Some Canadian Guys is dead. Long live Some Canadian Guys.

So… if you like the black background and super-grainy image of our 1986 World Cup team, then we’ve got some bad news for you.

For the other 99.9% of you, we’ve got great news!

As of Monday, November 15, 2010, Some Canadian Guys Writing About Soccer will be found at our new home at CanadianSoccerNews.com. The new super-site is a collaborative work between us and some of the other Canadian soccer bloggers and podcasters you probably already love/tolerate.

We’ll still be bringing you the same great work and/or nonsense we’re bringing you now — plus, we’ll be part of a larger community of discussion about all the forms of soccer that matters to Canadians: our national teams, our domestic teams, our youth programs and the international game.

This site (canadiansoccerblog.ca) will remain active for a little while, as we complete the transition from the old home to the new. But please adjust your bookmarks, blogrolls and brainwaves to reflect the location of all new content — our home at CanadianSoccerNews.com.

Thanks for all the support everyone, and we’ll see you at CSN!

Cheers,
Grant, Jamie and Squizz

Why the hell did Chelsea fire Ray Wilkins?

I rarely write about Chelsea in this space anymore because there are hundreds of other places on the Internet that cover English football. But I do keep reasonably abreast of what’s happening at Chelsea through the usual channels: UK media, blogs, online forums, etc.

Like many Chelsea followers, I was immensely puzzled by the sudden departure of assistant manager Ray Wilkins this week. Up until about a year and a half ago, the unexplained departure of a member of the coaching staff – ie. the manager – would have simply been par for the course. That’s the kind of reputation you get after five managers in five years. But the Carlo Ancelotti era had ushered in a strange, almost boring period of calm. Until now.

Teal Bunbury “lost” to the USA? It’s not that simple

Let’s make one thing crystal clear, first off: Teal Bunbury is not the “next” anybody.

He’s not the next oft-injured Englishman, or the next Dutch-but-maybe-Canadian-after-all midfielder, and he’s certainly not the next bench-warming Bosnian goalkeeper.

But he is a Canadian-born kid, son of a Canadian soccer legend, who has accepted a call from the USA, to play in their friendly against South Africa next week.

I won’t lie, my reaction was a hearty “ah, shit”. And, understandably, the announcement has prompted plenty of consternation (not to mention ad hominem attacks) from Canada’s most ardent supporters.

This may not be the end for Teal Bunbury and Canada, though. In fact, oddly enough, it may just be the beginning.

The Canadian Soccer Mustache Contest

In honour of Movember, we at Some Canadian Guys are pleased to announce the Canadian Soccer Mustache Contest. Below you’ll find a selection of the very finest facial hair in Canadian soccer history (well, the finest facial hair that can be found in the player photos on the CSA’s website, at least), and a chance to choose your favourite.

The Curious Case of Andy Najar

No. Sadly this post is not a sensational exposé about how MLS rookie of the year Andy Najar was in fact born with the physical appearance of a 70-year-old man and subsequently began to age backward. But it might serve as future reference material for migrant footballers around the globe wishing to dodge the awkward question of which country they’ll represent internationally.

We’ve written about Najar previously. And as his stock continues to rise, so does the ambiguity of his statements about whether he will eventually don a Honduran or an American shirt for international play.

Long balls: Canadians abroad (November 7)

Welcome to another edition of Long Balls: Canadians Abroad. It’s a service for those without time to wade through multi-page forum threads to keep tabs on Canadian footballers. We won’t list all of the Canadians abroad, just the weekly performances we feel are most relevant to our readers. Or in the case of Isidro Sanchez, relevant to no one.

So let’s see… American politics mired in deadlock, China conducting a census and Tomasz Radzinski slamming in goal after goal in Belgium. Is this November 2000 or November 2010?

(Yep, there’s a reason this site is free.)

Canada’s women: Winning one for all of us

There have only been two instances in which I’ve been able to see Jack Warner‘s face without feeling the bile rising up in the back of my throat. On both occasions, he’s handing a Gold Cup trophy to the captain of a Canadian national team.

Ten years ago, it was Jason de Vos. And last night, it was Christine Sinclair.

Ten years ago, it was a fortuitous coin flip that allowed the men to progress into the knockout stages of the tournament. Last week, the biggest upset in women’s soccer history (the Mexicans’ semi-final defeat of the #1-ranked USA) gave Big Red an easier path to the trophy than they were anticipating.

Ten years ago, the men’s national team had high expectations after the recent appointment of a well-regarded international manager (Holger Osieck). Today, the women have Carolina Morace.

But that’s where the similarities end. Whereas the men’s Gold Cup success never translated over into World Cup qualifying, and dissension within the dressing room helped contribute to Osieck’s departure, I can’t help but think that this women’s side may be at the precipice of a defining moment in Canadian soccer.

SCG Podcast #26: The Hubris Edition

Good Monday, everyone. Actually, great Monday. Not only could our women’s national team win continental glory later tonight, but right now, you can have a listen to the latest episode of Some Canadian Guys Talking About Soccer.

On this show, we talk about the CanWNT’s journey to next year’s Women’s World Cup, we evaluate how much of a disaster the MLS Cup in Toronto is going to be, we muse needlessly about the future of Toronto FC’s front office… and in the most preposterous edition of Promotion/Relegation Roundup yet, we run the gamut from Hoobastank’s discography to Grant’s burgeoning horse-breeding business.

Listen to Episode #26, and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Today’s the day for Big Red

There’s a very good chance that by the end of tonight, we’ll be able to write “Canada has qualified for the World Cup“, and have it be accurate.

And that feels pretty damned good.

Sure, qualifying for the Women’s World Cup is a bit of a “gimme” for our ladies, considering that aside from the powerhouse Americans, there aren’t really any other sides in CONCACAF that are at our level. But we can’t allow results like an 8-0 thrashing of Guyana to let us get complacent as Canadian soccer supporters.

Canada’s Women Top Mexico, Avoid U.S.

Everything seemed pretty easy for Canada’s women’s national team in the first two matches of the group-stage round of qualifiying for the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany: an 8-0 destruction of Guyana followed a 1-0 scoreline against Trinidad and Tobago that belied Canada’s dominance. The real threat, we were led to expect, was to come against the host Mexican side. Three goals to nil later, Canada is through to the semifinals with a perfect record – not to mention 12 goals for and none against.

Long balls: Canadians abroad (October 31)

Welcome to another edition of Long Balls: Canadians Abroad. It’s a service for those without time to wade through multi-page forum threads to keep tabs on Canadian footballers. We won’t list all of the Canadians abroad, just the weekly performances we feel are most relevant to our readers. Or in the case of Isidro Sanchez, relevant to no one.

I haven’t been rolling the Long Balls for very long, and already this is the second weekend where the most notable performance is a goal by Tomasz Radzinski. The 36-year-old striker scored for Lierse in a 2-2 draw with Eupen to bring his season’s tally to… well it brings it to two. I don’t know how two goals in the Belgian top flight compares to Josh Simpson’s six goals in the Turkish Super Lig (well actually I do, it compares poorly), to Olivier Occean’s nine goals in 3. Liga or Simeon Jackson’s four goals in the Championship, but would it be absolutely batshit insane to sweet talk Radzinski out of international retirement? Please tell me that it would be.

Big Red comes up big on Halloween

Well, that was nice.

After leaving us a bit on edge by only defeating Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 (Melissa Tancredi’s two disallowed legit goals notwithstanding), the Canadian women’s team came out in full force tonight, hammering the minnows from Guyana 8-0. Captain Christine Sinclair potted four goals, bringing her career total to, I think, six thousand and forty-three (give or take a few) — though that good news was tempered by rumblings (credit to Beau Dure) that her club team, Gold Pride FC, may fold as early as Monday. Hell, it may have already happened by the time you’re reading this.

But ignoring the negatives for a moment (because they’ll preoccupy every other waking thought of mine), suffice to say the ladies played well tonight (yeah, an eight-goal margin of victory would suggest as much), though it’s difficult to effectively evaluate their play when the level of opposition was so low. Both Kara Lang and Jonelle Filigno did well pressuring the Guyanese defenders, often forcing them into poor decisions (and both were rewarded with goals, for their efforts).

The big game is Tuesday against Mexico, to decide the winner of Group A. Since T&T held the Mexicans to 2-0 tonight, Canada has the upper hand. A draw would clinch the group, and (most likely) line Canada up against Costa Rica in the semi-finals, rather than the #1-ranked Americans.

Maribel Dominguez looks to be the Mexicans’ most dangerous offensive threat, a statement I’m basing solely on having seen her thread some terrific passes into her teammates against T&T tonight.The Canadian defence, who’ve had the luxury of sleepwalking through the first two games, will definitely need to ratchet themselves into first gear in time for the showdown against the host nation.

Canada’s match against Mexico, like the rest of them, will be on CBC Bold and CBCsports.ca, Tuesday at 6:30 PST/9:30 EST/11:00 NST.

Canadian bits and bites, edition #?

• As you may have heard on It’s Called Football yesterday, former Canada captain Jason de Vos has been named technical director at the Oakville Soccer Club, a youth club with over 10,000 registered players. Considering that Jason is one of this country’s few legitimate soccer heroes (he scored the goal that won us the Gold Cup, after all), I can’t overstate how great it is to know he’ll be using his talents and experience to help develop the next generation of players in this country. On behalf of Some Canadian Guys, I want to wish Jason all the best in his new role, and hope that the example he sets will be followed by many.

Check Out Our Ladies

Yes that shameful headline is intended to maximize hits by luring in some possibly pervy Google searchers. Sadly, such is the lot of Canadian soccer: we have to garner interest any way we can. No slight at all is intended to the wonderful gals of our Women’s national team. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Tonight marks the kickoff, literally, of the Canadian women’s quest for simultaneous Gold Cup glory and a berth in the 2011 Women’s World Cup. And it’s our duty as soccer-loving Canucks to support them, if not by shooting on down to Cancun (as if we actually needed more reason to go to Cancun on a blustery October day), then at least by watching them play.

The Reserve Squad: Nash takes his talents to South Beach

In a stunning development, longtime Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Martin Nash is set to announce he will leave his hometown team to join the newly-created Orlando City SC.

In an hour-long, nationally televised special (cleverly disguised as a press conference at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C.), Nash is expected to pledge his commitment to build a championship-winning dynasty at his new, Florida-based club.

“Martin feels like he’s done it all in Vancouver, except play in the MLS,” said one anonymous source. “He’d like to keep that record intact in a new market, where there’s no chance he’ll ever have to suit up in MLS.”