I expect Tigres to shut up shop tomorrow and see how TFC looks. 0-0 at the half...they will look for a counterattack and and away goal in the second. If we don’t come out strong and get some early goals it’s not going ro be much fun.
The way I see it, we need to score 1, more likely 2 and HAVE TO hold a clean sheet. If we give up an away goal, it will make next Tuesday in Monterrey even more difficult. I wonder what the word is on Vazquez?? We need his service in this game. If he is not fit, I would assume Aketxe moves into that spot and Auro comes on.
The answer as you put it is simple, our goal scorers have to score, neither Oso nor Delgado are what I would call prolific goal scorers, Oso will start, Delgado will be on the bench.
Yes Oso scored a goal against Colorado and has played tremendously in his past few matches and deserves a start, but I like you are not getting paid to make those decisions, so we shall see what Vanney decides. Pretty simple eh, lol
GAME DAY!!!
Its going to be cold, wet, dark & dank.
There are going to be Mexican fans among us.
The team we are playing is the best quality seen in a competitive game at BMO ever. They are motivated & not taking us lightly.
We are likely to face the best player in all of CONCACAF.
And yet.....
Its my team.
My town.
My stadium
My weather.
Surrounded by my fellow supporters.
Would I rather be a Columbus or NYC fan tonight with a win in the bank but not playing this game? HELL NO
This is what we wanted after Johnson scored that goal.
This is what we yelled for after Seba scored that other goal.
Will this be another night of glory? Who knows. But its what we all wanted - another night of CCL hope, fear, anger, worry, & enjoyment at watching the best team in MLS vs. the best team in Liga Mx.
Snow?
BRING IT ON
Mexican fans among us
BRING IT ON
The best team in Liga Mx bringing all their top guns
BRING IT ON
Gignac
BRING IT ON
********
THIS IS OUR HOUSE
Last edited by OgtheDim; 03-07-2018 at 07:19 AM.
Maybe the starting lineup from last Saturday could be our starting lineup for other MLS games so they can gel but I really hope we go back to mainly the starting lineup of the first Colorado game for this one. Auro was more effective that VDW as RB. VDW last Saturday had no interest in overlapping runs and several times Vasquez was looking for him but he stood still so Vazquez had to find another option and it killed our momentum and opportunities a number of times. The first goal was due to some laziness from VDW because he didn't chase the ball all the way out of the field but Columbus did and got rewarded. Aketxe still looks uncomfortable in his role so not sure if he should be starting but maybe he will play in place of Vazquez if he is not good to go the full 90. Zavaleta didn't have a good game and we need Moor there. Hagglund over Zavaleta for me if needed. Mavinga can stay, we will need his speed. Hope these guys pull out a decent showing. I know they can do it, just need to see if they will do it. Go Reds!!!
Oh and one other thing...Seba seems obsessive about assisting Jozy instead of taking shots...or is it just me? He needs to take more shots himself. One too many passes several times.
Last edited by Joe Kool; 03-07-2018 at 07:49 AM.
Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!
So Tigres has never felt so close to winning this tourney. They will want to go all the way. They won the league last year but they did so in 2011 as well and faced Seattle who kicked them out. They won't be taking us lightly.
This is the best chance. Starting at home will carry us in the away IMO. I don't expect a clean sheet but would love one. I expect goals. We need goals today.
Last edited by Fort York Redcoat; 03-07-2018 at 09:18 AM.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Midweek CONCACAF nights vs a Mexico club.
Saric and Mista. Legends
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
I really want to win, but I'm also just excited to see a team of this quality at BMO. Let's face it, over the 2017 season we've watched some really bad soccer teams at BMO. Teams that, compared to us, looked like a Championship team against an upper Premier League team - Houston, San Jose, Philadelphia, Seattle come to mind. Getting to see us against this quality is exciting.
Last edited by Canary10; 03-07-2018 at 02:21 PM.
It has started to snow right beside the lake here in Etobicoke. I am so excited for this game today!!!
We need to win this game badly, I wouldn't mind facing FC Dallas in the next stage, and getting back on track, in the regular season.
IF we had only played that Tijuana side from Yesterday, WOW, Confident TFC would of definitely won/passed through rather easily too ! that was surprising. I'm still confident though, TFC will win today! the return leg, not so sure about. Just hoping. Can you imagine TFC in the World Club championship? That is really the BIG DEAL. Going up against Libertadores, CL winners, That would be something else! Ok, I'm fantasizing here. No Doubt, We have gradually gotten bigger as a club, exposure, media, signings, etc...BUT to win this, hahaha, that would cement the idea that WE HAD ARRIVED . If not Toronto though, definitely hoping another MLS side pulls it off.
Does anyone know the monetary bonuses paid for winning these games at this stage of the tournament? reason I'm asking is someone a few weeks back posted this information on reddit and I could not believe the amounts per player that were posted. I thought to myself that it had to be a mistake. I mean, the bonuses were exorbitant in relation to the average MLS salary, in some cases it was , If I remember, more per player for a semi final win then a MLS players minimum salary, that cant be right, can it? If it is, WOW, what an added incentive for some of these players.
Last edited by azorean; 03-07-2018 at 03:05 PM.
We realistically need a clean sheet and a lead heading into the second leg to have any chance. This will likely be the most difficult challenge this group has had to face.
I don’t think we will get a clean sheet. Me being honest with myself, and the way we have looked defensively this year. But that doesn’t mean we can’t win this game.
I'd say a clean sheet tonight is less important.....any 2 goal win would make me a mighty happy man.....anything less would be tough to overcome in Mexico.....
Pregame still at Shoeless for tonight?
THIS ! ...Tijuana is NOT Tigres, BUT after last night I get the impression the intimidation thing playing on road, in Mexico, for MLS teams might be waning, we had preseason there too, faced Mexican competition, I think we can score on road, Herediano scored 2 last round on road vs Tigres, key is going in with an advantage, and a 2 goal lead would be good even if we conceded tonight.
To be honest, i have no idea what to except tonight from this game. I just hope TFC show more fight/passion tonight. Tigres probably going to play their "A" team and try to finish TFC off tonight.
More passion / fight should be a given, after all, players and management have been talking this tournament up for the longest time now. Anything less then LEAVING EVERYTHING OUT THERE would be very disappointing as a fan. Not concerned so much about this. Just hoping we play well, to our potential, not even concerned about the weekend game, we had a new lineup, it was a classic lookahead spot. Motivation, passion, fight, whatever, should be least of our concerns I think, THEY BETTER BRING IT.
Read on Twitter that Tigres is missing both starting fullbacks? If that's the case I'd go 3-5-2 and pressure the backups. Whatever system Vanney uses, I want Delgado in the side until the other, more technical, midfielders prove they can maintain balance in the midfield.
Almost forgot the feeling of going to BMO not expecting a result. Plenty of reason for hope, though.