TAM, GAM, thank you Rapids

Earlier today, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that they had sent $277,500 in Targeted Allocation Money or TAM to Colorado Rapids SC in exchange for $185,000 in General Allocation Money or GAM. Now, before you start scratching your head, there is a method to this apparent madness.

In an exceeding bit of generalisation, TAM is meant to bridge the gap between Designated Players and regular Players. Any player earning more than $504,375, all figures US, automatically becomes a Designated Player. A club can apply TAM to their Budgeted Salary to make them a regular player, as the Whitecaps did with Kei Kamara.

GAM on the other hand, can be applied to a Designated Player, paying their Budgeted Salary down, but is mostly used on the regular Players, like for instance, if the 'Caps were close to the ceiling, and wanted to officially add David Edgar.

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Whitecaps end Parker era for package from New York

The Vancouver Whitecaps 2018 close season has had two defining events: signing Anthony Blondell from Monagas SC in late November, and sending their 2019 first round and a conditional 2020 second-round SuperDraft selection to New England Revolution for Kei Kamara. With Blondell and Kamara, Vancouver finally has both a second striker and a centre forward again, something they've been sorely lacking since the days of Camilo Sanvezzo and Kenny Miller.

Not so fast. Before opening the roof on the 2018 campaign, Vancouver had one more piece of business to complete. Tim Parker wanted out.

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Jordon Mutch set to reignite career with the 'Caps

It would be fair to say that Jordon Mutch hasn't exactly been having a lot of fun this year. Crystal Palace are mired in a relegation fight, where they currently sit 17th in the Premier League, and his last action, if you can call it such, was as an unused substitute at Bristol City in the League Cup. He's also sat on the bench at Old Trafford, and at home to Huddersfield Town this year.

The 26-year old has been featuring here and there for the club's U23 side, as he works to regain confidence and maintain his match fitness, but he hasn't had a proper outing since April, back when he was on loan to Championship side Reading.

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'Caps collect Chicago's Tchani cash

The Whitecaps acquired $150,000 in 2018 Targeted Allocation Money, or TAM, from Chicago in exchange for midfielder Tony Chani.

Chani, an 8-year Major League veteran, only joined the Whitecaps in March, having been acquired from Columbus, along with $225,000 in 2017 TAM, as well as $75,000 in 2017 General Allocation Money, for striker Kekuta Manneh.

"We are thankful to Tony for his time in Vancouver and wish him all the best with Chicago," said Whitecaps FC manager Carl Robinson. "This move will give us additional roster flexibility."

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2026 FIFA World Cup is Morcco's to lose

The ongoing political tension in the United States has seen their bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joined by Canada and Mexcio, come under increased pressure from Morocco.

According to some estimates, the Moroccan effort is not only close, but has supplanted the North American bid as the frontrunners.

By stressing the involvement of Canada and Mexico, the bid committee hopes to offset the damage caused by the American geopolitical landscape.

It remains to be seen whether the inclusion of Canada, whose World Cup record stands at 3 matches played, 3 losses, 0 goals scored, 5 conceded; and Mexico, who incidentally hosted that very same tournament, will have any effect.

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If you have to sell a Tim Parker, then you've already made a mistake

As per Kristian Dyer of the Metro New York newspaper, Tim Parker is said to have rejected an offer of 1.4 million over three years, or about $14,000 shy of the 2017 Designated Player threshold, and $58,000 less than he is reportedly seeking. All figures in USD.

Now, if you hadn't already realised by now, this is going to get a bit numbers heavy, but trust us, there's a point to it all.

According to the Players Union, Parker earned just shy of $100,000 last year. When it comes to professional athletes, $180,000 over three years doesn't exactly sound like a lot of money. But the Major League isn't like other leagues, in football, or in North America.

In 2014, Sportsmail compiled a list of 34 leagues from around the world and found that the average salary of a Major League player was 22nd, below that of the Greek Superleague, but above Columbia's Liga Águila.

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José Aja in, Tim Parker out?

Adding fuel to the fire surrounding the future of Tim Parker, the Whitecaps bought 24-year old centre back José Aja from Orlando City SC on Saturday, after agreeing to send $125,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money to the Lions.

Should the Uruguayan remain with the 'Caps through 2019, they'll top up that TAM with a further $100,000. And if he's lasts three seasons, they'll also surrender their natural 2021 second round SuperDraft selection. Orlando will also retain a percentage of any future sell on fee.

That's a pretty price by Major League standards.

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Whitecaps add depth at right back in Sean Franklin

After four seasons with DC United, and ten in the Major League, Sean Franklin was a player without a club. Seeing Vancouver as an up and coming club, he jumped at the opportunity, joining the Whitecaps during the second week of preseason training. Of course, we're sure that the all-inclusive trip to Hawaii paid no part in his decision.

After experimenting with Jordan Smith, Fraser Aird, Sheanon Williams, and Jake Nerwinski over the past two seasons, adding the experience of Franklin is a good move for the club. Make no mistake, has been Nerwinski pencilled in as Vancouver's right back for many years to come, but as is the case with Tim Parker, that's why you write these things in pencil, not pen.

Franklin, a two-time Major League Cup winner with Los Angeles Galaxy, should prove healthy competition for Nerwinski, as well as depth in case of injury, or the always gruelling Major League schedule.

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'Caps add experienced Efraín Juárez to "do important things"

Ollie Duxbury, a Liga MX specialist for the Futbolgrad Network described Efraín Juárez as "a solid enough right back, quite versatile, can play centre, left-back, right; and centre mid." Duxbury added that "he was let go by Monterrey as they have better options. I feel he is an upgrade on what Vancouver" has, though he was quick to point out that he saw that upgrade only in the back four, not midfield.

That may owe to the fact that Juárez has spent the better part of the last decade as a fullback. But the player, and Whitecaps manager Carl Robisnon, are touting him as a box-to-box midfielder.

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With El Padre suspended, Peru turns to Magic Reyna against New Zealand

Peruvian captain Paolo "El Padre" Guerrero was handed a 30-day preliminary suspension by the PFF on Friday after tests came back positive for a banned stimulant in the wake of Peru's scoreless World Cup qualifying draw in Argentina on October 5th.

Doctor Julio Segura spoke with Peru's Radio Nacional on Friday, explaining that "at the national team, we are aware of what anti-doping control is... So, we don't use any substances that produce doping [results]. It's a shame what happened with Paolo, but I am sure there was no problem from our side."

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What a guy, Nosa Igiebor picks his "little brother" Jamiu Alimi for the team

According to sources in Africa and Vancouver, Nigerian international and current Kano Pillars FC centre back Jamiu Alimi has confirmed that he should join Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the start of the 2018 season.

“We have been on the deal for some months now, but I have been delaying the deal. So, I can confirm that by January, I should officially join them."

“I got series of offers in Europe, but I decided to join the league because America is a peaceful place, and Vancouver offered me a better deal compared to other offers I received,” Alimi added.

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