- Keith Hickey

Another home game, another new fan favorite for VW, Die Mannschaft. Wait, that's taken. The People's Club? Too Scouse. The Mighty Whites? NO. Forget that.

Let's start over.

Two goals. In stoppage time. In week 1, Frenchman Eric Hassli won the plaudits for his two-goal performance against Toronto, but they didn't have half the drama of Brazilian Camilo's stoppage-time brace to  take a point from visiting Sporting KC. Vancouver have led a much more charmed life so far than fellow expansionistas Portland. The Whitecaps now sit in fourth place in the West, with four points from three games.

Marc Weber in Vancouver has an interesting story today; per his sources, USMNT defender Jay DeMerit is set to sign with the Vancouver Whitecaps as the the team's first Designated Player.

First, US youth international Omar Salgado couldn't stay in Vancouver because of a problem with his registration; now, their signing of Wake Forest product and Everton prospect Cody Arnoux, an apparent coup for the club, may be negated come the end of the Division II season.


That's because MLS sources say Arnoux could go into the draft next year or weighted lottery might be used to determine his ultimate destination. I'm not sure why that's necessary, needed, or right.


Duane Rollins is of the same mind, though he brings up the ideological struggle that always seems to come with these type of MLS issues. I'm not sure I sit on one side or the other; I'm fiscally conservative enough as an observer of the league to think that controls are necessary. That being said, if Vancouver signed an out-of-contract professional to a contract and would like to bring him up to MLS when they make the move next year, I can't find a reason they shouldn't be allowed to.


The league looks foolish if they hold onto these notions of parity, imposing seemingly arbitrary rules to players like Arnoux, while at the same time encouraging teams to spend more than they ever have before. If New York is able to go out and sign three expensive stars at seven figure salaries, why is Vancouver not allowed to keep a player who was already a professional and fits none of the usual criteria for either the draft or a lottery?


MLS seems to be of two minds here. I'm not advocating for the revocation of the dispersal rules, at least not yet. But forcing Vancouver to either draft Arnoux next year (as they could do) or lose him completely makes little sense. If he wants to play in Vancouver, he should be able to play in Vancouver.

Excuse us as we take a short break from our extensive intermittent World Cup coverage here at the uncomfortably odd environs of MFUSA to discuss a kerfuffle in the world of American soccer club logos.


It seems the soccer-obsessed denizens of the lovely city of Portland (I've never been myself, but I hear it's beautiful) are none too happy about the snazzy new logo their team has adopted for their entry into Major League Soccer next season. When Pitch Invasion is highlighting the issue, you know it's moved beyond the "grousing" stage.


And let me say, fair friends of Oregon, I'm with you. The thing is fairly hideous, what with its slick shading and fighter jet-inspired lines. Is this a soccer club or an airline for lumberjacks? The look screams "minor league", and not in a campy look-at-us-we-don't-take-ourselves-too-seriously way, but in a we're-modern-and-hip-and-soccer-is-uber-cool way. The first approach isn't fit for an MLS team unless you're the Red Bulls (oops) and the second approach falls flatter than most of Keith's tired Robert Green jokes (sorry Keith). All it really says to to the existing fan base in Portland is "The old way isn't good enough."


I'd imagine that's a tough pill to swallow for some of the most committed soccer fans in the country, fans that have filled a rickety baseball stadium week in and week out to watch their second division team play the likes of the Syracuse Salty Dogs and Richmond Kickers (no offense, Kickers fans) for the past ten years. Never mind the heady NASL days of the late 70's and early 80's, when Portland soccer was first big time and the city hosted Pele and the Soccer Bowl.


Throwing out the past, even for something as seemingly innocuous as a logo, is a dangerous proposition. You'd better get it right, or the dogs will have no compunction about attacking en masse; remember the ill-fated San Francisco 49ers logo redesign of the early 90's? It didn't go over so well, and the team smartly listened to irate fans and dropped the change post haste. I'm not sure the Timbers organization would turn back at this point, but if a large portion of your fans are voicing their disgust, the prudent thing might be a slight tweak.


The Whitecaps got it right, with a simple, clean, and aesthetically pleasing logo that isn't over-the-top or outrageously stylistic. The Timbers simply went a step too far, incorporating too much flash in their design. K.I.S.S. is the applicable bit of acronym wisdom, I believe.


Luckily, I'm here to help. Mr. Paulson and associates, if you're reading, perhaps you'd be kind enough to take my suggestion for your MLS logo, one I think you'll like:



Bottom line, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

*Update*

Adding the compromise logo Jonk brings up below. This isn't terrible.

The future of the "second" division of American and Canadian soccer took a dramatic turn today: Alex Papadakis, chairman of NuRock Soccer Holdings, the new owner of USL, told a Canadian radio station that the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact would not be participating in USL-1 next season.


Papadakis indicated that "the negotiations are finished", and that the league will move forward with those clubs that want to be a part of USL-1. That would indicate that the statuses of the entirety of the Team Owners Association-affiliated clubs (Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, and the new Tampa Bay Rowdies, with a potential St. Louis club and the on-hiatus Atlanta Silverbacks involved as well) are in question.


Papadakis' words didn't jive with those of Impact owner Joey Saputo's who indicated that negotiations are not finished and that the Impact could still play in USL-1 next year. For the Whitecaps part, President Bob Lenarduzzi told John Molinaro of the CBC that the TOA is pursuing a new league option and is on the verge of submitting an application to the USSF (both statements in Molinaro's story at the CBC site); those statements have now been couched by Lenarduzzi, who has since told Molinaro that his club is "in limbo" for 2010.


It appears that Lenaduzzi may have shown too much of the TOA's hand, and was then forced to "retract" (though he didn't fully) his statements. Fleshing out what exactly is happening is extremely difficult; both sides are clearly attempting to influence public opinion, with the high profile Canadian clubs at the forefront of the battle.


Lenarduzzi's comment about submitting an application to the USSF are interesting, in that they indicate that either the TOA or some portion of it is moving ahead with contingency plans should a resolution not be found. Time is of the essence here; if the break away clubs hope to be ready to play outside of USL-1 in 2010, they need to get moving on the process.


Things are messy, that much is sure. I'm still at a loss to explain exactly what it is the TOA clubs might get out of returning to a league that is wholly owned by a third party and that leaves them out of of decision-making process. The backbone of any league, in any sport, is its member clubs; as such, those clubs should helping to make policy, determine direction, etc. USL/NuRock has done nothing to this point to indicate that they get that; instead, they inform players their contracts are voided behind the clubs backs, make proclamations that certain clubs are out of the league despite statements to the contrary by the clubs themselves, and just general look the bully.


I'm solidly on the side of owners who want a say in how the business of their league is conducted. I understand that breaking away would be extremely difficult, risky, and complicated; the new league would have a Herculean task ahead of it to install the proper administrative bodies to make such a thing happen. It all really comes down to how far the TOA member clubs are willing to go to get what they want. It doesn't look to me like NuRock will be backing down.

For an overview of today's events, read friend of MFUSA Andrew Bucholtz's piece on the matter.

What do you make of today's developments?

Yesterday, we tackled the notion that American soccer fans are snobbish and elitist by highlighting a piece written on the subject by Alex Akita at The Bleacher Report. I attempted to explain part of that reaction to the amount of abuse the sport and its community take; it's not an excuse, but it does better frame "why" it happens.

How lucky are we, then, that a perfect example of the "issue" of soccer-bashing presented itself today? I hate to bring attention to something as idiotically close-minded as this is, but it just seems necessary. Why people want to turn the place of soccer in America into an "us vs. them" debate, I'll never know; how exactly are American ideals being threatened by a game?.

You can hide behind all of the pseudo-anthropology and nonsense psychology you want, Mr. Faville, but your reasoning is not only flawed (and filled with unprovable statements that make you appear petty and small), it poorly conceals your rampant xenophobia and chauvinism.

• The construction of South Africa 2010's crown jewel stadium, Soccer City, is in its final stages. It's an impressive feat for a country few believed was ready to host the World Cup, and while there is still quite a ways to go, things appear to be on track. Not everyone appears to be happy about Soccer City's completion, however, with protests taking place nearby. The exact reasons for that protest is unclear, but in a country with significant social problems, including poverty and crime, the massive expense of holding the World Cup probably doesn't sit well with everyone. I still believe that the positives of playing the tournament in South Africa outweigh the negatives, and that the country will do a fine job; but until kickoff next June, FIFA and South African authorities will be under non-stop scrutiny.

• In the modern world of athletic science, every aspect of a player's life is micromanaged to give him or her the best opportunity for success. For the Vancouver Whitecaps, this means going as far as assessing and correcting problems with posture; team President Bob Lenarduzzi has instituted a program, after experiencing the benefits himself, that every Whitecaps player (men, women, and youth) must go through. The idea is that poor posture leads to weaker muscles and a diminished range of motion over time, and that with proper management these issues can be corrected or reversed. Remember this in two years when the Whitecaps enter MLS; if they find immediate success, and people say "they're no slouches", they'll be literally correct. Don't worry, I wrote it and I'm cringing right along with you.

Deep Cuts appears every weekday, and highlights American soccer-related items from around the web. If you have a story for Deep Cuts (even shallow ones), you can send it along to matchfitusa@gmail.com.

Boston Pro Soccer Examiner L.E. Eisenmenger has a Vancouver stadium update, courtesy of her interview with Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. BC Place won't only get a roof, he says, it will get two.

All of the relevant information is over at L.E.'s blog, and I suggest you scurry over there to read it now. Renderings of what a renovated BC Place will look like are over at the Whitecaps site. Two roofs in Vancouver really just means that a lower roof will help create a more intimate (read: smaller capacity) environment more appropriate for soccer, but it sure does sound cool.

The rendering are impressive, but then again, renderings generally are. It will be the finished product that matters, and all signs point to a successful launch of the Whitcaps in 2011, with a proper (except for the pesky artificial turf) place for them to play.

As I mentioned in Deep Cuts this morning, Vancouver's rapid resolution to their reported issues only make Portland and their struggles look worse by contrast.

What do you make of the BC Place "double roof" and the renderings?

The United States has qualified for every World Cup since breaking their forty year drought back in 1990. That's six in a row, a feat that is impressive in itself, no matter their ultimate performance at the tournament proper. As the proverbial "sleeping giant" though, the focus of the fans (and writers) immediately turns from the high of securing a spot to angst over what they'll do next year; already, two days after the US took the bull by the horns and won in Honduras, we're seeing the first volley of "qualifying isn't enough" pieces.

Grahame Jones at the LA Times describes it as "job half done". It's accurate and it's fair, but it just spoils the buzz. I think I might wait to write my obligatory piece in this area till next spring, when the anticipation is at its height, the US is playing warm-up matches, and we see the typical struggle between the we've-got-a-chance crowd and the everyone-is-overrating-the-US crowd. It's all so tiresome, but I recognize it's a fact of life modern American soccer.

• It truly is unfortunate how few people were able to see Saturday's match, because it was a great moment to be a fan. Paul Oberjuerge relates one fan's quest to see the game online, something that I'm sure closely matches the experience of thousands (millions?). Reading the story only reinforces my belief that I made the right decision to pay a $20 cover; I would have likely broken some of my own things if I was surfing for a stream and had trouble, and that's just not productive. What American soccer needs is a wealthy benefactor, an ardent fan who has some cash to splash around and can step in when games look to be unavailable to the masses. If you are a uber-rich footy fan who loves the Yanks, drop me an email and we'll have a chat about it...

• Don Garber has taken to giving Sepp Blatter's repeated statements that MLS needs to switch to a traditional European schedule a little lip service. You'll likely see this story referenced in several places around the web today, and I'm sure some will do lengthy write-ups on it; but it honestly doesn't deserve one, because Garber's words are easily parsed by people on this side of the pond. The MLS commissioner is attempting to placate Blatter and co. with talk of "roofs", but American fans are keenly aware that indoor soccer stadiums are a pipe dream here; when several clubs have trouble getting stadiums built without roofs, there's simply no chance that any enclosed facilities will going up. No indoor stadiums means no schedule switch, which makes Garber's statements worth nothing. I suppose they could shut up Blatter on the issue, maybe, and that's something we can all get behind.

• The saga continues in Portland over the renovations of PGE Park. Deadlines have passed, Merritt Paulson's other sports franchise, the AAA baseball Beavers, still needs a new home, and yet the club is pushing forward with ticket sales and marketing. Portland's problems, which remain despite months of negotiations and several false resolutions (from an outsider's perspective), appear worse in contrast as Vancouver looks to have settled their BC Place roof drama. I doubt MLS would threaten to pull Paulson's franchise unless things were extremely dire, but they surely can't be happy; time is ticking away, and the Timbers will surely want to maximize excitement heading towards 2011. That's a much more difficult task with the stadium renovations yet to get the green light.

Deep Cuts appears every weekday, and highlights American soccer-related items from around the web. If you have a story for Deep Cuts, you can send it along to matchfitusa@gmail.com.

Match Fit USA is back with a brand new show, chock full of interesting soccer topics. Jason and Zach tackle the place of diving in the game, bring in Andrew Bucholtz of The 24th Minute to get an update on the Vancouver roof situation, breakdown the US roster ahead of their next qualifiers, briefly touch on the sale of USL and lament the proposed use of the name "Cosmos".

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It's Wednesday, and while I normally despise Wednesday, at least I have something to look forward to tonight. There's soccer flying all over the place, and it's got me a little giddy.

It actually starts during the workday, when Chelsea and Barcelona finish their UEFA Champions League semi-final across the pond. I'll be doing my best to slyly watch/listen to that match (I'm trying to train my brain to filter out Tommy Smyth), and I'm praying for something that will help my get through the tail end of what's sure to be another hellish workday.

It's not until this evening that the good stuff, and the stuff that I can give my full attention too, happens, and I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to having something to watch in the middle of a dreary week.

Watching more than one game at a time is a supremely difficult task, but one I wholeheartedly enjoy taking on. Tonight is one of those nights that makes me glad I live in the digital age. A brief break down of tonight's action and my plan of attack:

Wizards v. United

This one gets the star treatment, the number one spot on the HDTV. Not only because it's the game I have the most interest in (top of the East on the line and all that), but because it's the only one of tonight's matches that is available to me on television. I haven't checked yet, but I'm hoping this one will be in HD. Since I've writing about the game, I might as well make a pick; I'll be interested to see how Tom Soehn and Curt Onalfo juggle their lineups as each club has a quick turnaround to a Saturday match.

Wizards 1 DC United 2

Real Salt Lake v. LA Galaxy

I may just check in on this match occasionally; I'm not sure it's going to warrant more of my attention than an occasional peek. Besides, my laptop is only so big, and I'd rather not have to switch back and forth. Galaxy got their first win on Saturday, but they still mostly stink in my estimation. RSL is coming of a huge league win and a poor USCO qualifying loss, though we all know the Cup result means naught. Conventional wisdom would have RSL winning at home, but I have a weird feeling that this one is going to go all nutso on us. Just for the hell of it:

RSL 3 LA Galaxy 3

Toronto FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps

It's not league match, it's not American, and it's part of a domestic cup competition that includes only three teams; yet, for some reason, this match might intrigue me more than either of the others. Although I expect it would be hotly contested anyway, the Voyageur's Cup has now taken on a new level of intensity because the winner now gets a CONCACAF Champions League spot. While Vancouver may not have their strongest side in recent times due to building towards 2011, this should still be a cracking match with the usual BMO Field atmosphere. I have absolutely no idea where, but I'm assuming I'll be able to find a internet feed of the game somewhere.

I've only seen Vancouver play once this year, but I'll go ahead and hazard a guess at the result anyway.

TFC 2 Vancouver 1

So there you have it. A fantastic Wednesday night on tap at MFUSA House, the promise of which I hope will get me through the work day.

Which game are you most looking forward to? Predictions are always encouraged, especially by biased Whitecaps fans, since riled-up TFC fans are always entertaining.

I was tempted to leave Vancouver till later, examining them as one of the last two clubs. The move to MLS for the club in 2011 certainly colors their candidacy for my affections, and at first, it only seemed right to make them wait.

But I just finished watching them play via the wonder that is USL Live, so perhaps the timing is right to check out the Whitecaps and what they're all about. One Canadian club has already faired well in the competition, so maybe the other will as well. Examining the Vancouver Whitecaps, after the jump.

Geography

Once again, I'm regretting the inclusion of this category; it matter not entirely too often, and while it would be nice to support a club from somewhere I know, it's really not that important. I've heard good things about Vancouver though, and that should count for something right? It's in Canada, which is like, a whole other country, and it's on the West Coast (which I'm not), so those might be strikes against. Conflicted as usual, I split the difference, with a point added because I truly want to visit Vancouver one day.

Score: 6

History

Not too many North American clubs north of the Rio Grande can boast as rich a soccer history as Vancouver. The Whitecaps have existed in various forms for over thirty-five years (minus a brief hiatus and a short-lived name change), an eternity for an American or Canadian club. Success is also part of the Whitecaps resume, and the club has more than a few trophies in their showcase. To call Vancouver the "shining-light" of Canadian soccer doesn't seem like too much of a stretch, though perhaps I've descended into hyperbole. On to the score already.

Score: 9

Name/Colors

The Whitecaps name goes with the Whitecaps history, so I certainly can't complain about that. Blue and white are classic football colors, colors I would be proud to wear should I become a Vancouver supporter. The logo isn't the greatest (does the word "Whitecaps" really have to convey depth like that), but I'm happy to overlook it (for the most part) in light of the other good things. Another good score for the Whitecaps.

Score: 7

Supporter Passion

With a strong history usually comes strong support, and the Whitecaps are certainly evidence of that. The Southsiders are the team's main supporters group, and while they seem passionate, I have to say that I'm a bit underwhelmed. As an observer far removed from the club and it's local support, I have to use the means at my disposal to judge the atmosphere in the stadium; in this case, it's all about YouTube.

Here's the best Southsiders video I could find (admittedly only after a brief search):


I'm sure Swangard is a fine place to see a match, and perhaps I would be more impressed in person; I just can't find it in me to give a great score to the Whitecaps on this one. Their first truly poor category of this round.

Score: 5

Total Score: 27

A good solid score for Vancouver, one that will push them into a clutch of clubs at the top-half of the table.

The current standings:


Montreal Impact----------30
Austin Aztex-----------------29
Minnesota Thunder-----27
Puerto Rico Islanders---27
Vancouver Whitecaps---27
Carolina RailHawks-----22
Cleveland City Stars-----20
Charleston Battery-------18
Miami FC---------------------18


Hmm...three teams on 27 points. This might be harder than I thought.

The remaining clubs:

Portland Timbers
Rochester Rhinos

Almost done. Two more clubs, and then onto Round 2. Stay tuned for the next installment, vote for your favorite club in the poll, and comment on my decisions; as I've said before, I could easily be swayed to change my opinions if given enough reason, or if support for one club is overwhelming (as it appears to be for the Thunder at the moment).

The 2009 USL-1 season will kickoff tomorrow, with two evening games on the schedule.

As I have yet to decide on my USL-1 side, I'm anxious to watch some league action in the hopes that I'll find myself drawn to a team.

Of the four teams playing tomorrow, I've only examined one of the them to this point: the Charleston Battery. I'll be looking to see if I was too harsh in my scoring of the club on the MFUSA Arbitrary Scoring Scale. The match, against the Whitecaps, is taking place in Vancouver, so I will still be without a idea of their stadium atmosphere and home support.

Vancouver obviously comes into their next-to-last USL season riding the high of MLS expansion; it will be interesting to see if the news will have any effect on the Whitecaps support in 2009. Their current home, Swangard Stadium, seats 5,200. You would expect that excitement for MLS in 2011 would lead to sellouts in '09 and '10, though I have no idea what's expected. If I'm able to watch the match via USL Live, I certainly will.

The early game tomorrow pits the Minnesota Thunder against the Carolina RailHawks (don't know if I realized until just now about that weird capitalization thing), two clubs I know absolutely nothing about. I am aware the the Thunder are usually a pretty good side, and that they seem relatively well supported (if the Internet is any judge). Carolina, a team based in the Raleigh suburbs, has former Galaxy and San Jose forward Gavin Glinton up top.

Unfortunately, I don't expect to be able to watch the early match. Family obligations on the holiday weekend will keep me away from a computer until late in the evening.

I hope to post reactions to whichever match I'm able to see, both in the context of the USL project and as an exercise in simple soccer appreciation.

If you're at all intrigued by USL, I suggest you go sign up for their free online video service; it's a great marketing tool, one that will only add to the exposure of the league. Perhaps MLS will learn that lesson in the future. For the time being, however, you can't beat free streaming soccer, American style.