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Duane Rollins

@24thminute.bsky.social

553 followers 240 following 198 posts

This space is soccer only. I promise. Still on dead bird. On Threads (where I talk music and running too), and I blog on Substack (mostly soccer. Occasionally I dabble wherever). Same name everywhere.

Posts Replies Media

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

n my latest part of my ⚽️ origin story, I talk about the lonely but ultimately rewarding experience of playing the game in Canada as a teen in the late 80s. It was a much different landscape then, but it was still the same passion. The day we beat Quinte: 24thminute.substack.com/p/taking-it-...

24thminute.substack.com

Taking it to the corner, part 4: We Beat Quinte!

My Disney sports moment

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As we enter the final weekend, I reflect on the end of the tournament, my blog and on Canada’s Round of 16 run: 24thminute.substack.com/p/reflection...

24thminute.substack.com

Reflections on the end (and Canada's run to the final 16)

Almost done now

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

#CanMNT v Morocco preview? Why not! Here you go: 24thminute.substack.com/p/less-than-...

24thminute.substack.com

(Less than) twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go...

Canada v Morocco preview

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

How does a kid from deep in the heart of rural, hockey-loving Canada fall in love with soccer…in 1985?! Not all fans here are neophytes…In part 2 of Taking it to the Corner, I explain my origin story in the sport: 24thminute.substack.com/p/taking-it-...

24thminute.substack.com

Taking it to the corner, part 2: The Reverse Drake

...and now I'm here

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I wrote a little something about a day I never thought I’d see: 24thminute.substack.com/p/sober-seco...

24thminute.substack.com

Sober Second Thoughts: Cheers, to all of you

Rycroft would have been shocked at how fast I got this one written

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Gonna wash the MLS right outta my coach —on Wilfried Nancy’s very short Scottish adventure and whether there is something to the idea North American managers can’t make the transition: 24thminute.substack.com/p/gonna-wash...

24thminute.substack.com

Gonna wash that MLS right outta my coach

Wilfried Nancy’s Scottish adventure gets cut short. Real short.

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

On Canada’s draw, the Whitecaps, a chance for soccer to claim hearts, and what the next 6 months will look like at the 24th Minute: 24thminute.substack.com/p/a-weekend-...

24thminute.substack.com

A weekend to remember (or forget) for Canadian soccer fans

A World Cup draw and a Finals appearance. Mixed results, it's fair to say.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

On the CanPL, a truly terrible rebrand and, for the first time, my legit fear about the ability of the league to survive: 24thminute.substack.com/p/existentia...

24thminute.substack.com

Existential dread and the CanPL

One team in; one team out (and another rebrand to boot!)

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

On Supra and what it will take to find success in CanPL: 24thminute.substack.com/p/a-supra-day

24thminute.substack.com

Can it succeed?

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Some words on an odd trade between TFC and CF Montreal: 24thminute.substack.com/p/sometimes-...

24thminute.substack.com

Sometimes you just gotta shrug

Montreal makes...odd trade with Toronto

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

I wrote on Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps flipping the switch when it came to signing their newest DPs. And why that’s a good thing for both: 24thminute.substack.com/p/bizarro-wo...

24thminute.substack.com

Bizarro World: MLS edition

Toronto and Vancouver flip their approach to DPs. Right call for both?

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

It’s hard to get excited about anything to do with TFC right now, but signing a 26 year old domestic DP with proven MLS success is a good move and it is ok to be excited about it. Bonus (for many): it will irritate Montreal fans

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

I wrote on Bev Preistman’s return to football and on ambivalence: 24thminute.substack.com/p/redemption...

24thminute.substack.com

Redemption starts with reflection

On Bev Priestman's return to football

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

It’s fine. Really. On #TFCLive at the 2/3 mark of another wasted season. 24thminute.substack.com/p/its-fine-r...

24thminute.substack.com

It's fine. Really. Just fine.

Toronto shows life against expansion juggernaut

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Back from holiday and I’m going to blog more, really: 24thminute.substack.com/p/euro-vibes...

24thminute.substack.com

Euro vibes, depressing times, and Canada being Canada

Catching up after my European break

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

It doesn’t appear to me that Pep has fixed all of City’s problems in the…checks notes…25 days since last season.

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

The last 10 min of this PSG v Atleti game is exactly what I feared games between European teams might look like in this CWC. You’re going to get some good games when second tier leagues play each other, but until we get deep in it…the sexy match-ups are going to be duds, I think.

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Atleti looks…like they are in pre-season.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

For a 0-0 the Al Ahly v Messi FC game was fairly entertaining (I just finished watching the replay). I suspect many of the mid-tier games in this tournament will be. It’s the big club games that will tell us what this thing is though. ….10-nil, you say.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

I’m blogging over here like it’s 2008 again. On the most important factor in James Johnson’s appointment at CanPL CEO: 24thminute.substack.com/p/aussie-aus...

24thminute.substack.com

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

On the CanPL's new CEO

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Mark Noonan is stepping down as commissioner of the CanPL. His last day in June 30. Sources tell me the replacement has been selected and it’s a well regarded and successful executive. Not in position to put a name out yet, but those close to the league are excited.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Winnipeg followers: my company has an Instagram contest for two tickets to the Canada v Haiti WNT game on the 31st. We are also giving away a Desiree Scott signed strip. No purchase necessary. Follow & comment. www.instagram.com/stories/acce...

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Performative nonsense: on TFC, fan “protests” and idiotic open letters: 24thminute.substack.com/p/performati...

24thminute.substack.com

Performative nonsense

Everyone is playing a role. Enough with the nonsense.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

TFC is bad this year, but Montreal might be historically terrible. TFC is bad because they took a big swing and badly missed. Montreal is bad because it’s cheap, shuttered its academy as much as possible and keeps making abrupt coaching changes. Which team are clowns again

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

It’s now been 270 of game minutes since a MLS goal was scored at BMO Field. By either team. TFC under Robin Fraser might be the dullest team in the league to watch right now. That’s not a criticism of his coaching. It’s the only way Toronto can be (modestly) successful until the talent is upgraded

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

The last few games has been the best Deiby Flores has looked as a 6 for #TFCLive. It really underlines how spoiled we were by Michael Bradley for so long (and how his exit from the club was so terribly handled).

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Watching the Paris-Roubaix podium ceremony underlines to me how much the @CPLsoccer lost by not making the Canadian Shield an actual piece of the Canadian Shield. That would have, excuse the pun, rocked.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Three games undefeated* *208 days since their last win. #TFCLive

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Look, @TorontoFC desperately needs help in the midfield, but Maxime Dominguez is the very definition of journeyman. Hope it works out. Not typically the type of signing that does in MLS though.

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

The CanPL salary budget per team in 2025 is $1,282,000 CAN. International players who have played three seasons in CanPL will now be considered domestic players and will not count towards the 7 player quota and will count towards the requirement to start 6 domestics per game.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Looks like the CanPL is expanding to Quebec City. Playing at PEPS (Laval University)

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Bayern Munich takes the low road—on arrogance and Phonsie’s injury: 24thminute.substack.com/p/bayern-mun...

24thminute.substack.com

Bayern Munich takes the low road

Phonsie's injury sucks. What's worse is the way it's being reacted to.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Happy Montreal Fired Its Manager Day, for all who celebrate. Some thoughts: 24thminute.substack.com/p/cirque-du-...

24thminute.substack.com

Cirque du Montréal

Another year, another coach for the Team Formally Known as The Impact

Reposted by Duane Rollins

Miguel Delaney @migueldelaney.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Some have felt Infantino has started speaking like Trump 2026 is expected to spark a "football gold rush" in a "new frontier", that could start a truly globalised game (superclubs playing everywhere), ironically driven by the anti-globalist agenda www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

independent.co.uk

How Trump and Fifa are creating the ‘MAGA World Cup’

Gianni Infantino is having his ‘dignity’ questioned, explains Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, as the Fifa chief cosies up to Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

A sober second thoughts on last night’s #CanMNT loss to Mexico: 24thminute.substack.com/p/it-doesnt-...

24thminute.substack.com

It doesn't matter until it does

Canada will need to wait a little longer for its first trophy in 25 years

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Since the completion of the Leagues Cup last year @torontofc.ca has an average of 0.58 points per game in MLS play. It’s only 12 games, but it’s trending towards the worst stretch in club history - and TFC is one of only two MLS clubs in history to go back to back years with less than 30 pts.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Canada will play Ukraine (June 7) and Côte d’Ivoire (June 10) at BMO Field (New Zealand will also be there, as part of a four team exhibition. Full schedule: June 7: Canada vs. Ukraine 3:30p; New Zealand vs. Côte d’Ivoire 7p June 10: New Zealand vs. Ukraine 5p; Canada vs. Côte d’Ivoire 8:30p

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Hearing that a May #CanWNT match in Winnipeg is a possibility. Desiree Scott testimonial. Finding an opponent is the hold up on announcing.

Reposted by Duane Rollins

Tom Garry @tomjgarry.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Man City have sacked Gareth Taylor just five days before the League Cup final. Nick Cushing is back on an interim basis until the summer. The timing, ahead of a run of four games against Chelsea, is remarkable. Story here for @theguardian.com #MCWFC www.theguardian.com/football/202...

theguardian.com

Manchester City Women sack head coach Gareth Taylor as Cushing returns

Manchester City Women have sacked Gareth Taylor, just five days before their League Cup final

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Don’t see CanPL graffiti very often.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

MLSE cuts 10% of its workforce today. No idea if the restructuring will impact spend on the sports side, but it can’t be a good sign.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Outside of the goals (big caveat, I appreciate) it wasn’t that bad a performance. Orlando is just a better team at this stage, so I’m not all that concerned. Fraser is building a foundation; you can see it. They are much more cohesive. Richie going down is bad though.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

There remains a lot of John Herdman fanboys. Cult leaders have that effect. 0-0-3 at the World Cup. No other nation on earth that he isn’t fired after that.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

About what real leadership looks like and how TFC and CanMNT may have stumbled into it: 24thminute.substack.com/p/the-import...

24thminute.substack.com

The importance of authenticity

Ok, one more column about John Herdman. Partly.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

On TFC’s opener and the best news of the day — Robin Fraser played the homegrown: 24thminute.substack.com/p/homegrown-...

24thminute.substack.com

Homegrown hits and (mostly) misses

The best news in week one is...

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Not sure what they’re booing for. It was clearly a penalty. All and all a pretty decent shot. They don’t look like the wooden spoon side some were predicting.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Cimermancis (sp?) has looked good. Needs to be a bit better on choosing his runs, but for a homegrown playing his first match? Brilliant.

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Wingo is terrifying me already, but other than that…it’s fine. They are creating more. Lots of work to fix the critical errors and sloppy play at back, but that’s not news. #TFCLive

Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Ok, so. You can’t throw up a weak sauce pass into the middle of the pitch 20 yards from goal. That’s just not MLS level. Simple as.

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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Forget the guys in short pants. Who makes sports matter are the folks in the stands. Without fans agreeing to a social contract to care, sports is irrelevant. Anyway, a #TFCLive game preview of sorts: 24thminute.substack.com/p/till-i-die

24thminute.substack.com

Welcome to year 19.