Whitecaps cut Gbeke?!

What? What?? USL's leading scorer, with 12 goals in the regular season. A fan favourite after scoring both of Vancouver's goals in last year's Championship win. He's 31, and isn't getting any faster, but surely he's still valuable to the club.

Earlier this year he was involved in an on-field bust-up with teammate Wesley Charles (since released), and then after this year's final loss to Montreal he was "misquoted" in a French newspaper complaining about not starting. I wonder if these incidents were a factor. And I will admit to not a little frustration with him at times, but he always pops up with a goal just when you dismiss his contribution to the game.

Also released were seldom used midfielder Vincente Arze and the speedy if seemingly lazy midfielder Lyle Martin. Arze impressed at the beginning of the season but was inconsistent. Martin, in my view, was at fault for the goal that Cleveland scored against us in the final game of the season, a goal that had no bearing on the season but did demonstrate to me his commitment to the game/team. Interestingly, after that game he was pushed back to right-back and Wes Knight was pushed forward to right mid.

New roof for BC Place

The province has just announced that BC Place will be getting a new roof:

VANCOUVER – A fixed-priced contract for the construction of a new, retractable roof on BC Place has been signed between the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) and PCL Constructors Canada Inc, announced Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism Culture and the Arts and David Podmore, PavCo chair, today.

As first announced in May 2008, a new retractable roof will be built after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The project will be completed by the summer of 2011, in time for the 2011 Grey Cup. The total capital cost for the retractable roof project will be $458 million. The final budget for the roof project is based on a competitive bidding process, including a fixed-price contract for construction with PCL, as well as engineering costs. An appropriate contingency fund has been allocated.

First thoughts: $458m? That's a lot more than was first quoted as the cost which was around $300m ($365m for roof and renovations). With the renovations that will be more than half a billion dollars. Wow.

Just saw this at the bottom of the backgrounder:

PavCo is committed to repaying the project costs through development of adjacent lands. The lands will be leased, not sold. The last undeveloped lands in the core of Vancouver are now those surrounding BC Place. They are highly desirable for commercial and residential use.

I guess housing and commercial properties will be a hot commodity again in a few years. That is, unless the Canadian housing market bubble bursts. You didn't think there was one anymore? Think again.

Full release is linked above, with backgrounder and contact info for a BC Place spokesperson and a "Senior Public Affairs Officer".

Craig Stone - MyFCers wishing him well

Hi Craig,

I hope your recovery is swift and that you're back kicking a ball around soon. Many, many thanks for your dedication to the Club. You've impressed in your new role at right back (a position I've played for nearly two decades) and are definitely a favourite of the fans. Good luck.

Brenton
MyFC

Diaby v. Portsmouth

Arsenal have to buy this transfer window, and they have to buy players with experience. Flamini, Gilberto and Diarra gone, Walcott, Rosicky and now Fabregas injured. Leaves a bit of a hole in the midfield. Can Diaby fill the hole left by Fabregas?

Diaby v Aston Villa

www.101greatgoals.com

Yoann Gourcuff impresses

Why is this guy back playing in France? Two brilliant little displays of skill:

Yoann Gourcuff skill

www.101greatgoals.com

Gourcuff skill

www.101greatgoals.com

Fred's pass, Benzema's goal

On Saturday morning while out for brunch, I saw this goal by Benzema for Lyon. Decent finish, I thought. Then the replays started.

YouTube - Lyon 1-0 Bordeaux (But de Benzema) J14 - Ligue 1

www.youtube.com

Look at Fred's pass. The first two replays don't do it justice, but the second two clearly show what a amazing pass it was. I haven't seen much of Fred, and nothing particularly memorable, but this was nothing short of brilliant.

Ronaldinho...is he back?

It's nice to see Ronaldinho back in goal-scoring form: see his goal in the UEFA Cup today (what the shit are AC Milan doing in the UEFA Cup?). I still have (and wear) a Barca shirt that I bought in Mexico City for 350 pesos ($40Cdn) with his name on it. What a wizard he was for a couple of years at Barcelona. Remember his spinning bicycle kick goal against Villareal? Brilliant. One of the best goals I've ever seen.

Edit: Another goal, from Nov. 9th.