face North Korea on Dec. 11 and China on Dec. 15.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
European Weekend Rewind: Chelsea draws Liverpool, Gladbach defeats Bayern, and more – SBI
Two of the English Premier League’s historic clubs took centerstage on Saturday as Liverpool faced Chelsea at Anfield. Despite several chances from each team, the sides had to share the points in a 1-1 draw.
Manchester City on record pace with 11th straight win – Toronto Star
Only a third of the way into its Premier League campaign, Manchester City is already making history.
Week 14 review: Paris topple champions, widen lead – Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain went nine points clear atop the Ligue 1 Conforama standings with their 2-1 win away to champions Monaco on Sunday, while Lyon snuck into second place with a 5-0 hammering of OGC Nice.
Sam Allardyce: Former England manager is the leading contender for Everton job – BBC Sport
Sam Allardyce is the leading contender for the Everton manager’s job. The club’s search for a new manager has taken on fresh urgency after Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Southampton.
Montella replaced by Gattuso as AC Milan coach – Sportsnet
In the end, Vincenzo Montella became a victim of the heightened expectations at AC Milan.
This was supposed to be Milan’s revival season. Instead they have regressed – The Guardian
All that really matters is that Vincenzo Montella’s approach was not working, which is why the club’s owners have terminated his services at San Siro.
Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward to play on Tuesday for first time in two months – BBC Sport
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale will play for the first time in two months on Tuesday, says the Spanish club’s manager Zinedine Zidane.
Atlético face must-win Chelsea finale – UEFA
While Chelsea made sure of their last-16 place last time out, Atlético Madrid kept alive their own claim on matchday five but must now win and hope to stay in contention.
Bundesliga Round Up: A Derby to Remember – Prost Amerika
A Revierderby to never forget, the original Der Klassiker lived up to history, and much more in the Bundesliga round up.
Schalke’s historic comeback leaves Bosz on the brink in Dortmund – The Guardian
For a few weeks Borussia Dortmund’s problem has clearly been confidence, but that won’t have been helped by the remarkable 4-4 draw with Schalke.
Celtic: Brendan Rodgers praises players’ character in League Cup final win – BBC Sport
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers praised his side’s mentality for recovering from a 7-1 Champions League loss to Paris St-Germain to win the Scottish League Cup.
Urawa Red Diamonds secure AFC Champions League with late winner against Al Hilal – Inside World Football
Rafael Silva scored late on to secure Urawa Red Diamonds the AFC Champions League title on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal which saw the Japanese side seal a 2-1 aggregate success.
Cao Yunding, Obafemi Martins score as Shanghai Shenhua win Chinese FA Cup – ESPN FC
Shanghai Shenhua won the Chinese FA Cup for the first time in 19 years on Sunday evening as goals from Cao Yunding and Obafemi Martins secured an away goals victory for Wu Jingui’s side over Shanghai SIPG despite the absence of Carlos Tevez.
NCAA men’s soccer tournament down to final 8 – MLS
A mix of underdogs and traditional powers highlight the quarterfinal survivors of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament, as the hunt for a place at the 2017 College Cup at the Philadelphia Union’s Talen Energy Stadium has ticked down to the final eight teams.
Soccer corruption trial continues as FIFA gathers in Russia – Ottawa Citizen
When soccer officials gather this week in Russia for the World Cup draw, some will have a wary eye on reports from a New York courtroom.
Noose tightens on Teixeira as $22m payment uncovered in Monaco bank – Inside World Football
Could former Brazilian strongman Ricardo Teixeira, one of those indicted by US justice authorities as part of the FIFAGate corruption scandal, be edging ever closer to facing justice?
A quick guide to candidates running for U.S. Soccer president – Four Four Two
He’s been a force in American soccer for more than three decades and is nearing the end of his third four-year term as U.S. Soccer president. Gulati, 58, hasn’t indicated whether he will run for an unprecedented fourth term but is widely expected to do so, in part so he can shepherd the 2026 World Cup bid to its conclusion.
Moscow warms up for World Cup Final Draw at the Kremlin Palace – Inside World Football
International football focus is warming up for the World Cup Final Draw which will take place this Friday in Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace.
Football Manager at 25: From Tonton Zola Moukoko to Premier League club tool – BBC Sport
Championship Manager, as it began life 25 years ago, became Football Manager – with a database profiling more than 700,000 individuals on 250-plus pieces of information. Those touted as future stars usually fulfil their potential in real life, as well on the computer screen.
2017’s TOP SOCCER BOOKS