Toronto FC Thread

[Taller, Better]

My god it all seems so childish. Trying to keep the opponents awake all night? I'd never have believed something as silly as that would happen in a civilised country.

[Taller, Better]

How are they doing so far?

[current]

With all the injuries, including all three designated players, contributing to a terrible season I was not expecting much so I was happy to hear of the win.

[current]

The fans are wearing paper bags, first Leafs fans and now TFC fans. MLSE is 2 for 2 now - Toronto Star pics:




Read more: http://thestar.blogs.com/photoblog/2...n-the-bag.html

[isaidso]

At least we have the Argonauts. They're only 7-6, but could move into a tie for 1st place in the East with a win over the Riders this afternoon. We'd need the Bombers to beat Montreal though.

[icemachine]

Originally Posted by isaidso

At least we have the Argonauts. They're only 7-6, but could move into a tie for 1st place in the East with a win over the Riders this afternoon. We'd need the Bombers to beat Montreal though.

Well at least they didn't fall any further back of Montreal, with Winnepeg's shocking win. If only the Argo's could play the Tabbies every week....

[isaidso]

The Toronto-Saskatchewan game was very disappointing. They came out really pumped and aggressive, but there wasn't any offense to speak of. I hope Ricky Ray can turn things around.

I think the Tabbies can beat anyone in the league, but they just don't seem to be taking advantage of their talent. Perhaps they'll start gelling now. I have no idea who will win the East. Anyone could be in the Grey Cup... with the possible exception of Winnipeg. The Bombers are just too far back to make the playoffs.

[current]

MLS has too much power - Toronto Star article:
Toronto FC’s Hands Tied By Meddling MLS: Kelly

Published on Sunday October 28, 2012
By Cathal Kelly
Columnist

...Mariner took over on June 7. A week later, he watched Sweden vs. England at Euro2012. His eye drifted to Olof Mellberg, once one of the best defenders in the world. At 35 years of age, Mellberg was not young, but Mariner was thrilled by the crispness of his game. He also knew Mellberg was available. An ill-fated courtship began. “I want to move on from Mellberg,” is all Mariner will say of that deal now, with no small trace of bitterness. But people with knowledge of the deal point to that saga, rather than the initial losing streak, as the nadir of the Toronto FC season. On July 13, the team shed its second-biggest contract by trading de Guzman to Dallas. The door was open.

Recently released from a contract in Greece and now retired from international football, the Swede was more interested in a new cultural experience for his young family than a bidding war. Though he had several European offers, Toronto caught Mellberg’s fancy. He visited the city, where he was presented with a personalized Toronto FC jersey. A deal was worked out in principle — $3 million over two years. That number represented a significant savings on the $1.9 million paid annually to de Guzman. Everyone in the team loved the move — acquiring a vastly experienced player capable of plugging that spot at the back where TFC wins went to die. They felt it was good value for money on a short-term contract that could bridge them through a rebuilding phase.

Given the cachet of Mellberg’s name, no one anticipated a problem getting approval from the league. They were stunned when the deal hit a wall at the MLS head office in New York. “When the league talks with clubs about signing (designated players), about a significant amount of guaranteed money, they want to make sure the long-term health of the team and the league are taken into consideration,” said a league source, trying to summarize a philosophical position that might most charitably be called unusual. The league is in the unique position of paying all the players operating under each club’s $2.8 million salary cap. Designated players are paid outside that structure. The first $350,000 of DP money is paid by the league and counts against the cap. The remaining salary is paid by clubs and is theoretically unlimited.

New York Red Bulls have three players making more than $3 million a year. Toronto FC has none. Nevertheless, the league felt $1.5 million a year for Mellberg represented too great an outlay. One suspects two factors aside from the financial. As a Scandinavian, Mellberg appeals to none of the sizable ethnic minorities MLS covets as fans; and also the fact that he is a stoical defender rather than a zigzagging forward. Whatever the reasons — and the league will not talk about them, on the record or off — MLS didn’t like the look of Mellberg. Toronto FC was understandably furious the league had decided to play miser with team money.

The club was already nursing a grudge with MLS over the exit of Scarborough’s Dwayne De Rosario. When De Rosario demanded a raise to seven-figure DP range in 2011, Toronto FC was willing. The league torpedoed that deal as well. In a fit of pique, De Rosario demanded a trade the club felt compelled to provide. Toronto got a dumpster full of disposable parts in return. De Rosario went on to become MLS MVP. The cases of De Rosario and Mellberg raise the thorny question of who has the final say in personnel decisions for Toronto FC — the club or the league. MLS is unapologetically clear — they do. (Though not so unapologetic that they want to say so on the record.) Unique amongst every sports league in North America, MLS has taken on the role of helicopter parent. They decide what is best for all 19 of their children...

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer...ling-mls-kelly

[current]

The SuperDraft is coming up in a couple of weeks - Red Nation article:
MLS SuperDraft Decision Time Approaches for TFC
Posted by
Armen Bedakian
January 4, 2013

Ah, draft season! The best part of Major League Soccer’s long off-season! On January 17, Toronto FC walk into the MLS SuperDraft holding the two biggest cards, with the other 18 teams eyeing their picks (number one and three) and licking their lips. It’s going to be a feeding frenzy, and Toronto FC have the most to gain...

And now, for predictions:

With the first overall draft pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Toronto FC should draft Eriq Zavaleta. Chivas USA will then select one of Andrew Farrell or Walker Zimmerman. If Toronto FC can find a player with proven MLS experience and they deem that player valuable enough to trade pick number three, they should trade it. Preferably, this player should be a midfielder, somewhere in his mid-to-late twenties. However, if Toronto FC cannot find such a player, or do not receive such an offer, the smartest move would be to draft the best player possible – either Farrell or Zimmerman, depending on who’s available after Chivas’ pick. (If both are available, Farrell wins out over Zimmerman).

Read more: http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articl...hesforTFC.aspx

Looks like the home opener will be at the Rogers Centre. Rogers with Bell own both MLSE/TFC and Rogers owns the Rogers Centre - Waking the red article:
Toronto FC Home Opener at Rogers Centre?
By Duncan Fletcher on Dec 20, 1:59p

Toronto FC's home opener was announced on Tuesday as taking place on March 9th against Sporting Kansas City. The location was shown as TBD, but it seems practically a given that it's going to be at the Rogers Centre...
...Of course the fact is that BMO isn't winterised, so playing a game there in early March isn't currently plausible. Another fact is that a long road trip to start the season off until it's late enough to reliably play at BMO would be a terrible idea. It's already going to be a tough start to the season in terms of winning, maintaining any kind of positive atmosphere and keeping the fans on board, minimising the chances of a big losing streak to start the season is undeniably a good thing...
...Last December when Bell and Rogers took over MLSE, and thus TFC, alarm bells rang in my head that now the Rogers Centre was under the same cozy corporate umbrella, that we'd start seeing TFC play there on a regular basis, with all the 'special event' hype and distraction that would bring...

Read more: http://www.wakingthered.com/2012/12/...-rogers-centre

More rumours - Waking the Red article:
Ryan Nelsen Set for Coaching Role at Toronto FC
By Armen Bedakian on Jan 4, 12:44p

It looks like Toronto FC just cannot wait to get 2013 started! With the rumour machine churning non-stop since the calendar rolled over, and the club being linked to Arnold Peralta, then Jeff Larentowicz, and finally, the Honduran Maradona himself, Alexander Lopez, the Reds have been busy this offseason. Now, Toronto FC are being connected to New Zealand international Ryan Nelsen, who previously spent some time in Major League Soccer from 2000-2005, winning individual honours and MLS Cups with D.C. United (Kevin Payne’s D.C. United, ladies and gents!), before heading to England with Blackburn Rovers. He also spent a short time with Tottenham Hotspur and is currently with Queens Park Rangers.

The rumours originated on Twitter, first with Nelsen heading back to MLS, then with Nelsen heading back to D.C.,but Ben Olsen said it was 100 per cent not true, quickly shutting down the rumour, according to Steven Goff of the Washington Post. Now, the rumours have moved on and have Ryan Nelsen coming to Toronto FC, but our sources tell us Nelsen would be coming here as a coach, not a player. Toronto FC have, supposedly, been shopping for an assistant coach as of late to replace Jim Brennan, a position previously offered to and snubbed by Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath...

Read more: http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/1/4...at-toronto-fc-

[current]

The rumours were true, but Nelsen will not be the rumoured assistant coach because he will be replacing Mariner the newly fired head coach - Globe article:
Toronto FC to Name Ryan Nelsen Head Coach as MLS Team Continues Revamp
NEIL DAVIDSON
TORONTO — The Canadian Press
Published Monday, Jan. 07 2013, 12:04 PM EST
Last updated Monday, Jan. 07 2013, 6:40 PM EST

Toronto FC’s radical remake has cost Paul Mariner his job, while offering veteran defender Ryan Nelsen his first opportunity as head coach. The moves, confirmed by The Canadian Press, will be announced at a news conference Tuesday. Earlier Monday, the worst club in MLS announced that technical manager Bob de Klerk has left by mutual agreement. With Mariner joining him on the way out, Toronto FC has wiped out the remaining ties to the Aron Winter era. Mariner took over from Winter last June, becoming Toronto’s seventh coach in six years.

The signing of Nelsen is a bold move by recently appointed Toronto president and GM Kevin Payne who has wasted little time tearing down the struggling MLS franchise since taking control on Nov. 28. Nelsen, a 35-year-old New Zealander, played for Payne at D.C. United. This season, Nelsen has been one of the few bright spots at Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League. QPR manager Harry Redknapp confirmed recently that his defender had been offered a coaching job in North America.

“He has been fantastic,” Redknapp told reporters. “I took him to Tottenham last year from Blackburn. He’s one of the best pros I’ve ever met in my life, a fantastic player, a great trainer, a leader. “He is a massive part of your team (but) he wants to be a manager and it is a chance for him to manage a club.” Nelsen is wasting little time leaving the pitch for the sidelines. He played 71 minutes for QPR on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion in a third-round FA Cup match. The Kiwi is undoubtedly a leader, having captained D.C. United, Blackburn Rovers and New Zealand...

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...rticle6997417/

[current]

Good news if it is true - Waking the Red article:
Toronto FC to AEGON Future Cup?
The AEGON Future Cup is one of the biggest tournaments in the World when it comes to club youth soccer. In 2013, Toronto FC might just have a team included.

By Dave Rowaan on Jan 27, 4:01p

Reports out of Holland are suggesting that Toronto FC will be taking part in the 2013 AEGON Youth Cup. The tournament, one of the top youth events in the world, is set to take place over the Easter weekend (March 30th-April 1st) and feature U-17 sides from some of the top clubs on the planet. Last year the final was contested between Manchester United and Ajax and was won on penalties by the Dutch hosts. That should give you a sense of the calibre of club that is attracted to this tournament. If that is not good enough to get you salivating over the idea, consider that in 2012 the full lineup for the tournament included Ajax, Manchester United, Desportivo Brasil, Besiktas, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern München, AC Milan, Ajax Cape Town...

...The reports are suggesting that the field for 2013 will include the hosts Ajax, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Anderlecht, Tottenham, and Toronto FC. There would be two other teams added to round out the field to the normal eight participants and the odds are good that the missing teams will come from clubs like AC Milan and Manchester United who are regular participants. There is one major reason to believe that this might actually be happening and that is Kevin Payne. When he was trying to form DC United into something that followed the Ajax model for youth development he got the club included in the 2011 rendition of the event...

Read more: http://www.wakingthered.com/2013/1/2...gon-future-cup

[Taller, Better]

The Snug at the Duke of Gloucester looks like a great place for a group of people to watch a Toronto FC game!

For the first time I had a good look inside the "snug" of one of the little local pubs I go to, and it is all about soccer:

[ladyscraper]

I've watched a bunch of TFC and Canadian team games at the Duke. Great place. It is also the home base pub for the oldest supporters group in Toronto, the "U-Sector" who had been supporting the Toronto Lynx before TFC existed and now support TFC.

[ladyscraper]

How big is Montreal vs. Toronto? A new supporters record will be set Saturday


This should be interesting to have thousands of Torontonians flooding into Montreal on Saturday.
I'll be there!

[Taller, Better]

hehe... can't wait for that one!

[JustinB]

Originally Posted by ladyscraper

How big is Montreal vs. Toronto? A new supporters record will be set Saturday


This should be interesting to have thousands of Torontonians flooding into Montreal on Saturday.
I'll be there!

Ditto!!

Red Army descending on Montreal! Come on you reds!!

[JustinB]

I did not want to buy a new kit this year, but the new kit just looks too good. Quite a slimming kit!

[Taller, Better]

They beat the Impact tonight 2-0 in the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal.

[ladyscraper]

Reds Sign Midfielder Matías Laba

TFC just signed a young designated player. I just watched a highlight video of him and he appears to be an excellent defensive midfielder.
I hope the new soccer fans understand his role and won't be expecting him to score goals!
I definitely like the idea of signing a designated player while they are still young instead of someone about to retire that just wants a last paycheque.

[JustinB]

About time the deal was finalized.