Square Football is reporting he is about to sign: http://articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2012/07/mls-no-quick-fix-for-canadas-youth.html

Look, I know that Lensky has problems far beyond what country he chose to play for, and I know that many of you don't care about the Canadian national team, and I know that playing somebody just because of where they're from is stupid and counterproductive, but if Lensky gets starts on left wing ahead of Russell Teibert I am going to blow my stack.

GoF said: Pretty sure Rennie said months ago that Lensky was away and they no longer had any interest in signing him.

If you didn't see it, Luke Wileman tweeted today that Lensky is in training with the 'Caps.

I think this is good news. The kid has a huge up side if Rennie can motivate him correctly. I was at Swanguard for the debacle and he was in no shape to have been anywhere near a competitive game. Nevertheless, I remember him making some excellent passes that day and the potential was there for all to see.

For what it's worth, I was told by Nathan Vanstone that he's not on another trial, he's just training for fitness purposes . . .

Well, they need bodies just to get to 18 with Bryce away and all the injuries. b-(

Tweeted this out earlier but probably got lost in all the Hassli stuff.

I've been told that the other team to mysteriously hold Lensky's rights were TFC.

We've now traded with Toronto for these rights (not sure if it's part of the Hassli deal), Vancouver are free to sign him if they so choose.

This doesn't mean they will, but they can monitor him and then decide.

That said, I think he'll be joining sooner rather than later.

Yeah the Toronto guys like Rudy and Rollins had no idea TFC even had his rights!

Who do the Whitecaps have discovery claims on?

Didn't think so. They keep that stuff pretty secret until it becomes relevant. Not going to blame anybody for not getting in front of that story.

Jay_Duke said:

Lord_Bob said: Who do the Whitecaps have discovery claims on?

Didn't think so. They keep that stuff pretty secret until it becomes relevant. Not going to blame anybody for not getting in front of that story.

Don't let facts get in the way of my shot at Rollins.

I hear Alessandro Nesta is going to sign with TFC.

Lord_Bob said: Who do the Whitecaps have discovery claims on?

Jacob Lensky :-D

Is Lensky for sure capped by the Czechs or can he still play for Canada? I'm reading conflicting things on different sites.

DannyBoy said: Is Lensky for sure capped by the Czechs or can he still play for Canada? I'm reading conflicting things on different sites.

I'm told he's signed papers for the one-time switch, so he's a Czech player unless the CSA/Lensky appeal directly for FIFA for one of those "rare" (one or two per year, on average) exceptions.

Well then he can fuck off like LB said.

Christopher said:

DannyBoy said: Well then he can fuck off like LB said.

If all the non-FIFA Canadians did that, we wouldn't have much of a squad.

We fielded a competitive squad without Rochat on Wednesday.

Jacob will be a brilliant player for us.

So what? Is anyone concerned if Canucks play swedes and Americans? Can figure this out? Play the best not canadians If they are not the best available

What was with that tweet I saw that said he was wearing #31... What about Teibert? What's going on there?

Canucks is not a fair example. There's a LOT more opportunity to play pro or semi-pro hockey in this country than soccer.

Maybe the reason Teibert is on the bench while Nano plays is that Rennie believes Nano has more to offer. Can you imagine the uproar if it were discovered that we lost an important game because a player was subbed in due to his nationality and not his ability? Hypothetical I admit, but consider the repercussions from the fans and sponsors.

I am by no means anti-Canadian. But my take on this issue is very simple: let the team develop a solid first team based on ability. Once that happens you have flexibility to bring in Canadian talent without putting so much pressure on them to perform too soon. I'm no footy expert but it seems we have to walk before we can run.

krisaug5 said: What was with that tweet I saw that said he was wearing #31... What about Teibert? What's going on there?

That was just me winding up Ben

I think playing a Canadian for the sake of playing Canadians would be a disgrace, but I also don't think anybody is suggesting the Whitecaps should do that.

I do, however, think that eagerly bringing in and giving a contract to somebody who stole our country's limited soccer resources under false pretenses and spat in our entire country's face for the sake of the place his dad was born out of purely selfish motives sends the wrong message. Something like "we are doormats, please walk all over us."

Again, I realize I'm in a minuscule minority here.

Bad_Gones said: What have I missed Ben? Are you speaking hypothetically?

If the Whitecaps signed Jacob Lensky, which many accounts say they probably will.

I've not seen much of Lensky in training this week, but by all accounts he's looking sharp. If he can add something to the squad then I have no problemn in signing him, but I can see why fans of the CMNT would.

For me, the biggest disappointment has been not seeing Bryce Alderson get any minutes, especially in the Cup games.

He was excellent pre-season and didn't look out of place.

It must be hard for the Residency guys coming through. They see there is a chance of making the Caps MLS squad but then that's about it.

Then we're back to the continuing argument of how can they then develop if they can't get anything but the odd reserve game here and there, as PDL is limited.

Bad_Gones said:

Lord_Bob said:

Bad_Gones said: What have I missed Ben? Are you speaking hypothetically?

If the Whitecaps signed Jacob Lensky, which many accounts say they probably will.

Thanks. Sounded like you were talking about Hargreaves. Forgot about Lensky's story.

Say what you like about Hargreaves - and heaven knows I have - but at least he didn't play for Canada's youth teams for several years at several levels, accept a call to the Canadian senior national team, then inform the coach by e-mail almost at the last minute that he had filed paperwork to switch to the Czech Republic so he could play for their U-21s.

Bad_Gones said: How is this situation different from anywhere else in the world? I'm assuming the big difference is the number of league matches at the Residency & Reserve levels?

Pretty much. In UK, clubs have full reserve schedules. Germany has U23 leagues.

Craig Dalrymple told me that was the way to go but that North America isn't ready for it.