Retrospecticus – Volume I

     Every so often a piece written long ago becomes pertinent once more. This retrospective will highlight some of the entries those that may have been missed, as well as some favourites.

MLS Weekly Review - Weekend Round 24 – Of Reverse-Alphabetical Alliteration Domination, Consolation at the Ex, & the Comeback of Champions.

    With three matches having been postponed due to the approaching winds of Hurricane Irene this shortened six-match schedule of weekend MLS action witnessed nineteen goals, two red cards – one straight – two new all-time record holders, a young, local boy scoring a hat-trick and a single draw.

MLS Weekly Review - Midweek Round 24 – Of Hope Returned.

    The lone match of in the midweek fixture list saw Chivas USA travel north to JELD-WEN Field home of the Portland Timbers. Unbeaten in three matches Chivas arrived for their final match of a five-game road swing without their new striker Juan Pablo Ángel who was rested, possibly to avoid the additional wear of an artificial pitch.

MLS Weekly Review - Weekend Round 23 (Abridged) – Of Somersaults and Ángel-ic Redemption, Playoff Jockeying & Expansion Domination.

    A full slate of nine weekend fixtures featuring all teams provided twenty-five goals, four red cards – three for second cautions – and two draws, neither of which was scoreless.

First Person View - The Ballad of El Hadji Diouf

Prompted by an interview with the man himself on BBC Radio Scotland’s Scottish Football Podcast

    Teeth-gnashed to the world, venom-spitting in every direction, an aggressively-shaven head bowed not in reverence, but in antipathy.

MLS Weekly Review - Midweek Round 23 (Abridged) – Of Bobble-heads & All-Time Draw Kings.

    Three midweek matches, eight goals, two draws, a pair of red cards, and one bobble-head incident; these are the stories behind the numbers in the midweek sampling of the twenty-third round of MLS.

Foresight – MLS Round 23

Four questions to be considered this weekend in MLS.

Upon First Glance – CCL Edition: Tauro FC v Toronto FC

Some initial, post-match thoughts on tonight’s meeting:

Thoughts? – Changes to the DP Rules

     MLS announced age-ranged designated player cap hit reductions designed to encourage more youthful signings. Designated players between the ages of 21 and 23 will see their cap hit fall from the standard $335,000 to $200,000, while those 20 and under will be further reduced to $150,000.

     While this should help combat the stereotype of an older player coming over to North America for one last payday and could potentially garner the league some transfer money in the future, there are a few questions that must be asked, namely which players will the cash be splashed upon and will they grow in MLS?

MLS Weekly Review - Weekend Round 22 – Of Breakout Goalkeepers, Le Toux on Target, & Old Friends, Now Foes.

     Eight matches played; twenty-three goals scored; three draws – one scoreless; two red cards – one straight. These are some of the stories behind the numbers of round twenty-two of MLS.

Upon First Glance – Toronto FC v. Real Salt Lake

Some quick fire thoughts on tonight’s performance:

Foresight – MLS Round 22 Weekend

Four questions to be answered this weekend in MLS.

MLS Weekly Review - Weekend Round 21 – Of Youth Movements, Nightmare Defending, & Golden Balls.

     The weekend fixture list saw nine matches result in thirty-one goals, two draws, four red cards and only a single team was kept off the score-sheet.

Quote of the DWW* Double Dose

     Benni McCarthy speaks his mind on Karren Brady and TSN - despite current efforts to engage the soccer public – let slip their old bias.

MLS Weekly Review - Midweek Round 21 – Of Royal Downfall in KC, Another Even Fire & Timbers Starting to Climb.

    Three matches dotted the fixture list in this the twenty-first round of MLS action. Seven goals, a lone red card and a single draw produced some unexpected results. As one streak continues, another falls, and Chicago continues to draw.

Upon First Glance – DC United v. Toronto FC

Some quick fire thoughts on the evening’s performance:

MLS Weekly Review - Weekend Round 20 – Of Old School SJ braces, Late Salvation & Hot, Hot Heat.

    Eight matches made up this weekend’s MLS schedule; twenty-two goals were scored – at least one per match. Four away victories and only two draws made this quite an exceptional weekend.

First Person View – Setting a Base

     When the CSA announced that all three of the upcoming second round World Cup Qualifiers would be taking place in Toronto there was much consternation amongst the diaspora of soccer fans across this vast nation. Petty regionalism aside there is something more important to consider.

Perspective - Luck of the Draw

    Considering all the Jabulani’s* that have been launched Canada’s way in qualifying campaigns there could not have been a better draw for the 2014 qualifying cycle.