WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
“If we feel it’s right to move up, then we certainly will” – Robinson weighs up Whitecaps’ SuperDraft options but indicates a right back is not his priority – AFTN
The MLS SuperDraft is only two days away. Hold that excitement people. The old cynics in us want to go on about it being more and more obsolete when you have a great academy program and a scouting network that produces cheap and impactful talent. But then the other part of our brain just keeps flashing up pictures of Tim Parker.
Robinson talks all things SuperDraft: ‘It’s a very important mechanism’ – Whitecaps FC
“Each year you tend to hear the same thing,” he told reporters. “You tend to hear the draft isn’t as strong as it was last year and it isn’t this, and it isn’t that.” But Robinson isn’t convinced. “It’s a very good mechanism for building your squad,” he added.
MLS SuperDraft: Our Top 15 picks – Soccer America
The journeys of the our projected top 15 picks in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft have some commonalities. Many are excellent students. No. 1 Joshua Yaro, the son of Ghanaian school teachers, has a photographic memory. North Carolina has three players on our list, and Georgetown and Stanford have two apiece as their strong academics attract players not easily sidetracked by a risky career in pro career.
MLSsoccer.com to live stream 2016 MLS SuperDraft – MLS
f you will not be in Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday but still want to watch the MLS SuperDraft, you’re in luck: MLSsoccer.com will be live streaming the 2016 SuperDraft beginning at its start time of 10am PT.
Armchair Analyst: Future of the college game? Here’s the take from the MLS Combine – MLS
“Complete frustration,” said one MLS GM, who’s been involved in the college game on one level or another over the years. “Getting it to be better is something a lot of people have worked hard on, and a lot of people are still working hard on, and it’s still not moving forward. Or if it is, it’s moving at a glacial pace.”
Canadian college ironman Ryan James looks to step up to soccer’s pro ranks – canada.com
Ryan James was ever-present during his four years at Bowling Green. Now the 21-year-old midfielder from Mississauga, Ont., looks to step up to the professional ranks.
Source: Toronto FC to waive Ahmed Kantari – Sportsnet
It appears defender Ahmed Kantari’s time with Toronto FC is numbered. A source confirmed Monday that the MLS team is in the process of waiving the Moroccan international centre back.
Sounders FC bolsters academy technical staff with additions of Troy Perkins and Wade Webber – Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC today announced two new additions to its Academy technical staff, adding 10-year MLS veteran Troy Perkins as Goalkeeper Coach and Wade Webber U-15 Head Coach. Perkins, the 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, played his final professional season in 2015 with Sounders FC, while Webber brings over two decades of playing and youth coaching experience to the Sounders FC Academy.
Planned San Jose soccer complex might move to Guadalupe River Park – San Jose Mecury
The new site at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens would allow officials to build seven soccer fields spanning 44 acres, with three grass fields being used by the Earthquakes Academy, the professional soccer team’s youth athletic program. The program, which caters to 120 kids and is based in Danville, would be moved to San Jose.
DraftKings And FanDuel Receive Stay In NY, Can Legally Operate Until Final Ruling – Tech Crunch
Today a panel of New York State Supreme Court appellate judges decided to extend the temporary stay that was recently granted to DraftKings and FanDuel, meaning they can legally operate in NY until their appeal is decided.
Follow @bcsoccerweb on Twitter and get news updates throughout the day!
BC SOCCER NEWS
VMSL PHOTO GALLERY: FC Tigers-Van Rino’s 0 NVFC Norvan 1, January 9, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux.
VMSL PHOTO GALLERY: Club Inter 1 Pegasus FC 1, January 9, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux.
VISL trump Mainland’s FVSL in all-star soccer day – Saanich News
Anytime the Hughes brothers are reunited it’s a good thing for Saanich soccer. Jordie, 31, of the Bays United was named MVP as he scored twice on Saturday to lead the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s senior men’s Div. 1 all-star team over the visiting Fraser Valley Soccer League’s premier all-star team 3-0 at Layritz field in Saanich.
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
WVU’s Buchanan runner-up for top soccer award – Dominion Post
WVU junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan was a runner-up Friday, Jan. 8, for the Hermann Trophy, awarded by the Missouri Athletic Club to the top player in women’s college soccer.
Recognizing Jamar Dixon’s against-the-odds journey – Red Nation Online
26-year old Ottawa native Jamar Dixon has had a very interesting career so far, that is for sure. After leaving Victoria Highlanders in 2011, he joined a relatively low team in Sweden’s 5th division; nevertheless, he has continuously managed to climb up the ladder. Soon he was in the 4th division and not much later, he switched countries altogether and joined a team in Finland’s 3rd division and not much longer the second tier of Finnish football.
Soccer icon pitches “bubble” dome for Tim Hortons Field – Hamilton Spectator
A local soccer icon and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats want to turn the city’s outdoor stadium into a year-round facility with the help of a bubble dome. It would cost upwards of $3 million to bubble-wrap the turf at Tim Hortons Field each winter – but the city wouldn’t have to pay a dime under the proposal, said John McGrane.
Two 2015 League1 Players Sign Contracts – League 1
Two 2015 League1 Ontario players signed contracts this week, with Toronto FC forward Malik Johnson going from the club’s academy system to the USL side in an undisclosed deal, and Sigma FC midfielder Richmond Laryea agreeing to a Generation Adidas contract that makes him eligible for next week’s MLS SuperDraft.
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.)
Learn to Train Practice Plan – Basic Movement, 3v2 Shooting, Individual Defending, End Zone Game (PDF) – OSA
Learn to Train drills designed for U9 – U12 teams from the Ontario Soccer Association.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
NASL & USL NEWS
NASL Suspends Operation Of Atlanta Silverbacks – NASL
“The goal all along has been to secure committed local ownership in Atlanta, but despite significant conversations with a number of interested parties, we were unable to identify a group that could lead the Silverbacks in a direction consistent with the rest of our clubs,” NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said. “It’s unfortunate, and particularly sad for the Silverbacks’ passionate fan base, which has supported the club tremendously throughout the years.”
The Canadian-positive NASL franchises south of the border close up shops – the11.ca
Despite an imbalanced system which sees MLS and NASL teams treat Americans as domestic players north of the border but Canadians as internationals south of the border, the San Antonio Scorpions and Atlanta Silverbacks averaged giving 110.2 and 105.5 minutes per game to players from our home and native land. That was the most out of all American MLS and/or NASL teams — and more than the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact give to Canadians, too.
Wilt Replaced as Indy Eleven President, Moving on to Chicago NASL Expansion Effort – Empire of Soccer
Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir revealed on Monday afternoon that Jeff Belskus has replaced founding president Peter Wilt ahead of the club’s third season in the North American Soccer League.
Los Dos Ready to Push On in New Season – USL
When the Galaxy II became the first USL club to be owned and operated by an MLS club in 2014, they gained a major spotlight in the developing relationship between the two leagues. With two playoff berths in two seasons, and the addition of a trio of players to the Galaxy’s MLS roster, the club has proven a quick success.
BC Soccer Web is on Facebook! Visit us Today!
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Mexico no longer allocating players to NWSL – The Equalizer
Team-by-team NWSL allocations are expected to be announced as soon as Monday. In the first three seasons of the NWSL, the U.S., Mexican and Canadian federations funded the salaries of their national team players in the league, but Mexico has wavered in its commitment to continuing to fund player salaries in the future, in part citing the lack of playing time Mexico players received from their NWSL teams.
Lloyd is third American to win top FIFA women’s award – Soccer America
Carli Lloyd, who captained the USA to the 2015 Women’s World Cup title, was named the winner of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich on Monday.
Jill Ellis: This award is a tremendous honour – FIFA
What a year it has been for Jill Ellis. Having already guided USA to their third FIFA Women’s World Cup™ victory at Canada 2015, after the nation’s previous wins in 1991 and 1999, the Stars and Stripes coach has now been named FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football with 42.98 per cent of the vote. The 49-year-old could hardly contain her delight after Monday evening’s glamorous FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala at Zurich’s Kongresshaus.
WNY Flash’s Charlie Naimo talks Jeon signing and team direction – Keeper Notes
Since being hired as Western New York Flash Technical Director in October 2014, Charlie Naimo has overseen a complete transformation of the team. When Kristen Edmonds was traded to the Orlando Pride last month, the final tie to the 2014 squad was severed. The team now looks forward with a host of young players drafted last season, a smattering of veterans and an upgraded group of international players.
Olympic Force join the NWPL – NWPL
The Northwest Premier League today announces its first member club as the Olympic Force of Bremerton are joining the women’s soccer league as a founding club in the inaugural 2016 season.
Tampa, Nashville, Boca to host March tournament – The Equalizer
Tampa, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., and Boca Raton, Fla., will host a four-team women’s international tournament in March between the United States, France, Germany and England, The Equalizer has learned.
Connect Your Business with Soccer in B.C! Advertise on BC Soccer Web
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for record 5th time – CBC
Lionel Messi has won the FIFA world player of the year award for a record fifth time. Messi ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on the Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday to lift soccer’s top individual honour.
Lionel Messi: a genius and antidote to football’s bloated excesses – The Guardian
Even Fifa gets it right sometimes. In front of the usual Zurich crowd of power brokers, buffet-lurkers, desiccated legends and appallingly tuxedoed superstars, Lionel Messi has been awarded the Ballon d’Or for 2015. And from a certain angle it is tempting simply to shrug, yawn and wonder what the fuss is about. Let’s be honest. This isn’t exactly news is it?
FIFA ethics prosecutors to appeal to increase 8-year bans for Blatter, Platini – TSN
Already banished from soccer for eight years, former FIFA leaders Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are again facing the threat of life bans. FIFA ethics prosecutors said Tuesday they will appeal to increase the bans, arguing they are too lenient.
All quiet on soccer’s winter transfer front – Sportsnet
The winter transfer window is increasingly a marketplace only for the most desperate clubs in Europe—the ones in relegation battles, or mid-table teams whose fortunes rest heavily on UEFA Champions League qualification.
VIDEO: FA Cup: Away games for most Premier League teams – BBC Sport
The majority of Premier League sides left in the FA Cup are handed away games in the fourth-round draw, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Watford, West Ham, Everton, Chelsea and Tottenham or Leicester all drawn away from home.
Chinese show appetite for buying clubs, at home and in Spain – Inside World Football
La Liga’s Granada has become the latest Spanish club rumoured to be the focus of Chinese investment interest. While back in China, Super League club FC Shijiazhuang Ever Bright has reportedly sold 50% to investment group Hebei Hongsong.
The day America’s top soccer club threatened to move to Mexico – The Guardian
In 1993, the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks announced they would apply for guest status in the Primera División, the highest level of professional soccer in Mexico. Such was the sorry state of professional soccer in America in 1993 that the country’s own federation president wanted to help its premier franchise gain admittance into a foreign league.