But is Sunday a day that we, as in Canadians, actually want to watch sports? Or is it a day that we'd like to get away from the sporting universe? Even the most ardent fan reaches a critical mass, where he or she says "enough" and needs to do something else than follow scores and trades and watch game after game. You need to spend time with the kids, go to the lake, just get outside, talk to real people.

MLS and NASL teams aren’t forthcoming about the terms of their contracts. But the MLS Players Union sheds some light on how the salaries are paid out. According to MLSPU Executive Director Bob Foose: “All contracts are calculated in U.S. Dollars, players can then choose to have them paid in either, or a combination.”

On Thursday, the Eddies announced that the France-born, Canada-raised fullback — who played with Canada’s U-20 side in 2013 — has been signed.

So some of the fault lie with NASL, for not figuring out it should try not to stack the Eddies with so many road games later in July — and basically force a conflict with arguably the biggest soccer game this country will ever host. Does it make sense that the NASL is ballyhooing its July 4 opening weekend schedule, but having a Canadian team play at home? Seriously, if getting fireworks and hot dogs into the schedule was such a big deal, why not have the Eddies open the season on July 1 — Canada Day?

On Thursday, FC Edmonton announced that Iceland national-team midfielder Oskar Orn Hauksson will join the team on season-long loan from KR Reykjavik. The FCE front office confirmed that Hauksson cannot be recalled by Reykjavik during the term of the loan.

Even when Floro faced the crunch of not having first- or second- or third-choice players readily available, he opted to ignore players on FC Edmonton and Ottawa. And that’s on a roster that looks like one where the coach has decided to bring in some players he has yet to see.

Hanson Boakai will be going to the CONCACAF Championship in Jamaica, but he’ll be the only FC Edmonton player making the trip.

“Colin Miller was the key,” said Van Oekel. “He called me very early into my free agency, and he really sold me on the situation.”

But Miller says that he would only look at players who were committed to the NASL, not a player who saw it as a stop-gap solution or a step down from MLS.

Issue 4 of Plastic Pitch is out today! What will you find inside?