According to the Whitecaps website the TOA League is now 11 teams strong!

The addition of Tampa Bay and Baltimore brings the new league to nine teams, as they join the owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

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Yes, this is more on the TOA v NuRock battle. After the USL announcement that they would be expanding to Baltimore, to Detroit, to Ottawa and Edmonton on top of their previous plans of New York city and Tampa Bay the TOA responded with a formal announcement that they would be apply for 2nd tier status in the USA and 1st tier status in Canada.

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• New blog post To all who stayed, we salute you! http://bit.ly/2MRKUJ #
• Canada announce roster for upcoming Friendlies vs Macedonia & Poland http://tinyurl.com/yj9bwdv #
• Add Rob Friend & Paul Stalteri to Canada callups http://tinyurl.com/yjzhu3s #
• .@JohnMolinaro Nice work on the Lensky story btw.

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The old Empire Stadium in Vancouver.

Here's some interesting news about Vancouver's expansion bid that most may not know of yet. They will have to play in two different stadiums in their first year in Major League Soccer in 2011. The Vancouver Sun is reporting today that due to the renovations to BC Place the expansion Whitecaps (or whatever they will be called) will also play an unknown number of home games at a temporary facility on the old Empire Stadium.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It's weird to say that its been another quick week for me here but it has, this week has flown by. Tonight's links and thoughts may end up being a quickie. I had some things planned for the day and for the week for that matter but I never got around to some of them. Blame it on time getting away from me and my normal day job.

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Montreal 3-2 Vancouver

It was a high scoring affair at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. While most US soccer fans had en eye on the their National team, hoping they would qualify for the 2010 World Cup, our northern neighbors were watching carefully in an all Canadian USL-1 final.

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Montreal 3-2 Vancouver

It was a high scoring affair at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. While most US soccer fans had en eye on the their National team, hoping they would qualify for the 2010 World Cup, our northern neighbors were watching carefully in an all Canadian USL-1 final.

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Sounds like you have finally count Vancouver's MLS expansion plan in for good as BC Place will officially be fitted with a retractable roof after the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

According to the reports, the roof should still be finished in time for the start of the 2011 season for the Whitecaps.

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CHICAGO FIRE VS. TORONTO FC
Toyota Park - Saturday, 8:30PM EST
TV: Rogers Sportsnet
Well if it wasn't bad enough that NASL nostalgia has brought back Sounders, Timbers, Earthquakes, Whitecaps and no doubt Cosmos, Chicago Fire has decided to make Saturday's game an anniversary celebration of Soccer Bowl 1984! Click to continue reading...

Miguel's back!
...Okay, that pretty much does it for the good news portion of the post.
Despite now having everybody but Eddie Johnson healthy and on the field, the Aztex were handed another solid defeat in Miami last night. It seems as though playing matches on either corner of North America 3 days apart isn't conducive to solid play. Click to continue reading...

This information comes directly from Marc Webber of the Vancouver Province.
September 1, 2009
-------------------------------------

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.

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It's getting old folks, the losing is getting old. First the Portland game on Saturday where the Blues lost 3-1 and then it seemed we would bring back a point from Vancouver but with only 10 minutes left Miami conceded a goal followed by another a few minutes later that sealed our fate and might keep us away from the playoffs for yet another season. Click to continue reading...

The Whitecaps may need to abandon their dream of a retractable roof.
Received by anonymous email.

I have a close contact in the construction business that is involved in bidding for the Retractable Roof work for BC Place for the Whitecaps entry in 2011, and I have been told funding for the Retractable Roof for BC Place is right now on very shaky ground due to the worsening economy in this part of Canada.

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Wednesday, August 19
Minnesota Thunder 3:3 Rochester Rhinos
Rhinos stunned by tie after injury-time goal Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
2009 USL-2 Playoffs
Real Maryland Monarchs 1 - 3 Charlotte Eagles
Eagles soar past Real Maryland 3-1 charlotteeagles.com
Thursday, August 20
Vancouver Whitecaps 1:1 Charleston Battery
Ian Fuller's second-half goal gives Battery 1-1 draw with Whitecaps The Canadian Press
Battery rallies for draw Charleston Post and Courier Click to continue reading...

News is slowing down right now due to tomorrow's big international clash between US and Mexico. I have another list of links hyping that game. Aside from that I only have a couple things of note that are worth a look tonight.

Montreal Expansion Too Quick?

Link

I have to agree with Duane Rollins on this matter, Montreal may be at a big disadvantage when it comes to their expansion bid into the league.

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Courtesy of Sportsnet Canada:
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber was on hand Friday night to watch Toronto FC and Real Madrid in Toronto, where he confirmed Montreal would not receive an expansion team in 2011.
Reports surfaced this week that Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo was in discussion with Garber over joining the league as soon as 2011, but Garber was quick to dispel that idea at half-time on Friday night. Click to continue reading...

The Vancouver Whitecaps folded 1-0 to the Portland Timbers in last night's game. The Whitecaps FC were scored on at the 30 minute mark by Portland's Ryan Pore after receiving a great pass from Keita.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver slipped to 6 place in the United Soccer League 1 standings as a result of their loss.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps folded 1-0 to the Portland Timbers in last night's game. The Whitecaps FC were scored on at the 30 minute mark by Portland's Ryan Pore after receiving a great pass from Keita.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver slipped to 6 place in the United Soccer League 1 standings as a result of their loss.

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Friday, July 31
Vancouver Whitecaps 3:1 Rochester Rhinos
Marlon James scores two goals as Whitecaps win 3-1 over Rhinos The Canadian Press
Whitecaps top Rhinos 3-1 with two-goal effort from James Vancouver Sun
Rhinos swamped by Whitecaps Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Saturday, August 1
Vancouver Whitecaps o:0 Cleveland City Stars
Road weary Whitecaps fit to be tied The Globe and Mail
Austin Aztex 0:3 Carolina RailHawks
RailHawks burn Aztex with balanced attack The News & Observer
Aztex fall to Carolina Austin American-Statesman
Montreal Impact 1:1 Miami FC Blues
Mauro Biello scores as Montreal Impact draw Miami FC 1-1 The Canadian Press
Impact surrender late goal The Globe and Mail
Marcina saves the day; playoffs still in sight for Miami FC Miami Herald
Portland Timbers 1:1 Minnesota Thunder
Timbers' record unbeaten streak up to 18 games The Oregonian
Saturday, August 1
Charlotte Eagles 1:1 Bermuda Hogges
Real Maryland Monarchs 0:1 Richmond Kickers
Kicker win, stay tied for first Richmond Times-Dispatch
Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Sunday, August 2
Harrisburg City Islanders 0:0 Real Maryland Monarchs
Struggling City Islanders manage scoreless draw With Real PennLive. Click to continue reading...

Hope you like Joe Louis' cakes, St. Hubert Chicken, Pepsi and cigarettes because it looks like "The 401 Derby" is on the horizon! Speaking to financial media outlet Forbes, MLS supremo Don Garber said that Montreal should have the 19th spot in the league by the 2011 season.
No matter what your feelings are about Montreal, Quebec, The Impact, Charles De Gaulle, mimes, body hair. Click to continue reading...

The Islanders rested Gaudette and Arrieta, to save them for the Toronto FC game this week; and survived a halftime thunderstorm delay to drop their 2nd game this season in Vancouver, this time 4-2 for the Whitecaps.

Kyle Veris had an own goal in the 51st minute for the 2nd Vancouver goal.

Hansen both Islanders goals.

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The Islanders rested Gaudette and Arrieta, to save them for the Toronto FC game this week; and survived a halftime thunderstorm delay to drop their 2nd game this season in Vancouver, this time 4-2 for the Whitecaps.

Kyle Veris had an own goal in the 51st minute for the 2nd Vancouver goal.

Hansen both Islanders goals.

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Miami FC Defender #6 Zourab Tsiskaridze best known to fans as "Zee" is said to have saved a child from drowning. No details are known about the incident but we'll get you the full scoop. This proves Zee is a hero on and off the field. He's also a good free kicker and has already scored for the Blues. Click to continue reading...

"With key players such as Diego Serna out, Miami FC continued its recent strong play and defeated Vancouver 2-1 at FIU Stadium." Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald
Things are looking good for the Blues on the field as they remain unbeaten at FIU Stadium. Miami looked strong in the first half and could have increased the score if their players had better aim. Click to continue reading...

Puerto Rico Islanders 0:0 Cleveland City Stars
Punchless Islanders remain in first place Soccer America
City Stats draw 0-0 with first place Puerto Rico ClevelandCityStars.com
Vancouver Whitecaps 1:2 Miami FC Blues
Nunes penalty downs Whitecaps Vancouver Globe and Mail
Despite missing key players, Miami FC cruises past Vancouver Miami Herald Click to continue reading...

Who said Miami was not a soccer town? You see games being played all over South Florida, but fans are known to be fickle and demanding when it comes to watching a game live. Well, this weekend they get a little of everything! Friday, Saturday and Sunday will have what I call "A little Soccer Heaven"! Click to continue reading...

This Season it seems everything that has to do with Miami FC is late. The team almost folded due to MLS and we didn't know until the last minute it would survive. Therefore the team was organized at the last minute and so to continue with that trend this season the new Miami FC jersey finally came out in time for the July 4th game against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Click to continue reading...

Harmse heads back to LA.
The South African journeyman defender/midfielder will be headed back to the Los Angeles Sunshine to play against the rival club he used to play for there:
Courtesy of the Canadian Press:

TORONTO — Toronto FC has traded Canadian international midfielder Kevin Harmse to Chivas USA.

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This weekend two Premier Development League matches will be featured on USLLive.com:
Friday, June 25th
Portland Timbers U23 v. Cascade Surge - 10:05pm ET
Saturday, June 26th
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency v. Cascade Surge - 10:05pm ET Click to continue reading...

USL has released the First and Second Division Teams of the Week. Read the full press release HERE.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: Nick Player (MIN)
Defenders: Davis Hayes (POR), Wes Knight (VAN), Cristian Arrieta (PR), Matt Bobo (CHA)
Midfielders: Pato Aguilera (CLE), Jonathan Steele (PR), Godfrey Tenoff (CLE)
Fowards: Diego Serna (MIA), Brian Cvilikas (MIN), Charles Gbeke* (VAN)
USL Second Division Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: James Thorpe (MASS)
Defenders: Ed Hayden (PITT), Sascha Gorres (RICH), Andrew Marshall (CPB), John Borrajo (RM)
Midfielders: Nicki Patterson (HARR), Lucio Gonzaga (RM), Pat Healey (CPB)
Fowards: Almir Barbosa (MASS), Machel Millwood (CPB)
*We find it strange that Charles Gbeke was selected for Team of the Week. Click to continue reading...

This Sunday night two Premier Development League matches will be live on USLLive.com:
Victoria Highlanders v. Cascade Surge - 10:05pm ET
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency v. Seattle Wolves - 10:3opm ET Click to continue reading...