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Cavallini is indeed starting the game, and he's just scored! His first with Puebla, around the 22nd minute, 1-0 Puebla. He received a cross in the box on a counter attack, he was left alone and just needed to turn and shoot it in.

And things get more interesting https://the11.ca/fc-edmonton-owner-confirms-attendance-at-canpl-meetings-says-usl-not-an-option/

Cavallini scores his first in Liga Mx

Fath attending the CPL meetings is a good sign, and possibly a sign that even he realizes the NASL is a sinking ship. I think FC Edmonton (and Ottawa fury for that matter) in the CPL would instantly give the league more legitimacy, an 8 year old club would instantly set the standard of the league. Really looking forward to a Calgary / Edmonton derby should it actually happen. #AlClasico or bust.

6 wins in a row, outscoring their opponents 21-3 in that stretch. This year's side is the most dominant MLS side I've ever seen. Remember when TFC were utterly abysmal for their first 7 years?

GOAL!!! Cavallini puts Publa up 1-0!

From Fath: “As long as the USL has its current ownership and structure, we will not go to USL. There are many reasons on why I won’t go to USL that I won’t say publicly. But I can say that I do not believe in the franchise model. I believe in what I call the world model [where clubs are run independently of each other].” That pretty much confirms what CPL won't be.

People need to understand that franchising is all about the ownership group. It's like the first, second, and third most important thing about awarding a team. We can talk about cities and stadiums all we want, but in the end the 6-8 cities in this league will be the 6-8 cities that had multimillionaires willing to invest in teams.

I was talking the other day with a colleague here in Barcelona, from California, whose son plays at a similar level as my kid. And he was saying sure, he was looking at NCAA scholarship options, as a way to keep him playing soccer and studying. But when speaking to my son about this he argued, simply: first, if you want an education you should choose what to study and where to go to, regardless of a scholarship. Or stay close to home, where it's cheaper, you can still study, and have the family support you need to keep playing soccer in longer seasons in competitive adult leagues. And if you want to play soccer, you should not go play a short 4 month season, sitting on your butt for 7, where as a freshman your playing time would be limited anyways. It is actually a negative blip in development. He argued that it would end up killing off more players than developing them competitively, while not giving them an education of their choice. I had never thought it this way, and I think he could be right. It only makes sense if you don't care at all what you want to study, or have no options to continue competitively near home, or both.

Whatever is the best financial deal for the league. Apart from that, I don't really care.

The season is done, play the kids. Wish Bernier could of went out better. I hope the city gives him the recognition he deserves.

IMO worth the risk if he ends up playing champions league as a result. Also, a lot of incentive for MLS to cut a deal. If you thought Camilo getting poached by Ligue MX was bad PR for their "club options" system and general deviance from global soccer contract norms, I can only imagine how week they would look and destabilizing it would be if their top prospect publicly flip them the finger as he walks out on a free.

Dudes did anyone see the reports out of Turkey? They're saying the deal is done https://www.besiktashaberleri.com/besiktas-cyle-larin-transferini-bitiriyor/ Via Google:Besiktas's Canadian star Atiba Hutchinson proposed to the club Cyle Larin is said to have completed the transfer. Black and white, who defeated Porto 3-1 on the Champions League last night, continues their transfer work between the circuits. In the days we were in the British press, news came out that Beşiktaş was interested in young footballers. Preliminary deal with Cyle Larin According to the fanatic newspaper, the black-and-white club has signed a preliminary agreement with young footballer for 4.5 years and will sign an official contract in January.It was noted that the members of the transfer committee were determined to complete this transfer because they saw a 22-year-old soccer player's potential high. The 22-year-old Canadian scorer who played in Orlando City scored 8 goals in 17 games in the United States League last season, making 1 assist. EDIT: CNN Turkey are also reporting it it seems https://www.cnnturk.com/spor/futbol/besiktas-kanadali-golcuyu-bitirdi

arfield scores

Dunn, Okello, and Romeo sign first pro deals Three Toronto FC Academy players have signed their first professional contracts as midfielder Noble Okello and defenders Rocco Romeo and Julian Dunn all inked deals this week. “I think the signings are pretty consistent with what we want for the future of the club,” said Toronto FC Assistant General Manager, Team Operations and Strategy Corey Wray. ”These signings are obviously important for our desire to expand our professional pathway.” The Toronto FC professional pathway consists of three distinct steps, starting with Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario. Players then have the chance to move on to Toronto FC II in the USL before the ultimate goal of signing an MLS deal with TFC’s first team. These three players all signed USL contracts and will start their journey playing professionally for both Toronto FC II and III. Noble Okello – Midfielder Okello is a holding midfielder who has made nine appearances in League1 Ontario this season while playing for TFC III. Okello joined the Academy in 2013 coming from Mooredale S.C. “It means a lot to me to sign,” said the 17-year old Okello. “I’ve been at the club since I was 12 and to finally get the opportunity to play at a high level means a lot.” “Noble is a player I have high hopes for,” said TFC III Head Coach Danny Dichio.” Noble is a central holding midfielder, a very tall, mobile midfielder who has lovely soft feet… He is a player with a very good mentality.” “We like the fact that he is a very smart player, technically very sound,” said Wray. “He is able to distribute the ball very easily to either side of the field.”

How was it ****? He puts himself in the right spot, separates himself from the defender, controls the ball well and slots it in with the keeper rushing him. He got a bit lucky that the defender misjudged the cross but still well played by him.

Same Dryworld had qpr, watford, several brazilian teams and an indian team and lost them all in less than a year. Inaria has fce

Fair enough. Let's let the thread get back to the topic

Dunn, Okello, and Romeo sign first pro deals Rocco Romeo – Defender Romeo is a central defender who has made 11 appearances in League1 Ontario this season while playing for TFC III. Romeo joined the Academy in 2014 coming from Woodbridge S.C. “It is a surreal experience for me. Playing for your hometown,” said the 17-year-old Romeo. “Getting to wear the shirt that everyone wears in Toronto is truly an unbelievable experience.” “Rocco is a very talented distributor of the ball,” said Wray. “He is a very smart organizer in the backline.” “He’s your more modern-day central defender who is technically very gifted,” added Dichio. “He can spray balls over 50-60 yards very well.”

It's been a great week for Canadian goal scorers. Ricketts with 2, Larin, Bernier, Cav getting off the mark in Mexico... Is the the first ever Canadian to score in Liga MX?

Yeah I think Negredo is the current back up and Larin is definitely behind him, but you never know what can happen if he makes the most of his opportunity. He was suppose to be behind DP and Honduran internation Bryan Rochez in his first year, scored his first game after not getting off the bench for the first 4 matches, and the rest is history. 4.5 years is an investment though so perhaps he will go out on loan elsewhere in the Turkish league where be can play regularly and score goals and then perhaps a year from his initial singing they can recall a 10-15 goal scorer who knows the league. Anyways just speculating and we don't even know if this in fact will happen but I hope he gets out of the sinking ship that is Orlando and the Turkish league is probably the right step up in terms of quality. Fabian Castillo who was outstanding for Dallas seems to get minutes for Tanzonspor but is not as prominent as he was in MLS so perhaps that's an indication that Turkey will surely challenge Cyle without completely overcoming him.

He'll be behind Tosun and Negredo to start.

Anyone who thinks Larin is going to start most games is delusional

Funny how I never really thought it through. If you are in Canada, you have some of the best education for the money in the world, same in strong European countries, with public prices in general for the best universities. Even with a scholarship it would cost you more to be in the States, just for expenses and travel and the like. If you want to do something symbolic, then go to NCAA. I mean, almost all are doing a degree that is just as good in Canada: how many of these guys are doing bioengineering or artificial intelligence at Stanford? And if you are doing that, what the hell are you doing worrying about soccer, you are going to walk out of the degree into a well-paying job that puts you well above most early and even mid-career players in MLS.

Agreed. I'm as pro education as you get, but at some point you either have to commit to one path or the other. Trying to split your focus just risks becoming mediocre in both your academic field and your sport. Unless you're American of course... seems like sports is the only way to a make university affordable for many down there. Pro sports is almost always a dumb risk, might as well go big or go home

That's pretty tame by Nicaraguan or El Salvadorian standards. Unfortunately, our kids have to learn early not to retaliate against the bites, sucker punches, and shin-splittering tackles that come out of Central America.

The key to this season has been the rise of Delgado and Vazquez on top of the insane depth. I can't remember a team in MLS history that could bring players like Ricketts, Edwards, Cooper and Beitashour off the bench. Now imagine this roster with Akinola instead of Spencer and Hundal instead of Endoh. They can afford losing minor pieices here and there.

Romeo has previously committed to MSU. This may be an unpopular view, but unless I was a can't miss soon to be MLS player, I'd go to the NCAA. An awful lot of players get stuck in USL forever and give up the NCAA option.

Ricketts now has a brace, and had one called back for offside as well.

Tosaint Ricketts has scored for TFC. Fantastic run and finish on a great ball from Hasler.

Tuned in and the announcers were talking about him with the score 0-1. Had a good feeling it was him... Crap, youtube took the feed down.

Osorio and Ricketts start for TFC. Edwards and Chapman on the bench. No sign of Hamilton, which is surprising given his strong form with the II team. Of course, Spencer is on the bench instead.

Larin would be eligible to be part of the Champions League squad

I think going with Inaria league wide would be a mistake

Keep in mind, too, that the USA also has a couple of promising dual-national attackers of considerable who are not in the fold at this time. Tim Tillman is 19 and has been the subject of quarreling between Barcelona and his current club Munich. Sam Shashoua made the bench for the last game of 2016-7 for Tottenham at 17.

And he scores again against Atlanta to bring his season total to 12 and ALL from run of play, none from the PK spot!!!

Still it's a small sample size. I think he got a well deserved raise. I mean he was making 66k and will now be making around 165k next year. (Heard he was making around what Bernier is making) I think paying for a striker who has had 1 good MLS year.is risky.

Mattocks started at a higher point than AJH in terms of salary so it's understandable but yes, Mattocks is overpaid. I don't think Montreal should make the same mistake with AHJ

You're right I forgot about Tabla. Akinola is a better prospect than Hundal. I think Hundal will have a good MLS career and might end up being the better player if Ayo doesn't pan out, but he has a lower ceiling. Akinola's skill set (finishing, hold-up play) projects well to the professional game, even as his size advantage disappears. Hundal's major assets are speed and agility, which are probably the least transferable skills from USL to MLS, due to the increase in the speed of the game. Hundal's potential is capped unless he develops a level of finishing and passing he has yet to show in USL. Akinola still has Jozy Altidore potential, even if he's been outshined by the USA's 5 star striker prospects of Sargent and Weah.

How it ended in Scotland today.

Quality finish by a quality player

Arfield scores against Liverpool!!!

People can make all sorts of player vs player or squad vs squad claims but I tend to view these in the same light as the claims that we have the 5th or 6th (or 7th, etc) squad in CONCACAF. For me, the actual proof of player/squad quality is in the results we get in meaningful games. Knocked out in the QF of the GC (which the US won without some key players), failure to make the hex (which the US and other teams are in), etc. We have a better squad than the US? Maybe in the context of some theoretical thought experiment, but in my world that claim simply doesn't map onto reality. Maybe the next WCQ cycle will prove me wrong, but at this point I find the real world results far more telling than a paper exercise where we may come out on top.

How on earth could it not be sarcasm? Do you really think the most sarcastic poster on this forum believes El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago play at a higher level than the UEFA Champions League?

We should maybe spread out the back 4 instead of leaving the newly committed Cristante to defend the right side alone. /s

Sure, he just captained a team to a Champions League win, but you don't really think he could keep up with the likes of El Salvador or Trinidad and Tobago, do you?

I kinda forgot about this... Let's see how Binbrook is doing... 0 wins? -46 GD? That sounds about right.

Is Jordan Harvey really better than Marcel de Jong? MDJ certainly had a strong match tonight?

Home field advantage.