An Englishman's Journey into MLS

[DichioTFC]

So some guy originally from Engerland now in America has decided to stop being a "football snob" and start following the MLS. And he's chosen our club as his own. He's only made a couple posts, but it's an entertaining read.

http://jimmystone.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/my-mls-journey-begins/

He speaks very well of our support, anyone want to invite him to a tailgate?

[MartinUtd]

lol.. I'm half way into the first article and I'm already loving it


According to my preliminary research the MLS is full of awful defending, finishing and goalkeeping; everything that I love to moan about at 3 o’clock on Saturday

It turns out New York Red Bulls are the closest team to my address in England (just 3372.803 miles away) but hold on. The ‘Red Bulls’ are unquestionably far too good for me to support. Currently in fifth position in the eastern conference and with Thierry Henry up front for them there is no way I would feel at home at the Red Bull Arena. So I had another look. Lying second from bottom in the Eastern conference and a measly 3447.989 miles away from my home address in England are Toronto FC; my new MLS team.

And there you have it!

[TFCRegina]

So some guy originally from Engerland now in America has decided to stop being a "football snob" and start following the MLS. And he's chosen our club as his own. He's only made a couple posts, but it's an entertaining read.

http://jimmystone.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/my-mls-journey-begins/

He speaks very well of our support, anyone want to invite him to a tailgate?

Seems like a good bloke.

[Ageroo]

This guy is a hoot



I urge anyone reading this to pick your own MLS team and follow them whilst I continue my MLS journey. Fittingly, Toronto FC’s next game is on September 10th away at top the table Columbus Crew. I expect them to lose.

[Brooker]

And there you have it!

LMAO!

Oh my god this guy is great.

[Ageroo]

Follow up article....LOL



I am yet to watch my new “local” side Toronto FC in action but do not have much longer to wait. They play Columbus Crew on September 10th who by lucky coincidence are Toronto’s big rivals. The Reds have never beaten Columbus Crew in their five year history but I have an emerging good feeling that my first game as a “TFC” fan will also be their first win over “The Crew”.

[TFCRegina]

I know! Reading these articles = gold.

[Ageroo]

This guy is gold....his third article made me laugh the most....


I have managed to gather some TFC stats that make interesting reading:

Toronto FC have conceded the most first half goals of any team in MLS (22)
Toronto FC have conceded the most second half goals of any team in MLS (27)
The good news is Toronto FC have yet to concede during the half time break.

[Ageroo]

I can't wait to read his write up after the Columbus match.

[Brooker]

. I have managed to gather some TFC stats that make interesting reading:

Toronto FC have conceded the most first half goals of any team in MLS (22)
Toronto FC have conceded the most second half goals of any team in MLS (27)
The good news is Toronto FC have yet to concede during the half time break.

Amazing.

[ryan]

lol that guy is great

[PopePouri]

I'm surprised he bypassed New England.

[Ageroo]

I'm surprised he bypassed New England.

Wouldn't you..... :D

[TFCRegina]

I'm surprised he bypassed New England.

I forgot NE even had a team when he was discussing close teams.

Maybe they're that forgettable?

[Ben - D.O.W.]

Thanks for posting this. Exactly what I needed to kill a couple of minutes at work today.

[Dkolish3]

It's clear that he supports loyalists instead of revolutionaries. :)

[Redcoe15]

I forgot NE even had a team when he was discussing close teams.

Maybe they're that forgettable?
Robert Kraft seems to think so.

[Technorgasm]

love it.
I signed up.

hope we find a way to win vs Crew.

[Oldtimer]

The guy is funny, but it's yet another example of a Brit dissing MLS.

If he supports a League 1 side, he shouldn't be so smarmy.


Barely minutes of viewing MLS highlights led me to the realisation of something quite magical. Major League Soccer plays host to a whole list of footballers who have tried and failed to make it in England.



However there is much, much more to the MLS than dire British players enjoying their retirement in the States.

[DichioTFC]

The guy is funny, but it's yet another example of a Brit dissing MLS.

If he supports a League 1 side, he shouldn't be so smarmy.

Grain of salt my friend. If being smarmy is what it takes for people to become interested in North American soccer so be it - after all, we TFC supporters are quite smarmy about the league ourselves ;)

[TFCRegina]

The guy is funny, but it's yet another example of a Brit dissing MLS.

If he supports a League 1 side, he shouldn't be so smarmy.

He's not really dissing MLS. The stuff he's identified is no different than stuff we've talked about in the past.

[brad]

It's also written with pretty typical British wit.

[rocker]

I don't think it's that witty though. A few lines are amusing. Otherwise it's a pretty straightforward "fish out of water" kind of approach. Most of the things he's said are obvious.

I think MLS is better than he has currently described it from watching only highlights. I guess people are just happy he's supporting TFC.. lol!

[PopePouri]

He needs to become familiar with Wowza's guide to being a TFC fan.

[scooter]

I can't wait to read his write up after the Columbus match.

you mean after we beat there yellow asses

[Detroit_TFC]

I am amused by Englishmen amused with MLS. Their amusement seems of the "bearded lady" type - curious enough to ask "is that real?" It's ok, my opinion is "love me or hate me (MLS or TFC for that matter) I don't care, just spell my name correctly."

[Brooker]

I guess people are just happy he's supporting TFC.. lol!

He doesn't really talk that much about TFC. He drops a little bit and then moves back to talking about the league as a whole again.

[Borga]

His new post is up on the game, looks like he bet on TFC and won 25 pounds.

[Blazer]

"In no other league would Juan Pablo Angel score for fun or Luke Rodgers (a former Port Vale striker) partner Thierry Henry upfront?! It is bizarre yet fascinatingly intriguing."

Hahahaha ... sooo true! This league really is mental.

[Auzzy]

He seemed to like last night's game: http://jimmystone.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/history-my-mls-journey-continues/

Or, actually, he was disappointed:


I turned to MLS to watch some dull average football and I was reliably informed that my choice of team (Toronto FC) had been a safe one. Wrong.

LOL

[james]

MLS isnt a top league, but people exspecially in England put MLS down as worse then it really is. Yes it was a laughable league say 7 years ago. But it has come along way in recent years and is inproving fast, from teams getting rid of all those NFL gridline fields, to building nice new soccer stadiums, to new teams joinning the league (portland, Seattle) and getting propper support with an atmosphere that is louder then it is in more stadiums in England then many outsiders might think. And the league seems to growing each year. Maybe MLS biggest weakness is the quality of play on the field and maybe the refs, but it is inproving slowly.

[Lucky Strike]

Anyone notice in the comments for the September 1st entry, there is a guy called "Bill" who rips our team? Wonder who that could be... The man REALLY hates us.

[Brooker]

Anyone notice in the comments for the September 1st entry, there is a guy called "Bill" who rips our team? Wonder who that could be... The man REALLY hates us.

Hah I didn't notice that. I love it. Bring on the hate.

Btw, who says feck?

[Mark TFC]

Btw, who says feck?

An idiot.

[jloome]

Anyone notice in the comments for the September 1st entry, there is a guy called "Bill" who rips our team? Wonder who that could be... The man REALLY hates us.

Probably that Douchebag in Columbus.

[TorontoGooner]

I love the MLS, but speaking as a Brit, the viewpoint in England is based on what the League was like about 7 years ago. Such as the cheesy kits, awful football and commentators who can't work out if they're commentating on football or hockey (e.g "edge of the six" and "D-fense". Plus the team names don't help. I'm not defending that viewpoint, just saying what it is.

However, whenever my mates come over they always have a good time and leave pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is great, the fans are up for it and the football is slowly but surely catching up.

I wouldn't be so touchy about it guys, this league isn't going to develop overnight but if we stick with it it will gain the reputation it potentially can deserve. It's in the nature of football fans to belittle the leagues of others.

You'd be surprised what RBNY doing at the Emirates in the Summer did for the reputation of the MLS. I'm sure people will shoot me down for this post but I'm right behind the League, and the reds

[james]

I love the MLS, but speaking as a Brit, the viewpoint in England is based on what the League was like about 7 years ago. Such as the cheesy kits, awful football and commentators who can't work out if they're commentating on football or hockey (e.g "edge of the six" and "D-fense". Plus the team names don't help. I'm not defending that viewpoint, just saying what it is.

However, whenever my mates come over they always have a good time and leave pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is great, the fans are up for it and the football is slowly but surely catching up.

I wouldn't be so touchy about it guys, this league isn't going to develop overnight but if we stick with it it will gain the reputation it potentially can deserve. It's in the nature of football fans to belittle the leagues of others.

You'd be surprised what RBNY doing at the Emirates in the Summer did for the reputation of the MLS. I'm sure people will shoot me down for this post but I'm right behind the League, and the reds

i agree, the kits were awful (and some have inproved, some are still a little wierd), the commentators, well some of them are still really bad. But there is now some decent commentaors out there in MLS as well. But the league is better then it was 7 years ago, and many people put it down without really knowing anything about the league. Im not really touchy about it, was just saying is all.