Gonna wash the MLS right outta my coach —on Wilfried Nancy’s very short Scottish adventure and whether there is something to the idea North American managers can’t make the transition: 24thminute.substack.com/p/gonna-wash...
On Canada’s draw, the Whitecaps, a chance for soccer to claim hearts, and what the next 6 months will look like at the 24th Minute: 24thminute.substack.com/p/a-weekend-...
On the CanPL, a truly terrible rebrand and, for the first time, my legit fear about the ability of the league to survive: 24thminute.substack.com/p/existentia...
I think the issue with CanPL loans is that the MLS teams look at them as a way to move players on rather than develop them more.
Apologies, I forgot that DCU pulled out as well. I’ll edit.
That said, the overall point stands. It’s not a sign of a healthy club snd Montreal is the only club that has never been involved.
“Quebec or French” will probably work with the same effect.
Acadian, in a pinch
I wrote on Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps flipping the switch when it came to signing their newest DPs. And why that’s a good thing for both: 24thminute.substack.com/p/bizarro-wo...
You sound rational, sure
It’s hard to get excited about anything to do with TFC right now, but signing a 26 year old domestic DP with proven MLS success is a good move and it is ok to be excited about it.
Bonus (for many): it will irritate Montreal fans
I wrote on Bev Preistman’s return to football and on ambivalence: 24thminute.substack.com/p/redemption...
It’s fine. Really.
On #TFCLive at the 2/3 mark of another wasted season. 24thminute.substack.com/p/its-fine-r...
It doesn’t appear to me that Pep has fixed all of City’s problems in the…checks notes…25 days since last season.
The last 10 min of this PSG v Atleti game is exactly what I feared games between European teams might look like in this CWC.
You’re going to get some good games when second tier leagues play each other, but until we get deep in it…the sexy match-ups are going to be duds, I think.
Atleti looks…like they are in pre-season.
For a 0-0 the Al Ahly v Messi FC game was fairly entertaining (I just finished watching the replay). I suspect many of the mid-tier games in this tournament will be.
It’s the big club games that will tell us what this thing is though.
….10-nil, you say.
And here is yesterday’s reaction to Mark Noonan leaving the CanPL: 24thminute.substack.com/p/noonan-out...
I’m blogging over here like it’s 2008 again.
On the most important factor in James Johnson’s appointment at CanPL CEO: 24thminute.substack.com/p/aussie-aus...
I’ll write on this more soon, but the tl;dr is probably related to the lack of movement on the expansion front
Mark Noonan is stepping down as commissioner of the CanPL. His last day in June 30.
Sources tell me the replacement has been selected and it’s a well regarded and successful executive.
Not in position to put a name out yet, but those close to the league are excited.
Winnipeg followers: my company has an Instagram contest for two tickets to the Canada v Haiti WNT game on the 31st. We are also giving away a Desiree Scott signed strip.
No purchase necessary. Follow & comment.
www.instagram.com/stories/acce...
Performative nonsense: on TFC, fan “protests” and idiotic open letters: 24thminute.substack.com/p/performati...
TFC is bad this year, but Montreal might be historically terrible.
TFC is bad because they took a big swing and badly missed. Montreal is bad because it’s cheap, shuttered its academy as much as possible and keeps making abrupt coaching changes.
Which team are clowns again
It’s now been 270 of game minutes since a MLS goal was scored at BMO Field. By either team.
TFC under Robin Fraser might be the dullest team in the league to watch right now. That’s not a criticism of his coaching. It’s the only way Toronto can be (modestly) successful until the talent is upgraded
The last few games has been the best Deiby Flores has looked as a 6 for #TFCLive.
It really underlines how spoiled we were by Michael Bradley for so long (and how his exit from the club was so terribly handled).
On behalf of the city of Toronto I apologize for you having to watch that game yesterday. 90 minutes of life you’ll never get back.
Watching the Paris-Roubaix podium ceremony underlines to me how much the @CPLsoccer lost by not making the Canadian Shield an actual piece of the Canadian Shield. That would have, excuse the pun, rocked.
Three games undefeated*
*208 days since their last win.
#TFCLive
