TFC vs. Bolton Wanderers pregame thread

[Oldtimer]

Live stream on TFC-TV. http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/console.jsp

TV-Rogers Cable 10 (Toronto only)


600 Wanderers fans coming from Bolton, Ontario for the big match:

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/8282810.Fans_see_big_match_____on_Bolton_Wanderers _Day/

Mista to play at least 45 minutes:

http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/console.jsp?catid=2&id=2119

[Nodoubtguy]

I'm excited about this......really want to see Mista.

[flatpicker]

600 Wanderers fans coming from Bolton, Ontario for the big match:

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/8282810.Fans_see_big_match_____on_Bolton_Wanderers _Day/


That's a fun article.

[London]

i am only going to see mistas debut

i can see the academy anytime

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

woooooo!!!


http://www.bwfc.co.uk/javaImages/83/d1/0,,1004%7E250243,00.jpg


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/13/article-0-006A8A7B00000258-962_468x494.jpg

[bgnewf]

http://viewfromthesouthstands.com/2010/07/friendlies/

Why Friendlies Still Matter..... TFC v Bolton

Comments always welcome
____________________________________

Tomorrow evening I, and thousands of other TFC fans will be going to BMO Field to see our Reds play English premiership side Bolton Wanderers. In anticipation of this game I got to thinking about my father, who recently passed away, and why these games are still worth doing.

Roy Drodge, passed away last November at the age of eighty. Being from Newfoundland where the economy has never been as strong as the people living there deserved it to be, Dad (a Boilermaker by trade) often had to leave for extended periods when I was a kid and go away to places like BC, Alberta or Labrador for work to support his family. Those absences only made the reunions when they took place that much more special. After university I moved to Toronto back in the early nineties and between us, myself and my parents always found the time to get together at least twice or three times every year. In his later years Dad and Mom would come to Toronto and spend the summer with my sister and myself enjoying the city and time with two of their three kids.

Back home in his retirement he fished… a lot…. And the trout always seemed larger in the telling then they did in the eating. He finally got his basement completed to his satisfaction. He cooked breakfast for his two granddaughters almost every day. He sang in the church choir and perhaps most importantly he spent every day loving my Mom, whom he married way back in 1957. Suffice it to say, Dad was in my eyes one of the finest human beings I have ever known. I miss him and think about him every single day. And in his last years he became an avid Toronto FC fan. And it all was because of a friendly.

You see back in 2007 my parents were spending the summer here in Toronto and I finally got the chance to get an extra ticket for a TFC game, in this case the friendly against Aston Villa. Of course I told Dad that he was coming with me. On game day I kitted him out in my TFC hat, jersey and scarf and we took the subway downtown. We got to the ground and we went to our seats in the south end. Dad’s money was no good that night. He was my guest. I bought the beer. I bought the hot dogs. I bought him his own TFC scarf.

It was a beautiful warm evening, and as the game was starting I told Dad that we would be standing, as was the custom, for the entire game. “No problem” Dad said. As the game progressed I starting to lead my section in a couple of chants like “…Come On You Reds…” and when hundreds yelled back in reply to my chanting he was laughing like I never saw him laugh before. And when Andrea Lombardo (yes that Andrea Lombardo) scored that beautiful tic-tac-toe goal he cheered. When Todd Dunivant did his Lambeau leap Dad cheered. And when the ref missed the offsides Dad cursed just like his son usually does.

Toronto went on to lose that game 4-2. But that of course did not matter one single bit. I knew as an avid fan myself that the game in and of itself meant nothing in the greater scheme of things. I was already a season ticket holder at that point and went to every game. I was as committed a fan then as I am now. I was actually pissed off that an important player for us at the time (Ronnie O’Brien) picked up an injury in what at the time I thought was a meaningless game that precluded him from having any impact in the league for the rest of the season.

But that game was not for me, the committed fan. It was for my father. Dad left the stadium that evening a true Toronto FC supporter. He never missed a single game on TV back home after that day. Dad was never a soccer fan of any kind before that sunny evening in section 113 but after sharing the experience with his son and with hundreds of his son’s friends and fellow supporters he truly understood what soccer was all about and why TFC was something special. Dad eventually got to one more game before he died, a Voyageurs Cup game on Canada Day.

So for those fans that are griping about the friendly I say this. If you don’t want to go then don’t go. Give your tickets to friends or family members that have never been to a game before. Take a friend or family member yourself if you can and share the experience with them. Just remember that the game is a friendly. It is not for us. It’s for the Roy Drodge’s of the world.

[canucker]

I'm so pumped for this. I finally, after more than 15 years of supporting Bolton, get to see the Whites play live!!! YEEEEEHAWWW!!!

How awesome is it that they'll be playing my home town team too?!

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

I'm so pumped for this. I finally, after more than 15 years of supporting Bolton, get to see the Whites play live!!! YEEEEEHAWWW!!!

How awesome is it that they'll be playing my home town team too?!


im really excited, too. ill be clad with an okocha #10 jersey tonite! :D

[ilikemusic]

Why on earth is this on Rogers Cable 10 and not Gol TV?!

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

Bolton: Jaaskelainen (Bogdan 46), Steinsson (Ricketts 46), Cahill (Andy O'Brien 46), Knight (Riga 63), Samuel (Robinson 46), Petrov (Gardner 46), Davis (Joey O'Brien 46), Mark Davies (Cohen 46), Matt Taylor (Muamba 46), Kevin Davies (Danny Ward 63), Elmander (Blake 46, Lainton 85)

was the lineup on saturday against charleston........cant wait to see them. and i hope stuart holden can make it in, too.

[Auzzy]

Stuart Holden is already here. There's an interview with him on the TFC website.

[STB]

Bolton: Jaaskelainen (Bogdan 46), Steinsson (Ricketts 46), Cahill (Andy O'Brien 46), Knight (Riga 63), Samuel (Robinson 46), Petrov (Gardner 46), Davis (Joey O'Brien 46), Mark Davies (Cohen 46), Matt Taylor (Muamba 46), Kevin Davies (Danny Ward 63), Elmander (Blake 46, Lainton 85)


Dam thats a full squad, looks like Bolton are taking it seriously !!!

[dag]

Fearlessly predicting a 3-0 Bolton victory. We should be resting our starters.

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~2096523,00.html

up the boltonS

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

Dam thats a full squad, looks like Bolton are taking it seriously !!!


only klasnic is the glaring ommission.

im giddy for this!!! :D

[Hooligan69]

Hoping to attend tonight's game though not expecting a TFC victory.

[STB]

Fearlessly predicting a 3-0 Bolton victory. We should be resting our starters.

HAHAHAHA It's a big day for TFC when you guys are considering "resting your starters" against a full Bolton squad.

It sure would send a message out about mid-season friendlies !!

[phonzo]

Mistaaaaaaaa

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

http://www.extrafootie.co.uk/resources/user_photos/14638_4793.jpg

[tfcleeds]

All hail the mighty TROTTERS!

So pumped. Toronto will be graced by the presence of Kevin Davies on the pitch!

[rocker]

Kevin Davies

Who? never heard of him.

[Yohan]

only klasnic is the glaring ommission.

im giddy for this!!! :D
i thought klasnic was a loan from Nantes last year?

[Jeffro]

^yeah he's not listed on their squad...

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

i thought klasnic was a loan from Nantes last year?


good call, forgot it was only a yr long stint.

[canucker]

yeah coyle wants to bring him back but don't think we can handle his wage demands.

i just hope davies doesn't steamroll over too many reds. if it was another team i would say go nuts! hahaha

like you Wiz, i'm fucking giddy! like a little kid right now. have you ever seen them play live?

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

nah.....admittedly im red scouse, but i have a few friends that are trotter supporters (one of them maniacally so) so over the years ive really developed a soft spot for them and have come to like them........one of the best pub rugby teams going :)

[tfcleeds]

yeah coyle wants to bring him back but don't think we can handle his wage demands.

i just hope davies doesn't steamroll over too many reds. if it was another team i would say go nuts! hahaha

like you Wiz, i'm fucking giddy! like a little kid right now. have you ever seen them play live?

I may have an opportunity to see them live in September at the Reebok, although its a bit of a long shot.

[nfitz]

Why on earth is this on Rogers Cable 10 and not Gol TV?!It's on tape delay on GOL TV. 10:30 AM, 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM on Thursday.

It's also listed on Rogers HD channel 510 (the HD version of Cable 10). Not sure if the game will be in HD or not.

This is the first time I recall the Carlsberg cup being televised (hmm ... and the first time I've had a ticket to the game ...). Given it will be broadcast so widely, I don't think we should be complaining!

[canucker]

I may have an opportunity to see them live in September at the Reebok, although its a bit of a long shot.

do it! the Bok is apparently a great stadium. atmosphere isn't as good as it used to be but coyle is starting to bring them back with a promise of prettier football.

[canucker]

nah.....admittedly im red scouse, but i have a few friends that are trotter supporters (one of them maniacally so) so over the years ive really developed a soft spot for them and have come to like them........one of the best pub rugby teams going :)

hahahaha, pub rugby my arse!

[canucker]

http://viewfromthesouthstands.com/2010/07/friendlies/ Why Friendlies Still Matter..... TFC v Bolton

bgnewf, great post buddy. happy to hear you were able to share that moment with your dad. we have a habit in our lives to take the people around us for granted and it sounds like you made a habit of not letting that happen. good on you!

as an aside, i was on one of the bolton supporters' sites just now and they had posted your blog as well. the overwhelmingly feeling over there was support for your post. ("READ this . ITS why we love football !!!": http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=80&)

[Davenport]

I may have an opportunity to see them live in September at the Reebok, although its a bit of a long shot.

Bolton only have long shots.......

[CretanBull]

I've always been a fan of Matty Taylor - I hope he plays tonight. It sucks that they're resting Lee until the game after us. Davies, Cahill and Petrov are nothing to sneeze at though ;)

Looking forward to it!

[canucker]

Yeah, Matty had a tough year last year but he was playing with an illness he didn't realize had until later in the season. Great crosser of the ball, be good to have a player like him on TFC.

I'd like to see Jussi play as well, doubt he will though. Lee would have been great, has great pace.

[tfcleeds]

do it! the Bok is apparently a great stadium. atmosphere isn't as good as it used to be but coyle is starting to bring them back with a promise of prettier football.

Well, we'll see. I say long shot because as it happens, the match in question would be against Man U, and I'm sure it will be difficult to get tickets for that game if you're not a member. I agree though, the atmosphere for that match should be amazing.

[bgnewf]

bgnewf, great post buddy. happy to hear you were able to share that moment with your dad. we have a habit in our lives to take the people around us for granted and it sounds like you made a habit of not letting that happen. good on you!

as an aside, i was on one of the bolton supporters' sites just now and they had posted your blog as well. the overwhelmingly feeling over there was support for your post. (http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=80&fid=54&sty=2&act=1&mid=2120870187)

Thanks Canucker. I must say I have been kind of overwhelmed by the response that post has gotten. Appreciate the kind words.

[pawlukj]

Will the TorontoFc website stream be free? If not where else can i view the game ( im in mississauga so channel 10 doesnt apply to me) i would like to see mista play today

[Davenport]

Thanks Canucker. I must say I have been kind of overwhelmed by the response that post has gotten. Appreciate the kind words.
My sympathies...I bet you miss him a lot.
A special post pal.

[dantdot]

Will the TorontoFc website stream be free? If not where else can i view the game ( im in mississauga so channel 10 doesnt apply to me) i would like to see mista play today

It's free.