denime
08-25-2008, 06:13 AM
Ruiz, offence missing in action
New striker 'en route' from Guatemala amid rumours he won't report
Morgan Campbell
As last night's 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution wore on, and tiring TFC players blew chances to break the tie, head coach John Carver couldn't help but glance at the bench and wonder if the true difference maker was the guy who wasn't there.
He didn't mean Maurice Edu, who watched yesterday's game from the south stands a day after finalizing his $5 million (U.S.) transfer to Glasgow Rangers.
Instead, Carver pined for Carlos Ruiz, who came to TFC in a mid-week trade with the L.A. Galaxy, but who still hasn't reported.
Amid Internet rumours that a disgruntled Ruiz planned not to report to Toronto, Carver said the Guatemalan striker and former league MVP made a quick trip to Los Angeles after a World Cup qualifier in Guatemala. He said Ruiz has already spoken to team management and wished the squad luck in last night's game.
Carver expects Ruiz to join his new team as soon as tomorrow.
Ruiz has scored 82 goals in 150 career MLS games, along with 39 more in international matches, and Carver says TFC could have used his scoring touch last night.
Read more (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/484368)
Ruiz can't arrive quickly enough
LARRY MILLSON
TORONTO — Carlos Ruiz is expected to catch up with Toronto FC this week, perhaps as early as today, when the Major League Soccer team resumes training at BMO Field.
After a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday, Toronto head coach John Carver was left wondering what might have been had Ruiz, or another proven striker, been in his lineup up front with Chad Barrett, who scored the tying goal in the 66th minute.
It was a game of missed chances that, if taken, could have secured Toronto three points instead of the one before the announced crowd of 20,461.
With seven wins, nine losses and five ties in 21 games, TFC has nine games left in which to reach a playoff spot. And to get there, someone needs to step up and take advantage of gift chances. At 26 points, Toronto is two short of a playoff spot.
"You stick [Ruiz] up there with Chad and half of those chances end up in the back of the net," Carver said. "That's why it's crucial we get two guys who come alive inside the box."
Read more (http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080823.wspttfc23/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/home)
Surly internationals hurting TFC's playoff hopes ... Canada robbed by inconsistent officiating ... Johnston lashes out at BMO FieldTurf
By GARETH WHEELER
Food poisoning is the worst.
But, the good thing about burying your head in a bucket for 24 hours is having a lot of time to think and reflect. Not about what fast-food joint ruined your weekend, but on a busy and eventful week of soccer in Toronto.
Deep breath -- first thought; forward Carlos Ruiz and his trade to Toronto.
Historically, Central American players have had a lot of success in MLS. Ruiz is no different, making Toronto FC's trade for him earlier this week a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, his achievements on the field don't disguise the red flags raised because of his poor attitude. The shenanigans he pulled during the trade process to TFC this past week, and making himself unavailable for Saturday night's match, are completely inexcusable.
All week, Ruiz reportedly was unreachable, not answering phone calls from the league or TFC. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, there's something called a cell phone, on which anyone can be reached at any time.
Being incommunicado is a choice, rather than an excuse.
If three full days isn't enough time to return from international duty, then you know where his commitment lies.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008/08/25/6562386-sun.html)
http://i33.tinypic.com/aavlon.jpg
Soccer's success hard to ignore
Jeremy Loome,Sun Media
If nothing else, the debate over Canada's national soccer stadium is a lesson in the nasty influence of politics.
To those in the soccer community, it was never been complicated: Despite being the most popular participatory sport in Canada, soccer had never been given much a chance by big business, government or media.
When Major League Soccer's Toronto FC arrived, it became clear thousands of Canadians want good soccer, now. The team has an eight-year long wait for season tickets, sells out the 20,000-seat BMO Field for every game and has 16,000 season ticket holders -- 3,000 more than the Argos.
Point made, right? Apparently not, and that's where politics come in. According a Toronto city council report, circa Oct. 31, 2005, BMO is supposed to be Canada's national soccer stadium. It is repeatedly referenced as such, and includes a commitment clause to which the federally-funded Canadian Soccer Association agreed before the feds kicked $27 million into construction.
Read more (http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Opinion/Editorials/2008/08/25/6561261.html)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/SUNshineGirl/home.html) :noidea:
New striker 'en route' from Guatemala amid rumours he won't report
Morgan Campbell
As last night's 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution wore on, and tiring TFC players blew chances to break the tie, head coach John Carver couldn't help but glance at the bench and wonder if the true difference maker was the guy who wasn't there.
He didn't mean Maurice Edu, who watched yesterday's game from the south stands a day after finalizing his $5 million (U.S.) transfer to Glasgow Rangers.
Instead, Carver pined for Carlos Ruiz, who came to TFC in a mid-week trade with the L.A. Galaxy, but who still hasn't reported.
Amid Internet rumours that a disgruntled Ruiz planned not to report to Toronto, Carver said the Guatemalan striker and former league MVP made a quick trip to Los Angeles after a World Cup qualifier in Guatemala. He said Ruiz has already spoken to team management and wished the squad luck in last night's game.
Carver expects Ruiz to join his new team as soon as tomorrow.
Ruiz has scored 82 goals in 150 career MLS games, along with 39 more in international matches, and Carver says TFC could have used his scoring touch last night.
Read more (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/484368)
Ruiz can't arrive quickly enough
LARRY MILLSON
TORONTO — Carlos Ruiz is expected to catch up with Toronto FC this week, perhaps as early as today, when the Major League Soccer team resumes training at BMO Field.
After a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday, Toronto head coach John Carver was left wondering what might have been had Ruiz, or another proven striker, been in his lineup up front with Chad Barrett, who scored the tying goal in the 66th minute.
It was a game of missed chances that, if taken, could have secured Toronto three points instead of the one before the announced crowd of 20,461.
With seven wins, nine losses and five ties in 21 games, TFC has nine games left in which to reach a playoff spot. And to get there, someone needs to step up and take advantage of gift chances. At 26 points, Toronto is two short of a playoff spot.
"You stick [Ruiz] up there with Chad and half of those chances end up in the back of the net," Carver said. "That's why it's crucial we get two guys who come alive inside the box."
Read more (http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080823.wspttfc23/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/home)
Surly internationals hurting TFC's playoff hopes ... Canada robbed by inconsistent officiating ... Johnston lashes out at BMO FieldTurf
By GARETH WHEELER
Food poisoning is the worst.
But, the good thing about burying your head in a bucket for 24 hours is having a lot of time to think and reflect. Not about what fast-food joint ruined your weekend, but on a busy and eventful week of soccer in Toronto.
Deep breath -- first thought; forward Carlos Ruiz and his trade to Toronto.
Historically, Central American players have had a lot of success in MLS. Ruiz is no different, making Toronto FC's trade for him earlier this week a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, his achievements on the field don't disguise the red flags raised because of his poor attitude. The shenanigans he pulled during the trade process to TFC this past week, and making himself unavailable for Saturday night's match, are completely inexcusable.
All week, Ruiz reportedly was unreachable, not answering phone calls from the league or TFC. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, there's something called a cell phone, on which anyone can be reached at any time.
Being incommunicado is a choice, rather than an excuse.
If three full days isn't enough time to return from international duty, then you know where his commitment lies.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008/08/25/6562386-sun.html)
http://i33.tinypic.com/aavlon.jpg
Soccer's success hard to ignore
Jeremy Loome,Sun Media
If nothing else, the debate over Canada's national soccer stadium is a lesson in the nasty influence of politics.
To those in the soccer community, it was never been complicated: Despite being the most popular participatory sport in Canada, soccer had never been given much a chance by big business, government or media.
When Major League Soccer's Toronto FC arrived, it became clear thousands of Canadians want good soccer, now. The team has an eight-year long wait for season tickets, sells out the 20,000-seat BMO Field for every game and has 16,000 season ticket holders -- 3,000 more than the Argos.
Point made, right? Apparently not, and that's where politics come in. According a Toronto city council report, circa Oct. 31, 2005, BMO is supposed to be Canada's national soccer stadium. It is repeatedly referenced as such, and includes a commitment clause to which the federally-funded Canadian Soccer Association agreed before the feds kicked $27 million into construction.
Read more (http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Opinion/Editorials/2008/08/25/6561261.html)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/SUNshineGirl/home.html) :noidea: