The final series of the 2012 Voyageurs Cup begins on Wednesday night in Vancouver. Toronto FC, last year's champions, opted to have the second and decisive leg at home and will therefore travel across the breadth of the country to continue their defense of that title.

Semifinal hurdles for each side were dispatched easily enough, Vancouver winning both matches against FC Edmonton handily in the end. Toronto meanwhile, bunkered for the result they wanted in Montreal - a dire scoreless draw - before transforming into a dynamic attacking side that would not even be undone by the early dismissal of Richard Eckersley, shutting out the Impact and scoring two goals of their own at home.

A foreseeable rematch, one energized by the ill-will that has accumulated over the years.

In 2009, a dramatic, unbelievable five-goal win in Montreal against a second-choice Impact side saw TFC pip the Whitecaps at the post. In 2011, a lightning-affected cancelation forced a controversial replay, negating the score, stripping Vancouver of their one-goal lead, and eventually - following a 2-1 win - seeing Toronto through to the Champions League, once again at Vancouver's expense.

Such misfortune has caused some angst among the Vancouver faithful and the organization.

In league play, Vancouver have enjoyed far more success than Toronto this season. But this is cup action, league results go out the window and rivalry is taken to another level. Just how will circumstance - both past and present - manifest itself on the pitch in Wednesday night's match?

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On and on and on and on and on it goes, and round 15 takes us to Vancouver. Will TFC try and park the bus again like they did in the first leg against Montreal? Will they be searching for an a crucial away goal? Will the no doubt inspirational presence of Jim Brennan on the bench lead to improved play? Lots of variables to take into account here with this one.

As always predict the score in the comments section, or @wakingthered on twitter, 2 points for the correct result, 1 point for correct amount of TFC goals, 1 point for correct amount of Vancouver goals. Current standings are after tha jump.

Thanks for playing.

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"The more I find out, the less I know." You said it Johnny Nash, you said it.

So, by now you've probably read the news about Toronto FC's coaching changes announced today. Bob de Klerk "promoted" to Technical manager, which as per TFC's website means he will..."be responsible for Toronto FC’s technical program, including advance and international scouting, as well as serving as the technical conduit between the First Team and Academy program. He will also assist players transitioning from the Academy into the First Team and support the education of Toronto FC coaches at all levels."

Jim Brennan meanwhile, as a reward for a year of fetching coffee and making fun little CCL promos as Mo Johnston's assistant, and just getting going with his second year of coaching the under 17 team, now takes his place as assistant coach with the first team.

People have been expecting changes for a while now, what with TFC's not so great 0 and 8 start to MLS, but most thought that for better or worse, advancing to the Voyageurs Cup final would have bought everybody a couple of weeks. Instead of a big clearout though, we now get this minor change, one that leaves us with more questions than just TFC's traditional "what the hell is going on with them now?" I'll get into those questions, and try to hazard a guess at some answers after the jump.

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Toronto FC announced today a bit of a reshuffle in the coaching ranks, with Jim Brennan being promoted from his job as academy under 17 coach to assistant coach with the first team, and Bob de Klerk being "promoted" to Technical manager, whatever that is. Paul Mariner will also be doing more work with the first team apparently, coaching the strikers.

If the talk of a rift between the Dutch idealists and the MLS pragmatists is true, then this certainly looks like the tables being tipped very much in favour of the pragmatists, at least at the first team level. Will there be further changes, or will this be seen as enough of a compromise from Winter's side to keep his job safe for now? And why Brennan? Expect more talk about developing Canadian coaches and continuing their investment in Canadian talent, but really is this the environment you'd want to throw Canadian's into to try and learn?

Who knows exactly what all this means, but at the very least it seems to signal the end of the always entertaining Bob de Klerk on the sidelines, which will be a real shame, though probably make thing easier for all the 4th officials out there. More information, quotes and clarifications should come out through the day, and I'm very intrigued to hear Aron Winter's views on all these changes. Things just got interesting, we'll have more on this later as the situation becomes clearer.

Well, after a short break, Waking The Red's now infamous (okay, not really...but hey) CoverIt Live chats are back, and we'll be on hand for three huge events.

First, we'll kick off a week of madness with coverage of the first leg of the Voyageurs Cup final between TFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday. Our chat will begin at 9pm Eastern that evening, and you'll be joined by myself in the commentator's chair, with other WTR writers on hand to provide their commentary. And of course, you, the reader, is always welcome to chip in with your two cents!

And if you're like me and is a bit of a ditz at times, you can set an email reminder in the neat little widget below:

But wait! There's more...after the jump!

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All Toronto's footballing literati descended on BMO Field today for what was really 3 press conferences in one, or as John Molinaro rather dismissively sees it, to pick up some free merchandise. First up was the CSA announcing details of their Centennial anniversary celebrations leading up to the June 3rd friendly against USA at BMO Field. That was followed by Stephen Hart and Peter Montopoli taking questions about the upcoming games, and then Umbro Canada unveiling the kit that will be worn by the men's team against the US, and by the Women's team on June 30th when they play the US down in Utah, though apparently not when they play China in Moncton on May 30th.

Details of the centenary celebrations can be found here at the CSA's website, but apparently include plans for events in every province, and then 10 days of celebration which include counting down the top 10 moments in Canadian soccer history, as well as revealing, rather oddly, the Teams of the Half century (1912-1962 and 1963-2012). Presumably it's split up that way so as to not interfere with the reveal of Canada's all time starting XI (men and women) which will be decided by online voting, which is in no way asking for all kinds of fiasco and accusations of regional bias when all is revealed, oh no. All I have to say on the matter is that hey, at least we don't have to worry about Whitecaps or Impact fans voting their team's players in, because, well, you know, and also, if Darlington legend Jason de Vos doesn't make the team, you're all dead to me. Dead.

Stephen Hart then gave the same old non-committal answers to the same old questions about a lot of things. Jonathan de Guzman and David Hoillet, well he gave the impression of being fed up trying to persuade them, he's made it known they're welcome if and when they're ready and can sort out citizenship issues, and now it's all in their respective courts. He thinks all 3 teams they're facing present different challenges, but singled out Panama as being very consistent due to the way a lot of players have come through the junior ranks together and become very familiar. Aside from that, if you've seen or read about one of his press conferences, then you already know it. It was also revealed that ticket sales for Canada's 2 games in June have now reached 10,000 after what was called a significant recent uptick.

Then it was on to the kit, I'll have pictures of that and some of the details below the jump, then come back and tell us what you think in this handy poll!

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Join along with us as Umbro Canada and the CSA reveal a special new Canadian Kit. At a press conference down at BMO Field at 1:30 PM this afternoon Stephen Hart and others will be on hand to unveil the new threads. The kit will be to commemorate the CSA's 100th birthday and will be worn by the Men's national team in their friendly against the United States on June 3rd at BMO Field and by the Women on the 30th when they take on the US down in Utah.

The unveiling will be streamed live by the CSA here so you can follow along and we will update with photos and info when they become available as Duncan will be at the event and hopefully live tweeting things @wakingthered

via p.twimg.com