Today's News,Wednesday,Mar.28

[denime]

Mornin'



:drum:GAME DAY !:drum:




TFC TV



Reds Relish Underdog Role


(http://www.torontofc.ca/video)Gomez Wary Of Unpredictable TFC


(http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/03/gomez-wary-unpredictable-tfc)Playing It Safe Against Santos


(http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/03/playing-it-safe-against-santos)Salazar In Charge Wednesday


(http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/03/salazar-charge-wednesday)TFC in tough against Santos Laguna (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/03/27/tfc-in-tough-against-santos-laguna)


TFC gets second chance against Santos (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/03/27/mls_torontofc_santos_champions_league/)


TFC shaken, but stirred up for Santos Laguna (http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/1152722--tfc-shaken-but-stirred-up-for-santos-laguna)






(http://www.torontofc.ca/video)
TFC Related Blogs !! (http://redpatchboys.ca/forums/showthread.php?29582-TFC-MLS-blogs-thread)




SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshine-girl)

[Oldtimer]

De Klerk feels opposing teams have been given "too much space" to operate and that the marking has to be much tighter near the 18-yard box.

"If you let the opponent turn and give them the time to turn and face our goal, that's a big issue," the Dutchman said.
Against Santos, de Klerk feels TFC has to be more compact, pointing to what the Seattle Sounders did in the Champions League quarter-finals against Santos as an example of what not to do -- Santos hammered Seattle 6-1 at home and won the two-leg series 7-3 on aggregate.
"We will try to be very compact because when you play open and wide like Seattle did in Mexico, they got over-run. You have to be compact when you don't have the ball," de Klerk stated.
TFC have also defended a high line in the past two games, trying to compress the middle of the field and use the offside trap to stunt their opponent's forward progress. The problem has been that the forwards and midfielders are playing higher up the field, and that's meant Toronto has been losing the battle in midfield, which has had negative ramifications on the defence.

"Sometimes keeping the high line exposed us in the last two games, so I think we need to drop the line a little bit," forward Ryan Johnson offered. "We need to get more numbers behind the ball and capitalize more on the counter-attack instead of keeping so many guys high (up the field)."



De Klerk and Johnson are noticing many of the points that have been brought up on this board. That is good news.

They are not stupid and can adjust their game. Let's hope it works. I think the team is still very dependent on Frings. Of course it would take some time to adjust to playing without him. One wonders though if there is enough quality to win without him even if they adjust the tactics.

The key will be TFC getting an early lead.

Sounds like they are going to try for more of a Prekiball strategy, with putting men behind the ball. That would be a great strategy for Mexico, an ugly tie there would be fine. It might not lead to a high enough lead here. I figure TFC needs at least a 3 goal lead heading into Mexico to go to the next round. Not impossible to win if they don't get that, but the shellacking of Seattle makes one pause...

[ensco]

I figure TFC needs at least a 3 goal lead heading into Mexico to go to the next round. Not impossible to win if they don't get that, but the shellacking of Seattle makes one pause...

We can win tonight by one goal and play a cynical game in Torreon. 10 men in the box and boot the ball away. It's got a better chance of working than anyone likes to think. Seattle had too much pride to do it because it's anti-football , and guys like Rosales think they can play with anyone at Santos. We are under no illusions.

[Oldtimer]

We can win tonight by one goal and play a cynical game in Torreon. 10 men in the box and boot the ball away. It's got a better chance of working than anyone likes to think. Seattle had too much pride to do it because it's anti-football , and guys like Rosales think they can play with anyone at Santos. We are under no illusions.

You are right, of course, and anti-football would make up for TFC's defensive shortcomings, but it's a risky strategy to go in there with only a 1 goal lead.

As far as pride goes, after 6 useless seasons, I would assume that this team has none, so they would be willing to do whatever it takes to win. So will the fans. Most here would take an ugly win over a stylish loss.

[Stouffville_RPB]

Morning D!

[Technorgasm]

I hope they bring their WAGS to BMO. . . .
kind of on a big booty kick. . oh. . the last . . . 20+ years or so. .
like J-lo. . but without the "Im a complete and total bitch" thing. .


http://youtu.be/2k64w3354kE

We may not win. but were gonna have a fuckin AWESOME time.
and. . we gonan score. .
so get ready to celebrate a goal until you cant speak no mo.

ALL. FOR. ONE.

[__wowza]

if this is going to be a one goal game, if that goal does fall in our favour, please, please, please let it be in the 91st minute. my heart can't take TFC going a goal up and then setting up shop for 40 minutes. we're no good at that.

[Yagbod]

if this is going to be a one goal game, if that goal does fall in our favour, please, please, please let it be in the 91st minute. my heart can't take TFC going a goal up and then setting up shop for 40 minutes. we're no good at that.

^This, seriously. The tension will be bad enough. Here's hoping we go up big and early, or sneak one in at the end.

[Nuvinho]

JDG2:
"On the one hand, I think it is too early to come back to Netherlands, but on the other hand, if I do well, I might be noticed more by the Dutch national team coach."

what? huh? Does he want to play for Canada or not?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/03/28/2997290/villarreals-de-guzman-ponders-eredivisie-return

[Red Rat]

about time that the coaching staff is noticing what the blind can see

[Red Rat]

JDG2:
"On the one hand, I think it is too early to come back to Netherlands, but on the other hand, if I do well, I might be noticed more by the Dutch national team coach."

what? huh? Does he want to play for Canada or not?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/03/28/2997290/villarreals-de-guzman-ponders-eredivisie-return

Screw him! big time

[Roogsy]

Despite his latest flirtings with playing for Canada (obviously a plan B) do any of you guys honestly think if the Dutch team didn't come calling he'd opt for them? I don't think that has ever changed. He simply started considering Canada when he was no longer in line to have a place on the Dutch team.

[scooter]

mornin d

[[NBF]]

JDG2:
"On the one hand, I think it is too early to come back to Netherlands, but on the other hand, if I do well, I might be noticed more by the Dutch national team coach."

what? huh? Does he want to play for Canada or not?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/03/28/2997290/villarreals-de-guzman-ponders-eredivisie-return


It sounds like he's doing whatever is best in his life. Basically, he was feeling depressed in the Winter months and he felt he wouldnt make the Dutch national team and decided to seek his backup option with Canada. Now, he's feeling like he needs to go home to Netherlands to seek first team action and he thinks he will make the Dutch National team.:drinking:(pipe dream)

IMO, he will most likely play one game for the dutch senior team as a backup or he will not be selected by the dutch out of commitment to home grown talent. If he was a realistic selection for the Dutch he would have seen some game time by now. He will most likely play for Canada.

My only question about this recent news, is whether he was succesful in retaining a Canadian passport after being away from the country for so long. I think the change in immigration rules might have something to do with his decision to persue a place on the dutch team again. There has to be something a miss if he goes against his own brother.

If anything the Canadian National team needs to persue Jacob Lensky and see if he will be better off returning to Canada.

[Detroit_TFC]

Mlssoccer.com 's First Kick news round-up mentioned that Winter met with the MLSE board yesterday. My stress level went up.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/03/28/kick-expect-new-look-toronto-vs-santos-tonight?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[JonO]

You are right, of course, and anti-football would make up for TFC's defensive shortcomings, but it's a risky strategy to go in there with only a 1 goal lead.
I don't think it would be anyone's strategy to take a 1 goal lead to mexico, but a win (any win) gives us a fighting chance...

[Carts]

JDG2:
"On the one hand, I think it is too early to come back to Netherlands, but on the other hand, if I do well, I might be noticed more by the Dutch national team coach."

what? huh? Does he want to play for Canada or not?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/03/28/2997290/villarreals-de-guzman-ponders-eredivisie-return

Obviously NOT...

National Pride at its best... Proud Canadian he is! FFS! :facepalm:

[JonO]

I like this quote by Gomez. I think there is a lot to it:



“I think this game is about who wants it most,” said Gomez. “These semifinals and finals rarely go technically to plan and its more about mental toughness and awareness and concentration.”

[Carts]

AMERICAN OFFICIATING CREW TONIGHT...

You know what that means - BE PHYSICAL, BE DIRTY (if we must), CHIRP, TRASH TALK, BEAT THEM UP, BEAT THEM DOWN...

Grind out a result...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/536739_10150697647489269_505479268_9195635_1977828 318_n.jpg

[mdc 77]

We can win tonight by one goal and play a cynical game in Torreon. 10 men in the box and boot the ball away. It's got a better chance of working than anyone likes to think. Seattle had too much pride to do it because it's anti-football , and guys like Rosales think they can play with anyone at Santos. We are under no illusions.

This is exactly why I beleive we can pull this off. If our coaching staff has excelled at anything to this point its game plans and stategy in CCL, tonight and next week will be no exception. Winter/De Klerk know what we don't have and know what we need to do to win.

[yellowfellow]

JDG2:
"On the one hand, I think it is too early to come back to Netherlands, but on the other hand, if I do well, I might be noticed more by the Dutch national team coach."

what? huh? Does he want to play for Canada or not?

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2012/03/28/2997290/villarreals-de-guzman-ponders-eredivisie-return

Maybe his passport thing didn't go through...either way, screw him.

[Furtado91]

TODAY IS GAME DAY WOOOOO. FORCA TFC Hope to see you all at Shoeless and IF ive never met you before just come up and say Hi or I will do the same I will be wearing my tfc jersey that has Furtado 91 on the back, and since Im going alone to tonights game I dont want to feel alone TFC.

[Strans]

Game Day!

This tight schedule is a great way for the Reds to bounce back quickly and put Saturday's distressing match behind them. If it's not pretty, that means we have a shot.

COME ON YOU REDS!

[rocker]

Salazar is not bad. Not the greatest MLS ref but alright. I was worried we'd get those Cuban refs again. Phew.