denime
10-27-2008, 06:05 AM
With Toronto FC's second season completed, it's time to look at what changes need to be made for next year's squad
By GARETH WHEELER
Season No. 2 is in the books for Toronto FC.
The team finished 10 points ahead of its total from last year, but still has a long way to go before it can labeled as an on-field success.
The work for Mo Johnston and company building towards 2009 starts now, with naming the 11 players TFC will protect ahead of the expansion draft for the Seattle Sounders.
The to-do list is vast for TFC, so in no particular order, here's a wish-list for next year's squad:
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/10/27/7216601-sun.html)
Mo Johnston on the road to nowhere
ANOTHER LOST SEASON FOR TFC
Cathal Kelly (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/94561)
Forget "next year." The rallying cry of Toronto FC's turgid 2008 season was "the year after that."
It came to a merciful close on Saturday, leaving TFC in third-to-last place, only two points better than the expansion San Jose Earthquakes and David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy.
It was a campaign defined by low points – the two-month winless streak, the constant in-and-out on the roster, the painfully-bored performances of Laurent Robert, who slummed it in Toronto until someone fired him. The nadir was bombing out of the new CONCACAF champions league, one-upped by the part-time pros of the paltry USL. .....
MEMORIES, WE'VE GOT A FEW
Cathal Kelly (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/94561)
HIGHLIGHTS
Road trip to Ohio: More than 2,000 TFC supporters made the nine-hour drive to Columbus for the first game of the year. Yeah, they were a bit over-refreshed, but have you been to Columbus?
Amado Guevara: It was a bit of coin toss which Guevara would show up – the 2004 MLS MVP Guevara or the squirrelly Guevara. The Honduran was well behaved and added an edge of genuine threat to the squad. But he needs a lot more help next year.
The all-star game:The league came to its mid-summer classic looking to ride the heavy local support. The fans responded with a protest over stadium expansion. But the game itself, a ripping 3-2 win for the MLS' best over West Ham United, was probably the finest yet played at BMO Field.
LOWLIGHTS
Embarrassing exit: A loss and two ties against the semi-pros of the USL's Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps bumped TFC from the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. It also left MLS' "big league" pretensions in tatters.
Laurent Robert: The ex-Newcastle star scored the winning goal in the home opener on a trademark free kick. Then decided to take the rest of the year off. His mental naps and refusal to go any harder than a brisk walk were finally noticed. He was cut in August.
Selling Maurice Edu: Everyone knew that TFC was not going to be able to hang on to the immensely talented 22-year-old U.S. international. But dealing him in August, smack in the middle of a playoff battle, was a gesture of surrender.
Read more (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/525052)
White Eagles capture CSL title on penalty kicks
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
It took 105 minutes and penalty kicks, but the Serbian White Eagles overcame the Trois-Rivieres Attak to win the Canadian Soccer League championship 3-2 last night.
Alex Braletic opened the scoring for the Eagles in the 61st minute, but Trois-Rivieres' forward Nicolas Lesage tied the game five minutes later.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/10/27/7216526-sun.html)
http://i33.tinypic.com/icssur.jpg
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/) :)
By GARETH WHEELER
Season No. 2 is in the books for Toronto FC.
The team finished 10 points ahead of its total from last year, but still has a long way to go before it can labeled as an on-field success.
The work for Mo Johnston and company building towards 2009 starts now, with naming the 11 players TFC will protect ahead of the expansion draft for the Seattle Sounders.
The to-do list is vast for TFC, so in no particular order, here's a wish-list for next year's squad:
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/10/27/7216601-sun.html)
Mo Johnston on the road to nowhere
ANOTHER LOST SEASON FOR TFC
Cathal Kelly (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/94561)
Forget "next year." The rallying cry of Toronto FC's turgid 2008 season was "the year after that."
It came to a merciful close on Saturday, leaving TFC in third-to-last place, only two points better than the expansion San Jose Earthquakes and David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy.
It was a campaign defined by low points – the two-month winless streak, the constant in-and-out on the roster, the painfully-bored performances of Laurent Robert, who slummed it in Toronto until someone fired him. The nadir was bombing out of the new CONCACAF champions league, one-upped by the part-time pros of the paltry USL. .....
MEMORIES, WE'VE GOT A FEW
Cathal Kelly (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/94561)
HIGHLIGHTS
Road trip to Ohio: More than 2,000 TFC supporters made the nine-hour drive to Columbus for the first game of the year. Yeah, they were a bit over-refreshed, but have you been to Columbus?
Amado Guevara: It was a bit of coin toss which Guevara would show up – the 2004 MLS MVP Guevara or the squirrelly Guevara. The Honduran was well behaved and added an edge of genuine threat to the squad. But he needs a lot more help next year.
The all-star game:The league came to its mid-summer classic looking to ride the heavy local support. The fans responded with a protest over stadium expansion. But the game itself, a ripping 3-2 win for the MLS' best over West Ham United, was probably the finest yet played at BMO Field.
LOWLIGHTS
Embarrassing exit: A loss and two ties against the semi-pros of the USL's Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps bumped TFC from the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. It also left MLS' "big league" pretensions in tatters.
Laurent Robert: The ex-Newcastle star scored the winning goal in the home opener on a trademark free kick. Then decided to take the rest of the year off. His mental naps and refusal to go any harder than a brisk walk were finally noticed. He was cut in August.
Selling Maurice Edu: Everyone knew that TFC was not going to be able to hang on to the immensely talented 22-year-old U.S. international. But dealing him in August, smack in the middle of a playoff battle, was a gesture of surrender.
Read more (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/525052)
White Eagles capture CSL title on penalty kicks
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
It took 105 minutes and penalty kicks, but the Serbian White Eagles overcame the Trois-Rivieres Attak to win the Canadian Soccer League championship 3-2 last night.
Alex Braletic opened the scoring for the Eagles in the 61st minute, but Trois-Rivieres' forward Nicolas Lesage tied the game five minutes later.
Read more (http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer/2008/10/27/7216526-sun.html)
http://i33.tinypic.com/icssur.jpg
SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshinegirl/) :)