I will be happy with draw for this game based what I have saw in preseason.
I will be happy with draw for this game based what I have saw in preseason.
Surprised at no Bloom. Is Hagglund really gonna be the backup RB?Originally Posted by Areathrasher
The bench seems to be Konopka, Hagglund, Chapman, Morgan, Moore, Warner, Dike?
i guess haggs and eriq are the backups at RB...wow that doesnt say much for BLOOM.
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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.
Did the USA , of all countries, just fix soccer? - C. Ronaldo, May 27th commenting on the FBI-led investigations into fraud and corruption throughout FIFA.
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.
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.
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.
That's such a fucking awful team.
Think you're way off. Sounds like TFC will continue their diamond mid formation.
Creavalle -- Caldwell -- Perquis -- Morrow
---------------------Bradley------------------
----Cheyrou--------------------Osorio-------
--------------------Giovinco------------------
-------Findlay-----------------Altidore-------
In other news.. i've been playing Fifa 15 online seasons lately to get myself all the more hyped up.. love the team we've assembled.. I'm generally beating every other MLS team with ease. Scorched the Shitecaps 3-0 with goals from Altidore, Cheyrou and Giovinco.
I now think you're exactly right!
For the bench: Konopka, Hagglund, Warner, Moore, Morgan?Zavaleta?, Chapman?Dike?
chapman is in van city.
Bloom, Dike, Jackson & Lovitz all staying in Toronto according to Larson.
Very surprised Jackson & Lovitz aren't going, not sure I get that honestly. Is this an indication we plan to play very centrally? Leaves us with no true wingers after Findley and Osorio. We're looking at a bench of something like Konopka, Hagglund, Morgan, Delgado, Warner, Chapman & Moore.
Jackson I am not surprised at. He said himself he was a few weeks away from match fitness recently in an interview.
Sub plots are everywhere here. Altidore vs. their new striker who plays a very similar role. Laba vs Gio in the middle of the park.
\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.
jesus. didnt we beat SKC at the dome with that or a similar team? Makes you appreciate the team we have now lol.
And that there are cobwebs aplenty in the first couple of games for all teams, even those without turnover.
That's all I'll say about that.
Never, as far as I can recall, has a lineup been such a stunning condemnation of the inadequacy of the coach and front office as that one. Not one single player who would likely start in MLS today. Lambe is at Mansfield Town in the second div, Ecks is unattached, Ephraim is also in the second div at Wycombe, Califf was basically forceably retired by us, O'Dea is Blackpool and is the closest to a decent player here.
Remember how disciplined and awesome Ecks seemed when he was still fresh out of Burnley. All gone within a few months.
Morgan can play a quite effective wing back, IMHO. Interesting to see if he can be a winger too.
Interesting at the end of the interview with Robinson here - Vanney already stirring things up??
http://www.whitecapsfc.com/video/201...-post-training
I hope so because Vancouver have looked impressed in their preseason games.
The other Brit played that game - the one with amazing moves but no vision. Plus Jeremy Hall actually had a pretty good run that season.
Amazing how much turnover this club has had since its inception. We easily have to be at around 250 players who have featured in the first team.
I'll give Vanney the benefit of the doubt, but I fear we're going to get exposed on the flanks against a club with the speed and creativity of Vancouver. We are going to have to control the midfield to earn a result in this one.
robbo made a meal out of that...he has become such a cocky fuck...im sure if he had 20mil to spend on players he would,typical VAN inferiority complex when it comes to TORONTO...
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2...a-or-giovinco/
This article makes me nervous. Far too much praise...
lol...i saw that,we do hv some talent on this club,,,if can stay away from injuries we should be ok.
You'd say expectations could never be higher than they were at the start of last year but...
I feel this club is real-madrid esque in it's operations. It will chop off it's own arm to one-up itself on hype.
Meh....anything to make yourself an underdog.
Fact - Most MLS teams win at home. Unless and until we show an ability to win away consistently, we will remain underdogs for all of these first 7 games.
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