By the lake again - Victory in 2019 home opener - TFC 3 NE Revs 2

Home opener #TFCLive 

At sunset it seemed super chilly and frostbite was on my mind. Turned out to be an entertaining, warming game. Lack of harsh wind was a positive factor. March nights are still a crazy choice for game starts. The last Sunday night of March Break just seems designed to keep kids and families at home.

The early penalty kick call was clear cut (right below section 220). I am a huge fan of Chris Mavinga. @Chris_Mavinga is fantastic at tackles, but Bunbury had him on the backside. A defending blip, Bono needs to OWN the defending zone. Boss the moment, but Mavinga is going to Mavinga

 I feel that Osorio is the player most missing Seba, Osorio could read the Seba landscape and now seems lost. Fingers crossed that adding Alejandro Pozuelo sparks both #TFCLive  and Osorio in the months ahead.

Ayo Akinola !!! I have been bleating for too long that the Toronto attack lacks players who gleefully take on defenders, create a sliver of space and shoot. Ayo Akinola's goal was all those things. More Akinola please.

1st half Bradley played way back, even seemed a defender at times. Thought that trapped midfield, @OsoJ92 , @jaychappers and @justmorrow worked well together, both goals came from the left side. Expecting a more central attack option when Pozuelo added.

 Good to see @jayhams score with a swift finish. Honestly thought it was going to be called back -offside. So unused to #TFCLive  getting a friendly ref decision at a critical moment. Even a yellow to NE player for complaining (after half time break). New era?

The 2nd NE goal a defender misplay, but I also think that @Alex25Bono needs to be more assertive, stepping towards the shot instead of shot blocking. Might have been caught by the misplay anyway, but he needs to develop his boss style not just athletic skills

Then cue   the Hollywood finish, the emergence of @JozyAltidore from the tunnel, his warm up built anticipation, Bradley to Morrow, then thanks to Akinola's angle, Jozy free in front of the net and it was done. @JozyAltidore 's goal was a triumph, his celebration raised the temperature of a cold night. #TFCLive  2019 is off to a hot start. This is a group with something to prove. Exciting games ahead as Ontario finally warms into Spring.

Keep kicking...

Season start 2019 road game TFC defeats Philly Union

A TFC offseason is seldom dull, but man, we had a roller coaster offseason.
It might be tough to sum up, but here goes.

Surprised to see Tim Bezbatchenko go, just underlines the weakness of MLSE regarding the seeking of Canadian soccer leadership. You ask the right guy to cross the border, his dream job will always be lurking elsewhere.

Surprised to see Victor Vazquez go. He was a pleasure to watch and an education in football guile.

Surprised, but not at all sorry to see Seba Giovinco go. He had a financial offer that one could not be refused, so I don't blame the guy in one sense. However I do feel that his leadership skills and his lack of focus were too much a part of missing playoffs in 2018. He was all about that contract AND was not bringing it on the field anymore. If temper tantrums and beefing with the ref were the route to football fortune, Seba would be a billionaire by now.

But now the new season offers to put the offseason to the history books.

The CCL disaster with Panamanian team CAI hurt at the time, but now that the MLS season has begun, perhaps this TFC in transition is better off just with the MLS schedule to contend with.

Clearly I am using hindsight here and blogging only when the MLS season has bestowed the first TFC game to us. The horrible TFC no-show in Panama and the frigid nonresponse a week later get conveniently filed under "pre-season".
Sure, we tuned in a little worried. As the pre-game show mentioned (sure it was Terry Dunfield who said it) where were the goals going to come from for TFC?

Then Michael Bradley scored two goals. I think my head is hurting from the shaking and my mouth is hurting from the smiling. Michael Bradley scored two goals.
That pk miss by Osorio was a worry. Osorio has to find himself soon, perhaps he needs company in the attack, but his contributions have been lacking. Is he still coming back from injury and needs time? The Ciman clearance off the line was a gift. The third goal from DeLeon was icing on the cake.

TFC actually have me looking forward to seeing them in two weeks at BMO. Never thought I would be saying that after the gloom of CCL.

Keep kicking...