WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps FC select James Moberg, Josh Heard, and Tyler David in final two rounds of 2016 MLS SuperDraft – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC selected three players in the final two rounds of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, including a pair of University of Washington midfielders in James Moberg (50th overall) and Josh Heard from Victoria, BC (71st overall). The club also drafted defender Tyler David (77th overall) with their final pick.
Canadians Ryan James, Josh Heard taken in conclusion of MLS SuperDraft – CTV
Canadian midfielders Ryan James and Josh Heard were chosen by Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively, as the MLS SuperDraft concluded Tuesday.
2016 MLS SuperDraft comes to close as 18 teams make selections in third, fourth rounds – MLS
The 2016 MLS SuperDraft is officially complete, with 18 of 20 teams making at least one selection Tuesday in the third or fourth rounds.
2016 MLS Rosters as of January 19 – MLS
Here are the latest MLS Rosters, following yesterday’s completion of the MLS Superdraft.
TFC’s Irwin: ‘I wouldn’t be here without Ottawa’ – Sportsnet
Clint Irwin’s arrival at Toronto FC via trade with the Colorado Rapids on Monday marked a homecoming of sorts for the Reds’ new starting goalkeeper.
Toronto FC quite happy with how puzzle is coming together – Toronto Star
Days out from the official start of Major League Soccer’s pre-season, GM Tim Bezbatchenko is happy with the upgrades made to Toronto FC’s squad so far.
Transfer Watch: AS Roma announce termination of Ashley Cole’s contract, clearing path for rumored move to LA Galaxy – SBI
Reported LA Galaxy target Ashley Cole had his contract officially terminated by Italian club AS Roma on Tuesday, paving the way for the English left back to move to MLS.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks St. Louis expansion with Sports Illustrated – MLS
MLS announced in December that it intends to expand beyond 24 teams, revealing at MLS Cup that it would like to eventually move to 28 clubs. Garber has listed a number of cities as potential destinations for the league, with St. Louis recently emerging as a contender, one he recently said “has a little more momentum” follwoing the NFL’s Rams moving to Los Angeles.
Franchise thinking: MLS treads where NFL fears to go – Inside World Football
Garber reiterated the importance of prospective franchises having “its own stadium,” making solid plans for construction a necessity for successful expansion bids. He stated that the MLS’ ambition is to have all clubs playing inside their own soccer-specific stadiums.
Bruce Arena: MLS expansion shouldn’t come at expense of developing players – ESPN FC
LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena feels MLS needs to slow its expansion plans and that the league is losing focus on developing domestic players.
Feilhaber slams Klinsmann over USMNT selection – Goal
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber has criticized Jurgen Klinsmann, saying the U.S. coach doesn’t call in the best players available.
Clint Dempsey says he chose to skip United States’ January camp – ESPN FC
Clint Dempsey says he decided to sit out United States training camp this month after national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann gave him the option to join the squad or rest up for the MLS season.
Steve Gerrard ‘desperate to be successful’ in second MLS season – FC Yahoo
Having failed to reach the MLS Cup final after joining the Los Angeles Galaxy last summer, Steven Gerrard admitted he had a lot to learn about Major League Soccer when he first arrived.
VIDEO: Meet the Harveys: ‘The last few years have been the best of my life’ – Whitecaps FC
A mini documentary on the life of Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Jordan Harvey, American Idol finalist Kimberly Caldwell, and their beautiful baby girl Harlow.
NYCFC’s Andrea Pirlo says level of play in MLS is ‘higher than I thought’ – ESPN FC
Andrea Pirlo says he was surprised by the high level of play during his first year in MLS with New York City FC, while Kaka believes the league will join the world’s elite within a decade.
Soccer on US TV in 2015: An Infographic – Gilt Edge Soccer
There was a time not too long ago where finding a soccer match on American Television would have been difficult. Not anymore! In 2015, there was an average of 7.8 soccer matches you could watch on TV every day.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Victoria’s Heard ‘super excited’ to be drafted into Whitecaps’ family – Times Colonist
Josh Heard knows being drafted is only the beginning of the pro journey, not the end destination in itself. Yet, it was still the fulfilment of a life-long aspiration when the midfielder from Victoria was selected in the Major League Soccer Super Draft on Tuesday.
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 vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada Soccer looking for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors starting May 2016 – CSA
The Nominations Committee of the Canada Soccer Board of Directors calls for nominations for the position of President of Canada Soccer for a four-year (4) term and for the positions of Director (elected) and Director (independent) for a three-year (3) term commencing after the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Members.
Montreal Impact: Strong links with Eastern Canada – Montreal Impact
Last week, Antoine Guldner, the club’s mental strength coach and Owen Braun, Montreal Impact Academy goalkeeper coach, were in New Brunswick for present to coaches and players from the region.
Committee endorses $800,000 grant to BMO Centre in London for $7.8-million expansion – London Free Press
A city committee endorsed an $800,000 grant to BMO Centre for its $7.8-million expansion, after a lengthy debate Tuesday over whether the London Optimist Sports Centre should seek matching funds from federal and provincial governments or if the matter should be deferred to later budget talks.
Saskatoon soccer centre celebrates 10-year turf anniversary with bubble ball competition – CBC
The first soccer game on indoor artificial turf at the SaskTel Sports Centre was played 10 years ago.
Municipality would partner with Community Living and soccer association – Chatham Daily News
A proposed canteen facility for the soccer fields behind the Chatham courthouse has been sent to the upcoming budget deliberations.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Eleven Adds Experienced Duo via Transfer from Sacramento – Indy Eleven
The building of Indy Eleven’s 2016 roster picked up more momentum today with the transfer acquisitions of forward Justin Braun and defender Nemanja Vuković from 2014 USL champion Sacramento Republic FC. Per club policy, details of the transfer agreements and player contracts will not be released.
LCFC adds more former MLS talent to defense – Courier-Journal
In signing another player to his 2016 roster, Louisville City FC coach James O’Connor continued a trend Tuesday, securing more former Major League Soccer talent for his franchise’s second season.
Reno USL Franchise Announces Six Team Name Finalists – KTVN
After a wave of over 3,000 fan submissions flooded in over the past four months, USL Reno 2017 has narrowed their “Name the Team” contest to an elite pool of six names for fans to help determine the official team name.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
What will Sydney Leroux do for FC Kansas City? – Fansided
Sydney wanted to come to Kansas City, requesting a transfer in early 2015 after her marriage to Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer. Unfortunately, last season there wasn’t a need for an experienced forward for FC Kansas City, and Sydney was transferred to WNY. Luckily, this season, the fates were with Sydney and a deal was made to transfer her to Kansas City.
Liverpool Ladies sign Holland captain Mandy van den Berg from Lillestrom SK – The Guardian
The 25-year-old defender, who led her country at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, is the club’s third signing this week, following deals for Sweden’s Emma Lundh and Scotland’s Caroline Weir.
Kyah’s Sky Blues build momentum just in time – Westfield W-League
Indeed Sydney FC are yet to miss out the play-offs, with the Sky Blues the only club to feature in all eight finals series. It is a warning for Canberra United ahead of Sunday’s semi-final in the nation’s capital.
Undefeated Harlow Town Ladies marching towards title and promotion – Harlow Star
While their male counterparts are battling for a play-off place in Ryman North, Harlow Town Ladies are yet to be defeated, winning every single league game.
Women’s Football: A platform for further development in Oceania – FIFA
Oceania’s first FIFA Women’s Football Regional Development Seminar in 2005 was held in Cook Islands, and now ten years on, the same Polynesian nation is hosting another event that will be crucial to furthering the women’s game throughout the region.
What does the fake ‘Ladyball’ campaign say about women’s sports? – Washington Post
No, the Lady Ball is not real. The fake ad was a joint effort of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Lidl, a European grocery-store chain that has become the league’s official title sponsor. In a video released Friday, the LGFA and Lidl said the Ladyball campaign was created to start a conversation about how women’s sports in general are perceived.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Chelsea close to signing Alexandre Pato from Corinthians – sources – ESPN FC
Alexandre Pato is close to joining Chelsea from Corinthians, multiple sources have told ESPN.
Premier League relegation battlers brace themselves for a telling weekend – The Guardian
The season has a long way to run but Aston Villa, Sunderland and the other strugglers may find this is a time of year that offers up some firm clues.
Copa America Centenario draw set for Feb. 21 – Soccer America
The draw for the USA-hosted Copa America Centenario, the special edition of the South American championship that will also include six Concacaf teams, will take place at a gala Sunday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
Premier League’s fixation on attack shouldn’t be mistaken for excellence – ESPN FC
As he looked down from his box at Anfield last Wednesday day night, Rafael Benitez will have had to resist the urge to tut. Watching Liverpool and Arsenal stage one of those faintly chaotic, faintly comic Premier League specials might have been thrilling theatre for the neutral but for a manager to whom control is king, it must have been torture.
FFA confident of ‘win-win’ outcome in Wellington Phoenix licence deal – The Guardian
Wellington’s A-League future has been on a knife’s edge since their request for a 10-year licence extension was declined by the governing body last October. The club, whose current licence expires at season’s end, was instead offered a four-year deal.
Copa MX needs reform to draw fans’ attention – Goal
The Copa MX has the potential to be an exciting competition but needs structural changes from its current state to gain relevance.
Forfar chairman has ‘no solution’ to flare problems – BBC Sport
A number of smoke bombs were thrown onto the field marring Forfar’s abandoned Scottish Cup replay against Linlithgow Rose on Tuesday night.
Report aims to open pathway to greater fan ownership and participation in clubs – Inside World Football
The final report from the UK Expert Working Group on Football Supporter Ownership and Engagement was published yesterday, setting out recommendations for what more can be done to encourage greater engagement between supporters and those that run their club, while also helping to remove barriers to supporter ownership, when such opportunities arise for credible supporters’ trusts to bid to own their club.
Premier League plans to help clubs as report released – BBC Sport
Football clubs and fans should meet twice a year to discuss “major issues”, according to a government report.