denime
06-12-2009, 05:48 AM
Mornin'
Mo blames bad luck for woes
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
Bad luck, not bad management, is why Toronto FC finds itself in crisis this week, says director of soccer Mo Johnston.
While his bosses at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. took the blame yesterday for "screwing up" details of the Real Madrid exhibition game during a state of the union meeting with the media, Johnston vigorously defended his three years on the job and still believes it's a playoff-worthy team this year.
But message boards from the three main supporters' clubs the past week and some media outlets have been full of calls for his removal. After a decent start to what was seen as a breakout year for the side, TFC is on its second coach and seems it's spinning its wheels.
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771631-sun.html)
Slumping TFC tries to keep the love alive
Disgruntled fans; 'I get why they were pissed off '
Eric Koreen
Coming into Toronto FC's third season, there were suspicions. Now, almost halfway into the regular season, there can be no doubt. The honeymoon between the club and its passionate fan base is over.
That became abundantly clear after TFC's 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, its third defeat in a row.
Members of three of the club's most vocal supporters groups protested outside BMO Field, bringing to three issues to light in the mind of Tom Anselmi, the chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment: the losing, the lack of grass at the stadium and the hastily announced friendly with Real Madrid that abruptly shook up the club's schedule.
Read More (http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1687933)
Garcia hopes he can bring order to TFC backfield
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
Nick Garcia has come from the Earthquakes to the eye of a hurricane.
But the new Toronto FC defender, who will be plugged into the contentious centre back role for tomorrow's game against the New York Red Bulls, welcomes the challenge of rescuing the club from its three-game slump and reversing some bad press for old pal Mo Johnston.
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771636-sun.html)
MLSE ready to kick in cash for grass
BMO Field could ditch FieldTurf as early as fall if plan gets approved
Chris Young
If Toronto FC officials have their way, the conversion of BMO Field to a permanent natural grass surface could begin as soon as this fall.
Admittedly, that little nugget amounts to a rather large if. It requires an acceptable plan for a downtown replacement for the multipurpose year-round facility owned by the city and the revenues it generates, agreement from provincial and federal stakeholders in the 20,000-seat, $63 million stadium, clearance at the committee level, and debate and subsequent approval at Toronto council's first fall meeting on Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Read More (http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/649668)
TFC can dream
If Toronto FC can pull off a big win in Montreal next Thursday, they're headed to the Caribbean.
Read More (http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/649667)
First of two games in 11 days against New York
TFC look to get back on track
Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls meet for the first of two encounters in 11 days at BMO Field in a rescheduled game on Saturday evening. Both teams have fallen on somewhat hard times recently. TFC has lost its last two league games and have just one win in its last six; the Red Bulls are now in the midst of a four-game losing streak and have seven defeats in their last nine games. The league game for TFC is the June 24 rematch at BMO; the Red Bulls return home for their lone game at Giants Stadium in a six-week span next weekend.
Read More (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090611&content_id=5271408&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
C-Ron run
Ryan Johnston
I suppose in some small way, MLSE helped facilitate the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid move.
It is unlikely that the final figure will ever be made public on how much it cost to bring the Spanish giants to BMO Field, but if you split the difference of the set ticket prices ($177.5) and multiply that figure by 20,000 seats you arrive at $3,555,0000. A modest guestimate at best; and in reality a mere drop in the C$145.2 million bucket that Florentino Perez dipped in to for the services of the reigning player of the year.
Read More (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2009/06/11/johnston_ronaldo_transfer/)
Ronaldo expected at BMO
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
The shine for this summer's exhibition game between Toronto FC and world power Real Madrid grew brighter with the chance that Cristiano Ronaldo could be at BMO Field on Aug. 7
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771626-sun.html)
TORONTO, NEW YORK HOPE TO SNAP LOSING SKIDS
Toronto FC had to adjust to life without United States defender Marvell Wynne last week, and will try to snap a two-game losing skid Saturday with its captain and other starting fullback Jim Brennan possibly sidelined as well.
Wynne, who was playing with the U.S. in World Cup qualifying, was named to the team for the Confederations Cup in South Africa. His loss is magnified now that captain Jim Brennan, Toronto's other starting fullback, injured an ankle and is questionable for this weekend's game at BMO Field against Red Bull New York.
Read More (http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=281573)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/)
Mo blames bad luck for woes
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
Bad luck, not bad management, is why Toronto FC finds itself in crisis this week, says director of soccer Mo Johnston.
While his bosses at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. took the blame yesterday for "screwing up" details of the Real Madrid exhibition game during a state of the union meeting with the media, Johnston vigorously defended his three years on the job and still believes it's a playoff-worthy team this year.
But message boards from the three main supporters' clubs the past week and some media outlets have been full of calls for his removal. After a decent start to what was seen as a breakout year for the side, TFC is on its second coach and seems it's spinning its wheels.
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771631-sun.html)
Slumping TFC tries to keep the love alive
Disgruntled fans; 'I get why they were pissed off '
Eric Koreen
Coming into Toronto FC's third season, there were suspicions. Now, almost halfway into the regular season, there can be no doubt. The honeymoon between the club and its passionate fan base is over.
That became abundantly clear after TFC's 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, its third defeat in a row.
Members of three of the club's most vocal supporters groups protested outside BMO Field, bringing to three issues to light in the mind of Tom Anselmi, the chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment: the losing, the lack of grass at the stadium and the hastily announced friendly with Real Madrid that abruptly shook up the club's schedule.
Read More (http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1687933)
Garcia hopes he can bring order to TFC backfield
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
Nick Garcia has come from the Earthquakes to the eye of a hurricane.
But the new Toronto FC defender, who will be plugged into the contentious centre back role for tomorrow's game against the New York Red Bulls, welcomes the challenge of rescuing the club from its three-game slump and reversing some bad press for old pal Mo Johnston.
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771636-sun.html)
MLSE ready to kick in cash for grass
BMO Field could ditch FieldTurf as early as fall if plan gets approved
Chris Young
If Toronto FC officials have their way, the conversion of BMO Field to a permanent natural grass surface could begin as soon as this fall.
Admittedly, that little nugget amounts to a rather large if. It requires an acceptable plan for a downtown replacement for the multipurpose year-round facility owned by the city and the revenues it generates, agreement from provincial and federal stakeholders in the 20,000-seat, $63 million stadium, clearance at the committee level, and debate and subsequent approval at Toronto council's first fall meeting on Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Read More (http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/649668)
TFC can dream
If Toronto FC can pull off a big win in Montreal next Thursday, they're headed to the Caribbean.
Read More (http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/649667)
First of two games in 11 days against New York
TFC look to get back on track
Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls meet for the first of two encounters in 11 days at BMO Field in a rescheduled game on Saturday evening. Both teams have fallen on somewhat hard times recently. TFC has lost its last two league games and have just one win in its last six; the Red Bulls are now in the midst of a four-game losing streak and have seven defeats in their last nine games. The league game for TFC is the June 24 rematch at BMO; the Red Bulls return home for their lone game at Giants Stadium in a six-week span next weekend.
Read More (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090611&content_id=5271408&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
C-Ron run
Ryan Johnston
I suppose in some small way, MLSE helped facilitate the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid move.
It is unlikely that the final figure will ever be made public on how much it cost to bring the Spanish giants to BMO Field, but if you split the difference of the set ticket prices ($177.5) and multiply that figure by 20,000 seats you arrive at $3,555,0000. A modest guestimate at best; and in reality a mere drop in the C$145.2 million bucket that Florentino Perez dipped in to for the services of the reigning player of the year.
Read More (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2009/06/11/johnston_ronaldo_transfer/)
Ronaldo expected at BMO
LANCE HORNBY (lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca)
The shine for this summer's exhibition game between Toronto FC and world power Real Madrid grew brighter with the chance that Cristiano Ronaldo could be at BMO Field on Aug. 7
Read More (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2009/06/12/9771626-sun.html)
TORONTO, NEW YORK HOPE TO SNAP LOSING SKIDS
Toronto FC had to adjust to life without United States defender Marvell Wynne last week, and will try to snap a two-game losing skid Saturday with its captain and other starting fullback Jim Brennan possibly sidelined as well.
Wynne, who was playing with the U.S. in World Cup qualifying, was named to the team for the Confederations Cup in South Africa. His loss is magnified now that captain Jim Brennan, Toronto's other starting fullback, injured an ankle and is questionable for this weekend's game at BMO Field against Red Bull New York.
Read More (http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=281573)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/)