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Yar! There be treasure beneath that hideous logo!
Florida - the land of orange juice from concentrate, mothballed space vehicles, Hanging Chads (not
Barrett) and Quebecois evacuees. On a map, it looks like America's wang but for the next few weeks
The Sunshine State will be home to our beloved Toronto FC.
Easily in the Top 250 MLS English leftback specialty tees - order now!SNIP, SNIPSo confident in the make-up of their first team for 2012, TFC management have taken the unusual
step of pre-announcing oncoming cuts. For Reds supporters this is like being in some kind of
training camp Twilight Zone.
I am fond of February. It is the first month of the off-season when you can finally say 'TFC game
next month". That, and the signs that days are getting just a little longer, are important to
me.
Now since I blogged that TFC was using the pre-season stage to shed some players, they turned
around and signed two defenders.
It's "Springtime for Winter" as Toronto FC today released the names of the 41 players (so far) who
are taking part in the club's pre-season training camp. The major difference from past years on
first glance is the absence of any professional trialists. Just a year ago, the likes of Javier
Martina, Mikael Yourassowsky and King Osei Gyan (for you TFC trivia buffs) were training with The
Reds in hopes of grabbing a contract but this year seems quite different.
"Letsh have de chit-chatsh..."It's safe to assume any TFC Media Day will be forever
considered a success if the star player doesn't openly discuss going on strike. With that lofty
criteria only a year old, today's meet and greet with the city's press will be considered downright
cosy. Optimism, a seemingly happy squad, plans for the future and heck.
Toronto FC appears determined to fix its defensive problems, and it has turned to an Ecuadorian
international to help it do so.
On the day it signed Richard Eckersley to a permanent deal, Toronto announced it acquired
defender Geovanny Caicedo. The 30-year-old, who has earned eight caps for Ecuador since making his
debut in 2009, last played for LDU Quito.
photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com
Richard Eckersley will be calling Toronto FC home for the foreseeable future.
Eckersley was signed to a permanent move with the Reds after joining the club on loan from
Burnley last April, the club announced on Thursday.
Ecks-iting news!Well that was surprisingly fast! After hearing about the "99%
certainty" of Richard Eckersley's return to Toronto FC since late November, it took less than a day
after his "Ecks'ual release" from Burnley to finalize a permanent move to Toronto.
The Reds officially announced the deal just hours prior to their big media day event, no doubt
steering the news of the day onto the English defender.
Ecks-iting news!Well that was surprisingly fast! After hearing about the "99%
certainty" of Richard Eckersley's return to Toronto FC since late November, it took less than a day
after his "Ecks'ual release" from Burnley to finalize a permanent move to Toronto.
The Reds officially announced the deal just hours prior to their big media day event, no doubt
steering the news of the day onto the English defender.
"Kiss me, I'm orange!"We promised we wouldn't talk about this godforsaken story
anymore until there was confirmation - but we are renowned liars... and desperate for some news.
With that, there is movement afoot on the most protracted TFC transfer saga of the off-season,
Richard Eckersley aka "The Ginger Affair".
"Kiss me, I'm orange!"We promised we wouldn't talk about this godforsaken story
anymore until there was confirmation - but we are renowned liars... and desperate for some news.
With that, there is movement afoot on the most protracted TFC transfer saga of the off-season,
Richard Eckersley aka "The Ginger Affair".
The counsellors are back with their "campy" Dutch accents and the campers are arriving one-by-one
at the big campsite by the lake. The weather forecast is looking a lot calmer than it was one year
ago - but anything can happen at camp. Especially if that new camp up the river, "Le Camp Impact du
Fromage", challenges us to a winner-take-all canoe race!
Now THAT'S a SuperDraft!Wow that's a lot of punnage in one title. With reason
though, as something is definitely going on behind the scenes which will help explain Toronto FC's
two First Round draft picks at the MLS SuperDraft. (Don't you just hate those non-Super Drafts? So
boring.) With their braintrust gathered in Kansas City, TFC did their best to confound those who do
mock drafts.
A three-year deal Joao?"El MosQuito" will be buzzing around BMO Field for the
foreseeable future as Toronto FC announced today that Joao Plata has signed a multi-year deal with
the club. The dynamic yet diminutive Ecuadorian was often the only bright spark in a miserable
first half of 2011 and his re-signing was considered as an off-season must in most supporters'
eyes.
Wow, they are happy Thierry Henry's leaving on loanMere hours from now, Dick Clark will descend on Manhattan's Times Square riding a fully armed
crystal ball where he will fight an army of Mayan warriors bent on destroying the world. Or
something to that effect.
Yes, 2012 is upon us and while many fear that it is the year that marks the end of civilization,
most TFC supporters just hope that it is the year that marks the end of futility.
Welcome to The Yorkies' regular off-season rumour roundup - "The Rumoumeter". Too busy to keep your
TFC ear to the ground every week? Just stop by the site and we will quickly show you what rumours
are hot - and which ones have hit the back burner. Some of the rumours have weight - others little
more than whispers; we take their temperature with.
Seriously, you'll never guess which one was protected...Less than 24 hours after
Galaxy lifted the MLS Cup, it's back to business at Don Garber's Playhouse. Aside from the Cup
Final, it has been a busy few days for league administrators with a few major announcements: future
MLS Cup Finals to be held at the home of the highest seeded finalist (Good); a tweak to the playoff
structure (Meh); and, the introduction of a conference-heavy unbalanced schedule (Fugly)
Today's paperwork however, was the release of the Expansion Draft Protected Lists with each club
shielding certain players from L'Impact du Montreal avec le Bibliotheque's grubby, petite, Joe
Louis-grabbing fingers.
Toronto has the building blocks for a strong 2012, who will they leave unprotected though for
Montreal to pick from? (Getty Images)
Toronto FC had what you could easily call an up and down year. First year manager Aron Winter
came in and cleaned house a bit which caused for plenty of early season losses.
And moving on...
2011 MLS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR:
Best defender in MLS during the 2011 regular season.
Candidates:
Marshall was a big part of the Crew's surprising success...
Corey Gibbs Chicago Fire
Gonzalo Segares Chicago Fire
Ante Jazic Chivas USA
Heath Pearce Chivas USA
Chad Marshall Columbus Crew
Julius James Columbus Crew
Drew Moor Colorado Rapids
Marvell Wynne Colorado Rapids
Ugo Ihemelu FC Dallas
George John FC Dallas
Andre Hainault Houston Dynamo
Todd Dunivant Los Angeles Galaxy
Omar Gonzalez Los Angeles Galaxy
A.
It was another beautiful September night at BMO Field Tuesday evening. As a fan, I got much more
than I bargained for. The team showed some spine and some sparkle against a Mexican team that had
ripped them to shreds in the first half of their south of the border (x2) game in the CONCACAF
Champion's League.
Chivas USA 1 Toronto 0
Juan Pablo Angel scored his sixth goal in five games for Chivas USA in the 12th minute, heading
home an Ante Jazic cross from seven yards after Justin Braun picked up a loose ball in the Toronto
half.
*************************
It took me just 30 minutes to get from my Torrance driveway to my press box seat tonight at Home
Depot Center where a rather subdued atmosphere has greeted two struggling teams.
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.
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?
Burgundy's in townTORONTO (17th) VS. COLORADO (5th) BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 1:30PM ETTV: TSN THE KICKABOUT:Good day TFC supporters, we're The Yorkies. Tits McGee is on vacation.
It was a strange time for both FC Dallas and Toronto FC as they were getting ready to play each
other as the two MLS sides are in Group C, but of course their countries they call home are
different. It looked like a decent crowd at BMO Field was going to get an entertaining game.
A fantastic chip by Jackson Goncalves in the 18th minute gave FC Dallas the early lead, but
around the 32nd minute the first half was officially delayed for the first time due to a horrible
thunderstorm that came over the city of Toronto, with lightning striking all over the place.
In a game that had to be replayed after lightning brought a halt to events on Wednesday night,
Dallas got the win on Thursday. Jack Stewart scored the game's only goal in the 45th minute with
Kevin Hartman picking up the shutout. Dallas had failed to convert on an earlier penalty. Toronto's
Richard Eckersley was sent off in stoppage time.
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.
"Please do the air splits for the National Anthem of Panama"
TAURO FC VS.
TORONTO FCCONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP C ESTADIO ROMMEL FERNANDEZ - THURSDAY 8PM ETTV: SETANTA (Free View) THE KICKABOUT:- Will Aron Winter trump his Toronto predecessors and take the CCL seriously or will it be a 6-game
audition for 2012 jobs?
Kyle Beckerman: "Is it Reds boy day?"
TORONTO FC (16th) VS. REAL SALT LAKE
(5th) BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 7PM ETTV: GOLTV RADIO: FAN 590 THE KICKABOUT:- Can TFC continue its unbeaten streak against an opponent far superior than the last four clubs
they faced?
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.
"What the hell do I do with that thing?!"The Dan Gargan mystery was put to rest this
morning with the affable defender's trade to Chicago Fire. It was widely reported, and accepted,
that Gargan had received an outright release by TFC earlier this week but the club never made an
official announcement.
SPORTING KC (12th) VS. TORONTO FC (17th) LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK - SATURDAY 8:30PM ETTV: GOLTV THE KICKABOUT:- Are Sporting KC truly a much-improved team or are they experiencing a "new home smell" blip?
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.
God speed L'il Danny
HOUSTON (12th) VS. TORONTO (16th) ROBERTSON STADIUM - SATURDAY 8:30PM ETTV: GOLTV THE KICKABOUT:- Is there any way that TFC can repeat its May 7th performance against Houston where they won 2-1
and actually looked promising?
Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIPhotos.com
By MIKE NASTRI
After a miserable May and June that included just one win, the New York Red Bulls showed what
they can do with a nearly full-strength side.
The Red Bulls overcame a promising start from Toronto FC before finding a good attacking rhythm
and dismantling the visitors from Canada in a 5-0 dismantling on Wednesday night.
Toronto v. Vancouver again? Enough already!TORONTO (17th) VS. VANCOUVER (18th) BMO FIELD - WEDNESDAY 7:30PM ETTV: TSN THE KICKABOUT:- Has TFC improved since the opening day drubbing at Empire Field?
REAL SALT LAKE (5th) VS. TORONTO FC (16th) RIO TINTO STADIUM - SATURDAY 9PM ETTV: GOLTV THE KICKABOUT:- Will TFC have enough healthy players to make up a midfield?
- Are the recent positive and optimistic Reds player's sound bites real or simply an effort to
appease anxious supporters?
NEW ENGLAND (16th) VS. TORONTO (15th) GILLETTE STADIUM - WEDNESDAY 8PM ETTV: TSN THE KICKABOUT:- Can TFC carry over some offensive consistency from the LA match against an equally struggling
opponent in Revolution?
LOS ANGELES (1st) VS. TORONTO (15th) HOME DEPOT CENTER - SATURDAY 10:30PM ETTV: GOLTV RADIO: FAN 590 THE KICKABOUT:- With Galaxy hit harder by Gold Cup call-ups than The Reds, will TFC have the gall to use the
tournament as an excuse?
"I got 62 problems but FC Zurich ain't one"When you are beaten down so badly by a
14-month-old expansion club at your home ground, it is hard to see much past the digits on the
scoreboard. 24 hours later, most ardent Toronto FC supporters are still feeling wounded by the
experience of the 6-2 loss to Philadelphia - The Reds most humiliating home loss in its history.
