denime
08-27-2008, 06:10 AM
TFC's new strike force lands
By DEAN MCNULTY (dean.mcnulty@sunmedia.ca), SUN MEDIA
Coach John Carver was smiling ear to ear after finally getting striker Carlos Ruiz on the pitch with his new Toronto FC teammates.
Even though the trade that brought Ruiz here from Los Angeles -- where he started the season with David Beckham's Galaxy -- was completed a week ago, the trip to Toronto was fraught with obstacles that delayed his meeting up with the squad at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood until yesterday.
First there was the problem of even getting in touch with the 28-year-old native of Guatemala, who was in Central America for a World Cup qualifying match against the U.S. the day the deal was done.
Once Ruiz was notified of the trade a day later, he asked TFC soccer boss Mo Johnston for an extension on his reporting date, which was to have been last Thursday, so he could wrap up some last-minute moving details.
"When he didn't turn up at the weekend, everybody was saying it was because he doesn't want to play on the turf, but that wasn't the case," Carver said.
There was even one erroneous report that claimed Ruiz wanted no part of the trade.
The fact is that Ruiz apparently couldn't get out of the L.A. circus fast enough after having a war of words with since-fired coach Ruud Gullit.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008/08/27/6584271-sun.html)
Carlos Ruiz trains with Reds
Toronto's new striker arrives in town
Carlos Ruiz arrived in Toronto on Tuesday morning, and joined his new team near Collingwood for his first training session. "I'm very happy to be here," said Ruiz. "It is a good team with good coaching staff. Every time I played here, or I have seen Toronto play at home, it is an unbelievable place to play. It is a very special place.
Watch Toronto FC TV on Wednesday at 11 am ET to see the first interview with Ruiz.
Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080826&content_id=183538&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
Reds head north for training
Ruiz meets new teammates
FC headed north on Tuesday to train near Collingwood as part of a two day retreat. Coach John Carver has taken the players away as they prepare to face Chivas USA on Saturday (kick off 10:30 p.m. live on Rogers Sportnet). "It's great to be training on a grass pitch," said Carver. "The guys enjoyed themselves and we've got the local community out here as well. They advertised that we were coming up here to do some training, and a lot of people have come out to watch us. We trained for about an hour and a half this morning and then some of the squad spent the afternoon playing golf, and other guys went canoeing."
"It's been great for team bonding. We're not just here for a holiday, the lads worked extremely hard in training this morning and we're working towards Saturday's game at Chivas," Carver explained.
Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080826&content_id=183542&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
Montreal Impact set for CONCACAF Champions League debut
The Montreal Impact will begin its quest to qualify for the group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League when it hosts Nicaraguan club Real Esteli in its first match on Wednesday at Saputo Stadium (8 p.m. ET, CBC-Bold, CBCSports.ca).
In 2006, organizers elected to expand what was formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup from eight club teams to 24 from a region that includes North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The Impact and Real Esteli are among 16 teams from 13 different nations and territories participating in the preliminary stage of the tournament, which involves a home-and-away series that determines a winner using aggregate goals.
Read more (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/08/27/soccer-concacaf-champions.html)
Edu to make debut in Old Firm derby
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GLASGOW, Scotland -- Former Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu is set to make his Glasgow Rangers debut in Sunday's Old Firm derby against Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
Edu, 22, completed his US$5-million transfer from the Major League Soccer squad last week after being granted a British work permit. The American is expected to arrive in Scotland by Thursday once visa formalities have been completed at the British Embassy in Toronto.
Rangers manger Walter Smith is eager to deploy him against Celtic. The Glasgow rivals are tied at seven points atop the SPL after three games.
"If we can get him over in good time then I have no doubt that he would be involved on Sunday at some stage," Smith said.
Read more (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/08/26/edu_rangers/)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/SUNshineGirl/home.html)
By DEAN MCNULTY (dean.mcnulty@sunmedia.ca), SUN MEDIA
Coach John Carver was smiling ear to ear after finally getting striker Carlos Ruiz on the pitch with his new Toronto FC teammates.
Even though the trade that brought Ruiz here from Los Angeles -- where he started the season with David Beckham's Galaxy -- was completed a week ago, the trip to Toronto was fraught with obstacles that delayed his meeting up with the squad at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood until yesterday.
First there was the problem of even getting in touch with the 28-year-old native of Guatemala, who was in Central America for a World Cup qualifying match against the U.S. the day the deal was done.
Once Ruiz was notified of the trade a day later, he asked TFC soccer boss Mo Johnston for an extension on his reporting date, which was to have been last Thursday, so he could wrap up some last-minute moving details.
"When he didn't turn up at the weekend, everybody was saying it was because he doesn't want to play on the turf, but that wasn't the case," Carver said.
There was even one erroneous report that claimed Ruiz wanted no part of the trade.
The fact is that Ruiz apparently couldn't get out of the L.A. circus fast enough after having a war of words with since-fired coach Ruud Gullit.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008/08/27/6584271-sun.html)
Carlos Ruiz trains with Reds
Toronto's new striker arrives in town
Carlos Ruiz arrived in Toronto on Tuesday morning, and joined his new team near Collingwood for his first training session. "I'm very happy to be here," said Ruiz. "It is a good team with good coaching staff. Every time I played here, or I have seen Toronto play at home, it is an unbelievable place to play. It is a very special place.
Watch Toronto FC TV on Wednesday at 11 am ET to see the first interview with Ruiz.
Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080826&content_id=183538&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
Reds head north for training
Ruiz meets new teammates
FC headed north on Tuesday to train near Collingwood as part of a two day retreat. Coach John Carver has taken the players away as they prepare to face Chivas USA on Saturday (kick off 10:30 p.m. live on Rogers Sportnet). "It's great to be training on a grass pitch," said Carver. "The guys enjoyed themselves and we've got the local community out here as well. They advertised that we were coming up here to do some training, and a lot of people have come out to watch us. We trained for about an hour and a half this morning and then some of the squad spent the afternoon playing golf, and other guys went canoeing."
"It's been great for team bonding. We're not just here for a holiday, the lads worked extremely hard in training this morning and we're working towards Saturday's game at Chivas," Carver explained.
Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080826&content_id=183542&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)
Montreal Impact set for CONCACAF Champions League debut
The Montreal Impact will begin its quest to qualify for the group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League when it hosts Nicaraguan club Real Esteli in its first match on Wednesday at Saputo Stadium (8 p.m. ET, CBC-Bold, CBCSports.ca).
In 2006, organizers elected to expand what was formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup from eight club teams to 24 from a region that includes North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The Impact and Real Esteli are among 16 teams from 13 different nations and territories participating in the preliminary stage of the tournament, which involves a home-and-away series that determines a winner using aggregate goals.
Read more (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/08/27/soccer-concacaf-champions.html)
Edu to make debut in Old Firm derby
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GLASGOW, Scotland -- Former Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu is set to make his Glasgow Rangers debut in Sunday's Old Firm derby against Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
Edu, 22, completed his US$5-million transfer from the Major League Soccer squad last week after being granted a British work permit. The American is expected to arrive in Scotland by Thursday once visa formalities have been completed at the British Embassy in Toronto.
Rangers manger Walter Smith is eager to deploy him against Celtic. The Glasgow rivals are tied at seven points atop the SPL after three games.
"If we can get him over in good time then I have no doubt that he would be involved on Sunday at some stage," Smith said.
Read more (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/08/26/edu_rangers/)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/SUNshineGirl/home.html)