WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Will Johnson done with Portland Timbers; could Whitecaps come calling? – The Province
Forget free agency. Forget Friday’s re-entry draft. The most intriguing name out there from a Whitecaps perspective is Will Johnson.
The post match Will Johnson interview – MLS Cup – Prost Amerika
Today’s news release from the Timbers outlined the current (public) status of a significant number of players, including midfielder Will Johnson who was listed as currently under contract for the 2016 season.
Ex-Whitecap Thorrington named VP of soccer operations for LAFC – The Province
Former Whitecaps midfielder John Thorrington has joined incoming MLS franchise Los Angeles Football Club as executive VP of soccer operations. Tuesday’s announcement represents the first technical hire for LAFC, who are expected to begin play just outside downtown L.A. in 2018.
LAFC beam over newly appointed vice president of soccer operations John Thorrington – MLS
Playing experience, in Europe and MLS. Knowledge of the business side of soccer in the classroom and on the ground. And perhaps most important, having local connections. Those were the qualities that LAFC landed as they unveiled former MLS midfielder John Thorrington as executive vice president of soccer operations at a press conference on Tuesday. The move makes him the latest former player to enter the management ranks in MLS.
LAFC provide update on stadium process, say they hope to take over site in May 2016 – Goat Parade
The big news on Tuesday during LAFC’s press conference may have been announcing the appointment of John Thorrington as executive VP of soccer operations, but there was an update on the club’s stadium project during the event.
Gershon Koffie Wins Whitecaps Goal of the Year – Eighty-Six Forever
Vancouver Whitecaps supporters have voted for the best Whitecaps goal of the year, and midfielder Gershon Koffie is taking home the bragging rights.
Portland Timbers celebrate MLS Cup championship with rally at Providence Park – MLS
The rain-soaked celebrations continued into the night Tuesday for the MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers with an impassioned rally at Providence Park.
Why Portland is beaming with pride: ‘The Timbers are part of who we are’ – The Guardian
The Timbers were given a hero’s welcome after clinching their first ever MLS Cup, and in ‘Soccer City, USA’ there’s much more celebration to come.
Crew SC star Kei Kamara says he would’ve retired had Columbus won MLS Cup – MLS
Ahead of his final interview before departing for a short MLS offseason, Kei Kamara approached the media’s gathered microphones and jokingly said, “I’m about to make an announcement. I’m retiring.”
TV Report: MLS Cup averages 668,000 viewers on ESPN – Soccer America
Sunday’s MLS Cup between the Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew averaged 668,000 viewers on ESPN, the second lowest audience for a final on ESPN above only the 2013 Sporting Kansas City-Real Salt Lake final.
Report: MLS Cup champ Jorge Villafana to be sold to Santos Laguna – SBI
The Timbers are on the verge of selling stout left back Jorge Villafana to Liga MX outfit Santos Laguna, SI.com reported on Tuesday. The transfer for the 26-year-old veteran, who won the initial Sueno MLS competition, will be just south of $1 million.
Why transparency matters for MLS – The Brotherly Game
“Per club and league policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.” What a frustrating sentence. As I’m sure all of you are aware, yesterday the Union announced two major roster moves. The first was trading General and Targeted Allocation Money for former D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius. The second was trading Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger for the sixth Pick in the MLS SuperDraft and General and Targeted Allocation money. As fans of the Union, we’re all asking ourselves the same question: “Were these deals good for the team?”
This is the new D.C. United badge – Black & Red United
After months of speculation, it seems that the new D.C. United badge is finally here. This imagery is to be used with the MLS Store, so it seems like it is the real deal this time.
New York City FC is a farm team – Hudson River Blue
New York City is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manchester City. Let me say that again: if you think that New York City is a team in its own right, able to make decisions utterly independent of CFG that benefit only itself, and not CFG or Manchester City, then you’re just kidding yourself.
It’s the Parkers! A complete review of the 2015 MLS season – The Guardian
After Portland’s victory over Columbus capped a topsy-turvy MLS season, soccer writer Graham Parker looks back on his best and worst of the year.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Penticton’s Schuder, Anderson Garner NAIA All-American Honorable Mention Accolades – Eastern Oregon Univ.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) revealed the 2015 NAIA Women’s Soccer All-America teams on Tuesday morning, and both senior forward Crystal Schuder (Penticton, B.C.) and freshman forward Zoe Anderson notched honorable mention honors for the Eastern Oregon University women’s soccer team.
LMG victors despite sluggish start – Cowichan Valley Citizen
Despite a slow start, and the aggressive play of Vic West, Cowichan prevailed 4-1 in what is likely to be the team’s last game at Ladysmith’s Forrest Field.
U14 girls draw with Saanich Fusion in minor soccer – Sooke News Mirror
Sooke Soccer Club’s Girls U14 Tidalwaves battled to a 2-2 draw against Saanich Fusion last weekend. Tidalwaves keepers Mina Louvat and Emma Muttitt both played a standout game.
Bad Tattoo Brewery Masters Indoor Soccer – Penticton Western News
Round 14 results from the Masters Indoor league.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada w20 wins CONCACAF Group with perfect nine points – CSA
A Canada 2:0 win was enough to clinch first place in Group A at the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Tuesday afternoon. The win gave Canada nine points from three matches, with a date against a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent in the Friday semi-finals on 11 December.
CONCACAF U-20 women’s championship: Canada 1 win away from World Cup appearance – CBC
Canada is one win away from a spot in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Sarah Stratigakis scored twice to lift the Canadian women to a 2-0 victory over Honduras on Monday at the CONCACAF under-20 championship.
Canada to face regular foe in first match of Natal 2015 – CSA
When Canada faces Mexico in the first match of the 2015 International Tournament of Natal, they will be stepping on the pitch with a team they know well, and that knows them. The tournament opening match takes place today, 9 December 2015, at the Arena das Dunas (18:15 local kick-off (13:15 PT).
My Experiences, Failures, and Growth as a Technical Director – Growing the Game
This blog entry highlights my own personal experiences as a club Technical Director, and now as my role as the Academy TD of FC Edmonton. It is meant more than anything to start a discussion about what we can locally to improve player development. In this article I am actually talking about me personally, my experiences as a TD, my mistakes, my vision, and my own personal opinion on what I would try to do differently.
First thing’s first, kids need to learn how to run – Go Play Better
“When you look at your kids do you feel they move well?” This question was presented by Randy Celebrini at our latest Coaches’ Boot Room. A few days went by, then a few weeks, and Randy’s comment kept coming back to me. These are the things that I think about in the shower. Yes, I am a huge footy nerd, but seriously, this particular question just seemed to stick. Well, now I’m asking you, “when you’re out there coaching, do you think the majority of your kids are moving correctly?”
Ontario Soccer Association announces technology partnership – OSA
The Ontario Soccer Association announced today that it has selected Sport Ngin to provide its entire suite of sports management technology to the OSA’s districts, clubs, leagues, academies, tournaments, and over 450,000 participants.
Ontario Soccer Centre puts air supported dome up for sale – OSA
The Ontario Soccer Centre is putting its air supported dome up for sale. The dome is suitable for clubs or community groups looking for a winterized indoor soccer option to place over existing turf facilities.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Plush: NWSL hopes to have 14 teams by 2020 – The Equalizer
NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush says the league hopes to include 14 teams by the year 2020.
Sunil Gulati on USWNT game cancelation: ‘We screwed up’ – SBI
The World Cup-winning U.S. had a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago scrapped on Saturday, less than 24 hours before it was set to be played, because of poor field conditions. The match was set to be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, but the artificial turf field, which was not inspected prior to the scheduling of the Victory Tour affair, proved to be in too poor a condition to play on.
With US career over, Chalupny retires from Red Stars – The Equalizer
Lori Chalupny announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday, ending a career which included a World Cup title in 2015 and an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
CU20W Preview: Day Six – CONCACAF
With Canada and host Honduras claiming Group A’s semifinal spots in the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship, the Group B duo will be decided Wednesday at the Escuela Internacional Sampedrana.
American connection guides Jets revival – Westfield W-League
Well over a dozen American players are spending their off-season in the Westfield W-League, and Newcastle Jets are among the major beneficiaries.
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NASL & USL NEWS
USL players take step toward unionizing – Washington Post
An effort to unionize U.S. soccer’s third division has gained support from more than half of the USL players, the threshold needed to begin the process of becoming formally recognized.
Strikers New Coach Caio Zanardi Faces Immediate Challenge – NASL
Fort Lauderdale will take on some of the world’s best in Zanardi’s first test as Strikers coach in the Florida Cup.
TFC’s Roberts Heads to Train in Germany – USL
The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who has featured prominently for Toronto FC II and Wilmington Hammerheads FC over the past two seasons in the USL, is set to spend a week training with the Werder Bremen’s U-23 squad.
Soccer: Not Just a Sport – A Religion – Purple Kingdom
Maybe I am a little different than the average Louisville City FC fan. To me, soccer is not just a sport you watch, enjoy, and keep up with. To me, soccer is passion, is hope, and is almost like a religion one practices! But why do I love it so much? Growing up in South America (Quito – Ecuador) one learns the sport at an early age. I have memories of mini soccer games kicking a plastic bottle with my school friends during recess. From time to time, I look at the family photo album and I see myself in school pictures of our little soccer league. As I got older, I started following the local teams and the national team. In South America, everybody loves soccer. It’s just the norm.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Man United out of Champions League as Man City win group; Ronaldo nets 4 – ESPN FC
Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League with a 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
The new Man City has become the old Man United – Sportsnet
Remember when Manchester United was a world power? Those days are long gone, and they’ve now become one of those mediocre sides they used to brush aside without much trouble. A 3-2 loss away to Wolfsburg capped off a dreadful group stage for the Red Devils, who didn’t deserve to move on to the knockout round and can even consider themselves very lucky to get kicked over to the Europa League.
Man United legends Scholes and Ferdinand hit out at Van Gaal’s side – ESPN FC
Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand were heavily critical of Louis van Gaal’s side following their premature exit from the Champions League.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic thriving on critics in race to deliver PSG first UCL crown – ESPN FC
Zlatan Ibrahimovic doesn’t forget things easily. Believing he has been poorly treated by the French media recently, he has stopped talking to them after games. Since March, he has had time only for the Italians or the Swedes, and it’s quite clear he has been fed up with the French media for a while.
Champions League: Who can still qualify? – UEFA
The last five available places in the round of 16 will be decided on Wednesday with Chelsea, Arsenal, Porto, Roma, Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen all in contention. We explain the permutations.
Garry Monk: Swansea City part company with manager – BBC Sport
Swansea City have parted company with manager Garry Monk after one win in 11 Premier League games.
Barcelona aiming for 3rd Club World Cup title – Sportsnet
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez spearhead Barcelona‘s attempt to win a third Club World Cup title when the European champions arrive in Japan next week.
Liga MX final promises a real clash of styles between Pumas and Tigres – ESPN FC
The Liga MX semifinal second legs on Sunday highlighted Tigres at their tactical best and Pumas at their very worst. The contrast of how the two Apertura finalists qualified for the showcase event of the season was stark.
Football referees tell their stories: ‘Headbutted and told to grow up’ – BBC Sport
You’ve got to be a sucker for punishment to be a football referee, haven’t you? When a survey indicates that one in five in England has suffered physical abuse and nearly two-thirds experience verbal abuse on a regular basis, why would you want to put yourself in harm’s way?
German national team and Bundesliga reaping benefits of strong youth program – World Soccer Talk
After winning the 2014 World Cup, the German national team is far from resting on its laurels. With Tuesday’s spirited performances in the UEFA Champions League by Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach, as well as Bayern Munich winning their group, a new generation of German national team talent — particularly in the midfield — has begun to impress at the Bundesliga level.
Swiss MP asks parliament if country is working with US to shut FIFA down – Inside World Football
The battle over who controls world football and the looming spectre of continued and deeper intervention into the business of FIFA by the US justice authorities will become a question in the Swiss parliament on Monday.
U.S. attorney general seeks Qatar cooperation in World Cup probe – ESPN FC
The United States hopes Qatar will cooperate with the World Cup bidding investigation, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Wednesday, insisting that the Gulf nation being a key ally in the fight against Islamic State militants was irrelevant in any considerations about pursuing a corruption case.
A day at ‘the gulag’: what it’s like to work at Sports Direct’s warehouse – The Guardian
This is the routine grind for low-paid staff reporting for work on the nine-hour “day shift” at the warehouse of Sports Direct, the thriving sports retail empire founded and controlled by the billionaire owner of Newcastle United, Mike Ashley.
Want a playing career? Then make sure you are born in first three months of the year – Inside World Football
The latest monthly report produced by the CIES looks at the issue of birth date bias finding that “players born in the first months of the year are strongly over-represented” in 30 top divisions in Europe – the exception being England where the bias is towards the period September- December as the age classes are based on September 1 rather than January 1.