Monday, January 26, 2009

Things we like...

There are certain things that Mike and I (Tyler) like... these include quality soccer, good beer, great tv... and if you can combine all these things into one, then even better. Here are some examples of things we like:

Setanta Sports... providing Vancouver (and Canada) with the best TV coverage of the English Premier League around. You can find them at http://www.setanta.com/

Ruffneck Scarves... trying to keep warm, especially this year has been difficult, but with a terrific scarf with your favourite soccer team on it... or perhaps even a Full-Time scarf... visit them at http://ruffneckscarves.com/

We also like to drink and eat... and we found a great new place up the street from the radio station called "The Three Lions Cafe"... owned by Simon and Ryan, they offer some of the best bistro/pub food around and some of the better import beers you can find around town too... plus it's awesome that they are just around the corner from work and where we do the show from... they don't have a website yet, but you can visit them at:
1 East Broadway at the corner of Ontario Street in Vancouver. I (Tyler) like the Fish Fingers a lot... which is funny, because fish don't have fingers (bad joke)... but it's terrific, so is the Hanger Steak and Chips. They are brand new, so check them out and tell them that the boys from Full-Time sent you...

Finally, Rohan Ricketts will be on the show on Sunday night and we've managed to acquire (he gave us a bunch of free stuff, like hats and shirts, etc) things that we are going to give away on the show... but you can learn more about Rohan at http://rohanricketts.com/

More stuff we like to come...

Friday, January 23, 2009

Montreal Impact schedule...

IMPACT TO PLAY ITS HOME OPENER MAY 9 -

Montreal to kick off its 16th season April 18 in CharlestonMONTREAL - The Montreal Impact revealed Friday its 2009 schedule in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. The club will play its first game at Saputo Stadium, Saturday May 9, at 3:30 pm, against the Rochester Rhinos for the 16th home opener in club history.

NOTES:
> The Impact will play its first three games on the road.
> The games at Saputo Stadium will mainly be played Wednesday and Sundays.
> The 11 league teams will be playing a 30-game schedule.
> The championship final will be played in an aggregate goal home-and-away series, October 10 and 17.

WHITECAPS BEGIN CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENCE ON APRIL 11

VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the United Soccer Leagues (USL), announced today the details for the 2009 USL First Division season.In addition to the regular season schedule, the league unveiled the alignment, playoff details, and the Fox Sports World Canada (Fox Soccer Channel in the United States) schedule, which will conclude with a championship series in October.The 2008 USL First Division champions, who are celebrating 35 years since their first season in the North American Soccer League (1974), will kick off their title defence at Swangard Stadium against Charleston Battery on Saturday, April 11. Once again, each club in the single-table USL-1 will play a 30-match regular season schedule, with each team playing each other three times.New sides to the 11-team USL First Division include newly-promoted Cleveland City Stars from the USL Second Division, as well as expansion outfit Austin Aztex. The Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer expansion) and the Atlanta Silverbacks will not return in 2009.Swangard will host six matches on Saturday, four Sunday tilts - including two 4 p.m. starts, three games on Friday and two midweek matches. The ‘Caps will also be featured in five Fox Sports World Canada broadcasts, including their final regular season match at home to Cleveland on September 18.Similar to last year, the top seven teams will advance to the playoffs, with the regular season champion (Commissioner’s Cup winner) automatically receiving the top seed in the semifinals. The remaining six teams will play in a two-leg aggregate score series in the first round. The three winners will advance to the two-leg aggregate score semifinal series, with the top seed pitted against the lowest remaining seed. Unlike previous years, the final will also be expanded to a two-leg, aggregate score series format.

The 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship schedule will be announced next month.

-Courtesy of the Vancouver Whitecaps F.C.

Chelsea v Seattle update

So after some digging... my source within the Seattle Sounders say, "The club is working to finalize an agreement, but it is not a done deal as of yet", while my source in the Chelsea F.C. organization says, "at the moment we have several pre season options globally and none have been finalised yet".

Take all of that and it means, go see Chelsea play Seattle in July.

-TG

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Report: Chelsea to visit Seattle in July; Inter to Edmonton?

It appears that the newest MLS franchise will be getting a visit from one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Reports say that Seattle Sounders FC are close to finalizing an agreement that would bring popular English Premier League side Chelsea to Qwest Field either July 4th or July 18th.

When Full Time: Vancouver’s Soccer Show caught up with Sounders officials in November 2008, the first-year MLS side said they were looking at bringing a top European club to the pacific northwest. Among the rumoured teams Sounders FC were talking to included Chelsea and FC Barcelona.

But it looks like the runners-up of last year’s UEFA Champions League and Barclays Premier League will be the side that will meet the Sounders for a friendly in July.

In a (somewhat) related story, another soccer giant may also be making the trip to a city close to Vancouver. The Alberta Soccer Association is apparently in “detailed negotiations” with Serie A leader Inter Milan. The ASA is celebrating 100 years of soccer in the province, and want to bring a star-studded international squad to the city of Edmonton.

Inter would face a team from South America in an August friendly.

The Italian side already has a pre-season tour of China scheduled. The ASA is hoping to convince the team to make a stop in the Alberta capital.

With Jose Mourinho’s men possibly visiting Edmonton, could a trip to Vancouver be in the cards?... Find out more, this Sunday night at 10pm on Full Time: Vancouver’s Soccer Show.

- MM

Dale Mitchell will not quit

Dale Mitchell was named Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team coach on May 17th, 2007, and after a less than stellar performance at the Under-20 World Cup held in Canada, he turned his attention to the Senior Men’s National Team. Mitchell’s run as manager has come under fire since failing to qualify for the next round of World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF.

Many members of the Canadian Media, along with some Canadian Supporters have suggested that Mitchell should quit his current post as head coach, speaking with Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show on the TEAM, quitting, is something that Mitchell will not do.

for the full story, click here

And to hear the entire interview, download the Full-Time podcast here

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

New Year... new set of predictions from Tyler

A lot of things can happen between now and January 1st, 2010... but one thing is for sure, it's January 2009 and it's time to make predictions that will likely not come true. Here's how I see the coming year, who will win what and which teams will fade down the stretch...

English Premier League: Liverpool will win... as of the turn of the clock from 2008 to 2009, Liverpool were leading the Premier League, just a head of Chelsea and Man Utd (who have 2 games less played) and I think that they might be able to actually hang on this time around. Liverpool's defense and goalkeeping is solid, they have a good midfield, with Gerrard as the Captain, he will lead the men in red to glory and with Torres set to return and Keane finding his form, it will be tough for the other teams to catch them. This will finally be, Liverpool's year. In the relegation battle, it's going to be a very interesting with 10 teams within 8 points of the last place team... so here it goes. West Brom have said they won't buy any players in January and I believe have come to the conclusion that they are going back down... Stoke City is another team in the relegation zone at posting and don't have the horses to keep them above it. The 3rd team that will go down is... Middlesbrough. They are having trouble putting together any kind of winning streak and there is a ton of interest in Stewart Downing, Middlebrough's best player. If Downing departs, it's relegation time for The Boro.

Germany Bundesliga: Hoffenheim has thrilled and surprised everyone since they entered the Bundesliga this season, and to much surprise, they are the winter champions... however, that is the only title they will have in the Bundesliga this year. Bayern started the year off slowly, but have finally caught fire and caught Hoffenheim to tie them for first place... Bayern have the guns and the horses to keep them there... Hoffenheim may have won the winter title on goal differential, but Bayern will win the league on points.

Italian Serie A: Inter Milan lead all Italian clubs with the "Special One" in charge and at posting, are 6 points up on Juventus...9 points up on city rivals, AC Milan. Inter have been playing well all season with only 1 loss. I don't see a letdown in their play in the second half of the season and Inter will be crowned the Campioni of Italy.

Spanish Primera: Okay, let's keep this short and sweet... Barcelona will win. No one else has a chance. 'nuff said.

Champions League: Bayern Munich might have been given the easiest route to the final with a set of games vs Sporting, but I'm not sure they have what it takes to keep the wagons rolling. The other match-ups make it a very difficult decision, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Liverpool will make it a double winning England and winning Champions League. It's going to be tough, but I think Liverpool can pull it off and have the desire to prive everyone wrong this season.

Uefa Cup: It will be more Russian glory this season... CSKA Moscow.

It will be an interesting few months until those titles are won or lost... but it will all be very entertaining. What does Mike Martignago think? Who are his picks? Does he agree at all with Tyler? Find out this Sunday night on the TEAM 1040 at 10pm PT or listen online on Sunday night at www.team1040.ca

-TG