I have struggled with whether I want to continue writing for The Offside. My recent posts
indicate my frustrations, which may appear to be a little acrimonious. The truth isn't as harsh as
I make it out to be, honestly.
A few days ago I contacted the powers-that-be and proposed a new page for The Offside.
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Today, in a total non-surprise, Chris Cummins departed Toronto FC as head coach. Mo Johnston
declared that the next head coach will have MLS experience, but the head coach search must wait
until after the MLS Cup game.
Mo also confirmed that he signed a 2.
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So, there, Cummins is gone. Duane Rollins thinks his leaving won't account for much, following his
convincing argument the other day for Trader Mo's dismissal as sporting director.
Fine Cummins out, so can we stop the ex-lower level Luton/Newcastle parade now? These are the last
of clubs in a long line of Graham Taylor-Watford-Wimbledon eighties style Charles Reep football,
and follows a "we need this part to fit in this cog" line of thinking to work properly—you have
to have two centerbacks and they both have to be big, you need a poacher near goal with a runner in
behind him, and you need a classic lined up midfield to grease that 4-4-2.
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Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton has reflected on an emotionally few days at the club since
the great Sir Bobby Robson passed away on Friday. Carver with Bobby Robson during stint in charge
of Newcastle Chris thinks Newcastle players will emerge stronger characters after the death of Sir
Bobby Robson brought them closer together as a [.
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Time for another update from New Zealand where for the second straight season Springfield is
well represented. Here's how the Chairman of the Upper Hutt City Soccer program describes it in
their recent newsletter:
As many of you will know, we have another American import in our ranks this year,
Patrick Carver, who has followed in the footsteps of Andy Cooper and Brian Pasierb
last year in being a great ambassador for his country, and a great addition on the field for our
men's first team.
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Once again this season, or more specifically this Winter season in New Zealand, the Upper Hutt
City squad has a representative from Springfield. This season Parkview graduate Patrick Carver is
playing in the New Zealand Premier League. He sent the photos along with the current standings,
which show Upper Hutt in 5th place currently.
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Once again this season, or more specifically this Winter season in New Zealand, the Upper Hutt
City squad has a representative from Springfield. This season Parkview graduate Patrick Carver is
playing in the New Zealand Premier League. He sent the photos along with the current standings,
which show Upper Hutt in 5th place currently.
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Here in the US we like to break things into large portions. Halves in football, thirds in
hockey, quarters in basketball(eighth's only count in pizza). Which leads me to this; time to look
a deeper at some of this season's numbers as this week the MLS season has passed the quarter mark.
At this point in the season, you usually have a grasp of what hot teams are for real or which
wunderkind will have staying power.
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Week 7 (04/29)
Last Week's Ranking in Parenthesis...
- Chivas USA (1): One win and one loss ain't too shabby, and they have still
only allowed 3 goals in 7 games.
- Seattle (4): Another win and another shutout for SEA.
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It may turn out not to be as sketchy as it seems on paper but this kinda looks sketchy. Between
Carver's comments and this, MLS officiating is really having a rough week. Maybe it'd be a good
idea to cancel this week's games and send all the guys with FIFA badges on their shirts to a spa or
something in Sonoma to unwind with a bottle of chardonnay.
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YouTube - Red Bulls vs DC United post game reaction 4/26/2009 YouTube - Red Bulls vs DC United post
game reaction 4/26/2009
My personal favorite is the guy who sounds a little bit like Andrew Dice Clay yelling about what a
"disgrace it is.
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We knew that, but he has elaborated in an interview with the
Toronto Star. The last straw,
he says, was when MLS told him to go back to the sidelines instead of coaching from the boxes.
The comments are predictable. Some people never like their club's current coach, so those folks are
happy for the switch under any circumstances.
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MLS Rumors 26 April @ 01:08 AM EST
Tidbits that you can hear in the posted videos (more to come tomorrow since they are shutting down
the stadium):
-There is a locker room issue with Kljestan at the moment
-Thornton is lost weight
-Preki spoke with Carver and offered his best wishes upon hearing of the resignation
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Jon Carver is no longer the coach of Toronto FC. The club announced his resignation on Saturday
morning. Carver's coaching staff will remain in place while the club begins the process of filling
their head coach slot. Unlike any other Major League Soccer club, Toronto has a separate manager,
Mo Johnston, with the head coach running the team from the sidelines.
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Finally - a rumour about an incoming centre half, albeit from MLS Rumors. According to the source
of this rumour, 28 year-old Ecuadorian international defender Jose Luis Perlaza is on trial with
us. He was in Ecuador's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, and recently released from Centro Deportivo
Olmeido.
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The game is the final leg of a home-and-away series initiated this year between the two clubs,
with the winner earning the Ozarks Challenge Cup hardware.
Game time is 7:05 pm at Cooper Soccer Complex, Field 1.
As a few folks have pointed out to me, it could be the last opportunity to see All-American
Patrick Carver (Parkview 2005) play in Springfield prior to the end of his collegiate career at
Emory University.
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Carver released a team update yesterday in what feels like a heads up for bad things to come on
Saturday. Thanks to that piss poor call by Jorge Gonzalez (I'm not going to drop that one any time
soon) Edu's out, leaving a hole in the mid-field. Dichio is still seriously concussed so we're
still lacking solid striking capability.
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Though I'm still feeling hollow and depressed following last night's game in the Windy City,
it's time to offer up my opinions. While most of the sentiment I've been hearing from other
supporters has been all doom and gloom, I don't think we had a very weak performance. In fact, if
MLS refereeing had not committed daylight robbery on us AGAIN, I daresay we would have won the
match.
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Result: 2-1 Chicago
Attendance Toyota Park: 15,118
Last night was spectacularly depressing. We really needed a victory on the road, at least we
needed to walk away with a point. Unfortunately some poor defending by Valez allowed a late Chicago
goal which not only a damper on a lively match, but also on my rather fine night.
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What is this call to glory ? goes that commercial over and over. Too bad that glory is on hold
until TFC learns how to handle these road games. What new way to raise and then dash hopes will the
team create tonight ? -could be the opener for the next commercial . I guess the call to glory
involves patience and wisdom.
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Trying to keep my positive side up - at least TFC have a chance to finish strong against Montreal
later this month. It is simple, win and they're in. In, of course, is to be the Canadian club
champs and play in the Concacaf Champions League. Yet judging by the performance in Vancouver, the
negatives could easily get to you.
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The good news that has surround the Wizards over the past week (late win against, and by, Real;
comeback win in US Open Cup; re-signing of Josh Wolff) looks to be at an end as the team's
management has been accused of "pervasive and regular" sexual harassment.
Kathryn Carver filed the lawsuit on Monday against the Wizards' ownership group OnGoal as well as
'Greg Cotton, executive vice president and general counsel for OnGoal, and Robert Thomson Jr, the
company's vice president for marketing and communications.
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Hello TFC nation It me nick dropping by, to keep the blog going until a suitable replacement comes
along. Yesterday the mighty TFC lost what i consider to be gimme game at BMO field against the
Whitecaps, and to be honest it was night and day between the first and second half, in the first
[...]
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MLS Rumors 02 July @ 12:30 AM EST
In a move which may or may not have implications on the community good will to build a stadium the
following allegations have been made in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Wizards/OnGoal:
•Cotton and Thomson would review the Facebook and MySpace sites of prospective female
employees to determine whether they were "hot enough" to be hired.
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The KC Star is reporting that a former employee of the Wizards and OnGoal is sueing the teams
ownership group, executive vice president, Greg Cotton, and Robert Thomson Jr, who is general
counsel for OnGoal.
Some of the claims brought against the ownership group include:
•Cotton and Thomson would review the Facebook and MySpace sites of prospective female
employees to determine whether they were "hot enough" to be hired.
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Toronto FC hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Canada Day match-up at BMO. The Whitecaps took the
lead on a penalty kick in the first half. The kick was awarded after a foul was detected by the ref
during a corner kick. I did not see it myself, but my eyes were following the path of the ball
coming in.
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Rohan Ricketts' performance Saturday night was a wonderful treat. He turned those recent flashes of
potential and promise into the real deal in a dazzling night at BMO Field. His two second half
goals were the difference as he sparked a victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids.
TFC has been a revolving international duty door lately, as the team was missing Maurice Edu, Greg
Sutton, Jim Brennan, Amado Guevara and Tyrone Marshall as they were with their respective national
teams.
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MLS Rumors 14 June @ 12:36 PM EST
Time for a little Canadian Content. Mainly because we love this Carver guy's passion for the game
and willingness to "tell it like it is." The most recent episode of Toronto FC TV is
below:
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Congratulations to Patrick Carver for being selected 1st Team All-American this week. Patrick is
a product of the Springfield Soccer community, having grown up with MedPay/Springfield Soccer Club,
as well as playing for Parkview HS (2005) and the Springfield Demize (2007). Patrick also won a
National Debate title in 2004 and wrote a three part series on College Recruiting for this website
following his experience in choosing Emory University.
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Congratulations to Patrick Carver for being selected 1st Team All-American this week. Patrick is
a product of the Springfield Soccer community, having grown up with MedPay/Springfield Soccer Club,
as well as playing for Parkview HS (2005) and the Springfield Demize (2007). Patrick also won a
National Debate title in 2004 and wrote a three part series on College Recruiting for this website
following his experience in choosing Emory University.
Click to continue reading...
