Come on you Reds
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Come on you Reds
Coke on you CBA....
I feel the same as I did going into Seattle last year. Just want to see us compete and be demonstrably better. 1st games are a crap shoot.
Probably gonna see the same lineup as the last preseason game:
------------------Bendik
Creavalle -- Caldwell -- Perquis -- Morrow
--- Osorio ------ Bradley ------ Cheyrou
Findley --------- Giovinco -------- Altidore
It can not come soon enough, oh when the Reds come marching in.
What about CBA? If there's no deal reach, then this game will be cancel?
Might be time to retire the names, if the best we can come up with is "Wankover", haha. :D
I honestly don't know how this match will fold.
On one hand, Caps didn't really upgrade, except with Octavio Rivero who's a mystery mark, but if he produces anything like he did at Chilean league, he might be that striker who'll put Caps over the top. Then there's Caps defence which was one of stingiest in the league, and Waston turned out to be quite a stud. But his CB partner is a bunch of young guys or unknown and not settled who's going to partner Waston IMO. Caps have advantage in team chemistry with so many guys returning, but TFC on paper has more talent IMO.
Plus there's the turf at BC Place which will throw off all our new guys' game. Highly doubt any of the new guys deal with anything like that carpet
First things first...Let's hope the season starts on time.
We need the season to start on time !!
Compared to the season opener last year vs. Seattle:
--------------------Bendik------------------
Bloom-------Henry---Caldwell-----Morrow
Rey---------Osorio----Bradley-----Jackson
-----------De Rosario-----Defoe------------
I'd say we're looking good. Add a goalscoring threat at right wing/right mid to be a consistent starter over Findley/Lovitz/Jackson and I'd say we're pretty much set in terms of the starting 11.
For the players' sake, I actually kind of hope there's a lockout. They've been absolute rolled over the past couple of negotiations, while they've watched teams like ours spend tens of millions on single players. The salary inequality in MLS is absurd, and will continue to be absurd for a long while yet - but there's no reason they can't make it MORE equal. Teams crying poor will come across pretty hollow these days.
Add another DP slot, significantly increase the league minimum salary, and change some of the rules around contract guarantees, so players are more protected. All of that should be doable.
I really think Creavalle is a good player. He doesn't have as many games at RB as a DM, but he's simply a much better player then Bloom. Perquis is a pretty big upgrade over Henry as well. Osorio will be better this year and will really be able to play to his strengths, playing a possession game with skilled players. Very excited for Cheyrou as well. Agree on Findley, maybe we can acquire a winger in july.
Dont get me wrong, I am very excited. But in this first game, Crevealle is only marginally better than Bloom, Perquis is still new. So I rate the four at about the same at this point. As for Findley, I hope he comes good. But at the moment, haven't seen much. And if he does not work out, it does demonstrate why it's problematic for a player to have as much input into transfers as Bradley does - he would remember Findley at his best pre injury
Here's my guesses! Can't wait!
-------------------Bendik------------------
-Creaville--Caldwell--Perquis--Morrow--
----------Bradley--------Cheyrou--------
--Jackson-------Giovinco-------Osorio--
-------------Altidore----------------------
Bench: Konopka, Bloom, Warner, Lovitz, Findley, Moore
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_WK92fUwAAd8mU.jpg:large
The lads on route to Vancouver, great to see, the game can not come soon enough.
Kurtis Larson @KurtLarSUN 42s42 seconds ago
Notable absences: Bloom, Jackson, Lovitz appear to have missed out on selection. #TFC
I will be happy with draw for this game based what I have saw in preseason.
Looks like it's going to be a good day for soccer in Vancouver on Saturday. Expected high is 13 degree with a bit of a light breeze. The Weather Network has actually made note of their above seasonal temperatures and dry conditions there for this time of year. The Whitecaps are coming off a pretty busy preseason schedule that gave them a record of 4-2-2 with the last four matches played in Portland against a pretty diverse mix of opponents (Timbers 2, Timbers, Stabaek, and Chicago; respectively). Of course, this isn't MLS regular season play we're talking about, so nobody should look too deeply into those numbers. Bottom line though, they've been playing and training in relatively mild conditions with slightly above-average temperatures for the past few weeks.
Toronto, on the other hand had been down in Florida training and playing their preseason matches until returning home Tuesday and have been finishing up their practice schedule under the bubble at the KIA Training Grounds. TFC will be going into this game with players experiencing somewhat harsher conditions which could translate into a better performance on the BC Place pitch. I'm not too worried about the effects of a 5+ hour flight from here to the west coast, as TFC landed yesterday and will have plenty of time to adjust prior to kick-off. I think given the current roster we have and the fact that we've got our squad assembled and ready to go sooner than most other previous years, we've got a shot to pick up early points on Saturday - despite the match being Vancouver's home opener.
Just to drop this idea out there, but Orlando needs defensive depth and Bloom's wife is posted there. They may have decided Creavalle has won the starting job and with our youth depth, Bloom is expendable, which means tradeable in this league. They wouldn't have been able to pull the trigger, perhaps, without the new cap space.
Just guessing.
I really think we played with our feet off the gas deliberately in preseason. Too many signs they were told to play stand-up football. THe question is whether that was wise; the sheer change in speed and competitiveness alone might throw them off, although they were probably going full-on in the inter-team scrimmages. TOugh to say.
Robbo will have Vancouver prepared.
Larson also has an interesting look into how much this team has changed so quickly.
The roster from opening against Van just 2 years ago.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_XZzYiWAAA1j_W.png
If Jackson and Lovitz are out, does that mean Moore is the back up winger?
Bloom to Orlando has been a fan-fueled rumour for 6 months now. People need to read this: http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mark-...-orlando-city/
Orlando could've taken him in the expansion draft at his 45k salary but they didn't. Bloom has no connection to that city, his wife is stationed a 6-hour drive away.