Red-less: No Toronto FC players on the roster for Canada’s WC qualifiers against Belize 27 Aug 2015It says something when the three Canadian MLS teams put a grand total of four players on the national side — and none of those four players are what you’d consider “regulars” for their club sides.
The Impact threw away the Voyageurs Cup 10 minutes before Cabrera was sent off 26 Aug 2015Montreal’s four-on-two was a comedy of errors. It should be shown to atom-age players as a lesson on how not to attack.
Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 25/NASL Week 19 24 Aug 2015So, in fairness, it needs to be noted that a milestone was hit this week. The Impact is no longer the weakest of the five Canadian first- or-second-division sides when it comes to Canadians first-team minutes. On average, the Vancouver Whitecaps now give Canadians the lowest minutes-per-game of any of the five north-of-the-border MLS or NASL sides.
Giveaway after giveaway: Eddies offer up their worst performance of the NASL season 23 Aug 2015The Eddies produced more turnovers than you’d find in a bakery. And, they really only created one scoring chance of note — and that came in the second half with the Eddies already down a goal. And, in true comedy-of-errors style, sub Hanson Boakai and winger Lance Laing got in each other’s way when the ball sat in the Fort Lauderdale penalty area and keeper Josh Ford down and out on the turf.
After rough spring, Eddies return to their stingy defensive ways in the fall 21 Aug 2015And, in the fall? The Eddies are the only team in NASL to allow an average of less than a goal per game; FCE has conceded just eight times in nine matches. And the defensive turnaround has put the Eddies in second place in the fall table, and just two points out of fourth in the combined standings. That fourth spot would likely represent the final post-season spot.
Floro has talked tough in past, but can he twist arms to help the Olympic roster? 18 Aug 2015“We are expected to know soon if coaches from European and MLS clubs are going to allow us our players to at least attend all the games and whether it’s possible for them to attend the pre-tournament camp,” Floro said. “We trust that the Canadian USL teams are going to allow players to attend the camp and in all the games. If clubs don’t allow several players to attend the games, it will be much more difficult for us. We hope the clubs will allow all the players with us.”
Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 24/NASL Week 18 16 Aug 2015Quietly, Atlanta Silverback Kyle Porter has taken over as the Canadian who has seen the most minutes in 2015, either in NASL or MLS.
Eddies thrash Carolina 3-0, but it could have been much, much worse 16 Aug 2015Without the stellar play of the Carolina keeper, the RailHawks would have lost to FC Edmonton by a more lopsided scoreline than Sunday’s 3-0 result at Clarke Field. Make no mistake; a 3-0 loss was a scoreline that flattered the visitors, who have become all too used to hidings on the Clarke turf.
Coaching, ambition are key factors in why parity exists in NASL 13 Aug 2015In the NASL combined standings, only six points separates the last-place San Antonio Scorpions and fourth-place Minnesota United.
NASL Commissioner’s pro-rel comments don’t mean “going up, going down” happening anytime soon 10 Aug 2015How does that relate to what he said today? Well, much like his comments on the import rule, promotion-relegation isn’t something he can do on his own. In fact, on Monday the league office confirmed to me today that it’s not something that’s been discussed internally. Basically, what the commissioner was saying is that it would be nice to have discussion about promotion and relegation — which is a lot different than having promotion and relegation.