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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.

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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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!)
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
I think the issue with CanPL loans is that the MLS teams look at them as a way to move players on rather than develop them more.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Apologies, I forgot that DCU pulled out as well. I’ll edit. That said, the overall point stands. It’s not a sign of a healthy club snd Montreal is the only club that has never been involved.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
“Quebec or French” will probably work with the same effect. Acadian, in a pinch
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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
A Supra Day
Can it succeed?
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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
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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?
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
You sound rational, sure
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
And here is yesterday’s reaction to Mark Noonan leaving the CanPL: 24thminute.substack.com/p/noonan-out...
24thminute.substack.com
Noonan out at CanPL
What does it mean?
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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
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
I’ll write on this more soon, but the tl;dr is probably related to the lack of movement on the expansion front
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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).
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
On behalf of the city of Toronto I apologize for you having to watch that game yesterday. 90 minutes of life you’ll never get back.
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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.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Three games undefeated* *208 days since their last win. #TFCLive
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
City’s struggles this year are very much tied to them sticking with the past about 18 months too long, and no one better represents that past as KdB. I’m not sure what more he has to give and whether a physical league like MLS is the right fit. La Liga might actually be better.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
I would enjoy that, but I’m not sure they can afford him as long as the 120lb Italian anchor is there or that they could keep KdB healthy.
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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.
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Looks like the CanPL is expanding to Quebec City. Playing at PEPS (Laval University)
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Duane Rollins @24thminute.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Don’t see CanPL graffiti very often.
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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.
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