ISSUE 5 OF PLASTIC PITCH: What is Canada getting out of participating in U.S.-based soccer leagues? 13 Mar 2015 Issue 5 of Plastic Pitch, out now, represents our most pain-staking effort. This issue is a labour of love, of passion for the Canadian game — and asks questions about our Canadian identity within the game. It should easily become the most talked-about issue we’ve put out.
Short-term solutions 13 Mar 2015 When the NWSL was founded, the Canadian Soccer Association was in on the ground floor; the CSA agreed to subsidize the contracts of 16 Canadian players, who would all be assigned to various teams in the new women’s league. But, that relationship isn’t quite as rosy as it was a couple of years ago — and Canada is no longer using its full allocation...
Look back in anger 13 Mar 2015 Former CSA president Dominique Maestracci accuses MLS of breaking promises it had made to the association; and he says the relationship with the USSF was not a cooperative one...
Starting from scratch 13 Mar 2015 “Until two to three years ago, the relationship was non-existent,” says Montagliani. “Basically, we were a foregone conclusion to our friends from the south. But we have strengthened our relationship, first with the USSF, and now we have better relationships at the MLS level, and the NASL level. Our relationships are improving but, remember, it’s been just two or three years.”
Foreign relations 13 Mar 2015 This issue isn’t meant to be anti- American, anti-MLS, anti-NASL or anti-NWSL. It simply asks our readers to consider if we need to change our relationship with our neighbours, or if we possibly need to politely tell them that, thanks, but it’s time for us to be on our way.
Herdman on CNWT: “There’s not too many cards left up our sleeves” 3 Mar 2015 We’re now at the stage of the poker game where it’s time to call. We’ve gone through the bets, the bluffs and the folds.
FCE fall-season opener conflicts with WWC final: How NASL blew the fall schedule 20 Jan 2015 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?
Mind games or no mind games? Chinese utilized a strong lineup in loss to the Canadian women 15 Jan 2015 Before the BaoAn Cup, Canadian women’s team coach John Herdman mused that he could approach the game against China in one of two ways — he could play an experimental lineup that might keep the Chinese guessing all the way to June, or play a strong, first-choice team and get the psychological edge by beating the Chinese in their own stadium.
Canada will send just 13 allocated players to NWSL in 2015 14 Jan 2015 According to the CSA, “Canadian National Team players will remain in the Centralized Development Program to begin and train in that environment throughout the season, but will have the opportunity to participate in the first three to four NWSL matches before the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup. The NWSL will also a take brief 12-day break during the group stages of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 in Canada.”
Sinclair wins Player of the Year honour for 11th straight time; says she has become a more complete player 18 Dec 2014 She’s Canada’s all-time leading scorer, but she only scored once for the national team in 2014.