Rintaran

I like that it'll be streamed for free, but I don't like that OneSoccer is giving it a pass completely. This is the most important match of the year for the league, and really provides us with good look at CPL's future prospects and the sides that will be in the Canadian Championship next year. Hopefully we'll hear more in the near future about what we can expect from OneSoccer re: L1O matches in 2020. They have the rights, so I really want to see them use it.

I'm comfortable with 15 D1 (including the 3 MLS teams). Gives us a nice, round 12 teams in CPL without causing too much of a stretch. Maybe larger one day, but I'd be happy with that size. I also agree, D2 would be well formed from the cream of D3 sides, plus a newly founded team or two that weren't quite ready to be in the first 12 (likely from an area lacking a D3 league: Prairies, Northern Ontario, Territories, Atlantic Canada).

This is, by far, the most important question you listed. Where are the pies? -- On a more substantial note (although those pies are pretty substantial...), I'm not concerned about the attendance numbers this year. This year is about setting a baseline to measure against next year. Attributing much more than that to these numbers is folly, IMO. The more important metrics will be season ticket renewal & growth. Yes, we would all love to fill the stadiums every week, but so long as we're looking at a high renewal rate & positive growth rate for seasons, I won't be concerned at any team. Will we be privileged with that particular information? Given the CPL's penchant for not sharing information, probably not. We may need to rely on supporters membership renewals & growth to give us a loose idea of what may be happening on a larger scale. -- Also, Pacific vs FCE attendance is now posted at 2,017. Those obsessed with that particular metric can now proceed with posting screenshots & the like.

Hello @fil We've a couple updates for you. Bleeding Orange has folded up shop. You can remove them from your list. New podcasts to add: Bow River Brigade https://www.northernstartingeleven.com/latest-episodes/bow-river-brigade/ A weekly podcast focusing on Calgary Cavalry FC and the Canadian Premier League. Hosted by Doogie, Schäf, and Dylan.

The Loyal Company of the River Valley podcast is the result of Nathan and Adam just having a few conversations over some beverages about FC Edmonton. Eventually they just decided to add a couple microphones to these conversations and make it a podcast. While they may be lacking in the analytic knowledge, they certainly make up for it with passion and optimism with all things Eddies. #FearNoFoe -- On this weeks episode, we go a little off topic with some nerd talk because not much has really happened in the league over the last week. We also look ahead to an unfortunately scheduled Al Classico and how it speaks to a larger topic we’ve focused on in the past with the schedule mishaps the league has had. We then talk about the other game this week against Pacific and the travelling contingent of FCE supporters that will be there. Listen & subscribe via the NSXI Network View full record

Looks like confirmation of what most of us suspected: No CPL in FIFA 2020. Time to unpin this thread and watch for a campaign to get CPL in FIFA 2021 to emerge?

Having escaped Richmond with a point for the first time in club history, Toronto FC II found further cause for muted celebration last Friday when they posted their first clean sheet for five games. The the 0-0 draw with Greenville Triumph was also the kids’ first goalless game of the season. Their last bore-draw was last September, in that riveting anti-climax of a season finale against the erstwhile Harrisburg City Islanders . Incidentally, Jordan Perruzza had as much luck in front of goal then as two weeks ago, not that there’s any shame in being shut out by the Upstate Boys’ notoriously stingy defence. Ironically, the local lines(wo)men were no help at all to the Young Reds. Previously reliable allies, the hosts were flagged offside as often as the visitors, including on a would-be injury-time winner by Mehdi Essoussi. The clean sheet was especially encouraging in that it felt genuinely earned. Instead of their opponents simply not turning up, or not being able to finish to save their lives (Lansing Ignite have done both), this was a solid – if occasionally haphazard – defensive effort. Eric Klenofsky redeemed himself for that clanger against Richmond, making some choice saves amid possible injuries to two centre-backs. After taking a ball to the chops late in the first half, Rocco Romeo was switched out for injury-list perennial Jelani Peters. The Trinidadian lasted all of fifteen minutes before making way for Noble Okello. -- Read more on the NSXI Network View full record

Walk-ons are usually not an issue, but yes, they should.

Add at least 1 more hour, as BC Ferries requires you to be checked in at the Ferry terminal 1-hour prior to the trip.

I very much like this idea. Using regional areas to "top up" the total number of games increases the chances of "nearby" rivalries developing, while keeping a good total for the number of matches.

Run it on your phone or computer and cast it to the TV using Samsung's Smart View. I have found that this caused a slight delay, but it was still better than most of the illegal streams we used to need...

Marco Carducci has made the CMNT list for the Nations League matches in September: https://canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-squad-for-important-september-home-and-away-matches-p162339

I agree. I also suspect they ended up with so many weekday games because of how many games they promised prior to Fury backing out. If, for whatever reason, we don't see expansion to 8 next season, I suspect they would trim or at least balance the games better between the two seasons (assuming that doesn't change).

“Three is the magic number” Last week I told you to expect the expected but maybe, just maybe, I spoke too soon because we have a few games on our hands here. Here’s a quick recap of the 1st legs. The only game that could be done and dusted is the game between this seasons two surprise packages Alliance and N.Miss. Alliance came out away from this away leg with a 3-1 victory. United stormed into a three-goal lead in an hour. Nicholas Osorio scoring the first and then setting up the next two for teammate Kevin Da Silva. N.Miss pulled one back with a ‘glol’ about 25 mins from time where Nicola Russo’s cross was ‘cleared’ by Kenny Lioutas but his header hit the head of Sebastian Lach who was challenging for the ball and it ended up back on net evading Denys Rylskyi and giving N.Miss a slight chance in the tie. This, of course, means that N.Miss would need to inflict on Alliance something that hasn’t happened all season to Ilya Orlov’s side and that is to beat them by two goals. The Panthers were one of the sides to score more than one goal against Alliance during the season, although on that day Alliance scored three, so it is possible if they can keep it tight at the back. That said, Alliance could be without several the players if Orlov’s recent tweet is anything to go by as they will be heading back to Uni. It will be interesting to see what this team that has stayed pretty consistent, player turn over wise, all-season look like in the second leg and onwards. I know form the commentary during the London game that a few of the Western boys are allowed to continue with the playoffs as long as the university team comes first, I wonder if coach Orlov could make similar concessions to his players as he is the coach of both UofT and Alliance? --- Read more on the NSXI Network. View full record

Dan Baldwin provides his take on the L1O Quarterfinals from this past weekend: https://www.northernstartingeleven.com/l1o-playoff-review-expect-the-unexpected/ Basically, he feels Alliance United have their QF match in the bag, while everyone else is going to need to work for it.

L1O finals will be streamed on OneSoccer: https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1044365

L1O finals will be streamed on OneSoccer: https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1044365

Um... Nope. The Loser of Match #2 is eliminated from the competition in page playoffs. Match 3 is not a consolation match (although I suppose it does determine 3rd place) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_playoff_system#Page_playoff_system , although they swap games 1 & 2, match #3 is still between the lower-seeded winner and the higher-seeded loser. Also, for the PCSL, the Playoffs & Finals only consisted of a 4-team single-elimination bracket (3 games) in 2017, 2018, and 2019. So, uh, not the same thing.

I was doing some research recently and found an interesting playoff format used in NL & NS: "page" playoffs. Top-4 on the table advance to playoffs. Match 1: #1 vs #2 Match 2: #3 vs #4 Match 3: Loser Match 1 vs Winner Match 2 Final: Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 3 I've never really seen this before, but it's definitely a more interesting playoff format than a regular single-elimination tournament. If they deem playoffs a necessity, I think this could actually be an interesting one to implement. Heck, you could even still have Apertura/Clausura. Winner of Apertura & Clausura qualify, plus the (next) top 2 (or 3) on the overall. Seeding based on the overall. Are there any 1st division leagues that use this format? How does it play out? East Coasters, how well does it seem to work in the NSSL (7-teams) & for Newfoundland's Challenge Trophy (5-teams)? Other thoughts on this (strange to me) format?

I love the Nutmeg... I love it even more when some people get confused and don't realize it's a satire site (not you @red card, I've seen a number of people on twitter asking if it was a real report). Love the list of interested locations too.

Dan Baldwin also does round-table wrap-ups of L1O. His latest was released this morning: https://www.northernstartingeleven.com/l1o-expect-the-expected/

Some of those photos still look a little rough. Hopefully they get everything in place before kick-off. I like the sound of a lot of facilities going up nearby (boxing gym, climbing gym, etc). Should be a great way to really grow the area, and all these different facilities should dovetail together quite well. Definitely need to get back out there to see it in person sometime.