The Globe and Mail - On Soccer

Knight: Last words

Ben Knight — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:06 EST

The time has come for me to strike out on my own. After a wonderful year here at The Globe, I am launching a new, independent soccer site. Onward! - Ben Knight's Soccer Blog is now up and running (www.onwardsoccer.com). There will be lots of coverage of Toronto FC, Canada, MLS, the CSA, Montreal - Follow link to read full post

Knight: A vote for Saputo

bknight — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:50 EST

Interesting little game Joey Saputo is playing. As rumoured and expected, the Montreal Impact owner summoned the press to his sweet little stadium just off the Green Line Metro yesterday, to confirm that Major League Soccer bounced his bid for a 2011 expansion team. Just so we all know, Saputo said - Follow link to read full post

Knight: More from Montreal

aframe — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:02 EST

Make of this press release what you will, soccer fans: --- RECTIFICATION REGARDING MONTREAL'S BID FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER Following MLS Commissioner Don Garber's statements regarding Montreal's bid, the Montreal partnership group would like to bring one important rectification: Montreal did not - Follow link to read full post

Knight: No Impact

bknight — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:13 EST

Montreal is out.[amp]nbsp;[amp]nbsp; Impact owners/financiers Joey Saputo and George Gillett have looked at their bank books and the markets, and decided that a $40-million (U.S.) expansion fee and the cost of building a new grandstand at Stade Saputo are more than they can presently afford. I have - Follow link to read full post

Words for wisdom for Ronaldo

bknight — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:53 EST

There are some things you just never want to do. If you're a tightrope walker, working outdoors in Tampa, Florida, you probably don't want to be up on the high wire with a giant lightning rod bolted to your head. If it's festival day in Pamplona, Spain, you really shouldn't run into the street and hug - Follow link to read full post

Knight: State of the MLS union

Ben Knight — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:59 EST

MLS commissioner Don Garber has wired in with his annual assessment of all things pro soccer north of the Mexican border. And while I put my share of criticism on the OLL (Our Little League) from time to time, I do give it full credit for surviving.[amp]nbsp; And in increasingly sombre financial times - Follow link to read full post

Knight: Three silly questions

bknight — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:29 EST

What if: 1) Canada's national soccer teams were run and funded by full-time professionals whose financial success was tied directly to World Cup qualification? 2) Canada's local soccer clubs formed elite regional leagues, with a high minimum standard for coaching certification? 3) Those same clubs - Follow link to read full post

Columbus-New York. . . really?

bknight — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:17 EST

Despite missing the playoffs for the second year on the trot, Toronto FC can take some encouragement from Sunday's unlikely MLS Cup final matchup – the Columbus Crew vs. New York Energy Drink. “Unlikely” doesn't even begin to cover it. Columbus finished well out of the playoffs a year - Follow link to read full post

Flagging the refs

bknight — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:25 EST

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is annoyed.[amp]nbsp; The outspoken Scot has been charged with improper conduct for an on-field chew-out of a Premier League referee, and is not taking it quietly. Ferguson feels, now that officials are full-time employees, they should constantly be working to - Follow link to read full post

Knight: Drogba loses the coin toss

Ben Knight — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:20 EST

Oh, I understand why Didier Drogba might want to do it.[amp]nbsp; You've just scored Chelsea's only goal in what would later turn out to be a penalty-kick loss to second-division Burnley in the League Cup, and some doink of a Burnley fan wings a coin at your coconut. The Chelsea striker – in the - Follow link to read full post