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Leaving the foggy past well behind himTHE BUZZ?Can this league drought possibly continue? Will De Ro fail to score against us twice? Will there be
a parade if TFC gets a draw? Does Winter dare rest starters before Wednesday's ACC Final? Is ghost
Robert F. Kennedy ashamed of his shoddy stadium?
BC Place: actual attendance picturedTHE BUZZ:Could this be the end to TFC's Canadian reign?Will Aron Winter "park the bus" at BC Place?Will he
let Ryan Johnson know beforehand?Who has to wash BC Place's giant curtains?Has the Whitecaps
schedule left them tired?Are Granola Buttys a thing?
St.Hubert - this leg goes to QuebecTHE BUZZ:Will Aron Winter regret saying "we're better than Montreal"?
Did Jesse Marsch pin those word to Impact's dressing room?Do people honestly prefer St.Hubert's
over Swiss Chalet?Is TONIGHT the new start for TFC 2012?Could there be more old Italians on
Montreal?
The (Stockton) shorts end of the stick
THE BUZZ:
Will Toronto FC leave Utah with as dubious record holders?Remember back in 2007 when RSL a bigger
mess than us? Yeah.Can Torsten Frings return balance to the midfield?Do The Reds have the firepower
up front to breakdown RSL?
"Next caller... schizophrenic football club..."
THE BUZZ:On a day of big crowds in MLS, The Reds head to CenturyLink Field in Seattle (or whatever it's
called this week) to face the Sounders and their famous fanbase. Tonight's matchup in North
America's Sasquatch District may very well go to the team who can shake of their Champions League
hangover the best.
You can't spell Hollywood without "Soolsma"
THE BUZZ:A tiny Home Depot Center crowd, an apparently "fatigued" Galaxy playing their first team... again,
and a Toronto FC squad who have pulled off the odd cup miracle. Could the Hollywood stars have
aligned for The Reds tonight?
The Rides of March
THE BUZZ:For TFC supporters it felt as if this match was five years in the making. Half a decade of less
than mediocre results and high drama off the pitch had the chance to be erased, even if only
temporarily, if The Reds could grab a win tonight.
A Reds takes Philly's best on the chin
THE BUZZ:The only real curiosity going into today's match at PPL Park for Reds' supporters was what kind of
line-up Aron Winter would trot out. With the official "Most Important Match of the Season" coming
up on Tuesday in Champions League, would the first-year manager opt to play it safe with a B-Squad
- or, would the Dutchman's competitive streak best the coach and see him go for three points
against Philly, risking stamina and injury?
"Oooh, we don't love turtling..."
THE BUZZ:A surprisingly festive atmosphere despite a small crowd at BMO Field as the number of Pumas
supporters in attendance was well in the hundreds. Giant golden kitty cat faces everywhere - Nick
Soolsma must have been in heaven. Actually, it was quite possibly the largest ever away support
number at a TFC match - despite the "away" supporters all having 416 phone numbers.
Doesn't want to face Pumas either
THE BUZZ:The only real prize for the winner of tonight's match will be for overly optimistic Goats or Robins
supporters (yes, we are trying call TFC "The Robins" for sh*ts and giggles) to pretend for one week
longer that they have a playoff hope.
That's a lot of Colo
THE BUZZ:Or rather lack thereof. On the quietest day in memory at BMO Field (tornado days notwithstanding)
there was a cautious yet apathetic vibe in the air pre-match. Would the TFC that beat Columbus
soundly one week ago show up or would it be their evil-twins who went to Mexico City?
TFC's defensive line in usual form
THE BUZZ:Mexico City's cavernous Estadio Olimpico Universitario is the setting as The Reds try to steal
three valuable Champions League points from PUMAS UNAM. The mood was hopeful leading up to the
match against the underachieving Mexicans but a rash of TFC absences and a suddenly strong Pumas
starting eleven have got us sweating through our UNAM's.
Trillium Cup... now with Trillium Saucer
IN THE TUNNEL:Half empty stadium? Check. Dirtiest looking cheerleaders east of the Mississippi? Check. Children's
playground outside the ground? Check. Simmering racial undertones in the stands? Check. With all
that in order, it's all systems go for the return leg of The Trillium Cup - MLS' weakest
manufactured derby ever.
Electrifying! Unlike TFC's offence.
IN THE TUNNEL:Whatever god, deity or golden calf that MLSE sacrifices virgins to - really, really wants Toronto
FC to become CONCACAF Champions. For the second time this year, Great Odin's Beard has caused the
skies to turn upside down over BMO Field and wash away a 1-0 deficit in its biblical wake.
I had the same look on my face watching TFC
IN THE TUNNEL:Rarefied air for Toronto FC as they fly into suburban Chicago's Toyota Park tonight. Not only are
The Reds trying to extend an unbeaten streak that goes back nearly a month now but they also face a
team lower than themselves in the MLS table.
Just imagine it constantly going up and down
IN THE TUNNEL:Sing with us... "
The Chaaaaaaamp-pions!" While hardly the stuff of Internazionale visiting
Barcelona at the Nou Camp, tonight marks the start of Toronto FC's journey through this region's
premier club tournament.
Dwayne right? Thought we recognized you.IN THE TUNNEL:
Days after successfully qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League group stages, Toronto travels
to the nation's capital - that nation, not this one. Optimism has slowly started to creep in to TFC
land as the new additions from Aron Winter's "Super Summer Transfer Blowout" have started to show
their worth.
TFC's ankles - Lest We Forget
IN THE TUNNEL:With Real Esteli nabbing that crucial away goal at BMO Field, "The Train of The North" have
everything to play for tonight in rural Nicaragua. A reportedly horrendous pitch, a zoo-like
atmosphere in the stands and ziplock bags full of humanity's worst await our boys in red as they
aim for the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage.
"2-2 and that's okay"
IN THE TUNNEL:A very late night for Reds supporters who have stayed up to watch "the best atmosphere in the
league". You remember that right? Used to be D.C.'s then we came along. Then Seattle came along.
And, then Portland came along. Sigh... at least we have those NutCan flags though right?
TFC's brown "Playcrap" bracelet isn't selling as well
IN THE
TUNNEL:One of the league's most beautiful stadiums, Kansas City's Livestrong Sporting Park, is the venue
as the "new" TFC attempts to re-ignite its season with a host of new players. The wish of a quick
turnaround against FC Dallas this past Wednesday didn't go as planned but The Reds will try to hand
Sporting KC its first MLS loss in their new ground.
Dallastasaray: No Turkish delight
IN THE TUNNEL:Before the transfer window season started we commented that TFC better have new players arriving
like clowns out of a tiny car. Well, Aron Winter bought a Fiat and the players have come pouring
out - so much so that no less than five new faces would take to the pitch on a very steamy night at
BMO Field.
No pressure Torsten
IN THE TUNNEL:A few days after suffering one of the
most humiliating losses in the club's history (and there's a few to choose from) TFC continued its
"Places De Ro Played Tour". Tonight it was the always difficult Robertson Stadium - home of Houston
Dynamo.
Harrison, NJ - drink it in.
IN THE TUNNEL:A fine night at one of North America's finest football stadiums. Despite the excitement of playing
in one of the world's greatest cities (well, it's bombed out post-apocalyptic suburb at least) TFC
has rarely had a good time in the Big Apple's shadow.
See those three Maple Leafs Whitecaps? Yeah, those are ours.
IN THE
TUNNEL:No signs of torrential rains or other biblical wraths on the horizon as the two clubs make their
way onto a hot and hazy BMO Field. The Canadian Championship and a spot in CONCACAF Champions
League is on the line as familiar foes, TFC and Whitecaps, conclude what started more than a month
ago.
No need to be so rude Kyle Beckerman!IN THE TUNNEL:With the Gold Cup Final taking place
simultaneously (smooth move Garber), the Women's World Cup starting tomorrow, The UEFA U-21 Final
earlier today and the FIFA U-17 Championship under way - nearly zero eyes are on this match.
They must be so bummed he missed the Revs' match
IN THE TUNNEL:
With Boston area fans geared up to watch their Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final, this may be one of
the lowest attended MLS matches of the season. Although... how will you tell? Gillette Stadium
usually looks that empty.
"Heeeere's Alan!"
IN THE TUNNEL:Could a rag-tag Toronto FC line-up shock LA Galaxy in the same way that Panama had just shocked USA
at the Gold Cup? Or, would they be as impotent as Canada was against 10-man Guadeloupe? Seriously,
it's not even a country! 1st versus nearly worst in Hollywood.
A Wizard can't change his rainbow stripesIN THE TUNNEL:The main question coming out onto the pitch was whether the temperature would be colder than the
reception for Teal "Judas" Bunbury - this is what it sounds like when two poor MLS clubs
meet...
ON THE PITCH:1' - This can't possibly be June as a less than capacity crowd actually need their scarves for
warmth - not festivities, Kick-off.
"Rapids are smelly pirate hookers"In the midst of a ridiculously crowded fixture list, with arguably the season's most important
match a mere three days away, Toronto FC faced a difficult trip to face MLS Cup holders Colorado
Rapids. Playing the boys in burgundy from The Mile High Suburb is never easy and Aron Winter had
some big squad decisions to make with visions of NutCans dancing in his head.
Take that Stan SmylOn a night where majority of Vancouverdelphians (it's what they're called - read it in a book) were
watching the Canucks, preparing to overturn cars in celebration/despair and/or colour coordinating
their Lululemon pants, the Nutrilite Canadian Championship took to the pitch.
BMO Field: as seen from above tonightMother Nature is not a fan of chip buttys. Four
out of five matchdays at BMO Field feature weather patterns / forces of nature that are taken out
of the scary bits of the Bible. Frigid temperatures, searing heat, infestations of insects and
today's Combo #5 of driving rain, mist, humidity and cold lake effect wind.
Pizza The Hutt - Head of MLS RefereesMmm, wet Pizza Hut. The Texan weather god (I
think his name is Jeb) decided to make Toronto FC feel at home by absolutely ruining FC Dallas'
home pitch with a day full of wind, rain and other biblical misfortune. Seriously, that's downright
BMO-like.
Zed Zed Top. Two better legs than TFC v Edmonton
Second legs don't happen a whole lot when you play without a single table. Okay, The NutCan and
the MLS format have nothing to do with each other but furniture puns are so rare in football blogs.
Sue me IKEA. Despite such houseware platitudes, Toronto FC indeed found itself in The NutCan
Semi-Final 2nd Leg tonight at BMO Field, a week after dispatching their opponents FC "We Heart
Tories" Edmonton 3-0 in the 1st Leg.
Immobile and lacking flexibilty. Like TFC's defence.
It's late (eff you Pacific Time Zone... you too Sir Sanford Fleming). We thus forgo the usual
pre-amble to instead offer this tome in the style of Seattle poem "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by one
K. Cobain.
Tune into Gol, it's time for RedsWe need a win, let's not pretendSeattle's hard and self-assuredLet's break a leg, oops - dirty word Total, Total, Total, Total FootballTotal, Total, Total Without Zakuani, they're less dangerousAron Winter, entertain usTime for kick-off, Qwest's raucousAron Winter, entertain us!
I know... rubbing oil in the woundsOn the same night that saw Real Salt Lake trying to become the 2010/2011 CONCACAF Champions
League Winners; the quest for a berth in the 2011/2012 version began for Toronto FC in Edmonton.
Yes, The Nutrilite Canadian Championship aka "The NutCan" is back - now with 50% more knockout
action!
