Mo Johnston, please sign Will Johnson

Posted in Canada, TFC with tags , , , on November 9, 2009 by squizz

Before I begin, let me note that I’m batting 1.000 so far when it comes to direct pleas to MoJo to sign a Canadian player. (Sure, the Gerba signing didn’t exactly work out as planned — as predicted by a commenter on that post — but hey, you can’t make an omelet without cracking some eggs. I don’t know what that means. Anyway.)

I’ll just make my point here succinctly. Johnson is relatively young (23 in January), a member of the Canadian men’s national team and terrific on the wing, which is a position where Toronto sorely needs help. Johnson’s already got playoff experience in MLS, as this week he’s headed to his second straight western conference final with Salt Lake. He was also part of this year’s all-star game and, let’s not forget, he did win goal of the year last season.

I don’t know Johnson’s contract status, or whether he’ll be available for signing in the off-season. Salt Lake has a good supply of firepower, though, and would be theoretically willing to part with Johnson (even if I can’t readily think of what Toronto would send their way in return). But these are issues for MoJo to work out. Contract quibbles notwithstanding, Will is exactly the kind of guy that Toronto FC should be going after.

Therefore, let me say… Mo Johnston, please sign Will Johnson.

(And maybe give me credit for this one when it happens?)

3 Comments »

Manchester United vs. Chelsea: Pass the toothpaste

Posted in Chelsea, EPL, Manchester United with tags , , on November 8, 2009 by Grant

Forget the controversial free kick, the biggest talking point from Sunday’s top-of-the-table Premiership clash was the guy who looked like Run D.M.C. getting caught on camera brushing his teeth in the stands.

Sadly, I’d say after this match that it’s Arsenal’s title credentials that are most intact. Chelsea were rubbish. And perhaps it’s just my paranoia, but their last two matches are worryingly reminiscent of the frustrating style of play that slowly engulfed last year’s Scolari team. A lot of huffing and puffing and short passes in the middle of the pitch, but no penetration. And that’s no fun.

Of course the obvious difference this time around is that Chelsea are playing like shit but winning. Read more »

1 Comment »

Canada will play friendlies, and here are the men who’ll play them

Posted in Canada with tags on November 6, 2009 by squizz

Interim head coach / national technical director / jack-of-all-trades Stephen Hart has announced the roster for the men’s national team’s upcoming friendlies against Macedonia and Poland, and there aren’t really any new names there (and by “aren’t really any” I mean there are none). Of the 17 players named, 15 are European-based, which probably makes sense (and was completely intentional on Hart’s part). Some quick initial thoughts on the squad:

  • It’s damned good to see Iain Hume back on the squad. It was less than one year ago (Sunday will be a year to the day, actually) that he was thuggishly elbowed in the head by some scumbag named Chris Morgan, suffering a horrendous, potentially life-threatening fractured skull. At the time we wondered if he would ever play again, but here is our answer. Good on you, Humey. Read more »

Leave A Comment »

Why soccer will never catch on here, exhibit 39,102

Posted in Other, U.S. soccer with tags , on November 6, 2009 by squizz

Last week, in a similarly-titled post, I inexplicably decided to take the piss out of some Ohio-based college kid for saying “no one cares about soccer”, while also alluding to the “real” trouble — those old-media vanguards, entrenched in their soccer-fearing ways and proud of it, despite the undeniable growth of the sport around them.

Well, TGIF, because the end-of-week has gifted me with a crystallized example of said old-school types: I give you “Trying, and failing, to embrace the beautiful game“, by Seattle-based journo Jim Moore. As much as you’re probably ramped up to read me ranting and raving about how “wrong” this fellow is, I won’t. Because this post doesn’t make me angry so much as confused. Either way, it’s worthy of analysis. So in honour of both the oncoming weekend and a much-loved but dearly-departed website, I’m gonna FJM this one:

I admit to being an unenlightened dinosaur. I am trying to embrace the Twitter and Facebook craze because I’m told that social media is the wave of the future, the way to survive and thrive in the new world. Read more »

5 Comments »

Future still uncertain says Guevara

Posted in CONCACAF, MLS, TFC with tags , on November 6, 2009 by Grant

Here’s something not about Jacob Lensky. Amado Guevara is back in Honduras with his family, and according to comments he made this afternoon to the sports tabloid diez.hn, he is interested in playing for the Honduran club Motagua next winter in the buildup to the World Cup.

Read more »

6 Comments »

Jacob Lensky: Gone. Last one out, turn off the lights.

Posted in Canada with tags , , , on November 5, 2009 by Jamie

Well, crap. It looks like Canada might be able to add another promising young talent to the “one that306-lensky-110509 got away” list. According to Papa John Molinaro over at the CBC, Lensky – a defender with Dutch side FC Utrecht – was all set to appear for the Reds in the friendlies against Macedonia and Poland. Now, reportedly, he’s jumping ship and will play for the Czech Republic’s youth team. He’s up for treachery Czech consideration because his dad is Czech, it seems. Wonderful.

A call to Molinaro from Canada’s interim head coach Stephen Hart confirmed Lensky’s decision.

“It was shocking. I spoke to him before, he agreed to come in, we issued a [plane] ticket to him, and up until today, as far as we were concerned, he was going to play for Canada,” Hart told CBCSports.ca. “The manner in which it was done, right now I have a sour taste in my mouth.”

Read more »

11 Comments »

It’s Called Football Daily: Thursday, November 5

Posted in Podcasts with tags on November 5, 2009 by squizz

You’re going to remember, remember the fifth of November, and it’s got nothing to do with Guy Fawkes — it’s all about one of our patented post-pub editions of ICF Daily, wherein Duane antagonizes Ben about Liverpool, I get Biblical and we relay an It’s Called Real Life segment featuring a church and a bottle of Jagermeister.

Plus we actually do talk about Champions League, USL vs. TOA Round 395 and the callups for Canada’s upcoming friendlies. Don’t get left behind, join the cool kids who listen to Canada’s #1 daily soccer podcast every day!

Download today’s episode or subscribe to the show on iTunes for added freshness!

Leave A Comment »

New twist on “club versus country”

Posted in CONCACAF, International with tags , on November 4, 2009 by Grant

Be it Manchester United supporters waving Argentinian flags in England or Canadian fans bickering on the Internet about whether the country’s best players should be losing with Canada or TFC, the battle between club and country exists in no other sport quite like it does in soccer.

Often these arguments centre around a player returning from duty with his national side with an injury that prevents him from suiting up for his club. Or sometimes they involve conflicting schedules (see the entire MLS season or the Africa Cup of Nations).

But I’ve never previously heard of a player being given time off from his club commitments in order to model a new shirt.

Read more »

Leave A Comment »

It’s Called Football Daily: Wednesday, November 4

Posted in Podcasts with tags on November 4, 2009 by squizz

On today’s show, we recap yesterday’s Champions League action (meaning Duane and I engage in dueling rants, about United and the nature of a “deliberate” handball, respectively), we talk about the MLS coaching carousel and Beckham’s Law, and I provide the most heartwarming edition of Squizz’s Seven yet. Also, we engage in a spirited (and not at all embittered) discussion about the state of contemporary journalism. Terrific!

Download today’s episode and/or subscribe on iTunes!

Leave A Comment »

The Reserve Squad Briefs: November 4, 2009

Posted in The Reserve Squad, Uncategorized with tags on November 4, 2009 by squizz

MLS commissioner Don Garber has fined himself $5,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league’s image”. According to league representatives, Garber felt that his earlier levying of a similar fine against DC United president Kevin Payne was “apt to subject the league’s front office to ridicule” and “not in line with MLS’s policy of being a big, happy family.” Last week, Payne made comments suggesting the league didn’t always produce the most thrilling on-field product, prompting Garber to fine him for speaking out of turn. “But then,” said a league rep, “Mr. Garber realized that punishing team owners for noting that the emperor has no clothes was probably as detrimental to the league’s image as the original comments… and thus, punished himself accordingly.” The league rep then clarified that he was referring to the old fable, and not insinuating that Garber was an emperor, or nude. Read more »

1 Comment »

It’s Called Football Daily: Tuesday, November 3

Posted in Podcasts with tags on November 3, 2009 by squizz

On this, the first show of ICF Daily, Week 5, we take a lighthearted look at the weekend’s EPL results and the announcement of MLS’s awards finalists. There’s also some talk about Beckham and Blanco’s part-time MLS schedules and a bit of characteristic buffoonery about strip clubs.

Download the show or subscribe on iTunes, make your choice.

2 Comments »

Some Canadian Guys Talking About Soccer, Episode #18

Posted in Canada, Podcasts with tags , , on November 2, 2009 by squizz

To celebrate our 18th, and the maturity that comes with a milestone like that, we have a real, serious interview — with David Monsalve, goalkeeper for Finnish Cup champions FC Inter Turku, and also (potentially) Canada’s keeper of the future. He talks about adjusting to life in Finland, the passion of Canadian soccer supporters, his future with the Canadian men’s national team, his relationship with Stephen Hart, his former teammates on Canada’s 2007 Under-20 squad (including a certain now-Bosnian) and his hometown club, Toronto FC. Monsalve is well-spoken, articulate and effective at addressing the soccer-related issues raised.

We are the exact opposite, parping nonsensically about who Stephen Hart’s “mystery callup” for the upcoming friendlies might be, whether the MLS awards mean anything, and useless boasting about Chelsea and Arsenal. Plus we talk about Jamie’s Halloween habits, the merits of taking your family to Swiss Chalet to celebrate a special event, Grant’s childhood ambitions to be Dr. Dre, and which entity would win in an 11-v-11 battle between wolves and cannons.

In other words, thank God for the Monsalve interview or this would have been a total trainwreck. Enjoy!

Some Canadian Guys Talking About Soccer, Episode #18

6 Comments »

Coming soon: A real interview!

Posted in Canada on November 2, 2009 by squizz

Earlier today I had the chance to talk to newly-crowned Finnish Cup champion and Canada’s real goalkeeper of the future, David Monsalve. The former Toronto FC man and Canadian U20 talked about adjusting to life in Finland, what it was like to play in a Cup final at age 20, soccer culture back in Canada, his future with the men’s national team, his relationship with Stephen Hart and, of course… Begovic.

Plus I tried to get him to swear in Finnish.

The interview will be included as part of a new episode of the Some Canadian Guys Talking About Soccer podcast, to be posted later tonight. So stay tuned!

Leave A Comment »

The Fever Pitch Experiment, Part 6: The Thrilling Conclusion

Posted in Other with tags , , , on October 30, 2009 by squizz

[Probably a good idea to get up to speed on the first five parts of the experiment before reading the thrilling conclusion.]

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. When life hands your club an embarrassing, wretched, one-sided demolition at the hands of the league’s worst side, in a must-win season finale… you make a soccer fan where there wasn’t one before.

Sounds counter-intuitive? Keep reading.

If you’ve been following this experiment, you’ll know that in an attempt to make our friend Emma understand the stranglehold that the beautiful game can have on our lives, we’ve had her read Fever Pitch (hence the name), pick a Premiership side to support, dragged her down to Scallywags, even brought her out to BMO Field to watch the women’s national team get thrashed by the U.S. And while she played along, it was clear that she still found our footie obsessions to be kind of weird, mostly inexplicable and probably a tad silly.

But this past Saturday may have been enough to finally make her understand, appreciate… believe. Who knew that some good could actually come of Toronto’s 5-0 trouncing at the hands of New York? Read more »

2 Comments »

A triple shot of It’s Called Football

Posted in Podcasts with tags , , , , , , on October 30, 2009 by squizz

In case you didn’t happen to have plans for Halloween, well, we’re here for you. May I present three brand-spanking new It’s Called Football podcasts featuring Rycroft, Rollins and myself. They may not kill your entire weekend, but you’ve got about an hour and a half covered. Enjoy!

The MLS West playoff preview, including a recap of Seattle/Houston, game 1
The MLS East playoff preview
It’s Called Football Daily, Day 16: The Super Acronym Show!

Subscribe to It’s Called Football on iTunes and give an angel its wings.

Leave A Comment »

Next Entries »