Fern Mc Costigan: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Major League Soccer 2017 Campaign- Can Seattle make an encore?

What a campaign the Seattle Sounders had last campaign, just like a see saw, when the Rave Greens had a streak so negative and suddenly the tables turned in their favor to finally win it all.

In 2016, the Seattle Sounders experienced a series of setbacks and oddities that had its faithful legion of followers a bit worried and seeing with disappointment how their squad was going to see a first since their inception of not making it into the postseason.

A campaign that suddenly this squad was in a losing streak so bad that ended up costing the job of the only man at the helm since this squad inception into the ranks of Major League Soccer, as Sigi Schmidt tenure ended.

Still for the Emerald City squad appointing an interim in his place, a member of its alumnus as a player since the Sounders days in that old NASL and later to manage the Sounders destinies in that Pacific League until their big jump to the big circuit.

When Brian Schmetzer, the Seattle squad was one in disarray and with the arrival of this chap just to try to put order and try its best to level the Rave Greens campaign and do the impossible of getting this squad into the postseason.

A feat tough but not impossible, still the problems did not finish to mount on the Sounders, when their top man Clint Dempsey was sidelined with a heart ailment for the remainder of the campaign as well injuries taking its toll on some important players.

Proving a bit difficult for Schmetzer as he was in the need of a miracle to try to salvage this campaign and continue its streak intact of making it into the postseason uninterruptedly, as this quarrel was to be determined until the end of the regular campaign.

For a squad that has won important shields in the US Open Cup with a record five cups, a Supporters Shield, two Cascadia Cups and other minor trophies, but not the granddaddy of them all the MLS Cup.

A pass that at the end of the campaign was in play three spots with four squads looking to net a spot, it’s when the Sounders, SKC and Real Salt Lake got the last three spots and the postseason spots were ready in the Western Conference.

Carrying a momentum since the start of the playoffs, the Seattle squad in the knockout round took care of SKC and moving into semifinals to play a heavily favored Dallas FC and the Texans became prey to the Rave Greens hunger.

With nothing to lose and plenty to earn, the finals of the Western Conference were set and against a Colorado Rapids, squad that had a one of a kind campaign and in the final was no match for the Emerald City Bunch.

The 2016 champions Sounders capture all the headlines after winning that elusive cup for many years they could not win, as the question arises from this will the Rave Greens defend it successfully?

As many players left the squad, but with a few moves in the off season the Seattle Sounders got some players that will make the difference for them in tis 2017, the campaign that they will be the defending champions.

In addition, the Sounders went to Houston and got forward Will Bruin, midfielder Harry Shipp a former midfielder from Montreal and betting on youth USL prospect defender Nouhou Tolo and homegrown forward Sedi Adekoya and midfielder Henry Wingo and Gustav Svensson.

Contested will be the 2017 campaign for many squads and for the Seattle Sounders with the label of favorites and defending champions, will one challenged and tough to play as they will be the squad to beat.

The good news continue to make way for this squad as Clint Dempsey is cleared to play and will be an important part of this squad in this 2017 and hopefully they can make a stand in MLS as well when they start a new chapter in CCL.

This squad for sure will be in the playoffs and maybe semifinals can be their destinies, finish atop the Western Conference and cannot wait to see those one of a kind Cascadia Derbies.

Crest Credit and Property of Seattle Sounders Football Club 2017

Major League Soccer 2017 Campaign- The Vancouver Whitecaps ready to front a contested MLS

For Manager Carl Robinson and his Caps are one serious bunch looking forward to a major spell that can take this club not only to the postseason but all the way into the league finals.

As the native from Wales is aware of the upcoming 21^st edition of Major League Soccer, considered one heavily contested championship.

The Vancouver squad is up and ready to put in display their marvelous game, and became a living nightmare for their foes in both conferences.

With twenty-two squads to headline this campaign and a new foe in their conference, Manager Robinson is ready to rally his troops and start something big this 2017.

After last campaign were the Canadian squad saw a series of setbacks as well injuries and missing the postseason, this time this group has armed themselves to the teeth and looking forward to start something spectacular.

With their CCL compromise in full swing and looking forward to take advantage of their condition of locals in the second leg match against their league foes the New York Red Bulls, the Caps with a win can continue making history in this competition.

Very well, take on the Philadelphia Union on Sunday at their home and league opener, starting a new chapter in this club history looking forward to offer its followers a one of a kind and exciting campaign until its end.

The arrival of new faces at BC Place will be one major highlight of this club aiming for the stars and looking forward to make it all the way to the league finals and be the first squad from up north to win the coveted MLS Cup.

Still the prospects of surviving a long campaign in Canadian Cup competitions and CONCACHAMPIONS too, will keep this squad a bit busy during the whole season and with luck for Boss Carl Robinson, he can maintain a healthy squad.

Wheeling and dealing is the name of the game for the Whitecaps front office making all the right moves and bringing the ideal men to represent this squad and make a contender out of them alongside their returning veterans.

The arrival of defenders Sheanon Williams from Houston, Jake Nerwinsky- via the SuperDraft, USL hopefuls in keeper Spencer Richey and forward Kyle Greig, midfielders Yordy Reyna from Red Bull Salzburg and forward Freddy Montero on loan from Tianjin Teda.

Another set of good news and valuable additions to the Caps roster reinforcing this squad into the upcoming campaign, with Brek Shea coming from a trade with Orlando and the return of Mauro Rosales as a free agent.

These two for sure will be a total upgrade to the Vancouver midfield.

Very well seeing how manager Robinson ambitious preseason and with notable results, especially in his native Wales were the Whitecaps had a valuable experience.

At the end, the Vancouver Whitecaps are one determined squad that wants to fly high in this edition of MLS, with a man as ambitious and looking forward to win it all in this 2017, the possibilities are endless for this squad known for its competitiveness and dynamism.

However first things first and for the Vancouver Whitecaps can nab a spot in the postseason, even though it’s the last spot and from there start its run to the league finals and make another encore for a Cascadia squad to win the shield.

Crest Credit and Property of Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

The Shakespeare effect that has brought Leicester City out of the shadows

What a difference a man makes, when he applies the right formation and sees positive results as well play the role of spoiler in one of the leagues utmost contender.

With Premierships Monday night match, between Leicester City and Liverpool, the odds clearly gave the Reds the overall advantage after seeing how a struggling Blues squad displayed a sorry state in its game and a negative streak.

Still the need of applying a 4-4-2 formation after the pleas of many of Leicester’s players in the past, for the interim man at the Foxes helm, Craig Shakespeare he simple gave his players the much need trust and voila.

The man with a very notable last name was superb in seeing his initial eleven revivals and awakening of one of his most lethal weapons in his frontal attacker in Jamie Vardy, who dispatched himself with a double that sentenced the match.

Playing an armada in the Liverpool squad was not the idea of Manager Shakespeare to make his debut, still he took over and with such authority, as the former right hand of Claudio Rainieri displayed a total calm and came ahead victorious.

As all of a sudden, the Leicester City Boys were alive and looking like the last campaign team that everyone was asking whatever happened in this 2017-after losing match after match and before this week were in relegation.

In addition, after the notorious win now they are two points away from the relegation spots and in fifteenth place and with plenty of confidence of fronting the remainder of Premiership’s calendar to try to stage a comeback and finish in a notable position.

To be the man to be in the lead to succeed his former Boss, Craig Shakespeare looks as he is at in the running to become the one to lead the City Boys out of the danger zone for now, as their next compromise at home against the Tigers.

An easy one I doubt it and for the Foxes new Shakespearean game, their only aims is to maintain, the positive streak and continue climbing the overall table and with luck be within European spots.

Still for the City Boys playing host to a relegation prone Hull City, the need to win and continue adding points will be their only desires and come ahead victorious and this is to happen, this will be the Foxes first back to back victories in 2017.

However, the Foxes sentenced this match since its beginning with a superb performance with its initial eleven so possessed and energized to make things happen and revive the whole of King Power Stadium and send it into frenzy.

What a night for the City bunch from its backfield that in the past weeks was being so critiqued and ostracized by many and today they showed off their mettle and play of true champions and did not allowed the Reds any liberties.

As for the frontal attack of the Foxes showed off their hunger and desperation to overcome and defeat the posts defended by Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet and at the end they did it with an all-around style.

The Foxes followers once again awakened the chants of jubilee, after seeing their Boys putting a grand display in the field, to crown their efforts.

With a little perseverance and patience Shakespeare style the Blues can overcome the odds and net another successful afternoon in King Power Stadium, still what a night for Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater.

Despite the efforts of the visiting Liverpool squad trying to comeback via Couthino who scored the only goal, Leicester City stood its ground to preserve the much needed win and catapulted them out of relegation.

Major League Soccer 2017 Campaign- Can Toronto repeat its amazing performance?

What a campaign the lads of the Toronto FC had this 2016, after reaching all the way to the MLS Finals, after taking care of their cross the 401 foes the Montreal Impact in last campaign Eastern Conference finals.

A squad that since its inception in 2005 always failed to make it into the league postseason until 2015 when they got eliminated early in the knockout rounds.

In 2016 it was a different story for Greg Vanney and his chaps, after staging a one of a kind campaign and finishing in third place in the Eastern Conference, the Reds did not had an idea of what was to come in the postseason.

In their first match with conference foes the Philadelphia Union in the knockout rounds, the TFC earned its first win in the playoffs, going to play the NYCFC and considered a heavy favorite to win this match and even the league finals.

The Canadian squad did the ultimate of staging an all-around upset in the American version of the Sky Blues, thanks to its trio of Sebastian Giovinco, Jozi Altidore and Michael Bradley.

The heat was on to see a top of the line semifinals match were the Toronto Boys came out alive and eliminating the NYCFC and upsetting the heavily favorites Big Apple Boys.

When the stage was set to play the Seattle Sounders at BMP Field the TFC had all the advantage of the world and momentum, but they did not see themselves going to the infamous PKs to define the championship and here they fell prey.

Still second place for a squad not considered to be amongst the finalist is one amazing achievement and for their boss Greg Vanney 2017 is back to business and his aims a possible return to the promise land of the grand finale.

As this campaign is to start, the TFC roster in its majority is to return to an encore of repeating the feats of last campaign and maybe this time bring the desired and coveted MLS shield to its halls at BMO Field.

With new faces to make out the squad and others that left, the Reds welcome the likes of defenders Chris Mavinga from Rubin Kazan, Brandon Aubrey- Super draft and Sergio Camargo as a Homegrown player and Victor Vazquez as a free agent.

For Manager Vanney with these newcomers and its roster already in place and assuring the majority of its initial eleven, the TFC is poised and ready to rock the living foundations of Major League Soccer.

If this squad continues, displaying their t is amazing and one of a kind football as it did last campaign we may have a champion in the works and considered a total contender and finish in regular play in the first two spots.

After last campaign disheartening loss in the final, the TFC learned its lesson and now will make the best of their opportunities and try this time to take all the silverware available in the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield, Canadian Championship and the Trillium Cup.

At the end with a positive preseason for the TFC, the outlooks for a positive and all-round stellar campaign are in the works and endless for this club that will display once again its might and resilience of a champion.

Crest Credit and Property of Toronto Football Club 2017