The real difference to the English game would be the fact that, outside of Southern basement dwellers Reading and Queens Park Rangers, the non-playoff teams would all still have something to play for outside of relegation.

After a bright start with a 2-1 win over the United States, Canada’s U-20 squad has now lost two in a row at the Marbella Cup in Spain.

On Monday, the Whitecaps announced the expected signing of Scottish striker Kenny Miller to a Designated Player contract. He will join countryman Barry Robson, who made his Caps’ debut earlier this month.

“I don’t expect to play,” Robson said. “You [reporters] can say what you like but I don’t expect to play at the moment. The team are doing very well, they’re sitting third in the [Western Conference], playing very well. It’s time for me to go and break in, work hard, wait for my chance and get in the team.

The team announced Thursday that Scottish international Barry Robson will join the team in July as a Designated Player. Because Robson will join at the halfway mark of the MLS campaign, his cap will be US$167,500 in 2012.

It is Vancouver’s first season in Major League Soccer, and you already have to wonder if the city is suffering from the same friendly fatigue we have seen developing in other North American cities.

Super-agency CAA Sports looks to have learned from last year’s lackadaisical summer season of international friendlies in Toronto. On Monday Major League Soccer announced that Juventus will face Sporting Lisbon at BMO Field on July 23. The match will be part of the Herbalife World Football Challenge, a series of friendlies held throughout North America which includes a July 18 match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Manchester City.

wayne De Rosario is in the process of bring traded from Toronto FC to the New York Red Bulls. But it is not official, yet. But sources indicate De Rosario’s camp is still working out a new, improved deal with the Red Bulls, one that could possibly make TFC’s all time leading scorer and the four-time MLS Cup winner a Designated Player in New York. No deal is in place at this time.

MLS confirmed that Manchester United, which thrashed the MLS All-Stars last season, will be back for more. Manchester United will provide the opposition for the All-Stars July 27 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, a year after the Red Devils dominated the best in MLS in Houston. But, will the game resonate with Canadian fans? That’s up for debate.

Toronto FC fans need to lose the emotional baggage; it’s time to forgive and forget when it comes to Dwayne De Rosario. Canada’s largest city is also home to the strangest sporting culture in either this country or the United States. Toronto sports fans have a habit of transforming journeymen into stars, while blasting the city’s star players. Toronto basketball …