Another busy day out in Commerce City. Two notes, then onto the Supplemental Draft.
Edson Buddle left the U.S. Nats camp with an injury to his right knee. The same knee he's had issues with in the past. No word on the severity of the injury.
The Rapids completed the long rumored trade of Eric Avila's rights to Chivas USA for former-Rapid Nick LaBrocca's rights.
First and foremost, DSG Park will host the first home World Cup Qualifier for the U.S. this year. USA - Costa Rica on March 22nd. Ticket details are yet to be announced but they have said that Rapids full-season ticket holders will get a pre-sale before they're available to the general public.
OK, I lied. I didn't get back to the news this weekend. However that means I have time tonight to post my first roster analysis of the offseason. But first the roster news from Friday.
Eric Avila picked in the Re-Entry Draft: He was in Dallas while Pareja was a coach there, so there's some familiarity.
Photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Sporting KC did what needed to be done last night against bottom of the table Toronto. KC rode two
first half goals to a victory over TFC in their first game under their new manager, Paul Mariner.
KC got off to their traditional fast start with their high pressure system.
Real Salt Lake figured to have an easy time disposing of Toronto FC on Saturday night, but they
had a much tougher time than expected as TFC showed signs of life and looked primed to record their
first point of the season.
Then their defense reminded us just why Toronto has yet to register a point all season.
"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.
Colorado Rapids have lost four straight meetings at BMO Field when playing Toronto FC and added
a fifth one by losing 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
It was the stellar Dutch striker, Danny Koevermans that piled on more misery for the Colorado
Rapids. Toronto FC's Designated Player showcased an impressive second half brace, scoring six goals
total in seven league appearances for the club.
Toronto FC defeated the Columbus Crew for the very first time in franchise history in a six-goal
thriller and were able to lift the Trillum Cup on Saturday night at Crew Stadium.
It was a back and forth game from the very start.
Tommy Heinemann reduced Toronto's lead to one in the 67th minute but the Crew were unable to
respond as Julian de Guzman netted a third goal in the 87th minute.
The Quakes managed to secure another point on the road last Saturday against Toronto FC in
Toronto. The result marked the 13th game since the Quakes recorded a win in MLS, but the Quakes
were lucky to come out of Toronto with the draw they managed. João Plata managed to slip the
offside trap in the second, half thanks to a nice through ball by Ryan Johnson, and beat Jon Busch
to finish, but the linesman ruled Plata to be offside.
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.
There are two deadlines coming up for the roster. The first is the more well-known summer
transfer window that shuts on August 14th. The second is the playoff roster eligibility deadline,
or more simply the MLS trade deadline. That ends on September 15th. Both will, and should lead to
roster changes for the Seattle Sounders according the General Manager and Minority Owner Adrian
Hanauer in our chat today.
Toronto FC has pulled the strings on yet another trade.
The Reds maintained their wheeling-and-dealing ways by trading forward Maicon Santos to FC
Dallas for midfielder Eric Avila on Tuesday, adding a potential sparkplug in the midfield while
dealing away a captain for the second time this season.
Crumbled Saputo? You said it, not us.THE BUZZ:
Can Toronto manage to extend 70 good minutes into 90?
Will new DP Marco Di Vaio make an immediate "Impact"?
How many cheese puns can fit into a post-match report?
Are Aceval and Soolsma back in the Gouda books?
The aircraft carrying the defending skills for the second half arriving two hours late
Today was the first TFC home game with the new manager in charge. Paul Mariner was probably hoping,
as most of us were hoping, that he could bring to the home field all the energy of the first half
the other night in Houston without the collapse at the end of the second half.
The future isn't that bright Paul.THE BUZZ:
Can this finally be the real "The New Beginning" (TM)? Is the 4-4-2 set to make its TFC return? Is
TFC more Plymouth Argyle 1970's or 2000's? Will de Guzman find a permanent place in Mariner's
doghouse? Can Jacob Peterson quietly hiss through the Canadian anthem?
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?
PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian was on hand for the Philadelphia Union's home finale.
Although the match ended as a 1–1 draw, the beautiful fall day featured a beauty of a goal from
Sebastien Le Toux. Most importantly, the Union assured themselves a place in the playoffs for the
first time in their two-year history.
Nine banded Armadillo - habitat - the long grasses found within soccer stadia
Late, late last night I watched TFC handle a tame Real Esteli. It was one of those weird media
nights. I watched the first half on television and then went onto the TFC chat to see what Asif was
saying. Soon discovered that what I had been watching on tv was not live and that I was able to
move through time rapidly.
Toronto came into the match having scored the second fewest goals and conceded the most in MLS.
However, they have been decent at home picking up 14 of 18 goals. Dallas has failed to score in the
past two MLS matches. Toronto's Strategy
Off the back of two designated player signings and several trades, the side was almost
unrecognizable.
The early June dawn broke and it was easy to start the day with a touch of heartbreak. No, not the
heartbreak from looking at old photos. The Euro 2012 feast of two "top level" international games a
day ended yesterday and what do we have to tide us over until the quarterfinals start tomorrow?
A victory is a victory and each should be valued. At least that is what I have beentrying to tell
myself on the drive home. They have been rare enough in 2011, aseason where TFC have played 26
games to reach the plateau of 4 victories.Somehow plateau does not seem like the right word.
Perhaps it should be 26games to reach the doorstep of 4 victories.
When I think of the V-cup (formerly the NutCan), I think of stupid 8pm kick-offs and a traditional
staring competition with the eye of some storm. I'm not impressed that the correlation doesn't
involve a championship.
Can you believe it? We've won this thing before. Many times.
They may kick start your heart
Breaking with tradition, there's no rain or a wind that could hospitalize the ill-prepared. Its
sunny, nice breeze, cool. The weather I expect with football in March.
Toronto has been The Hulk in Champions League, but mild-manner Dr. Bruce Banner in the league.
Now this is the weather that I expect with my football. Cool, clear, crisp, fall conditions. Our
beloved robins are on their way to winding up their season in "mediocre"-ith place, and Extreme
Beverage is grasping at straws while the MVP-fueled antics of one Dwayne DeRosario is leading the
almost impossible turn-around of DC United into that last spot.
When the Seattle Sounders travel to Panama City, Panama to face San Fransisco FC they will be on
their longest travel for a competitive match of their existence. They will face a team that is not
well known and that little coverage online. The Monks have two strong offensive players in Johan De
Avila and Roberto "The Bomber" Brown, but beyond that are a club consistently in transition.
April is the cruelest month and after today's game I amdeveloping a scary theory around season
2012. Every month will be April.Is it a Toronto thing to build all their hopes around a savioror is
it a Judeo-Christian thing? Go ahead and discuss that for your thesis,you university types.
MLSsoccer.com: As a native of the Seattle area, what has it been like watching the
Sounders take off in the region? Rowe: It's been great. The fan base is unreal. You walk through Seattle and half
the people you see are in Sounders gear, it's just an amazing movement.
The Dynamo have acquired an unknown 24-year old defensive midfielder from an unknown team for a
conditional draft pick.
No seriously.
The details came from Jesus Ortiz on Twitter, but that's all we know right now. The player has
apparently not been informed of the trade so that's delaying the press release.
It remains to be seen whether the current Mexico Under-17 side will supply the senior team with
as much talent as the 2005 edition, which captured the U-17 World Cup in Peru behind the likes of
Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela. Either way, the hosts are into the semifinals of the 2011
tournament following an impressive 2-1 victory over France on Monday, and striker Carlos Fierro
certainly looks to have a bright future.
