Steven Sandor's Blog, page 68

Mistakes cost Canadian women in final pre-Olympic friendly

The Canadian women’s team visited Paris earlier this week.

The Canadian women’s national team has only beaten the French on one past occasion; of course, that was the bronze medal match at the 2012 Olympics.

France goes into the 2016 Olympics as a podium favourite; Canada is a podium outsider. At the 2015 Women’s World Cup, according to FIFA’s technical analysis, France had the highest rate of possession of any of the 24 teams taking part — at 60 per cent.

But, when the two teams met Saturday in Auxerre in their final pre-Olympic friendly, France started a “B” side that, well, didn’t pass the Canadians into the ground. But, even though Canada didn’t look overmatched by the world’s No. 3-ranked women’s soccer nation, a series of key mistakes allowed the French to claim a 1-0 win.

And if these kind of mistakes show up during Canada’s games at the Rio Olympics, its stay in Brazil will be short.



Camille Abily’s winning goal came off a free kick late in the first half. And, while Abily did strike the ball sweetly, and put plenty of swerve on her effort, she was well off to the right of keeper Canadian Stephanie Labbe. The goal, even though cut in from the side, beat Labbe at the near post. And, even though Canadian women’s national-team coach John Herdman has repeatedly issued votes of confidence in Labbe since No. 1 Erin McLeod went down with a career-threatening injury, his faith hasn’t, let’s say, been 100-per-cent rewarded.

Labbe did redeem herself somewhat with a good diving stop in the 90th minute on an Elodie Thomis breakaway.

But Canada made other mental errors, as well. In the seventh minute, Ashley Lawrence made a wonderful run down the left side, got round the back of the French back line, and then laid a ball across the box for a wide-open Jessie Fleming to tap in. Fleming, who scored the winner in the midweek win over China, fluffed the chance — as if she was surprised to have the ball come to her in such a wide-open spot.

In the second half, Fleming also had a chance to chip the ball over a couple of defenders and into the goal after French keeper Sarah Bouhaddi went for the kind of inexplicable walkabout we haven’t seen since Rein Baart patrolled the turf at Foote Field. Fleming’s attempt was short, and didn’t clear the defenders. Later in the sequence, Janine Beckie stuck the ball in the net and, after the referee initially gave the goal, the decision was reversed and the marker was correctly ruled out for offside.

For a Canadian team that’s never going to create a basket of scoring chances, taking advantage of the precious few opportunities they make will be key. And while there were bright spots, there were also causes for concern.

The repatriation acts: Dixon yet another Canadian who decides to return home in 2016

Jamar Dixon

If there’s a word that best describes Canadian soccer right now, it’s “repatriation.”

We saw another example of it Wednesday, as the Ottawa Fury announced the signing of 27-year-old midfielder and Ottawa native Jamar Dixon. He had been playing in Finland for FF Jaro, but said in the team’s release that he was thrilled to come back home.

“I’m happy to be a part of Ottawa Fury FC. This has always been a dream to play for a professional team in my city and I’m excited to get started,” said Dixon. “Hopefully this move will also give me more exposure for the national team. At this point in my career, I think it’s a positive move and a great step to be playing back home, especially in the NASL which is growing so quickly.”

Dixon is just part of a growing trend of Canadians who are deciding that home soil is the best place for them to be. Dixon, who got his first national-team call-up earlier this year, is the newest member of the “come back to Canada club.”

So, far, what we have seen this 2016:



• David Edgar returned to Canada from England to sign for the Vancouver Whitecaps;

• Marcel de Jong, who returned to Canada in 2016 to join the Ottawa Fury, is now with the ‘Caps;

• The much-travelled Tosaint Ricketts has been on trial with Toronto FC (update: About an hour after this was originally posted, Ricketts signed a deal with TFC), and Marcus Haber has been linked to the club;

• Ben Fisk, who spent the last two years in Spain, is on trial with FC Edmonton;

• Nik Ledgerwood, an Alberta native, signed with FC Edmonton in 2016;

• Daniel Haber, who had played in Israel and Cyprus, is now with the USL’s VWFC2;

• Mozzi Gyorio, who was with the USL’s Austin Aztex last season, is with the Fury in 2016-07-20• • Will Johnson, crossed the border to sign with Toronto FC; he was with Portland last season;

• Fraser Aird came to the Whitecaps, on loan from Rangers

Just as national-team coach Benito Floro has been successful in bringing in players like Scott Arfield, Steven Vitoria and Junior Hoilett into the national side, the Canadian club teams are finding that national-team-pool-calibre players are coming back to this country in a way, well, that’s unprecedented.

The way this is going, there may no longer be a point in Floro setting up friendlies for Canada in European soil. After all, the point of those games was to give the European-based Canadians an easier to commute to the national-team camps. Soon, those Euro-based camps may be pointless.

FC Edmonton says Landskrona BoIS can’t use Boakai until a deal is sealed

Hanson Boakai
PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/CANADA SOCCER

Last week, Swedish side Landskrona BoIS announced the signing of 19-year-old Canadian midfielder Hanson Boakai.

Not so fast, says his former club.

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller said nothing has been discussed between the two clubs in regards to compensation that the Eddies claim is owed to them.

“They can’t do anything until they look after us,” said Miller.

Boakai’s contract with FC Edmonton expired after the 2015 season. He then went to Croatia to try his luck, but what’s been a sticking point is Edmonton’s claim for compensation. He then moved on to Sweden and, on July 11, Landskrona BoIS announced his signing (CLICK HERE) even though, according to the Eddies, there had been no contact between the clubs over the outstanding issues.



Boakai made his FC Edmonton debut in 2013, as a 16-year-old. According to FIFA regulations, a club must be compensated if a professional under the age of 23 moves between clubs of two different national associations — and this is key — “whether during or at the end of his contract.” So, even though Boakai was no longer under contract with FCE, because Boakai is moving from Canada to Sweden, the Eddies will claim that they are owed compensation fees by Landskrona BoIS — and that Boakai is not eligible to play for his new Swedish club until that deal is done.

Landskrona BoIS says that Boakai is under contract until November, 2017.

Ben Fisk on his training stint with FC Edmonton: “We’ll see how the club likes me and we’ll go from there”

Ben Fisk PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER

Canadian midfielder and former Vancouver Whitecap Ben Fisk began a training stint with FC Edmonton on Tuesday.

“We’re having a look at Fisky at the moment,” said FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller, who knows the player well from their time together at the Whitecaps. “I just want to see him for a few days and take it from there.”

Fisk has spent the last two years playing in Spain, with Coruxo and then Deportivo La Coruna’s B side. He is currently a free agent. He was recently in Canada’s U-23 camp and has played for Canada’s U-20 side three years ago.

“We wanted to have a look at him, but nothing has been finalized yet,” said Miller. “Maybe later on today or over the next couple of days it will be. But, we’re excited, because if we do come to a deal, he’s Canadian, which is fantastic, we may get accused now and then of not signing Canadians, but they have to be ready for our level as well. Fisky, I believe, has a good enough pedigree coming through the Whitecaps Residency. And, he’s now spent some time in Europe. If he signs with us, I think he’ll be a very strong addition to the group.”

Miller said FCE made two other contract offers to other Canadian players but those didn’t pan out. He said one new addition has been signed, but that won’t be announced until that player gets to Edmonton. A contract offer is out for another player and FCE is waiting on the answer.



Miller said that Fisk can be used either on the left or the right side or as a No. 10.

“I know Colin from my days with the Whitecaps,” said Fisk. “I was waiting at home, looking for something in Europe, but he gave me a call and asked me if I wanted to come out and train for a few days, so I’m here trying it out and we’ll see how things go.

“We’ll see how the club likes me and we’ll go from there.”

But Fisk’s first impressions were positive.

“I really enjoyed it. The group of guys seem very tight-knit, very welcoming to me, I really enjoyed it.”

If Fisk were to stay in Edmonton, it would be a high-profile Canadian signing for the Eddies, and yet another Canadian of note who would choose to play in NASL, joining the likes of Nik Ledgerwood, Julian de Guzman, Nana Attakora and Maxim Tissot.

“I’ve never had a bad perception of the league,” said Fisk. “For me it’s always been a quality league and I know a lot of the guys playing in it. It doesn’t change things from a quality perspective; I think it’s great to see some familiar faces in the teams here and, training here, it’s nice to have a few guys I know, so I can get into the team and feel at home a bit quicker.”

Whether Fisk signs or not, FCE will have some lineup problems for Saturday’s game at the Indy Eleven. Both starting centre backs will be out. Pape Diakite will be suspended after being sent off Sunday against Ottawa, while Albert Watson had to return home to Belfast after his father passed away. This means that Karsten Smith, who signed on Sunday and then played a half-hour in the win over Ottawa, will be thrust right into the thick of it against an Indy team that lost for the first time this season this past weekend.

Overwhelmingly Canadian Power Rankings MLS Week 19/NASL Week 14/USL Week 17

Alphonso Davies
PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER

On the youth-development front, it’s been a wonderful weekend for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Fifteen-year-old Alphonso Davies made his MLS debut Saturday in a 2-2 draw with Orlando. The fact that a kid who can’t legally get a driver’s licence is playing first-team football… fantastic.

As well, the team’s U-18 side got all the way to the USSDA final, where it lost to FC Dallas. More cheers.

And the team signed Canadian internationals David Edgar and Marcel de Jong this week! Even more cheers!

But, it also needs to be said that MDJ has only made one brief appearance as a sub in the two games in which he’s been in a Whitecaps shirt. And even though Davies got a run-out Saturday, no other Canadians got minutes in that match.

So, despite all the good Canadian news from the Whitecaps, after the team’s two matches this past week, its season-long average of minutes played by Canadians per match dipped below 90. That means the Whitecaps average less than one full 90 minute session for a Canadian player per game. And that puts them far behind the four other Canadian MLS and NASL sides.

So, we’re still waiting for these good Canadian omens to make a meaningful impact on the franchise as a whole. Fingers crossed.

HERE ARE THE RANKINGS:

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. Cyle Larin, Orlando City, MLS, 1239 (17)

2. Will Johnson, Toronto FC, MLS, 1237 (15)

3. Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC, MLS, 1214 (16)

4. Mason Trafford, Miami FC, NASL, 1080 (12)

5. Eddie Edward, FC Edmonton/Ottawa, NASL, 1069 (12)

T6. Fraser Aird, Vancouver, MLS, 1014 (12)

T6. Nik Ledgerwood, FC Edmonton, NASL, 1014 (12)

8. Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, MLS, 985 (20)

9. Kyle Bekker, Montreal, MLS, 917 (14)

10. Carl Haworth, Ottawa, NASL, 896 (11)

11. Drew Beckie, Carolina, NASL, 859 (11)

12. Wandrille Lefevre, Montreal, MLS, 855 (10)

13. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS/Jacksonville, NASL 839 (10)

14. Kyle Porter, Ottawa, NASL, 731 (10)

15. Nana Attakora, Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 725 (9)

16. Patrice Bernier, Montreal, MLS, 611 (12)

17. Maxim Tissot, Montreal, MLS/Ottawa, NASL, 607 (8)

18. Mo Babouli, Toronto FC, MLS, 567 (14)

19. Shamit Shome, FC Edmonton, NASL, 566 (9)

20. Jordan Hamilton, Toronto FC, MLS, 530 (7)

21. Julian de Guzman, Ottawa, NASL, 511 (8)

22. Marcel De Jong, Ottawa, NASL/Vancouver, MLS, 519 (7)

23. Russell Teibert, Vancouver, MLS, 447 (7)

24. Mallan Roberts, FC Edmonton/Ottawa, NASL, 416 (6)

25. Jay Chapman, Toronto FC, 385 (11)

26. Allan Zebie, FC Edmonton, NASL, 323 (8)

27. Mauro Eustaquio, Ottawa, NASL, 246 (6)

28. Marcel DeBellis, Ottawa, NASL, 171 (2)

29. Kianz Froese, Vancouver, MLS, 150 (5)

30. Sam Adekugbe, Vancouver, MLS, 111 (2)

31. Ashtone Morgan, Toronto FC, MLS, 96 (5)

32. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, MLS, 68 (4)

33. Mozzi Gyorio, Ottawa, NASL, 65 (2)

34. Marco Bustos, Vancouver, MLS, 50 (2)

35. Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, MLS, 13 (1)

36. Raheem Edwards, Toronto FC, 2 (1)

TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

Ottawa, NASL, 3739/13 (287.6)

FC Edmonton, NASL, 2854/13 (219.5)

Toronto FC, MLS, 4032/19 (212.2)

Montreal, MLS, 2948/19 (155.2)

Vancouver, MLS, 1809/21 (86.1)

Miami FC, NASL, 1080/13 (83.1)

Orlando City, MLS, 1239/18 (68.8)

Carolina, NASL, 859/13 (66.1)

Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 725/14 (51.8)

FC Dallas, MLS, 985/22 (44.8)

New York Red Bulls, MLS, 582/21 (27.7)

Jacksonville, NASL, 257/14 (18.4)

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. Janouk Charbonneau, FC Montreal, USL, 1606 (18)

2. Louis Beland-Goyette, FC Montreal, USL, 1351 (16)

3. Skylar Thomas, TFC II, USL, 1305 (16)

4. Brett Levis, WFC2, USL, 1281 (16)

5. Daniel Haber, WFC2, USL, 1274 (18)

T6. Maxime Crepeau, FC Montreal, USL, 1260 (14)

T6. John Smits, Wilmington, USL, 1260 (14)

8. Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, FC Montreal, USL, 1236 (14)

9. Anthony Osorio, TFC II, USL, 1235 (15)

10. Shaan Hundal, TFC II, USL, 1213 (18)

11. Aron Mkungilwa, FC Montreal, USL, 1158 (14)

12. Ballou Jean Yves Tabla, FC Montreal, USL, 1111 (14)

13. Dominic Samuel, Rochester, USL, 1108 (14)

14. Liam Fraser, TFC II, USL, 1087 (16)

15. Richie Laryea, Orlando City B, USL, 1080 (16)

16. Aidan Daniels, TFC II, USL, 1047 (17)

17. Michael Cox, Orlando City B, USL, 1041 (16)

18. Ryan James, Rochester, USL, 1041 (15)

19. Tyler Pasher, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 1028 (12)

20. Chris Mannella, TFC II, USL, 1006 (15)

21. Kadin Chung, WFC2, USL, 984 (12)

22. Mark Anthony Kaye, Louisville City FC, 948 (14)

23. Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 937 (15)

24. David Choiniere, FC Montreal, USL, 921 (12)

25. Raheem Edwards, TFC II, USL, 861 (11)

26. Alessandro Riggi, FC Montreal, USL, 827 (13)

27. Marco Bustos, WFC2, USL, 802 (10)

28. Malik Johnson, TFC II, USL, 801 (15)

29. Marco Dominguez, FC Montreal, USL, 796 (11)

30. Jackson Farmer, WFC2, USL, 792 (9)

31. Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 785 (14)

32. Zachary Sukunda, FC Montreal, USL, 725 (12)

33. Bradley Kamdem, Rochester, USL, 720 (14)

34. Benjamin McKendry, WFC2, USL, 720 (11)

35. Jordan Murrell, Pittsburgh, USL, 719 (10)

36. Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Orlando City B, USL, 717 (9)

37. Mastanabal Kacher, FC Montreal, USL, 704 (13)

T38. Callum Irving, Rio Grande Valley FC, USL, 630 (7)

T38. Quillan Roberts, TFC II, USL, 630 (7)

40. Yacine Ait-Slimane, FC Montreal, USL, 607 (12)

41. Luca Uccello, TFC II, USL, 600 (15)

42. Giuliano Frano, WFC2, USL, 567 (14)

43. Philippe Lincourt-Joseph, FC Montreal, USL, 556 (15)

44. Sean Melvin, WFC2, USL, 540 (6)

45. Nevelo Yoseke, FC Montreal, USL, 504 (13)

46. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, FC Montreal, USL, 479 (6)

47. Alphonso Davies, WFC2, USL, 477 (8)

48. Matthew Baldisimo, WFC2, USL, 463 (12)

49. Charles Joly, FC Montreal, USL, 450 (8)

50. Phil Di Bennardo, TFC II, USL, 432 (5)

51. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, FC Montreal, USL, 420 (6)

52. Kianz Froese, WFC2, USL, 412 (6)

53. Thomas Gardner, WFC2, USL, 411 (11)

54. Carlos Patino, Sounders FC 2, USL, 410 (8)

55. Josh Heard, Bethlehem Steel, USL, 388 (11)

56. Brandon John, Sounders FC2, USL, 357 (6)

57. Robert Boskovic, TFC II, USL, 352 (10)

58. Jems Geffrard, FC Montreal, USL, 349 (4)

59. Adam Bouchard, TFC II, USL, 342 (7)

60. Sam Adekugbe, WFC2, USL, 329 (4)

61. Sahil Sandhu, WFC2, USL, 301 (10)

62. Chris Serban, WFC2, USL, 273 (6)

63. Marco Carducci, WFC2, USL, 270 (3)

64. Simon Lemire, FC Montreal, USL, 268 (7)

65. Jordan Haynes, WFC2, USL, 261 (8)

66. Duwayne Ewart, Pittsburgh, USL, 253 (7)

67. Jonathan Grant, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 204 (11)

68. Mackenzie Pridham, Sacramento Republic, USL, 194 (10)

69. Jordan Hamilton, TFC II, USL, 182 (3)

70. James Pantemis, FC Montreal, USL, 180 (2)

71. Steven Furlano, TFC II, USL, 167 (2)

72. Mo Babouli, TFC II, USL, 162 (2)

73. Heikel Jarras, FC Montreal, USL, 154 (10)

74. Jay Chapman, TFC II, USL, 141 (2)

75. Mitch Piraux, WFC2, USL, 100 (2)

76. Fabrice Mbvouvouma, FC Montreal, USL, 92 (4)

T77. Wandrille Lefevre, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T77. David Paulmin, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T77. Maxim Tissot, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

80. Karl Ouimette, NYRB2, USL, 87 (1)

81. Andrew Dias, TFC II, USL, 80 (1)

82. Richlord Ennin, TFC II, USL, 76 (3)

83. Ashtone Morgan, TFC II, USL, 62 (1)

84. Joel Harrison, WFC2, USL, 50 (2)

85. Raheem Taylor-Parkes, Bethlehem Steel FC, USL, 44 (3)

86. Ethan Beckford, TFC II, USL, 40 (2)

87. Badreddine Boulajoul, FC Montreal, USL, 25 (2)

88. Terran Campbell, WFC2, USL, 19 (5)

T89. Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, USL, 18 (1)

T89. Jimmy-Shammar Sanon, FC Montreal, USL, 18 (1)

91. Alan Camacho, WFC2, USL, 16 (1)

92. Mele Temguia, FC Montreal, USL, 10 (1)

93. Nick Apostol, WFC2, USL, 9 (1)

94. Nikola Stakic, TFC II, USL, 7 (1)

95. Marko Maletic, TFC II, USL, 1 (1)

USL TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

FC Montreal, 16152/18 (897.3)

TFC II, 11839/20 (591.6)

WFC2, 10361/18 (575.6)

Swope Park Rangers, 2964/17 (174.4)

Rochester Rhinos, 2879/17 (169.4)

Orlando City B, 2828/18 (157.1)

Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 1260/18 (70)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 972/17 (57.2)

Louisville City FC, 948/19 (49.9)

Sounders FC 2, 767/18 (42.6)

Rio Grande Valley FC, 630/19 (33.2)

Bethlehem Steel, 432/18 (24)

Sacramento Republic, 194/18 (10.8)

NYRB2, 82/17 (4.8)

Ethics, hypocrisy and money: Real Salt Lake dispute a perfect example of the media’s slippery slope

Rio Tinto Stadium, home of RSL

In the last few years, this site has distanced itself from the United States; basically, we cover NASL and MLS and the other leagues we share with Americans — when the stories relate to a Canadian audience.

But, today, I’m breaking that rule. Because I’m gonna wade into the world of ethics, sports journalism and where we are today.

As you may have heard, MLS side Real Salt Lake made the decision this past weekend to strip Salt Lake Tribune columnist Gordon Monson of his credentials. Monson has been critical of the team’s ownership in past columns (an example can be found HERE). The paper responded by not sending staff to cover this past weekend’s RSL match, choosing to write a reduced game report straight off a television broadcast.

In a statement, Andy Carroll, RSL’s chief business officer, said that the club felt that Monson could write his columns without having to go to the stadium because “he clearly needs no semblance of reportage or journalistic integrity upon which to arrive and share his view.” Carroll then went on to state that it represented a conflict of interest for Monson to cover RSL because he did radio work with a relative of the team’s former owner and, this is key here, because he gets paid by what Carroll called a “competing professional team in the marketplace,” the NBA’s Utah Jazz.

Now, wait a second here. It is a conflict for someone to cover an MLS team but also be involved in the NBA? If that’s the case — and if MLS approves this message — by that logic, should it not also be a conflict for an MLS owner to also have a stake or fully own an NBA team? Since Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment owns the Raptors, TFC, the Maple Leafs and the Marlies, don’t they in some way aid and abet the competitors in RSL’s coveted marketplace? Following Carroll’s logic, should MLSE be allowed to own an NBA team and an MLS team?

What about the Vancouver Whitecaps and the expansion LAFC? Don’t they both have owners who earned their money thanks to lucrative NBA careers?

As well, I think it needs to be stated that the reason MLS exists is because, in the 1990s, a lot of owners who made their money in the NFL — another competing league — decided to invest their money in soccer.



Basically, and this conversation exists outside of the decision to ban Monson, by calling the NBA a competitor that creates a conflict of interest, RSL’s front office is talking out both sides of its collective mouth.

(Full disclosure, here. In 2010, RSL paid me to provide colour commentary for a radio broadcast of a Toronto FC/Real Salt Lake match. As well, I have covered the club in the past for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, as an independent freelancer; I have had no issue in the past with access to the club.)

There is another issue that Carroll raises; by calling a team that plays another sport in the “marketplace” a “competitor,” he only rekindles the flames of the soccer-vs.-everything-else disease that hurts the game in North America.

The soccer communities in Canada and the United States have always had an issue with how insular they are. The stereotype of the soccer snob or hipster who always has to put down any other sport in North America continues to stay strong. Every Super Bowl Sunday, it’s like clockwork; you’re barraged by tweets from the soccer snobs about how the Super Bowl isn’t that big, it’s not global, and isn’t watched by as many people world wide as (place soccer tournament/team here). So boring, unnecessary and, boy it makes soccer fans look whiny.

It’s a sad affliction of insecurity that plagues us; sure, soccer fans have taken their fair share of abuses in comment sections and chat rooms about diving/sissy sport/boring/no goals/diving/diving/diving, but the truth is, many of us are more than happy to return fire and keep putting up barriers between soccer and other sports. It’s sad, really – it makes us feel like a gated community. Don’t dare send a new reporter to cover the MLS/NASL team — we’ll chew that person up for “knowing nothing about soccer!” Don’t dare let anyone else other than “soccer people” talk/broadcast or write to soccer fans!

In that way, we totally and unabashedly suck.

Carroll isn’t helping. But let me tell you this; it’s not a crime to follow your local soccer club and also follow the baseball, basketball, football or hockey team. I have covered hockey for years, and am looking forward to the opening of the new arena in Edmonton. Does that mean my FC Edmonton work is compromised? No.

Now, let’s get to the delicate issue of teams that pay journalists to cover/commentate on their franchises.

In a perfect world, this doesn’t happen. In a perfect world, there is no need for leagues to have their own websites where they can underpay (did I just say that out loud?) writers to cover the teams. (I trust that the people who write about RSL for MLSSoccer.com are forbidden to write about the Utah Jazz.)

But, in case you’ve been living under a rock, the media business has shed lots of jobs. And a lot of journalists will write for trade publications, house organs or league websites. They’ll commentate on radio shows paid for by the respective teams involved. It’s called putting food on the table. The key is transparency (like the fact I disclosed that I was once paid by RSL earlier in this piece). Never deceive your audience. What crosses the line is when a journalist being paid by a team or league portrays his or her work as a scoop or exclusive when, in fact, that writer is being paid by the subjects.

And, teams will send us press release after press release instructing us to make sure to use the corporate name of the stadiums. They instruct us to respect their sponsors.

Meanwhile, those sponsors are no longer advertising in the media — you know, the industry that puts food on our tables — because they can get what amounts to free exposure in many different organs because their names are on stadiums or shirts. So, in essence, the leagues are expecting us to be complicit in helping them raise money by offering free advertising for their naming-right sponsors in our spaces. So, basically, we’re told to respect their deals — but, in the RSL case, we’re censured for cutting our own deals. My solution is simple: If a league can tell us what constitutes conflict of interest, we should in no way ever use the league’s sponsors in our copy. Fair is fair.

Yes, I get the argument that these sponsors are vital to the survival of these teams and leagues that the sportswriters cover, but I wanted to illustrate just how complicated it all is.

So, when it comes to who is paying who, the lines have been blurred. Look, I would be more than happy if each reader decided to pay enough for each article he or she reads so that professional writers could make living wages without needing advertisers or patrons. But that’s not going to happen.

Finally, there is a professional organization, the North American Soccer Reporters, which is supposed to act in cases such as this. Basically, over the last several years, the NASR has just become a club where journalists pick the MLS Player of the Week. That’s fine — but the major function of an organization like the NASR is to step in when conflicts such as the RSL-Tribune schism arise. And the NASR’s silence on this has been telling. Maybe, as a whole, soccer writers can’t be bothered. And that’s a sad thing, indeed.

Trial by fire: Karsten Smith makes FC Edmonton debut just hours after deal announced

Karsten Smith, with Fort Lauderdale last season.

To say the last couple of days have been a whirlwind for centre back Karsten Smith would be an understatement.

He arrived in Edmonton Saturday. Smith passed his medical Sunday morning, and he was announced as a new signing by the Eddies shortly after.

There was a scare that captain Albert Watson might not be able to play, but he passed a fitness test and went the full 90 Sunday, despite needing stitches in his chin after a challenge with Ottawa’s Thomas Stewart.

But Smith had to come in and play the final 30 minutes after the Eddies other starting back, Pape Diakite, was sent off for two rash challenges.

“I was told late afternoon (yesterday) that I’d be on the bench today,” said Smith. “I was mentally preparing myself to play but you never think you’re going to play when you first show up, I haven’t even trained with the team yet.”



And Smith helped the Eddies to a 1-0 win despite being down to 10 men. He didn’t even know all of his teammates’ names when he was put into the game. He just tried to keep his game as simple as possible.

“I understood the circumstances, I understood the importance of this match. I just went out there trying to keep a clean sheet. We were successful with it.”

Smith is a close friend of Eddies striker Tomi Ameobi; the two were teammates in Finland. Smith was with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers last season, but moved to the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds to start the 2016 campaign. He wasn’t happy there, though.

“I was with a team in Pittsburgh who weren’t doing so well. I was in and out of the team, I wasn’t really agreeing with everything that was going on there. So, when the opportunity arose, I cam over here. I’m excited.”

Karsten Smith’s name as it appeared on NASL’s match tracker. If his new nickname isn’t Green Arrow, something is wrong.

In fact, the move is so fresh that the Riverhounds still have Smith listed on the team’s roster. But Smith said his first impressions of Edmonton have been positive.

“I could tell right away as soon as I got on the field that this is a team that has great chemistry. Everyone was communicating and helping me out. I’ve been on teams where that’s been an issue. So I recognized already that this is a special team, so I’m grateful. I’m glad that I’m here and I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Miller is happy to get a left-sided centre back ; and Smith likely will get another chance next week on the road to the Indy Eleven, as Diakite will need to serve a one-game suspension.

“That door closes and Karsten Smith has taken his opportunity with both feet, can I say that,” said Miller.

The coach said FC Edmonton will have another new player arrive early next week.

Ledgerwood’s goal gives 10-man FC Edmonton a victory over snakebitten Fury

FCE’s Nik Ledgerwood battles Ottawa’s Dennis Chin for the ball. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Conclusion after this weekend’s games: A team from Ontario that wears red jerseys should never, ever want its opponents to have players sent off.

On Saturday, in MLS action, Toronto FC surrendered the winning goal to San Jose, despite the fact that the Quakes were down to nine men. And, on Sunday in NASL action, 10-man FC Edmonton got a late goal from Nik Ledgerwood to beat the Ottawa Fury, 1-0.

The Eddies are now just three points behind the New York Cosmos — with a game in hand — for first place in the NASL overall standings. The Fury has yet to get a point in the fall season.

The Fury fluffed numerous chances in front of goal before and after FCE centre back Pape Diakite got his second yellow in the 60th minute. Included in those misses were a couple of chances from Eddie Edward, who was returning to Edmonton for the first time since being signed by Ottawa during the break between the spring and fall seasons.

Edward, playing as a true right winger rather than as a right back, had a chance on the break in the first half and put the ball just over the goal, then had a headed effort stopped by Eddies keeper Matt VanOekel in the first half.

The Fury also had chances that fell victim to very poor touches from strikers in key areas. Dennis Chin had a chance in the area, but a poor first touch allowed Eddies’ fullback Adam Eckersley the time to get back into the box and scramble the ball away. And, in the second half, Giuseppe Gentile had a chance to go into the box one-on-one with VanOekel but lost the ball in his feet.

“We definitely hd the better chances, we had enough chances to win the game,” said Fury coach Paul Dalglish. “If you don’t score goals in football, you can’t win the game. It doesn’t matter how much effort you put in. It doesn’t matter how many tackles you win or how many headers you win or how many passes you complete… And, far too many times this season, we’ve missed clear-cut opportunities to score goals. We’ve got to fix it. It can’t continue.”



Edward and centre back Mallan Roberts, on loan from FCE to Ottawa, both started for the Fury. As well, newly acquired winger Maxim Tissot and forward Thomas Stewart got their first starts.

“It’s kinda hard to describe what I was going through,” said Edward. “Obviously, really happy to see everyone. But, bitter that we lost. Obviously, we wanted the three points.

“I’m not sure what it is right now. It’s like we’re allergic to scoring goals. We have to continue trying to do the right things. We are finding some success, we just have to put the ball in the back of the net.”

It looked good for Ottawa when Diakite unleashed two rash challenges early in the second half. First, he came in with a diving two-footed challenge on Ottawa’s Carl Haworth, that had the Fury baying for a straight red. Diakite was very fortunate to get only a yellow.

“I actually thought he was lucky to stay on for the first challenge,” admitted FCE coach Colin Miller. “I thought it was a straight red… I can’t defend the player, it was just ludicrous.”

But, knowing he was walking the tightrope, Diakite returned with another rash challenge that gave referee David Barrie no choice but to send him off. Chin had the ball on the line and was headed out of bounds. Diakite came in with a challenge from behind, anyway, even though Chin was essentially heading out of play.

After Diakite was sent off, the Fury went with just three at the back. And Miller decided to see if he could take advantage of it, putting in speedsters Johan Smith and Sainey Nyassi.

The goal came with less than 10 minute to. Nyassi got down the right wing, and for some reason Fury fullback Lance Rozeboom decided to back off and not put a challenge in. Given the time and space, Nyassi squared the ball for Ledgerwood, who put the ball in the corner.

“The substitutions that we made had an influence on the game because it wasn’t just a negative substitution,” said Miller. “With the pace going forward, I think we caused them problems and Leg scoring the goal when he did just gave us a lift. A fantastic team effort here, today. “

Ledgerwood admitted that it’s odd to play Ottawa. When he played in Europe, seeing another Canadian was a rarity. When Edmonton and Ottawa play, there are plenty of former teammates, national teammates and friends on both sides of the ball.

“There’s definitely a lot of friendships there, a lot of guys that we know, that have played here…. It’s kind of a weird situation, we don’t get it that often. There’s six or seven guys on that team I can call friends. But at the same token, at the end of the day, we want to go out and win, I am sure they want to do the same, so we kind of put our friendships aside for the 90-odd minutes and go at it with each other.”

Miller: FC Edmonton has contract offers out to three players

Colin Miller

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller is playing the waiting game. He said Thursday that the NASL club has made solid contract offers to three separate players — and he’s expecting their responses, soon.

“We should find out today (Thursday) about one of them,” Miller said after Thursday’s training session. “Maybe Monday about another one, and then Friday or Saturday for the other one. We’re in the market, we know we have to bring in some bodies. Some will come in as cover and some will come in to put other people under pressure.”

The Eddies have one vacant international roster spot — and have other holes to fill. In the last several weeks, the team has parted ways with English midfielder Ritchie Jones due to long-term injury, loaned defender Mallan Roberts to Ottawa, released fullback Eddie Edward so he could tend to personal matters in Ottawa and then traded forward Jason Plumhoff to Jacksonville for fullback Shawn Nicklaw.

“We’re short of bodies, and we’re well aware of that,” said Miller “We had a squad of 16 on Sunday against Fort Lauderdale we had a squad of 15 against Oklahoma.”



Miller is hopeful that Sainey Nyassi and Pablo Cruz, midfielder out with injuries, will return soon to boost the squad. Midfielder Cristian Raudales is still weeks away from getting into game shape and recently got an injection for his injured Achilles tendon.

While the Eddies are working on deals, other teams in the league have been making waves: Carolina inked Mexican Omar Bravo; the Ottawa Fury sold Jonny Steele to Miami FC but acquired forward Thomas Stewart and are expected to announced the signing of defender Maxim Tissot. Rayo OKC has taken Real Salt Lake’s Devon Sandoval on loan. And Miami FC has spent well over $1 million to bring Steele, Richie Ryan, Michael Lahoud and Kwadwo Poku.

But, has Miami FC’s big-ticket spending made it harder for a team like FC Edmonton, which is near the middle of the pack when it comes to spending in the NASL?

“It’s hard enough with agents, or cowboys in some cases,” said Miller. “But it is difficult to try and recruit certain players when you’re going like for like against an American club. Of course, there’s the Canadian dollar, and that’s nothing to do with how good our club is. But, in some cases, I welcome a club spending that money. There’s no guarantees they are going to be successful, and that’s been proven already — look at Leicester City spending whatever they spent versus Manchester City and Manchester United, 250 and 280 million pounds. So, just because a club is spending money doesn’t mean that they are going to be successful. It raises the profile a little bit, because some clubs have some money to throw around. And there are some clubs in our league, some fairly big hitters throwing some money around.

“Having said that, we offer a very good package to any player coming to our club. We’re competitive, certainly not with the big guns, of course, but the fact is there are lots of players available. The players want to work, they want to come to North America. And we make it fashionable to come to Edmonton. We tell them about our program, our academy, our ownership is fantastic, second to none. These things, combined with how they get treated when they’re here, make FC Edmonton a desirable place to come and play and a desirable place to come and work.”

But the new addition the team has made has already made an impact. Nicklaw was named to the NASL’s team of the week for his work in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Fort Lauderdale.

“I think he’s settled in really well into the group, I think he’ll be a very strong addition to the group,” said Miller. “He gives us some terrific options going forward. For me, it’s about how quickly he can settle into how we play as a team.”

Nicklaw said the transition has been easy, so far.

“You have a good group of guys that’s been welcoming with open arms. The coach, the gaffer, has been really helpful, he’s helped me out here and there and the transition has been nothing but smooth.”

Big win for Minnesota United, NASL: Canadian Mozzi Gyorio’s lawsuit tossed out of court

Mozzi Gyorio

Minnesota United did not win the spring season, but it had a winning day in court.

On Monday, New York Justice Ellen M. Coin dismissed the lawsuit brought upon the team and the NASL by Canadian midfielder Mozzi Gyorio, who is now a member of the Ottawa Fury.

In 2014, Gyorio was signed by Minnesota and was later instructed to join the Loons’ reserve team. Gyorio refused, claiming it was not part of his contract. Eventually, the impasse between player and team led to Minnesota United terminating his contract.

Gyorio took the case to New York court, stating that the team breached his contract and that NASL interfered with the contract. Both the team and the league petitioned the court to have the case tossed out.

Coin ruled that the New York court has no jurisdiction over Minnesota United. She agreed with the team’s claim that it does its business in the state of Minnesota, and only really has a New York presence when it goes on the road to play the Cosmos. As Gyorio and his agent at the time of the dealings are Canadians, the court ruled that they also aren’t in New York’s jurisdiction.



“Gyorio has not submitted a scintilla of evidence to show that MU engaged in purposeful activity within the state and that the alleged activity in New York gave rise to, or had a substantial relationship with, the breach of contract claim,” Coin wrote.

And, even if the court did have jurisdiction, Coin said Gyorio’s suit would have failed. That’s because the contract stated that any dispute between player and the team would go to NASL commissioner Bill Peterson and then to arbitration. The arbitration route was not completed — and the onus was on Gyorio to go down that path.

“Gyorio’s failure to pursue arbitration under the contract’s broad arbitration clause bars this lawsuit against MU because there is a reasonable relationship between the subject matter of the dispute and the underlying contract,” she wrote.

Justice Coin wrote that NASL can’t be accused of interfering with the contract because the decision to terminate Gyorio’s contract was a result of him not accepting the loan to the Loons’ reserve team. And that would be an internal matter. As well, the contract had a clause that states that the NASL would not be liable for any action taken by either party.