tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66476437713698789702024-03-13T09:56:59.632-04:00By the lake (TFC blog of hope, fog and MLS Cup Victory!)the Toronto FC fan blog from day one.....<a name="9162518881"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger593125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-36813147140853234442019-03-18T11:17:00.001-04:002019-03-18T11:17:46.122-04:00By the lake again - Victory in 2019 home opener - TFC 3 NE Revs 2
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<span class="s1">Home opener </span><span class="s2">#TFCLive </span></div>
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<span class="s1">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.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The early penalty kick call was clear cut (right below section 220). I am a huge fan of Chris Mavinga. <a href="https://twitter.com/Chris_Mavinga"><span class="s2">@Chris_Mavinga</span></a> 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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"> 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 </span><span class="s2">#TFCLive</span><span class="s4"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1"> and Osorio in the months ahead.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">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.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;">1st half Bradley played way back, even seemed a defender at times. Thought that trapped midfield, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/OsoJ92" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"><span class="s6">@OsoJ92</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"> , </span><a href="https://twitter.com/jaychappers" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"><span class="s6">@jaychappers</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/justmorrow" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"><span class="s6">@justmorrow</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: transparent;"> worked well together, both goals came from the left side. Expecting a more central attack option when Pozuelo added.</span><span class="s1"></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1">Good to see <a href="https://twitter.com/jayhams"><span class="s2">@jayhams</span></a> score with a swift finish. Honestly thought it was going to be called back -offside. So unused to </span><span class="s2">#TFCLive</span><span class="s3"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1"> getting a friendly ref decision at a critical moment. Even a yellow to NE player for complaining (after half time break). New era?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The 2nd NE goal a defender misplay, but I also think that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex25Bono"><span class="s6">@Alex25Bono</span></a> 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</span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #101214;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 18, 20);">Then cue </span></span> </span></span><span class="s1"> the Hollywood finish, the emergence of <a href="https://twitter.com/JozyAltidore"><span class="s2">@JozyAltidore</span></a> 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. <a href="https://twitter.com/JozyAltidore"><span class="s2">@JozyAltidore</span></a> 's goal was a triumph, his celebration raised the temperature of a cold night. </span><span class="s2">#TFCLive</span><span class="s3"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s1"> 2019 is off to a hot start. This is a group with something to prove. Exciting games ahead as Ontario finally warms into Spring.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Keep kicking...</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-90709391596352137142019-03-02T20:31:00.000-05:002019-03-02T20:31:01.865-05:00Season start 2019 road game TFC defeats Philly Union A TFC offseason is seldom dull, but man, we had a roller coaster offseason.<br />
It might be tough to sum up, but here goes.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Surprised to see Victor Vazquez go. He was a pleasure to watch and an education in football guile.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
But now the new season offers to put the offseason to the history books.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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".<br />
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?<br />
<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Keep kicking...<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-45296447586114164082018-08-26T12:44:00.001-04:002018-08-26T12:44:57.305-04:00Victory vs Montreal (TFC 3 Montreal 1)Last season, that glorious season where almost everything went right, the one glaring game that went wrong was the home game hosting Montreal.<br />
TFC 3 Impact 5 was the final.<br />
I can recall consoling myself that it was late season and here I was grumpy about TFC giving up their first home loss. Losing to Montreal is always capable of putting a TFC fan on the road to grumpy.<br />
<br />
I approached last night's game with concern. TFC is chasing Montreal for a playoff spot*. Montreal can derail the Toronto playoff drive, hanging by a thread (those phrases cobbled together for mixed metaphor fans). Did Montreal still have a touch of whatever evil magic allowed them to conquer in that 2017 game?<br />
<br />
TFC fans were able to exhale from the start. The first 29 minutes were superb. TFC were playing precise short passes, players were finding spaces and goals were scored. Two for Giovinco and one for Osorio.<br />
Then Montreal scored their goal and Toronto lost the attacking sparkle. The Montreal goal shattered more than the attack. Why did Alex Bono set himself up for the shot from Silva giving away so much space on the short side? I also feel that TFC lacks precisely that sort of attack, the player who will and can score off of a shot from distance.<br />
<br />
I understand that shutting down your opponent and protecting a lead is very important, especially against Montreal, the first game after squandering a win on the road in San Jose. It was tense throughout the second half though. TFC went from attack as the best form of defending to relying on Montreal's lack of midfield possession game and lack of potent attack to get them through. A couple of goals called back on offside decisions had us holding our breath. I want to say that TFC is a much, much better team than Montreal. The day after finds me grateful for the victory and the three points, but remain concerned about the road ahead.<br />
Not just last night against Montreal but while down to 10 men for most of the game against NYCFC and the game on the road in Atlanta I have felt that TFC retain their championship quality. Can they do that again and again in the last two months of season 2018? Can they do it for 90 minutes during the tough road games such as Portland or DC or Montreal?<br />
<br />
Portland is a late game Wednesday night.<br />
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Until then...<br />
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* Playoff position update - Montreal and New England both losing last night helped Toronto, yet the two teams to worry most about lately are Philly and DC United. The Union have been a hot team and DC are even with Toronto in points, 27, but have played three less games.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-27387807944976024892018-08-19T10:22:00.001-04:002018-08-19T11:11:50.549-04:00Weak point in California San Jose Earthquakes 1 Toronto FC 1<span style="font-size: large;">I continue to experiment with writing my blog as a series of tweets. If you follow me on Twitter @stillkickingtfc , you have already read my blog post. The only problem I see with tweeting is that it lends itself to bad Trump instincts - extra comments as the blog bonus.<br />Trying to keep my blog within tweet confines. Perhaps it will help my focus and my writing? Simply put, TFC had San Jose Earthquakes down and could not put them away. Lack of urgency! Lack of killer instinct! <br />Sad!<br />No matter how cruel the defensive lapse, you can't argue that it was unusual. Toronto FC season 2018 has lapses aplenty. The attitude at 1 goal up should have been TFC is going to have to win this 2-1. We have seen too many stretches of "hang on and hope"<br />Those who want TFC to have a clean sheet every game are on a witch hunt!<br />We rightly praise Osorio and his 8 MLS goals, but you have to be worried about Bradley and Marky Delgado and their ZERO MLS goals. Defending vs Toronto is too simple, swamp Seba and watch for Oso. <br />I know this and many, many friends have called to tell me I am right!<br />I still hold out hope that a smashing victory over Montreal Impact next weekend and a winning streak to follow still leaves a flicker of hope for MLS playoffs, a tiny flicker in a windstorm.<br />If Montreal wins that August game, depend on me to assign blame and deny responsibility, Fake News!<br />My practical side is pushing me to see the benefits of NOT making MLS playoffs. That would give TFC players November and December to rest and recuperate. CONCACAF Champion's League target #1 for a rested squad.<br />And Mexican teams will have a wall to contend with!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-13070202974352355712018-08-04T18:58:00.003-04:002018-08-04T18:59:06.992-04:00TFC road point vs hyped 2nd year team - Atlanta United 2 Toronto FC 2<i><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I would write my blog as if it were a series of tweets.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not sure how well that surface in Atlanta plays, but on tv it looks like something that my parents bought to cover the backyard patio in the 70's #TFCLive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Delightful goal from #TFCLive in the closing minutes (seconds?) of the first half. Atlanta got overconfident and Altidore, Auro Jr. and Giovinco turned on the quality.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I understand that camera angle from behind the net shows that #TFCLive Bono palmed the ball to his left and therefore it should have not been a penalty. I thought VAR allowed for multiple looks. Ref and VAR seemed to be in a hurry to get Atlanta back into the game.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Very happy that #TFCLive kept going. Clearly Ricketts in, Vazquez off worked. Telfer in, Zavaletta out a brave gamble. Giovinco as attacking midfielder worked too. Osorio cool set up to Ricketts another moment in the Osorio 2018 highlight reel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am always urging #TFCLive to show more grit and spine, so I am not going to second guess Chris Mavinga lashing out. I honestly love TFC putting Atlanta in their place. Violence is not the answer, but want to know more about provocation.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, that's it. My blog post = five tweets. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Thanks for reading - until the next time, keep kicking.</i></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-5898242877148887052018-07-29T13:44:00.003-04:002018-07-29T13:44:41.740-04:00Playoff chase is on - TFC 3 Chicago Fire 0<span style="font-size: large;">The back to back victories over the Chicago Fire have given TFC fans reason for optimism for the months ahead. TFC looked like formidable defending champions Saturday night (July 28). A great way to end the month of July, considering how ineffective they looked losing 0-1 to NYRB to begin the month and how few the points they gained in July. Put aside the Chicago games (and the Ottawa Fury games in a different competition) and Toronto gained a single point from the 4 earlier July MLS games. Seems that the Chicago Fire were just what the TFC doctor ordered. The quality of the opponent is less than a tenth of the story, the continued return to health of injured players remains factor #1.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The first half was all muscle, tussle and half scoring chances for TFC. Bastien Schweinsteiger, Chicago star and German footballing legend, played way back as a Fire defender in the first half. He was effective, but I don't think he gets full credit for the 0-0 score at half time. You felt that Chicago was still in a game that they did not deserve to be in. Yes, that TFC feeling was washing over me at that point. Damn, one bad bounce, one lucky shot and the Fire could put TFC under pressure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Credit to Greg Vanney for the halftime change. Ashtone Morgan came out of the game, he was playing ok, but a left foot on the right wing has never been his spot on the field. On came Marky Delgado. TFC shifted to a 4-4-2. Vazquez in a central role, with Bradley in behind him in a diamond midfield. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The change in alignment might have been a spark to the greater attack spirit of the second half. Not that it was obvious for the first goal, a scramble that could have come from any formation. I thought that you had to also give great credit to van der Wiel, Mavinga and Zavaletta, the ball was always being played well from the back. Your midfield can supply your strikers with better through balls when they themselves are getting quality situations determined by the defenders. Osorio, Vazquez, Bradley and Delgado were all benefitting. I am cheering for Marky Delgado to rebuild his confidence. I still think he retreats and passes back out of situations that would benefit from him taking on defenders. Their does not have to be a clear path, move into space, draw a foul, bounce the ball off a shin to get a throw in. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will blog about the month ahead rather than the game ahead this week.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Keep cheering, thanks for reading...</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-72772343863865247642018-07-26T08:23:00.001-04:002018-07-26T08:23:33.100-04:00TFC quell the Fury TFC 3 Ottawa Fury FC (USL) 0<span style="font-size: large;">A balmy summer's night at BMO. The evening sky at sunset may have taken our gaze away from the game from time to time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This part of the world can be a beautiful place.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">TFC never looked worried.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is so difficult to evaluate young players when they are playing against lower level teams, yet I thought that Liam Fraser played a strong game. I was willing to put aside his strengths on the ball as a case of the other team not pressing enough, but his tackling and ball winning in the midfield impressed me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To those who fail to admire Marky Delgado, last night was an example of his strengths. He was a large part of why TFC was never worried. The angle of his tracking back, always pushing Ottawa wide, always cutting off passing lanes, was excellent. I can't deny that defending and ball winning is made easier when TFC are playing Morrow and Mavinga.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We now know that the Canadian Championship final opponent will be the Vancouver Whitecaps. It will be a step up in intensity from last night's walk in the park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bring them on....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-62233783891207922882018-07-22T10:03:00.002-04:002018-07-26T08:27:23.022-04:00Road victory leads to summer's first flicker of hope - Chicago Fire 1 Toronto FC 2<span style="font-size: x-large;">Apologies for not blogging during these recent weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">My excuse is both travel and World Cup 2018 intertwined.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I travelled to Los Angeles to visit my uncle. He and I have a tradition of watching games together that goes way back (even includes attending a USA1994 Netherlands/Brazil classic in Dallas).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I travelled to Iceland with my wife, some of her siblings and their spouses in early July. I had warned all that my availability for lava fields and waterfalls was determined by the World Cup schedule. It was my fond hope that I would get to see Iceland play a knockout round game from Iceland. I dared not hope that England would still be on the stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Both my LA trip and my Iceland trip will be the subjects of future blog posts. Just for the record.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
For now, let's talk TFC.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They have been so hard to watch. I counted myself fortunate to have missed the goal fest loss to Minnesota and even the draw on the road in Kansas City. Between my travels I had witnessed the 0-1 loss to New York on Canada Day at BMO. I knew that the huge injury list was a constant factor, but frustration was always increasing at the lack of players rising to take advantage of their opportunities. I was home from my travels in time to see TFC on tv lose to Orlando City. I did not blog. Just too jet lagged, tired, annoyed, mad and frustrated.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">You might be as tired as I am of hearing that a TFC MLS game was a must game for turning the season around. Too, too many times has that label thrown around and I am sure that it has been contributing to this anger and frustration.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Last night in Chicago, I hope, the tide turned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">TFC attacked from the wings, moved the ball well down the middle, controlled the tempo of the game, shut down the Fire often and welcomed back more players from the injury list (notably Jozy Altidore, Chris Mavinga and Gregory van der Wiel, with Victor Vazquez available off the bench). They looked more capable, more cohesive than they have in months. Oso, Delgado and Bradley all had solid games. The Delgado tackle which lead to Bradley's long diagonal pass which put Giovinco into dangerous territory were all ingredients of that great first goal. Osorio scoring the winner was just another chapter of his storybook season. Yes, Altidore makes the attack smarter, better, more creative, more ambitious.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">As players shed injury comeback rust and TFC still welcomes back Drew Moor and Auro Jr. AND the possibility that TFC have summer window moves still to make, the months ahead might turn this hope flicker into a flame. I am hopeful for a bonfire come September and October.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">thanks for reading....</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-80499011572635731802018-06-14T17:14:00.001-04:002018-06-14T17:15:05.436-04:00Not a pretty picture TFC 4 DC United 4<span style="font-size: large;">(Quickly now) I throw together a bloglet of my thoughts from last night's game with DC United. The World Cup Russia 2018 is about to hit all of us with a tidal wave of games, so I write hurriedly while watching game 1 Russia v Saudi Arabia...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am still struggling to come towards some grasp of what happened.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it is possible that TFC felt that DC United were a struggling team and therefore all Toronto had to do was show up and waltz through the game.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it is possible that the wrong defensive alignment was part of the woeful TFC first half. We could blame the wind. Too many times this season we have seen other teams cut through the Toronto backline like a hot knife through butter. The Zavaletta / Hagglund combo just seems to invite fast attackers to let loose. A healthy Chris Mavinga is required. It was great to see a healthy Justin Morrow get second half playing time. A return to Morrow and Mavinga down the left side and the new combo of Auro Jr and van der Wiel on the right will calm the defensive waters. Question still remains about the central roles.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My big concern is a lack of attacking play in the middle of the pitch. It was true of the first half than the second half last night, but it has been a concern. It seems that the book on defending against TFC is allow the ball to stay wide and crowd the middle. Osorio, Vazquez and Giovinco had trouble moving forward in central traffic. It seems that combination short passes too often go astray and giveaways abound. Ricketts is not the right sort of player for weaving passes and dribbles. Marky Delgado has vanished from the bench and Ager Aketxe does not get the call from the bench.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So a point was gained when TFC was down 0-3. If the Columbus Crew comeback was a negative for TFC fans, then one has to grant credit to the comeback effort. The standings still look grim for playoff purposes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let the World Cup distract all and a fresher TFC greet us come Canada Day.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-29254329728291413002018-06-09T08:39:00.001-04:002018-06-09T08:39:49.514-04:00Road victory Philly Union 0 TFC 2TFC grabbed their first road victory of the 2018 season. Ok, it was a week late. It should have been that disaster in Columbus last Saturday night.<br />
<br />
Jonathan Osorio was the scoring star with a goal in each half. Alex Bono made the timely saves that I had felt he had been lacking of late. He also had the spectacular fortune to have Philly's best shot go off the crossbar.<br />
The back two pairing of Hernandez and Hagglund had a few clunky moments. TFC needs to develop Drew Moor's future replacement. Perhaps it is Hagglund, or Mavinga. I should not be squawking about defending after a game with a clean sheet. Can we play the Union every week?<br />
<br />
It was also good to see Agar Aketxe get into the game and play some productive minutes. He needs playing time and a chance to learn the league. It seems that the TFC midfield has both established roles and unsettled ones. Osorio has grabbed his role, Auro Jr has the right flank and we expect a healthy Justin Morrow gets back to the left. Bradley as DM and then a mixture of Aketxe, Fraser, Telfer, Hasler and the Marky Delgado comeback? It almost helps that Victor Vazquez gets his spot as striker.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am throwing the cat amongst the pigeons here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;">The time to sell Seba Giovinco (in my so subtle opinion) is sooner rather than later. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;">He has lost a step, does not beat anyone 1v1. Philly is hardly a lockdown defending team, but Seba was smothered. The second goal (his assist on Osorio) was a gift, Philly threw the ball to him wide open.</span><br style="background-color: #f8f7f4; box-shadow: none !important; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;">He is also not showing any maturity, coolness or leadership. After the contact to his face in the second half, he did not get his head back in the game for minutes. If Toledo did not give him a yellow card on his payback tackle, we are in strange territory. Toledo more restrained than our striker. He is not earning a pay raise out there. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;">Sure, the return of Altidore, Morrow, Mavinga and Moor will make a huge difference to this team. My opinion is that Giovinco has not expanded to fill the leadership vacuum</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;">Maybe a loan during the offseason? That would be a way to establish whether he has value and reveal to him that if he wants a future in Toronto, it has to be on Toronto's terms. Maybe a contract offer that allows TFC to sign another striker?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthy Hagglund Helps</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f8f7f4; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-91641256151360547962018-06-03T10:32:00.001-04:002018-06-03T10:47:35.426-04:00Crewsing along, wheels fell off Columbus 3 TFC 3<span style="font-size: large;">I waited until the morning after before writing the blog post. I would have been spitting fire from the keyboard. Instead I devoted my energy to yapping on Facebook and Twitter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It hurt to watch TFC on television squander a 3 goal lead on the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It hurt to watch Michael Bradley make some questionable decisions on the ball in critical moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It hurts to see Marky Delgado, in only a short time playing as a late substitute, play without confidence and give away the ball.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It hurts to see another team get into Alex Bono's head and have him not make timely saves that were such a huge part of 2017 glory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know that TFC injury list continues to be a factor. TFC are missing Jozy Altidore, Justin Morrow, Drew Moor, Chris Mavinga and many more and that the vacancies are huge. Osorio had to leave the game early due to injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I chirp about this too often, but TFC still lacks a character guy. A replacement for Benoit Cheyrou and/or Steven Beitashour. Somebody who knows the league, teams and stadiums. Somebody who comes into the game in the late stages and calms the troops, quells the storm, makes the contributions required. Liam Fraser, the TFC rookie midfielder, played a solid first 60 minutes. He and Ryan Telfer have shown plenty of potential, but they are the sort of players who get replaced in the final 20 minutes by a character guy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">TFC need a winning streak. Defeat Philly, DC and NYCFC and I can see myself at the Canada Day game with a renewed sense of hope. But, as I said on twitter last night, it will take months before I gradually, grudgingly take consolation in last night's point on the road. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKjMrJW-q8I/WxP7S2fHcoI/AAAAAAADapU/gusPCDtQpZ4qo0ZDQZR8ZOBEzAHpsgDcACLcBGAs/s1600/crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wKjMrJW-q8I/WxP7S2fHcoI/AAAAAAADapU/gusPCDtQpZ4qo0ZDQZR8ZOBEzAHpsgDcACLcBGAs/s320/crew.jpg" width="270" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">to add insult to injury, each of these guys scored last night...</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-32748136031326225742018-05-26T09:46:00.002-04:002018-05-26T09:46:42.372-04:00No goals, no spine, no spit, no fire TFC 0 FCDallas flipfloppin 1I write on the morning after... my ire slightly cooled. Slightly...<br />
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I understand that TFC faces a huge challenge to duplicate or even come close to their wonder season of 2017.<br />
<br />
I understand that TFC have had that huge challenge multiplied by the early season demands of playing in the CCL. They were a penalty kick or two, a penalty save or two away from winning the Champion's League.<br />
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I understand that TFC have a continuing injury problem - Moor, Morrow, Altidore are the biggest names that come to mind, but plenty more. Chris Mavinga went off injured last night, so it continues.<br />
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But for heaven's sake, what the hell is happening here? What are we witnessing? This has suddenly (or over the course of April and May home games) become a team with no sting AND no spine.<br />
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Toronto does not have the ability to score and honestly I am not surprised. The offensive strategy is to feed it to Giovinco and hope he scores a miracle goal or shuffle the ball around and mostly stand still.<br />
Has Michael Bradley signed a pledge to never, ever take a shot at net? Victor Vazquez played a substandard game as did Osorio. Ryan Telfer and Liam Fraser both contributed, but having those two rookies be your top two passing and crossing contributors means there are a lot of passengers around them.<br />
I honestly want a month or two break from watching Hamilton and/or Ricketts have limited impact on play. It is a good thing that the June schedule puts TFC on the road most of the time. I feel that TFC needs a striker for a summer signing and possibly a trade to just send a message. No score = not needed.<br />
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As to the spit and spine lacking.... it started with the Seba Giovinco pk. Before the shot was taken the Dallas keeper Gonzalez was allowed to stand toe to toe with the penalty taker. Ref? Should have been the first question and if seconds later no action EVERY TFC player should have been in there. I have never seen a keeper be allowed to mess with a penalty taker that way. He proceeded to stall and go back in stages.<br />
The best move of the night was that Ryan Telfer fouled the keeper and earned a yellow first chance he got. Did you notice that the Dallas players all massed around their keeper to protect him after the contact?<br />
The second half was a drama fest. TFC had fewer and fewer attacking ideas and Dallas had fewer and <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">fewer players able to keep to their feet. We saw this type of crap from Colorado last summer and TFC get out their nice guy attitudes and end up with their faces rubbed in it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Auro Jr caught a Dallas player in the corner below me shinguard to shinguard and the Dallas player went down like he had been amputated. Drew the foul and then did the miracle recovery. Nobody went over and fouled the bugger right then and there. Hey ref he faked it over there.....but, oh look by god damn, he is injured now. Tell the Dallas players stay on your feet and play, you are in Toronto. Hurt somebody, stand up to their tactics, BE LESS THAN NICE. Show some spit, some spine, some fire. Show something other than dither, pass back and hope that static offense is going to magically have the other team falter. If you can’t win pretty WIN UGLY. Arghhhhhh</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nice works when you win, nice works when you score. TFC are faltering and folding and fading. Too many players are in a fuzzy funk. God, we miss Benoit Cheyrou.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bezbatchenko has to step in with a summer trade and a signing. Vanney and Fraser have to smarten up and either find the offensive, creative spark or pray daily for a healthy return of Morrow and Altidore. Or hire an offensive specialist coach. Or just somebody who loses their temper from time to time. I am available, up in section 220. You will spot me easily, the guy with the steam rising from his cranium.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #eff1f3;">It is almost unimaginable in recent memory to see a visiting team arrive with the notion that scoring a single goal was enough to defeat TFC in Toronto. Unimaginable. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early in game, before steam overload</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-10966791597757692132018-05-19T13:14:00.002-04:002018-05-19T13:14:31.602-04:00Overdue Canadian scoring contributions TFC 2 Orlando 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Winning a home game = acorn for a squirrel</b></i><br /></td></tr>
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Call me a happy TFC fan amongst many this morning. Thrilled with the home field victory over Orlando. Winning stops the recent home and away losing spiral and gets the team back on track. There is still a playoff qualification mountain to climb, but victory changes the angle.<br />
<br />
Against Orlando, both of TFC's goals were scored by Canadians. A solid strike from Jay Chapman on a huge rebound after Tosaint Ricketts had hit the post with his solid shot. The second goal was an excellent volley by Ryan Telfer after Auro Jr. had twisted, turned the defender and sent the cross from tight quarters in the corner.<br />
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The fact that Canadians scored is a relief, but it does not come with any amount of amnesia. The loss to Seattle and the loss to New England could have been (should have been) both avoided by Canadians stepping up to the scoring challenge that was given to them. Chapman and Osorio from the midfield, Hamilton and Ricketts up front. The TFC roster seems to be built with Canadian content mostly in the midfield and forward positions (and Ashtone Morgan). Bluntly, my response to Jay Chapman scoring was "about damn time".<br />
I feel it did not take a rocket scientist to figure out that in the month of May (especially with an injury list that included Moor, Morrow, Mavinga, Hagglund, Zavaletta) Toronto needed to play to win some goal fest games. Sure, some soft goals were allowed. Mostly in the New England game, but the response of too many seemed to be leave the goal scoring efforts to others rather than take on the creative and sweaty challenge of putting the ball on target themselves.<br />
Sorry to offend nationalists, but I was happy to see Jordan Hamilton come out of the game around the 60 minute mark. Too many minutes played in recent games without scoring opportunities or even shots produced. When do you put aside the potential measurement and put the production equation ahead of it? My bloggers hunch is this season, while I respect that wiser heads are involved.<br />
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Just to avoid harping on the nationality angle, it was also great that TFC scorers were midfielders. I have long felt that Toronto FC, apart from Victor Vazquez and Justin Morrow, lacks scoring threats out of their midfield. Marky Delgado seems to be playing in a fog. Most of 2017 season, it seemed that the Vanney team selection was either Delgado or Osorio in the midfield. You might not have felt that Jonathan Osorio had risen much above Delgado in the CCL, but now the gulf is growing. Perhaps Chapman getting a goal is going to work against Delgado getting playing time to regain his momentum?<br />
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So the look ahead for the TFC schedule has May ending with the home game next week against Dallas. Then June sees 3 away games, Columbus, Philly and NYCFC and one home game against DC United. Where Toronto sits come Canada Day will be revealing. I am crazed enough to want a winning streak from last night into July.<br />
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Stay tuned...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-75729146193036197562018-05-12T23:22:00.003-04:002018-05-12T23:22:55.860-04:00Meltdown over comeback NE Revs 3 TFC 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two years ago, time to grow up</td></tr>
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Toronto FC had a rocky start in New England tonight. Allowing two quick goals on that slick surface. First one was Toronto falling victim to an attacker who fluidly moved into space and let the hard shot fly. It was justice in a way as TFC forever seem to lack that sort of play.<br />
The second goal was Bono taking chances and then failing to clear. Ager Aketxe certainly got stripped of the ball in record time, but he should not have been put in that position. All night long TFC midfielders were misjudging the receiving of passes. The Revs seems to pounce on the turf adjustment micro second. Or the passes were often too slow to begin with.<br />
It is amazing that they started the second half sloppy and allowed Bunbury to score. Falling behind on the road 3-0 should have been the end, but New England let TFC back in.<br />
<br />
An own goal by New England. TFC just might.....<br />
Vanney senses an opportunity and puts in Giovinco, Vazquez and Mavinga (which allows Bradley back into the midfield). Then a pk goal for Giovinco.<br />
<br />
Then Seba Giovinco was provoked by NE Rev midfielder Zahibo, who poked at the ball that Giovinco was carrying back to centre for the restart of play. Seba responded by pushing at Zahibo's face. Which was a reach.<br />
<br />
Red card given. TFC comeback averted.<br />
Giovinco is a top goal scorer and should not take the bait. Other teams physically wrassle with him all the time, but the Seba boiling point is too low. He hurts himself, he hurts the team.<br />
<br />
I also feel that this is an area that TFC have neglected. Giovinco's first year in Toronto he had two teammates (Cheyrou and Perquis) who were very good at being very bad to those who messed with Giovinco. Nobody plays that role anymore. Nobody sticks up for our petulant little scoring star.<br />
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Giovinco should mature? Sure, all for it.<br />
<br />
But there are also too many players not playing any role at all. If you are scoring, then let Seba fight his own battles. But if he is the only TFC scoring possibility, do something to protect him from idle provocations.<br />
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Time for my own meltdown. The pillow is calling....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-70133931203174909342018-04-03T22:51:00.001-04:002018-04-03T22:51:14.482-04:00First MLS win 2018 TFC 3 RSL 1<span style="font-size: large;">Toronto FC put some worries to bed as they landed a victory in their third MLS game of 2018. The fans knew that Champion’s League games were getting in the way. Columbus and especially Montreal had taken advantage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hard to decide whether the win was due to Toronto FC’s quality or RSL’s lack of it. Not that TFC were undeserving, but they were able to dominate with a patchwork line up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have the luxury of writing this post after knowing that TFC win their Tuesday CCL home game against Club America. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So TFC now face, perhaps, the biggest game in their history.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">still kicking...</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-72468118858867603702018-04-03T22:41:00.004-04:002018-04-03T23:12:46.390-04:00Ashtone Morgannnnnnnnn TFC 3 Club America 1<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it is very possible that Liga MX teams come to Toronto expecting that TFC will collapse at the very sight of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe it is the cold rain, the shaky pitch conditions and howling Toronto fans.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or, damn it, TFC works hard, plays beautifully and gets it done. They have the CCL gear that has them heading next week to Mexico City in (almost) the best position possible. That Club America away goal must present a challenge for TFC. It would be chilling if CA considered that the sole target for the trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I continue to watch streamed from afar. This time around in Arizona. The broadcast with go90 is an excellent production. Solid knowledge of both teams. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Toronto looks cold on tv.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bradley was a beast.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Altidore was a hurricane. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Osorio and Delgado worked their tails off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Auro, Zavaletta and van der Wiel were solid. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Keeping my worries about Moor to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And Toronto was playing without Vazquez, Morrow and Mavinga!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ashtone Morgan ! He was going and going. My only complaint with Coach Vanney on the night was not subbing Ashtone out with a minute or two to go so that he could have an ovation all to himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Still I will be terrified, TERRIFIED about the second leg game at the Azteca Stadium. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Get TFC down there tomorrow to get working at altitude.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Get Mavinga and Morrow and Vazquez healthy. Thank you DC United for letting TFC have these days to prepare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keep cheering. Keep hoping. Keep plugging </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">and score early...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mWcnmJKLAjk/WsQ6_0eQ1TI/AAAAAAADQe8/5TEF-_IW4uUeKvKs3xoLTjxBlFtbByP8QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mWcnmJKLAjk/WsQ6_0eQ1TI/AAAAAAADQe8/5TEF-_IW4uUeKvKs3xoLTjxBlFtbByP8QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_8257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And to think I thought this was a lead TFC could not hold...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-63067782165238493392018-03-17T18:25:00.002-04:002018-03-17T18:25:59.915-04:00Blah to Bleu, Montreal 1 TFC 0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_wMDpumZ7o/TMHPPRFk4wI/AAAAAAAAAtw/uhM0coFiItIxLSvOsF2fVUWTwnvuGYxJwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/TorontoFC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_wMDpumZ7o/TMHPPRFk4wI/AAAAAAAAAtw/uhM0coFiItIxLSvOsF2fVUWTwnvuGYxJwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/TorontoFC.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Montreal Impact did what they had to, but I am unimpressed. They scored a goal against the run of play late in the first half and held off Toronto for extended blocks of time in the second half. I felt that the home team was taking advantage of Toronto's fatigue far more than outplaying them. Desperate defending, parking the bus and hoping for rare counter attacks is just not the way a strong team plays at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It will seem like hindsight now, but I was not thrilled to see both Giovinco and Altidore in the starting 11. For Montreal this was game 3 of their 2018 season, for TFC it was game 6. The four games of CONCACAF Champion's League have been thrilling and gruelling. We are seeing some squad rotation, but the forwards and the goalkeeper stay constant. Too constant, I say. I recall that Tosaint Ricketts has some health concerns, but somebody has to come off the bench to quench forward fatigue. Those rumours that TFC are looking to sign a veteran striker just gained credence in my book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was not surprising that neither Morrow nor Mavinga played considering their coming out of the game against Tigres, although Mavinga might have been on the bench?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Starting the MLS season with two losses might be a bitter fact to face, but I fear not. Plenty of time to climb. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To those who care about our nomadic winters, we managed to watch this game on wifi in a saloon at Borrego Springs California. All around us were tv screens overflowing with March Madness and we were the two in the corner squirming in our seats, glued to a laptop.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Come May we will be conventional again. BMO Field for home games, conventional tv coverage on the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Until the next time.....</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-38727887798707778682018-03-14T00:53:00.001-04:002018-03-14T00:53:51.297-04:00Toronto FC compete and squeak in Mexico Tigres 3 TFC 2, 4-4 aggregateTFC on away goalsEmotional result, Toronto move on.<br />
I knew away goals were critical.<br />
Auro had defending highlights galore. Mavinga plenty too.<br />
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Giovinco astounding,<br />
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Thought it took far too long for the Vasquez for Delgado move. Delgado was not on his game.<br />
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Felt Alex Bono went wobbly when he needed to be a tiger.<br />
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Too rattled and ragged for more.<br />
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A historic result.<br />
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Not sure if my nerves can take another round!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-4993841934587758422018-03-04T11:11:00.000-05:002018-03-04T11:11:03.783-05:00The Crew will do ya Toronto FC 0 Columbus Crew 2<span style="font-size: large;">This blogger is so overdue for concocting a formatted summary for games that I watch on television and save my free form essays for home games. Yesterday was the BMO Field season opener, but as I continue to travel in California, I watched TFC struggle against Columbus on my iPad. I won't attend a home game until May. So here goes a blend of summary and free form. Or, since I don't have answers I will supply the questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What went wrong with TFC against the Crew? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. They overlooked Columbus and had the upcoming Champions League game versus Tigres on their minds?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. We need to give this team time to gel? Ager Aketxe and Gregory van der Wiel might be highly talented additions, but they are new to so much. New team, new league, new playing surface, new coach in a new city. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Having Vasquez leave the game at half time threw off the midfield balance?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Perhaps the Crew have improved? I thought that trading Meram and Kamara weakened the team. If Zardes makes everyone cheering for the Crew, as he seems capable of doing, forget Kamara then look out for the Crew this season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Until the next time....</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-54519119426639012672018-02-02T18:39:00.001-05:002018-02-02T18:39:26.860-05:00Short offseason, long blog<div style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px;">
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<i data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t cry for me, TFC faithful,</span></i></div>
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<i data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-removefontsize="true"><span style="font-size: large;">The truth is, one has to wander</span></i></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">This first offseason blog post is a fractured mess. One part apology, one part TFC preseason game summary, and many parts scrambled.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;"> My egg and welcome to it.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">I am blogging from a desert camp site in Southern California (in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park). We have been fortunate in many ways and in the midst of our second winter in a row, far from the ice, snow and bitter cold that is winter in Ontario, I know that I am going for the highest readings on your envy meter.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Hate me, if you must. I am retired, we own an Airstream Basecamp (the tiniest of their models) and we love the U.S. Southwest. My wife is even more dedicated to combining travel with adventure and discovery than myself. We left Ontario January 3rd and came west the long way. We went south to Florida and picked up the westbound Interstate 10 near Jacksonville. Most of our January was spent in southern Arizona. We have wonderful relatives in the LA area (Whittier), so we are drawn to California.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">All of this background ramble just leads us back to TFC. OK, the route back to our beloved team was laced with bragging, but I knew where I was going. You are probably aware that TFC are holding phase 1 of their preseason training camp on the campus of UC Irvine. As the freeway allows, that is around 40 minutes south of my aunt and uncle’s home. So Monday past (January 29) we headed down to see TFC in action. They were playing three 45 minute games versus UC Fullerton, another local college team. </span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a wonderful experience. The campus is very scenic, trees and landscaped grounds, everyone strolling around in shorts. This is not the university in January experience that either I or my kids ever encountered. Just south of the Orange County “John Wayne” Airport, you can see planes taking off in the brilliant sunshine. The fields look to be in top condition. It would have been just another great day in California, but encountering your team and mine, the mighty TFC, pushed things to the top level. It was a “pinch me, I’m dreaming” moment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px">There was no effort made to promote the game, that I knew of. I had to tweet to find out the starting time of 11am. This may be due to the fact that TFC’s games to follow involved pro teams in stadiums (Jan 31 vs Tijuana in San Diego and today Feb.2 vs LAFC at the UCLA Drake Stadium </span><b>EDIT UPDATE, that game has ended 2-2 TFC goals from Endoh and Giovinco</b><span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px">). However even with this low key, middle of Monday, approach, I was surprised by the sparse gathering. My entourage (wife and me, uncle, aunt and our dog) nearly outnumbered the few parents and friends of UC Fullerton players. It was a true thrill to watch TFC this close. It was as if your favourite team landed in your local park. A few times I did feel like calling out to the locals “Do you know how good these guys are? “</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Game #1 TFC line-up was</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Irwin</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Zavaletta Hagglund Mavinga</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Hasler Vasquez Bradley Osorio Morgan</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Giovinco Altidore</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Score was 3-1 - TFC goals, Altidore, Hagglund and Osorio.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember that Justin Morrow had played for the US in a friendly the night before in Carson and Marky Delgado had been on the US bench. Alex Bono had been part of the US training camp.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought it was interesting to give Ashtone Morgan the opportunity to play down the left with the first team. He certainly stretched the college defensive formation and made some plays, but he needed to look a lot stronger if 2018 playing time is the goal. </span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">The only first teamers in the second “game” of 45 minutes were Drew Moor and Jordan Hamilton. You could see that Moor was playing with a coaching influence in mind. It was hard to get a sense of who was impressing from a TFC depth perspective as UC Fullerton made a huge switch and put on their half dozen bench players.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">We did not stay for session #3, though I could see that the next squad was going to include Endoh, Ricketts, Spencer. Later I read that TFC whomped UC Fullerton 7-1 in that final game. Hardly seems fair though, the college squad number 18 at the most and TFC would have hit them with a set of fresh legs all eager to make a training camp impression.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Off season news In a nutshell</b></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">The Toronto FC story since the Cup victory, has been </span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">- Raheem Edwards selected by LAFC in expansion draft and then dealt to Montreal (blame Bob Bradley)</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">- Steven Beitashour had to take his free agent moment and accepted an offer from LAFC. Truly sorry to see him go, but the MLS free agent wait is so long, it was not the right time for him to take a pay cut in an emotional decision.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">-Armando Cooper was also a free agent and has ended up in Chile. He was not going to be a starter, so a parting far down on the heartbreak list.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">-TFC drafted Tim Kubel a defender and Drew Shepard, a keeper, in the first rounds of the MLS draft. They signed midfielder Liam Fraser from their Academy to a pro contract.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">-The biggest splash signing has been right back Gregory van der Wiel, former Dutch international ( teams in career were Ajax, PSG, Fenerbahce, Cagliari). It explains why Beitashour was tempted away, TFC money was going towards the bigger TAM signing.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been long of the opinion that greater patience should be shown to defenders trying to leap mid-career into MLS. Then along came Chris Mavinga, shaky in his debut vs Atlanta and a star the rest of the season. The only criticism I could muster for Mavinga in 2017 was the suspicion that he was letting attackers get past him because he knew he had time and space to make a spectacular recovery clearance. If van der Wiel can match Mavinga, TFC has taken a big step, a huge step.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">February should be an unusually active month for TFC fans. The two game Champion’s League first round with Colorado is played at the end of the month. Toronto takes a break from California training camp soon, but has lined up friendly games in Mexico in the weeks ahead. I don’t know the exact location or opponents yet. Our travelling plans keep us in California for most of the month and I have no intention of straying from the warmth to visit Denver. I am hoping to coordinate my travels home in April with the TFC game in Houston on April 21.</span></span></div>
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<span data-originalcomputedfontsize="16" data-originalfontsize="16px"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading my scramble- stay tuned. Still Kicking</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-71738662954333319402017-12-10T10:43:00.005-05:002017-12-10T10:43:58.266-05:00Toronto FC MLS Cup Champions 2017 TFC 2 Seattle 0<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Toronto FC MLS Cup Champions 2017</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMGdUuoBoRE/Wi1QeVhcM9I/AAAAAAADMBQ/aFEL3uIO0KMTeGP_VqciMGEwRyKAnAaKQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-10%2Bat%2B10.18.38%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1595" height="396" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMGdUuoBoRE/Wi1QeVhcM9I/AAAAAAADMBQ/aFEL3uIO0KMTeGP_VqciMGEwRyKAnAaKQCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-12-10%2Bat%2B10.18.38%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fuzzy view from Section 220</span></i></td></tr>
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It happened.</div>
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We were there.</div>
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It all has a dream sense to it, though.</div>
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That was a victory fully, fully deserved. Redemption belonged to TFC and those true Red and Grey supporters who never wavered, but also never fully dreamed that this level of season was possible. I felt that not only was Toronto FC trying to defeat Seattle on the pitch, they were seeking to eradicate ghosts from 2016, the MLS Cup that got away.</div>
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Forgive the jumbled attempt at putting this all into words. I started writing this blog post Saturday evening. Here I am continuing to try to herd my emotions, thoughts, observations and reactions the next morning. So think of this as a muffled attempt at a first take, not a definitive essay to take you there.<br />
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If you want to read an INCREDIBLE account of TFC Cup victory and what it all means I say go to <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/12/09/toronto-fc-best-ever-revenge-2017-mls-cup-seattle-sounders" target="_blank">SI.com. Brian Straus</a> did an incredible job of it.<br />
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My admiration for Coach Greg Vanney went up plenty of levels as he made bold adjustments to his team and had them ready to attack. For all the ink and pixels that will go to the stars of the MLS Cup victory, mention must be made of the spectacular games played by Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado. Those with more memory cells might be able to point to a game, but I can't think of the last time they played together. It is usually one or the other. To describe Osorio as struggling in the playoffs is putting it kindly. He has been awful on the ball, passing weak, giveaways plentiful and neglecting shooting opportunities. He played the game of his career yesterday when it was needed most. I am willing to listen to those who say Sebastian Giovinco has yet to fully star in a MLS Cup game, but Delgado and Osorio both were stars in my book. They seemed to show off every lesson that they have learned from playing with the great Victor Vazquez this season. They shocked me. I am sure it was a huge part in unsettling Seattle Sounders.<br />
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I thought that Michael Bradley deserved MOTM more than Jozy Altidore. A good game and a great goal from Jozy, but the tenacity of Bradley was the bigger deal. The formation of TFC can be fluid, but Bradley dropped out of the role of holding midfielder and actually ran the team from a central defending role. I had a better angle in the second half when for a time it was a back three of Mavinga, Bradley and Moor. Bradley shut them down. He made Seattle suffer. Jozy Altidore's goal just closed the door to the prison that Bradley had created.<br />
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You slowly, slowly take in reality on a game day I find. This becomes slower as the importance of a game increases. I felt that MLS Cup 2017 was turtle time in the Kennedy brain. Your senses are working overtime, but nervousness and tension and worry fog your thought processes.<br />
One thought that came to me slowly. Post game, walking away into the cold, cold night. The next time I purchase a Toronto FC article of clothing it will have a star on it. A star, champions get to put a star on their chests.<br />
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I would be wrong to call Toronto FC 2017 everything a fan ever asked for. It was beyond that.<br />
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A few years ago, actually many a moon ago as it came out in 1993, Nick Hornby edited a book called "My Favourite Year". It is a compilation of writings about soccer seasons of note from various writers. At long last I and the TFC faithful have a chapter to contribute.<br /><br />
PS As promised I have changed the blog title to "By the lake". Mistake has been dropped. No mistakes made this season (wishing we had beaten Montreal during the CNE is a quibble, not a mistake). I did not dare to take mistake out of the url though. Urls are not to be messed with after 11 years...</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-35480643051042146982017-11-30T15:08:00.001-05:002017-11-30T15:08:18.879-05:00Jozy (from Victor and Seba) sends TFC to Cup final - TFC 1 Columbus Crew 0<span style="font-size: large;">I have to call it another night of tension. I remember thinking last November that I wish I could live the home playoff game with Montreal all over again, because I was so tight with fear during the game that my joy was muted. Last night was almost that sort of game. Almost.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All eyes were on Jozy Altidore in the second half of the game vs. Columbus last night. The fall onto his ankle was just out of my line of sight. Yes, I was ball watching, although it happened down my end of the field. Down he went and it looked serious enough that the two Crew defenders were helping him up. He hobbled around, then sat down, then was attended to during a stoppage in play. We watched as he threw his shin guards to the east side, then was down again, then being attended to by the benches on the west side. Armando Cooper was summoned and seemed to be getting ready.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How this prolonged injury drama swiftly turned into a run onto a PERFECTLY placed pass from Victor Vazquez and firing low to beat the Crew's superb young keeper Zach Steffen to score the goal that sent TFC to MLS Cup final 2017, I'll never know. I witnessed it. But the next day it still seems like a blurry dream.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was guilty of thinking one moment, c'mon Jozy, it's not that bad, run it off. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, c'mon Vanney, get on with a replacement. <br />Then, boom - the wonder of witnessing some beautiful soccer and Jozy claiming the goal that was required.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Still it was tense until that final whistle. Columbus was the team that I feared meeting most in the playoffs. The Crew were perhaps a toe away from the tie they needed as they missed some golden opportunities in those last minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So TFC returns to hosting the MLS Cup final for the second year in a row. I am willing to argue that they have managed the "win ugly" or "just get to your destination" system needed for final Cup victory this time around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps I have been watching way too much Netflix "Stranger Things" this fall. I am developing a theory that connects TFC with <i>"the upside down"</i>, the alternate evil universe that parallels our own in unexpected ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">TFC 2016 playoffs were a glorious goal fest. Knockout game = scored 3 goals, two legs against NYCFC = win 7-0 aggregate, two legs against Montreal = win 7-5 aggregate. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then on to the Cup final. Man, did we expect goals galore. To the stunning dismay of every Toronto FC fan, Seattle comes in from <i>"the upside down"</i> and takes victory despite playing dull, dull football. The magical save of Frei on Altidore in extra time must have involved strange powers from a Netflix production. I do recall seeing odd flakes floating in the air at the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(I have spent time on the CNE grounds looking for the tree with the mushy cavity that the Sounders used for their Toronto arrival just prior to Cup 2016. No success yet, but photo evidence is eagerly sought.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, in my Stranger Things alternate evil universe, TFC learns and embraces <i>"the upside down"</i> for playoffs 2017. No running up the score. No firepower, no extended displays of offensive brilliance, just enough will do. A goal here and a goal there. TFC in playoffs 2017 have scored three goals and had two scored against them</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They have vanquished all Eastern competition by pulling their powers from <i>"the upside down"</i>. They seek to out-Seattle Seattle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My tension begins to unwind. I start to entertain reasons why "Mistake by the Lake" should be adapted as a series for Netflix. I see "11" as both a starting number of players for a team and a memorable character. I think the pressure of anticipation of going to host the Cup again is going to mean more than my tension unwinds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Keep warm, keep reading and keep it together.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">December 9th awaits.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNvdlIN71Wk/WiBY59KcVII/AAAAAAADLFA/1cmLHpiAiBw0lJAkjYyIfRkCAdgWiVnXwCLcBGAs/s1600/mr%2Bclarke%2Band%2Bkids%2Band%2Bplate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1425" height="372" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNvdlIN71Wk/WiBY59KcVII/AAAAAAADLFA/1cmLHpiAiBw0lJAkjYyIfRkCAdgWiVnXwCLcBGAs/s640/mr%2Bclarke%2Band%2Bkids%2Band%2Bplate.png" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Now the final stage of our plan is winning the MLS Cup. Last year, you could not score when you needed to score. This year, you go into the game thinking of both the flea and the acrobat. Seattle thinks they own that dimension, you must create a new portal."</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6i_QCRlSxwE/WiBbtq8fezI/AAAAAAADLFQ/ZE8lC-7-Qh0zYFf6N4CEvlWryLuDTXbmwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-11-30%2Bat%2B2.25.18%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="511" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6i_QCRlSxwE/WiBbtq8fezI/AAAAAAADLFQ/ZE8lC-7-Qh0zYFf6N4CEvlWryLuDTXbmwCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-11-30%2Bat%2B2.25.18%2BPM.png" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>No, not a second time</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-49121551628702545842017-11-22T10:30:00.001-05:002017-11-22T10:30:19.211-05:00No TFC sparkle without stars - Columbus Crew 0 TFC 0<span style="font-size: large;">I feel that I want to play the blame game today. It's the morning after the playoff game and I am struggling to find the positives about the TFC performance in Columbus. Let me be a little clearer. I am pleased enough with the result. A draw on the road in November in the first leg of the Cup semi-final is a step in the right direction. It is the performance that worries me. Specifically the offensive performance, the goalkeeping of Alex Bono was stellar and, excepting a few wonky seconds at the end, the defending was solid. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am in the camp of wary respect for the Columbus Crew. It is not the first time this season where I have noted the gulf between Toronto and their opponents when it comes to having attacking players who are able to create the space to take a shot. I am not one who goes scrambling for the stat sheet to support my take on the game, but in this area I think it reflects the heart of Toronto's problems of late. They have been shut out now two games in a row, both home and away. I was willing to describe the quarter final home game as other than a clean sheet for NYRB, but the two disallowed goals were an own goal and a direct free kick. Neither were shots taken by midfielders in open play.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So here is my look at the gulf last night. Columbus midfielders showing up on the shot stat sheet would be Artur (1), Meram (1), Santos (4) and Higuain (3). I think it is a reflection that Federico Higuain is hanging up his boots and last night was probably his last game in Columbus. A few years ago, a game with Higuain having three shots would have been a Crew victory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On the Toronto side you have the stunning situation of Delgado, Osorio and Bradley combining for a total of 0 shots. (Vazquez (2), Hasler (1) indicates some shots from TFC midfield<br />I know that it is a wonky comparison. Michael Bradley was in such a defender mode, sometimes holding midfielder, sometimes even playing semi-sweeper.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But my tactical point is that midfielders who shoot, who do more than seek out and feed strikers actually stretch defenders out of position and create opportunities for all. See Columbus last night. Their late addition of striker Kekuta Manneh saw him take two shots in 12 minutes of play. One of those shots was taken in a near impossible amount of space, created on the fly turning into the approach of Michael Bradley. Full credit to Alex Bono, but the attack of the Crew midfield made Manneh's late contribution possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A wise friend and long time fan of TFC had a great point watching the game last night. She said that Toronto is expecting Ricketts to be a counter attacking lone striker and yet they are forcing him to come back further and further and getting the ball to him almost in the shadows of his own net. That is a lot of territory they are expecting him to cover all alone.<br />Although bringing back Altidore and Giovinco for the home game will create much more than last night's "wing and a prayer" Ricketts lone striker mode, I still maintain that the invisible attacking contribution of TFC's midfield makes it tougher for the forwards. Giovinco probably leads the MLS in shots taken over the last three years, but that strategy needs a playoff tweak.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So if Coach Vanney was asking my opinion after the 1st leg on how to approach the 2nd leg, it would go like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Go for a blaze of glory. Tell your team that if they end up losing their chance at a repeat MLS Cup appearance because of a 5-5 score, then so be it. <br />That exciting, attacking football is what made TFC 2017 a season to remember, a historic season, a "thrill a minute" season with an unbeaten record at home until the CNE and a force to be reckoned with on the road. <br />That a 0-0 score against Columbus reminds us all far too much of a 0-0 score after extra time against Seattle last December. We know that defending steps up in the playoffs and MLS refs can put their whistles away. So quit trying to squeak your way back to that moment where Seattle beats you on penalty kicks.<br /> Right now Toronto FC are almost in a "next goal wins" situation. Especially if it is another tight game without goals. The longer Columbus can hold TFC off (and remember Columbus held off Atlanta in Atlanta, Crew keeper Zach Steffen proved he can be the diffence in a tough game. TFC gave him the night off in Columbus) the happier they will be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You bench Osorio, telling him that his lack of shooting is the sole reason. He has defended well, played solid positionally, his passing varies and his ability to hold onto the ball in traffic can be a concern, but he creates no space for himself and he takes no shots. Until he grasps the formula, take shots = win Cup, he is a late game sub for tired legs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I say bring back Jay Chapman, either as starter or on bench.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Threaten Marky Delgado with the same treatment as Osorio. Until he understands take shots = win Cup, his spot on the field could be taken by Cooper, Chapman, Hasler.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As for the back line, I think you start Mavinga, Moor, Hasler again, but Zavaletta deserves playing time and I would replace Moor with Hagglund in the second half should goals be needed. Nick Hagglund for the win.<br />So in summary, TFC fans can not look to the return of Altidore and Giovinco as the cure all for what ailed Toronto last night. They go into the game with the "everybody shoots, everybody scores" approach and the blaze of glory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I can remember well the feeling of that cold November 2016 night. Remember that long before the peak of victory, Montreal was able to grab the first goal, that important away goal. Don't let Columbus into the contest in any way.<br />Now let me gather my thermal underwear for next Wednesday's game by the lake.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2LUS__Hde0/WhWUF5IdQkI/AAAAAAADJcE/xzDYq0coKvYeA-eMaRCe7fi93P4CElvmACLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="204" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2LUS__Hde0/WhWUF5IdQkI/AAAAAAADJcE/xzDYq0coKvYeA-eMaRCe7fi93P4CElvmACLcBGAs/s400/download.jpeg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">TFC are 90 minutes away from playing for this...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lF9q5oHJb7M/WhWUF5BTw_I/AAAAAAADJcA/eSLv0JAA8ZA7cjBOpogxMFlooQx_bX8mACLcBGAs/s1600/MLSCupchampionbannerSeattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="1065" height="274" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lF9q5oHJb7M/WhWUF5BTw_I/AAAAAAADJcA/eSLv0JAA8ZA7cjBOpogxMFlooQx_bX8mACLcBGAs/s640/MLSCupchampionbannerSeattle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>After last night, I fear they are working towards this...</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-40052043549680065672017-11-06T10:33:00.001-05:002017-11-06T10:33:28.857-05:00Bad cop and flat tire on the road to MLS Cup - TFC 0 NYRB 1Have you ever travelled down to BMO Field with a nagging sense of dread? There is something about November that contributes to an unsettled feeling. TFC playoff games are still a new contribution to a lifetime of November chilling rain and the feelings of loss and a need to ward off the dark cold.<br />
<br />
I felt that the TFC -NYRB game could go wild in a number of ways. Even with that premonition, it was a horribly unpredictable mud wrestle of a slugfest. Two TFC goals disallowed! A red card to Jozy Altidore (and Snidely Whiplash, I mean Sacha Kljestan of the NYRBs)! A weird long shot deflection goal for NYRBs. Both Bradley and Giovinco get yellow cards for protesting!<br />
Is it possible for the entire fan base and most of the province to be issued yellow cards for protesting? I would wear that one proudly.<br />
<br />
Here I am blogging Monday morning. I thought I needed to cool off before pounding the keyboard. Still steamed though.<br />
<br />
<br />
A Sunday afternoon that was was plenty ugly. I think that NYRB provided some of the ugly. Their tactics were based on size and grit when defending. However the refs provided most of the ugly, chiefly head ref Chris Penso, with special mention of the VAR Ted Unkel. Clearly a man fully thrown off by the switch back to standard time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cloJDQEkyg/WgBoUUBfpwI/AAAAAAADHyM/RzeFH0bYVWUdMldwlxEBVrxmcl6JnwSHQCLcBGAs/s1600/cb_frolich_potato2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cloJDQEkyg/WgBoUUBfpwI/AAAAAAADHyM/RzeFH0bYVWUdMldwlxEBVrxmcl6JnwSHQCLcBGAs/s320/cb_frolich_potato2.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">VAR ref Ted Unkel inaction yesterday</span></i></td></tr>
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The non-call against Giovinco earlier in the first half when he was brought down in the box was the turning point and the start of the ref losing control of the game (imho). NYRB played physical against Seba Giovinco all game. How did NYRB defender Long not get a yellow for persistent fouling in the second half? Giovinco's yellow was a reaction to the third or fourth takedown. It was interesting to me that the MLS highlights did not include the Giovinco being fouled in the box moment. It was shown on the stadium screen at half time - looked from that angle that a NYRB defender knees Giovinco in the left side of his torso to bring him down. Would love to see that again.<br />
<br />
<br />
TFC go through to the next round, meeting the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference two leg final. To those unclear on TFC losing yesterday but still advancing - the total score after two games with NYRB was 2-2, but TFC had the tie breaker having scored two goals in NY over NY scoring one in Toronto. The away goal tie breaker is a TFC fans' best friend today.<br />
Mark Tuesday November 21st on your calendar. That is the night of the game in Columbus.<br />
Something has to be done about this stupid playoff schedule. The international break is too wide and arrives at the wrong time. The MLS Cup being played on December 9th seems incredible when we already know the final four competing on November 6th.<br />Stay tuned, keep kicking and check your thermal underwear collection and monitor your blood pressure medication.<br />
Next game at BMO Field Wednesday November 29th vs Columbus Crew.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647643771369878970.post-56768865561274615862017-10-31T08:52:00.002-04:002017-10-31T08:52:32.998-04:00On the road to MLS Cup - game 1 - NYRB 1 TFC 2<span style="font-size: large;">And so we return to playoff footy... with a strategic victory at a stadium where victories have been mighty scarce in TFC history.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9CkQILxMBg/WfhnSNEVUBI/AAAAAAADG_s/dBvWesrOHzcOh1gUN1OCWxuQglXW8CrvgCLcBGAs/s1600/new-jersey-red-bull-arena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="890" height="177" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U9CkQILxMBg/WfhnSNEVUBI/AAAAAAADG_s/dBvWesrOHzcOh1gUN1OCWxuQglXW8CrvgCLcBGAs/s400/new-jersey-red-bull-arena.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">get out much, NYRB fans?</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the first MLS Cup playoff game for TFC since that (shudder, shudder) Cup final disaster versus Seattle last December. When you consider that the recent season was a record breaking Supporter's Shield winning campaign, you could have had a hunch, going into this first leg game at New York Red Bull Arena, that TFC were due for a letdown effort.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead Toronto FC had enough attacking skills, enough full team defending and enough top level goalkeeping to defeat NYRB in this first leg game. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Red Bulls had opportunities, mostly in the second half, but Alex Bono was more than up to the task. The only Red Bull goal was a penalty kick after a bad moment of defending at the end of the first half. It gave NYRB hope going into the second half. Based on most of the first half play, it might have been hope they did not deserve. You had to expect something from the home team in this arena seldom kind to TFC.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Toronto was up to the task of defending and the rougher play and stronger play of NYRB as they attempted to get into the game. How Felipe did not at least earn a yellow for the hip check of Vazquez, I will never understand. Hagglund in for the injured Drew Moor was a forced substitution that paid off. I know that it is unfair to Osorio (in terms of offensive skills) when he comes on for an ailing Vazquez, but Osorio was a solid contributor. If I am going to highlight the TFC subs, special praise for Cooper. His ball hog antics were perfect for killing off a game to ensure victory. If this means that we can look forward to a return to playoff prominence for midfielder Cooper, all those summer time ball give aways will be forgiven...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This blogger was guilty throughout the second half of thinking that Seba Giovinco was having an off night. Seldom seeing the ball, unable to draw fouls, physically dominated by Long of NYRB. Then it all went Giovinco in a flash. Shielding the ball as he dribbled into the centre of the field, Felipe (the NYRB player I have always loved to hate) made a lunge that went knee to knee in front of the ref. It was an athletic feat of Felipe's to foul with his knee and then in a micro-second raise his arms as a claim to innocence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Giovinco turned on his super powers. His free kick went over the wall, another NYRB defender blocking that side and a diving keeper, and into the net. I would describe the New York crowd as stunned into silence. Too bad the crowd size was minimal. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raZLEo0Ng2M/Wfhs4XSJ3EI/AAAAAAADG_8/_52KidphqOgim6lTCZZV51Vr0Pb-nD0ZwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-31%2Bat%2B8.29.27%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raZLEo0Ng2M/Wfhs4XSJ3EI/AAAAAAADG_8/_52KidphqOgim6lTCZZV51Vr0Pb-nD0ZwCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-10-31%2Bat%2B8.29.27%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Just another day at the office for Seba Giovinco</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of small crowds for a midweek playoff game, you read idle comments that the MLS would desire a NYCFC vs NYRB playoff matchup to highlight the game in the Big Apple. Maybe the small Red Bull Arena crowd is an indication that soccer in New York needs such a boost. I suspect that the Eastern final will be Toronto vs Columbus, but that is based on season momentum (and Columbus looking blessed vs Atlanta). The NYCFC vs Columbus match up should be interesting. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I am guilty of looking towards the next round now. I think that should TFC score the first goal at BMO Field on Sunday afternoon, NYRB is more likely to fold their tent, pick up red cards (Hello Felipe) and leak goals, than mount a mighty comeback.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">See you Sunday.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0