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    Michael Mccoll
    Have a listen!
    We've got some issues with our podcast hosts, so this episode is up on Soundcloud for now and won't be on iTunes until they sort our their technical difficulties.
    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
    The 'Caps led the Western Conference in draws last season with 14. Still not the highest in MLS, that fell to Chicago Fire with a staggering 18 of them. Both teams certainly provided punters with a go to bet on their fixed odds coupons.
    Vancouver's draw total was three more than any other side that made the playoffs, and despite the 28 points lost in those drawn games, the Whitecaps still made the postseason and recorded their highest ever MLS points total in the process with 50 points.
    But you couldn't help but fall into that traditional pastime of football fans and wonder "what if". What would their positioning, points total and playoff experience have been like if they had only managed to turn some of those draws into wins?
    It would have certainly made the end of the season and that final win against Colorado Rapids a lot less stressful and maybe we wouldn't have been Geigered in Dallas.
    For the Whitecaps to build upon last season's performance and do even better this year, those draws had to go. They have and making that happen was a key focus from Carl Robinson and his coaching team during the offseason.
    "It was, without a doubt," Robinson admitted to AFTN. "People can say you're unbeaten, and three draws is three points, or you can go win one, lose one and have an extra game as a bonus game.
    "We drew a number of games in the first year I was here. I tired to say if we can win half of them games, then we'll obviously be in a better position, and that's what we've done. We've lost a number of games this year, we know that, and we've won a number of games, so the low draws doesn't really bother me."
    The Whitecaps have turned things around dramatically, going from the highest draw total in the Western Conference last year to the lowest number of draws in all of Major League Soccer this season, tied with Seattle.
    That number is three, and with five games remaining, if things stay that way, that would be the lowest ever number of draws in a season since Vancouver came to MLS in 2011. Seattle and New England had four in 2014, matching Colorado's total in 2012.
    The 'Caps had been steady in their numbers during their MLS era up until last season. From ten in their first two years to nine in 2013. Defender Jordan Harvey has been here mostly through it all and for him, this year's dramatic shift comes down to one thing, the winning mentality that abounds at the club right now.
    "For me, it's that desire to win and not settle for a draw," Harvey told us. "On the road, you've seen some really disciplined performances and those have led to wins this year. But at home especially, we're going for wins every time, because draws in this league don't bump you up. It's the wins that do. Even on the road we've pushed it. We just haven't been complacent."
    Those road wins have certainly helped. Vancouver have seemingly found the winning formula for how to execute successful tactics away from home. They've ground out results and found ways to turn what would have been draws last season into three points.
    Just cast your mind back to the start of the season and those huge 1-0 road victories at Chicago and Orlando. Those wins kickstarted the 'Caps season and they haven't looked back since.
    The 'Caps have already set a club MLS record with seven away victories this season and there's still two games to go. A win against New York City at BC Place on Saturday would set a club points record in the MLS era, with four games to go.
    The losses may have increased slightly, up three on last year but still their second best number to date, and Vancouver have also already recorded their most ever wins in a season, currently standing at 15.
    Finding a way to turn those draws into wins has been behind a lot of that. The clean sheets help too. David Ousted has 11 on the year, coming on the back of a league leading 13 last season, and he echoes Harvey's thoughts as to what's been behind the 'Caps turnaround.
    "I put it down to mentality," the great Dane told us. "I put it down to not coming in for a draw anywhere. If we're away, if we're at home. Obviously some of the losses we'd have liked to have drawn those instead. But it's down to mentality going in to games thinking we can win it and we still believe that these last five games, so hopefully the mentality doesn't change."
    So mentality, a desire to get the win no matter where they're playing and the belief they can do that all play a part but another key element behind the reduction in draws, and the clean sheets, has been the defensive play coming from the whole team.
    Midfielders and strikers have taken on their defensive responsibilities better than we've seen in recent years. Tracking back to mark runners, winning tackles, hitting on the counter. The effort from the whole team has been massive and several players have really improved that aspect of their game, with Darren Mattocks and Kekuta Manneh near the top of that list.
    Both still have work to do in that regard, but Manneh acknowledges it's an important aspect of his game and vital to the success of the side.
    "It's the teamwork," Manneh told AFTN. "We're doing it as a team now, attacking as a team and defending as a team. We've had a lot of clean sheets. It's not just the defenders that are defending but the whole team's come together.
    "It's amazing this year. Everything's just clicking for us. We're playing as a team and everything's just working for us right now."
    It certainly is. And long may it continue.
    Guest
    Jusqu’à la prochaine fois, bon soccer!
    @OfftheWoodworkx
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    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
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    Michael Crampton
    In the Fire, TFC faces a team having the sort of season Reds fans are all too used to. Currently last placed overall, it’s possible that Chicago could become the first team officially eliminated from playoff contention by kickoff. That’s in a historically weak Eastern Conference, with more playoff spots than ever before.
    The reality is that the Chicago’s season has been done for weeks. That lead to another TFC tradition: the firing of a coach before the end of the season. Why Fire ownership waited until the point was already moot to make that decision, but couldn’t wait until the end of the season, is an interesting question to ponder. A mere 13 wins in nearly two full seasons in charge was a remarkably poor record for Frank Yallop, and will likely prove to be the final stop in his MLS head coaching career.
    New interim head coach Brian Bliss faces his second match of the week after being appointed at the end of last weekend. The Fire failed to benefit from the fabled “new coach bump” in their midweek loss in Montreal, and travel to Toronto on only a few days rest for an early kickoff.
    Remarkably, this is actually Bliss’s third appointment as an interim head coach. He previously had short stints in charge of the Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew, before being replaced by a permanent appointment. Whether the final few games of 2015 are meant to be a tryout, or a place holding exercise, is another question to be answered by Fire ownership. Already, reports have emerged linking them to charismatic former Mexican national team manager Miguel Herrara.
    If, for the Fire, 2015 is basically over, Toronto FC have hit a vital stretch. Any chance at hosting a playoff game during the first round will take a strong run of results during the season’s remaining matches. At this point, draws are nearly as useless as losses: two points dropped rather than one point gained. Fortunately, DC United’s seeming collapse has left the door open.
    On the other hand, the Reds must also be wary of Montreal behind them. The Impact’s victory over the Fire has brought them right onto the heels of Toronto, and minutely ahead in points-per-game. And Montreal hosts United this weekend. If TFC fails to win, they could find themselves in sixth place by Saturday evening. Win, and fourth place could be within touching distance.
    This is the reality of MLS’s new playoff format. While much attention has focused on the effect of allowing a sixth team in each conference to qualify, not enough has been given to the tiers of seeding. Just “making the playoffs” may be a little easier – particularly in the East – but the advantages of finishing higher are significant, and should not be ignored.
    While the chance of TFC finishing high enough to avoid the play-in round is virtually nil, and the chance of missing altogether has largely disappeared, Toronto still has important games to play before the playoffs begin. Beating a forlorn Chicago won’t convince many that the Reds are capable of beating a playoff calibre team in a high stakes game but, if the Reds can keep winning, it could go a long way to making that task easier when it arrives.
    Michael Mccoll
    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!
    @OfftheWoodworkx
    @KevLaramee
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    Guest

    FIFA 16 Review Show

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Until next time, have a great FIFA!
    @KevLaramee
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    OTW Studios
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    Guest
    Team Benny's or Team Phillip's Bakery, You Choose!
    http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/24th-minute/team-bennys-or-team-phillips-bakery-you-choose-r5419
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
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    OTW Studios
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    Michael Crampton
    Where the Rapids are different, however, is in the excitement their play has generated. Through 28 league games Colorado has scored 20 fewer goals than TFC. Their 26 goals is less than the number of games that they have played. Yet remarkably, Colorado still has a goal difference only one worse than Toronto’s. Less scoring, but less being scored on: precisely the opposite of TFC.
    Further, while Toronto’s frequent shootouts rarely result in tied games, Colorado leads the league in draws. The three consecutive 0-0 draws that started the Rapids’ season are only one less than TFC’s four draws for the entire season.
    Also contributing to the Rapid’s blandness is the lack of personality or identifiable stars on the squad. Two seasons ago Oscar Pareja made the playoffs with an exciting young squad that featured two rookie-of-the-year candidates. A couple of years under Pablo Mastroeni, however, have turned what could have been an emerging side into one that got older without getting better. Mastroeni may be a club legend in Colorado but one suspects that a more engaged ownership would have ended the experiment of putting him in charge already.
    Probably the most bizarre signing was picking up Irish international Sean St Ledger after he was released from Orlando City for a “serious breach of club policy.” St Ledger hasn’t been poor for the Rapids since his arrival, but the circumstances only contributed to the perception that the team’s management is too happy to take the easy option.
    Admittedly, for their part, Toronto FC could probably use a stable, veteran centre back themselves. It’s no secret that the Reds’ defense has been a constant concern in 2015. The off-season transfer of Doneil Henry, unplanned retirement of Steven Caldwell, injuries to Damien Perquis, and inability of either Ahmed Kantari or Josh Williams to bring stability have created a casino-like atmosphere to predicting defensive starters.
    Recently, this has even extended to formation. Greg Vanney’s dalliance with three at the back seemed to have ended after the loss to New England but, based on the surprise of Marky Delgado at right back in New York, you wouldn’t want to consider a return to innovation against Colorado. The simple fact is that an entire season of experimentation means that backline stability will once again be an objective for next season.
    All of this has culminated in where the Reds currently find themselves. A three game losing streak and five losses out of the last seven is not the sort of form that strong teams take into the playoffs. An unstable backline does not inspire confidence. Toronto FC is not having a bad season, but if they don’t rediscover the form of late spring it will be hard to characterize what they have accomplished as very good. And now they only have six games to change that perception.
    Guest
    Plus the Canadian Review, mid-week edition!
    We would like to thank Saint-Clare for the music on the show today!
    https://t.co/OgECvnA6vi

    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
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    OTW Studios
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    Duane Rollins
    What is unlikely is that anyone, regardless of political stripe, was offended by the banner. After all, the message has been commonplace throughout soccer stadiums around the world (including BMO Field at the Canada v Belize game) for the last couple weeks.
    Only by the strictest definition of the word is the message political (and It’s certainly not partisan). Rather, the message is one of compassion and humanitarian concern. Sure, it’s reasonable to assume that most that display it favour looser immigration laws, but on its surface the message is not directly calling for any political party or politician to make policy change. It’s a personal message expressing the displayer’s viewpoint that, to them, refugees would be welcome.
    That’s likely why so many clubs around the world have embraced the message and, in Germany’s case, have even displayed it in official capacities.
    None of this mattered to BMO Field security. According to Breen they were asked to remove the banner. At first because they were (incorrectly) told that they weren’t in a supporter’s section. Then, when corrected, it was admitted that the message was considered political and no political messages were permitted.
    That was later backed up by MLSE in the Post story. There they also said the league was behind the policy.
    I reached out to MLS yesterday to get clarification on their policy regarding Refugees Welcome banners. They did not respond to my request.
    There is an argument for making sports stadiums agnostic spaces, even when the message is positive. The slippery slope says if you allow “Refugees Welcome” to be displayed, it then becomes impossible to permit “Refugees Stay Home” from also being displayed. So, it’s best to simply say that the space should be a sports only one.
    The problem with that is that stadiums aren’t politically agnostic spaces. Political causes are promoted and supported all the time.
    I mean, the opposing team Saturday was called the Revolution. The irony would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tone deaf.
    In fairness, no one is still upset about a 228 year old political fight, but there are all kinds of displays of nationalism (which is by its nature political) and militarism (quite obviously political) on display all the time.
    If you’re claiming that you want a neutral space, fighter jet fly-bys, military family reunions, camouflage uniforms and even the playing of national anthems have to go. Even if you support these things, you must be able to see how they are political.
    Many people would resist the idea that we shouldn’t have military appreciation days, like TFC has held for several years now, and is again this coming Saturday. They support the troops and feel that it is important that they be recognized.
    As someone that is leery of military engagement outside of extreme situations (i.e. World War II), I can live with that. As the lesson goes, supporting the troops isn’t necessarily supporting the military action they were involved in.
    However, I can’t live with a double standard. If MLS and TFC are going to allow a fan to wear a camouflage uniform in support of the troops then another fan should be allowed to say that refugees are welcome.
    To donate to Syrian refugee relief click here.
    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

    Get To Know a National Team Player

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    How did you start playing soccer?
    I think I actually started playing through my neighbours who were big into soccer. My family was never a hockey family or any other sport so that was the only team sport that I got into at a young age and I seemed to really enjoy it. It was cheap and easy for my parents and as far as I know I just loved to run around so that was the only sport where you can really do that I guess.
    Where did you play youth soccer?
    I played all of my youth soccer in Lethbridge and then when I was 16 I played for the men’s team in Lethbridge. And when I was 17 I moved up to Calgary to play for the Calgary Storm, which would have been the A-League [second division]. So I was up in Calgary for a year and a half before I went over to Germany.
    You went over to Germany at a young age and started playing professional soccer. How did that opportunity come about for you?
    It was actually through the coach in Calgary. He came from Germany Thomas Niendorf and had his academy and team in Calgary but he still had all of his contacts in Germany. And he was actually the one who organized the trials and the trips over to Germany for all the players that he thought had the potential to make it as a professional soccer player overseas. So at the time I traveled with another player from Edmonton and we went over and had all of our trials kind of set up for use, lined up for us when we went over there.
    What were some of the challenges you faced going abroad in your professional career?
    I think it’s just being away from the family and friends. Just getting into the new culture. You need to learn a new language right away. Yeah, I think it’s just that whole different culture. You’re not used to the way of soccer life over in Europe, living in almost like a sports school, or sports dorm and where soccer’s the number one priority. But I think as soon as I got the language down it was a lot easier. You can communicate with your teammates and you had more of a social life outside of soccer. Just getting along with your coaches and teammates it seems to help.
    You’ve been over in Europe for your whole professional career. What is it that you enjoy about playing over there?
    Just the whole culture that is soccer in Europe. The stadiums are always full. The professionalism that they put into their soccer is, you know you can’t compare it to anything in North America with their youth teams their facilities just everything that goes into it. It’s the number one priority over there. They don’t really have anything else. They have no other sports to compete with. Whereas here in North America you have six or seven other sports that are all contending to be number one sports. Over there, it’s just soccer. That’s all they have.
    What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about the game throughout your career?
    Probably that it’s a business at the end of the day. You don’t get treated the way you think you should be a lot of the times because at the end of the day you know, it is a business. Coaches want to win, managers want coaches that want to win and do well, so there’s a side to it that not many people see. A lot of soccer players have to deal with different things especially being a Canadian over in Europe where you don’t get the respect as players from different countries like Germany or England. You know, even leaving with the national team is hard at times just because it’s not a respected country over there. You’re missing club games; you have that club verses country issue. So there’s just a lot of little things that I don’t think the normal fan or the normal people over here see. And sometimes that’s hard to deal with because you still need to stay professional. You know you can’t say anything wrong because you still want to play. So I’ve learned to deal with a lot of that being over there and just keeping your head down and working hard.
    What’s been your best memory about playing for the Canadian National Team?
    I think just going through all the youth teams and building friendships with some of these guys that I’ve played with for over ten years now. And every camp that I come into there’s still such a strong friendship with so many of these guys that have been built over the last ten fifteen years that I’ve played with some of them. Other than that, like the big games that I can remember, the one down in Argentina was a really good memory just because of the crowd and the players that we did play against. And the run that we had with the under 20 team at the World Cup in Dubai. Those are some of the strong memories that still stick out.
    What do you think would strengthen the game the most in Canada?
    Definitely having our own league in Canada. I think that’s the only step forward for Canadian soccer. They need to start promoting their own players and be willing to promote their own players especially with having three MLS teams in Canada. I think the goal needs to be promoting youth players and professional players if we want to become a stronger country. You need to have a good domestic league and be able to promote players at any age level.
    Guest
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @TwoSolitudesPod
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
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