First Person View - MLS All-Star Game: The Future Looks Bright (All Youth Teams for Each Conference)

    With everyone suitably aflutter for this evening’s All-Star Game between MLS and AS Roma, I figured I’d kill an hour or so in the process of updating my club roster database – yes, that is something I do (for posterity) – by looking at what the teams may look like if restricted to young players.

    Some have wasted time fretting over the highly-publicized, commercial exercise that is the MLS All-Star Game – did they pick the right players? Who will win? What does a win or loss mean for the league? – But relax; it’s just a bit of fun.

    So - with the caveat that this is a very unscientific process based solely on my own observations and that I will not be investing the time to produce actual stats - what would the game look like if East played West and players had to be 24 year of age or younger.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first is the MLS Week in Review, recapping all the action from the recent round of play, pointing out some of the controversies and highlighting some of the lighter moments from the weekend as well.

    The second is the extended Canadian Content section, focusing on the contributions of the Canadian players in MLS – strong weekends from Jonathan Osorio, Kyle Porter, and Russell Teibert, while Dejan Jakovic and Dwayne De Rosario return to the pitch.

    Check them out – Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Columbus Crew – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content – Round 21 at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps the entire weekend – with highlights – as well as drawing attention to some of the swirling talk around the matches.

    The Extended CanCon looks at the performances of the Canadians that took to the pitch this round – plenty on offer with the Gold Cup quest halted prematurely.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

POV-FS Out Loud – Talking the State of All Things Toronto FC on NextSportStar.com’s Red Card with Anthony Totera

    Anthony was kind enough to have me on Monday night to discuss the on-goings at TFC, touching on subjects from Ashtone Morgan, Matias Laba, the pitch at BMO Field, the rumoured arrival of Diego Forlan and much more.

    It was a jam-packed show, featuring a trio of players - Eric Avila, Robert Earnshaw, and Dax McCarty – Paul Attfield of The Globe & Mail, and myself, clearly bringing it all together at the end of the show as the key interview.

    Be sure to check it out, follow Anthony and the network, NextSportStar, on twitter, and keep an eye out for the show every weeknight at 7 pm EST.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New York Red Bull at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chivas USA at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match between Toronto FC and Chivas USA at the recently re-christened StubHub Center in Los Angeles is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form heading into the match, while Part Two reviews the game film in search of strengths and weaknesses.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content for Round 20 at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps a scintillating weekend of MLS results – goals of the round, some humourous sights, the odd quote or two, and highlights, precious, precious highlights.

    With so many of the league’s Canadians away at the Gold Cup only Patrice Bernier saw the pitch this round; he may have wished he did not.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Sporting KC – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    A previewing of Toronto FC’s Saturday match against Sporting KC in Kansas City is up over at Waking the Red.

    The second of three meetings between the two sides, Sporting enters with revenge on their mind, hoping to avenge their 2-1 loss at the SkyDome back in March.

    Lots to discuss, check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – What Just Happened? The Turning of the Tide at Waking the Red

    After a long hiatus – who wants to keep reading about conceding late goals over and over again –  Waking the Red's What Just Happened has returned. In this series a moment or series of moments that helped determine the outcome of a Toronto FC match are analyzed.

    This edition looks at the two quick goals that Montreal scored in the second half of last Wednesday’s match, allowing them to draw back level after falling behind 3-1.

    So what just happened?

    Read on to find out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts went up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first is an extensive Week in Review, recapping all the MLS action from a very busy week. The second digs a little deeper in the performances of Patrice Bernier and Kyle Porter, as well as the implications of extended injury absences for Dwayne De Rosario and Nana Attkora.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – The Canadian MLS Contingent in Three Parts at Canadian Soccer News

    A detailed look at the half-season achievements of the MLS Canadians with the Gold Cup squad as a backdrop.

   Part One focuses on the starts that have emerged in the MLS season – Will Johnson, Russell Teibert, Jonathan Osorio, etc. – who were selected to the squad.

    Part Two looks at the major omissions – Dwayne De Rosario, Patrice Bernier, Kyle Porter, and Dejan Jakovic – theorizing why they may have been left out, and where their future with the National Team lies.

    While Part Three discusses the fringe players, who have seen limited MLS action, but may play a larger role in the future.

From a Different Point of View – The Home of Caribbean Football Previews the Gold Cup

    My friends at The Home of Caribbean Football posted the second half of their mammoth Gold Cup preview.

    An overview of each participating nation’s outlook entering the tournament and a few words from an insider on their aspirations and expectations; it is well worth the time.

    The Caribbean region and CONCACAF in general is one of the few under-reported realms in this global game - plenty of wild stories and wily characters.

    Check it out – Part One and Part Two

    And be sure to follow them on twitter

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Montreal Impact – Meeting the Second (In the League) at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match, looking at Toronto FC’s opponent, Montreal Impact, is up over at Waking the Red.

    Reviewing the last meetings – in league and the Voyageurs Cup, looking over their recent form, and highlighting a few strengths and weaknesses that have emerged over the season.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The weekly MLS review and extended Canadian Content posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    A recap of a particularly crazy weekend of MLS action, including all the video highlights and a fair share of controversy; while three Gold Cup absentees – Dwayne De Rosario, Kyle Porter, and Patrice Bernier – are discussed as the top three performers, in part due to that absence.

    Check them out – MLS Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Real Salt Lake at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s weekend opponent, Real Salt Lake, is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One focuses on their lineup and form, while Part Two reviews the game film for strengths and weaknesses, as well as highlighting some points of interest.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

The usual pair of weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News – the MLS Week in Review, looking at all the action from Round Seventeen of MLS play and the detailed Canadian Content post expanding on the contributions of Canadians in the league this round.

Check them out – MLS Review; CanCon.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Houston Dynamo – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s match on Saturday against Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Paul Mariner Reveals the Details of his Scouting Network, Bombast at Toronto FC, and a Lack of Respect at Waking the Red

    A post over at Waking the Red yesterday, using a few loose words from Mariner on ESPN’s Press Pass as the launching point for a discussion on the culture of over-the-top rhetoric at TFC and why such throw away lines seem to resonate more than the accomplishments of the people who make them.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of weekend review posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first, a general review of all the weekend action and the second a detailed look at the Canadian performances of the week with Dwayne De Rosario, Russell Teibert, and Nana Attakora taking the top three spots in the first round of the season to feature at least one Canadian in each match.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review; Canadian Content.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: DC United at Waking the Red

    Two posts in the Know Your Enemy series, previewing Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and DC United at RFK Stadium, are up over at Waking the Red.

    The first looks at their lineup and form, while the second reviews game film and highlights some points of interest.

    Check them out – Part One & Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News. Portland nabs the goal of the round, while Russell Teibert, Kyle Porter, and Will Johnson earn the top three spots in the Canadian rundown.

    Check the out – MLS Review & CanCon.

Are Late Allowances Solely a TFC problem?

    Having looked at the nine goals Toronto FC has allowed in the final quarter of an hour, if only superficially, yesterday – further investigation is definitely warranted, perhaps there will be time next week – today the question is whether this is a TFC problem alone or an affliction of MLS?

Toronto FC's Late Goals - Torturous Viewing and Time for a Change

    Toronto FC has conceded nineteen goals this season, nine of which have come in the final fifteen minutes of matches.

    Here are all nine of those late goals: not recommended viewing for those with weak constitutions.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News – the MLS Review and Canadian Content.

    Check them out – Review; CanCon.