^ Yep. If memory serves, as recently as 2015 MLS teams set a record for % of points earned at home.
Last year we had the 2nd best road record in the league at 6-6-5. On road form we were good enough for the shield, issue was we dropped too many points at home - which was that run of games where everyone was injured and the subs played well but couldn't find the net often enough.
Last edited by ag futbol; 03-05-2017 at 12:46 PM.
The result was better than I expected historically. I thought RSL would have scored late after TFC was gassed by altitude.
Cheer up everyone, right now we're tied for first in the East!
Of course - but I am worried about Giovinco.Originally Posted by Derko
I don't think he is physically as fit as he was when he arrived. A good example is yesterday when the pass came through that ended in the penalty. While it was a little over hit - I thought that Gio would get to it easily with a little burst...but he didn't have another gear. If he did he would have easily had the ball before Rimondo got there & scored. The DP trap is keeping us from subbing him or bringing him late in games & his mentality is getting effected. If he doesn't sort this out we are in trouble - in order to win the MLS Cup you need your best player firing on all cylinders.
In Giovinco's record breaking season, he didn't score for the first two games, if memory serves me right. He had a good holiday, he played well this last game, the goals will come, in avalanches!
we have this discussion every season! MLS is unwatchable for the first month ... plus we've been watching top flight premiership for 4 months in midseason form.
What happens in march has no bearing on the MLS season.
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This is some incredible handwringing, considering we are a single game into the new season after getting to the MLS Cup, and we drew a team nil-nil on the road. LOL.
“Heroism breaks its heart, and idealism its back, on the intransigence of the credulous and the mediocre, manipulated by the cynical and the corrupt.” ~Christopher Hitchens
Exactly my thoughts also!
RSL came out of their home opener saying the best thing about their game was they didn't let us score and their two best players were their keeper and a CD who made numerous mistakes in the first half.
This is a change from even a year ago when people spent the first 3 months thinking our defence would fall apart and were shocked when it didn't.
Our defence was solid for MLS and the attackers were dangerous. Midfield needs to move the ball around faster but that will come.
Clean sheet away point for our only game at altitude - take it.
I was worried when TFC didn't score on a bunch of chances. I figured they would get really gassed & slow down in the 2nd half, while RSL (accustomed to the altitude) would have much better stamina & take over the game late.
That never happened -- actually the opposite occurred. RSL could hardly mount a decent attack for the last 25 minutes; lots of hopeless balls forward by them; lots of time wasting. And as OtD mentioned, RSL were happy to come out with a point. Meanwhile Giovinco went on some gut-busting runs even late in the 2nd half.
I don't think Giovinco looked out of shape at all. His touch was off a bit; lots of the passing and movement (by many TFC players) was rusty, like the first game of the season may be. But look at the whole play before the penalty. Seba started that play off within our own penalty area. He beat most of the RSL players sprinting over the full length of the field. TFC ended up with numerical advantage at the other end. But that pass by Cooper was over-hit a bit. There was no need for that; little pressure from the RSL defence meant there was plenty of space to put a cleaner pass back to Seba. After that full-field sprint, it was good that Seba earned himself a PK out of a bad pass.
Given the run of play, I think TFC could have done better against a largely toothless RSL squad. I think the 2nd & 3rd TFC subs should have come quicker; RSL were weakening & we could have taken control. (I also wasn't convinced that Delgado was a good choice when he came in.)
But Seba was often swarmed by RSL defenders -- in situations like that we need some goals from Altidore or Vasquez etc. Altidore came close. The passing was often poor (e.g. Bradley), and a couple of other things have to improve. But not bad for the first game of the season, at 1400 m elevation.
Last edited by Auzzy; 03-05-2017 at 11:03 PM.
I think the wind also played a factor, as we couldn't reliably switch sides on the attack, especially in the 2nd half. You wouldn't put the ball up to get it across, as it would probably go 20 yards back...
The goal kicks were also awful in the second half because they'd hang forever (ours) or sail very long (theirs). No ability to control the ball on receipt. (In the first half we were receiving the ball very well from Clint)
As for being used to elevation, did RSL train in Utah or did they train south like we did? If they haven't spent 6 weeks at altitude, they won't yet be acclimated to the elevation any more than we were.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!
this was game one of a long season... I'm happy with the point and no goals against.
The team will be fine, the sharpness and fluidity in attacking was missing, but that will take a week or two.
This is a new feeling for most of us. We expect a win every time they step on the pitch, but at the end of the day just think of how far we have come as a squad and enjoy it and hopefully this will be the start of a long and successful campaign with a better ending then last year
decent point on the road. I think most of us would have taken that before the game started, a little disappointed at the end as it was a game we should have won. Not too concerned about Gio or any of the rustiness certain players showed, to be expected at this stage. I'd be looking at taking something from Philly game also, if we do, not a bad start at all to the season
Im just looking for things at this point, but im a little disappointed at Jozy. He really shoulda taken the easy option and shot it low and hard at the post
He then didst look pissed or fired up that Rimando saved. As if, "oh well, hes really good and can read me well" NO, I wanna hear what you should have done to put that gift away.
that should have been 3 points. hands down
Those were generally my thoughts too.
BTW, anyone know why, when you quote someone's post, it won't let you type spaces between the words?
Kinda limited data from the first games all around, other than Minnesota is going to have a difficult start. I would be disappointed if TFC scores less than 2 goals in Philly, though.
It's a browser-specific bug with Chrome.
Toronto 'til I die - but I think they're trying to kill me.
If you go to "Go Advanced" when replying it sorts itself out and you can add spaces again.
Last edited by Ben - D.O.W.; 03-07-2017 at 02:25 PM.
TFC management changes: "like adding a new fish to your aquarium of failure." - Shakes
Type. Press ENTER. Press BACKSPACE. All good. Oh chrome.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Or just CTRL+A, CTRL+X, CTRL+V
Toronto 'til I die - but I think they're trying to kill me.
I usually just copy & paste the first space from the OP or another post, and then it's all good.
And isn't it actually a bug in this version of the forum software, but it shows up in combination with Chrome?
Yeah, it's a browser-specific bug with this version of the vBulletin. It works fine in Firefox (I couldn't tell you about IE/Edge).
Toronto 'til I die - but I think they're trying to kill me.
Well that's specifically annoying.
Although it didn't do it this time, so maybe it's been fixed?
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