WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps to add defensive depth via centre back Neil Yadolahi – Red Nation Online
Red Nation Online has learned that the Whitecaps are closing in on another centre-back who could earn himself MLS minutes. Neil Yadolahi is close to signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The 22 year-old holds an Irish and Iranian passport. He previously played for Drogheda United and is a former Burnley youth product.
“Late bloomer” Thomas Sanner looking to swap Ivy League for Whitecaps glory – AFTN
When you think of Princeton University, you think Ivy League, green vines, a top education and one of the most recognised college names in the world. What doesn’t initially spring to mind is their men’s soccer team.
Long time contact with WFC2 coach Alan Koch helps pave way for draft pick Chris Hellmann’s road to Vancouver Whitecaps – AFTN
Vancouver Whitecaps will be hoping for similar success after selecting Lynn University’s German striker Chris Hellmann with their first second round pick of yesterday’s draft. And if his highly impressive goalscoring record is anything to go by, then they may have unearthed a prolific target man that adds something different to Carl Robinson’s squad.
VIDEO: Masato Kudo gets a lay of the land – Whitecaps FC
Watch as new Vancouver Whitecaps FC striker Masato Kudo gets a lay of the land on one of his first days in Vancouver.
LA Galaxy close to signing Jelle Van Damme from Standard Liege – ESPN FC
Standard Liege manager Yannick Ferrera has confirmed that club captain Jelle Van Damme is on the verge of sealing a move to LA Galaxy.
So what if Didier Drogba leaves MLS? The league needs to become arrogant – The Guardian
What does Drogba’s likely exit say about the league’s development? Was it all worthwhile? MLS needs to stop tearing itself apart at each high-profile departure.
Midway through Transfer Window Toronto FC Have More Questions than Answers – Waking the Red
Toronto FC’s January transfer season has had a lot of chatter, but little in the way of actual news as plenty is still up in the air for the team.
Jordan Morris to Werder Bremen imminent according to club’s sporting director – SBI
It’s only a matter of time before Jordan Morris signs with Werder Bremen, according to the German club’s sporting director. Speaking to German outlet Weser-Kurier, Werder Bremen official Thomas Gauge said it’s not a matter of “if” Morris will sign with the Bundesliga side but “when.” Gauge also says that Morris fits the needs of the club.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Top universities to attend 2016 Whitecaps FC Showcase – Whitecaps FC
Following the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and NWSL College Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are pleased to be providing a chance for future prospects to be scouted into college soccer.
VISL Division 1 Round 15 Results, Standings & Upcoming Matches – VISL
Week 15 was an important week. Cowichan remains at top and looks to be 3 points away from clinching their divisional championship – the Garrison Cup.
Andy Waughman Soccer Tournament Gala – Vernon Morning Star
The heavy snowfall Dec. 27 did not deter the holidaying soccer players from showing up en masse to support the fifth annual Andy Waughman Soccer Tournament Gala. This tournament is a time to honour and remember Andy, the former head coach of the North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association, who died from cancer.
Topsport brushes back Kal Tire – Vernon Morning Star
Topsport FC edged Kal Tire FC 4-3 in Vernon Men’s Indoor Soccer League play Wednesday night at the VantageOne Soccer Centre.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada forward Tancredi adapts to mentor role – Sportsnet
Tancredi, now 34, hopes history will repeat itself and that her experience in 2012 will prove to be a framework for the many fresh faces currently on the Canadian roster.
Stefan Cebara – Interview – Some Soccer Playing Canadians
Stefan Cebara is a 24 year-old winger currently playing with FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce of the Slovak Super Liga. Born in Yugoslavia, Cebara and his family moved to Windsor when he was six where he began playing soccer before joining FK Rad’s youth system.
BC Youth Soccer Player Development
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our new section on BC Youth Soccer Player Development; a new resource designed to help youth coaches and players. Throughout the week, we’ll feature news, drills and videos from the most noted professionals in the field of player development. If you have any articles or resources you enjoy, send them our way, and we’ll share them with the BC Soccer community.)
U12 – U16 Practice Drill – Possession Breakout – Touch Tight Coaching
Here’s a practice drill for U12-U16 players that focuses on quality of passing (Weight & Accuracy), timing of runs off the ball & reaction to losing possession.
Watching football on TV teaches you jargon but it won’t help you coach kids – The Guardian
Most observers of football in this country could probably supply a dissertation-length analysis of the effect of Sky Sports’ influence on the game. To my mind, the most damaging part of this has been the explosion of vacuous opinion and the impact it has had on children’s football.
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NASL & USL NEWS
WFC2’s Koch Played Role in Hellmann’s Selection – USL
Alan Koch’s principle position with Vancouver Whitecaps FC is head coach of Whitecaps FC 2 in the USL, but on Thursday his insight as a scout and talent evaluator came to the fore at the MLS SuperDraft, as a player he had formerly recruited became the Whitecaps’ second-round selection.
New Rhinos owners are part owners of Sacramento Kings – Democrat & Chronicle
A belief in preserving history led David and Wendy Dworkin to become part owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings in 2013. That same sentiment is the reason they’re expected to become the new owners of the Rochester Rhinos soccer team.
Atlanta United, USL’s Charleston Battery announce partnership for 2016 season – MLS
Major League Soccer expansion club Atlanta United and the USL’s Charleston Battery announced Friday a one-year partnership for the 2016 season with potential for an extended affiliation.
Tim Holt will head up USL’s new San Antonio team – Soccer America
Former USL president Tim Holt is leaving Orlando City after less than a year to become managing director for the new USL franchise in San Antonio, which will begin play in March at Toyota Field.
More than 170 Prospective Players Try Out for Orlando City B – The Mane Land
Over 170 participants came to the Seminole Soccer Complex for the chance to demonstrate their skills in front of City’s coaches, with the hopes of making the new USL side.
Silverbacks aren’t done as a soccer franchise – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While the Atlanta Silverbacks no longer exist as an NASL franchise, the Atlanta Silverbacks playing in another league is likely.
Soccer insider: NASL vision might not be enough – Star-Tribune
This week, NASL announced that the Atlanta Silverbacks were shutting their doors. Along with San Antonio, which folded earlier this offseason, this gives the the league three defunct franchises in five years. Had the league not stepped in to take over two others, those franchises would have folded as well. Throw in a history of vanishing expansion teams and the generally less-than-professional way in which the league and some of its clubs have been run, and the league does not have an impressive record. It’s a shame, because NASL’s vision might be the better one for American soccer.
Why MLS’s Expansion to 28 (or 32) Teams is Good for NASL – Midfield Press
Major League Soccer has announced its intent to expand to 28 teams, and while it may seem counterintuitive, I believe this is actually a good thing for the North American Soccer League. Further, it is a good bet that MLS isn’t stopping at 28, but rather 32 seems like a more likely number. MLS shares many owners with the NFL, and more than any other league, MLS looks up to the NFL.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Thorns FC select defender Emily Sonnett with first overall pick in 2016 NWSL College Draft – Timbers.com
Portland Thorns FC selected defender Emily Sonnett from the University of Virginia with the first overall pick in the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft and defender McKenzie Berryhill from Arizona State University in the third round (No. 21 overall) Friday morning at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md.
2016 NWSL COLLEGE DRAFT RESULTS – NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) finished the 2016 NWSL College Draft on Friday afternoon with 40 players being selected over four rounds from the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore. With the No. 1 overall pick in the NWSL Draft, the Portland Thorns FC selected University of Virginia defender Emily Sonnett.
NWSL unveils new process for player allocations – The Equalizer
The new process, meant to “provide an equitable mechanism for distributing the rights to new Unattached Subsidized Individuals to teams in the league,” according to a league statement, resembles MLS’ method of distributing new players to the league. “USI” is the new term for players previously known as “allocated” — those whose salaries are paid by their federations and not by their NWSL teams.
Semi-final line-up finalised – Round 14 Review – Westfield W-League
Brisbane Roar set up a semi-final meeting with Melbourne City after holding off Newcastle Jets in a final-round battle for the remaining available spot in the Westfield W-League finals series.
WNL Cup Round-Up: Wexford impress – Continental Tyres Women’s National League
Sylvia Gee struck a potential goal of the season strike but it mattered little as Wexford Youths WFC claimed the bragging rights over Kilkenny United WFC in their Continental Tyres WNL Cup Group A match.
Sophie Bradley: Returning after World Cup and FA Cup heartache – BBC Sport
The broken bike at the end of Sophie Bradley’s bed is testament to her determined comeback from a knee injury that made her doubt her future in the game.
Caroline Weir: Liverpool Ladies sign Scotland midfielder – BBC Sport
Liverpool Ladies have completed the signing of Scotland international Caroline Weir from Bristol City Women.
Buckland Athletic Ladies score 27 in their biggest Devon League win to date – Torquay Herald Express
BUCKLAND ATHLETIC Ladies started 2016 with their biggest win to date – a 27-1 demolition of Budleigh Salterton on Sunday. Buckland have now scored 110 goals in just seven games and are top of Division One of the Devon Women’s League with little chance of anyone catching them. Their preview ‘biggest’ win was 24-0 against Brixham Villa in December; second-placed Plainmoor Ladies have played three games more are are still six points behind.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
The force is still with Leicester City but history may not be – The Guardian
So much for Leicester City stumbling, being swallowed up, slipping back to their rightful place. Instead another week starts with them loitering bloody- mindedly in the mix. Not so long ago their success was assumed to be a byproduct of a soft early schedule and Jamie Vardy’s hot streak.
Roma draw at home to bottom side Verona as Juventus beat Udinese 4-0 – The Guardian
Roma’s new coach, Luciano Spalletti, failed to inspire his club as they were held 1-1 at home by the bottom club Verona on his debut on Sunday. The titleholders Juventus notched their 10th Serie A win in a row by hammering Udinese 4-0 away.
Carlo Tavecchio: Coppa Italia final date does not help Italy coach Conte – ESPN FC
Italian Football Association president Carlo Tavecchio has accused the Serie A authorities of undermining Italy coach Antonio Conte by scheduling the final of the Coppa Italia for a week after the end of the league season.
After Spain, Premier League clubs will be next to get hit by FIFA transfer bans – Inside World Football
According to Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, Premier League clubs are under investigation by FIFA over transfers of minors and could face bans similar to those imposed on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid last week.
Bolton Wanderers: Club avoid immediate winding-up order – BBC Sport
Bolton Wanderers have avoided an immediate winding-up order after their case was adjourned until 22 February. The Championship club are £172.9m in debt and under a transfer embargo for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
Celtic ban two fans over flares set off in Turkey – BBC Sport
Celtic have “indefinitely suspended” two fans from attending matches home and away after the use of flares inside Fenerbahce’s stadium in Istanbul.
African Nations Championship in Rwanda gives domestic talent a chance – The Guardian
Locally-based players are rarely seen under the international spotlight these days but Africa’s ‘other’ football tournament is designed to bridge a growing gap.
Tennis rocked by explosive match-fixing claims – The Telegraph
The BBC and online news service BuzzFeed announced they had obtained documents showing winners of grand slam titles – as well as eight players due to feature in the Australian Open which began today – had been among those repeatedly flagged over suspicions they had thrown games.