Today’s News, Wednesday , Mar.25

[denime]

Mornin'


Cronin playing it cool
Midfielder trying not to overdo it too early
Daniel Girard

As he stepped onto the field in Kansas City for his professional debut last weekend, Sam Cronin had one thing going through his head.
"I just wanted to keep things simple and not mess up to be honest with you," the Toronto FC midfielder said with a laugh yesterday.
Mission accomplished.

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Raising the roof
Gerry Dobson

Here's a sure sign of spring's arrival with a soccer point of view. The bubble is down at BMO Field!
Work began Monday night on the procedure which takes several days which leaves TFC without access to their home pitch to train on for a few days. In this case it means all week, since their Tuesday session was the last one before the team departs Thursday for Columbus and their match with the Crew on Saturday.

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TFC loses two to international play for weekend tilt
By LANCE HORNBY, SUN MEDIA

Two bubbles burst for Toronto FC this week, one at BMO Field with the protective winter roof deflated, the other in John Carver's lineup with two key deletions for Saturday's game in Columbus.
The team's chances of duplicating last Saturday's emotional season-opening road win in Kansas City took a hit with two-goal hero Amado Guevara and the savvy Carl Robinson leaving for respective World Cup games with Honduras and Wales. The loss of the midfielders is the kind of major inconvenience that contributed to TFC's troubles in gaining early-season traction in its first two MLS seasons.

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MLS: Toronto set stage for Seattle
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Soccer supporters in Seattle may give the fervent Toronto FC fans a run for their money this season in the MLS when it comes to home atmosphere, says league commissioner Don Garber.
"I believe they will," Garber said when the question was posed during a conference call Tuesday. "But listen, Toronto has set the stage. Their fans are incredibly passionate. Toronto FC fans have proven to the MLS family that you can create a dynamic, exciting environment in your stadium for a home game and it's what soccer ought to be.

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MLS commish lavishes praise on Toronto FC
by Sean Fitz-Geral,NP

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said he was moved to tears when more than 32,000 fans paid their way into watch the Seattle Sounders FC make its debut last week, but suggested that success actually has roots on the other side of the continent.
"Toronto has set the stage," he said in a conference call Tuesday. "Toronto FC fans have proven to the MLS family that you can create a dynamic, exciting environment in your stadium for a home game. It's what soccer ought to be. We didn't necessarily have that in many of our stadiums, and Toronto is writing the book."
Seattle romped to a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls last Thursday, drawing 32,523 fans to Qwest Field, which is also home to the National Football League's Seahawks. The Sounders FC, co-owned by comedian Drew Carey, had also sold 90 corporate suites.
Toronto capped its season ticket sales at 16,000 again this season at BMO Field, leaving 14,000 on a waiting list. The franchise has become a model for expansion teams to follow, having developed a loyal army of fans that has been known to travel in the hundreds to away games.
"I've heard stories from people in Columbus that their supporter's group, which continues to grow, was really berthed out of the fact Toronto fans came into their stadium and really almost dominated them during the opening game last year," Garber said. "We're very proud of the stage that they've set."
Toronto, which won its season opener in Kansas City last weekend, will re-visit Columbus on Saturday.



'We can improve' says new Canadian women's soccer coach

Newly appointed women's soccer coach Carolina Morace says she likes what she sees on the Canadian squad, although the team has to play — and learn — more.
Morace (pronounced more-AH-chi) met the media Tuesday in the same room at BMO Field where she was introduced as the successor to Even Pellerud some seven weeks ago. Since then, she has held national team camps in Los Angeles and Rome and guided the team to second place in the Cyprus Cup where the Canadian women went 2-1-1.

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SUNSHINE

[GBV]

good looking girl. but why the hideous outfit in the first two?
ergh.

far nicer welcoming photo at this link:
http://www.sunshinegirl.canoe.ca/

thanks again D.

[Wagner]

I'm glad to see that the SSG is clearly a girl.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Robbo, Guevara
Hejduk, Morena

out for internationals by week 2. Hell. Already getting less quality for $$$. Let's just replay the game in December.

Really though, shame Guevara has to break from the team when his first game was so good.

[Stouffville_RPB]

Not complaining about the SSG, she's a million times better than yesterday, but how do they determine how old the SSG is? She is definately not 19.

[Mark in Ottawa]

Not complaining about the SSG, she's a million times better than yesterday, but how do they determine how old the SSG is? She is definately not 19.

I'm sure they just ask her. And no woman would ever lie about her age

[scooter]

mornin d

[Oldtimer]

Garber said the addition of Vancouver will require further discussions of the league's rule on "home-grown" players. MLS officials will sit down with the Canadian Soccer Association, in consultation with Toronto and Vancouver, "and determine whether or not the current rules we have make sense.

"My guess is they probably don't and we'll have to adjust them, no different than we continue to adjust our rules with U.S. Soccer as we've expanded."

This could have a big impact on the club... or maybe not (depending how much Canadian talent is on the roster when Vancouver comes in). It may have more of an impact on vancouver.

[anto7]

Way to go Jimmy B - made the Fox Sports Report top ten goals of the week ! Came in at number 8, amongst some very good company.
On the same show they reported that Freddie Lundberg will play his first game for Seattle this Saturday although they said he probably will not start. Looks like he will make his full debut against us on April 4th.

[rocker]

SSG is great...! she makes up for about 3 bad sunshine girls.

[shutupkid]

Just a little Mo Edu update for anyone interested.

http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/F...le/gnid-42537/

[GBV]

those abs look 19.

[s2cazz]

"Toronto has set the stage," he said in a conference call Tuesday. "Toronto FC fans have proven to the MLS family that you can create a dynamic, exciting environment in your stadium for a home game. It's what soccer ought to be. We didn't necessarily have that in many of our stadiums, and Toronto is writing the book."

This quote from Garber basically says that Toronto FC fans are responsible for a major change in NA soccer. We are writing the book gentlemen. And if we are writing the book then let me say thank you to all the people behind the scenes of the RPB who are oraganizing, leading and helping to welcome new fans to the squad and sometimes even to the sport itself. As a fan who live far outside the GTA (windsor area) its very hard to volunteer and be involved in the organization as much as I would like. Yet, when I attend games or discuss issues on this board everyone both in charge around here and members always make me feel welcome and a member of this community the same as anyone else. The people who really deserve credit for creation of the atmosphere are the ones who are involved in the administration of this group and the many other SG's around BMO. I know that a great deal of the success belongs to the fact that TFC fans have a great base of knowledgable and passionate fans and that without people like us the idea of a NA pro soccer team would never fly but all of that would mean nothing with out the Organizers and people behind the scenes working hard to make sure all the fans and their ideas are on the same page.

I have been a fan of this sport my entire life. I have been to Serie A matches live and follow and love Inter the same as TFC. I realize the quality of play isn't Europe but its not bad either! and with hard work and determination from the fans hopefully my children will be able to go to a match and watch football that rivals that of Europe. Maybe even competitions involving both NA and EU teams! I was one of the guys who laughed at the MLS and called it a joke. After going to 1 match in BMO I was hooked. The atmosphere rivals europe as far as I'm concerned (or atleast the Stadio Olympico in Rome because thats the only place I have been live). Its all the good parts without the fan violence.

In other words to the people behind the scenes here I just want to say thank you. I don't think that being a fan of TFC would be as good as it is if it wasn't for you. To anyone who has ever volunteered for anything with this SG thank you as well and to anyone who hasn't, or like me can't, start!...

[s2cazz]

ps.

Its about time the SSG actually looked decent!