Canada puts themselves behind the 8-ball

It's been a bit since my last post; the end of August proved to be a busy time in both my life and the world of football.

Canada has put themselves in quite a predicament, after poor displays against both Jamaica in Toronto and, most recently, Honduras in Montreal. Against Jamaica, a moment of madness from veteran keeper Paul Dolan cost them points, while on Saturday the game plan started to crumble after winger Tomasz Radzinski sliced his hand open on the advertising boards.

Both matches (I was at the Jamaica game and only caught Saturday's game on the telly) showed that while Canada has more attacking potential than perhaps any time in the past, they still need that bit of quality when it comes to finishing. Canada had more scoring chances than their opponents in each match, but failed to convert chances into goals. Honduras on the other hand, had but maybe four good chances on goal and took two of them.

The other criticism I have of Canada's play, especially against Honduras, was the way the team slipped back into a fruitless, direct style of play after Radzinski went off. Before that moment, Canada controlled possession, was pushing the ball down the wings and creating chances. Afterwards, some fifteen minutes into the match and with a deserved 1-0 lead, they sat deeper and were content to hoof the ball up to striker Rob Friend, who seemed to operate without support. This allowed the Hondurans back into the game and effectively squashed Canada's chances once they went behind 2-1.

If Canada play like they did Saturday against the Mexicans on Wednesday night, their World Cup campaign will come to a screeching halt with three games remaining. If they use the talents of Julian De Guzman, Dwayne De Rosario and Atiba Hutchinson to control play, coming away with a point would save them from another four years of regret.

Don't get me wrong. With only one point from their first two home matches Canada will not be favoured to move on in the competition. Effectively, they need to aim for a pair of draws or an unlikely win in Edmonton against Mexico, plus a win in Honduras and again away to Jamaica.

That's a tall order, but CONCACAF is not a confederation where there's a unassailable gulf of talent between these teams. Canada, on their day, can beat any of the teams in their region, just as Trinidad and Tobago or Cuba or Guatemala can show up and play against the likes of the U.S. or Costa Rica. This ain't over for Canada yet, they've just made it a lot harder on themselves.

Canada v. Jamaica: World Cup 2010 Qualifying Preview

Canada starts the next stage in its bid to earn a berth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a match against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica on Wednesday in Toronto.

The Canadian team, announced last week, is perhaps the strongest we've ever managed to assemble:

Goalkeepers: Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo); Greg Sutton (Toronto FC)

Defenders: Paul Stalteri (Tottenham Hotspur); Jim Brennan (Toronto FC); Mike Klukowski (Club Brugge); Kevin McKenna (FC Koln); Richard Hastings (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Adrian Serioux (FC Dallas)

Midfielders: Daniel Imhof (VfL Bochum); Julian de Guzman (Deportivo La Coruna); Issey Nakajima-Farran (FC Nordsjlland); Atiba Hutchinson (FC Copenhagen); Patrice Bernier (FC Nordsjlland); Tomasz Radzinski (Skoda Xanthi); Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo)

Forwards: Ali Gerba (MK Dons); Rob Friend (Borussia Moenchengladbach); Iain Hume (Barnsley)

Canada looks strongest in midfield, with the likes of De Rosario, De Guzman, Radzinski and Hutchinson. The forwards, particularly Gerba and Friend will also play a big factor in Canada's success. Defence is a weak spot with no true centre backs named in the squad.

For Jamaica:

Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts (Bradford City); Shawn Sawyers (Portmore United)

Defenders: Tyrone Marshall (Toronto FC); Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers); Keneil Moodie (Seba United); O'Brian Woodbine (Reno); Demar Stewart (Chengdu Blades); Jermaine Taylor (Harbour View); Demar Phillips (Stoke City)

Midfielders: Davion Thorpe (Reno); Evan Taylor (Reno); Rudolph Austin (Stoke City); Jevaughn Watson (Sporting Central); Jermaine Hue (Harbour View); Ricardo Gardner (Bolton Wanderers); Wolry Wolfe (Joe Public)

Forwards: Deon Burton (Sheffield Wednesday); Luton Shelton (Valerenga); Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids); Andy Williams (Real Salt Lake)

The Jamaicans also look strong up front, with Shelton leading the team with five goals in the opening qualifying round. Their defence looks decent, with a couple England-based players and TFC's Tyrone Marshall (who is questionable for the match, having picked up a quadriceps injury). The midfield is mainly composed of domestic-based players and remains somewhat of an enigma for us non-Jamaicans. They will surely benefit from their familiarity with one another, but the star, Gardner, didn't feature for Bolton on the weekend.

Canada leads the series between the two nations with a record of 6 wins, 4 draws and only 2 losses over 12 games. Particularly telling is the Canadians' record at home, with 5 wins and a draw. The confines of BMO Field should only help with this fine home form.

The Jamaicans dominated their second round qualifier against the Bahamas, winning 13-0 on aggregate.

There will be no games in the so-called Group of Death (also including Honduras and Mexico) that Canada can take for granted. They should be looking for three points against Jamaica, but by no means should these points be considered automatic.

Rene Simoes, the Brazilian who had been in talks with the Canadian Soccer Association to take over after the departure of Frank Yallop last year, manages the Jamaicans and will certainly have the Reggae Boyz prepared for the match.

Canadian manager Dale Mitchell would be advised to make the best of his limited training time with the largely European-based side, to ensure the squad is organized and acclimatizing his players to the artificial pitch at BMO.

Canada's next match is in Montreal on Sept. 6, against Honduras.

TFC's Edu makes Rangers switch

Glasgow Rangers have acquired Toronto FC and U.S. international midfielder Maurice Edu for a fee of £2.7 million (roughly $5.25 million Canadian).

According to the club's website, the move is still contingent upon Edu receiving a British work permit, but with six senior caps and his selection to the U.S. side for an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, it should likely be nothing more than a formality.

Edu scored five goals in 38 appearances for Toronto FC, and won the MLS Rookie of the Year award in his debut campaign last season.

The midfielder has a bright future ahead of him in Scotland, but it leaves questions about what lies ahead for the TFC midfield. Aside from Welsh international Carl Robinson, there isn't really anyone else to mind the centre of the park for the Reds. Canadians Kevin Harmse, Tyler Rosenlund and Gabe Gala have all appeared in the role this season, none of the trio have managed to acquit themselves yet.

General manager Mo Johnston moved to pick up former U.S. under-21 forward Johann Smith late last week, but with Edu gone the transfers may not have wrapped up yet for Toronto. According to MLS rules, TFC receive two-thirds of the transfer fee for Edu.

MK Dons sign Canadian Gerba: report

The Milton Keynes Citizen has confirmed that Canadian International striker Ali Gerba has signed with League 1 side MK Dons.

According to the club's website, the former Montreal Impact and Toronto Lynx player signed a one-year deal with a one-year option following a trial period. Gerba becomes the recently promoted side's fourth signing of the summer.

Gerba's signing should give Canada boss Dale Mitchell a boost ahead of his World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, knowing now that one of his top strikers is now attached to a club.

Gerba scored two goals in Canada's last match, a 4-1 victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines, helping them qualify for the CONCACAF group stages.

Clubs within their rights to withhold players from Olympics

The fuss and furor surrounding Barcelona's demand that star forward Lionel Messi not attend the 2008 Olympic Games football tournament in China is far too overblown. That they have won an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is vindication that the club has been right all along.

From the standpoint of the clubs and fans, the point should be moot: if a club wants to keep a player back, it should since it pays the player's wages. The fans pay to watch the best players, so the best players should be on display.

That FIFA has failed to ensure that the Olympic football tournament is on their official calendar is central to why they are at fault on this issue.

FIFA sanctions the Olympic tournament, but since it is in essence under the purview of the International Olympic Committee, the IOC determines the dates for the tournament. Since the Games run during the latter part of August, players who participate in the Games will miss the opening weeks of the new football season, as well as UEFA sanctioned club competition matches.

Generally, FIFA (and UEFA) schedule their international competitions in conjunction with the leagues, which are in turn partnered to a greater or lesser extent with the national footballing associations. This means tournaments take place in June and July, while qualification takes place in those months or during agreed upon international breaks during the season. These breaks are typically 14 days or so in length.

Since the Olympic tournament does not follow these guidelines, how can FIFA or the IOC expect the clubs to release their players for the Summer Games? If the Olympics want the best players available for their tournament, they should hold their competition at the appropriate time.

As far as I'm concerned, the Olympic games should be for amateur athletes anyway, given that the vast majority of the competitors are amateurs.

That professional footballers are expected to compete at an amateur event, especially when there are professional level competitions like the World Cup, is absurd.

Canadian international Ali Gerba to sign for MK Dons?

According to a story published in the Milton Keynes Citizen yesterday, Canadian international striker Ali Gerba claims he has signed a contract with League One side MK Dons.

Gerba, who has made 18 appearances for Canada scoring nine goals, reportedly has turned down a move to the Montreal Impact of the USL in favour of joining the Milton Keynes side. He had been on trial with the club recently.

Gerba spent most of last season with FC Ingolstadt 04 of the German second division.

If the rumour proves to be true, it will provide the unattached player with a club prior to the start of Canada's World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign. Gerba scored twice in Canada's last qualifying game against St. Vincent & the Grenadines in a 4-1 victory.

Slow summer days with the Canadian national team, Newcastle United and Bobby Zamora

Yes it must really be summer. A cruise through the news reveals little of any substance, aside from the first few preseason matches and the usual gossip about names we've all heard a few too many times.

On the plus side, I've got my tickets booked for Canada's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Jamaica and Honduras, being held in Toronto on Aug. 20 and in Montreal on Sept. 6, respectively. These will be crucial games for the Canadians, with six points almost mandatory if they expect to qualify for the next round. To help alleviate my blogging boredom down the road, I'll do a proper preview of the group, which also includes the Mad Scientist (Sven Goran Eriksson, that is) coached Mexico.

Speaking of Canada (in a roundabout way), it appears as though some curious Danes have stumbled upon my little site: news of Dwayne De Rosario's potential move to FC Copenhagen enough to draw a whole ton of interest from over there. If any Copenhagen supporters want to chime in, by all means tell us what you've got to say about your club!

Speaking of supporters, if there are any Newcastle United supporters out there who can tell me what exactly is the club's objectives in the transfer market, I would be grateful. While I understand it's only The Daily Mail, supposedly Kevin Keegan is interested in Argentine "star" Pablo Aimar. Is this who Newcastle wants? Surely Keegan has some sort of plan, some way to repair a fragile squad hastily built by Sam Allardyce, who acted like a kid who just got a raise in their allowance.

Based on what I've seen over the past few seasons (perhaps the past ten years) all it takes to get noticed by Newcastle is a flashy pair of boots. This team has serious problems at almost every position -- bringing in an admittedly talented Aimar may not be the best way to spend owner Mike Ashley's money, especially when he seems rather worried about it right now.

Speaking of dubious ways to spend coin from the coffers, Fulham is looking at West Ham striker Bobby Zamora, according to The Telegraph among others. I think Mr. Zamora's record speaks for itself: 130 games for the Hammers, 30 goals. And would you believe Fulham are reported to be paying a £6.25 million fee?

At a rate of less than a goal every four games, I think it has become abundantly clear that all the hype surrounding Zamora when he was a youngster was just that, hype. He has yet to show he can score at the Premier League level and might be best to find a tamer pasture in the Championship.

And finally today, something that made me smile from The Mirror: a cheeky picture gallery that shows us what Cristiano Ronaldo's life in the dungeons of Manchester United is like. Enjoy!

World Cup 2010 rumor & Dwayne De Rosario to Copenhagen?

This week I tuned in to a podcast that I've been away from for far too long: World Soccer Daily. What the hell was I thinking? This is still, along with the Guardian Football Weekly and Footy Show, mandatory listening for any Canadian football fan.

Anyways, my reward for correcting my negligent behaviour was a pair of juicy rumours.

According to Steven and Kenny, FIFA has confirmed three contingency nations to host World Cup 2010 if things continue to go awry in South Africa. The United States, England and Spain apparently have agreed to host the tournament if South Africa continues to fall behind on development.

This week, Sepp Blatter announced that three nations had been contacted to provide cover in case of a natural catastrophe, but refused to provide the identity of the countries. As well, it was announced that a new stadium under construction in Port Elizabeth will not be ready for next year's Confederations Cup, casting further doubt on the status of the 2010 event.

The second rumour, heard on yesterday's show, which was not confirmed by the player himself (but not denied either), is that Canadian star midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who plays for the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, could be lining up a move to Danish side FC Copenhagen. Such a move would allow De Rosario to participate in the UEFA Cup, for which Copenhagen have qualified, and a chance to play alongside fellow Canada international Atiba Hutchison.

I think De Rosario, two-time MLS player of the year, has proven himself at the MLS level and it's time for him to move on to a higher level of competition. This is great news, I feel, for Canadian fans as an improved Dwayne De Rosario would certainly improve Canada's chances to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, wherever it might be played.