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    Duane Rollins
    It was so bad that it’s almost pointless to try and break things down. They sucked. That’s kind of the bottom line.
    However, we will endeavor to look at why.
    The easy answer is it was the centre-backs. If you plug a MLS all-star quality CB into the mix then things would be much better, is a common message board topic. That’s clearly correct. It’s also something pretty much every other MLS team is looking to do. The reality is that CBs are not easy to find within a MLS salary cap system.
    In fact, TFC’s problem might be that they swing for the fences a little too much when it comes to CBs.
    What they need aren’t necessarily superstars. They need competence. They need meat and potatoes. They need guys that can do a job and complement the higher skilled players they have around them.
    Let’s look at the specifics:
    There were five guys that played significant minutes at CB last year that might be back in 2015. The instinct of many might be to throw them all out and start over, but that’s not something that is realistically going to happen.
    So, who do you keep? Let’s look at some numbers. As always we have used Whoscored.com figures.
    Whoscored rating –
    1. Josh Williams 6.89
    2. Damien Perquis 6.88
    3. Nick Hagglund 6.86
    4. Eriq Zaveleta 6.68
    5. Ahmed Kantari 6.62
    As I suggested above, the plumber is outperforming the two artists that were brought in for big bucks (although Perquis is pretty close).
    Tackles per 90 – fouls
    1. Williams 1.2
    2. Zavaleta 1.1
    3. Kantari 0.4
    4. Hagglund 0
    5. Perquis -0.1
    This stat looks at the overall benefit a defender brings through tackles. It’s a rough figure (total successful tackles minus total fouls) but it’s a rough idea.
    Look who is on top again. The bottom probably doesn’t shock many of you as it was pretty clear that Perquis struggled with that part of his game.
    Interceptions + blocks
    1. Williams 5.1
    2. Perquis 4.1
    3. Hagglund 3.4
    4. Kantari 3.3
    5. Zavaleta 2.5
    How often a defender breaks up play successfully. This is starting to look like a trend.
    Aerial wins
    1. Hagglund 2.7
    2. Perquis 2.3
    3. Williams 1.9
    4. Zavaleta 1.7
    5. Kantari 1.5
    Come on, Ahmed? Of note: Hagglund’s number would have ranked him in the top 10 in the league had he played enough minutes.
    Passing percentage
    1. Williams 88.3%
    2. Perquis 81.3%
    3. Zavaleta 77.3%
    4. Hagglund 75.7%
    5. Sigh 75.5%
    Quick observation before we throw up some comparable. Kantari is an absolute failure on both the eye ball test (everyone pretty much wants him gone) and the numbers. Releasing him is an easy decision.
    We’ll get to the other four after a couple league-wide numbers.
    First, let’s look at the top end.
    Matt Miazga is undoubtedly the best defender value signing in the league. Just 20, he’s among the best defenders in MLS and will likely have a long career playing for far more defensively competent teams than TFC.
    He also has no cap hit. The Red Bulls developed him in their academy. No wonder they won the Supporters Shield.
    Miazga’s numbers?
    Whoscored -- 7.49
    Tack-Fouls -- 1.1
    Block+Int -- 3.8
    Air -- 4.5
    Pass% -- 75%
    What’s interesting is that the numbers aren’t that far removed from TFC’s top CB’s. They are just consistently solid (with one exceptional skill – aerial battles). The difference is he’s free. He basically gives you Perquis stats for literally 100% less cap hit.
    Let’s take a look at an unfancied player. Randomly, we decided to look at former TFC punching bag Arron Maund.
    Whoscored -- 6.89
    Tack-Fouls -- 0.8
    Block+Int -- 3.3
    Air – 2.6
    Pass% -- 73.6%
    Meh. But, not shocking. And, at a fraction of the cost of either of Toronto’s big money defender signings.
    This is a small sample size, but it does suggest that throwing big salaries at players with pretty resumes isn’t necessarily better than developing your own defenders or looking for journeymen. This possibility is underlined by the fact that Josh Williams was Toronto’s best defender statistically last year.
    So, what do I take away from this from a TFC 2016 perspective? Kantari needs to go and Williams is a nice piece. For the sake of consistency (and some decent offensive metrics) I’d give Perquis another year. Zavaleta might be btter suited for the NASL and Hagglund’s noggin is worth keeping around. Maybe play him at TFC2 a bit.
    Another piece is needed. That’s clear. Shop (relatively) locally.
    Not going for a huge signing at the back might be in conflict with most people’s thinking, but the value just isn’t there.
    Instead use that extra cash saved from dumping Kantari to sign a true No 6 – and this is the worst example of burying the lead in history. What went really wrong with TFC in 2016 is they didn’t support the back-line, not that the back-line was incapable.

    Duane Rollins
    This has been a poorly kept secret in TFC media circles over the last week, but it broke open today after fans in Edmonton started to talk about the move on social media.
    TFC and Boakai’s agent (via Steve Sandor) have both denied that the move is done, but neither outright denied talks have occurred.
    Sources in Edmonton and Toronto confirm that Boakai is on TFC’s discovery list.
    It’s been long thought that Boakai would prefer to move to Europe and that MLS was low on his priority list. However, it’s become clear that his European options were limited due to likely difficulties in obtaining a work permit.
    It’s more likely he could obtain a work permit after completing a successful stint in MLS. So, the option may appear more palatable to Boakai’s camp now.
    The move does make sense for TFC. They are in need of skill on the flanks and Boatai can provide that. There are questions about his defensive commitment, but he’s a low risk, domestic option that would not cost a great deal on the cap. He would arrive in MLS on a free transfer.
    According to an Edmonton source, the only hold up now remains a desire of the Boakai camp to take one last look at European possibilities before committing to Toronto.
    It’s unlikely there will be any confirmation on this potential move prior to the end of the MLS playoffs.
    While we wait, his mixed tape:


    Michael Mccoll
    Have a listen!
    You can listen to this, and all previous, episodes of the podcast on iTunes HERE.
    Or download it for your later listening delight HERE.
    We also have an iPhone app, so you can now add our podcast to your phone as an app. Visit the podcast's mobile site HERE and then at the bottom of the screen just click the "Quick Launch" icon and the podcast will be added to your home screen and appear as an app.
    And if that's not enough, we're on Stitcher Radio Network. Download the app and listen to the AFTN podcast on your device, along with over 20,000 other shows HERE.
    Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!


    Michael Mccoll
    REPORT:
    Well that's it all over for another season.
    Vancouver Whitecaps playoff dreams and MLS Cup hopes came crashing to a halt at BC Place on Sunday evening after an electrifying atmosphere and start fizzled out.
    What started out as a night to remember, ended as a night to forget, as goals from Fanendo Adi and Diego Chara gave Portland Timbers a fairly comfortable 2-0 win over a Whitecaps side that seemed short of ideas and any real attacking threat after Kekuta Manneh limped off with an ankle injury after just 26 minutes.
    Manneh had looked to be the game changer for Vancouver in a fast-paced start. As it turns out, he was, but it was due to his injury. The Whitecaps failure to get an away goal down in Portland also proved costly, as did their continued inability to turn their numerous chances into goals.
    Whitecaps' talismanic captain Pedro Morales returned to the starting line-up, in the only Vancouver change from the first leg, with Diego Chara returning to Portland's starting eleven. Only one of them was to have a huge influence in the game. Sadly for the 'Caps, it was Chara.
    With the first goal crucial, Vancouver attacked from the off and it was an electrifying start to the match from both teams.
    Kekuta Manneh was amped up for this one and causing the Timbers a lot of early problems.
    The Gambian fired a low shot narrowly wide right in the 6th minute, then followed it up moments later by running at the Portland defence and crashing another low shot off the left post, bouncing off the back of Timbers' keeper Adam Kwarasey and past for a corner.
    Diego Valeri had Portland's best chance in the 14th minute, with a long range curler that went wide.
    Vancouver's early pressure and efforts had come to nothing. It's something we've seen all season, with mixed results by the end of it. The 'Caps were then dealt a blow midway through the half when Manneh slipped and went over on his ankle and had to be replaced by Mauro Rosales.
    With two attacking midfielders now on the pitch that may struggle to see the end of the match, Vancouver's depth was going to be tested.
    Then things took an ever worse turn for the 'Caps in the 31st minute when the Timbers took the lead.
    Diego Valeri received the ball out left, hit the byeline and cut the ball back to an open Adi, who made no mistake in firing high into the Vancouver net.
    It was now looking to be a massive uphill battle for the Whitecaps.
    The away goal initially stunned Vancouver and BC Place, but the Whitecaps regrouped and finished the half strongly, with Kwarasey forced to tip an Octavio Rivero header over from under his bar, a minute before the break.
    Vancouver tried to take the game to Portland at the start of the second and had a couple of penalty shouts that were given no time by referee Elfath.
    The Timbers were looking comfortable and the 'Caps seemed to have nothing left to throw at them.
    David Ousted had to act quickly to keep out a Portland free kick that came through a mass of players untouched with ten minutes remaining.
    Vancouver weren't looking like getting one goal, never mind the two they needed, but as they pushed for any kind of consolation, Portland hit a second four minutes into stoppage time, when Chara buried an Adi layoff.
    2-0 Portland and a trip to Dallas for their second Western Conference Championship game in two years now awaits the Timbers.
    Vancouver now have time to rest, reflect on what was a fairly successful year, regroup and fill that massive need that still remains in the goalscoring department.
    It's been a great year taken as a whole, but a horrible ending. Focus on the former will certainly come, but right now, it's hard to shake the latter. With the right additions and changes though, 2016 could be even better. But the bar is now set very high. Hopefully the 'Caps can still reach and get over it.
    FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 0 Portland Timbers
    ATT: 27,837
    VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour (Robert Earnshaw 82), Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Gershon Koffie (Darren Mattocks 63), Cristian Techera, Pedro Morales, Kekuta Manneh (Mauro Rosales 26); Octavio Rivero [subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Jordan Smith, Christian Dean, Russell Teibert]
    PORTLAND: Adam Kwarasey; Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana (Norberto Paparatto 67); Diego Valeri (Jack Jewsbury 84), Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe; Dairon Asprilla, Fanendo Adi, Rodney Wallace (Lucas Melano 80) [subs Not Used: Jake Gleeson, Will Johnson, Taylor Peay, Maximiliano Urruti]
    REACTION:
    VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
    CARL ROBINSON
    Thoughts on the match changing when Kekuta Manneh came off:
    “Well, first of all I want to congratulate Portland, a credit to them for winning the game today, winning the two leg series. So, congratulations to them. It changed, dramatically. I think the kid started like a house on fire and put us in the ascendency with playing front football, and hit the two and have one or two half chances, then it changes. But when it’s not your day, it’s not your day and today, it wasn’t our day. We didn’t score a goal over two legs. When you don’t score a goal over two legs, unless you’re lucky and go to penalties and win, you’re not going to win a game of football, and that’s what happened.”
    On what the team needs to get that early decisive goal in games:
    “That’s a million dollar question. I think the reason strikers are paid so much money in this game is because they are able to put the ball into the back of the net and we haven’t been able to do that. Not just tonight, but for a number of games this year. That’s something I’ll have to go back to the drawing board with my staff in the offseason, and try and bring some more goals, because it’s ultimately cost us a little bit, especially tonight, and that’s something you have to take on the chin.”
    On whether he thinks he waited too long to make an offensive substitution:
    “No, because I made it at 58 minutes or so. I wanted to get a reaction out of the boys. I think they played very well in the first half. The game’s fine lines. Adi scores a good goal, probably we’re not set up properly off a throw in and pull back, he scores. You know, we had a chance last Sunday with Rivero on his left foot, but we don’t hit the target, he scores. In hindsight, you can say that a minute after he scored, maybe I should have changed it. But no, we give it a little bit. We changed the formation twice to try and get back into it. I think we could have been there another 90 minutes and not scored, it’s one of them.”
    On if not getting the away goal in Portland was key to the match:
    “I’ll never know, I suppose. As I said, they are disappointed today, disappointed for the guys in there, but really proud of them. They should come away from this season, we’ve achieved a lot of things at this football club and they should be proud of themselves. Disappointed, yes, we’ve missed an opportunity, a missed opportunity for us this year. But, we’re a young group of players and we’ll learn from it. As I said to you when I first walked in here, credit to Portland. They’re a good team.”
    On what the positives were this season:
    “I’m proud of them because they’ve achieved a number of firsts this year. The game is about proving people wrong and I’ve said that to you all along. If you don’t score a goal, you’ve got to continue to work hard to create chances to score goals. If you concede three goals, you’ve got to get back to basic defending probably. There’s a lot of positives, as I’ve said, they’re disappointed today because the fans out there were fantastic. What an atmosphere. I’m disappointed we couldn’t win the game for them. But that gives us a little taste and a sample of what we can do if we continue to build and continue to get positive results, because they supported us right until the 95th minute, which was great and I thank them for that.”
    KENDALL WASTON
    On a tough way to end the season:
    “We were expecting here at home [to] win the game. We’re disappointed because we worked very hard during all the season to get to the final, looking to make a lot of history here at the club. But I’m very proud of my teammates because even when we were down we were trying to look how we could have scored, but it’s hard because Portland is a very good team and they deserved to win.”
    On starting with energy before Kekuta Manneh went out injured:
    “This is about scoring. We couldn’t score, Portland got their opportunity and everything shut off there. But it’s very hard not to talk because you feel a little disappointed and sad, so I’m sorry.”
    On not scoring a goal:
    “Very hard because we were looking corner kicks, free kicks, all over the place how to score and we didn’t get the opportunity clearly to score. But the other team played very good and they tried to defend very well.”
    On disappointment of team not playing their best match:
    “Yes, a lot. Everybody tried their 100 per cent. But now we just have to congratulate Portland for the win, and now we’re just looking forward for the next year trying to reach this place and trying to get to the finals.”
    DAVID OUSTED
    Thoughts on the match:
    “Right now I’m very disappointed. Over 180 minutes we weren’t good enough. I’m proud of where we are and where we came to with this group, the growth we’ve shown throughout the year, but it’s a step short of where I wanted to go.”
    On having an early chance to get the go-ahead goal:
    “Obviously, we hit the post and Adam got it outside with, I think it was his neck. And obviously if that goes in it’s a different game. But like I say, all-in-all we don’t want to stand here and make excuses. Over 180 minutes I think Portland were the better team.”
    On the atmosphere:
    “We’ve had fantastic fans the whole year, and this is what we want as an organization, we want 27,000 here every time. We want at one point being able to open up this whole stadium. This is a step in the right direction, but like I say it’s a step short of where we wanted to go.”
    MAURO ROSALES
    On the performance v Portland:
    "We didn't perform as good as we played the last couple of games. It was a crucial game for us. This kind of game you have to step up with a different mentality, with a different approach to the games. Do your 110 percent every time. We had a good run during the season. When we should perform at higher levels, we didn't. Disappointed but proud of the team for how hard they've worked during the year."
    On the Whitecaps season:
    "I'm proud of the team. A lot of positive things, a lot of positive players coming up, doing a very good job. High levels all season for many of our players. We just wait for next year now."
    PORTLAND TIMBERS
    CALEB PORTER
    Thoughts on the win:
    “I think we managed both legs really well. We didn’t give up the away goal which led into this game. We knew they would want to come out, and yet we wanted to be aggressive as well. We went for the first goal, and we got it. It was something we worked on, in terms of getting in that left channel. It was a great goal. Then that meant now that we could manage the game with the ball, which we did second half. You saw the possession that we had and we were able to keep them from attacking by doing that, and keep them from playing the transition they like to play by slowing the tempo down with the ball. We were very patient and organized and they had a hard time breaking us down and then we found the counterattack, which I knew would be on as they tried to push because they needed two goals after we found the first one. So I thought it was very well managed overall.”
    On Norberto Paparatto having to sub in for injured Jorge Villafana:
    “They needed two goals, so they started just throwing numbers forward and putting guys in up top so it made sense to put Paparatto in and push Liam over to left back, he can sit in and we can play almost with three central defenders. So it made sense at that stage in the game. And then when they made their last move putting Earnshaw in, then we went to two holding mids, just to kind of give us an extra number defensively. But listen, it’s the players, it’s nothing to do with my moves or things I do. It’s them playing inside the lines. This team, they play for each other, they’re very hungry, and the last six games we’re unbeaten. The last six games we’ve been in playoff mode, we’ve been in massive pressure. For this group to play the football they’re playing, under massive pressure, is a really good sign. Four teams left, and three games to go, and we have two teams in our way.”
    On two weeks before the next match:
    “We need to recharge and recover from this game, we have time to do that. And then we need to get back to training, and keep getting better. I think we’re still scratching the surface of the level this team can play at. Today we did some things we haven’t done all year. So that’s exciting, because I think we can still, in the next couple of weeks, go to another level. "
    On facing FC Dallas:
    “Very good team, but we’ve been playing good teams late in the year. Like I said, we’ve been in playoff mode. I think that’s helped us. I think our experience in the playoffs helped us in this series. We’ve already won a playoff series versus Seattle [in] 2013. I think this is now our fourth win in the playoffs. The maturity we showed today, the professionalism we showed in managing this leg, and both legs, I thought was visible. Obviously Dallas is a good team, but we’ve been beating good teams. I know these guys will be up for it.”
    FANENDO ADI
    On his match-winning goal:
    “That was just something we practice at training. When I saw Diego [Valeri] on the ball, I knew he was going to cut it back. We talked about getting [Kendall] Waston out of the box and he followed the ball. I knew he was going to cut it back and I just stayed in position. The ball came and I hit it well.”
    On the Timbers attack clicking tonight:
    “It’s massive. It’s just understanding. We’ve trained and played a lot with these guys. You understand their movement and your movement as well. It’s just an understanding and it worked very well for us today.”
    On Diego Chara’s late goal:
    “That was a massive goal. It’s almost the same goal he got against, I think, FC Dallas. He won the ball and I was in position so he gave it to me. I just let [Kendall] Waston get to my side again and give the ball back to him and he did a great job finishing well.”
    On playing against Kendall Waston:
    “It’s always a good battle going up against such a good player. He’s big and he challenges you to be very focused to challenge balls against him. It was a great battle. I’m glad we came out victorious.”
    DIEGO CHARA
    On tonight’s win:
    “Our mentality tonight was to win. We tried to keep the ball and manage the tempo. We were effective with our chances. These were the real key for us.”
    On his late goal:
    “My role is to defend but sometimes I find space to attack, and tonight I did.”
    On facing FC Dallas:
    “FC Dallas are a good team. They have good players. The first leg will be at home and we need to win that.”
    On Fanendo Adi’s goal:
    “We’re confident in him because he can score. It was a great moment for him.”
    LIAM RIDGEWELL
    On tonight’s win:
    “Last time we were here, it was disappointing. They scored in the very last minute. It was very satisfying tonight. The boys played fantastic. I thought we deserved to win. I’m looking forward to the next game.”
    On Robert Earnshaw’s performance:
    “He tried his luck. Rob has always done that back home and since coming over here. I think we did well tonight as a team defensively. They couldn’t break us down. As soon as we got the first goal, we knew they had to get two. [Diego] Chara put the icing on the cake. It was fantastic.”
    On the team’s celebration after Diego Chara’s goal:
    “It was fantastic. The goal at the end certainly put the nail in the coffin. Everyone celebrating together was fantastic. That’s what we’ve been about over the last two and half months. Riding the wave, everyone together. We’re looking to do that next game.”

    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
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    Michael Mccoll
    Have a listen!
    You can listen to this, and all previous, episodes of the podcast on iTunes HERE.
    Or download it for your later listening delight HERE.
    We also have an iPhone app, so you can now add our podcast to your phone as an app. Visit the podcast's mobile site HERE and then at the bottom of the screen just click the "Quick Launch" icon and the podcast will be added to your home screen and appear as an app.
    And if that's not enough, we're on Stitcher Radio Network. Download the app and listen to the AFTN podcast on your device, along with over 20,000 other shows HERE.
    Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!


    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
    http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/two-solitudes-soccer-podcast/id833616975?mt=2
    http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-two-solitudes-mls-podcast
    http://feeds.feedburner.com/twosolitudespod
    Sports Podcasting Network
    http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/otw-studios/id1018126433
    http://feeds.feedburner.com/otwstudios
    http://canadiansoccernews.com
    http://kevinlaramee.com
    Support SPN
    http://patreon.com/kevinlaramee

    Michael Mccoll
    "We're at approximately 15 [thousand] right now," Montagliani said of tickets sales for the Honduras match. "We've got two weeks left pretty much. We have a big Whitecaps game obviously inbetween. We're confident with the build up.
    "The team will be here pretty soon, this weekend. A lot of them will be at the Whitecaps game. So I think we'll be able to sort of push into the 20's."
    So the numbers are promising but at the same time a little disappointing.
    When the match announcement was made in Vancouver on September 14th, the general feeling from the Canadian Soccer Association side was that the game wasn't going to be a tough sell and if Vancouver struggled to fill the lower bowl at BC Place then it couldn't really call itself a "soccer city".
    I tended to agree. It is the national team after all and it's a World Cup qualifier.
    With eight days before the game, expectations have been adjusted a little.
    "A lower bowl sell out was always our goal," Montagliani admits. "But if we get north of 21, between 21 and 26, that's good. If you look in comparison at the same round last time around, we played them all in Toronto and the highest attendance was 18. That's 2012 when we played Honduras again, and Panama and Cuba.
    "So our goal was to surpass what we did in Toronto back in the last round of round four. We're confident that we can surpass that and if we can get as close as we can to a lower bowl sell out, that will be great."
    Looking back to that miserable failed campaign for Brazil 2014, the attendances in Toronto for the three, then third round, matches were pretty steady.
    Canada drew 16,132 for the 0-0 draw with Honduras in June 2012 and 17,586 for the 1-0 win over Panama in September, before topping out with 17,712 for the 3-0 win over Cuba in October.
    If the CSA are targeting beating those attendance figures this time around, then they certainly seem well on their way in Vancouver to kick things off.
    But were the attendances in 2012 relatively poor and disappointing? You can argue both ways but personally I believe a national team in a football loving country should sell out a stadium the side of BMO Field in Toronto for all World Cup qualifiers. Maybe I live in a fantasy world where football is king, but I truly believe this should be the realistic expectation.
    Which brings us back around to whether Canada cares about it's national men's soccer team. We're always saying here at AFTN that Canada is a footballing nation. But is it?
    Montagliani firmly believes it is and feels the crowds the national team draws and the interest in the team is more than comparable with elsewhere in the world.
    "It's funny. because I know our results have always been mediocre at best," Montagliani honestly admitted. "But we're always so hard on ourselves that we're not a soccer country. But if you actually compare us to most countries in the world, we actually are a soccer country because a lot of professional leagues in the world do not get this kind of attendance. A lot of national teams don't get this kind of attendance.
    "So yeah, if you're comparing it to the big five in the world, of course, but I don't think that's a fair comparison. But I think if you look at it from a global perspective, Canada is a soccer country and I think the numbers and the proliferation of the game over the last ten years I'd say, or more, has shown that."
    The biggest factor in increasing support, interest and awareness in the Canadian national team is success on the pitch. That's the hard part, but the signs are there that this current squad of talent Canadians has the ability to go far.
    On the pitch success aside, to grow the game, you also need to promote the game and frankly the promotion of the Canada v Honduras match in Vancouver has been dreadful.
    I've seen online ads, but little else. Online ads targeting the likes of me do nothing. We're already the ones that know about the game. Promotion elsewhere has been lacking, making the 15,000 ticket sales all the more impressive.
    How many of the Whitecaps crowd know, or care, that the game is on? How many of the general football loving fans in the city and the province?
    Montagliani admits that the initial promotion has been slow, and perhaps a little understated, but with just over a week to go he fully expects the CSA promotional machine to go into overdrive.
    "I heard a little bit about that," Montagliani told us when we asked about the criticism around the lack of promotion for the match. "I think you're going to see a lot of that ramped up. We have to be cognisant too that there's another big game in town too and we're working together with the club [Whitecaps]. They've been excellent with us.
    "I think you're going to see a lot of this ramp up over the next two weeks. What we have found too, and I think a lot of professional sports [have], is that if you do your advertising too far in advance, it gets lost. It gets lost with too many other things.
    "You want to hit it hard and often, as close as you get to the event. In fact I know a lot of sponsors are like that. A lot of sponsors like to get in at the right time because there's too much of a lag and they don't see a build up. I think you're going to see a bit of a build up over the next two weeks, I guess, leading up to the game."
    Slightly worrying that the President thinks that there is still two weeks left to promote the game. There's eight days. But Vancouver is, annoyingly, known as a walk up market, so I do expect a late flurry of sales once the promotion is increased. If the final crowd next Friday isn't over 20,000 it would be a major disappointment.
    But as Montagliani said, there's another big game in town before then. The Whitecaps have now sold out the full lower bowl for their MLS Western Conference semi-final second leg against Portland. That's 27,500 fans. Will they be targeted to head back to the stadium five days later to watch Canada? Hopefully yes.
    There's a big buzz in the city right now around the Whitecaps and football, and that can surely only get people to the Canada v Honduras game. Right?
    "Listen, at the end of the day, the Whitecaps have to win," Montagliani said. "Not if, they have to! Would it help us? Absolutely it would help us, but I think it's more I look at it in a bit of isolation. You want our club, our home team to do well. Nothing would make me happier to see a Montreal - Vancouver final."
    You can almost here the alarm in MLS headquarters at such a prospect!
    But back to the World Cup qualifiers.
    Canada have six matches ahead of them in this round before the Hex. It's the semi-final stage in the CONCACAF qualifying and every point is crucial. Any advantage Canada can give themselves, they have to take it.
    Which brings us back to Vancouver. That turf pitch could be a big advantage.
    Canada's two remaining home games at this stage are against Mexico on March 25th and El Salvador on September 6th. Could we see either of those matches in Vancouver as well or has it already been decided that Toronto will get their team back? Montagliani said there's been no decision made as of yet.
    "That won't happen until after we have this home and away here," Montagliani told us. "We'll sit down in December, January, then we'll decide, probably before the end of January, where the March 25th Mexico game is."
    It's been 11 years since the national team played in Vancouver. Will it be another 11? Unlikely, but how much does bringing Canada back to BC Place depend on ticket sales for this Honduras match? Not at all, according to Montagliani.
    "We've never seen it as a referendum," Montagliani added. "We've always seen it as British Columbia and Vancouver has always been a hotbed for soccer. I'm from here, so I know that intimately. It was just the right decision to make. Not only for the team, but for a lot of reasons. Technical, tactical reasons.
    "Listen, at the end of the day, it's about three points. Do want a full stadium? Absolutely. Do we want the fans to go home happy? Absolutely. Our primary goal is three points."
    One thing has at least been finalised and that is the TV deal for the national team.
    After bouncing around Telelatino, online streams and legendary Mad Dog and Maestro commentaries, Canada's national team has a new home for now - TSN. At least for the home qualifiers. Who knows the fun we'll have in store for the away ones!
    "TSN is our TV provider for this round," Montagliani confirmed. "All three [home] Canada games, between now and next September, will be shown on TSN. Going forward, it's a one year deal because we don't know what's going to happen after this round. I'm not at liberty to say what the actual contract is but obviously there's options there.
    "In terms of away games, it's a little bit more complicated because we have to negotiate those rights away from those countries. So we're in the middle of doing that and hopefully we'll be showing all the away games as well. It's not as easy to say you can shoe them all. You can't go and plant your cameras in somebody's stadium without their permission."
    But forget TSN next Friday. If you're free and in the Vancouver area and you're not heading along to BC Place to cheer on your national team, shame on you! If we want to see Canada back in our city, we need to "Pack The Bowl" and show the CSA that Vancouver really is Canada's "soccer city".

    Guest
    By Kendra Lee
    Get To Know A National Team Player: The Next Generation
    Name: Marcus Godinho
    Age: 18
    Position: Defender
    Hometown: Vaughan, Ontario
    Current Club: TFC II in the USL
    The next generation of the Canadian National Team are already training to represent their country on the international stage. Marcus Godinho grew up just outside of Toronto and his love for soccer began by accident when his grandfather signed him up for a team. He attended a Canada Men’s U-18 camp earlier in the year in April, and now he’s been called to the U-20 camp. We had the chance to chat about his experience at that camp in September.
    Where did you grow up?
    I grew up in Vaughan and I played soccer for North York Hearts. Then, I moved down to Toronto for a little bit, played for Toronto Sporting just for fun at the time and then back up to Woodbridge. I played there for a couple of years. Then I moved to Kleinburg, in that little area and then I made my way back to Toronto and onto TFC.
    What got you hooked on playing soccer?
    It was actually my grandfather by mistake. Yeah, I was supposed to play hockey and he decided, well he got mad and signed me up one day. My parents didn’t know about it so he brought me. I enjoyed it and fell in love with it.
    What has inspired you to keep going?
    Just a love for it. I really enjoy my time out there. I always have the best time of my life.
    Do you have any players you look up to?
    Yeah, Dani Alves and Philipp Lahm. Both are in my position and exceptional players. I’m really inspired to be like them.
    Who has helped you develop the most in your youth career?
    I have to say my U-15 Toronto FC coach Anthony Capotoso. He really taught me defensive principles of the game and gave me a lot of confidence going forward. He was a huge influence on me.
    Now that you’re into your professional career are you finding any difficulties or an adjustment period?
    A little bit. Obviously training’s a lot harder so in recovery I have to be a lot more focused than I used to be. For the physical portion, it’s a lot harder to adapt to the game so I’m having to think a little bit more to find my way around because I’m not one of the biggest guys on the pitch. But other than that, it’s been a pretty smooth transition.
    Are you finding the mental part of the game is a little bit tougher as well?
    It is, but I feel like I’m up to the challenge. It’s been one of my stronger areas of my game. I really feel like I think before I get the ball so it’s been alright.
    What have you been learning about the game and yourself?
    Well, about myself, for sure, how hard I can actually push myself. Especially in the last camp, I had to play four games in five days so it was really tough. So I’m learning my limits. About the game, just tactically I’m learning a lot of new things, especially in this camp. It’s good to revisit some things and learn about formations and it’s always good to learn some new things about your position. There’s always something to learn.
    How do you hope that the sport in Canada is going to grow in the future?
    Well, I feel like they’ve already taken a good step with the USL teams, adding that in. Hopefully that will continue to push young players through and eventually if that connection continues with the National Team I feel like it’s going to keep progressing.
    Would you hope to play in Canada for your whole career?
    Hopefully, yeah! For the National Team, I really enjoy it I like the coaching staff obviously, the players and what better than to represent your home country. And at a club level, obviously I want to start here it would be a dream to play for Toronto FC in my home city, but eventually I do want to progress further and maybe move to Europe.

    Duane Rollins
    Friggin soft. They got them there Michael Broadley – Good guy. Lives in Tranna year round – but he can’t be everywhere ya know. They need someone to protect that little European, what’s his name? Geeovinceeo. Little Italian. Reminds me of Bobby Orr…
    (10 min diatribe about Bobby Orr edited out for clarity).
    Where was I? Oh yeah. Grit.
    I knows the MLS doesn’t allow guys to drop their gloves and go – they wouldn’t be all floppin around like some kind of ballerina if ya had a Marty McSorley out there let me tells ya – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little sandpaper.
    That Jackson fellow has a bit of that – but I don’t know about that one name thing. Proper Canadian lads have two names. I don’t know about these Brazilian types – but you need more.
    You need guys that want to get dirty, get pucks in deep and put in a shift.
    (Don went on a rant about the 1993 Leafs here, so we cut him off)
    Mr. Cherry actually is on to something. TFC was a pretty soft team playing in a league that favours things a little rougher. We saw other sides get chippy with Giovinco all year – hacking his ankles, getting under his skin – but TFC had no ability to counter that.
    This isn’t hockey, obviously. You can’t be taking reds just to make a point. However, at least part of the defensive issues come from the fact that TFC is easy to play against. Not easy in the “Holy crap what did Giovinco just do” sense, but easy in a “my talent guys can pretty much operate freely” way. I’ll talk more about this in the next part, but you can’t hang all of TFC’s GA problem on the CBs.
    Cheyrou, who everyone loves and who is very talented, is playing in the position that should be providing some of that. I’m not sure he’s that type of player though. TFC had a 1968 Jaguar E-Type doing the work that required a 2015 Ram 1500.
    That’s not to say Cheyrou was the problem here, but rather that his role speaks to the overall lack of balance TFC had in 2015.
    It’s easy to point to the centre-backs and say “sign better ones. All is fixed,” but the solution to TFC’s defensive issues goes deeper than that. Finding a few “enforcers” is a big part of that overall fix.
    We’ll have more on what he overall fix in in What went really wrong…

    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
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    Michael Mccoll
    Have a listen!
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    Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!


    Michael Mccoll
    REPORT:
    Delicately poised.
    That's perhaps the best phrase to sum up the current standing of the all-Cascadian Western Conference semi-final between Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers.
    There were no goals at Providence Park on Sunday but both teams had their chances. The 'Caps could have been two up at half-time. The Timbers could have had it all square at 2-2 by full time.
    Those away goals would have set Vancouver up nicely. Instead it's goalless and all to play for next Sunday at BC Place.
    Carl Robinson went with an unchanged Vancouver line-up from the team that secured their first round bye in last week's 3-0 win over Houston. Portland served up a shock, with Thursday's shoot-out hero, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, missing out through a late injury. Diego Chara also sat out for Caleb Porter's side.
    It was a frenetic opening spell, with both teams piling forward in attacks. Portland had the best of the early chances when Tim Parker failed to deal with a low cross in from the left but Lucas Melano shot weakly at David Ousted in the 7th minute, when he should have done better.
    Vancouver's best chance came eight minutes before the half, when a quick break from Gershon Koffie ended with a Kekuta Manneh cross into the box but Octavio Rivero rushed at his shot, when he had time, and blasted wildly over.
    Inbetween those chances there hadn't really been any goalmouth action in what had been a fast paced half.
    The 'Caps had another excellent opportunity to open the scoring moments later but Koffie squandered the good build up play.
    It surprisingly took until the 44th minute for the first yellow card to come, but then with two in a minute, one for each side, the fear was that the floodgates were now open in that aspect.
    Whatever Caleb Porter said to Portland at the half, it worked and they came out all guns blazing and with their tails up to start the second half, launching wave after wave of attacks.
    The Whitecaps defence was certainly bending, but not breaking and Kendall Waston did well to scramble the ball away in the 54th minute, after Fanendo Adi had been played in but Ousted was out quick to knock the ball clear.
    Manneh forced an easy save at the near post in the 71st minute, after a build up that felt like it had 100 passes.
    Portland responded with Diego Valeri forcing a stunning one hand save from Ousted from a free kick, 25 yards out.
    With the Timbers continuing to push on a slick pitch, the 'Caps survived some scrambles in their box, as they struggled to get out from being penned in deep.
    The game became end to end and Ousted had to get down to a low Urruti shot late on, but it was a fairly easy save for the Dane.
    Urruti came within inches of grabbing a late winner for the Timbers in the last minute, when he was slipped in but could only look on in agony as he crashed his shot off the right hand post.
    A close call and a lucky escape for Vancouver.
    Referee Allen Chapman showed balls of steel to blow for full time after the Timbers had won a corner, but it kept the game all square. Probably a fair result and setting up what has the potential to be a truly epic battle in Vancouver next Sunday.
    FINAL SCORE: Portland Timbers 0 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 21,144
    PORTLAND: Jake Gleeson; Alvas Powell, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana; Jack Jewsbury, Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri; Rodney Wallace, Lucas Melano (Dairon Asprilla 61), Fanendo Adi (Maxi Urruti 71) [subs Not Used: Andrew Weber, Taylor Peay, Norberto Paparatto, Will Johnson, George Fochive]
    VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Russell Teibert, Cristian Techera, Gershon Koffie (Mauro Rosales 63), Kekuta Manneh (Pedro Morales 77); Octavio Rivero (Darren Mattocks 88) [subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Jordan Smith, Christian Dean, Deybi Flores]
    REACTION:
    VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
    CARL ROBINSON
    On if he was nervous in the match and if he’s happy with the draw:
    “That’s not nervous compared to Thursday night where I sat in the stands watching Portland and [sporting] Kansas City. That was very calm. We came into the game with a game plan. We knew what we wanted to do. I think we executed it perfectly. In the first half I thought we were very, very good up until the final third. We missed our chances. I think we should have been ahead in the first half. In the second half, as expected, they’re going to change slightly. They came out and were probably the more aggressive team. Obviously we rode our luck in the last minute, but I think we deserve it.”
    On if he’s disappointed in not getting a goal on the road:
    “Of course. Everyone wants [a goal]. I’m sure they want a home goal as well. The mindset now changes to next week’s game at BC Place and they are important away goals, we know that, but we had two great chances in the first half and we didn’t take them. Nothing you can do. You have to get back to work.”
    On if either team has an advantage heading into the next game:
    “I just think it’s just one game of football. It’s come down to final ends again. We talked about final ends today in the game whether we went ahead in the first half then they [get] it at the end. It’s which players perform on the day. [These are] two good teams. I said in that in the build up to the game. I’ll rely on my players turning out and Caleb will rely on his players turning up. It should be an exciting game.”
    On if his game plan will be affected if Portland scores first at BC Place:
    “No. We just have to win the game. If we win the game of football at home in our backyard then we are through. If they get an away goal then they know they have the slight advantage there but we will rest up and be ready for next week as well.”
    On goalkeeper David Ousted’s performance:
    “He’s been brilliant. He’s been brilliant all season for me. Obviously, he’s taken over the captaincy since Pedro [Morales] has been out the team. I remember him making a great save from Diego Valeri. Super free kick and obviously he gets a bit of luck at the end. Sometimes you need luck in this game as we all know.”
    On if Pedro Morales can be expected to play next Sunday:
    “Certainly hope so. You see the quality he has when he comes on. Mauro Rosales as well. We’ve missed these players. You want your good players in your team. The guys who have been playing have done fantastically well for us. It’ll set up nicely, give them a week of full training and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.”
    On if midfielder Kekuta Manneh could have done better today:
    “No. I think he worked his socks off for the team. With all attacking players I’m sure they’re always judged by the journalists by goals and assists but as a coach you see the outside work that they do. He put a great shift in. He had one or two chances to do better in the final third which I’m sure he’ll admit but if it doesn’t come off for you in the attacking third you have to put a shift in or you don’t play.”
    On defender Kendall Waston’s performance:
    “Again, I think the word is monster again. Him and Tim Parker had their hands full, we know that. [Timbers forward] Maxi [urruti] comes on with his little movements and things like that. The back six of the team were fantastic today. As I said, you get your reward in this game if you put the work in and we certainly put a lot of work in today. We got our award in the first leg but we’re at halftime. There’s a lot to play for and it should set up nicely for next week.”
    On if midfielder Gershon Koffie is a number 10 player:
    “No he’s not but you change formations as managers and you try and get other players on the field because you want your players to perform. He has done a great job for me today in that role. Is it his ideal role? No and he’ll be the first to admit that but it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team and getting a result like this today.”
    On his decision to put midfielder Pedro Morales in the game:
    “It’s important he gets some football and gets some minutes in a competitive match under his belt. We’re thinking about playing him next week and bringing him off the bench was an option for me. Had to do it because I think Portland had the upper hand at that time and the game was starting to open up a little bit and I thought maybe we could execute our final passes. He brought calmness to our play which he does because he’s a top player.”
    On Portland’s shot that hit the post:
    “Sometimes it’s out of your hands. You just hope it’s not down to a mistake or a bad decision or things like that. We’ll take the post.”
    KENDALL WASTON
    On the overall match:
    “It was a hard match because this is a final and nobody wants to give anything. First half I think that we had some opportunities that we could have scored but this is soccer, just like them in the second half they made some good stops. I think now everything leads us to the second match that I think it’s going to be harder.”
    On if he was relieved when the shot went off the post in the 89th minute:
    “For sure. Nobody wants to let their team score. All those things count and I think today we had a good performance. We want to do things correctly and Portland was at home with their crowd and I think they had a great game as well.”
    On goalkeeper David Ousted’s performance:
    “Awesome. I think he’s the best goalkeeper in MLS. Every game he stands there and tries to get a clean sheet and today he helped us a lot.”
    On if he’s disappointed with not scoring on the road:
    “Disappointing is when you play and you don’t try your best. I think today we tried our best. Octavio [Rivero] and our other forwards were trying to score. Nobody wanted to kick the ball outside. The main thing is that we have team spirit, we have faith that the team is going to compete and hopefully next game we can win at home.”
    On having midfielder Pedro Morales return tonight:
    “[it was] great because we know that Pedro helps us a lot. He was working hard in his recovery and now everyone I think is available. It’s going to be a great battle during the week to see who is going to be the 11 starters.”
    PEDRO MORALES
    On making his return to the field:
    “I feel very happy. I have been waiting for this moment for maybe two months and not playing too much. Today I played 50 minutes and I feel OK. It’s a great result to come back home at BC Place. We have a big chance in the house now. [We] just [need to] keep the same work in the week and just prepare for the big game next week.”
    On if playing today sets him up to play at least a half next Sunday:
    “I don’t know. I’ll try yes. I need to train good this week and then it just depends on where you fit the team. I just need to work.”
    On if he felt any pain out there:
    “No. This is the reason I played. I don’t feel pain now. It’s the reason I’m very happy to come back and play. Now I’ve been working my way back for the team and just next week is a big game.”
    On the key to getting a goal next week:
    “Play hard. Take the ball. They have very good players and it’s a big, big game. [it] may be the last game for us or for Portland. You need to compete 100 percent. Now it’s a great opportunity to score and take a goal [at home]”
    On goalkeeper David Ousted’s performance:
    “[it was] very good. I think this year David’s had a good season for the team. For us, he’s a very good player. I think the best in the MLS. Just keep the same work now and wait for this game.”
    On if he thought his season was over after the last injury:
    “The last injury I thought maybe San Jose [would be] my last game this year but the team, the staff just gave me so much support. Now I feel OK, just keeping the same work every day and just wait for the last game now.”
    On who has the advantage going into the second game:
    “Maybe [us]. We need the support at BC Place. [There might be] maybe more than 25,000 people [at the stadium]. It’s very important for us. We’re very excited for this game and now we have a big chance for a win for the city, as a family for the club.”
    DAVID OUSTED
    On if one team has an advantage going into the next game:
    “Hopefully we have the advantage of being home at BC Place. Hopefully we go home now and make sure that we get that goal to lure them out a little bit.”
    On if there’s more pressure knowing they’ll need to score two goals if Portland gets one:
    “There’s pressure all the time. There’s pressure as well of keeping a clean sheet and keeping them off the scoreboard. I don’t think more than usual. We’ll assess that game and go in and try and win it.”
    On what he saw in Diego Valeri’s free kick:
    “I saw it pretty clear. I saw when it was going past the wall and I’ve seen him a few times. He likes that corner and is fantastic at putting it there so I needed a little bit extra to get there.”
    On how his team performed tonight:
    “I thought we did well. I thought it was a professional showing of what we needed to do, be defensively sound and make sure they didn’t get that goal so we needed to chase. I thought we did well. Obviously we would have loved to get that away goal but it wasn’t to be today. Now we go back to BC Place and try and win it.”
    On knowing that Portland wouldn’t show their exhaustion from a long match on Thursday:
    “We knew that coming in here was going to be tough. We knew that their crowd was going to give them that little bit of extra. [Did they have] tired legs? Yes, maybe a little bit but they were going on adrenaline and their crowd .We knew it was going to be tough and I’m delighted with the result we take away from here.”
    On defender Kendall Waston’s performance:
    “Kendall showed what he has been showing all year, that he’s so strong in the air. He does very well defensively. With the other three guys in the back four there, they’re very solid. Kendall has been showing it all year and we need him to keep showing it in this playoff run here.”
    PORTLAND TIMBERS
    CALEB PORTER
    On his team’s performance today:
    “I thought their effort was outstanding. We played a game on Thursday, 120 minutes, to go through what we went through physically and emotionally and to turn around and play like we played today, put ourselves in a position to win the game. We got a couple chances, those didn’t fall, but we were outstanding defensively. Obviously we were the team that was on the ball more. I'm real proud of the guys for that. In saying that, Vancouver they showed tonight why they were the best defensive team in the league. Their goalkeeper Ousted was outstanding, [Kendall] Waston’s a beast and they are a good team. So I thought even though there wasn’t a goal, if you know the game, it was a really good game to watch. It puts us in a good spot. Obviously not as good as if we would have won 1-0, but they didn’t get the away goal. So if we score one goal, they have to score two. If we score two goals, they have to score three. It will make for a very interesting second leg. We’ve won seven games on the road and we’ve been very hot on the road recently and we’ve scored goals on the road. It puts us in a good position to go and play for the win.”
    On Jake Gleeson’s performance:
    “I thought he was great today. We want that out of our young players when they get the opportunity to be able to step in. We’ve had several in that position this year and they’ve all done a really good job. He didn’t have a ton to do, but what he did have to manage I think he looked very comfy.”
    On if the pressure is back on Vancouver:
    “It was a defensive battle. We knew it would be. Usually the first legs are tight because they always set up the next game, but you saw they went for attacking subs at the end. I think the reason is they wanted that away goal. They didn’t get it. Unfortunately we didn’t find the goal either, but now that we go on the road knowing that we are a good road team and knowing we just have to win the game. We can even draw as long as we score a goal.”
    On moving Darlington Nagbe deeper in the second half:
    “Second half we wanted to get more possession and I think we did that. I think it helped us control the game better. The reason was getting him on the ball, bringing him deep to help build attacks. I haven’t seen his numbers today but I bet they are pretty high in terms of his pass completions. Overall we didn’t find the goal but we certainly were the team that controlled the majority of the play. They were dangerous on the counter a couple of times, but other than set pieces and counters they didn’t have much. I thought again it was two very good defensive teams and that showed today. So I’m not surprised that I was 0-0. I actually thought it would be 1-0, either way. I thought there was a goal in there and I thought it was going to be us. You saw at the end of the game we were pushing. I looked like we would find it Maxi had the chance. A bit unfortunate, but maybe it evened things out from Thursday with the post hurting us instead of helping us this game.”
    On the importance of depth and performance from players off the bench:
    “Really important. Hopefully we are in the playoffs all the way to the end because we had to play the extra game yellow card suspensions could play in. So we need those guys. Rodney’s [Wallace] on one, [Diego] Valeri’s on one, Ridgy’s [Liam Ridgewell] is on one and [George] Fochive, if you get one more than you’ll miss a game. So because of that, obviously, we need guys to be ready, but also you never know with injuries. As you go on in the playoffs you need to go to your bench at times. It’s big that we can put those guys in and they perform. They’ve performed really well now two straight games. We had planned to put those guys in in the second half. I thought they did give us a spark.”
    On keeping the team in a rhythm even though Chara remains out:
    “With Jack [Jewsbury] staying in and being in a rhythm I really liked the fact even though the fatigue factor was played up. I liked the fact that we were in a rhythm of playing. In the playoffs, sometimes even though you don’t have a ton of rest it’s better psychologically just to keep playing. I thought our guys looked comfortable. This is our second year in the playoffs and we’ve got three wins and this is Vancouver’s third year and they are still looking for that first win in the playoffs. So I think that experience will hopefully help us.”
    On how to keep the momentum and mindset going with a bit longer break between games:
    “I think we need to recharge. It couldn’t come at a better time. We knew obviously that it’s a two-leg series and we need to put ourselves in a position where we can have a week off – a week to prep, a week to recharge and go into the game fresh. I was surprised how fresh we looked, to be honest with you. I didn’t think it would be a big factor but it really didn’t look like it was a factor at all in the game. I was really pleased, I can’t ask for anything more out of the guys. Like I said, we put ourselves in position now where we have a week to really look at Vancouver, look at this game, prepare and come out flying. We are going to try to score goals. We are not going to sit back. Obviously we will be smart like we were today. But we play to win and we play to score goals. We are capable of scoring goals and if we score goals, now they have to get one more than us.”
    On decision to have Alvas Powell play a little bit more reined in:
    “There were little things that we felt playing 120 minutes Thursday there were some things that we needed to do to kind of manage the game. One of those things was to play a little bit more conservatively with our outside backs. Part of that is Vancouver as well with [Cristian] Techera and [Kekuta] Manneh, we knew they would look to hit us on counters and we didn’t want to get into a track meet in the game. This is one of the few times where that wouldn’t benefit us because obviously we had a lot of miles on the legs. So we played with Alvas [Powell] and Jorge [Villafaña] a little bit more conservatively to help manage the counter attack with their two wingers, but also to manage their legs. The other thing we did is stayed a little bit more compact, didn’t press as much. We wanted to keep our shape and we also talked about having possession just to control the tempo and in some ways, slow the game down a little bit."
    JAKE GLEESEON
    On when he knew he was going to start:
    “I got a text this morning from Adin [brown} just saying Adam [Kwarasey] isn’t feeling the best, so just be ready. As a backup, you always have to be ready, you don’t know when you’re going to go in. Just look at [Jon] Kempin the other night. So when I was walking in, Adam gave me a call and said ‘I’m heading home. I’m not feeling well.’ He was really sick. That’s when I really, officially found out I was playing, so it was a pretty exciting morning.”
    On comparing playing in the postseason with his start in Portland’s first MLS home game in 2011:
    “Obviously the first home game was a few years ago now, so it’s been a few years since I’ve been back out there. Once you’ve played at that level and go back, it’s like picking up where you left off. The chanting, the sounds, the stadium and all, are very familiar to me. I’ve been here so long. So it’s just like in any other game. You just go out there, keep your head down, but obviously a great experience to be back out there.”
    On hearing the reaction of the Timbers Army when he came out to warm up:
    “They give you a boost for sure. It’s like playing with an extra man or 21,000 extra men. They definitely give you that extra boost you need to get out there and do what you need to do. I’m a very calm person out there, so I don’t let it get to me too much. I like to stay focused, but it’s good. I like playing in front of them.”
    JACK JEWSBURY
    General thoughts on the match:
    “Kind of like we thought it would be, to be honest. We knew it was going to be tight. We knew they’re a great defensive team. We knew we weren’t going to get a ton of looks, but we got enough to get a goal. I thought the one of Maxi’s was in and I already started running down the left side to celebrate with him. So unfortunate that that one didn’t go in. We set ourselves up with a good opportunity now to move on. We’ve been a team that, on the road, has been very good. So we’re confident about next weekend.”
    On Jake Gleeson’s performance:
    “Jake’s a guy that got a ton of games with T2 and that’s what that’s all about. Getting reps for goalkeepers and backups that keeps them fresh. We’ve seen in training the last couple months that he’s been with us that he’s an exceptional young goalkeeper. We weren’t nervous at all about him stepping in. He did a great job tonight.”
    On if he was tired following the extra time and penalties against Sporting Kansas City:
    “For me to say not at all would probably be a lie. There were definitely moments where you have to catch that second wind, but the reality is at this time of year, it’s the playoffs. So everything gets thrown out the window in terms of being tired. We had two days off almost where we could regroup and get our bodies back to normal. It wasn’t that much different from a midweek hard training that we’d have on Wednesday. Obviously not 120 minutes long and the emotions that were in the Kansas City game, but overall I thought we looked very fresh. Sometimes that can be at your benefit when you’re on a good run like we are with four wins. We’re just looking forward to a few days off here. Relax a little bit and then get back to work for next Sunday.”
    On the importance of keeping a clean sheet with the away goals rule in play:
    “Obviously it’s important when road goals come into play. We thought late in the game that we could continue to push. They were going to be OK with a tie, but I think, even with some of their substitutions, you could tell that they were still trying to push for that road goal.”
    DIEGO VALERI
    General thoughts on the match:
    “We are happy with the performance but obviously not happy with the result. We deserved more, but it is what it is. We had some chances in the second half to score and we didn’t. But we’re in a good position. I think we were the better team on the field today, even if we played 120 minutes on Thursday. I’m happy with the performance. I think the team played really well.”
    On keeping a clean sheet and the away goal advantage heading to Vancouver:
    “It’s always very important because in this style of tournament, the clean sheet is very important. It’s good. Now we’re in a good position to score a goal there and force them to score two goals.”
    On the benefit of a full week of rest ahead of the second leg:
    “It’s good. It’s good because we have couple guys with some knocks, some problems. We need to rest. Tomorrow is a day off, so we will rest. It’s good. We have to watch the game to see what we need to fix and keep working.”
    On Jake Gleeson’s performance:
    “Amazing. I think he looked very mature. He’s a great ‘keeper and I’m very happy for him.”
    On the difficulty breaking down Vancouver:
    “I think because they defend with a lot of people, they put a lot of numbers behind the ball. I think we controlled the game. It was good because we were patient and we found some chances, very clear chances to score. We were a little bit unlucky. I had the free kick, Maxi’s chance and a couple more. I liked the way we played.”

    Duane Rollins
    Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday, you will be a real boy.
    -The Blue Fairy to Pinocchio
    Let’s co-opt some 1940s children’s entertainment and put a 2015 MLS spin on it.
    Prove yourself brash, prepared, and unsentimental, and someday, you will be a real club.
    TFC might finally be following that simple formula. The Reds might be a real MLS club at last.
    They weren’t really before. TFC was its own type of disaster in a category that only Chivas USA shared with them (both teams even had Preki to thank for their most effective period of their history). It may seem a bit…unambitious…to list the “accomplishment” of becoming vaguely competent as the shining example of what went right in a season, but you have to remember how incompetent TFC was to appreciate just how important that step is.
    The Worst Club in the World ™ is now just a run of the mill MLS team. And, that’s good.
    This is not to say that management is perfect or that TFC no longer makes mistakes, but rather it highlights that the Reds no longer operate in a fashion that is in direct contrast with how every successful MLS team, ever, is/was run.
    Aspects of TFC are still poor. Some aspects are even atrocious. But the club no longer serves as a blueprint of exactly what not to do. They exist more or less in the same universe as the rest of the league.
    In practical terms what that means is that TFC fans can debate what specific tweaks to the roster composition need to be made, rather than pray for a massive philosophical shift in thinking.
    This is no way suggests that TFC is all that close to winning a championship. Rather, it’s to suggest that it’s highly unlikely they will slip back to the truly historically bad team it was from 2011-2013.
    However, there is one wildcard to play that might make that transition to champion easier. There isn’t a What Went Really Right category in the season review (because we ultimately judged the season to be unsuccessful overall), but if there was it could be summarized in one word.
    Well, one name: Giovincio
    It’s become a morbid parlor game among TFC fans to debate where the team would be without the Italian that will almost certainly be MVP. It’s a silly debate. They do have him. You cannot pick and choose what aspects of the season to evaluate in order to fit a narrative. You cannot ignore that TFC management identified Giovinco as a target, convinced him to come, negotiated to release him early and (by all accounts) made him happy here.
    Getting Giovinco is, by far, the best thing TFC has ever done. He’s maybe the best DP signing in MLS history (settle down, Impact fans. He’s 37. Talk to me after he wins you a couple championships – or Giovinco leaves -- and maybe then you’ll have an argument).
    Signing Giovinco allows TFC a window of about three years to figure out the rest. If they do – even a little bit – then the next chapter of this club might be a little more exciting than simply achieving baseline competence.
    Tomorrow – Part II: What went wrong?

    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
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