Martin Bonjour has been suspiciously absent from the start of the Vancouver Whitecaps' preseason camp, and now we know why.
Days after saying that Bonjour was missing because of personal reasons, the Whitecaps waived the Argentine centerback. Bonjour played just one season with the Whitecaps, scoring one goal in 28 appearances in 2012.
Ahead of Chelsea's visit to Philadelphia for the MLS All-Star game, PSP remembers three notable
Chelsea players who spent time with Philadelphia teams—Harold Brittan, Peter Osgood, and John
Dempsey.
As we like to do, we reached out to our Vancouver Whitecaps blogger Benjamin Massey of 86
Forever. Here are our questions and his answers:
1 - Prior to the season many observers thought that the Whitecaps
would be defined by their offense. It's been OK, but not great. What will it take to get
better?
Social media has been a revelation for players and fans to engage in talks, express themselves
to each other and establish a stronger relationship. There's a downside to tweeting before thinking
things through, however.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Lee Nguyen used a homophobic slur in a joke-toned tweet at
teammate Brad Knighton Monday night, drawing immediate backlash.
After three years as a backup, Brad Guzan will make his first Premier League start on Saturday
for Aston Villa, and the club is already in the process of trying to extend his stay at Villa Park
before his current deal expires this summer.
Vancouver sports fans have a lot on their plate right now. Now, we all love soccer, but how
distracted from a regular season match would we be if one of our sports teams was in the Finals of
another sport? Probably a bit. That isn't the only issue facing Vancouver Whitecaps supporters. The
Canadian National Team is competing in the Gold Cup, and despite the 2-nil loss the the United
States should still advance from the Group Stage, but they have a match down in Tampa and some of
their supporters and Whitecaps supporters crossover.
The Vancouver Whitecaps roster just a got a bit more of an international flavor.
The Whitecaps signed central defender Mouloud Akloul to an MLS deal on Thursday. The French
defender signed a Division 2 deal with the Whitecaps last season before breaking his ankle, an
injury that ended his season.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi stood in a covered area above the
stands at Arizona State University's soccer stadium, wondering aloud what his team was doing.
Down on the field, the Whitecaps couldn't finish chances, and they couldn't overcome two key
turnovers that led to quick goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Monday's 2-0 preseason win for
L.
Want a sign that there could be some good will among soon-to-be Northwest MLS rivals Seattle and
Vancouver: The Whitecaps are currently training at Oxnard College in Oxnard, Calif.
The Sounders' inaugural out-of-town camp was held at the same place in February 2009, though the
club had to move from the school to a public park to nearby Ventura College to get in work because
of inclement weather.
Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi has been busy all week.
Between yesterday and today the Vancouver Whitecaps continue to make deals and moves. Yesterday
they traded one player away and today they signed three from their D-2 team.
The Whitecaps traded defensive midfielder Nathan Sturgis to Toronto FC for the No.
VANCOUVER, BC As Colorado and Dallas prepare for the M.L.S. Cup final, the league's newest club
prepares for its inaugural season. The Vancouver Whitecaps signed defender Jay DeMerit on Thursday,
making the U.S. international the club's first Major League Soccer signing. "Jay is a quality
individual and leader – both on and off the [.
We've discussed this topic before. The Vancouver Whitecaps are still hoping to have Cody Arnoux
on their roster for next year for their first season in Major League Soccer. The MLS front office
continues to think that Arnoux should be placed in either a weighted lottery or the MLS SuperDraft
in January.
The Edmonton Sun announced today that the Edmonton Drillers will be the new NASL team that will
replace the Vancouver Whitecaps when they move to Major League Soccer in 2011. The Drillers were
the name of the old NASL team that played in Edmonton from 1979 to 1982.
Vancouver president Bob Lenarduzzi has been saying for some time now that Vancouver was
interested in putting together a pro development team.
USL releases statement regarding USL-1 and TOA's filing of papers to create new Division
II league.
While yesterday was an eventful day with the Team Owners Associations (TOA) releasing an
official statement saying it had filed papers with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to
start a new Division II league in the US, it seems today could also be full of fireworks.
USL releases statement regarding USL-1 and TOA's filing of papers to create new Division
II league.
While yesterday was an eventful day with the Team Owners Associations (TOA) releasing an
official statement saying it had filed papers with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to
start a new Division II league in the US, it seems today could also be full of fireworks.
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...
First of all, let me say sorry for the lack of updates this week. I've gone into full site
design mode here for this place and for another couple project that I am working on for other
folks.
And on that note I will also be heading out of town early this weekend for a long weekend in
Austin for the Austin City Limits music festival.
US soccer has progressed to the level where like the rest of the world, MLS clubs should
considering paying modest youth transfer fees to local clubs that develop the young players they
select for their U16 and U18 academy teams.
Reimbursement in the form of scholarships would encourage local clubs to develop complete
players instead of focusing on wins and also to invest in low-income players, further improving the
vision of youth player development in the US.
The offseason can be crazy in the business that is soccer and sometimes it can be all too
easy to forget that in the end, it's really about the game. If you are looking for some inspiration
to help you get your soccer head back on straight, go to the Ritz East tonight to see the
Philadelphia premier of Laduma.
As suggested by the 130 readers' comments posted on PSP in less then 24 hours since the Le Toux
transfer news broke, if the sadness felt by Union fans at the news of Sebastien Le Toux's transfer
to Vancouver wasn't enough, subsequent comments from Peter Nowak and Le Toux will, for many, see
that sadness turn to anger.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have announced that U.S. national team defender Jay DeMerit is the
team's first signing. The 30-year-old is an imposing force, a gritty defender who will add
leadership to what will be a young Whitecaps defense.
DeMerit, a native of Green Bay, Wisc., spent the past six seasons playing with English club
Watford.
Nov. 10, 2009 – The owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC,
Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps, formerly of USL-1, together with St.
Louis Soccer United today announced that they have formed a new professional soccer league to play
in the United States and Canada beginning in April 2010.
The Globe & Mail reports that Toronto FC has new ownership. Bell and Rogers have combined to buy
75% of the company that runs TFC and several other sports enterprises.
dN
Paul Barber, the big name executive the team brought in from Tottenham to help the team move up to
MLS, has resigned and will leave the job in February.
With MLS on break and the sporting world focused on South Africa, there's no better time to
recall Canada's lone trip to a FIFA World Cup and those words above issued by Canadian
international and Toronto FC Designated Player Julian de Guzman earlier this week in Toronto.
Every loss will be a stepping stone, especially in this first MLS season. The final preseason
friendly against the Colorado Rapids was a strange one: while the Whitecaps wanted to show the fans
a strong team, the players and coaches also wanted to make sure nobody got injured before the big
debut against TFC.
Every loss will be a stepping stone, especially in this first MLS season. The final preseason
friendly against the Colorado Rapids was a strange one: while the Whitecaps wanted to show the fans
a strong team, the players and coaches also wanted to make sure nobody got injured before the big
debut against TFC.
BURNABY, BC The Vancouver Whitecaps are playing coy over a report linking them to a move for star
Irish striker Robbie Keane. The Sun, an English tabloid, suggested over the weekend that the
Ireland captain was headed for the Major League Soccer expansion franchise. But Whitecaps chief
executive officer Paul Barber — a former [.
With talks at a stand-still between the Team Owners Association and Nurock Soccer Holdings, new
owners of USL, the chances of a breakaway league led by numerous USL 1 clubs next year is looking
more and more likely. Vancouver and Montreal became the latest teams to reportedly sever ties with
USL this week, and are part of the group looking to start a new league.
With talks at a stand-still between the Team Owners Association and Nurock Soccer Holdings, new
owners of USL, the chances of a breakaway league led by numerous USL 1 clubs next year is looking
more and more likely. Vancouver and Montreal became the latest teams to reportedly sever ties with
USL this week, and are part of the group looking to start a new league.
Canadian Press are reporting that USL league owner, Alek Papadakis is saying that "The
negotiations are finished," Papadakis told CKAC. "We decided to continue our preparation for the
season 2010 with the teams which wished to remain with us." Papadakis was referring to the ongoing
talk with the Team Owners Association or TOA that have been organized for well over a year and have
failed to pay renewal fees to the USL for the 2010 season.
Canadian Press are reporting that USL league owners, Alek Papadakis is saying that "The
negotiations are finished," Papadakis told CKAC. "We decided to continue our preparation for the
season 2010 with the teams which wished to remain with us." Papadakis was refering to the ongoing
talk with the Team Owners Association or TOA that have been organized for well over a year and have
failed to pay renewel fees to the USL for the 2010 season.
This information comes directly from Marc Webber of the Vancouver Province.
September 1, 2009
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VANCOUVER — Before Monday, the United Soccer Leagues' Team Owners' Association was a
relatively-unknown entity.
That changed when the group fired a salvo expressing "extreme disappointment" in Nike's decision
to sell the USL to NuRock Soccer Holdings last week, and made public its desire to pursue "all
league options for the 2010 season and beyond.
