PRE-GAME: Portland Timbers vs. Toronto FC

[Nuvinho]

Figured we'd have enough of the negativity of the first game and should discuss the home opener.

The only guy on Portland that scares me is Kenny Cooper, he always scores against TFC. Damn, why couldn't we have gotten him.

Don't know if JDG will be back or still a few weeks away. Hopefully Winter moves Cann back to the middle

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
=============Bouch==============
========DeRo======Peterson=======
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============

[Kc17]

Replace Peterson with Zavarise and I like that lineup.

[2mil4dero+santo]

would like to see that, but not counting on it...

[Yohan]

From watching Portland vs Colorado last sat, TFC can get the win, esp at home. Portland defence is just as bad as TFC's. They have Goldthwaite and Brunner at CB FFS.

Mind you, TFC will have hands full with Cooper and Perlaza running at the defence, but if TFC learned the lessons from vs Van game, we can get the win.

[werewolf]

Would rather see DeRo play behind Santos, and move the other CM back to DM and play the World Cup formation.

Cooper is a big striker, like Hassli. It will be interesting to see if the CBs and the backline as a whole get torn apart, or they learned from last week.

[TFCRegina]

Pull Peterson and put Zavarise. At least Luca had an assist last game on that Santos goal.

[denime]

Would rather see DeRo play behind Santos, and move the other CM back to DM and play the World Cup formation.

Cooper is a big striker, like Hassli. It will be interesting to see if the CBs and the backline as a whole get torn apart, or they learned from last week.

Something like this

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
========Bouch======Zavarise=======
=============DeRo==============
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============

[brad]

From watching Portland vs Colorado last sat, TFC can get the win, esp at home. Portland defence is just as bad as TFC's. They have Goldthwaite and Brunner at CB FFS.

Mind you, TFC will have hands full with Cooper and Perlaza running at the defence, but if TFC learned the lessons from vs Van game, we can get the win.

5-4 to TFC. That's my prediction. Perhaps that is the master plan - hockey like scores to attract the doubters

Is Boouchiba fit?

[DeRosario]

I don't think JDG will be fit for the game and Bouchiba might get a run out but not the start. Here is what I think Winter will do for this game.

As much as I think it would be a good idea to go back to 4-4-2 for the next few games I don't think Winter will do so. I think he's proud of his system and that it can still work. Having said that I think we will see a 4-3-3 again against Portland.

Taking into account the terrible loss last week, playing our home opener and the fact that I believe Portland will struggle this year we will win this game. Although Portland have a great player in Kenny Cooper they could be the only team in MLS that has even less depth than TFC.

Defense:

I'm thinking this time Attakora will move back to the center partnered with Yourassowsky. Omphroy may get the start in right back. However, I see Ty Harden and Cann being relegated to the bench, at least for this game. Gargan will be in the left back position.

Midfield:

The midfield was effective in attack for the first 15 minutes or so last week until the defensive duties broke down. Winter may very well start with Soolsma and Sturgis together with DeRo again. However, part of the problem against Vancouver was that the whole team was not tracking back to defend. If Winter is still pressing to make his system work we will see more of the entire team defending as a unit and not leaving gaping holes between midfield and the back four.

Front 3:

With Maicon's potential goal of the week I believe he is a lock to start as we don't have forwards even close to his quality at the moment. Martina was also pretty effective on the left and will likely play the same position. Peterson however needs to stay on the right as he is most effective in this position. Not sure if Winter's plan was to have him play centrally last game or if he drifted into that position but id did not work.

[ArmenJBX]

^^
That was Yourassowsky

[2mil4dero+santo]

Dero, unfortunately I think you're right about the back line. It's the kind of thing winter would do. I'd like to see Omphroy - Nana - Cann the mann - Yourass but I don't think it will happen.

[Serb_Star]

How can most of you put Soolsma in the starting lineup? he should be in the stands after his performance against Vancouver.

I think we might make history if we lose this game, I doubt a team has ever lost to expansion teams twice in a row in any sport.

[ManUtd4ever]

Something like this

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
========Bouch======Zavarise=======
=============DeRo==============
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============

If JDG is still out, I like this starting lineup. I expect a much stronger performance resulting in a victory in our home opener. Otherwise, I'm staying far away from the post game thread...

[BeerBaron95]

If JDG is still out, I like this starting lineup. I expect a much stronger performance resulting in a victory in our home opener. Otherwise, I'm staying far away from the post game thread...

JDG is still out.. will be for at least the first 3, possibly 4 games.... straight from the horses mouth

[boban]

JDG is still out.. will be for at least the first 3, possibly 4 games.... straight from the horses mouth

TFC has a horse on the payroll?

[ExiledRed]

TFC has a horse on the payroll?

and several donkeys.

[Roogsy]

[UltraSuperMegaMo]

Hoping we see Cann and Attakora back at the back. I think TFC might be okay in this one. I'm DL'ing the Crapid-Timbers game right now, going to give it a look. I don't think they're going to put up the fight Vancouver did.

Only discouraging thing that comes to mind, is TFC couldn't live with Hassli, and they're facing another big striker in Cooper.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Something like this

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
========Bouch======Zavarise=======
=============DeRo==============
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============

this looks about right if Omphroy is fit.
Sadly that right side looks weak.
I guess Peterson will sub on for Soolsma.
Prob put Zavarise in Soolsmas position once DeGuzman's back (i say this because Zavarise seems to be a jack of all trades and did well on the wing in Carolina)

[denime]

Question is will Winter play 4-3-3 with "point to the back" 4-1-2-2-1

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
=============Bouch==============
========DeRo======Peterson=======
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============


or "point to the front" 4-2-1-2-1

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
========Bouch======Zavarise=======
=============DeRo==============
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============


I think as a home team "point to the back" 4-1-2-2-1 is better option,more offensive and pressure on their half will give some breathing room for our defenders.

[Bars92]

What about the fella we traded for Labrocca?

[Ossington Mental Youth]

hes back up, Santos is already showing his worth, i think Santos has scored more or equal in his time in the MLS than Gordon has in his career

[trane]

Something like this

===============Frei=============
Omphroy==Nana======Cann==Yourassky
========Bouch======Zavarise=======
=============DeRo==============
Soolsma===================Martina
============Santos=============

This is the formation we should always play, 4-2-1-2-1. De Ro has to learn to be less selfish and more willing to dish the ball out but it could work.

[menefreghista]

What about the fella we traded for Labrocca?

Seriously. Is there any sort of media following TFC? Somebody (even the club) should be updating us on his status.

[Whoop]

Pull Peterson and put Zavarise. At least Luca had an assist last game on that Santos goal.

I agree with this. Get Peterson out of there. I liked what I saw out of Zavarise.

But it was Yourassowsky who got the assist on Santos's goal.

[maninb]

How can most of you put Soolsma in the starting lineup? he should be in the stands after his performance against Vancouver.

I think we might make history if we lose this game, I doubt a team has ever lost to expansion teams twice in a row in any sport.

Agreed....the ONLY reason Soolsma is there is because he's Dutch...he's shown NOTHING in previous games...he's slow and doesn't defend...surely we have someone better....

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Soolsma, from what ive seen is no more than a back up just like Peterson (although id be tempted to give him one more go on the wing), id rather have zavarise there too or better yet a natural winger but alas thats not possible with Bouchiba/DeGuzman being injured. Would you rather sacrefice another game with Sturgis playing DM?

[DangerRed]

This one is definitely winnable given how shit Portland's defence appears to be. Having said that, if Cann plays LB again, we're cooked and boos will ring out across BMO.

Agree with whoever said it up top, Zavarise should start over Peterson.

[DangerRed]

How can most of you put Soolsma in the starting lineup? he should be in the stands after his performance against Vancouver.

+1,000,000. STOOLsma.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

prob is who plays in DM then?