denime
09-17-2008, 06:05 AM
It's crunch time for TFC
Reds must make do with current squad, win in Kansas City
By DEAN MCNULTY (dean.mcnulty@sunmedia.ca), SUN MEDIA
When the clock struck midnight last night the roster of Toronto FC, which has a meager 7-11-6 record this season, was frozen.
Yet coach John Carver is optimistic his starting 11 is good enough to challenge for a MLS playoff spot with six games remaining in the season.
Carver takes solace in the fact that the previous time he had a solid lineup devoid of injury or international call-ups the Reds went on a 6-2-1 tear.
He also said he was heartened by the positive attitude the club has been showing the past two days of training at BMO Field.
"Look at those lads out there," Carver said yesterday, "they are having fun. That shows they are a confident bunch."
The squad will have to get all that confidence going in the right direction as the season pretty much comes down to needing a victory Saturday in a game in Kansas City against the Wizards.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/09/17/6789446-sun.html)
Reds are playing for pride
Nigel Reed
I don’t know a lot about baseball. I do know enough to sit and enjoy a game, and I know the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in the early 90s.
I have also become familiar with the phrase “Playing meaningful baseball in September” – an expression which regularly does the rounds at this time of year, referring to the Jays hopeless quest for a place in the MLB playoffs.
Now take the above phrase – substitute the word “soccer” for “baseball” and you have an accurate analysis of the plight currently facing Toronto FC.
Read more (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/reed/2008/09/reds_are_playing_for_pride.html)
Saputo Stadium turf in rough shape
THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL -- The so-called perfect pitch at Saputo Stadium looked like a pock-marked minefield when Canada played host to Honduras in a World Cup soccer qualifying match last week.
Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo hopes it will hold up when his USL club plays its opening match in the group stage the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night.
Read more (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/09/16/Saputo-Stadium-0/)
OTTAWA-MLS pitch or CFL park?
SEAN GORDON
OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is making a forceful pitch for a Major League Soccer franchise as part of a political and financial power play that would likely force municipal officials to choose between chipping in for a soccer stadium or a CFL park.
Though Melnyk's grand vision for an MLS team has clearly energized the city's soccer establishment, it has lowered the temperature on an increasingly chilly relationship with backers of Ottawa's nascent CFL franchise.
Read more (http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.wsptmls1609/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/home)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/)
Reds must make do with current squad, win in Kansas City
By DEAN MCNULTY (dean.mcnulty@sunmedia.ca), SUN MEDIA
When the clock struck midnight last night the roster of Toronto FC, which has a meager 7-11-6 record this season, was frozen.
Yet coach John Carver is optimistic his starting 11 is good enough to challenge for a MLS playoff spot with six games remaining in the season.
Carver takes solace in the fact that the previous time he had a solid lineup devoid of injury or international call-ups the Reds went on a 6-2-1 tear.
He also said he was heartened by the positive attitude the club has been showing the past two days of training at BMO Field.
"Look at those lads out there," Carver said yesterday, "they are having fun. That shows they are a confident bunch."
The squad will have to get all that confidence going in the right direction as the season pretty much comes down to needing a victory Saturday in a game in Kansas City against the Wizards.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/09/17/6789446-sun.html)
Reds are playing for pride
Nigel Reed
I don’t know a lot about baseball. I do know enough to sit and enjoy a game, and I know the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in the early 90s.
I have also become familiar with the phrase “Playing meaningful baseball in September” – an expression which regularly does the rounds at this time of year, referring to the Jays hopeless quest for a place in the MLB playoffs.
Now take the above phrase – substitute the word “soccer” for “baseball” and you have an accurate analysis of the plight currently facing Toronto FC.
Read more (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/reed/2008/09/reds_are_playing_for_pride.html)
Saputo Stadium turf in rough shape
THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL -- The so-called perfect pitch at Saputo Stadium looked like a pock-marked minefield when Canada played host to Honduras in a World Cup soccer qualifying match last week.
Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo hopes it will hold up when his USL club plays its opening match in the group stage the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night.
Read more (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/09/16/Saputo-Stadium-0/)
OTTAWA-MLS pitch or CFL park?
SEAN GORDON
OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is making a forceful pitch for a Major League Soccer franchise as part of a political and financial power play that would likely force municipal officials to choose between chipping in for a soccer stadium or a CFL park.
Though Melnyk's grand vision for an MLS team has clearly energized the city's soccer establishment, it has lowered the temperature on an increasingly chilly relationship with backers of Ottawa's nascent CFL franchise.
Read more (http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080916.wsptmls1609/GSStory/GlobeSportsSoccer/home)
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/)